The Badger Herald: ArtsEtc.: Curb return has ‘appeal’

ArtsEtc.

Curb return has ‘appeal’

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Also by John B. Hamel II:

Showcase 'warps' definition of pop (November 9, 2007)
Pot o' gold at end of 'Rainbows' (November 5, 2007)
Lekman delivers lush pop sounds (October 9, 2007)
Penn's book-to-film adaptation not wildly successful (September 24, 2007)
Curb return has 'appeal' (September 19, 2007)

Wednesday, September 19, 2007 12:00 a.m.

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"Seinfeld" fans were left destitute when the show ended in 1998. Luckily, "Curb Your Enthusiasm," another nuanced "show about nothing" from "Seinfeld" co-creator, Larry David, saved fans from their bereaved existence with the show's 2000 premier. But after five seasons of the pseudo-cinéma vérité comedy of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Seinfeld"-turned-"Curb" fans found themselves in a situation that was all too familiar — the last new episode aired December 2005 and speculation of a sixth season became more and more dubious. Fans anxiously began reloading their fallout shelters with DVDs of the eight seasons of "Seinfeld" and the five seasons of "Curb" in preparation. But fortunately, as his fictional guardian angels (played by Dustin Hoffman and Sacha Baron Cohen) put it in the fifth season finale, Larry David was simply "not ready" for his fictional death, or for that matter, the death of his show. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is back for yet another season of uncomfortable situations, pointed sarcasm and Larry David's trademark stare-offs. Larry David, who stars as himself, returns with his usual crew, including Jeff Garlin as his manager, Cheryl Hines as his wife, Ted Danson as himself, and a wide host of other celebrities. The season premiered Sept. 9 with the episode "Meet the Blacks," a return to the improvisational comedy the show claims as its hallmark. Again, we find the idiosyncratic Larry David quibbling over petty issues and refusing to adhere to societal etiquette, causing himself and viewers alike unbearable awkwardness. The season premiere's title refers to a family that has come to stay with Larry and his wife Cheryl after losing their home in a hurricane. The Blacks are black, and Larry, of course, cannot help but comment on the coincidence of the name. Although the title refers to the arrival of the Blacks, the bulk of the episode centers on Larry's so-called perfect plan to avoid attending parties he does not want to go to. His plan entails showing up to parties a day late, pretending to have gotten the wrong date and hoping that he can make amends with an apology. The plan perpetuates in normal "Curb" fashion, coming back to bite Larry in the end. The season's second episode, titled "The Anonymous Donor," aired this past Sunday and finds Larry David once again in typical "Curb" trouble. After donating a wing to a National Resources Defense Council exhibit in his name, Larry is one-upped by friend Ted Danson, who becomes lauded for his magnanimity after donating a separate wing anonymously. The perfected "Curb Your Enthusiasm" formula again brings everything back to spite the jealous Larry David. Both episodes have the hilariousness and quirkiness that keep viewers coming back to the show. Some were critical of "Curb Your Enthusiasm"'s fifth season for seeming forced and losing humor to plot development, but the first two episodes of this season are proof that "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is back to the top of improvised comedy on television. Hopefully, Larry David's time away has given him a copious amount of material to make this season one of the show's best. 4 1/2 stars out of 5

1 Comment | Leave a comment

Anonymous | September 21, 2007 11:15 AM | Reply

Jeff Garlin talks about the origins of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," his pal Larry David and his first movie as writer, director, and star, "I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With," in this audio interview: http://www.mrmedia.com/2007/09/jeff-garlin-001-curb-your-enthusiasm.html