Curb Your Enthusiasm Season Finale

parlance · #1 03-15-2004, 11:18 AM

One of the greatest hours of comedy in television history (seriously) .... Never has a comedy series made me so anxious and nervous AND somehow manage to shatter any expectations or assumptions while keeping the humour fresh and constant.

Even if you can't stand Larry's personality or his humour, last night's show is the one that you should watch...

Can next season even come close to the brillance of this one?

Anyone have thoughts on the series or you feelings about last nights show?

andyfox · #2 03-15-2004, 01:10 PM

I'm not sure if I saw the season finale, or a re-run. It was The Producers opening night.

If you haven't seen the original movie with Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder, you won't get the humor; it's a replay of the movie, and a parody of the plot. Clever writing.

But I'm not a big fan of the show (even though my mother-in-law's boyfriend's son is the executive producer) and they even managed to have Mel Brooks not make me laugh.

superleeds · #3 03-15-2004, 01:17 PM

An excellent show, funniest thing by far on at the moment. My favorite show of this season was the one where he got of jury duty and went to the baseball game.

MaxPower · #4 03-15-2004, 03:13 PM

People either love or hate this show. I love it. Many of those who hate it will eventually love it and claim that they always did.

Last night's show was a perfect end to the season. It was a very clever ending and totally unexpected. Of course, you wouldn't get many of the jokes if you haven't seen The Producers. Then again if you haven't seen that movie, you probably don't have much of a sense of humor.

This show will change television comedy as much as Seinfeld did. Already there are unscripted shows turning up on other networks.

I'm not a big David Schwimmer fan, but he was very good. Kudos to him for being willing to portray himself as a bit of a jerk.

theBruiser500 · #5 03-15-2004, 03:16 PM

I don't understand, why did you need to see the Producers to think this show was funny? Give me an example of a joke that I needed to see the Producers to get in this show.

[ QUOTE ]
Already there are unscripted shows turning up on other networks.

[/ QUOTE ]

What do you mean, is this show unscripted? I'd be interested in anything about how they make the show...

parlance · #6 03-15-2004, 03:24 PM

Bruiser

the last 15 minutes (from the point when people start getting up to leave) are straight from the film... even the guy that they bought the drink for in the bar was in the original film (as well as the dialouge during intermission).

andyfox · #7 03-15-2004, 03:31 PM

I first discoverd Mel Brooks on his 2000 year old man album and thought, as a teenager, it was the funniest thing I had ever heard. I then had seen Zero Mostel in Fiddler on the Roof and guest hosting a late night talk show and found him even funnier. The Producers confirmed both assessments for me. Mel Brooks writing, Zero, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn at Hitler, Kenneth Mars, what more could you want?

I didn't realize the guy in the bar last night was the same guy from the movie.

BTW, I understand Mel Brooks wanted Dustin Hoffman to play the Gene Wilder part and thought Hoffman had agreed to it. Unbeknownst to Brooks, Anne Bancroft influenced Hoffman to read for Mike Nichols for The Graduate and Hoffman thought that would be a bigger movie. Hoffman left it to Bancroft to explain to her husband why he would be backing out of The Producers. As it turned out Hoffman (and Bancroft too) was perfect in The Graduate, and Gene Wilder was wonderful in The Producers.

Oski · #8 03-15-2004, 05:29 PM

I think last night's show will prove to be the final episode of LDS. This is the first time he actually did something right, he tied up many loose ends, and ended with everyone smiling. I don't think its Larry David's style to announce his farewell. Also, I couldn't help think this season that perhaps Larry was reaching the end of his joke inventory (in fact, I swear I've seen that tipping riff somewhere else).

Anyhow...my gut says its over. Great show, really grows on you. I hope I am wrong.

TimTimSalabim · #9 03-15-2004, 05:47 PM

I read this in a book about auditions: The part was actually written for a tall, blond, athletic guy. Hoffman was anything but that. But he came in and read for it anyway, and Nichols was so blown away that he immediately hired him and had the part rewritten to fit Hoffman better. And the rest, as they say, is history.

andyfox · #10 03-15-2004, 03:25 PM

The final 15 minutes, where the audience starts to leave because they can't stand the show, and then comes back because of the actor straying from the script, is from the movie. Likewise, Mel Brooks and Ann Bancroft in the bar being glad the show flopped (and Brooks saying he'll by drinks for everyone in the bar, knowing there's only one other person there), only to discover it's a hit, is also from the movie. If you saw the original movie, you'll remember Gene Wilder blindly repeating "let's hear from the majority," as Ann Bancroft did last night.

I understand a good portion of the show is improvised.