Submitted by BitterEditor22 t3_10mwxex in television
After The Office and Friend left Netflix, Netflix spend 500 million in Seinfeld. Months later after they did Seinfeld is rarely in the top 10 most watched show, meanwhile Friends is always there with 20 million fewer viewership with HBO in the USA. Why isn't Seinfeld getting the same love as the likes of Friends and the Office in Netflix?
"beats Wednesdays 18.6 billion minutes"
Yes but also 1 year of Seinfeld vs. 2 months of Wednesday
i think, in a way, it's the point, Seinfeld is never (or hardly ever) in the top charts, but it's watched a decently a lot the entire time, meanwhile shows like Wednesday, Squid Game, Stranger Things, etc, will have huge numbers for 1-2 months, but later on will fall a lot (once everybody is done watching).
And how many minutes will Wednesday get 3 years from now when it’s not the new thing?
Cuz Seinfeld will still be racking up those numbers.
Season 2 will definitely get more than season 1, and I'm sure numbers will still go up plenty over time.
My point stands. Seinfeld will have far more minutes in 5 years time.
okedokee
It’s cool if you disagree. Wednesday is a hit right now, but unlikely anyone will care about it a couple of years. Seinfeld has stood the test of time.
Seindfeld has consistent viewership its going to be just as viewed in 2023 as it was in 2022 while Wednesday will need to wait for a second season.
I doubt any mainstream show is made for under a million bucks an episode these days. And Wednesday was basically a guaranteed hit from the beginning, I haven't seen it but I'm sure they spent a lot of money on it. Comparatively, Netflix is definitely getting their money's worth on Seinfeld.
I don’t know if Wednesday was a “guaranteed hit from the beginning”, there’s always a risk element with new shows. I mean, from a month out from their respective premieres, Wednesday and Velma could have been equally good/bad for all we knew.
I agree with you, though, that Seinfeld is definitely justifying Netflix’s investment. There are a limited number of sure things in TV right now, and Seinfeld reruns are one of them.
Netflix's algorithms clearly aren't perfect based on the way the handle their originals, but once in a while I think you can tell when they really believe in a show and want to make it work. Wednesday actually had buzz going in and they actually seemed to market it a bit, at least compared to other shows and movies that just drop without a notice on there. The Hollywood marketing machine has really ensured Jenny Ortega became a thing too. I think when something like this happens Netflix knows a show will be a hit.
One thing about that is that i think those wednesdays minute are more worth in other ways. Maybe its harder to measure and more of my opinions than fact. But I dont think people are getting netflix for seinfeld in the same way as they do with wednesday. I really dont know what streaminservices have what old sitcoms. I just check around and there it is. I think that the office for exampel is both on prime and netflix where I live. I dont think it builds the netflix brand in the same way either. People are associating netflix with Wednesday, Stranger things and Ozark. And they know that they will never be able to see them anywehere else. It also give people hope and expectations. "If they can produce that they can create something really great again" .
You subscribe to Netflix for a month to binge the 8 episodes of Wednesday but you stay subscribed to watch the 170+ episodes of Seinfeld or what ever long running sitcom or drama they are licencing at the time.
The same with Disney+ having The Simpsons, Family Guy etc.
Retaining an existing client is cheaper and equally (if not more) important than gaining a new one. Repeat business is the name of the game.
A Mercedes commercial for example - they don’t air during the Super Bowl to convince a GMC Denali driver to buy a Mercedes, they air to remind Mercedes drivers how great their car is and what’s new so they renew their lease.
Like when netflix put all their new big shows on billboards instead of seinfeld? Premiere in 5 days , dont cancel your subscription.
Seinfeld is one of the most watched shows in USA.
I like the show and can't speak for the American demographic, but I can tell you that while Friends has universal appeal across many countries, regions, languages and culture, Seinfeld is extremely American, extremely New York, and extremely Jewish. I like it, but it's a lot less universal than Friends is. While Friends has broad appeal across Europe, Asia and Africa, Seinfeld makes fun of cultural norms specifically tied to the US and to a lesser extent Western culture in general. So not every joke will land.
