6teen ripping off Seinfeld?

[FinnMacCool]

Okay, normally I hate those threads that go "hey, this show is ripping off this other show!" but in this case the similarities are so huge that I just feel like something's gotta be said.

Now, I'm not talking about the series in general, but rather about one specific episode: "Date And Switch." The episode has two basic plotlines.

Firstly, Wyatt is hiding from Marlowe because he knows she wants to break up with him. She gets around this by having Jonesy do the breaking up for her.

Second, when Caitlin gives a guy a fake phone number, she accidentally puts it on her Khaki Barn card. To get the card back, she goes to her fake number's location and asks them to call her when the guy calls. She doesn't want the guys there getting her real number either, though, so she gives them the number for the Penalty Box, and hangs out there with Jen all day waiting for the call.

Now check out the subplots from the Seinfeld episodes "The Susie" and "The Strike" (taken from episode summaries at Wikipedia):

From "The Susie":
"George's plans to take Alison to the ball are put in jeopardy when he finds out that she is planning to break up with him beforehand. He therefore goes to great lengths to avoid her saying that 'if she can't find me, she can't break up with me.' when Alison can't find George to break up with him, she uses Kramer as a go-between and Kramer breaks up with George on her behalf."

From "The Strike":
"Elaine meets a man in a bad denim vest and gives him her fake number. Elaine's quest to become a "Submarine Captain" at a local shop in order to get a free submarine sandwich and a captain's hat is ruined when she realizes she used her punch card at the party to give her fake number to the denim vested guy. Elaine goes to the place that her fake number reaches: an off-track betting parlor. She wanted to give them her real number, so when the denim vest guy calls, she can connect with him. The men at the parlor are interested in connecting with her, so she gives the number for H&H where Kramer is working. Elaine waits at H&H for a phone call from the denim vest guy."


It's not just the basic premises behind the plots, either. If you watch the episodes, entire scenes and gags are incredibly similar. They even both refer to the fake number given as a "standard fake." Am I the only one who's noticed this?

[li_mangaman]

Seinfeld is often directly 'referenced' in various programs. It's nearly commonplace to find this at least somewhere.

[Jayngfet]

Every show rips off sienfeld, yes even the ones that came before it.

[The Wolverine]

It's not a ripoff, just a reference.

Just like 6teen also makes several Star Wars references. It's nothing big.

[Mesousa]

Also, shows like Lucky Star and Azumanga Daioh are tecnically Seinfelds as well, so Seinfeld really is that much on an influence even on animation.

[.bg]

Until one of the characters waxes philosophical about Grape Nuts, 6teen truly hasn't ripped off Seinfeld.

[Paul_Cousins]

Okay, normally I hate those threads that go "hey, this show is ripping off this other show!" but in this case the similarities are so huge that I just feel like something's gotta be said.

Now, I'm not talking about the series in general, but rather about one specific episode: "Date And Switch." The episode has two basic plotlines.

Firstly, Wyatt is hiding from Marlowe because he knows she wants to break up with him. She gets around this by having Jonesy do the breaking up for her.

Second, when Caitlin gives a guy a fake phone number, she accidentally puts it on her Khaki Barn card. To get the card back, she goes to her fake number's location and asks them to call her when the guy calls. She doesn't want the guys there getting her real number either, though, so she gives them the number for the Penalty Box, and hangs out there with Jen all day waiting for the call.

Now check out the subplots from the Seinfeld episodes "The Susie" and "The Strike" (taken from episode summaries at Wikipedia):

From "The Susie":
"George's plans to take Alison to the ball are put in jeopardy when he finds out that she is planning to break up with him beforehand. He therefore goes to great lengths to avoid her saying that 'if she can't find me, she can't break up with me.' when Alison can't find George to break up with him, she uses Kramer as a go-between and Kramer breaks up with George on her behalf."

From "The Strike":
"Elaine meets a man in a bad denim vest and gives him her fake number. Elaine's quest to become a "Submarine Captain" at a local shop in order to get a free submarine sandwich and a captain's hat is ruined when she realizes she used her punch card at the party to give her fake number to the denim vested guy. Elaine goes to the place that her fake number reaches: an off-track betting parlor. She wanted to give them her real number, so when the denim vest guy calls, she can connect with him. The men at the parlor are interested in connecting with her, so she gives the number for H&H where Kramer is working. Elaine waits at H&H for a phone call from the denim vest guy."


It's not just the basic premises behind the plots, either. If you watch the episodes, entire scenes and gags are incredibly similar. They even both refer to the fake number given as a "standard fake." Am I the only one who's noticed this?And what exactly was original about Seinfeld? The series, though watchable, was a cliche of everything wrong with sitcoms and that is what made it funny.

