?Curb Your Enthusiasm? fans, rejoice! If you missed the HBO
summer airing of Season 6, the critically praised show has been released on DVD
just in time for Valentine?s Day.

A brief synopsis for casual or forgetful fans must mention
that at the end of Season 5, the main character, played by Larry David ? former
writer and executive producer of ?Seinfeld?? has died after he donated a kidney
to his dear friend, Richard Lewis. However, it is decided Larry is not ready
for the afterlife? when he gets into an argument with his guardian angels
over the proper system for replacing a DVD. He?s sent back down to earth and
Season 5 ends. As the next season starts, Larry is still the same
passive-aggressive, neurotic guy from the previous seasons. There?s no mention
of his near-death experience, and his life is back to normal. Of course, in the
?Curb? universe, ?normal? is only a relative term.

The first episode, titled ?Meet the Blacks,? instantly makes
up for many of the mediocre episodes found in the fourth and fifth seasons.
Much like previous seasons of ?Curb,? a subplot is planted within the first
episode that stretches throughout the rest of the season. This season?s subplot
involves Larry getting talked into adopting a family displaced by a hurricane.
Interestingly enough, the family?s last name (the Blacks) is the same as their
race, a detail that?s not lost on Larry. The addition of these new characters
provides a breath of fresh air for this series, as Larry?s interactions with
the Black Family are among the season?s greatest highlights.

Two episodes in particular stand out, including ?The TiVo
Guy,? which is easily the season?s best. And if you once had a cute, furry
gerbil as a pet, you?ll never want another one again after watching the season
finale, ?The Bat Mitzvah.?

Despite the hilarity of the season, the features on this DVD
are sparse. Extras include a gag reel and interviews with various members of
the cast. Fortunately, the gag reel is pretty hilarious, so the extras aren?t a
total wash. The interviews are enlightening, though most would be better off
waiting until there?s nothing humorous left to watch on the DVD before clicking
that particular option.

Season 6 of ?Curb Your Enthusiasm? seems to indicate that
poor Larry just won?t ever be able to help himself. Oh, Larry, you?ll never
learn, will you? But that?s fine by fans eagerly anticipating the situations
Larry will be bumbling into during Season 7. Until then, the DVD will be sure
to keep fans entertained.

?

4 stars out of 5?