A couple weeks ago I spent a Saturday binge re-watching the most recent episodes of Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” It was the 10th season of the HBO comedy and one of its best. The story arc was Larry wanted to open a ‘Spite Store’ to compete with a coffee business, “Mocha Joe’s” that he had issues with. David’s joint was called “Latte Larry’s.”
Each episode had its usual conflicts and peccadillos of daily annoyances that drive the lead character nuts and there were plenty of laughs along the way. The two best shows being “The Ugly Section” and “Elizabeth, Margaret and Larry.” The latter of those two featured studly former “Mad Men” star Jon Hamm doing character research for a movie and morphing into a junior Larry David. As good as Hamm is at drama in film and TV, he’s equally adept at doing comedy.
One of the extra things that made this season enjoyable was how David featured some of my favorite B list actresses. In the past Larry has clicked with me on this measure with roles for stars like tall and lovely Brenda Strong and the sultry Rebecca Creskoff, but this season was better.
Putting them in alphabetical order, “Curb” had a part for the saucy Sasha Alexander. She’s been on shows like “Friends” and showed off plenty of herself on the series “Shameless.” With “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Sasha played the no nonsense chief executive officer/ girlfriend to Richard Lewis. Earlier in the season Lewis had another gal pal played by Isla Fisher who worked as a “professional crier.”
The next actress in the cue is Jane Krakowski. I’ve always had a thing for the former co-star of “30 Rock” and other shows & movies. Jane also played a role in the Dixie Chicks (sorry, ‘The Chicks’) music video for “Goodbye Earl.” On ‘Curb’, Jane portrayed a frisky widow who liked Larry and possessed an allegedly “magical” lady part. And the kid who played the son of a dermatologist added more hilarity to “The Ugly Section.”
Teri Polo, co-star of the “Meet the Parents” movies among other roles did a nice turn as another love interest for Larry. The scene where he video records on a cell-phone all of their steps in a romantic session in an effort to avoid a sexual harassment lawsuit is another piece of true to life comedy gold.
Finally there was still ANOTHER girlfriend for Larry played by former “Rules of Engagement” star Megyn Pryce. I like Megyn not just for her cute looks but her comedic timing and her speaking voice. She’s fun to watch and seeing her play a woman who lost weight but goes back to enjoying lots of food made the episode she was in even better. Was Megyn’s character yoyo-ing up in weight? Who knows for sure?
So besides featuring these actresses of lesser fame, the past season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” had other high spots, including Larry mocking Jeff’s wife Susie for her stove pipe hat as he quoted Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Then there was the painting of Susie he commissioned for her birthday which was both funny and scary. Larry’s ex-wife Cheryl confronting him about sleeping with her sister was also a gut busting laugh.
There is going to be an 11th season of ‘’Curb” and you have to think the current Covid 19 Pandemic is going to play a major part in the season’s story arc. And forgive my ‘enthusiasm’ but I can’t wait for the fun to begin.
NEXT BLOG- A Tribute to Tom Petty.