The “Seinfeld” series finale first aired in 1998.
“The Finale” originally aired on NBC on May 14, 1998, ending the sitcom after nine seasons and 180 episodes. The unusually long broadcast follows Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer after their plane makes an emergency landing in Massachusetts. They are arrested for failing to help a carjacking victim and later put on trial for criminal indifference.
The finale was written by co-creator Larry David, who had left the regular production after season seven but returned for the final episode. The broadcast was treated as a major television event: about 76 million viewers watched it in the United States, making it one of the most-watched series finales in American television history.
Viewers sometimes confuse the date with 1997 because season nine began that year, or with 1999 because the show remained heavily visible in reruns afterward. The finale’s original network airing, however, was firmly in 1998. In syndication, the extended broadcast was commonly edited and packaged as two separate half-hour episodes, which can also make episode listings look inconsistent.