CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM: Season 6 discussion thread.

[Spidey-Bat]

She was Sue Ellen on Seinfeld.

 

[Shifty]

Fans want to know: Is Larry David 'that guy'?

NEW YORK (AP) -- Larry David steals a glance at his wristwatch. It's about 11:50. He needs to check out of the hotel by noon. He pleasantly explains he's only got a few more minutes.
David

And no offense meant, by the way, when he looked at his watch.

"I wasn't bored or anything," he assures his interviewer.

Eureka! "There's a typical 'TV Larry' thing," he says, unleashing a small rant: "In life, we can't look at a watch! It's anti-social to look at a watch. You can't be at a dinner party and look at a watch. It's rude! People think you want to go home.

"Maybe you just want to know what time it is! You're allowed to know what time it is, aren't you?"

He's put his finger on another of life's injustices. Didn't the first President Bush lose a re-election race just by looking at his watch during a debate?

"Exactly!" says David. "The guy lost the presidency 'cause he looked at his watch! Absolutely!"

This could be a scene straight from "Curb Your Enthusiasm," the sort of deconstruction site where TV Larry thrives.

"It's certainly something that he would be interested in," nods David -- "this taboo about looking at a watch!"

Having already made TV history (and a bundle) as a creator-producer-writer of "Seinfeld," David had little to prove when he shot "Curb" as a comedy special for HBO in 1999, then turned it into a series a year later.

Now with "Curb" in a sixth hit season (airing 10 p.m. EDT Sundays), David has built on his "Seinfeld" legacy with a made-for-TV version of himself: TV Larry is a former "Seinfeld" producer who lives in Los Angeles and confronts random wrongnesses that fuel each episode, which is plotted by David, then improvised by him with his "Curb" co-stars (including Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman and Cheryl Hines as Larry's wife, Cheryl David).

Among the striking similarities between the two Larrys: Each has marital difficulties.

In June, real-life Larry and his real-life wife, Laurie David, separated after 14 years of marriage.

On "Curb," Cheryl left Larry. She was fed up after he refused to take her phone call from an airplane flight she feared was going to crash. She had wanted to tell him goodbye. He told her to "call back in 10 minutes" because the cable repairman was at their house fixing the TiVo.

But there are also big differences. For one thing, David is busy channeling himself into a comedy series, whereas its hero, TV Larry, has far too much time on his hands. Instead, he lives a life of agitated leisure swollen with annoyances (slow toasters, underwear with no fly, anonymous philanthropy, indecisive people ahead of him in line), and he courts disaster by taking corrective action.

Is TV Larry just a self-involved provocateur?

"I think he's an idealist," says David unconvincingly.

Or maybe just bored?

"No," David insists. "He doesn't create messes out of boredom. No! In one episode he says, 'I'm not an inventor. I'm an improver. I see things that are wrong, and I improve them.' He wants the world to be run the way that he feels it should be: the RIGHT way."

David -- the 60-year-old spitting image of TV Larry, from his tennis shoes to his irredeemably bald head -- says the show is a blast.

"I had such a good time this year, I think I'd probably like to do it again," he says. "My only issue is my face. I've got to edit this show and look at my face six to eight hours a day. Most people just look at their face when they're looking in the mirror. I've got to see it all day long."

Another year would be fun, except for "this big bald head," he sighs, shaking it. "It's big and it's bald. I gotta take that into consideration, too."

The head and the face have become widely recognized since "Curb" began. While "Seinfeld" made David a familiar name, he mostly stayed behind the scenes on that show. He says he likes being a public figure now.

"It's 95-5 on the good side," he figures. "The world's become a much friendlier place. Every now and then people will bother you when you don't really want to be bothered: a small price to pay. And I'm not dealing with everybody. Most of the people who know me are fans of the show."

And those fans, David adds with amusement, all wonder the same thing: "Am I that guy?" That friendly but intrusive guy, that calculating, never-lets-it-slide guy? "I think people really WANT me to be that guy. I think they're probably disappointed when I'm not."

Not yet, anyway. The distinction, always tenuous, between the two Larrys is steadily eroding, David reports.

"I feel like TV Larry is my role model," he says, "and I'm becoming a little more like him -- just because I CAN be, because that's what people expect.

