Seinfeld - (Cultural History of Television) by Paul Arras (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book traces the history of Seinfeld's path onto NBC's schedule and rise up the Nielsen ratings, offering a fresh look at the episodes themselves. It pays close attention to the writers and writing of the show, carefully analyzing individual episodes to articulate exactly ...

Book Synopsis

This book traces the history of Seinfeld's path onto NBC's schedule and rise up the Nielsen ratings, offering a fresh look at the episodes themselves. It pays close attention to the writers and writing of the show, carefully analyzing individual episodes to articulate exactly what was so groundbreaking and assessing its broader cultural impact.

Review Quotes

Seinfeld's (1989-98) history is well documented. . . . [Arras] takes a fresh approach, demonstrating how Seinfeld reflects the culture of its time and analyzing how well it holds up today. Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer each say something about facets of 1990s American experience: delayed adulthood, yuppiedom, and relationship and career dissatisfaction. The author also points out the American experiences the show missed in its focus on (mostly male) white urban heterosexuals. Although he thoughtfully critiques the show, Arras demonstrates his enthusiasm for the subject, and his personal ranking of all 168 episodes is a fan's labor of love. Lively writing, extensive research, and thoughtful analysis combine to make Arras's book a must for those interested in taking a deeper dive into a show about nothing.

About the Author

Paul Arras, PhD, teaches in the Communication and Media Studies department at SUNY Cortland. He is the author of The Lonely Nineties: Visions of Community in Contemporary US Television (2018).