Then you add the fact that every show since then has copied it in some way or form the past 3 decades, and it has an entire TV tropes page dedicated to that phenomenon of "seinfeld is not funny"
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I don't like that they made Seinfeld wide screen. Many jokes and gags take place where the screen cuts off.
Jesus. Did we learn nothing from when they used to cut off movies the other way when formatting them for TV?
Nope. Because the average person only cares about their screen being filled, believes black bars steal their souls, and that they didn't pay all that money for no soul stealing black bars to take up part of the screen.
It’s a failure of the industry for having different aspect ratios standards for tv and movies and then changing to it the split the difference. It’s not a failure of the viewer for noticing black bars on the screen
You saying you want a piece of me?
I could drop you like a bag a dirt.
I watch it but I'm also GenX and watched it when it aired back in the day.
Conformist!
Anti-dentite!!!!
You can’t be serious
I'm still holding out hope for getting the remastered HD in 4:3 and then I will gladly rewatch the whole series for like the third or fourth time.
I think It hits a different audience than office and Friends which is playing to younger audience. Current high schoolers loooove these shows but not as much Seinfeld. If Seinfeld captures and older audience and keeps them on the streamer then it’s worth it even if it’s not pulling as many minutes as the others.
It doesn’t need to be in the top ten.
If it is constantly viewed, it’s more valuable than a show that has record viewing minutes but never revisited.
I rarely rewatch shows but I’m amazed at how many people watch a show over and over again like Friends or The Office.
Just shows how ignorant you are about how watched Seinfeld is
Don't know, but I watch the shit out of Seinfeld on Netflix.
100%, it's not something that is put in the background like Grey's Anatomy.
People enjoy watching it, which is praise for it's content but a negative for it's engagement metrics.
I use it as background 24/7 so you are not correct. I also know a bunch of people that use it as background and fall asleep to it as well.
The Office is on both HBO Max and Netflix in my region. I tried to truly watch the first episodes of Seinfeld (I'm a 90's that was a baby at the time the show aired), but can't really get into it at all. The first season seems to drag a lot and the gags feel really outdated (even for a 5 part series) and I don't have the propper vibe to tackle other seasons.
It’s worth reading the article “Seinfeld isn’t funny”. It talks about how shows like Seinfeld and the Simpsons aren’t considered funny anymore cause all their jokes are old, when in fact those show invented or popularized those jokes in the first place. Seinfeld is certainly a tremendous example of this. Start later in the series, then watch the early stuff after. Maybe watch a couple of well loved episodes.
Skip forward man.
Like a science fiction novel (social commentary), the first port of call is the published date to get a reference on the cultural statements of the time.
Most sitcoms spend a time finding their feet, they don't turn into juggernauts until they find their feet.
You can literally jump in anywhere with Seinfeld, follow a 'best of' internet list or something.
Seinfeld is not really a binge watch. The tone of the show is too cynical for most people to spend hours watching it
is this about America? because here Seinfeld never came remotely close to scratching Friends' popularity. I don't wanna say that nobody ever gave a shit about it, but it was indeed pretty close to that
agree with you, between Friends or Seinfeld, Friends was far more popular in my country (Portugal), Seinfeld, hardly anybody gave a shit about it.
KumagawaUshio t1_j65qozv wrote
In 2022 Seinfeld had 19.3 billion viewing minutes on Netflix (https://twitter.com/TVGrimReaper/status/1618712254454837248) That's 8th place for the year of shows on Netflix and beats Wednesdays 18.6 billion minutes.
Netflix agreed to pay $100 million a year for 5 years for 176 episodes or less than $600,000 an episode per year.
I don't know Wednesday's cost but unless season 2 releases in 2023 it's not going to chart in 2023 while Seinfeld will and will continue to do so for each of its 5 years.