People everywhere were riveted to the television for the "Seinfeld" finale

'Seinfeld' finale touches some, bothers others

Web posted on: Friday, May 15, 1998 12:06:52 AM EDT

ATLANTA (CNN) -- Reaction is mixed on the Last Yada.

The finale of "Seinfeld" ended with the gang serving a one-year prison sentence, after their tabloid-hyped trial for not helping a man who was carjacked. Several characters from past "Seinfeld" episodes testified against the gang during the trial, offering the chance for everyone to review some classic moments from the sitcom's nine-year history.

Will the finale go down in history as one of the best?

Thomas

Larry Thomas, the actor who played the Soup Nazi on the show, said co-creator Larry David was victorious with his final effort.

"I thought it was every bit as good as it should have been," Thomas said. "I thought Larry did an incredible job with the script. Whether people will be satisfied after all the hype is hard to say."

CNN Interactive's "Seinfeld" message board, where comments are usually more candid, held polar responses from viewers.

"I was disappointed in the show," wrote Corey Bartlett. "But I do think that the 'pre-game' show was great. (It was) fun to see all of the old clips, and the out-takes."

"The last show was great!" raved an online user going by the name Thaddeum. "What a slam for the anti-media, Hollywood, and special interest crowd!"

Others went deeper into the meaning of the show.

"It is my firm belief that by jailing the New York four, Jerry Seinfeld made the statement that all of us, after all these years of finding folly in the misadventures of the characters, are just as guilty as them," John Joy posted.

Back in the physical realm, some viewers were more impressed. NBC tried hard to keep the plot of the final show under wraps -- and it was a big surprise to Karen Smith, a social service worker who watched at a Boston party.

"That was the one ending that I could not have guessed," she said. "I really thought it was hilarious the way it brought in the stream of characters who had been on all the shows."

Crowds gathered outside Tom's Restaurant in New York City

"I was expecting more," said John Pratt, a computer programmer who watched the show with his wife at their home in Atkinson, New Hampshire. "But, then again, it was a show about nothing and it really didn't have much to say."

Steve Smith, a 27-year-old student who watched at Smittys Bar and Grill in Little Rock, Arkansas, said he liked the show. "But life will go on," he said. "No one killed themselves after 'M*A*S*H' ended."

With official viewing figures not due until Friday morning, NBC executives estimated that up to 79 million Americans at home watched the 169th and final episode of the hit series about four neurotic New Yorkers. They added that about 10 million more people watched the finale at Seinfeld parties across the United States.

Reuters and Correspondent Sean Callebs contributed to this report.

Special section:

• Seinfeld: The Last Yada

Message board:

• Yada yada yada

Related stories:

• Just for Kramer, we built a coffee table from coffee table books! - May 12, 1998
• 'Seinfeld' fans: Kramer is favorite character - May 7, 1998
• Who's up for 'Seinfeld' time slot? - May 2, 1998
• Faking New York: How it's done on 'Seinfeld' - April 22, 1998

Related sites:

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• National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
  • "Seinfeld": Countdown to nothing
• Seinfeld - Columbia TriStar Television
• Castle Rock Entertainment
• The Official Seinfeld.com

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

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