Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm

Years ago America pondered the "Seinfeld" philosophy, climaxed, and then closed the book after the closing episode on NBC. Seinfeld was, at times, a good show, and in more ways than one. Unbeknownst to me, Seinfeld made promises that it did not keep - I would never have realized this had I not encountered HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. It is becoming apparent that Larry David is the John Lennon to Jerry Seinfeld's Paul McCartney. Curb Your Enthusiasm is awkward, tense and diabolically funny. Although the show resembles Seinfeld, HBO's Larry Sanders and Woody Allen merchandise, it is impossible not to say that Larry David and the creators have not re-re-re-invented the situation comedy once again.

I saw this special for the first time on the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" season one DVD. As an avid fan of "Seinfeld" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" I was very excited to see the "prequel" to the HBO series. It did not disappoint. It was immediately obvious to me why HBO decided to pick up the series. It was absolutely hilarious! I can, however, see why Larry David was a failed stand-up comedian. His sense of humor is not for everyone, but if you are a fan, you will love this. People often talk about his offbeat sense of humor, but his facial expressions are also hilarious. There is one scene that I watched five times in a row and laughed so hard, I got a cramp in my side. I'd like to tell you more, but I don't want to give anything away. All I can say is ENJOY!

This hour long comedy special can be found on Season 1 DVD set of the series "Curb your Enthusiasm". It's pretty much a mockumentary akin to "Spinal Tap" or "A Mighty Wind". It details the days leading up to Larry David's first comedy special for HBO. It has him dealing various people interspersed with interviews with various celebrities. It's highly amusing and about on par with the first season of the actual show, but as fans of CYE can attest to, the first season of the show isn't exactly the best of the run thus far (not knocking the special or the show it inspired, just saying a funny show would only grow much funnier)

My Grade: B-

this was an hour-long mockumentary (pilot?) made for HBO counting down Larry's days to his HBO comedy special. It exposed Larry David to the rest of the world, with a few bits that would later re-surface in the HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm", most notably the death in the family bit. It was really funny from beginning to end. It had to be one of the most convincing mockumentaries ever made, through a clever fusion of celebrity cameos, a real solid technical understanding of the "documentary" aesthetics (from the slightly "imperfect" composition to occasional on camera interviews), and a pitch-perfect satire. It was obvious that Larry David was putting on a routine, but the tone of the film was so dead-pan that David seemed distant enough for those kind of neurotic reactions. That, unlike Woody Allen's neurotic New York comic reacting to the LA phonies in "Annie Hall", David's interactions with the people around him were passive-aggressive enough to take place in the actual LA.

Compared to the series, it was more subdued and unpredictable, which made it a little slower and less funny I guess.

Curb Your Enthusiasm is the best comedy on TV! I've talked with Larry and he is as funny as on TV! Watch it!

Too bad that the three big networks don't realize that their shows are so bad mostly because they use a cookie cutter method in creating shows!