It's Got Rerun Cachet, Baby.

Yes, even ten years after filming its last episode, the television show Seinfeld continues to exert its influence on pop culture.

This came to mind after we rented Seinfeld's season 9 DVD's. I may have originally viewed the 'Festivus' episode, formally entitled, The Strike, ten years ago this week, but watching it last night did not disappoint. The Seinfeld writers were creating something for the ages, not simply 1997.

Isn't it something that you can watch some TV shows again and again and still be entertained in a unique way every time? Same goes for favorite movies. Call it 'rerun cachet' for lack of a better term, but you know it when a show has it and Seinfeld defines that term.

Consider a contemporary show of Seinfeld's, like Mad About You. This series had great viewing numbers and a strong following when it originally aired. But who really wants to rent, let alone purchase, the third season box set for that snowy weekend in February? Perhaps a little bit of Paul Reiser goes a long way and we've had our fill. But in reality, it all comes down to the writing.

The list of once popular sitcoms that are quickly forgotten grows faster than our ability to reminisce about them can handle it. Suddenly Susan, Just Shoot Me, NewsRadio - these are just examples of recent NBC sitcoms with no 'rerun cachet' - just imagine what highly rated gems ABC and CBS have belched out that are forgotten.

And it's not hard to foretell what present, long-running sitcoms will be quickly forgotten. One things for certain - if there's ever one night in 2017 when you're feeling a hankering to watch season 5 of According to Jim, don't worry - the video store will have its one copy on the shelf. That is, if there are any video stores remaining in 2017. But that's another story.