How I met your Mother; Our Gens Seinfeld?

[Juice]

So I was watching a rerun of How I Met Your Mother at work the other night. (I work at group homes, overnight shift I basically get paid to watch tv) and I realized that it has taken just about every time slot away from the Seinfeld syndicated reruns on almost every channel that used to air Seinfeld.

So that then made think about how the show has maintained a certain level of cultural relevance that only Seinfeld managed to maintain. Where Seinfled gave us sponge worthy and soup nazi How I Met Your Mother has given us thing like the bro code, which is now a book written by NPH himself (I think) or at least endorsed by him and the show.

The show is about a group of friends living their lives in New York City. They don't have a coffee shop, but are regulars at a bar and always use the same booth.

So is it safe to say that as far as relevance and what appears to be an unmatched longevity (in its future) is How I Met Your Mother the new Seinfeld?

[Citizen Snips]

I'd pick The Office, actually. Far less people watch it, but it's more culturally relevant, on just as much as HIMYM in syndication and was always more "hip" than HIMYM.

[Cyno]

HIMYM is probably between Seinfeld and Friends in tone and absurdity. Though unlike Seinfeld, HIMYM actually has an overarching storyline and just isn't about nothing.

[austinariesfan88]

I alwys considered it this generation's version of Friends

[Glitch]

bieber is this generations Kurt Kobain, so why the hell not.

["I'm Batman..."]

It's Always Sunny is the new Seinfeld.

[Cela]

Definitely more of a Friends vibe. Does this make Big Bang Theory the new Family Matters?

[Ben Wyatt]

It's Seinfeld.......if any of the characters were anything close to likeable

[Cela]

Jan 2, 2012 23:22:53 GMT -5 Ben Wyatt said:

It's Seinfeld.......if any of the characters were anything close to likeable

Well, Ted's not very likable, and Lily has had moments of worst person in the world.

[Deleted]

I can kind of see it, but the Friends comparison is more apt. Might just be though since I haven't watched much Seinfeld - never been able to get into it.

[alabastergrim]

Not even close. Seinfeld was a cultural phenomenon and you can make a ludicrous amount of references to it. Hell, Festivous is something people actually celebrate! HIMYM has bro code and that's about it and that joke sure got old and the series is still on! Good show, but comparing it to possibly the best sitcom ever (or one that's at least in the running) is ridiculous.

[Stu]

As the OP mentioned, it's comparable to Seinfeld as far as dominating stations in syndication mode and having pop culture references. However, I agree with others that it has more of a Friends vibe.

[Turd Ferguson]

Yeah, I'd say Friends.

Curb Your Enthusiasm might be considered this generation's Seinfeld, if not for the fact that they're basically the same thing.

Seinfeld can't be touched, and like The Honeymooners, All In The Family, and The Cosby Show can be imitated, but never duplicated.

[Ben Wyatt]

Upon thinking, 'Friends' is an apt comparison.

Just like 'Friends': I cant wait til this series is off the air for a few years and everyone suddenly decides that it sucked and that they NEVER liked it

[Yami Daimao]

Jan 3, 2012 9:18:23 GMT -5 Ben Wyatt said:

Upon thinking, 'Friends' is an apt comparison.

Just like 'Friends': I cant wait til this series is off the air for a few years and everyone suddenly decides that it sucked and that they NEVER liked it

HIMYM's smarter writing would prevent that. Some people might not favor the last couple of seasons in retrospect, but the first 5 seasons can't be touched.

[Deleted]

I've tried watching this show a few times and could never really get into it, but honestly the standard 3-cam, stage setup is just ancient to me now I can't really watch anything that uses it without it looking hammy.

The writing is okay to me, but it's no where near as mean or heartless as Seinfield was. The Friends comparision is much more apt though.

This gens Seinfield would probably be It's Always Sunny, if only for the fact the characters are completely self-involved and never have "moments" of friendship or learn any lessons. They're just self-centered people who are pretty mean to everyone else and each other.

[Cyno]

I'll also say this: I love HIMYM and can't stand Seinfeld or Friends.

Though if It's Always Sunny is this generation's Seinfeld, that says a whole lot about why I can't get into that show either.

[Ben Wyatt]

I get some of the issues with 'Friends'. They lost their fastball the last 2-3 seasons. By that time, the characters had turned into parodies of themselves.

But until around season 6-7, it was pretty sharp

[Deleted]

There may be shows similar to "Seinfeld", but they are all inferior.

[lez 3:16]

i loved himym for the most part.

i dont think seinfeld is a bad show but could never get into it.(if that makes any sense)