Larry David Movies
The reigning curmudgeon of TV comedy, Emmy-winning Larry David is a rare case of lightning striking twice on the small screen. Not only did he make television history with Seinfeld -- one of the most popular sitcoms to ever grace the airwaves -- but two years after the series ended, David made a stellar return with the hit HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm. A New York City native raised in the Brooklyn, David has often claimed that his carefree childhood made for a rough transition into a miserable adulthood. He began his career as a standup comic in the early to mid-'70s, with middling results at best, a period during which he also met another, albeit more successful, comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, who would also become a lifelong friend. A few years later, success was still eluding David, though, in 1979, he got his first taste of fame as a writer and performer for the Saturday Night Live knock-off Fridays. Television definitely seemed to provide a better vehicle for David's unique brand of humor, and he later got a job as a writer for Saturday Night Live during its 1984-1985 season. The blessing became a curse, however, when David failed to gel with the SNL crew, his brief tenure on the show yielding only one on-air sketch, which was relegated to the evening's final segment.David spent much of the rest of the '80s appearing in small roles in such films as Radio Days (1987) and New York Stories (1989). As the decade drew to a close, Seinfeld was in negotiations to develop a pilot for NBC, and he turned to his old friend David for inspiration, thus giving birth to the wildly popular "show about nothing." Starring Seinfeld, Michael Richards, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Jason Alexander as a quartet of self-involved New Yorkers, Seinfeld debuted in 1990 (after its 1989 pilot episode) and remained on the air for nine seasons. In addition to serving as one of the driving creative forces of the show, David was also the inspiration for the George Constanza character (Alexander) and frequently provided voice-over work. In 1996, David took a sabbatical from the series in order to try his hand at writing and directing a feature film. Though Sour Grapes didn't exactly strike gold at the box office, it did offer a healthy dose of David's trademark acerbic humor and eventually found a second life on the home video market. David returned to Seinfeld in 1998 to craft its final episode.
Although he initially opposed returning to the rigors of television, 1999 saw the airing of the HBO special Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm, which, told in mockumentary style, echoed the comedian's past by weaving the tale of a failed former standup comic whose bid to return to the spotlight yielded predictably disastrous results. The show was a hit and prompted HBO to offer David his own series. Beginning its fourth season in 2004, the Emmy-nominated Curb Your Enthusiasm continued to detail David's day-to-day strife in an unrestrained fashion that had network censors blushing and audiences laughing. That same year, David served as a co-screenwriter and executive producer of the Barry Levinson film Envy, a black comedy starring Ben Stiller and Jack Black. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Woody Allen writes and directs this "blackish comedy" about an eccentric upper-class New Yorker (Larry David) who abandons his comfortable lifestyle in favor of leading a more bohemian existence. After meeting a young Southern girl (Evan Rachel Wood) and her family, he discovers that life among the nonconformists isn't quite as carefree as he'd envisioned it to be. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, (more)
- 2007
- Add Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 06 to QueueAdd Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 06 to top of Queue
HBO's hit series Curb Your Enthusiasm, featuring TV's most cantankerous character, is back and funnier than ever. Writer-producer-comedian Larry David stars as himself in a comic vision of his life. This year, David's world is especially off-kilter: An African-American family, displaced by a hurricane, moves in with the staunchly progressive Davids; and in episode 6 ("The Tivo Guy"), Larry and his wife, Cheryl (Cheryl Hines), decide to separate. In addition to David, cast regulars include Jeff Garlin (as his manager, Jeff Greene) and Susie Essman (as Jeff's wife, Susie). The series also features appearances by guest celebrities playing themselves, such as returning favorites Ted Danson, Richard Lewis, and Mary Steenburgen. Season 6, originally telecast in 2007 over HBO, adds Vivica A. Fox as Loretta Black and Tia Carrere as Cha Cha.
