In 1996 when Larry David left Seinfeld at its peak, everyone in the TV industry thought he was insane. Why would anyone leave a TV show that was the most popular television show of the 1990's? Seinfeld wasn't just a TV show, it was an American cultural icon.
Larry David left Seinfeld and in 2000 created Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO. Curb was a fictional, slightly skewed and Hollywoodized version of Larry David's life. Curb was an evolution of Seinfeld, only HBO allowed for much racier jokes and language. Most episodes have always been fall down funny. And most of the cast of Seinfeld has been on the show for their own episodes. But the 7th season of Curb was all about Larry trying to win his wife back by working on a Seinfeld reunion show. And believe me, the season's finale of Curb is the only place you're going to see a Seinfeld reunion.
What's great about the Curb is that Larry David had to write a probable set up for a Seinfeld reunion, successfully balance the "reality" of Curb with all of its characters and put in 3 of the most recognizable actors in the history of television (Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis Dreyfus and Jason Alexander) into the show as well. It's a talent balancing act of epic proportions. Not just the story, the season, and the actors, but the weight and expectation of living up a Seinfeld reunion (especially since the Seinfeld finale - written by Larry David, was such a let down. The only worse series finale in television was The Sopranos). And I have to say, Larry David pulled it off brilliantly.
The treat to the audience at the end was about 10 minutes of The Seinfeld Reunion show. It was so good to see those characters again and see how they were living in New York City in 2009. Seinfeld was as funny as ever.
Anyone who's a Curb enthusiast (as I imagine they would be called) should note that there are no writers on the show. It truly speaks to Larry David's genius that he just sketches out what he wants in each scene of each episode and then leaves it to his cast and guest stars to write up the dialogue and improvise it on the show. Actors hate improvising. I don't know how he does it, but those actors and comedians trust him enough to allow them to be funny and they are.
Now let's see if Larry David can creatively top himself once again on Season 8 of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
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