The success (or failure) of tonight’s episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm — the show’s seventh season finale — really depends on what you were expecting from it. If you were tuning in to see an addendum to Seinfeld the series, you were definitely disappointed. But if you wanted Larry David’s traditional wit, with a sprinkling of Jerry and the gang, than you just experienced one of the greatest 40 minutes of your life. Or something along those lines.
Fortunately for me, I had expected to be left with just a memory or two. Unfortunately for me, I had my fingers crossed that this would be the 181st entry in the Seinfeld chronicles. That, my friends, it was not … until thirty minutes in.
“Having said that,” it’s not like we got any more of the Seinfeld Reunion show than we saw in last week’s table read. But did you also get goose bumps when Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer were in Jerry’s apartment again, in character and in costume? Or when they were all sitting around a booth at Monk’s? Or when it was just George and Jerry, talking about relationships again? I don’t know about you, but I was watching Seinfeld again, and boy did it feel good.
“Having said that,” I wouldn’t go as far as saying that the script we saw was particularly good. But I’ll accept the fact that we viewed scenes out of context, and that Larry and Jerry are a bit rusty after all these years. But I am NOT going to nitpick here; I’m enjoying the moment too much.
It was a rather humorous statement to have Cheryl falling for the George in Jason, which actually explains a little of how Larry landed her in the first place. Although, how exactly did she miss that connection?
I continue to thoroughly enjoy watching Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld together. It’s really a shame that tonight was probably the last we’ll see of them — maybe the return to a simpler time will have them thinking about another project to do together? And I love how much Jerry enjoys throwing Larry to the wolves. Like last week with Larry’s texting buddy, and this week with Mocha Joe; Jerry takes pleasure in the discomfort of his friends, and I love him for it.
Jason Alexander’s book (well, pamphlet), “Acting Without Acting,” was a fun poke at Jason, and his go-go-go work ethic. While I definitely miss enjoying his talent on TV, I am constantly aware that he’s out working on something all the time. So saying he had a book coming out was not a stretch. And the ring on the coffee table was a nice homage to the days when George was back living with his parents. And that entire episode was a little crazy. Larry asking everyone, “Do you respect wood?” He really became, as Jerry called him, “Larry David, Wood Detective.”
And he also became George. Well, he tried to. After Jason’s leaving left “a three-legged goat” of a show, Larry’s attempt at being the character based on him fell totally flat. Unless George Costanza is meant to sound like Larry’s George Steinbrenner. And if you need more of it, as I’m sure you do, check out the videos up on Curb’s website now.
Alright, so here’s what it all breaks down to for me: measured by my overall enjoyment, I’d give the “Seinfeld on Curb” arc a solid “A,” because it was just such a wonderful gift to us fans, and it was done with a lot of care and respect. The reunion show itself? “B-” for script, but an “A-” for memories; there was rust, but the feelings were there.
Julia and Michael land a “B” each, more because, by luck of the draw, we didn’t really get much of them. Michael was great being back as Kramer (though what was up with his hair?), but his Michael story was more a moment for personal statement, than for our enjoyment. Julia got to be “Mom,” but she didn’t seem to really have much to tell us as Elaine.
Jason gets an “A,” both because he’s just great, and because I loved the friction between his faux Larry, and Larry’s Larry. And when he slipped those glasses on, he was George Costanza again. Brilliant.
Jerry I give an “A” to as well. He was the man sitting on high for much of this, but there would be no reunion without his blessing, so for that alone I feel a debt of gratitude to him. But he and Larry made this season of Curb terrific besides that. By and large, I really had a wonderful viewing experience, and it is almost entirely due to the two of them.
Which leads me to my “A” for Larry as well, at least as far as the Seinfeld experience goes. Thanks to him, too, for giving us a few more memories to store away.
As for other grades?
“Whatever happened to ‘E’ for effort? ‘E’ for effort!” – Larry
“‘F’ for favor!” – Mocha Joe
“‘C’ for coffee!” – Jerry
Thank you ladies and gentlemen; you’ve been a great audience!
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Nov 22, 2009 @ 23:18 EST5EDT
having said that…