Is Curb Your Enthusiasm Really Better Than Seinfeld?

Many fans seem to think that “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” are two of the best shows ever made, and they share quite a few similarities. For starters, they both come from the brilliant mind of Larry David, with storylines honed in on the little, often mundane aspects of daily life. In essence, you could say, “nothing is drawn.”

Recently, a debate has erupted online about which of these two shows is superior, and honestly, it feels like quite a few people are backing an unsound choice. A YouTuber and history teacher, Mr. Beat (not to be confused with Mr. Beast), stirred the pot with a simple nine-word post on X that went viral.

The post garnered nearly 16 million views—pretty impressive for someone with under 80,000 followers—and the replies leaned heavily in his favor. Still, I can’t help but think Mr. Beat is way off in his assessment.

I mean, to claim that “Curb” is “much better” than “Seinfeld” just seems incorrect. Personally, I believe “Seinfeld” takes the crown, and I have my reasons.

First off, I think “Curb” is solid—a delightful watch, actually, and one of the all-time greats in comedy. But “Seinfeld” is the gold standard, and frankly, nothing else quite compares.

Maybe Mr. Beat overlooked the fact that without “Seinfeld,” “Curb” might not even exist. The NBC sitcom laid the groundwork for shows like “Curb,” including its semi-autobiographical elements. Almost every show of its kind owes a debt to “Seinfeld.” Interestingly, “Curb’s” entire season revolves around Larry trying to organize a “Seinfeld” reunion, which is a nod to the show that paved its way.

“Seinfeld” also had to navigate the restrictions of network television, which limited its ability to push boundaries in the same way that HBO allowed “Curb” to do. Sure, if one argues “Seinfeld” played it safe, it’s only because it had to. Episodes like “The Contest” had to find clever, innuendo-laden ways to explore sensitive topics. The fact that the show remains hysterically funny even with those constraints speaks volumes about its brilliance.

Furthermore, I daresay “Seinfeld” features a more memorable cast of characters than “Curb.” Let’s be honest—while Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine are unforgettable, supporting roles like Newman, Frank Costanza, and Jackie Childs have seeped into the cultural lexicon more than many of “Curb’s” characters. Some characters, like the Soup Nazi, appeared only in one episode yet are still talked about decades later.

In the end, maybe it seems trivial, but I’d argue “Seinfeld” edges out “Curb.” After wrapping up a successful nine-season run, Jerry and the gang knew just the right moment to step off stage. Conversely, “Curb” has been revived twice and just concluded its run in 2024; while some later material is still worth watching, it feels like the show could have wrapped up perfectly after its eighth season.

Looking at how “Curb’s” finale mirrored “Seinfeld’s,” it could serve as more evidence for those who are still deciding which show holds the top spot.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, of course. It’s totally valid to enjoy “Curb” more, but for me, “Seinfeld” remains in a league of its own as the best sitcom ever. Alas, it seems the internet has missed the mark on this one once again.