Press Release SPHE Press Release: Seinfeld: The Complete Series (4k UHD) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

​

​ “…one of the definitive TV sitcoms of all time.” – Variety

​ SEINFELD: THE COMPLETE SERIES

​

​ The Iconic, Hilarious, Beloved, Emmy® Award-Winning, Yada Yada Yada… Show About Nothing Finally Debuts on Blu-ray Disc™ and 4K Ultra HD™ Disc December 17th Celebrating The Series’ 35th Anniversary and 100 Years of Columbia Pictures

​ Please note, review copies are strictly limited and are provided only to authorized media outlets. Email requests will not be accepted.

​ CULVER CITY, Calif. (October 30, 2024) – All of the catchphrases, all of the memorable characters, all of the misunderstandings, all of the unforgettable hilarity of one of the best television shows of all time: SEINFELD: THE COMPLETE SERIES finally comes to Blu-ray Disc and 4K Ultra HD Disc on December 17th, just in time for Festivus and other holiday occasions! Packed with all nine seasons of the historically acclaimed series plus hours of insightful special features—from deleted scenes to inside looks to cast & crew commentaries and more—SEINFELD: THE COMPLETE SERIES is presented in two separate editions: a Blu-ray edition featuring a high definition presentation of the series in a 1.78 format, and a limited edition 4K Ultra HD edition featuring the entire series presented in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range at its original 1.33 aspect ratio. Long-awaited by fans, SEINFELD: THE COMPLETE SERIES is finally making the leap from standard definition discs following an extensive and comprehensive 4K upgrade for the series, and is perfectly timed for the series’ 35th anniversary, as well as to conclude the 100thanniversary of Columbia Pictures. In addition to the physical sets, SEINFELD: THE COMPLETE SERIES is also available for purchase at participating digital retailers.

​ SEINFELD: THE COMPLETE SERIES DISC DETAILS Synopsis: Emmy® Award-winning SEINFELD is one of the most popular shows of all time. Mining his rich comedic resources, Jerry Seinfeld provides a hysterical look at life as a single adult in the '90s. Along with a refreshing cast and top-notch writing, this series quickly revealed itself to be a beloved comedic classic. BLU-RAY EDITION 24 Blu-ray Discs Episodes presented in 1.78:1 High Definition on Blu-ray Disc; English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Audio Special Features include Audio Commentaries, Deleted Scenes, Bloopers, Inside Looks and Alternate Versions of Select Episodes 4K ULTRA HD EDITION – the 4K Ultra HD set is a limited edition 24 4K Ultra HD Discs Episodes presented in 1.33:1 at 4K resolution with HDR10; English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Audio Special Features include Audio Commentaries, Deleted Scenes, Bloopers, Inside Looks and Alternate Versions of Select Episodes

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[Jeffrey D]

Hmmmm- I’ve only seen a handful of episodes. I wonder if I should take the plunge.

 

[BobO'Link]

Gotta do some soul searching here... it's a favorite series but I've only watched my DVD set once in the past ten years...

 

[TravisR]

it's a favorite series but I've only watched my DVD set once in the past ten years...

Yeah, I watch the show on TV alot so I haven't gone through the DVDs in a long time. A low price or an eventual sale will get me to pick it up.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Gotta do some soul searching here... it's a favorite series but I've only watched my DVD set once in the past ten years...

Same here. I actually find it much easier to watch TV series via streaming, as we can watch the episodes -- in order -- anywhere. With TV series on disc, we are pretty much restricted to watching on the main home theater only. I actually have the iTunes HDX version on price watch at Cheap Charts, hoping for a good price someday. Hasn't happened yet.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

I have the DVD set. I have watched the entire series twice. Don't think I have it in me to watch it a third time.

That being said, I am happy that fans have the chance to buy this for 4k.

Wonder what Sony will do with the aspect ratio. On the DVD set, the first few seasons are presented 4:3 before switching over to 16:9.

