Welcome to a new Sitcom Tuesday! This week, we’re continuing our coverage of Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2011; 2017-2024, HBO), which is currently available on DVD and MAX.
Curb Your Enthusiasm stars LARRY DAVID as Larry David. With JEFF GARLIN as Jeff Greene, SUSIE ESSMAN as Susie Greene, and JB SMOOVE as Leon Black.
Although I was a happy camper last week because Ten is the best of Curb’s post-hiatus seasons, my criticisms of the new era remain and are accelerating. In brief, it simply feels like the show has to try harder to continue offering what once came more naturally. Beyond just cumbersome episodic ideas that are basically comedic but far less believable, affiliated to aspects of the situation, or even well-motivated by Larry’s nevertheless central characterization, Eleven suffers from an overarching narrative framework that does it no favors. Well, let me clarify — I think the idea of Larry doing a show called Young Larry about his childhood is actually a great reminder of his background and the showbiz industry in which his character uniquely exists, thereby affirming the situation and granting individual stories a sturdier and more specifically Curb foundation. However, this Young Larry arc is burdened by its connection to other plots that strain the series’ natural charms and overpower its potential. In particular, the setup of a burglar drowning in Larry’s pool, which results in him being blackmailed by a relative who may sue because of a law that says he should have had a fence, is a Big Idea that has nothing to do with anything specific to Larry’s behavior or history and thus isn’t the best driver for as much plot as it’s allowed to drive. That is, it isn’t well-earned or supported. Yes, the bad acting of Maria Sofia is funny, and attaching her to Young Larry in the blackmail scheme is intended to make it relevant to the series’ situation, but it instead diminishes the value of Young Larry, for now Larry and his world exist secondary in narrative to this one stretched out, overbearing, contrived conflict. Similarly, Larry’s effort to get the law repealed by dating an obnoxious city councilwoman is clever — and she’s played by the hysterical Tracey Ullman, who’s a riot; great casting — and I like that it creates an ulterior motivate for Larry that’s congruous with his depiction and can center him in plot. But it strains credibility by lasting so long, and it, again, doesn’t use enough of the lead’s regular situation to be ideal Curb. It’s too involved in externals. So, even though Young Larry seems like a winner, it’s bogged down by other things that undermine it. And nothing here is fruitful enough to deliver a comedically rich, gem-laden season. No, this is Curb’s weakest collection yet — not bad, but there’s definitely a downward adjustment.
01) Episode 103: “The Mini Bar” (Aired: 11/07/21)
Larry asks Cheryl to help Maria Sofia with her acting.
Directed by Jeff Schaffer | Story by Larry David & Jeff Schaffer
Despite Young Larry not feeling like a reliable restoration of the series’ situation, since it’s attached to too many ideas that aren’t well-connected to Curb’s regular identity, the inclusion of Maria Sofia (Keyla Monterroso Mejia), the terrible actress whom Larry is forced to hire in order to avoid a lawsuit, is funny. It’s a one-joke notion, but she’s at her best here in the year’s third offering, where Larry asks Cheryl to help Maria prepare for her audition and, after a mixup where Maria believes Cheryl has stolen her jacket, a brawl erupts between Maria, Cheryl, and Ted Danson — a display of physical comedy that the network execs think is improv, thereby landing her the part. Meanwhile, I also like the subplot of Larry knowing which people work best sitting in the middle at dinner parties — a trivial and likely reality-based observation that’s appropriate for this show — along with his efforts to evade social obligations by lying, which is rooted in his character’s continuity and culminates in him having to commit to the bit. So, this is a good Larry show. (Note: in addition to familiar faces Richard Kind, Vince Vaughn, and Lisa Arch, this entry also guests Elon Gold, Patton Oswalt, Joel Kim Booster, and Punam Patel.)
02) Episode 104: “The Watermelon” (Aired: 11/14/21)
Larry trades favors with Susie and courts Woody Harrelson for his project.
