The main characters onSeinfeldare funny, incredibly intelligent, and always quick to comment on something that’s happening. But while Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), George (Jason Alexander), Kramer (Michael Richards), and Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) are always a treat to watch, Jerry and George’s parents are also great characters who bring so much humor to the show. They have their own storylines, they often create drama and chaos for their children, and they often say some of the most famous quotes on the sitcom.
George’s parents Estelle (Estelle Harris) and Frank (Jerry Stiller) and Jerry’s mom Helen (Liz Sheridan) and dad Morty (Barney Martin) are always unique. While there are many great parents on other shows who make fans laugh, these characters are much funnier and fresher.
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Out ofthe bestSeinfeldepisodes, the season 9 episode “The Strike” features Festivus, which is one of the most popular parts of the show. Only Frank Costanza could bring Festivus to the sitcom, as the winter holiday is just as bitter, harsh, and cynical as he is, while still being totally hilarious. When Frank talks about “the airing of grievances” that is the heart of the holiday, fans love that the characters now have the opportunity to talk about the people who have annoyed them all year long. Since this is what they do most of the time, it’s perfect that they now have a forum to discuss major and minor irritations. It’s truly priceless seeing Jerry and George talk about George’s childhood memories of this day and how hard it was on George, and that’s just one example of a great storyline featuring Frank.
There are so many famous quotes from this episode and it’s all thanks to the character of Frank. Frank talks about how when he tried to purchase a doll for George when George was young, he wasn’t successful, and then he realized that he could create his own holiday that isn’t about material things. Frank says, “A Festivus for the rest of us” and explains, “The tradition of Festivus begins with the airing of grievances. I got a lot of problems with you people and now you’re gonna hear about it.” According toUSA Today, Dan O’Keefe, a writer forSeinfeld, wanted to feature the holiday on the show thanks to his dad. Festivus happens on December 23rd and there is no Christmas tree, only an aluminum pole.
George and Jerry’s parents are all responsible for some of the funniest scenes onSeinfeld. When Morty loathes waiting in a doctors' office, it’s hard not to laugh. When George hates that his mom Estelle wants to start dating again and feels embarrassed about it, the comedic timing of the scene is perfect.
These characters are also great because a lot of mothers and fathers on sitcoms can be incredibly corny and all about lessons. They also aren’t all as intelligent and clever as the characters onSeinfeld. Estelle, Frank, Morty, and Helen all comment on the people and places around them just like the main characters do, and they each have their own sense of humor, whether they’re sarcastic or they don’t even mean to be funny. Thetraditional sitcom about familiescan feel a bit lame by today’s standards as so many TV shows all feel the same. These characters don’t fit that mold and that’s a good thing, allowing fans to become interested in their lives and backstories and interactions with their kids.
There are someSeinfeldepisodes based on real life, and the storylines featuring Estelle, Frank, Morty and Helen are never so out there or strange that they can’t be relatable. Most of all, George and Jerry’s parents show that many families love each other but struggle to get along. This is something that fans can relate to and it really humanizes the show. When Jerry and Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) go to visit Helen and Morty in Florida in the season 3 episode “The Pen,” their discomfort during every moment of the vacation, from Elaine sleeping on a sofa bed to the apartment being too hot, is funny yet so realistic.
Seinfeldis honest about how family can have issues with each other and how they can fail to get along no matter how hard they attempt to. WhileGeorge does awful things onSeinfeld, fans love watching him with his parents, since George, Estelle, and Frank’s scenes are always so chaotic. Both George and Jerry are often exasperated by their parents' behavior but they respect them and love them and spend time with them anyway. While fans watch for the storylines that feel super real along with the funny characters, Helen, Morty, Frank, and Estelle are often the best parts ofSeinfeld.
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