Large majorities of Americans are following coverage of the Olympic Games in London. Nearly eight-in-ten (78%) say they have watched or followed Olympic coverage either on television, online or on social networks.

Television remains far-and-away the leading platform for Olympic coverage; 73% say they have watched coverage on television. Still, 17% say they have watched online or digitally and 12% report they have followed Olympic coverage on social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter. Most Olympic followers (68%) say they are watching events in the evening after they have already occurred. At the same time, almost a quarter (23%) say they are watching live during the day.

The latest national survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Pew Internet & American Life Project, conducted August 2-5, 2012 among 1,005 adults, finds that NBC’s coverage of the Olympics receives high marks from the public. Overall, 76% of Olympic watchers describe the coverage as excellent (29%) or good (47%); 18% describe it as only fair (13%) or poor (5%).

Although there has been criticism of NBC’s coverage expressed online on social media sites like Twitter, the coverage is rated about equally well by those who are watching online and following on social networks (70% excellent/good) and those watching on television (77%). There is also little difference in the ratings given by those watching events live (85% excellent/good) and those watching in the evening after the events have occurred (75%).

Young people under the age of 30 are much more likely to have followed Olympic coverage on social networking sites than are older Americans. About three-in-ten (31%) of those ages 18-29 have followed coverage on social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, compared with 11% of those 30-49, 6% of those 50-64, and just 2% of those 65 and older.

Following Olympic coverage online and on social networks appears to be a supplement rather than a replacement for television viewing. Among those following the Olympics online or on social networks, most (79%) say they are also watching Olympic coverage on television.

The poll finds that those following coverage online or on social networks are no more likely to say they are watching events live than those watching Olympic coverage on television.

The situation comedy “Seinfeld” may be the most popular television show of its time, but only half of the people who watch it say they’ll miss it when it’s gone. And even fewer want friends like Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer.

Today, 62% of the public says they watch the program, and, at least for now, “Seinfeld” tops the list of all-time favorite comedy programs. In a new Pew Research Center survey, 14% of Americans name the show as their favorite. M*A*S*H ranks second with 6%.

The tearful farewells fans gave other popular sitcoms, however, are unlikely to follow the “Seinfeld” finale: 51% of viewers say they won’t miss the show much. Only 19% of “Seinfeld” viewers say they will miss the show a great deal, another 29% will miss it a fair amount.

Just as the sitcom’s trademark indifference is mirrored in these findings, “Seinfeld” viewers reflect the characters: Fans are young, affluent and single. Fully 81% of those under age 30 watch the show compared to just 34% of those over 65; 71% of those earning more than $75,000 tune in compared to 52% of those with incomes under $20,000; and 71% of single people watch the show versus 59% of married folks. But despite these similarities, 54% of viewers say they would not want friends like the sitcom characters.

The public may be ambivalent about a friend exploding through the front door and raiding the fridge, but Kramer is the show’s most popular character. With 44% of those who watch “Seinfeld” picking him as their favorite, Kramer comes out ahead in virtually every demographic group. Jerry comes in second with 18% naming the lead character as their favorite, George is picked by 11% and Elaine by 10%. Kramer is also the character fans would like to see spinoff a new series, with 33% saying they would like to see him featured in a new show.

Of the 1,009 randomly selected adults reached by phone May 1-5, three people said Newman should get his own show. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3.5 %.

• Americans know the “Seinfeld” cast. Asked to name any of the four main characters, 54% knew Jerry, 49% knew Kramer, 39% knew George and 35% knew Elaine. What’s more, 27% named all four characters.
• As many people (69%) said they watched “Cheers” in April 1993, just before that show went off the air, and as many wanted a character to get a spinoff show (58%, vs. 60% for “Seinfeld”). But Frasier, the character who does have a successful spinoff, was chosen in 1993 by only 2% of “Cheers” viewers.
• East coasters are more likely to want friends like the New York City characters: 48% of them would like friends like the “Seinfeld” characters compared to just 29% of people who live in the West.
• Women like Elaine more than men do: 17% of women viewers picked her as their favorite compared to just 4% of men.