- Starring:
- Larry David, Cheryl Hines, (more)
- 2005
In what may be the series finale, Louis Lewis (Bill Saluga) awakens from his coma, and refuses to give Richard (Richard Lewis) one of his kidneys, leaving Larry (Larry David) as Richard's best hope for survival. Omar Jones (Mekhi Phifer) calls Larry to tell him that he was, in fact, adopted. Larry goes to Arizona to visit his birth parents, the Cones (Hansford Rowe and June Squibb) and is shocked to learn that he is not actually Jewish. After an inspirational visit to the Cones' church, Larry has a change of heart, and races back to Los Angeles to donate his kidney to Richard. On the way into the operating room, he learns that there's been a terrible mistake. Larry also pays a brief but illuminating visit to the afterlife, where he gets into an argument with his guardian angels (Dustin Hoffman and Sacha Baron Cohen of Da Ali G Show) over his system for making sure he doesn't misplace his DVD cases. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Larry (Larry David) almost drowns while swimming in the ocean. As he later tells it, in a moment of panic, he cries out to God, and is deposited safely on the beach. "Now maybe you'll start to be more respectful to people," Susie (Susie Essman) suggests, but Larry doesn't get her point. With his newfound faith, he decides to go to temple for the High Holy Days, but Jeff (Jeff Garlin) explains that one has to order tickets months in advance, and that the services are sold out. Larry eventually decides to go to a scalper (Paul Ben-Victor). Larry is initially thrilled to learn that his favorite deli, Leo's, has named a sandwich after him. But, when he finds out the ingredients are whitefish, sable, cream cheese, capers, and onions ("That's a disgusting sandwich"), he tries to have it changed. Leo (Ed O'Ross) agrees to allow Larry to change if someone will switch with him. Nat (Shelley Berman) seems to enjoy the whitefish, but suffers some kind of attack while eating it, and has to be rushed to the hospital, where, delirious, he whispers something that to Larry sounds like "You're adopted." Later, Ted Danson refuses to switch sandwiches with Larry, and at temple, he gets into a spat with Richard Lewis, who is jealous of Larry's sandwich. Also, a chief surgeon (Kenneth Kimmins) appears to get "the yips" on the golf course, and when Cheryl (Cheryl Himes) complains about Larry interrupting sex to answer the phone, he responds sarcastically, "Oh, sacred intercourse cannot be interrupted!" ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Larry (Larry David) locks himself out of his car, and learns that the drive-thru window at Jack-in-the-Box does not accept walk-thru customers. He despairs until Peter (Frank Whaley), a friendly passing motorist, agrees to give him a lift. Jeff (Jeff Garlin) arrives, and gives Larry the bad news about Richard (Richard Lewis): he needs a kidney transplant. Because the comic's cousin refuses to give up any of his organs while he's still alive, Richard is hoping that a close friend will come through. Larry's response is, "I have to choose healthier friends." Eventually he gets into a conflict with Jeff about which of them should offer to give Richard a kidney. Also, Larry aggravates two different receptionists, one by revealing too little information, the other by revealing too much. He also argues with Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) over what constitutes "snuggling" ("I'm using the ass as a lever to draw you in! That's all!") and debates the rules of "Eenie Meenie Minee Mo" with Jeff. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Larry (Larry David) meets Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) and Yoshi (Greg Watanabe), an art dealer, at a Japanese restaurant for lunch. The staff of the restaurant call Larry "Chicken Teriyaki Boy" due to his penchant for ordering the same meal every time. At lunch, Larry is surprised to learn that Yoshi's father (Ken Takamoto), who lives in the same nursing home as Nat (Shelley Berman), was a kamikaze pilot during WWII. "Shouldn't he be dead?" Larry asks Yoshi, who is forced to explain, "He grazed the ship." The meal ends disastrously, with Yoshi believing that the oblivious Larry is calling him a chicken. Later, Larry is at a poker game when the host, Kevin (Kevin Nealon) is called away because Yoshi, who happens to be his brother-in-law, has attempted suicide. The guests decide to keep playing cards. Also, Larry catches Nat watching an inappropriate video at an even more inappropriate volume, debates the merits of a doctor's prescription vs. a pharmacist's recommendation, and demands an investigation into the legitimacy of the bingo game at Nat's nursing home. