Curb Your Enthusiasm - Where's The Love?

No dissenting opinion here. I love CYE, and have found that what little time my wife and I spend watching TV is increasingly spent on HBO.

I think it is one of those interesting little shows that has a phenomenal following that I can't watch because I CAN'T AFFORD HBO OR ANY OTHER PREMIUM CHANNEL BECAUSE I AM A POOR DESIGNER SUPPORTING A FAMILY.

Sorry for the rant. Still don't understand what everyone is raving about on the Sopranos. The promos don't look THAT interesting.

That's my viewpoint.

At first, I couldn't stand CYE, but lately it's been growing on me. Perhaps I saw a bad episode the first time. I think you just need to get used to the way Larry David "acts."

However, I do have to agree with you on one point: I do think that Larry's wife is likable, if the only one on the show.

I think each episode it hit or miss, but I'm starting to like it more each time. I think the jokes and gags have been getting better and better, but some clunkers are still making it through.

I signed up for ATT Digital Cable and got HBO for free. I have to say, I can't watch regular TV anymore. CYE is hilarious and painful to watch. I love it. Sopranos is the best thing on TV. All this without commercials! Quality stuff.

I too, am a lover, not a hater of CYE. I try to evangelize anyone I can to the show, and often with no luck. hilarious and painful is a perfect description. I have developed a new system though. if anyone I am discussing a show with brings up ANY of these freakin' reality shows as an example of compelling television, I get up and leave the room.

Hands down, Curb Your Enthusiasm, is the best comedy show on TV right now. Geoffrey is right, it can be painful at times, but I love it. I am glad to see people like Ted Danson, and other comics that have lost thier place on Network TV to find a home with David on HBO.

I'll add a "hilarious" vote for CYE. One observation: the plots seem more Seinfeldian this season (e.g. fall broken by sponge cake); hope that doesn't become too noticeable.

btw, best line from last night's sopranos: "If you love me, stir my eggs." that's been a motto of mine for years.

You raise a good question - why is this show so polarizing? My guess is that it has something to do with the tense humor. It's largely not the setup-leads-to-punchline type of show, in fact it seems less joke oriented than sienfeld, I'm not sure what you'd call it - perhaps contextual humor. I think fans of the show tend to be quite comfortable with the sinister side of their humor, much of what I find myself doubled over about is quite sadistic if I stop to think about it. Overall probably the strong mix of anger, emotion and stress-humor, and as mentioned, the lack of a laugh track prevents some folks from finding an appreciation.

There's a lot of great material there, but I find it difficult to stomach Larry David's affected delivery style. He's stiff, mechanical, and awkward at best (in an "oh-that's-intentional but actually bad" way). Watching this man is an effort.

When he and Seinfeld collaborated, it was funny because we were seeing and hearing Seinfeld.

You asked so I'll say it: Larry David is a man best kept behind the veil of the camera.

I skipped Curb this week to watch Porn n' Chicken- what a big mistake that was.

I'm curious if anyone hangs around for The Mind of the Married Man immediately following... it's been growing on me lately, and while i doesn't possess the hilarious antics of Curb (12 sponge cakes wrapped in cellophane?!), it has a certain charm about it.

The Mind of the Married Man deserves its own post, that's for sure. As a married guy, I guess I look at it a little differently, especially since the title of the show paints with such a broad brush stroke. Personally, and I know it's silly, but the show completely jumped the shark and went down the drain when he cheated on his wife. Sure, he's having psychological issues now because of it, but the lead guy (whatever his name is) just isn't likeable enough to warrant sympathy. I actually like his wife much more, and almost wish she'd divorce his dumb ass. Then it could be "The Mind of a Married Woman Dealing With a Cheating Prick of a Man." Ahh...that's much nicer.

3 words...

Six Feet Under

Personally, I love to hate the characters on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Larry David is like taking those uncomfortable moments with George Costanza and multiplying them. It makes me so uncomfortable to watch I sometimes have to get up and leave. So why do I keep watching it?

It's amazing. The humor is superb. It's one of HBO's best shows, along with Soprano's and Six Feet Under.

don't got no TV, man.
i agree that a laugh track is unnecessary. though in real life it would be funny to have that, and background music.

