Post-Seinfeld
Seinfeld was one of the greatest things that has ever been on television—and we can probably all agree that none of the four main cast members have done anything as great since the series ended. But what is the best thing any of them has done, and what is the worst? That's what we are going to look at (as well as all the stuff in between). And let's throw Larry David in there as well, given that he co-created the series, and his influence on it can't be overstated.
23: Jason Alexander - Hit The Road
Jason Alexander has worked a lot since Seinfeld ended—doing vice work, guest spots and taking on some fun supporting roles. But when he's been put in the lead spot, things haven't really worked out very well. And maybe the worst of the bunch was the very short-lived sitcom he created in 2017 called, Hit the Road. The show about a family band living on a bus made it through its first 10-episode season but with low viewership and a 14% Rotten Tomatoes score, a second season wasn't in the cards.
Primary Wave, Hit the Road (2017)
22: Jerry Seinfeld - The Marriage Ref
You may have forgotten about this ridiculous reality show that aired back in 2010 and 2011—but even many who remember it probably forgot that it was created by Jerry Seinfeld. The concept revolved around celebrities adjudicating real-life marital arguments. "God-awful", "painfully bad", and "remarkably unfunny" are just some of the things critics said about the series.
NBC, The Marriage Ref (2010-2011)
21: Michael Richards - Kirstie
The star of the show was Kirstie Alley, but Richards was part of the main cast on this short-lived series that TV Land canceled after 12 episodes back in 2013-14. Very forgettable.
20: Michael Richards - The Michael Richards Show
Michael Richards was riding high after Kramer made him a household name. A name he put right in the title of his next sitcom—two years after the "show about nothing" ended. Richards created the comedy series about a socially awkward, but talented, private detective—and made an effort to differentiate the character from Kramer. But audiences wanted Kramer and the network made changes in that direction.
It didn't work. The show was troubled from the start and it was canceled after eight episodes.
NBC, The Michael Richards Show (2000)
19: Jason Alexander - Bob Patterson
Alexander's first go at turning his Seinfeld fame into another series was Bob Patterson—a show about a fictitious motivational speaker. It was a mediocre sitcom at best, and was canceled after only five episodes.
18: Jason Alexander - Listen Up
Alexander's second try at a post-Seinfeld sitcom did better than the rest—lasting a full 22 episodes. But the series was another run-of-the-mill situational comedy with a few laughs and not much else. One season was all it got.
17: Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Downhill
Based on a very good Swedish black comedy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell's 2020 remake isn't able to match the latter's quality in terms of both drama and comedy.
16: Jason Alexander - The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle
Alexander played Boris Badenov in this animation-live action big screen version of the classic Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon. The film flopped at the box office, but some people liked it—namely Roger Ebert, who called it "a lot of fun".
Universal, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000)
15: Larry David - Sour Grapes
There was definitely some black comedy in Seinfeld, but Larry David took the darkness up a notch with his 1998 film, Sour Grapes—which he wrote and directed. There is some smart edginess here, but overall, the film just didn't seem to work for audiences or critics. Or even David for that matter— he even poked fun at the film in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Warner Bros., Sour Grapes (1998)
14: Jerry Seinfeld - Unfrosted
Seinfeld's take on the "true" story of the creation of Pop-Tarts dropped on Netflix in 2024 with loads of hype behind it. And like the Pop-Tart, the movie was also stuffed full...of stars—from Melissa McCarthy and Jim Gaffigan to Hugh Grant and Amy Schumer. And, of course, the aforementioned Seinfeld who co-wrote and directed the film.
14: Jerry Seinfeld - Unfrosted
Unfrosted did hit number one on Netflix, but it was the worst performing of all number-one Netflix movies in 2024 and the critics were generally not impressed either. But it wasn't just the critics. The film holds a 50% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes to go along with its 40% from the critics.
The film does have some funny moments and Seinfeld's influence is definitely there—but it sure isn't as good as it could've been.
