I love Curb. It’s the only TV show I watch. And while I’m loving all the Seinfeld stuff this season, the show isn’t what it used to be. I feel like its been going down hill the past two or three seasons. I still love it and will watch it b/c I love Larry David. But I don’t know if it’ll ever be as funny as those first couple seasons. Because not only is the show starting to copy old Seinfeld stuff, it’s starting to copy old Curb stuff.
Having said that, I hope Larry continues doing the show for another twenty years. Because like I said, it’s the only worthwhile thing on TV.
Fredo: Hm, yes, You’re right, it is not as good as it used to be, but God help me, I still love it to death. And this Seinfeld stuff has just been brilliant. I still need to see season 4!!!!
“it’s the only worthwhile thing on TV.”
Absolutely true, although I still watch The Office and Family Guy here and there…
Yeah, Fredo, that is pretty much true, but I still watch a few other shows. I’d throw them out without a thought though, if I had too.
other than in the past with The Wire and Da Ali G Show, Curb is the only TV show that I can say that I find brilliance in every episode.
I think it might be common for many people, but upon seeing the first few episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, I was extremely extremely underwhelmed to the point that I could not understand at all the praise it was getting. Needless to say I went back and tried the series again, only to find myself falling in love season after season with almost every aspect of the show.
Props to HBO for so many of their programming choices.
I think Curb is actually getting better over time. The show has gone from being just about the awkwardness of dealing with other people because of all the unwritten rules and hidden obligations of social interactions to something that has a more expansive, even cosmic sense of comedy. In this last season (and the previous one), it’s like it isn’t just other people who are out to get Larry, but the universe itself. (Not surprisingly one of Resnais’ favorite current shows!)
I agree with much of the praise for CURB noted above. My ONE reservation about the show is the overacting (and over-shouting) of the actress who plays Suzie (is that the character’s name?), the wife of Larry’s manager, Jeff. She overplays the “bitch” aspects of the role to absurd dimensions with her facial expressions and (mainly) voice.
Anyone who had to confront such a person on a regular basis would have broken off diplomatic relations with her a long time ago. (I’m not trying to hold an obviously comic show to some standard of realism here, just commenting on how it appears to me.)
I’m sure the actress will have her defenders who thinks she plays it “just right,” but for me she’s WAY over the top with exaggeration. Larry is also an exaggeration, but a believable one.
Probably the most consistently hilarious show on TV.
Dr. Frank, I think the whole point is how over the top she is, she dominates her marriage. Jeff, is such a passive man who is married to a domineering wife. The juxtaposition is on purpose.
I think Dr. Frank raises an interesting aesthetic question: she may be intentionally grating, but she’s still grating. I mean, I like her performance in the show, but I definitely sympathize with people who find her hard to take, because, well, she is.
There are probably other examples of intentionally “bad” performances that, despite their being done on purpose, are legitimate turn offs.
I think Suzie’s hilarious.
Anyway, I also think this show’s great. I also was unimpressed at first. I think the documentary feel of it works so well.
LONG LIVE HBO!
David Block & Jon Hastings: Believe me, I GOT the point of the power relations within the Jeff-Suzie marriage — and would have gotten that same point if the decibel level was 20-30 points lower. I also realized that the performance and persona are intentional. Any good actress and a good director could have modulated her facial contortions, gestures, and VOICE. But not all artistic decisions are wise, at least if they’re trying to impress me.
Jon’s larger point is interesting: that there are certainly many other performances that were intended to convey some exaggerated character trait but ended up turning off segments of the audience. My first thought is Nicolas Cage in SNAKE EYES. I’ve even had my classes debate whether Cage is giving an over-the-top performance OR a great performance of an over-the-top character. The usual verdict is that while the character is “out there,” Cage overdoes it to the point of parody and turn-off.
That’s sort of my gut feeling about Suzie on CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.
frank—-I kind of agree with you, though she doesn’t really bother me at all.
I know what you mean, Frank. I don’t know how many of you have watched The Wire, but Brother Mouzone, to me, seemed completely out of place. He was way too over the top, I found. As if he’d walked in from another series.
I loved the series… but I haven’t had HBO in years, so I been buying the DVD box sets (typically Target has them low on Black Friday). I missed the Seinfeld cast reunion…but was it great as it was hyped up to be?
As for Larry David fans…check out the recently released “Whatever Works”…Woody Allen film…but I enjoyed this film…and I can’t picture anyone else playing the character the main character but Larry David.
Dr. Tomasulo: I agree that Suzie is over-the-top, loud, and sometimes obnoxious (on a humorous level), but I like it within the context of the TV show, personally.
