Despite being a “show about nothing,“Seinfeldwas known for talking about anything and everything. Throughout its nine-season run, the cast tackled topics from racial insensitivity to masturbation, showing stories that pushed the boundaries of what’s allowed on network television. Co-creators Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld were able to turn anything into a punchline, courting controversy along the way with stories like Jason Alexander’s George Costanza picking a fight with a “bubble boy.”
However, over the years, the milestone sitcom has come under increased scrutiny, withpeople questioning ifSeinfeldhas aged well.DespiteSeinfeld’s much-hated series finale,it remains a beloved ’90s sitcom, but with outdated humor, it can be hard to watch every episode.Humor and sensitivity have changed in the past two decades, causing certain storylines to be ineffective and offensive in today’s climate. As rewatchable as the series is, skipping the more offensive stories is for the best.
Season 5’s “Cigar Store Indian” Has Aged Worse Than Any Other Seinfeld Episode
Most Of The Jokes In The Episode Would Be Unacceptable Today
Season 5, episode 10 saw Jerry accused of racism after giving Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Elaine a Native American statuewith an offensive note attached to it. Throughout the episode, stereotypes are joked about and Jerry continues to dig himself into a deeper hole. The constant use of racial stereotypes and derogatory gestures makes this episode borderline unwatchable, with the jokes flying left and right. In the end, Jerry attempts to correct his behavior, fumbling for words and trying to be as inoffensive as possible. This leads to the best moments in an episode that gets increasingly hard to watch.
“Cigar Store Indian” is filled with the exact stereotypes that the world is working to move away from, showing how outdated some ofSeinfeld’s stories are.
In recent years, professional sports teams like the NFL’s Washington Commanders and MLB’s Cleveland Guardians have let go of past logos and names that had been deemed offensive and appropriative. “Cigar Store Indian” is filled with the exact stereotypes that the world is working to move away from, showing how outdated some ofSeinfeld’sstories are. The ’90s was a much different world, with less awareness of what can be harmful to certain cultures, and this episode is filled to the brim with terrible remarks.
These Episodes Would’ve Pushed The Boundaries Too Far
Additionally,Larry Charles, who wrote several episodes ofSeinfeld, had a darker sense of humor, leading to some of his jokes being cutfrom the script. He also had two episodes that were scrapped entirely: “The Bet,” and another George Costanza-centric episode about racial insensitivity. “The Bet” would’ve involved Elaine buying a gun from one of Kramer’s (Michael Richards) associates, with it being scrapped due to the cast, crew, and the network shutting it down. George’s episode, revealed inSeinfeld Reference: The Complete Encyclopedia(viaVanity Fair), was about “the dietary habits of African-Americans.”
Why 2 Controversial Seinfeld Episodes Never Happened
Despite Seinfeld regular dabbling in edgy subject matter, two controversial episodes involving a gun and a salad never made it to air on TV.
Both episodes likely would’ve aged as poorly as “Cigar Store Indian” had they made it to air, as more racial stereotypes and offensive jokes would’ve circulated the airwaves. Charles' dark humor isn’t for everybody, with the edginess teetering on the precipice of going too far. DespiteSeinfeld’s consistent flirtation with controversial stories, the network had to draw the line somewhere. If those two episodes had come to fruition, the series' reputation would have aged even worse than it already has.
Seinfeld
Cast
Seinfeld is a television sitcom that follows stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his three eccentric friends, George, Elaine, and Kramer, as they navigate everyday life in New York City during the 1990s. Premiering in 1989, the series humorously explores the mundane and often trivial aspects of social interactions.
