Curb Your Enthusiasm – the new series

[Kenny Vermouth]

One of my favourite Curb moments - it happens after Larry's house has 'bald asshole' scrawled on it.

Larry: "This is a hate crime."
Policeman: "Well I'm bald and I don't find it offensive."
Larry: "With all due respect Officer Burt, you have chosen to shave your head for fashion reasons and we don't consider you a real member of the bald community."

 

[stavros]

To be truthful, I don't think it's dependent on knowing who Larry is in regard to Seinfeld, as he wasn't actually in it beyond the odd extra appearence. If it was based on Jerry's life now, maybe that might be different, but a newbie can enter CYE thinking Larry is the stereotypical successful New York Jew working in LA. There's the odd reference to Seinfeld such as the episode with Julia Louis Dreyfuss in, but that not really where the humour stems from. It's more a bumbling middle-aged man in lots of unsuitable situations, a la Fawlty, Ted, Partridge, etc. In otherwords, it has the basis for a strong British following.

As for knowing it only appeals to die-hard fans, how does that explain non-stop repeats of Friends, watched mostly by people who'll have seen them before and might well have the DVD box sets?

 

[Onslow]

CYE has a small but enthusiastic fanbase. It wouldn't appeal much beyond that fanbase. It seems obvious to me. Would your gran like it? Would people who like terrestrial sitcoms like My Family like it?

What, like The office, or Peep Show, or Spaced?

 

[Orang Utan]

Good point Onslow. I dunno. I just don't perceive the wide appeal that you all do. People will always like Jim Carrey more than Woody Allen though. Does that make any sense?

 

[Orang Utan]

For instance, why is One Foot In The Grave more appealing to the masses than CYE? Is it really just a matter of scheduling? I don't believe so, but I can't explain it.

 

[stavros]

Channel 4 has done some it's greatest shows by experimenting in the mainstream, as has the BBC. See Father Ted, The Sopranos, Python, The Young Ones, Peep Show. The Sopranos was turned down as a format by all the major US networks before HBO took the risk and now it's rated by many to be the greatest drama series ever.

 

[Detroit City]

 

[stavros]

Is it me, or does it look a bit wrong when Larry looks happy and satisfied? We like rejoicing in his self-inflicted frustration and misery.

 

[dogmatique]

For instance, why is One Foot In The Grave more appealing to the masses than CYE? Is it really just a matter of scheduling? I don't believe so, but I can't explain it.

To be fair, they're actually rather similar, though the familiar surroundings of english surburbia make it more mainstream.

All purely academic though, as I said before there is *no* way CYE will ever be shown in a key post-watershed spot as no-one got in on the ground floor and bought it when it was new.

 

[Orang Utan]

Anyway, what channel is this new series on? Is it the sixth one?

 

[Detroit City]

To be fair, they're actually rather similar, though the familiar surroundings of english surburbia make it more mainstream.

OFITG and CYE are similar? put down the crack pipe man...

 

[stavros]

It may not be familiar as a situation to us, but since when has that been necessary to get into the public conciousness? Hundreds of popular films and TV shows are based around the cultures of New York and LA, with very few parallels to suburban UK life.

Plus I don't CYE is dependent on knowing that Larry is a real person, because even in America he was hardly a famous face in the Seinfeld days. There are famous people making appearence like Mel Brooks and David Schwimmer, but Mrs Merton managed to be a success in this country as a fictional character interacting with celebrities.

 

[fieryjack]

Maybe a two-year break will have helped put the standard back to season 2 levels; I didn't get on at all well with seasons 3 and 4, 4 especially.

The "it's all improvised" thing is a slight distortion. It's not got a script in the traditional sense, but does seem to be rigorously rehearsed and what's expected from each scene is drummed into everyone beforehand with pretty detailed outlines.

 

[Orang Utan]

OFITG and CYE are similar? put down the crack pipe man...

Well they both feature curmudgeonly old men getting themselves into excruciatingly embarrassing situations, but you could argue that the ongoing escalation of toe-curling social disasters is a convention of all sitcoms

 

[stavros]

I think Larry and his co-writers create plot lines which they give to the actors, but the exact dialogue is improvised as the actor sees fit.

 

[BlackSpecs]

The latest episode was funny as fuck !

Loved Steve Coogan !!!!!!

 

[Ned Pointsman]

Decentish finale, possibly the only time Larry has been genuinely angry.

 

[seven]

Devoted sister, beloved cunt.

Every time I see that clip it makes me laugh

 

[BlackSpecs]

Decentish finale, possibly the only time Larry has been genuinely angry.

I won't give away the end ........ but what a choice !!!! Genius x-mas card

 

[Ned Pointsman]

It was no "car wash cunt" but his "SHUT THE FUCK UP" was brilliant.

Mopy dick ?

 

[BlackSpecs]

Was it CYE that gave birth to the " 4 Eyed Fuck " ?

 

[alef]

That was indeed a great ending.

Wikipedia is listing that he's agreed at least two more seasons, but a quick search on google news doesn't confirm it...

 

[Skim]

What a romantic ending Didn't see it coming, but it made pefect sense

His speech at the Bat Mitzvah was priceless...