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Larry (Larry David) gets "orthotic" inserts for his shoes from his podiatrist (Carlos Jacott). They ease his foot pain, but they make a horrible squeaking noise when he walks, creating a variety of problems. Larry asks his sullen handyman, Jesus (Lobo Sebastian), to hang a mezuzah on his front door before his father, Nat (Shelley Berman), visits. Cheryl (Cheryl Hines), whose parents are visiting, threatens to fire Maria (Lydia Blanco), their housekeeper and Jesus' wife, because she won't wear a bra. Larry loves the way Maria makes chicken salad, so he agrees to ask her to wear one. Larry gets into an argument when he mocks Cheryl's father (Paul Dooley) for wearing merchandise marketed in connection with The Passion of the Christ, a "Christ nail" on a leather string. He also offends Susie (Susie Essman) when he learns that her 11-year-old daughter, Sammi (Ashly Holloway), still believes in the tooth fairy. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Larry (Larry David) tries to hire a private detective, Omar Jones (Mekhi Phifer), to find out if he's adopted, but Jones explains he's only interested in taking cases that "benefit the community," and Larry's offer to host bingo or be a Big Brother for a single afternoon apparently doesn't cut it. Larry and Jeff (Jeff Garlin) run into Jodi Funkhouser (Mayim Bialik, TV's Blossom), the daughter of their friend Marty (Bob Einstein). She's very friendly, and Larry explains to Jeff that the lesbian community has always embraced him. Later, Marty, who is pressing Larry to attend his anniversary party, promises him that Rosie O'Donnell will be at his table. He also tells Larry that Jodi is now dating a guy, eliciting a joyous response from Larry that puts his relationship with the lesbian community in peril. Also, Larry wears a bowtie, learns from Wanda (Wanda Sykes) that his new dog hates black people, and gets into a spat with a disabled man when he uses the handicapped stall in a public restroom. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Larry (Larry David) and Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) are late for a barbecue on the beach hosted by Mark (Rob Huebel) and Marla (Lauren Katz), but Larry insists upon going back into the house to get his jacket, boasting that like the third pig in The Three Little Pigs, "I build my house with bricks!" It turns out to be a chilly evening on the beach, and when Larry goes to get the jacket, he's dismayed to find the newly engaged Marla wearing it. He pesters her until she gives it back, but he's outraged to discover that she's spilled melted chocolate on it. Later, while Larry is meeting with his Korean bookie, Sung (Bobby Lee), Susie (Susie Essman) brings Oscar (Rhett the Dog) into the room, and Sung takes an odd degree of interest in the dog. When Oscar later vanishes, Larry assumes the absolute worst, leading him to cause a terrible scene at Mark and Marla's wedding. Larry is also outraged to discover that Ben Heineman (Stuart Pankin) still hasn't gotten his Cadillac repaired, despite the fact that Larry gave him a check for the damages. It turns out that Heineman gave Larry's money to his daughter, Rachel (Iris Bahr), for something she needed. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Richard (Richard Lewis) is low on the kidney transplant list, so he's hoping that Larry (Larry David) will come through for him. Richard wishes he were more famous, like his hero, Mickey Mantle, whose 500th home-run ball he owns. Richard offers to give Larry the valuable ball in exchange for his kidney. But then Larry runs into George (George Lopez) at the hospital, and George tells him that the head of the local "Kidney Consortium," Ben Heineman (Stuart Pankin), is an Orthodox Jewish Yankee fan who is willing to bend the rules for his friends. In an effort to get Richard moved up on the list of kidney recipients, Larry decides to befriend Heineman by inviting him and his daughter, Rachel (Iris Bahr), to Jeff's (Jeff Garlin) cabin for a ski trip. Larry decides to further ingratiate himself by pretending to be an Orthodox Jew. Of course, this will only work if Susie (Susie Essman) pretends to be his wife. Larry also gets into a dispute with Lisa (Mo Collins), Richard's allegedly larcenous nurse, about the alleged size of her genitalia. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2005
