If you have read other newspaper/magazine articles about the show back when it ended, you may not learn a great deal of new information. ( )

Very interesting and entertaining until lame last chapter. ( )

Written for the true Seinfeld fans of which there are millions, this highly detailed accounting of its various stages is revealing in many ways.

Having grossed over $3B, Seinfeld is hailed at THE MOST successful TV program in the history of television and remains as the leader today. The 'show about nothing' blossomed when NBC executives were lead to a comedy club where Jerry performed. Much as its seen in the series, they suggest a meeting at their offices. It's here he contacts Larry David, a fellow stand up comedian not only to share the excitement, but enroll him as a co-writer; what transpires from there is history.

In real life, Larry lives in a rent controlled apartment building in NY, across the hall from Kenny Kramer. As he and Jerry brainstorm they realize Kramer would be a great character for the series due to his quirkiness, obtuse business ideas and persona. After numerous meetings NBC offers a pilot which while exciting presents a problem. How do stand up comics who've never written for TV succeed? Larry David and the NBC staff interview comics from every area of the business and choose those who have oddball personal stories rather than writing experience. Among the writers chosen was Peter Mehlman who's personal stories launched countless memes including 'the low talker, re-gifter and countless others. More importantly, Larry established himself as the quirkiest, introverted head writer in television who cycled through writers every season.

Having cast Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Michael Richards as the ensemble, Jerry insisted the show should be shot in front of a live audience. And for those who have seen Seinfeld, his opening stand-up material became a standard. As the show gained popularity, it became the golden child of NBC reigning in advertisers willing to pay $1M for a 30-second spot setting a precedent never before achieved. With the ballooning ad revenue, NBC invested in big budget sets including Monk's Restaurant, NY streets and others.

After 6 seasons, Larry had had enough and left the show making Jerry the lead of the show as well as head writer. As a result, his pay blossomed to $1M/episode causing a rift with the rest of the ensemble. When the last shows of the ninth season neared production, NBC offered Jerry $5M/episode to continue but it was ultimately turned down.

And while Seinfeld was nominated countless times for Emmy's, "Frasier" pulled in most of them which for someone like myself seems crazy. Most recently Hulu paid $160M for the rights setting yet another precedent for a show the 'about nothing' from the 90's. Few if any shows have established quirky characters that include The Soup Nazi, J. Peterman, Watley (Brian Cranston) and others who still live on today, though Kramer remains #1.

Years after the show's final episode, the ensemble had severe difficulties finding work having been type cast for nine years. In particular, Michael Richards had the hardest time which resulted in psychological difficulties.

From here the rest is history though. This review would be pages if I went into all the details and then why would you need to read the book?

Highly recommended whether you're a fan or not, since it's rare we experience a show about nothing that still lives on today! ( )

Quick read. Got some good behind the scenes info. Light and fast paced. ( )

Like a great many people in my age bracket, I tend to think in Seinfeld-isms. Barely a day goes by that I don't see a parallel with some ridiculous situation from the show, or hear a quote from it in my head: Goofing off on the job? I'm working on the Penske file. Eating soup? Soup Nazi. Encounter someone I don't care for? "Hello, Newman."

Anyway, my point is that I am a huge Seinfeld fan, so this book didn't have to do much to delight me. And it did even less than that. The author obviously didn't have access to any of the major stars, and the book is a yawn. Do not recommend. ( )