I resisted HBO for quite some time. Now it sucks up 3 hours of my Sunday evening. I watched the first three seasons of the Sopranos on DVD to catch up to this fourth season. And YES, CYE does get such a varied response. I love that show, but my wife hates it. She thinks Larry David is "annoying". You see, I never liked Seinfeld cause I thought he was "annoying". Oh well. And yes, Mind of a Married Man is very well written and puts a brand new spin on life being married....

Gotta love those 3 hours of HBO on Sunday nights....

I'm glad I found this thread! But more than that, I'm delighted that the secret is out about CYE. I have to look at my wife atleast three or four times during the show and say "This is the funniest show on TV, isn't it? What show is funnier than this?" To which she replies in an almost dismissive manner, "Yea, its pretty funny, but it's not *that* funny." To which I will say, "It's funnier than The Inlaws, that show is funny, but this is funnier". And she just says "Yea, sure".

Funny, huh?

Looks like this post made the news page of HBO's CYE site. Sure is funny seeing my name next to Larry. Welcome new readers. :)

I'll pipe in as the only woman so far to comment on CYE (does that mean anything or not?). I can't get enough of it. Larry David is such an ass, but he's a damn funny one, to be sure. I often wonder how Cheryl can stay with him--it's alienation by association even to know Larry David, much less be married to him. I agree that "painful but funny" is a good description of the show; my husband likes the show but has to watch in shifts--he says it's frustrating and that it hurts too much to watch an entire episode in one sitting.

Best show on television, hands down.

I think CYE and Mind of the Married Man are two of the funniest shows on TV today. The interplay between Larry David and his wife is hilarious because it's a mix of feeling sorry for the guy because you just know he's going to screw up and at the same a certain anxiousness, because you can't figure out how all of the various characters and sub-plots are going to come together at the end.

BTW, I describe Mind of the Married Man to my friends as a combination of Ally McBeal's dancing baby and the old Paul Reiser/Helen Hunt show in terms of plot and wackiness.

CYE in my opinion, is by far the best comedy on television. Regular network television is written for the masses, and I think we all know what they say about them. I am glad that someone out there can write something that is actually funny, and does not insult the viewer. I am not the type of person that would waste my time watching a show like "Yes, Dear" or "King of Queens" or other network fluff. For me to take time to watch a show, it must be well-written and fresh. CYE is all of those things. Laugh tracks are for sheep, I hate them. So are the cheesy intro sitcom songs. Thank God Larry David gets it and is making some quality tv.

I adore CYE...funniest show ever. I taped the 2nd season and gave the tape to a co-worker and she loved it too. But some don't get it...poor them!!! I love Sunday nights, and HBO is the best network around, hands down! Keep up the great work!

I'm obsessed with CYE. If you read the interview with Robert Wiede (director), you'll have a much larger appreciation for the work that all the actors are doing on the show. For a lot of the best laughs, just look at Cheryl's face when Larry is being an ass. The background music is wonderfully insane (cross between Looney Toons and Polka), whenever situations happen to me that are like CYE, that music starts playing in my head, and I have to chuckle. It's also nice to see that Jewish folks can get ahead in show business (...shamelessly lifted from Brad Garrett's emmy speech).

CYE is the best thing that's on tv right now. It's different, unlike anything else. Larry's and other actor's style is what makes it so intoxicating to me. I still like Seinfeld, but it seams so much more primitive after CYE.

CYE is the reason I have HBO. Very funny. Maybe I'm alone on this but I think Larry does try to do the right thing, it just usually doesn't go right.

I am a big fan also. I have many favorite moments, but last week (Sunday , 10/27) was awesome. They were having the conversation in the restaurant about "whose money it is"

Larry says that she does not earn the money and Cheryl replies "Loving you is my job Larry" .... What a line AND delivery!

She is especially good. I agree with "Ted's" post, her facial expressions are priceless!

