Curb’ Final Season is Here. No Issues with That
TV’s crankiest character is kvetching for the last time.
Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” kicks off its 12th and final season on Feb. 4, ending a remarkable run that changed TV comedy for the better.
Or, rather, the show’s lack of change gave us hope in the Age of Woke.
David’s ability to spoof his image remains a wonderful bit of performance art. He wasn’t a household name prior to the HBO series’ debut in 2000. It didn’t take long for him to go from “the guy who co-created ‘Seinfeld’” to “Curb’s” signature jerk.
He might be the least likable main character since “All in the Family’s” Archie Bunker. Each episode gave us a new reason to boo him and his selfish ways. Like actor Carroll O’Connor of “Family” fame, David made his Larry doppelgänger oddly lovable, flaws and all.
“Curb’s” improv-heavy style delivered a different brand of sitcom, stripped of canned laughter and stale setups. Like “Seinfeld,” “Curb” often introduced several plotlines that came together in the show’s waning moments.
And we never saw it coming.
Of course, “Curb” was and remains hilarious, thanks to a deep cast including Richard Lewis, Ted Danson, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, and, most of all, J.B. Smoove. The latter’s introduction in season six gave Larry the ultimate on-screen partner.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO
The show’s protracted run could have been “problematic” for David and fans alike. The show started at a time when “safe spaces,” “trigger warnings” and Cancel Culture weren’t part of the vernacular.
David and co. had nearly free reign in the early years. No one could “cancel” a “Curb” installment for bruising their feelings.
Would David’s “Curb” bow down to the woke mob? Could his on-screen character be less monstrous and more of an “ally?” The show would crumble as a result, of course, but we’ve seen more than a few comedy institutions decay under the weight of our woke age.
“Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”
Not “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Even the Left-leaning Guardian applauded David’s showcase for not bowing to modern sensibilities – “If It Ain’t Woke, Don’t Fix It,” read one headline.
Bobby Bank/WireImage
Signature episodes showed David’s fearless approach to comedy. A 2011 episode dubbed “Palestinian Chicken” found Larry torn between his fellow Jews and a delicious new restaurant. Larry ends up siding with a beguiling Palestinian woman named Shara (Anne Bedian) who ran a restaurant teeming with anti-Semites.
She even called him an “occupier” as they make love. David recently dubbed it his favorite “Curb” episode.
The show’s complicated politics shouldn’t be over-examined. David’s approach is nuanced and absurd, his willingness to be true to the character triumphs in the end.
David’s character came of age when other antiheroes ruled the small screen. Think Tony Soprano and Walter White, to name just two. The on-screen Larry wasn’t whacking mobsters or cooking meth. He went through life being offended by everyone crossing his path.
And, more often than not, he selfishly used his money and fame to keep the world at arm’s length.
Bobby Bank/WireImage
“Curb” rarely dabbles in modern politics, but when it does Larry and co. aren’t crashing any Libertarian dinners. And it wouldn’t be authentic if the on-screen Larry, a product of the Hollywood ecosystem, rocked a MAGA hat sans irony.
“Curb’s” antihero was liberal to the core, but the show dedicated an episode to Larry using that red Trump hat to his advantage. He realized strangers would flee from the sight of any MAGA hat wearer, so he proudly wore it to fend off strangers.
Pure “Curb.”
How did David keep “Curb” honest? Like his on-screen persona, he doesn’t dwell on what other people think of him, according to the show’s executive producer Jeff Schaffer.
“Here’s the thing for us: Nothing is really off limits. I think it’s just how you do it. Any subject is totally fair game; it’s how you execute it. Larry is willing to address issues other people just might not want to touch at all, and I think there’s a very good reason for that, and that’s that he doesn’t care if you watch.”
Some media outlets decried a “Curb” MeToo plotline as “clumsy,” a commentary that didn’t impact David or the show. Wokesters sensed David and co. didn’t have time for such complaints, so they rarely rose up to attack him or the series.
Even when Garlin, a fixture on “Curb” as Larry’s best bud, got booted from his other gig at ABC’s “The Goldbergs” for allegedly coarse comments and “unwanted hugs” David professionally stood by him.
