drednm
Extremely funny show about nothing but Larry David who plays a fictional Larry David based on the real Larry David.Storyline follows the everyday annoyances of Larry David (played by Larry David) in Los Angeles. He has a wife (Cheryl Hines), a manager (Jeff Garlin), his wife (Susie Essman) and a circle of friends, acquaintances, and guest stars.The stories are brilliant and usually contain an ironic ending. No detail of life is too small to be obsessed over, as Larry (who hardly ever works) fills his life with friends and errands, grievances and bickering, and lots of apologies.All the main characters can be annoying as hell and just plain hilarious.The arc with the Blacks was probably way too long and more annoying than funny. And Hines' wife character is very annoying. She basically does nothing but arrange flower and furniture and does nothing useful.Semi-regulars and guest stars over the years have included Richard Lewis, Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards, Wanda Sykes, Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Shelley Berman, Paul Dooley, Julie Payne, Bob Einstein, Mel Brooks, David Schwimmer, Ben Stiller, Beatrice Arthur, Michael York, Rob Coddry, Cady Huffman, Dustin Hoffman, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kym Whitley, Vivica A. Fox, J.B. Smoove, Catherine O'Hara, Gina Gershon, Cheri Oteri, Philip Baker Hall, Lucy Lawless, Kathy Griffin, Edward Asner, Rita Wilson, Rob Reiner, Joan Rivers, Paul Sand, Anne Bancroft, Nathan Lane, Richard Kind, Jo Anne Worley, Kevin Nealon, June Squib, Steve Coogan, Michael McKean, Rosie O'Donnell, Wayne Knight, Estelle Harris, Ricky Gervais, and Stephen Colbert.The show is a gem.
grizzledgeezer
I'm not rating "Curb Your Enthusiasm", because I can't figure out what Larry & friends are trying to do. How can I critique something when Im not sure I understand the intent?The first season starts with Larry David the repeated victim of the lies and unethical behavior of those around him. But it doesn't take long before he starts giving as good as he gets, both deliberately and accidentally. If nothing else, the series is a laundry list of the ways in which people fail to show good sense -- or even simple courtesy -- in their dealings with each other.Contrary to popular belief, characters don't have to be likable, simply interesting. Hardly any of the characters are likable (especially the women, most of whom are self-centered *****es), but the focus of "Curb" -- how people are unforgiving schmucks -- is so narrow it doesn't leave much room for any kind of interesting development, either of characters or character relations. Almost everyone is driven by narrow self-interest, and a near-complete failure to understand what's going on around them. And nothing else.The use of improvisation doesn't impress me one bit. Any good comedy is developed through improvisation -- if only that of writers sitting around a table, tossing ideas at each other. Simply in terms of solid yucks, there have been many better comedies.Neverheless... You really have to see Season 6. It has a scene that is arguably one of the great moments in the history of comedy. (Okay, I'm exaggerating. But only a bit.) It's built up carefully over two or three episodes, and when it happens, you wonder why you didn't see it coming. It's so tasteless, you'll probably feel guilty. Go ahead. Feel guilty.Larry David set his sights far too low. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" could have been a truly great comedy/drama. It doesn't come within light years of greatness.
stilwelljim
Like Alan Partridge, which is a show from the UK (which pre-dates this) which is a similarly cynical grumpy older guy, but far far far less funny. At points it's superb, but overall it's only OK. Very watchable, but not brilliant.I would say American comedies aren't that great. They're put together by a team of 30+ people, whereas great British comedies, which are far superior are usually written in a closer knit team of 2-3. Case in point American office vs The Office, and this vs Alan Partridge. I've watched maybe two dozen episodes of this, so feel although I haven't seen them all, I have seen enough to comment. 4/10, watchable, but highly over-rated.
