Absolute Genius! (Curb Your Enthusiasm: Complete HBO Season 6 (DVD))

Member Name: thedevilinme

Product:	Curb Your Enthusiasm: Complete HBO Season 6 (DVD)
Date:	22/01/09 (204 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Sharp Jewsih comedy at its best and most naughty

Disadvantages: I need series 7!

Prince Harry got away with using the 'P' word because he's royal and a bit thick, but if he had used the 'J' word for 'Jew' in that Brize Norton departure lounge it would have been a very different story and not going away so easily, the Jewish lobby jumping into action and the protest underway, Jonathan Ross style. Because the Jewish race/faith have gone through the worst crime of all in the holocaust they know their humor can be that little bit more caustic and risky at others expense as payback, pushing the boundaries that little bit harder thorough that hubris and arrogance, and that, really, is the essence of why Jewish humor is so funny. Not because it's particularly racist or homophobic or anything but because it's fearless, making for fabulous comedy situations in brilliant TV series like Curb Your Enthusiasm, the makers waving a finger and tapping the Holocaust badge when anyone questions the content. That's why the best America comedy ever made is usually around that rather superior Jewish family life and structures. But if non Jewish comedies have a pop at their faith then woe betide guys.

I just love the extremely non-politically correct nature of 'Curb' and the way its creator Larry David can go pretty much anywhere he likes with his baby, regardless of the comedy landmines of race, religion and gender, etc, clearly marked out with those skull & crossbones right in front of his loafers, and so why the older more cynical comedy fans like me absolutely gets shows like this, 'The Office' and Larry Saunders, all three brilliant at being right on the edge in a way they can get away with it because its so subtle and intelligently delivered. No other religion/faith based show can really go there and that is why I have purchased every box-set of 'Curb' so far. They are utter genius because they are not afraid to risk upsetting people and so can deliver what they have to do to get the big risky laughs, the simple plan being that the people they subtly offend aint ever going to watch the shows anyway. For instance the first episode here is 'Meet The Blacks', which really does refer to meeting a displaced family of black Americans, but the family actually called the 'Blacks', if you see what I mean. The Two Ronnie's would never have got away with that!

Like I said the creator and star of 'Curb' is the one and only Larry David, the guy who wrote the sitcom 'Seinfeld', on similar well trodden neurotic Jewish-American comic lines. In his virgin days Larry was originally a Woody Allen style stand-up comic, but about ten years ago realized writing the jokes was his real strength, but coming full circle as a brilliant comic talent in front of the cameras once again with 'Curb', writing himself into the lead role, just as Ricky Gervais and Gary Shandling (Larry Sanders) have also achieved.

The original idea for the show was that Larry wanted to do a documentary on his life after Seinfeld. It had been a big chunk of his time and he wanted to distance himself from it. But after watching the rushes in the edit room he had the kernel of an idea washing around his head to play himself as this retired and successful middle-aged writer with not much to do and a lot of time, space and money to do it in, who he was at the time, the type of bloke in England who would write letters to the BBC to get Jonathan Ross fired, the genius here in that particular variety of septuagenarian nimbism is nudged up another notch here with Larry actually rebelling against everyone with his questioning ideas on how the world should be run. Another masterstroke is having the celebrities play themselves, like they did in the Larry Sanders Show, giving the whole thing an abstract credence. I mean what do celebrities do when they are not on telly? Well they go to the laundry and supermarket just like us, and so you the viewer can briefly drag the celebrity into your lives and so the comedy of manners in all levels of society potential is huge and fully exploited here. I'm telling you guys, its utter brilliance!

-What's on it?

Obviously we are on series six and if you're not a fan then you don't care about the previous box-sets narratives. If you haven't seen any I really do think you should go out and buy series one if you have got this far in the review. I have a feeling you will absolutely love this show. And with the credit crunch and internet downloads hammering shops like Zavvi and HMW you can pick up any series for around a tenner.

-The Main Cast-

Larry David-Himself
Cheryl-Cheryl Hines
Jeff-Jeff Carlin
Susie-Susie Eisman
Richard Lewis-himself
Ted Danson-himself

-The Episodes-

Episode One: 'Meet the Blacks'

Larry and Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) have been invited to the Funkhousers party, but it clashes with a big bash at Ted Dansons (himself) and so 'socially difficult'. But Larry has a cunning plan to evade the bash, which quickly backfires when other guests use the same excuse, embarrassing Cheryl, for which she is now owed a big favor by Larry, which she quickly calls in, persuading Larry to take in a family of refuges from Hurricane Edna. The 'Black' family is indeed black, noisy and jive talking in that Afro American way that's sure to annoy Larry - and they like their junk food! Its going to be a big test for Larry.

