If you’re one of the hundreds of millions people worldwide who watched the cult classic TV show Seinfeld religiously, then you probably have no problem guessing what this day is about. If, however, you are not, get ready to have your mind blown by the impact the show has had on generations of people all over the world. Whatever the show touched seemed to turn to pop culture gold overnight, and this phrase is no exception. So what if “yada yada yada” basically just means “bla bla bla”? Seinfeld was famous for reveling in its distinctly nietzsche-esque approach to every aspect of life, so why should one of the show’s most famous catchphrases make that much sense?
History of International Yada, Yada, Yada Day
The expression “yada yada yada” has been used for years as a way of skipping over uninteresting and/or irrelevant details. Renowned comedian Lenny Bruce, for example, famously used the phrase on many occasions, and there are also many records of it being used in 1940s vaudeville as well. However, it was only in the 1990s, when the TV show Seinfeld’s popularity and power over pop culture was undeniable, that “yada yada yada” really became a ubiquitous catchphrase—in fact, “The Yada Yada” was the name of the 153rd episode of the sitcom. This episode focused on just how much using the phrase can backfire when the details being omitted are actually extremely important, for example the fact that George’s new girlfriend is actually a kleptomaniac who steals to kill time, or that Jerry’s new girlfriend is both racist and antisemitic. Hilarity ensues when both these unwitting men find out what kind of people they have been dating, and they must face reality and break off the relationships. In 2009, the Paley Center for Media named “Yada Yada Yada” the No. 1 funniest phrase on “TV’s 50 Funniest Phrases”, with several other Seinfeld catchphrases also making that list.
How to celebrate International Yada, Yada, Yada Day
How should you be celebrating International Yada Yada Yada Day? Well, you could just yada yada yada and then sip an ice-cold beer… But if you’re looking for some more concrete ideas, why not re-watch the iconic Seinfeld episode? If you have never seen it, it’s high time! Seinfeld consistently ranks as one of the best sitcoms of all time, if not the very best, in countless countries around the globe, and for good reason. So if you enjoy a good dose of sarcasm and agree how very ironic it is that humanity spends so much of its time pursuing largely pointless goals, you are sure to get an infinite amount of laughs from watching Seinfeld’s cast of misanthropic misfits continuously trying and failing to fit in to society. Watching Seinfeld can also be considered an interesting study of the development of television as a whole, as the show was famous at the time of its airing for breaking numerous conventions and taking on delicate subjects most other shows would not dare touch for fear of offending their audiences. Another aspect that sets Seinfeld aside from other TV shows is its consistent nihilism, causing it to often be described as being “a show about nothing” in which the characters are governed by a “no hugging, no learning” rule and do not develop as most other TV show characters do.
In short, International Yada Yada Yada Day is sure to be, contrary to what the name of the day suggests, a fun and even educational day.
