If you watched an episode of “Seinfeld” recently, have you noticed anything — off?
They’re speeding up the episodes, Jerry!
A keen-eyed fan discovered that episodes of the legendary show were moving quicker than in the past. A video posted to YouTube compares a modern cable episode on TBS to a 10-year-old broadcast:
By the end of the 3:40 clip, the time-compressed version of 1997’s “The Slicer“ is 15 seconds ahead. It doesn’t take a marine biologist to know that’s about 7 percent faster.
Classic “Seinfeld” episodes like “The Junior Mint” ran for 22 minutes back in 1993. Some are as long as 25 minutes. By comparison, an episode of “The Big Bang Theory” runs closer to 20 minutes today.
Commercials sponge up the balance.
“TBS airs a time-tailored version of Seinfeld that has been compressed using methods and technology that are standard among broadcasters and distributors across the industry,” said Jenn Toner, vice president of communications of Turner Broadcasting, in a statement.
Gavin Stern is a national digital producer for the Scripps National Desk.