Directed by Jeff Schaffer | Story by Larry David & Jeff Schaffer
My choice for this year’s Most Valuable Episode (MVE), “The Watermelon” is the closest thing this season has to a sample that can stand alongside the best of other collections, for it’s among the few here in Eleven that really feels artful by way of its construction, weaving together a bunch of comedic ideas that are both masterfully achieved and masterfully managed. Although the presence of Woody Harrelson as a version of himself smartly reinforces the showbiz aspect of Curb’s identity, the real fun is the setup of Larry and Susie (the funniest of the show’s supporting players) trading favors, which he calls in when there’s a mixup and he needs her to sew a replacement robe for a member of the KKK. Okay, it’s a gaudy idea that’s grander than the series’ baseline, but it makes for some comedically undeniable moments, including the climax. Also, there’s solid stuff with Kaley Cuoco playing Freddy Funkhouser’s new optometrist girlfriend, while the titular watermelon factors into a subplot with Leon that delivers a real bit of social discomfort likely derived from real-life experience — a grounded notion that helps offset some of the narrative’s bigger surroundings and also contributes major laughs, allowing this excursion to shine as the year’s most wholly enjoyable. Together, this all yields a fine late-run exhibition of the show’s sense of humor and storytelling, utilizing several elements (like Susie and Leon) specific to Curb. It’s one of the best showings from this series’ post-hiatus run.
03) Episode 105: “IRASSHAIMASE!” (Aired: 11/21/21)
Larry is chastised for using a Japanese word at a sushi restaurant.
Directed by Robert B. Weide | Story by Larry David & Jeff Schaffer & Carol Leifer
There’s a uniquely funny idea at this installment’s core — of Larry being scolded at a sushi restaurant for repeating a Japanese word that means, essentially, “welcome to my restaurant,” because the staff believes it’s inappropriate for him to say it in their establishment. That’s such a particular, individualized setup for social conflict that it seems like it must have come from reality (maybe from Seinfeld alum Carol Leifer, who is co-credited with the story), and in that regard, it’s a welcome suggestion for the petty trivia of one Larry David. Also, Julie Bowen (of Modern Family) guest stars as Larry’s new girlfriend — a former teacher who confesses to once having had an affair with a student — and she develops an easy chemistry with Larry David that further helps elevate an outing already well-constructed by the standards of this era, weaving together small beats into big centerpieces. (Rob Morrow also appears.)
04) Episode 108: “What Have I Done?” (Aired: 12/12/21)
Larry begins courting Irma the councilwoman.
Directed by Jeff Schaffer | Story by Larry David & Jeff Schaffer
As noted, the marvelous Tracey Ullman is hilarious and well-cast in the role of obnoxious but clueless Irma Kostroski, the councilwoman whom Larry decides to romance so he can get her to repeal the fence-around-the-pool law that is currently being used as blackmail, forcing him to put Maria Sofia in the cast of his new show. But the Irma arc itself is not great — largely because it strains credibility the longer it lasts and thus isn’t quite believable, feeling contrived and writerly. Also, it’s a one-joke notion that just gets old… However, this entry actually boasts the best utilization of Irma, for it’s got the purest, most straightforward demonstration of how crassly goofy she is and how much Larry is going out of his way to feign affection for her given his ulterior motive, which therefore also emphasizes his self-serving characterization in the process. Accordingly, it’s this arc in a nutshell — and at its funniest.
Other episodes in consideration for the above list include: “Igor, Gregor, & Timor,” which I would have liked to highlight because it’s got a memorable guest turn by Bill Hader that reminds me of Frank Nelson’s work on The Jack Benny Program, along with a handful of small ideas that intersect well in a plotting that feels like classic Curb. Nothing else is as laudable, but the premiere, “The Five-Foot Fence,” boasts a few enjoyable moments amidst all its setup, and “Man Fights Tiny Woman” has enough showbiz-related beats to be interesting.
*** The MVE Award for the Best Episode from Season Eleven of Curb Your Enthusiasm goes to…
“The Watermelon”
Come back next week for Season Twelve! And stay tuned tomorrow for a new Wildcard!