Fan of the Sopranos and one day I lingered, lo and behold, what was
this show? Well, after only 15 minutes, I was hooked. Refreshingly
different, it has me in stitches several times per episode. Even more
amazing to me was how many scenes closely replicated experiences
I had in real life (I grunt when hitting tennis balls and it drove
a partner nuts one day, my brother makes a big "ahhhh" sound
after drinking, being followed around a store, etc.). It is those
inevitable awkward social situations that Larry exploits with such
genius. The moment when his wife informs the tennis pro that "Larry" i
is in the car was so hilarious. So often we remain silent but now
our work is done for us, we have a spokesman.

I'm the primary director of "Curb." I just stumbled upon this site. I can only say that all you diehard "Curbies" are in serious need of professional help. The interview with me mentioned by another poster can be found on my website: www.duckprods.com. Click on the "Curb" link, then click on the link that says "Interview With Robert Weide." Bake at 350 degrees for two hours. Lather, rinse, repeat. Enjoy!

It took me a couple of weeks to really get into CYE, but now I am completely hooked. The sponge cake episode and last Sunday's episode with "Krazee-Eyez Killa" were absolutely hysterical! I laughed so hard I cried! Both episodes really came together at the end, and I'm still talking about them to anyone who will listen. I missed the first two seasons, so am eager to buy the DVD's (they are out on DVD, aren't they?) and catch up.
BTW...The Soprano's was the reason I got HBO in the first place. Again, I got into it late in the game. I rented the first few episodes on video and was instantly addicted. I had a Soprano's marathon and watched the entire first and second seasons. Then I had to wait until August 27 until the third season was released on video. After that, I called my cable company and said "hook me up immediately". I love HBO, and as long as they continue to air quality shows like The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Sex and the City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Mind of the Married Man, I certainly don't mind paying a little more each month for the service...it's well worth the price! I don't think I've watched a single movie on HBO, but love their original programming. I now look forward to Sunday evening...no doubt about it, it's definitely the best night of television.

who was krazzzeyes played by
i have a bet with my husband that it was jason kidd. am i right or not.......thanks
i will not say what the bet is but if you watched that episode you'll know..........thanks

Love, Love, Love Curb! Can't get enough! That's all I want to talk about on Monday. The Sopranos but it hasn't been the same this season so Curb is what I look forward to on Sunday. Watching CYE makes me forget any problems I have - at least for half an hour! I wish I could read more on the cast, there doesn't seem to be enough written about them! Can't wait for the episode in which Wanda and Susie finally meet!!!!

OH and Darlene, Krazee Eyez (sic?) was played by Chris Williams. I was bent over laughing when he gave the house tour. ("floor shit" and "delicious")

Just wanted to say that I also love this show!!! I've been hooked since the "Thor" ep. early in the second season. I can't explain why the show elicits such polarizing opinions either but I do know that I feel sorry for anybody who doesn't get it b/c they're really missing out.

I love CURB and MIND OF MARRIED MAN. Especially MIND. IT is such guilty pleasure. I am so addicted and obsessed by this show. It is so well acted and written and directed. I think it's better then SEX IN CITY and that says a lot.

THANK YOU MIKE BINDER!!!!!!!! THANK YOU SONYA and THANK YOU HBO!

Curb is the best thing I have ever seen on televiskon. I loved Seinfeld, and became very addicted to it. However, Curb has more, much more, than Seinfeld. Seinfeld seemed fake. Curb seems real. Larry David is a genius.

The season finale of Mind of the married man was perfect. I love this show. This and Sopranos are the two best shows on HBO. Great way to end the season and a great show about marriage. Perfect. The monster in the frdge in the dream sequnence made me laugh SO hard.

"Mommy, mommy! That wierd man is in the girls bathroom and there's something HARD in his pants!!!" By far the hardest I've ever laughed in my entire life. No... I was paralyzed after Larry destroyed a second manger scene. Eating the first and fighting in the second. Having a Jew tell Joseph "that Mary's got some bod, eh?" just about killed me. It really did hurt, I laughed so hard. "-cough, cough- The pubic hair... IT'S GONE!!!"
Cheryl.. her Mom and Dad... tuba music. Thank you Larry David.

Larry David is a genious, this is the only show I turn on a TV for, and his acting is REAL, that's why you TV types aren't used to it, you'd rather have Zach Morris or Malcom in the Middle. Larry David=best actor on TV.