“Curb” delivered a quasi-“Seinfeld” reunion in season seven, one served up on the show’s unique terms. The sitcom’s main characters joined Larry David for a “new” episode, but we saw it all go down behind the scenes.
Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
Plus, Larry used the plot to reunite with his ex-wife, played by Hines, lowering expectations for “Seinfeld” fans demanding a perfect reunion moment.
Like “Seinfeld,” “Curb” is leaving at the top of its game with no regrets or talk of “jumping the shark,” the phrase used for shows that outlast their welcome.
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
How did “Curb Your Enthusiasm” differentiate itself from traditional sitcoms and what impact did it have on TV comedy?
TV’s crankiest character, Larry David, is set to bid farewell as “Curb Your Enthusiasm” enters its twelfth and final season on February 4th. The show has had a lasting impact on TV comedy, introducing a brand of humor that remained unchanged even in the Age of Woke.
Larry David’s ability to mock his own image has been a remarkable display of performance art. Prior to the debut of the HBO series in 2000, David was not a household name. However, he quickly became known as the signature jerk of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” transitioning from the co-creator of “Seinfeld” to the show’s unforgettable main character.
Without a doubt, Larry David’s character is one of the least likable in TV history, rivaling even Archie Bunker from “All in the Family.” Each episode of the show gave viewers a new reason to dislike him and his selfish ways. Much like Carroll O’Connor’s portrayal of Archie Bunker, David managed to make his Larry doppelgänger strangely lovable, flaws and all.
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” brought a different style of sitcom to the screen, doing away with canned laughter and stale setups. Similar to “Seinfeld,” the show often introduced multiple plotlines that eventually converged in the final moments of each episode, leaving viewers pleasantly surprised.
Of course, the show owes much of its success to its talented cast, including Richard Lewis, Ted Danson, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, and J.B. Smoove. Smoove, in particular, became Larry’s perfect on-screen partner when he joined the show in season six.
One could argue that the show’s protracted run might have posed some challenges for David and his fans. It started at a time when concepts like safe spaces, trigger warnings, and Cancel Culture were not part of the mainstream lexicon. The early years of the show allowed David and his team creative freedom, as they didn’t have to worry about being canceled for offending anyone.
Many wondered if “Curb Your Enthusiasm” would succumb to the pressures of the woke movement. Could Larry David’s on-screen character become less monstrous and more of an “ally”? While this change might have catered to current sensibilities, it would have ultimately undermined the show’s essence. We have witnessed numerous comedy institutions decay under the weight of our overly sensitive era, but “Curb Your Enthusiasm” managed to remain authentic and unapologetic.
The show received praise even from left-leaning media outlets like The Guardian, which commended David’s refusal to conform to modern sensibilities. Signature episodes, such as the controversial “Palestinian Chicken,” exemplified David’s fearlessness in tackling sensitive topics. In that particular episode, Larry finds himself torn between his Jewish identity and his attraction to a Palestinian woman running an anti-Semitic restaurant. The nuanced and absurd approach to the show’s politics serves as a testament to its authenticity.
While other antiheroes like Tony Soprano and Walter White ruled the small screen during the show’s run, Larry David’s character was far from a typical protagonist. Unlike Soprano or White, who engaged in criminal activities, David’s on-screen persona took offense at everyone he encountered, often using his fame and fortune to keep the world at a distance.
Although “Curb Your Enthusiasm” rarely dives into modern politics, it doesn’t shy away from addressing controversial subjects. The on-screen Larry is liberal to the core, yet the show dedicated an episode to him using a red MAGA hat to his advantage. Recognizing that strangers would steer clear of anyone wearing that hat, he wore it proudly to avoid unwanted interactions.
So, how does Larry David manage to keep “Curb Your Enthusiasm” honest? Much like his character, he doesn’t dwell on what other people think of him. According to the show’s executive producer, Jeff Schaffer, nothing is really off-limits on the show. Larry is willing to tackle subjects that others might shy away from, and he doesn’t care if viewers continue to watch or not.
As “Curb Your Enthusiasm” comes to a close, fans can reflect on the impact that Larry David and his cranky character have had on TV comedy. With its unapologetic and fearless approach, the show has left an indelible mark and set a high standard for future comedy series. Farewell, Larry David, and thank you for the laughter.
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