A sex offender moves into the neighborhood, and Larry (Larry David) notes that because the offender is bald, "It's very bad for the bald community." Later, he meets the aforementioned sex offender, Rick (Rob Corddry of The Daily Show), and he turns out to be a pretty good guy. He's a huge Seinfeld fan, he helps Larry with his groceries, and he gives him some valuable golf tips. So Larry hesitantly invites him to the Seder that Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) is preparing. When Cheryl predictably freaks out about the invite, Larry reassures her, "He's cool," and asks pointedly, "What would Jesus do?" Also at the event are Jeff (Jeff Garlin), Susie (Susie Essman), and Susie's brother-in-law, Len (Stephen Tobolowsky), a staunch Republican. Mark (Rob Huebel) and Marla (Lauren Katz) are also guests in the David household, and Larry invites the cranky couple from across the street, Mac (Pat Harrington Jr. and Ethel (Jennie Ventriss), because he suspects that Mark has been stealing his newspapers, and Larry wants Ethel to ID Mark. The event goes sour when there's a controversy involving the afikomen. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2005
It's Larry's (Larry David) birthday. Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) has mysterious plans that have yet to come to fruition. Jeff (Jeff Garlin) gets invited to the Playboy Mansion, but Larry doesn't think he can go because Cheryl's already mad at him about something else. Jeff has to explain the "double transgression theory." Larry visits the comatose Louis Lewis (Bill Saluga), hoping that he'll die so that Larry won't have to give Richard a kidney. At the hospital, he meets Wilson (Grant Rosenmeyer), a terminally ill kid who has a wish that the Make-A-Wish Foundation refuses to grant. He turns to Larry. Larry's cousin Andy (Richard Kind) pays a visit, and receives a treasured smoking jacket from Larry's ailing father, Nat (Shelley Berman), that Larry believes was meant for him. Andy invites himself along on the visit to the Playboy Mansion, where Larry discovers that he has something in common with Hef (Hugh Hefner). Larry runs into repeated problems with people bringing items that belong to him into the bathroom with them. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2004
- Add Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 04 to QueueAdd Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 04 to top of Queue
The ten episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm's fourth season are largely motivated by the improbable premise of Mel Brooks offering Seinfeld creator Larry David the opportunity to star in Brooks' smash Broadway musical The Producers. Somehow this setup results in a blood feud between Larry and Ben Stiller (a case of adding injury to insult). Other mishaps during this season include a politically incorrect confrontation with a group of handicapped workers, a world-class crisis involving name tags, a set-to with David Schwimmer over cashews and raisins, an attempt to skirt the traffic laws and to provide medical marijuana for Larry's dad, and the near-death of the best friend of Larry's associate, Jeff (Jeff Garlin). The season comes to a riotous conclusion with a special one-hour episode built around Larry's opening night on Broadway. Events crucial to the outcome include a benighted tryst with The Producers co-star Cady Huffman and the ultimate revelation of Mel Brooks' ulterior motives for casting Larry in the first place. Suffice to say that the dialogue sounds awfully familiar in this climactic episode, which also features cameos by Brooks' actress wife Anne Bancroft and a certain comic named Jerry Seinfeld ~ All Movie Guide
- 2004
Larry (Larry David) is spending a lot of time taking care of Michael (Patrick Kerr), who broke up with his girlfriend after Larry told him she was not attractive. Later, when he has a problem with his car, Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor give him a ride. Larry and Stiller get into a shouting match after Stiller drops Taylor off, because Larry refuses to move to the front seat for the rest of their short drive, which Stiller thinks makes him seem like Larry's chauffeur. "You know what makes you a baby?" Stiller screams at Larry. "The fact that you're a big, stupid baby!" Jeff (Jeff Garlin) upsets Larry by telling him that he had a vision of Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) while pleasuring himself. When Larry expresses his disgust, Jeff protests, "You can't control who pops in!" Mel Brooks later calls Larry in to tell him that Stiller has given him an ultimatum, and that he's decided to stick with Larry in the show and let Stiller go. After Larry leaves, Norm (Paul Mazursky) and Rudy (Rudy De Luca) question Brooks' decision, and Norm suggests that Larry might be mentally challenged. After Larry has Cheryl's car washed at a charity car wash operated by four mentally challenged men, he runs out of gas. Desperate to use the bathroom, he goes door-to-door in a well-to-do neighborhood, asking strangers to use their bathroom. Finally, a friendly Muslim woman (Moon Unit Zappa) wearing a burka lets Larry in, and Larry decides to fix her up with Michael. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Larry (Larry David) is struggling to learn his dance steps for The Producers when the rehearsal pianist, Michael (Patrick Kerr), shows up. Michael turns out to be the blind gentleman whom Larry and Richard Lewis helped move back in the first season's "The Bracelet." Michael introduces Larry to his girlfriend, Rhonda (Jackie Hoffman), who has apparently told Michael that she's a model. It's up to Larry, of course, to break the bad news to Michael. Ben Stiller invites everyone to his birthday party, where Larry goes on a spree. He doesn't bring a gift, just because Stiller had said, "No gifts." He insults the glittery sports jerseys that Susie (Susie Essman) has designed. He uses an obscenity while playing "telephone" with a group of kids. He doesn't sing "Happy Birthday" to Stiller with the rest of the group because he doesn't like the song, and to top things off, he accidentally stabs Stiller in the eye with an hors d'oeuvres skewer while giving Jeff (Jeff Garlin) a golf tip. Larry also fails when Richard Lewis asks him to convince Kim (Sarah Ann Morris), the aspiring actress daughter of an old friend, that she doesn't need breast implants. This episode features appearances by Christine Taylor and Cady Huffman. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Larry (Larry David) and Cheryl's (Cheryl Hines) tenth anniversary is approaching. Cheryl knows what she wants, and asks Larry to keep an open mind. "Has it ever once been closed, to anything?" asks Larry. But he readily agrees to her wish to renew their marriage vows. Larry says that her present to him was already agreed upon ten years earlier, and reminds Cheryl that before they were married, she told him that on their tenth anniversary, he could have sex with another woman. Cheryl is a bit taken aback. "You have a good memory," she tells him. "For some things," he responds. When Larry offers to forget about the offered gift, Cheryl insists, and goads Larry by insinuating that he won't be able to find anyone who'll have sex with him. At a karaoke party later that night, Larry sings "Swanee" and catches the eye of Mel Brooks, who calls him and Jeff (Jeff Garlin) in for a meeting the next day. Larry proceeds to alienate both the office's wheelchair-bound computer tech (Michael D'Amore) and Brooks's lesbian receptionist, Joanne (Rachael Harris). But Brooks still asks him to take over the role of Max Bialystock in the Broadway show The Producers, inviting him to see the L.A. production that night to help him make up his mind. There, he runs into his proposed co-star, Ben Stiller, and his wife, Christine Taylor. Larry commits another faux pas when he refuses to shake Stiller's hand because Stiller has just sneezed. Cady Huffman, Paul Mazursky, and Philip Baker Hall also appear in this episode. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) organizes a going-away party for a New York-bound Vince; Drama auditions for a TV show; Eric is fed up with some of his responsibilities. Larry David and Scarlett Johansson appear as themselves. ~ Joe Friedrich, All Movie Guide
Barry Levinson directed this comedy in which success has a rather surprising effect on two old buddies. Nick Vanderpark (Jack Black) and Tim Dingman (Ben Stiller) are best friends and next-door neighbors who work together at a sandpaper factory. Nick and Tim often find themselves wishing for something more from life, and Nick has a habit of dreaming up harebrained get-rich-quick schemes that usually end in disaster. Tim is particularly appalled by Nick's latest idea, "Vapoorizer," a cleaning product which will make pet feces magically disappear, but to their shock, it turns out to be an incredible success, and before long Nick is wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. Tim, however, is still the same guy getting by in suburbia he's always been, and soon Tim finds himself bitterly resentful of his old friend. As Nick gets richer, Tim gets angrier, and he develops a drinking problem. One night, in a bar, Tim meets an eccentric drifter (Christopher Walken) who offers him some not-so-friendly advice on getting even with his old friend. Envy also stars Rachel Weisz and Amy Poehler as Tim and Nick's much-put-upon spouses. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Stiller, Jack Black, (more)
- 2004
When Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) asks Larry (Larry David) to get a present for Betty Dusenberry's (Eliza Coyle) baby shower, Larry wonders if he should also get a present for the surrogate mother (Elizabeth Beckwith). Cheryl is in a frisky mood, but Larry is still healing from being bitten by Oscar. The next day, Larry visits his doctor (Jack Gallagher) to take his required physical for The Producers, but his heart rate spikes when Renee (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) comes in, and the doctor won't sign the necessary forms unless Larry agrees to wear a heart holster for a day. Larry's friend Richard Lewis is actually dating Renee, and confides to Larry that because Renee is black, and has presumably dated black men, he feels insecure about the size of his "equipment." The two wonder if it's really a myth. Later, Wanda (Wanda Sykes) catches Larry mistaking a black man for a valet, and attempts to figure out his logic: "Anytime I see a black man in a tie and a suit, I automatically think, 'You must park cars for a living.'" Larry also creates problems at the baby shower, inadvertently convincing the surrogate to keep her baby. He continues to alienate his Producers co-star, David Schwimmer, and he uses his apparent heart problem to his advantage when he encounters a potentially violent case of road rage. Mel Brooks and Muggsy Bogues make guest appearances. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Larry (Larry David) and Jeff (Jeff Garlin) order a tape of "College Girls Gone Wild," and have it sent to Larry's office, so as to avoid embarrassment. Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) tells Larry about the poison oak in their backyard, and Larry decides to call Wandering Bear (Native American actor/activist Russell Means), who did some work for the Jeff and Susie (Susie Essman), for which he was never paid in full. Cheryl also complains that Larry hasn't had sex with her for a long time. She's no longer taking birth control, so Larry has to use a condom. Jeff comes to his rescue with some "Everlast" condoms, which promise that the user is "never gonna stop." Larry explains that he would prefer a condom called "Get it Over With." "How long do you think I wanna do that for?" he asks Jeff. "It gets boring." Larry somehow uses the condom incorrectly, which causes a surprising malady for Cheryl. Larry also has problems with his assistant, Antoinette (Antoinette Spolar-Levine), whose preoccupation with her recent breakup has led to incompetence. He wants to fire her, but explains to Jeff that he can't because she knows all his secrets. "She knows more about me than Cheryl does," he laments. Joey Slotnick guest stars. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Preparations are in full swing for Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) and Larry (Larry David) to renew their marriage vows for their tenth anniversary. After Anna (Gina Gershon), the sexy Chasidic woman who runs the Laundromat, flirts with Larry, he visits his rabbi (Barry Gordon) and expresses his qualms about taking Cheryl up on her offer to let him sleep with another woman as her tenth anniversary present. The rabbi finds a biblical parallel, and suggests that Larry accept the generous gift. He also asks Larry if he can invite a "survivor" to their rehearsal dinner. Larry assents, and then decides to invite Solly (Allan Rich), a friend of his father's (Shelley Berman) who survived the Holocaust. But the rabbi's friend turns out to be Colby Donaldson, from TV's Survivor, leading to an embarrassing argument at the dinner table about who the "real" survivor is. Cheryl and Larry get into a tiff about their vows when Larry learns that Cheryl expects them to spend eternity together. He had expected to be single again, what with the whole "Till death do us part," thing. "This is continuing into the afterlife?" he asks her, dismayed. On a more upbeat note, Anna agrees to meet Larry at a motel for an extramarital tryst to fulfill Cheryl's gift, but Larry is confused when Jeff (Jeff Garlin) suggests he bring a sheet with him. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2004