I Love the show! I wish we could get some of thepast espiodes on DVD - since we only found out about the show about 2 months ago. We have a lot of catching up to do! But thats good I guess!

My husband & I LOVED the Krazee-Eyes episode (# 28??)
How refreshing!
So glad others enjoy this too - I hate to see a good thign lik this go un-noticed or rejected.

LOVE IT!

I agree with Dean, CYE is the funniest comedy ever on American TV. Seinfeld though sometimes good, seems contrived and light-weight in comparison. CYE is more real.

I'm quite surprised why so many CYE fans who have written in here "love to hate him" though. Frankly he's my hero ! I agree with Gary, generally Larry tries to do the right thing. Remember how he spent the whole episode trying to make up to Paul Reiser's wife after unintentionally snubbing her ? Mostly he's just minding his own business and other people start messing with him and of course he has to get back in their face.

My favorite sequence...Cheryl and Wanda confronting him about the inappropriateness of commenting on Wanda's tush. This then segues straight into him picking up Jeff's clothes at an angry Susie's house. She mistakenly gets the idea Larry is also into "the kinky Big Ass Mama crap" when she tries to insist he takes Jeff's "secret" porn stash.

The HBO meeting which Larry ruins by asking Wasserman "How were the garlic noodles ?" and is then accused of being a "shrimp-counter" is another great scene.

The ideas are just so strong and original and the dialogue ( all improvised ) also makes the show great. The music is also brilliant, particularly the theme that plays when something sneaky is happening. They sometimes tackle pretty controversial subjects though..... incest survivor support groups, terrorist attacks, religious resentment. Not everyone's idea of humorous topics for sure.

Cheryl, Susie, Jeff and Wanda are all brilliant in this show. The only character who doesn't do anything for me is Richard Lewis. Anyone strongly disagree ?

Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, even Mind of the Married Man; I turn to CNN at 11 to see if the world's come to an end yet, but first I HAVE to get my Sunday night fix! Gandolfini is brilliant. He just owns the screen. David is Woody Allen on testosterone: caustic, hysterical and appealing from this woman's point of view.I never miss Six Feet Under. I think it's terrific, but CYE and Sopranos are fascinating portrayals of characters with manydimensions; they command attention. They sure have mine!

Absolutely love the show. It rivals even the great Fawlty Towers. It is simultaneously ridiculous and sublime. A superb commentary on the difficulties and absurdity of interpersonal relations. An existential delight.

I just read a scathing critique about CYE in 'The New Republic' which made me laugh much too hard at such a serious publication.

The overachievers at that mag missed the point by a country mile. The author was critical of Larry David's brattiness in lieu of the fact he is rich and lives well; how dare he not value his wealth?

However, with or without money, Larry has always, and will always be an authentic nudge. When he had no money, he was easily ignored. For example, the year he wrote for SNL, not one of his skits aired. And he's still bitter about it, Lorne.
Now, Larry David is a rich man- but he's exactly the same annoying guy he was when he had no coin. However, ignore him at your peril- especially in LA, where green is gold.
He's rich and created one of the most popular TV shows ever. Ergo, in the land of milk and money, people feel they have to, must, put up with Larry David.
A guy who would never get in the back door much less the front, is now an honored guest (even if he does cut the hair off a kid's valuable doll...).
CYE is about something- it is the essence of the dreams of shallow people. When they dream, they dream about money-- but now Larry David sitting on a huge pile of it, and cannot be ignored.

The joke is what some people will put up with as long as the annoying guy who can only focus on his own concerns happens to be really really rich.

The other night while eating out at a silly Italian restaurant, the waiter put a HUGE bowl of Gummy Bears on the table and explained this was a complimentary gesture for all patrons. I found myself the only one at the table thinking that this was not only the silliest thing ever, but quite possibly the most unsanitary (how many hands have been in that bowl, anyway?). I did what came natural: Started a contest to see who could put the most Gummies in their mouth. I killed with 56. Harder than it seems.

I want to thank Mr. Larry (inspired by Dora) for giving us the strength to stand out against the inane moments of our trivial lives and having the hutzpah to defy the room for what we believe is important (but really isn't).

Best show on television - ever. Larry David is the true Jedi Master.