All TV shows eventually come to an end. Often, series are cancelled without a proper conclusion, but occasionally a show gets the chance to finish on its own terms. This is usually a positive thing, allowing the creators to write a satisfying finale that provides closure. However, even planned endings can be divisive among fans. One such show, widely considered excellent throughout its run, announced its conclusion 28 years ago today.
On December 26, 1997, Jerry Seinfeld announced that his hugely popular show, Seinfeld, would end after its ninth season. The show was a ratings giant and a key part of NBC’s successful Thursday night lineup. While NBC didn’t want to lose such a profitable show, Jerry Seinfeld felt it was the right time to finish while it was still great. However, the series finale would later become quite controversial and remain a topic of discussion for years to come.
The “Show About Nothing” Ended in Jail Time (Yes, Really)
The final episode of Seinfeld, which aired on May 14, 1998, sees Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer getting arrested. They witness a carjacking after a plane makes an emergency landing, but instead of helping, they joke about it – Kramer even films the incident. The group is put on trial, and nearly everyone from the past nine seasons appears to testify about their flawed character. They’re ultimately convicted of being criminally indifferent and sentenced to a year in prison. The show concludes with them in jail, awaiting transfer, with Elaine thinking about making a call and Jerry and George having a familiar conversation about a button. The very last scene shows Jerry doing a stand-up comedy routine for fellow inmates.
Even when it first aired, this episode sparked debate. It was unusually long – almost 56 minutes, about the length of two regular episodes – because the creators wanted to include a lot of guest stars. But the bigger problem was that many viewers didn’t find it funny, complaining that there weren’t many jokes, and the ones that were there weren’t very strong. Some also felt that punishing the characters again didn’t make sense, considering the hardships they’d already faced in earlier episodes.
The finale of the show proved divisive. While many viewers were disappointed with how it ended, writer Larry David has consistently defended it as a satisfying conclusion. Some fans agree, believing the ending perfectly captured the core of Seinfeld – its characters were flawed and, despite being funny, not particularly good people. This makes the finale a fitting conclusion to their story.
The Seinfeld Finale Was So Divisive, Another Show “Fixed” It Years Later
As a huge TV fan, I always found the reaction to the Seinfeld finale fascinating. It really split people, and it’s wild to me that it essentially got a do-over years later on Curb Your Enthusiasm. The final episode of Larry David’s show directly addresses the complaints about Seinfeld‘s ending. David’s character is on trial and facing jail time, but instead of staying locked up like the Seinfeld gang, it’s Jerry Seinfeld who shows up to spring him! He tells Larry there was a mistrial and he’s free to go, saying, “You don’t want to end up like this, nobody wants to see it. Trust me.” And Larry’s response? “This is how we should have ended the finale.” It’s a pretty clever meta-moment if you know the history, and a really satisfying bit of closure for those of us who were disappointed with how Seinfeld wrapped up.
The finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm provides a satisfying conclusion to the series, cleverly referencing the divisive ending of Seinfeld years ago. It offers a sense of closure for Seinfeld fans, and while it can’t change the past, it feels like a fitting resolution. The episode was highly praised by critics, and viewers recognized it as a response to the original Seinfeld finale – one that many felt finally got it right.
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2025-12-25 20:40