What's interesting is one source I just looked at cites the show was filmed in 16:9 but was cropped for 4:3 for the 90s broadcast. Not sure why Sony didn't keep the entire DVD series 16:9.

Perhaps someone here can add some more validity to the aspect ratio change.

 

[TravisR]

Wonder what Sony will do with the aspect ratio. On the DVD set, the first few seasons are presented 4:3 before switching over to 16:9.

What's interesting is one source I just looked at cites the show was filmed in 16:9 but was cropped for 4:3 for the 90s broadcast. Not sure why Sony didn't keep the entire DVD series 16:9.

Perhaps someone here can add some more validity to the aspect ratio change.

The DVDs are all the correct 4:3. The modern TV broadcasts and I'd guess the Blu-rays and UHDs are cropped to 1.78.

Even IF the episodes were protected for 16:9, they absolutely did not compose the shots for anything except for 4:3 screens.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

The DVDs are all the correct 4:3. The modern TV broadcasts and I'd guess the Blu-rays and UHDs are cropped to 1.78.

Even IF the episodes were protected for 16:9, they absolutely did not compose the shots for anything except for 4:3 screens.

Thanks for clarifying, Travis!

 

[Desslar]

Not a big Seinfeld fan, but hope other 90s comedy series will follow with complete collections on blu ray.

Especially:

Simpsons
In Living Color
Beavis and Butthead
Mad About You
King of the Hill
Futurama

 

[Josh Steinberg]

The DVDs are all the correct 4:3. The modern TV broadcasts and I'd guess the Blu-rays and UHDs are cropped to 1.78.

Even IF the episodes were protected for 16:9, they absolutely did not compose the shots for anything except for 4:3 screens.

There are definitely some episodes that were meant to be 4x3 but were cropped on the top and bottom to turn them into 16x9. The giveaway is that there are times the story and cast refer to something that’s no longer visible onscreen. A big one is the episode with the pothole, where you don’t actually see it in some shots were you should. But on the whole, the 16x9 remaster is mostly fine.

I don’t feel the need to own the show since it’s never been unavailable when I wanted to see it, but I did recently rewatch the 4K remaster on Netflix. My takeaway was that if I had already owned the 4x3 DVDs I’d just keep those to have the proper framing, but if I didn’t have those and wanted to own it, that I’d be fine with remastered version on BD or 4K.

 

[BobO'Link]

Yeah, I watch the show on TV alot so I haven't gone through the DVDs in a long time. A low price or an eventual sale will get me to pick it up.

Same here. I actually find it much easier to watch TV series via streaming, as we can watch the episodes -- in order -- anywhere. With TV series on disc, we are pretty much restricted to watching on the main home theater only. I actually have the iTunes HDX version on price watch at Cheap Charts, hoping for a good price someday. Hasn't happened yet.

I should have been more clear - I've *only* watched it *once* in 10 years and that viewing was using the DVDs.

I don't stream much of anything as it's easier, and typically better quality, to pull out discs for viewing.

Price will be the final determination for me... I *have* been upgrading select series to BR when they become available and this is one I've wondered why it's taken so long as other, less popular, series from that era *have* received BR releases.

 

[Jeffrey D]

A good question for those that know both the original broadcast episodes, and the video releases- are there music replacements/deletions, like the atrocities in
Cheers?

 

[The Obsolete Man]

My first question was "OAR or cropped?'.

If it's 4x3, I'll buy. If it's 16x9, I'm good with my DVDs.

But either way, it's always great to see more classic TV claw its way out onto disc.

 

[Peter Keller]

 

[TravisR]

A good question for those that know both the original broadcast episodes, and the video releases- are there music replacements/deletions, like the atrocities in
Cheers?

There wasn't a ton of songs used in the show (I'm sure there's more but off the top of my head, they used Downtown by Petula Clark, the Superman Main Title by John Williams, Desperado by The Eagles and Good Riddance by Green Day) but as far as I know, it's all there on the DVDs and presumably on these releases. There were probably more times when a character sung or quoted a song than actual songs being used.

