Mike TV

Hi, I’m Mike TV

Television for the week of July 18th.

Curb Your Enthusiasm

Season 8- Episode 1

And we’re back on air! This week we’ll be taking a look at the premiere episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm’s eight season, exciting no? Now to those of you who’ve listened to the podcast, I’m going to be expanding upon what we discussed, but adding more opinions, more jokes, and more me! It’s going to be way better than having those other three dicknoses put in their two cents right?

I assure you, I will use this every article.

 

Ok, so maybe calling them names is petty and a little harsh- don’t worry, all is well at yourpopfilter.com, I only hate one of my fellow podcasters, and it’s up to you to guess which! For the last seven years, Curb has followed the misadventures of Larry David (played by Larry David), well-known crumbum and curmudgeon and co-creator of Seinfeld, as he tries to get by in a world that doesn’t understand him and that he doesn’t want any part of. The humor is awkward and delightful, like Larry himself. Delight is obviously in the eye of the beholder. This episode jumps right into the story, assuming that being the eighth season if you’re watching it, you’re familiar with the characters. Having only seen parts of previous episodes, this was difficult at times for me to piece together who was who. I picked up Jeff Garlin was Larry’s friend, but missed he was his manager, and the wives Cheryl and Susie were easy figure out. I was entirely lost as to who Leon was or why this young black guy was living with Larry David. That being said, all the actors were nearly flawless and were hilarious regardless of knowing who the characters were or not. There are too many words the end in “ess” sound in that sentence. In case you have OCD like me and notice it, and it’s all you’re thinking about- you’re welcome.

The storylines of the episodes are written out, often by Larry, and then the dialogue is almost entirely improvised by the actors. I was astounded to learn that, because even when done well improv usually screams at the top of its lungs that it’s improv. This cast hits the organic and funny mark perfectly, all the while seeming like it’s a natural conversation, no one is hunting for the jokes. That comes from two things: the first being that this is their eighth season, and this group has had seven years to get to learn each other’s rhythms and grow into their characters (it helps that I’m guessing all of them are playing versions of themselves); the second and more important factor is this is the most situational of comedies. While the characters all have traits or flaws that are funny, it’s the situations Larry gets himself into because of those flaws that comedy springs from. If you replaced Larry with a different character, dealing with a neighbor’s daughter’s first period, or finding out your Jewish lawyer has been lying about his Hebrew-ness are situations that are going to be ridiculous. But I think only Larry could pull of the exasperated amusement that makes those stories click. I’m pretty convinced that if you go back to season one (which I’m going to start very very soon) the show comes off just as natural.

So now we’re going to get into the meat of this episode. There are three vignettes, that eventually culminate into affecting each other, albeit only slightly. This isn’t It’s Always Sunny, where completely unrelated things end up synchronizing at the end. I’m a fan of that show, but if you watch a bunch in a row, their formula becomes insanely clear. But I’m not here to rile you by picking apart a show that couldn’t exist without Larry David or Curb, I’m here to rile you up about how good this show was. I barely know what rile means anymore. Cheryl is finally sick of Larry’s shenanigans and asks for a divorce. I have to say this is the most amiable divorce I have ever seen, the kind of divorce I hope to have someday. Throughout the episode they still joke around, and seem to bare each other no real ill will. The divorce spurs Larry to go to his lawyer, played by the astounding Paul F. Tompkins. Paul F is a favorite here at yourpopfilter, and if you’re unfamiliar with him check out his stand up specials, his podcast the Pod F Tompkast, or his appearances on basically every comedy podcast out there. He is one of the funniest character actors working today, whether it’s a bombastic rendition of Cake Boss, or a subtle and subdued bit like a lawyer pretending to be Jewish to get more clientele.

While Larry is uncovering that his lawyer is less than kosher, and switching to the Jewiest lawyer that has ever existed, he also is dealing with one of the most irritating annoying struggles we all go through- Girl Scouts trying to peddle their cookies. When his neighbor’s (who owns the Dodgers) daughter shows up on his door and asks if he likes Girl Scout cookies, Larry’s response is ‘I find them abhorrent- come on in.” It’s hard to remember the last time I laughed that hard alone, if we don’t count all the time I huff paint in the corner of my garage giggling and blithering as my brain cells pop. Let’s ignore that yeah? Please never bring it up again, seriously. You’re making me uncomfortable. In a whimsical mood, Larry puts in a huge order of cookies, only to refuse to pay when the girl comes back to collect. Unfortunately, at the same time the girl starts to enter womanhood, which we all know is a euphemism for that icky act of nature ladies go through monthly. Larry awkwardly tries to teach the girl how to use a tampon through the bathroom door, and you’ve never seen directions for something be more funny.

Of course, in this world even when he wants to be a good guy, the people around Larry think he’s awful, and Susie tears him down for inappropriately helping the girl, and the Dodger’s owner has seemingly rescinded his offer for Larry to drop by the owner’s box. To get back into his good graces, Larry lets him know that their mutual lawyer isn’t really a lighter of the eight candles, and introduces him to the new Jew.0 version. Who turns out to be an awful lawyer, and loses the man his baseball team in his own divorce- who knows what Larry will lose?! It’s not really a cliff-hanger type of show, and other than dealing with the divorce (which I think they’ve mostly done in the premiere) I don’t see a running storyline happening throughout the season, nor would it be necessary. These characters are great just to watch them interact with each other and the world around them, and this is seriously one of the best comedies on TV, and there are a surprisingly high amount of good comedies on TV these days.

Like I said, I’ve been inspired to start the series from the beginning, and I’ll probably sprinkle mini-reviews about it in the coming weeks.

I’m Mike TV- Stay Tuned!