'Curb Your Enthusiasm': Can't take my eyes off of you

This week's episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" had Larry once again encountering some ethical land mines in pursuit of (his own) happiness, but Larry isn't always on the side of the angels, even when he attempts to do the Right Thing. 

Let's take a look at the little things that got under Larry's skin this week and whether it was Larry or the rest of humanity who was truly at fault.

The Airplane Shorts. Larry took offense to the clothing choice of his seatmate on a recent flight, berating the man for wearing shorts and forcing Larry to stare at his hairy legs during a five-hour flight. Sure, airplanes are claustrophobic spaces; we're forced to spend time surrounded by strangers and those people can get on our nerves in unexpected ways. But I think it was totally wrong for Larry to say something to Mr. Shorts, who defended his sartorial choice by saying that they're comfortable. It's not like the man was deliberately provoking Larry or causing him physical discomfort through his actions. No-brainer on this one. Larry: 0. Humanity: 1.

Dialing Dr. Morrison. After burning his hand on an airplane hot towel (those things are killer), Larry forced his doctor (guest star Philip Baker Hall) to give him his home number, saying that it would make him feel better. Reluctantly, Dr. Morrison agreed, with the stipulation that Larry not ever call him at home. One cellphone misdial later, Dr. Morrison screamed at Larry for disturbing him at home after he clearly told him never to call there. Which is understandable but, hello, Larry called him by mistake. There was no reason for Dr. Morrison to freak out the way that he did and Larry was clearly in the right here. Larry: 1. Humanity 1. (That said, Larry showing up at Dr. Morrison's house later on was decidedly not OK, so our total sinks back down to Larry: 0, Humanity 1.)

In case you missed it: Larry David meets Hannah Montana

Thanks to "Parks and Recreation" star Aziz Ansari's Twitter, you get a double dose of Larry David. Last night, on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," he reunited the cast of "Seinfeld."

Today, Ansari reminds us that David once went up against Hannah Montana in 2007. As the actor put it: "LD KILLING IT EVEN ON HANNAH MONTANA. DUDE IS MY HERO."

— Denise Martin

'Curb Your Enthusiasm': Reunited and It Feels So Good

And just like that the gang was back together again.

This week's episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" did what many people thought was impossible: It brought together the cast of "Seinfeld," more than 10 years after the series went off the air, for a reunion show. Sort of, anyway. 

In true "Curb" tradition, there's more than meets the eye here as the "Seinfeld" reunion itself is wholly fictional, a fantastic display of meta-theater that will only be glimpsed in tiny pieces this season on "Curb." Just as Jerry and George once pitched NBC a show about "nothing" on "Seinfeld," so too is Larry back at NBC doing a "Seinfeld" reunion as a deeply layered show-within-a-show.

And, yes, some uncertainty about the way that "Seinfeld" ended its series run is brought up as well, at least by the "Seinfeld" actors, even if Larry seems to be content with that downer of an ending.

The kumquat and the quail. The "Seinfeld" gang -- Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards and Jason Alexander, natch -- are back together and, well, it feels so great. Yes, there were rumblings of trouble among the quartet (fans will remember those arguments over DVD royalties, and then there was Richards' brush with notoriety a few years back for some racially insensitive remarks), but there's a sense of frisson at seeing them back together on the set of Jerry's apartment that's really indescribable. It's nostalgic and comforting and exciting all at the same time, even if it's just a fantasy sequence. (I think I cheered when they all ran in.)

Larry David tells you where to watch the big game

As any enthusiast of  “Curb Your Enthusiasm” knows, Larry David is a sports fan. New York Yankees, New York Jets, some New York Giants, he said during a recent interview over lunch in Santa Monica. In  Sunday night’s "Curb," which marks the beginning of the so-called “Seinfeld” reunion story line, Larry attends a game for another team he likes – the Los Angeles Lakers. Without spoiling it, let's just say his  viewing experience doesn’t go well.

It’s not first time Larry has been disappointed after attending a big game. He had good seats at 2008’s Super Bowl XLII between the Giants and the, until then, undefeated New England Patriots.

“You know what, looking back on it,” said Larry. “I would have rather watched it on television.”

Why -- that Super Bowl had one of the most exciting finishes in league history?

“You don’t really get the game, I mean really, really get the game when you’re there. You don’t get the game the way you do on television. You don’t see the isolations, you don’t see so much. It’s much different than at the game. You just can’t take it in.”

For more about what Larry had to say over lunch, read the full story.

-- Martin Miller

Photo credit: HBO

 

'Curb Your Enthusiasm': The C Word

Larry David has never been one to shy away from controversial topics, whether that be cancer, disabilities, death, or in the case of this week's episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," er, vehicular fellatio.

That particular carnal act was a central piece of this week's episode of "Curb," which found Larry struggling with several issues, including looking for a way to break up with the cancer-stricken Loretta (Vivica A. Fox), avoiding kissing the latest girlfriend (guest star Lolita Davidovich) of BFF Richard Lewis, and… attempting to open a plastic package.

Haven’t we all been in this position, taunted by what’s behind the clear, seemingly indestructible plastic coating, unable to peel away that thick transparent shell? Like “Seinfeld” before it, “Curb” mines comedy from the most ordinary and universal of experiences, creating a string of seemingly tiny moments that slowly snowball into an explosion before Larry’s eyes such as:

'Curb Your Enthusiasm': Getting rid of Loretta

Question: What sort of man would try to leave his girlfriend before she receives news of a cancer diagnosis? 

Answer: Larry David. 

In the Season 7 opener of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Larry attempted to do just that, dashing across town in a literal drag race with a doctor who had some life-changing news for Larry’s girlfriend, Loretta Black (Vivica A. Fox).  

It was a fittingly selfish moment for Larry, one that was as hysterical as it was self-absorbed. His fear is that, if Loretta does have cancer, it will be even harder to break up with her, as only an inhuman monster would dump someone stricken with a major illness. 

But, ahem, he’s not above dumping Loretta seconds before she receives such a diagnosis. His rationale: As bad as things are now (having to make her soup and keep the house at a balmy 82 degrees), they’ll only be worse if she has cancer.  

But first, there was the dinner party from hell.