You said, “Anyone who had to confront such a person on a regular basis would have broken off diplomatic relations with her a long time ago.”
Think about who actually sees the bad side of Suzie: Larry, Jeff, and one time I remember in particular, Cheryl (in the third season).
Jeff is tied to her by marriage, but anyone who has seen every season knows he leaves on occasion (especially in the third).
Larry is best friends with – and employs – Jeff, thus, he has to put up with Suzie’s crazy, over-the-top personality in order to continue his friendship/work relationship with Jeff. But re-watching the series, I’ve noticed he isn’t around her for extremely long periods of time. Usually “stop-and-chats”, events, or he goes by their house. So it makes sense to me why Larry puts up with Suzie.
As for anyone else, I agree, they would have cut her off the moment she opened her big, over-exaggerated mouth. haha.
Austin: I don’t disagree with you about the motives that appear to be at work in the show to keep Larry in touch with Suzie. Nonetheless, all those things (esp. Larry’s professional association with Jeff) could still be there if Suzie were toned down a tad.
By the way, as I recall, Jeff doesn’t LEAVE Suzie; she throws HIM out.
Although I generally try not to attribute normal human motives and emotions to fictional characters, I’d also add that the fact that Larry has a professional relationship with Jeff is not enough for him to even have a stop-and-chat with her. She is just SO extreme that if Larry needed to see Jeff on business or to meet for golf, I’d insist that she not be around. They could meet at a deli or even outside Jeff’s house or conduct more business on the phone. It’s almost as if Larry is surprised every time she curses him out or questions his motives, integrity, intelligence, taste, or whatever.
The problem is not that Suzie’s character isn’t adequately explained in the context of the show; it’s that the actress overdoes her scenes and is over-written as a conventional “bitch” (the actress uses that word in interviews). I prefer my bitches more subtly drawn, especially if they’re supposed to be wealthy and educated.
For instance, does every other word have to be “fuck”? I’m no prude and I even use that word myself on occasion, but Suzie just takes it beyond the bounds of TV comedy. Sure, Tony Soprano and his crew used curse words all the time, but their use is motivated by their crude backgrounds and lack of education. What’s Suzie’s backstory that would justify her over-the-top hostility? It seems unmotivated to me, although I may have missed the episode where she has a flashback to her rotten childhood or potty-mouthed mother.
If a large chunk of modern humor flows from Dostoyevsky’s “Notes from Underground,” then I understand the humor from CURB and SEINFELD. All humor is about every single little thing that drives you crazy and how they grow into big things. The problem with sitcom is that everything becomes a gimmick. For me, CURB and SEINFELD have become completely predictable.
.KNDY: It is worth all it’s hyped up to be!!! I was so nervous, but the cast still has it!!!!!
Dr. Tomasulo: Yes, I fully agree that she could tone it down a bit and nothing would change. I fully agree, even though, again, she doesn’t bother me personally…it wouldn’t change much.
Touche, Jeff didn’t technically leave Suzie, but he was happy not to be home. The one time he did leave was because of the German Shepherd he was allergic to. So you got me there.
And as for the overuse of the word “fuck”, I think when she used it in early episodes, it just caught on and the major audience wanted to see her fly off the handle. I personally could do without it as much, but like you, “I’m no prude and I even use that word myself on occasion”. haha
The “Belly Grab” episode was hilarious a couple weeks ago. I agree it has gone downhill a bit, but I still love the show. Did anyone watch “Bored to Death” when it was on?
VENTURE BROS.
COME ON! (Arrested Development)
Curb is the only TV show that I actually care about anymore.. I haven’t had cable in years, but I can’t wait to watch this season on DVD.
Amanda——Watch it on the internet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
surfthechannel.com
maybe.. may also try to watch the episodes on demand when i go home to see my parents for thanksgiving.. i’m proud to say that my parents are fans of the show too (and seinfeld).
Did anyone watch the season finale yesterday?
DAVID—-Shit, I forgot about that?? Was it good? Don’t reveal anything, I’m gonna watch it now!!!!!
It was good. It was more great for the seinfeld bits and a couple notable quotes came from the episode. The ending was pretty good too.
ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE
Yes, yes, another TV show based thread, I know, I know.
But I think this show warrants it. It’s so original and clever, so stripped to the bones, yet just hilarious. It has such an energy and meanness that isn’t quite mean.
I am watching the Seinfeld reunion ones, and they are just so damn awesome!!! Seeing the cast together again is great, and yes, they still have the same energy and charisma.
Of course, without them the show is still great, all generating from Larry’s incredibly original personality.
Any other fans of the show? What do you think of all this Seinfeld stuff?