"Now it's easier for me to make what would be perceived as an anti-social comment: If I'm at someone's house for dinner and there's way too much butter in the mashed potatoes, I might say so now. Whereas before I would be tactful enough not to."

So his character has given him permission to speak his mind, not just occupy a character who does it for him.

"Absolutely," he says. "Gradually I'm encroaching on TV Larry's style."

It's a whole other benefit of doing "Curb"!

"You're not kidding," he grins, free to look at his watch. "It's fantastic!" E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Great article, loved the watch discussion and mentioning that a seventh season looks to be happening next year.

 

[Darkly Dexter]

that's a great interview

 

[hammy]

I love Curb but I don't have HBO. My favorite site for watching on line was closed down (tvlinks.co.uk) Do any of you know where I can watch this online? The hbo website says it's available ondemand, but you have to be an hbo subscriber. Meh.

 

[Darkly Dexter]

use torrents or Emule or whatever. there are lot of ways to download tv series.

 

[Matt]

Great article, loved the watch discussion and mentioning that a seventh season looks to be happening next year.

Wow, great article. Its true too, I would be dissapointed if I met Larry David and he wasn't that sort of aloof, kind of obnoxious but unintentionally, *** hole.

But yeah, things are definitely looking good for a seventh season. His little "head" rant seemed like a way of saying "I can't confirm it now, but its 95 % certain."

 

[Matt]

Oh man, this episode is hillarious.

The ultimatium was a great scene. Hillarious delivery. Then going to Cheryl's. Haha, followed by Jeff's with the therapist. This is great the way he is dragging him around and everyone from Jeff to the Blacks are criticizing him. This guy is so dry, its hillarious. "You get the face you deserve." And now his plan with Leon This is a backfire waiting to happen.

 

[Matt]

Just when you think Larry has a win...haha.

I love the fact that they don't let Cheryl Heinz what Larry's plot in the episode is to make her expressions more authentic. The ending scene of this episode is a perfect example of that.

These past few episodes have been brilliant. Hopefully the season finale (and I love that HBO is calling it that, I really think next year we will get more Curb) won't disappoint.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Poor Larry. Cheryl should be pissed at her therapist for trying to steal Larry.

 

[Golgo-13]

I kinda like Larry without Cheryl personally.

 

[Krozee]

i havent been following this season cuz i dont have HBo (yes, i know i could use torrent but im too lazy) but has cheryl left the show perminently??

 

[GoldGoblin]

That is great to hear that season 7 is basically a go.

 

[Matt]

What the **** kind of ending was that? It was so abrupt and odd! Was Larry fanatasizing? Did it really happen!?!?! I can't help but think that ending was rewrote in favor of a reconcile between Larry and Cheryl as a big **** you to Laurie David. But is that going to be happening next season? Is this a cliff hanger? Is this the series finale and Larry has told people to play up the possibility of another season to throw people off? I am so confused!

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I liked the ending. It was way out from left field but it was funny.

BTW, Larry is doing 2 more seasons. Here's an article about it from the New York Post.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11052007/tv/neurotic_no_more_923379.htm

November 5, 2007 -- LARRY David - who never wanted to say from year to year whether he was going to keep doing his eccentric HBO comedy - is suddenly talking about doing "Curb Your Enthusiasm" for two, maybe three, more years.

David has typically agreed only to one-year deals - usually, a few months after telling the cast and crew that each season will be his last.

"It's become sort of a running joke," an industry source says.

No one has a clear answer why David has had an apparent change of heart.

But in recent weeks, David is telling friends he wants to keep doing "Curb" for several more seasons.

David made tens of millions as the co-creator of "Seinfeld," but the show's star Jerry Seinfeld is the one who achieved the most fame.

" 'Seinfeld' got him the money, but 'Curb' has gotten him recognition," says an insider.

David announced last summer that he and his wife of 14 years, environmental activist Laurie David, were divorcing.

Since then, David has been making more public appearances and joked about starting to date again.

HBO declined to comment over the weekend but a network spokesman added: "Larry has a home at HBO as long as he likes."

"Curb" is a semi-fictional comedy on which curmudgeonly David plays a character based on himself. On both the show and in real life, David can be prickly and difficult to deal with and was the inspiration for "Seinfeld's" George Costanza character.

