As the characters in the show have referred to the show, Seinfeld is a show in which basically nothing really happens. There's no set goal for that characters throughout the series, and each episode's narrative focuses on day-to-day activities for a normal person, but featuring their dysfunctional actions and thoughts.
Seinfeld, for the most part, follows comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his close group of friends that are each struggling to get through adult life with their lack of social skills and general idiocies; Kramer, a character based on someone Larry David once lived near, is wholesome but always coming up with crazy money-making schemes and miraculously manages to stumble across financial gains, despite his overall lack of intelligence. George Constanza, based on Larry David himself, is a complete social screw-up and always getting into easily-avoidable situations due to his overthinking of things. Elaine Benes is probably the most normal of the group, coming from a well-off family and often being the voice of reason.
With the characters being close, easily recognisable and different in their own ways, it allows the excellent comedic writing of Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld to take over and throw them into the worst environments they'd consider. No need for a clear narrative, just throw a few inconveniences at the characters and allow their personalities to take over. It's an incredibly simplistic show, and that's exactly how it become so successful. Outside of the writing, the casting is perfect. The chemistry and friendships between the actors feels so natural, so authentic that it's hard to look at the actors without feeling as if they are those characters, living their chaotic lives and attempting to get by.
Seinfeld brings in a new form of storytelling, sticking almost entirely to character development. It's a refreshing, and enjoyable structure that resulted in a plethora of other sitcoms attempting to carry on that style -- Friends is a close competitor, but certainly not on the same level as Seinfeld -- and it's impressing that Seinfeld was capable of lasting nine entire seasons, with around twenty episodes per season.
What's the deal with airplane food? Oh wait that's not a Seinfeld quote.
I like how they managed to sneak an extra season of Seinfeld in via Curb Your Enthusiam.
Yeah! Seeing them together again was pretty neat.
I actually miss Curb Your Enthusiasm. One of my favourite shows.
I love(d) that show as I often have a weakness for clever shows/ movies about the underdog/ nerd/ socially awkward and so on. You are probably familiar with that other show - by Larry David - that is really about 'nothing' , called Curb Your Enthusiasm.
And before reading the whole post I was about to mention why I'm amazed that Friends - which is clearly inferior - has been a much bigger success. Probably because it appeals more to the taste of the masses.
I think Friends managed to be more widely known due to the fact that it has more characters. It took the formula of Seinfeld and changed it around a little, like you said, to appeal to the masses a bit more.
I never thought of it that way but that might actually have been the case.
Have a great day, buddy!