Episode Two: The Anonymous Doner

The Blacks are settling into their new home and so Larry is also feeling charitable, donating a new wing to the NRDC Centre, a Jewish-American eco project in Santa Monica, and a party being held in Larry's honor to reveal the plaque with his name on. But Larry's gesture seems brash because the opposite wing reads 'Donated by Anonymous', Ted Danson the unnamed donor, but going around telling everyone on the quiet it was his donation, meaning he gets bigger kudos and applause than Larry at the opening. Larry also has an embarrassing 'stain' problem at home, resulting in the law of the dry cleaners being applied against him, which has unfortunate ramifications for the latest member of the Black family, Leon, to pitch up on his doorstep.

Episode Three: The Ida Funkhouser Memorial

Marty Funkhouser (Bob Einstein) has lost his mom in a road crash, resulting in one of those rather vulgar roadside flower tributes, which Larry cant resist stealing flowers from to give to someone else he as upset on the same day, and will soon upset more, Marty being one of them by his callous action. Ands after having a run-in at the ice cream store over 'excessive sampling' etiquette, Larry still has time left in the day to sabotage Jeff (Jeff Carlin) and foul mouthed Susie's (Susie Eisman) school application for their son as he approaches his Bar Mitzvah. Larry's day is further ruined by more people sampling perfume for far too long.

Episode Four: The Lefty Call'

Richard Lewis (himself) has a new girlfriend, 'Cha Cha' (Tia Carrere from Wayne's World), who Larry employs in his office as a favor, but soon annoying him with her 'questions' about Larry's toilet habits. Cheryl also has concerns over bathroom issues, insisting Larry and the 'Blacks' use environmentally friendly toilet paper around the house, harsh on the backside. But Larry strikes a secret deal with the Blacks to have supplies of the soft non-environmentally friendly variety stashed around the house for when Cheryl's not around, but soon backfires (excuse the pun) when Cheryl discovers Larry's toilet habit subterfuge.

Episode Five' The Freak Book'

It's another big party at Ted Dansons, reaffirming his vows to actress Mary Steenburgen (herself) and finally agreeing 'cemetery arrangements' with Larry and Cheryl for when the friends of the couples pass on to the next world and how their graves will be arranged, Jeff insisting on an end grave as he's claustrophobic? But there's still time left at the party for Larry and Cheryl to be kicked out for buying an impropriate present, the Freak Book (a book full of pictures of freaks), and letting their limo driver get drunk and humiliate Danson.
Because of Larry's latest indiscretions he has to drop the inebriated limo driver back at the guys home without his car, meaning a return journey the next day, which results in Larry having to do a 'pick up' at the airport so the limo driver can keep his job. His fare is none other than John McEnroe, coincidentally both due at the LA convention centre to see a big rock concert that night, a meeting of New York motor-mouths.

Episode Six: 'The Rat Dog'

Larry starts the day by accidentally insulting a deaf lady and her ugly dog with a hand signal, then the same again with her black husband. Larry tries his hardest to correct himself with an apology and explanation but only makes it worse. The 'Blacks', on the other hand, are looking for employment, which Larry also messes up when he picks up the wrong cell phone, that of Leon's, the jive talking cousin 'LD' is bonding with. Leon (CC Carter) has Larry's back, a great source of manly advice always on hand, but Larry's constant faux pars with the Blacks putting strain on his street cred potential with Leon. There are also issues with Larry's dad, who has fallen in love with his massage therapists, her act of hand relief that's all inclusive mistaken for attraction.

Episode Seven: The Tivo Man

Larry has finally got the Tivo guy (Sky Plus) to come out to fix his widescreen plasma. While the engineer is in the house Cheryl calls in distress from her American Airlines flight, heavy turbulence freaking her out, thinking the planes going down. But Larry has a bad line and the Tivo to fix and so hangs up on his wife's hour of need. Larry, flustered, has to cancel a long awaited booking at 'Primos' because she's late, a hard to get in Melrose eatery. This unfortunate cross line is one to many for Cheryl though and she walks out on him on her return from the airport, already agreeing to see a guy on the plane who was there for her when she needed a hand to hold on to, devastating Larry. But Larry being Larry decides to take another woman to the restaurant instead, none other than Zena the Warrior Princess. This split means their friends have to decide between the couple, even the restaurant guy going with 'Cheryl'.

Episode Eight: The 'N' Word

Larry is appalled when he overhears the 'N' word in the hospital lavatory, soon in big trouble when he is overheard relaying the same conversation to Jeff, causing maximum offence to a passing black doctor. When he relays the conversation in his house it happens again with the Black family. Larry is also a victim of his own prejudice, 'baldism', which results in Jeff, a talent agent by trade, also having a bald episode in the hospital before his operation to stop his snoring, losing Ben Stiller's business because of that 'baldism. Larry also has an erection moment with Auntie Ela Black in the back garden, breaking the close contact five second rule, further embellishing his cred with his new housemates.

