NBC situation comedy (1989–98). Dubbed the “show about nothing” for its obsessive focus on everyday minutiae of New York life, it won consistent top ratings and multiple awards, becoming the most successful 1990s TV comedy. Star Jerry Seinfeld (1954–) combined his actual stand-up comic activities with his urban character, working alongside a talented ensemble cast to show four friends somewhat adrift in the city. Many critics have remarked that despite the show’s undeniable humor, its main characters (all thirty-somethings and white) are essentially selfish and immature—themes the show itself brought home in its final episode.