by Mj Ferruzza

Created on: October 22, 2007

I never watched Seinfeld during its first run.
I was busy on Thursday nights and felt that as
a popular water cooler program I had missed the
boat on what it was all about.
I learned much later that it was a show about nothing.
Not only had I not watched Seinfeld, but I refused to
watch its re-runs after TV Guide ranked it the #1 TV
series of all time. That was a stretch, I thought. We

have had great, well written series like Dick Van Dyke,
Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart and the like. What was to
make this upstart series featuring a stand-up comic and
based in NYC the best? Well! It did spawn other "in the
city" type shows and it was a great ensemble. Years later,
I caught on. I have watched every episode 100s of time.
And though I may not rank it #1 of all time, I will say it
is definitely in my Top 3.
Now! How can Jerry Seinfeld top his own signature series?
He will have to pull a Bob Newhart and find another ensemble
piece. He can not be the complete focus of the show ala the
turkeys that Jason Alexander, Michael Richards and even
Julia Louis-Dreyfus have been associated with in the post-
Seinfeld years.
Here is a successful formula for Jerry Seinfeld in a return
to prime time:
He has to play an aging version of himself.
He needs neighbors and co-workers.
He cannot have kids! (Unless they are rarely seen like
Ritchie in the Dick Van Dyke series or Raymond's kids.)
He needs 2 fawning women after him (tension ala Betty
& Veronica in the Archie series).
He needs to turn over the series to the ensemble strength.
He needs good writers. (Old SNL and Letterman writing
teams are still available!)
He needs to aim the series at aging Baby Boomers and let
the Gen Xers relate without bowing down to them by offering
some stereotypical slacker characterizations.
Keep it off ABC!
Let it be called "Jerry!"
And off it goes!

Enjoy the return of Must See TV!

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