It's the fourth-season finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and in addition to being nervous about his Broadway debut in The Producers, Larry (Larry David) only has a few days left in which to take advantage of Cheryl's (Cheryl Hines) anniversary gift. There are a couple of likely prospects, including his co-star in the show, Cady Huffman. Jeff (Jeff Garlin) helps Larry's cause with her by telling her that Larry suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder, just like she does. Once the gang arrives in New York for the show, Jeff (Jeff Garlin) introduces him to Christina (Cynthia Ettinger) who describes herself as a "fellatio teacher." Larry continues his petty squabbles with David Schwimmer and gets into trouble with the hotel staff due to some confusion over gratuities. He also has to deal with his obnoxious cousin Andy (Richard Kind, who actually starred in The Producers on Broadway) and his special needs, and has a run-in with a hostile tourist (Stephen Colbert). The episode features many guest cameos including Mel Brooks, Susan Stroman (director of the Broadway show and the feature-film musical version of The Producers), Paul Mazursky, Nathan Lane, Jerry Seinfeld, and, in her last filmed appearance, Anne Bancroft. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2004
During rehearsals with David Schwimmer for The Producers, Larry (Larry David) finds out that Schwimmer's father runs the Health-Glo mixed nut company. Larry has some ideas for the company, but Schwimmer advises him to "stay in your element." Later, Larry goes out to get some snacks with Steve (Patrick Bristow), the choreographer, and comes across some Health-Glo cashew-raisin packages that are pretty skimpy with the cashews. Naturally, he has to say something to Schwimmer about it. When Larry describes an attractive woman as "fierce," Jeff (Jeff Garlin) suggests that Larry has been spending so much time working on the show that he's turned into Steve, the gay choreographer. Larry's dirty locker, his mistaking a Norwegian club employee, Sven (Erik Stolhanske) for a Swede, and some truly questionable behavior at Leo Funkhouser's funeral combine to get him and Jeff ousted from their country club. Larry and Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) pretend to be right-wing Republican WASPs in order to get into a new country club, with Larry claiming that his hobbies are sailing and polo. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Larry (Larry David) visits his dentist, Len Funkhouser (Saul Rubinek), who insists on rolling up Larry's sleeve to inject a sedative, causing Larry's cuff to lose its elasticity. Larry plans to attend the reception for Len's uncle Leo (Lou Cutell), who is suffering from Hodgkin's disease. Len naturally objects when Larry refers to it as "the 'good' Hodgkins." Jeff (Jeff Garlin) and Susie (Susie Essman) invite everyone to dinner, where many things go wrong. Larry gets into a tiff with the Russian cousin of the Funkhousers (Boris Krutonog), who asks to try on his glasses. Susie sees him playing with Oscar, their German shepherd, and mistakes it for something more sinister. Larry is outraged when, at dinner, he learns that Len's hygienist (Maria Canals) has been circulating a rumor that he has a plaque problem, and then little Sammy (Ashly Holloway) is traumatized when she finds the dentist's photo of Larry's rotting tooth. Aside from revealing to many people that he pees sitting down, Larry also puts his foot in it when he accuses a local weatherman (Gary Kroeger), a friend of Marty Funkhouser's (Bob Einstein), of falsely forecasting rain in order to clear the golf course. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- 2004
It's a beautiful Sunday, and Larry (Larry David) and Jeff (Jeff Garlin), can't play golf, because they haven't heard back from the "restricted" golf club about their membership applications. They want to go to the next night's Dodger game, which is sold out. Larry remembers that Marty Funkhouser (Bob Einstein) has season tickets, and probably won't feel like going since his father died recently. "It doesn't hurt to ask," says Larry, but when they do, Marty tells them he's going to the game, and the second ticket is "spoken for." Later, Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) surprises him with tickets to the game. Larry tells Cheryl he plans to get out of jury duty. "I would serve if they made me foreman," he explains, "but I can't serve under another foreman. That's not gonna work." He ends up getting out of it by making a racist comment during jury selection. He also decides to buy some marijuana for his father (Shelley Berman), who suffers from glaucoma. When a street dealer (Jorge Garcia of Lost) offers him some expensive hydroponic weed, a very nervous Larry explains, "I'm not looking for a sound system," and ends up overpaying for some "schwag." The next day, Jeff cancels on him, and Larry decides to hire Monena (Kym Whitley), a prostitute, to ride in his car with him so he can use the car pool lane, beat traffic, and get to the game on time. She insists on going to the game with him, leading to a couple of awkward encounters. Ken Howard and James Sikking guest star. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