13: Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Watching Ellie
The series was Louis-Dreyfus first starring role in a sitcom after Seinfeld and while it was canceled after just 19 episodes, the show was better than that quick cancellation makes it sound. The first season played out as 22-minute slices of Ellie's life—with a clock in the corner of the screen indicating it was taking place in real-time. This was when the show was at its best.
They did come back for a second season in a more traditional sitcom multi-camera style—and let's just say...not as good, not as interesting, not as funny.
NBC, Watching Ellie (2002-2003)
12: Larry David - Whatever Works
In 2009, David had a starring role in a decent Woody Allen movie that, while it isn't among the best in Allen's oeuvre—it isn't the worst either.
11: Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures Of Old Christine
This one didn't start out too strong and seemed initially like it would be another victim of the "Seinfeld curse". But the network gave it a little rope and it eventually found its groove—settling into being a solid sitcom for five seasons.
CBS, The New Adventures of Old Christine (2006-2010)
10: Jerry Seinfeld - Bee Movie
Seinfeld co-wrote and voiced the lead bee in this 2007 animated comedy film. Is it a Pixar-level masterpiece? Nope. But it had some clever and funny moments that made it worthwhile.
9: Larry David - Clear History
David wrote and starred in this comedy film that aired on HBO in 2013. And when we say wrote, we mean put together a 35-page script and then relied on improvisation to fill in the rest.
8: Jerry Seinfeld - Talking Funny
This HBO special had Seinfeld, Louis CK, Ricky Gervais, and Chris Rock sitting around talking about comedy. Maybe it wasn't as good as it could've been—but it was really interesting and engaging and there were some really big LOL moments.
7: Jerry Seinfeld - I'm Telling You For The Last Time
After the show ended, Seinfeld brought all his most popular bits together for one more standup special. The ones everyone knew and loved and wanted to hear...one last time.
HBO, I'm Telling You for the Last Time (1998)
6: Jerry Seinfeld - Comedian
This 2002 documentary followed Jerry Seinfeld on the road as he set out to build a whole new stand-up act after his show ended and he retired his old bits with his I'm Telling You for the Last Time special. The doc is a really interesting look at the process of one of the greatest stand-ups of all time.
5: Jerry Seinfeld - Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee
Seinfeld would pick up funny people in a cool car, drive around, and get coffee with them—all while having an interesting, and often very funny, conversation/interview. He hasn't made a new episode since 2019—but there are 72 of them to check out if you haven't already.
Netflix, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (2012-2019)
4: Julia Louis-Dreyfus - You Hurt My Feelings
Louis-Dreyfus starred in this 2023 comedy-drama written, directed, and produced by Nicole Holofcener. The film barely made a dent at the box office (but these days few things do that aren't sequels and franchises and super heroes). The film is, to quote the Rotten Tomatoes consensus, "smart, funny, and above all entertaining".
A24, You Hurt My Feelings (2023)
3: Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Enough Said
10 years before You Hurt My Feelings, Louis-Dreyfus had also teamed up with director Nicole Holofcener for Enough Said. This rom-com drama came and went pretty quietly back in 2013 but those who saw it know how good it is. Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini are great—and the film earned top-notch reviews to go along with its 95% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Searchlight, Enough Said (2013)
2: Larry David - Curb Your Enthusiasm
What began as a one-off special, became a cult favorite series and eventually a critical hit that is easily one of the best comedy shows of the century. And although we have it at number two—we would understand if you wanted to switch its place with the great series we have sitting at number one.
HBO, Curb Your Enthusiasm (1999-2024)
1: Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Veep
When it comes to everything they've done post-Seinfeld, it is Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Veep that tops our list. The multi-multi-award winning HBO political satire was one of the smartest and funniest shows of the 2010s and her six consecutive Emmy wins proved that Louis-Dreyfus was definitely not a one-hit wonder.
