Jerry Seinfeld reveals the show with “the greatest” finale of all time
For a long while, the idea of a finale might have elicited nightmares in the mind of Jerry Seinfeld. After writing and starring in one of the most successful American sitcoms of all time, Seinfeld, the comedian was heavily criticised for the incredible let-down that was the show’s final episode. More recently, Seinfeld appeared in the finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which was received much more favourably.
After 24 years and 12 seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm, writer Larry David finally brought it to an end this month. Given that David was an integral part of the creation of Seinfeld, it only felt right for him to feature his former collaborator in the finale of his show. After the vast disappointment that was the Seinfeld finale back in 1998, the final episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm provided an opportunity for the duo to redeem themselves somewhat.
For the most part, David and Seinfeld achieved that aim, as the season finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm was incredibly well received. Inevitably, though, the press surrounding the episode led to some interesting discussions about finales in general.
Speaking to GQ, Seinfeld mused on the shows that have the best endings. It seems as though one series in particular holds a special place in the comedian’s heart – and, despite his egotistical manner, it is not Seinfeld. Asked for his favourite television finale, the stand-up responded, “I feel Mad Men was the greatest … So satisfying. So funny”.
Mad Men is among the most beloved television programmes of recent times, and Seinfeld is firmly among the show’s legion of fans. According to the comic, he inadvertently played a hand in inspiring the flawless finale too. “They said that they had sat and watched the Seinfeld finale,” he claimed, “trying to figure out what went wrong”.
While that was probably not the inspiration Seinfeld hoped to have on Mad Men, it seems as though he is at least partly responsible for the ending of the show. Elsewhere, within the finale discussion, the comedian listed some other honourable mentions, saying, “A lot of people like the Bob Newhart one. Mary Tyler Moore was okay,” before affirming, “I think Mad Men was the greatest final moment of a series I’ve ever seen”.
Revisit Seinfeld’s recent appearance in the Curb Your Enthusiasm finale below, and see how it compares to the final Seinfeld episode released over 25 years ago.
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