What's the Deal with 'Seinfeld'?
Julia Alexander on Netflix's new (old) hit, why 'Hocus Pocus 2' was right to skip theaters, and more.
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On this week’s episode, I’m rejoined by Julia Alexander of Parrot Analytics and Puck to talk about what’s working, and what’s flopping, in the wild world of streaming. Seinfeld is a huge hit for Netflix, particularly with younger audiences. What’s the deal with that? Meanwhile, Peacock made a smart call by adding the Hallmark Channel as a vertical, and Disney+ added a huge number of subs … while also dipping in revenue. Then, we discuss the massive hit that was Hocus Pocus 2 and ask if Disney was right to keep it streaming-exclusive. All this and more on an entertaining and informative episode of The Bulwark Goes to Hollywood. If you learned something, share it with a friend!
I never watched Seinfeld--it was a show about nothing.
As an under-35 Seinfeld watcher, the appeal to me is both nostalgia and decompression. My earliest TV memory was watching the final with my parents. I also regularly watched the show in syndication growing up (same goes with my little brother who is only 21). It remains my go to had a bad day at work need something to cheer myself up show. As for those under 35 who didn’t watch it in syndication and are watching it for the first time on Netflix, anecdotally, I know people who watched it for the first time to understand the memes better. Seinfeld is just one of those shows that memes well, so it stays part of the internet conversation even though it’s old. It’s like the sopranos or breaking bad which also have meme-staying power.