Episode Nine: The Therapist

Larry and Cheryl try to make up, both taking advice from their therapist. Larry decides to take Cheryl to the cinema, but this time taking bad advice from his therapist, Dr Morgan (Steve Coogan), on what to do on the date, resulting in the evening quickly deteriorating and so back to square one with his wife. Things get worse for Larry when he decides to formulate a plan to correct the situation so to get Cheryl back on side, the idea being that Dr Morgan takes the blame for his stupid advice. But, alas, also falls victim to Larry's well meaning incompetence, a concurrent theme throughout all six series.

Episode ten: The Bar Mitzvah

Its Jeff and Susie's boys Bar Mitzah, everyone invited. But Larry doesn't have a date and doesn't want to be upstaged by Cheryl and her new boyfriend from the plane. He is also upset because the Blacks are going home to their repaired house in South Carolina, leaving him all alone. To top that his reputation is also under scrutiny after he makes a choice comment at his gastroenterologists, concerning a Gerbil being stuck up his ass. News travels fast in Santa Monica and everyone is starring at him at the Bar Mitzvah. The only way to put things right is to grab the microphone.

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The Conclusions = = =
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I suppose the genius of 'Curb' is the shear audacity of it and how it speaks our thoughts, thoughts Larry just can't help blurting out to cause maximum offense, and you have to love him for that. This is the sixth series now (of course) of his tirades and it just gets better and better with no signs of drying up. If we are honest we all want to be Larry David deep down and so able to say it as it is and so once we know it is as it is then it won't offend anyone anymore.

Bringing a black American family into Larry's world is stroke of genius, real comedy warmth between the two cultures, excellent performances by all, especially Leon (JJ Carter), who stole the series for me.

Why Curb has the edge on other comedies is because the cast have no scripts and only handed outlines when they turn up for work for the half hour show recording, only big guest stars occasionally given stuff to work with by email the day before. Larry wants it all to be ad-libbed and he's the boss, and, of course, why the show is so unique and funny. As you watch each episode you can see the actors eyes light up as they play with words and in-jokes and how the interaction evolves as the conversations develop. Its great to see and clearly where Ricky Gervais and Larry David are on the same page.

The big debate over these shows is are the likes of Ricky and Larry rather too close to their onscreen personas, and so when they make near the knuckle gags and observations about race and gender etc, in the shows, does that somehow become offensive? Although that feels the case in 'The Office', when Ricky mocks disabled people, ethnic minorities and fat people, etc, in Curb its so warm and subtle it never enters your mind there's any malice to the writing. And even if there is you know there is a Jewish expression for it edge and Larry isn't going to back down - its funny it stays attitude.

The best episode has to be the John McEnroe one; the loud mouth New Yorker absolutely reveling in playing the temperamental celebrity, howling out loud with Larry reading the freak book at the back stage party an extremely funny moment. But every episode has its moments and I can safely reassure fans that series six won't disappoint and doesn't let up. But I'm not here to tell fans to go buy this as they already have or plan to. I'm here for those who have yet to take the plunge, it not being on terrestrial so something you won't have seen. I think it briefly surfaced on BBC2 at an ungodly hour but nothing since.
If you have loved the well known menu of intelligent observational comedies like The Office and Larry Sanders then you really have no excuse not to buy or rent some more with 'Curb'. It's so up your street it's banging on your front window for you to indulge, and if you do, you will never look back, trust me. Although I would say it's not really a young persons show, they not yet burdened with cynicism from life's not so rich experience.

Curb Your Enthusiasm is the best American sitcom since Cheers (even though Larry doesn't class it as a sitcom because of its ad-lib content) and should not be neglected. So if you're just about to lose your job then spend your last tenner on Curb series one and then you will have five more to come with series seven on the way, certain to bring a smile to even Gordon Browns face. It is brilliant stuff and up there with the West Wing for me and I don't say things like that lightly.

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Special Features = = =
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'On the set of Curb Your Enthusiasm'

A gentle behind the scenes 'big up' of the show by the cast and crew.

'Gag Reel'

General spoken blunders from the cast

'A conversation with Larry David and Susie Essman'

Larry and Susie discuss Larry masterpiece in front of live theatre audience. Is Larry really Larry and so that's where he gets his ideas from or is it just brilliant writing and comic acting from an incredibly talented cast.

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'Curb' Retail prices.

HMV £13-£26
ZAVVI £10
AMAZON £11.99-£14-99

Not for rental
10 X 25 minute episodes

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Summary: If you loved The Office then what are you waiting for guys!