EDIT: Ok the more I think about it, the more songs I remember- Morning Train by Sheena Easton, Wouldn't It Be Nice by The Beach Boys, Slow Ride by Foghat, the Commodores song that Elaine "dances" to, a Michael Jackson song that I can't remember the name of and undoubtedly more that I'm forgetting. Still, it's all on the DVDs as far as I know and if Sony bought the rights for the DVDs, it's a lock that they paid for them in perpetuity.

My first question was "OAR or cropped?'.

If it's 4x3, I'll buy. If it's 16x9, I'm good with my DVDs.

But either way, it's always great to see more classic TV claw its way out onto disc.

The reason why I'm assuming it's cropped to 16x9 is because I believe that's the only way it's been available in high definition TV broadcasts and streaming.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

There wasn't a ton of songs used in the show (I'm sure there's more but off the top of my head, they used Downtown by Petula Clark, the Superman Main Title by John Williams, Desperado by The Eagles and Good Riddance by Green Day) but as far as I know, it's all there on the DVDs and presumably on these releases. There were probably more times when a character sung or quoted a song than actual songs being used.

EDIT: Ok the more I think about it, the more songs I remember- Morning Train by Sheena Easton, Wouldn't It Be Nice by The Beach Boys, Slow Ride by Foghat, a Michael Jackson song that I can't remember the name of and undoubtedly more that I can't remember. Still, it's all on the DVDs as far as I know and if Sony bought the rights for the DVDs, it's a lock that they paid for them in perpetuity.

SHINING STAR by Earth, Wind & Fire, the song Elaine danced to in THE LITTLE KICKS.

WAR by Edwin Starr from THE MARINE BIOLOGIST

Those are the only two I can think of. Both on the DVD set.

 

[OttoIsHere]

I have the DVD set. I have watched the entire series twice. Don't think I have it in me to watch it a third time.

That being said, I am happy that fans have the chance to buy this for 4k.

Wonder what Sony will do with the aspect ratio. On the DVD set, the first few seasons are presented 4:3 before switching over to 16:9.

What's interesting is one source I just looked at cites the show was filmed in 16:9 but was cropped for 4:3 for the 90s broadcast. Not sure why Sony didn't keep the entire DVD series 16:9.

Perhaps someone here can add some more validity to the aspect ratio change.

That's interesting that the DVD set has the later season episodes in 16:9. I bought the single season DVD sets season by season when they were originally released from 2004 to 2007 and the all of the episodes are in the originally broadcast 4:3 ratio (which I very much prefer).

 

[OttoIsHere]

My first question was "OAR or cropped?'.

If it's 4x3, I'll buy. If it's 16x9, I'm good with my DVDs.

But either way, it's always great to see more classic TV claw its way out onto disc.

100% same for me.

This show is one of my favorites of all time. I've waited years for a Blu-Ray set (a 4K-UHD set never crossed my mind) and for a long time that would have been a day one purchase; but at this point I'll definitely wait and see until it's released and the reviews come in.

If it's only in 16:9 then I'll stick with my DVDs.

 

[BobO'Link]

If you can believe wikipedia, they state that Sony went back to the original 35mm film and cropped for WS. That's what was done for The Avengers and is, reportedly (I've not seen those yet), well done and doesn't suffer. Assuming that Seinfeld was properly protected for TV "Safe Title" when shot then it *should* pretty much keep the same head/foot room of the 4:3 version and just have an expanded left/right stage (things you'd not have seen in 4:3 as it would have been cropped out) with a 16:9 transfer.

If that's what they've are doing for the BR release I'd have to see some samples and/or watch a few episodes before I'd take the plunge. I'm generally not a fan of such conversions as they can easily create too tight a headspace with far too much dead space on the sides.

 

[Malcolm R]

the Commodores song that Elaine "dances" to,

That ain't dancin' Sally!