If I was answering this poll while the shows were still on originally, I might have said Seinfeld, but these days I’m really enjoying watching Friends re-runs, and I’m constantly trying to avoid Seinfeld re-runs. I’m a girl.
Male; Friends.
What’s surprised me most here is the number of folks who loved one and hated the other. Not me. I’ve always been a fan of both and this was a close call.
Back when they were both airing new, I think my answer would have been different. Seinfeld was true appointment TV, water-cooler stuff, gotta have the latest catchphrase on Friday morning. I watched and liked Friends, but not with the same kind of dedication.
Now, years after both finales, I maintain that Friends works better as an entire series, i.e., it’s a fully-told story of a decade in the lives of characters who develop and change in various ways throughout the show’s run. To be fair, Seinfeld never tried to be that, but this still tips the needle toward Friends overall for me.
I still find them both quite funny.
I only saw Seinfeld a few times during its initial run, and I’ve never been a huge fan, but I’ve always liked it. If I happen to be flipping through the channels and come across it, I’ll stop and watch, and usually laugh. I would guess that I’ve seen a third to half of the episodes.
Friends, OTOH, I’ve never seen. Never had any desire to. I thought it looked dumb when it came out, and nothing I’ve ever heard about it, or seen on ads, has made me think any differently.
Can anyone find a youtube clip of their favorite Seinfeld moment? So many of you love it that I get the feeling I ought to reconsider my opinion.
ETA: If you can find a Seinfeld clip funnier than the friends “Shark Porn” episode I’ll change my vote.
While I like Seinfeld better overall, I have a tendency to underestimate Friends. I remember the bad hair and Ross and Rachel dramatics, then am caught off guard by how funny it can be (stress on the can – some episodes were pretty uneven).
Girl, and I hated Seinfeld. Sure, there were some episodes that I enjoyed when I watched (which was rare) but for the most part I found the show to be about a group of thoroughly unlikable people, and not especially funny.
Seinfeld was my favorite show the entire time it played. I like Friends okay. I think it came on before another show I liked at some point.
But oh man, try watching Seinfeld reruns now. Godawful.
Sienfeld was multiples better than Friends. Friends was deadly boring.