Diary of a Curb Your Enthusiasm virgin – Just let the kid see a naked lady

(Season 5, Episodes 5-6)

Larry and Jeff both trying to get out of giving Richard a kidney brought up an interesting question: in a game of Ee-nee, mee-nee, mi-nee, mo, who’s the winner? Both were arguing that they’d won due to who got pointed to last, but both thought that “winning” meant they got to keep their kidneys … I’d argue that “winning” could be described as getting to be a donor (not in an aw-shucks way, just in an alternate perspective way). I’m just saying that I’m wondering why no one said, “Yeah, you won! You get to give Richard a kidney!”

5.5 “Lewis Needs a Kidney”

It’s ideas like the one that started the ball rolling in this episode that I find so fascinating about Larry David’s comedy — he got locked out of his car so he called Jeff to pick him up (of course; why bother calling your wife, who might have a spare set of your keys?). While waiting, Larry attempted to walk through a fast food drive-in and order something to eat. It was how he met Pete (Frank Whaley), but the visual of Larry on foot in that line was awesome.

Not to mention the fact that Pete and Larry’s conversation in the car was hilarious. Pete transitioning from the dental field, the box of porn … it was all funny. And I loved that Pete turned out to be a criminal.

The rest was only so-so for me. I’m not into Richard Lewis’ version of himself on this show, so I’m not so interested in the kidney plot. I got excited when Larry pulled out the “You are an employee of mine” line with Jeff, though. I have no problem with the fact that they’re friends, but Jeff does make his money because Larry commands serious paydays, so maybe once in a while that relationship should show itself.

Louis Lewis (Bill Saluga), Richard’s cousin, getting shot and ending up in a coma? Poor taste. I can smell where this is going.

5.6 “The Smoking Jacket”

The minor parts of this episode were the most enjoyable. In honor of Larry’s birthday — or was it merely coincidence — Cousin Andy (Richard Kind) returned for a visit. I loved Larry freaking out about Andy taking the magazine into the bathroom. It would figure that Cheryl had Gary Player’s phone number on it.

It was nice to see a younger James Pickens Jr. as — what else — a doctor. Wilson (Grant Rosenmeyer) and his “Make a Wish” request to see a naked woman was awesome, and fit in so funnily with Larry, Jeff, and Andy’s visit to the Playboy Mansion. By the way, how did Jeff score an invite? I loved how Larry somehow scared off all of the women who were outside by the pool, although the continuity on that joke got dropped too quickly.

The smoking jacket was random and weird. I’m still not clear on which one was authentic and which was the fake, but wouldn’t it make more sense for Hugh Hefner to have the real one, and Nat David (Shelley Berman) to have the fake? It was awesome having Hefner wear Nat’s jacket into the bathroom; who would do that?

But the fact that it happened twice, with Gary Player and Larry’s jacket that looked like a Masters Green Jacket? Sure.

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Jan 14, 2011 @ 13:00 EST5EDT