The success of "Curb," now in its sixth season, has kick-started a new type of reality-like TV comedies, in which star play themselves - more or less.

Others have in included, "Fat Actress" (Kirstie Ally) and "The Two Coreys" (Corey Haim and Cory Feldman).

But the technique is exceedingly hard to make work and "Curb" is the only one that has lasted.

 

[Matt]

2 more years. Am I the only one who has a bad feeling about this? It seems like a knee jerk reaction to his wife leaving him. Almost mid-life crisis-ish. It is just so out of character for Larry. Then again, as long as he keeps writing like this season I won't complain

None the less, I can't help but wonder what will come of this finale? Will the next season open with the picture and then Larry snaps out of his fantasy, tries to make a move on Loretta and she goes off on him (Cause it is damn funny when she flips out on him)?

Will they keep the Blacks and get rid of Cheryl? (I'm not sure I'd mind that. The Blacks, especially Leon are hillarious).

I am just at a loss following that ending.

 

[Dark Carnage]

Two things didn't sit right with me about this episode.

One, is that Larry didn't go back to the Nurse (or whatever she was) and get her fired for giving out private information. Which was then used as slander. And two, was that he didn't call up Paula (?) to ask why she didn't just wait in the lobby or something.

Actually, make that three things. The ending was just out of nowhere. I'm used to beautifully set up endings that make use of all the little, almost meaningless things that happened throughout the episode. This was just, "We slept together, I'm the father of your children now."

Although, it was nice to see Loretta steamroll Susie.

 

[Matt]

Well, in all fairness, the whole season has sort of been a set up for it. Larry got the Black children into school, went to their play, etc. He essentially treated them like his kids. Still, I say Larry was just fantasizing.

 

[Matt]

The more I think of it, the more I loved this ending. Imagine Larry as a father to the Black children and the hillarious situations it can create (we saw a couple glimpses last night with him pulling the kid off the soccer field and yelling at them in the car). Loretta is in many ways just like Larry (loud, abrassive, aggressive). Her putting Suzie in place is bound to be great. And we have the possibility of finishing out Curb's run with Leon. Leon was easily the best addition this season, so how can you go wrong there?

Maybe it would be great if the Blacks stick around.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Well, in all fairness, the whole season has sort of been a set up for it. Larry got the Black children into school, went to their play, etc. He essentially treated them like his kids. Still, I say Larry was just fantasizing.

I think it was in the 2nd episode, he told that woman from that prestigious school that the kids called him 'daddy'.

Also it was kinda hinted in 'The Rat Dog' when Larry said he could date anyone from being albino to 'Heart of Darkness' black.

 

[Matt]

I think it was in the 2nd episode, he told that woman from that prestigious school that the kids called him 'daddy'.

Also it was kinda hinted in 'The Rat Dog' when Larry said he could date anyone from being albino the 'Heart of Darkness' black.

Hehe, I think he was just telling the admissions woman that to exaggerate because he is Larry, but yeah. Great foreshadowing in The Rat Dog.

Still, I can't shake the feeling that next season will open with Larry snapping out of his fantasy and still dancing with Loretta. He tries to make a move and she flips out infront of everyone at the party, furthering Larry's embarrassment.

 

[Jspider13]

Ok, I'm seeing a lot of negative reactions to the ending.

I personally loved it. Although it is a bit odd that Larry would take in that family as his own, let alone start a relationship with Loretta. But I found it sweet and charming that it came to that. It was, like a everyone is saying, out of left field but it didn't feel out of place.

I almost thought David was going to invite his assistant to the party.

Whether or not what was going on was real or if it Larry's fantasizing, it was a funny episode, and I can't wait for next season.

Mopey Dick.

 

[Matt]

Mopey Dick I love Leon. He is the reason I hope it was real. Just so Leon sticks around.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Leon was great. "You gotta become another motherf**ker". "Yeah, topsy-turvy that motherf**ker"

 

[Jspider13]

...who can ever forget that last scene where Susie backs down to Loretta...that was great.

 

[Golgo-13]

Just saw the finale. What a great way to end the season. I think Larry was clearly dreaming, but Susie vs Loretta was the best part of the ep.

I wouldn't mind if the next season starts out with the 'dream sequence' continuing for an ep or two, then Larry wakes up.