The series 6teen, on the other hand, I have found to be an enjoyable, cute series. It's a little young for me, but not bad.

[MetroSparkster]

And what exactly was original about anything?
Fixed

In the episode "Life Slaver", Darth tries to repay Caitlin after she "saves" him from a bully, and she had to get him to save her so Darth will be out of her hair.

Tell me how many shows/cartoons that had that plot...

[Paul_Cousins]

Fixed

In the episode "Life Slaver", Darth tries to repay Caitlin after she "saves" him from a bully, and she had to get him to save her so Darth will be out of her hair.

Tell me how many shows/cartoons that had that plot...I am not sure, I don't watch that many sitcoms.

But how many shows make a homage to Christopher Walken's mall dance from the "weapon of choice" music video?

And another question, how many shows has it where it is the girl that stops up the toilet?

[Jayngfet]

And what exactly was original about Seinfeld? The series, though watchable, was a cliche of everything wrong with sitcoms and that is what made it funny.

The series 6teen, on the other hand, I have found to be an enjoyable, cute series. It's a little young for me, but not bad.

Ahem

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SeinfeldIsUnfunny

[Paul_Cousins]

Ahem

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SeinfeldIsUnfunny My question still stands. What exactly was original about Seinfeld?

The question is important because the original poster is claiming that 6teen ripped of Seinfeld. But Seinfeld had to have something original for it to be ripped off of.

[Jayngfet]

Way to miss the point. Sienfeld invented all those tropes, they were ripped off so much that they became generic.

[Mesousa]

Like I said before, Lucky Star and Azumanga Daioh are technically Seinfelds, too.

[Racattack!Force]

Way to miss the point. Sienfeld invented all those tropes, they were ripped off so much that they became generic.My god, I MUST watch that show now.

[Mini Garbonzo]

My god, I MUST watch that show now.
While you're at it, watch "Arrested Development" too, I garuntee you won't be disapointed.

[Mesousa]

While you're at it, watch "Arrested Development" too, I garuntee you won't be disapointed.

Yeah, it's awesome, but that was kinda random.

[clipeuh]

Like I said before, Lucky Star and Azumanga Daioh are technically Seinfelds, too.

I don't think Seinfeld has a lot of moe/otaku jokes... :shrug:

[Mini Garbonzo]

Yeah, it's awesome, but that was kinda random.
Sorry, but I just wanted to suggest an awesome show to someone.

[Paul_Cousins]

Way to miss the point. Sienfeld invented all those tropes, they were ripped off so much that they became generic.Seinfeld did not invent any tropes. Credited yes, because most of the people who run that website were too young to remember sitcoms before Seinfeld, but it did not invent any of the concepts. Seinfeld ripped off the sitcoms that came on before it; Night Court, Mash, All in the Family.

[Mesousa]

I don't think Seinfeld has a lot of moe/otaku jokes... :shrug:

Seinfeld is a show about nothing.

People have said Lucky Star is a show about nothing, as well.

[Racattack!Force]

Seinfeld is a show about nothing.Now I REALLY have to see it. :sweat:

[Chykin]

Now I REALLY have to see it. :sweat:
Oh you do. IIRC, it was voted #1 show in the U.S., or something to that effect.

[FinnMacCool]

So are "breaking up proxy" and "fake number shuffle" actually common plots? Can anyone point me to another show that has used those specific plotlines?

[ImFromTheMoon]

My question still stands. What exactly was original about Seinfeld?

The question is important because the original poster is claiming that 6teen ripped of Seinfeld. But Seinfeld had to have something original for it to be ripped off of.

I would say that the storyline with the fake phone number was original. And the story about avoiding a breakup, only to be broken up with by proxy was original.

...both of these were original stories that were shamelessly ripped off by 6teen. This wasn't a cute "reference", guys--this sounds like a blatant ripoff. Badmouthing Seinfeld isn't going to change that.

[Paul_Cousins]

I would say that the storyline with the fake phone number was original. And the story about avoiding a breakup, only to be broken up with by proxy was original.

...both of these were original stories that were shamelessly ripped off by 6teen. This wasn't a cute "reference", guys--this sounds like a blatant ripoff. Badmouthing Seinfeld isn't going to change that.You seem to forget, those are not the examples I gave.

Those examples were given by FinnMacCool, who is the original poster of this thread and is accusing that 6teen is ripping Seinfeld in the first place.

My examples for 6teen's originality are, that I asked in post 9.

How many shows make a homage to Christopher Walken's mall dance from the "weapon of choice" music video?

And another question, how many shows has it where it is the girl that stops up the toilet?