Something From Nothing: 20 Years On, The Enduring Yada Yada Of 'Seinfeld'

It was the show that made something out of nothing.

Twenty years ago, NBC aired the final episode of Seinfeld, which followed the ramblings of four friends — Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer in '90s New York. The show was wildly popular during its initial nine-season run and has remained a cultural touchstone in the decades since it went off the air.

I spent many weeknights watching reruns of Seinfeldwith my dad. The show's enduring popularity after it went into syndication — and later streamed on Hulu — highlights the inter-generational appeal of the show.

Much of the humor in Seinfeld – Kramer playing a Moviefone operator, Jerry and Elaine getting stranded at a party on Long Island (no Ubers to call), Elaine's careful consideration of whether a potential hookup is worth the use of a discontinued birth-control sponge – are relics of American life, but the show's humor endures, says Carol Leifer, a writer for Seinfeld during seasons five, six and seven.

"When I was growing up I used to watch I Love Lucy and that was a show that was an old timey show back then, but it's funny," she tells Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson. "And I'm just so proud to have been part of a show that's really withstood the test of time."

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