I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but I felt just a little disappointed by last night's season 7 finale of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” titled “Seinfeld.” Yes, it was so ballyhooed, for that reason alone it had to be just a bit of a letdown.
After all, few things in life match or exceed something that one looks forward to with as much anticipation as I did last night's final Seinfeld reunion show. (Like Christmas when you are six years old.) Although since I felt last week's show was close to perfect (I would give it a nine), I just hoped that last night's finale would achieve total perfection. (But ten's are very rare, except on “Dancing with the Stars.”)
But it didn't quite make it. Then again, it far exceeded the much hyped “Seinfeld” finale of 11 years ago, which most people were disappointed in, and which Larry himself mocked in last night's show.
LD seems to write best when he just deals with the mundane annoyances of life. When he tries to knock one out of the park he sometimes swings too hard and pops up. However, saying he “popped up” last night would not be fair. Let's say he lined a double off the wall, while I was hoping for a home run.
So I will try and be positive. After all, the show within a show “Seinfeld reunion” was actually pretty funny, and had the basics of what would be a very good episode. In fact I found myself yearning for more of the “Seinfeld” stuff. George losing the millions that he made from the “iToilet” (I assume that is how it would have been spelled) to Bernie Madoff was a great plot twist.
And I think everyone watching would want to know more details about Elaine's child who was born thanks to a “sperm donation” by Uncle Jerry. Exactly how did that “donation” take place?
As for the “Curb” portion of the show, that is where I felt a little let down. The “favor” exchange with Mocha Joe was a little far-fetched, as was Jason Alexander walking off the show because he didn't like the alternate ending that Larry wrote.
“Having said that,” as usual I loved the scenes with Jeff's wife Susie, screaming at Larry about the coffee ring stain on her antique table. Nobody recreates the “wife from Hell” (and I will credit Richard Lewis for inventing that expression) better.
But let's examine the whole Larry being jealous of Jason's interactions with Cheryl. Certainly a psychiatrist would have a field day analyzing Larry's over the top reactions. After all, Jason was merely playing the part of George, who Larry had based upon himself. Watching Larry attempting to replace Jason and imitate George, who is Larry's alter ego, was very intriguing. That is one scene I plan on watching over several times.
Remember, the major plot arc of the season was not so much the so-called “Seinfeld reunion,” but rather Larry planning the reunion in one of his twisted machinations to win Cheryl back. And the final scene, where he does win her back, sort of, but then begins to demonstrate the same neurotic behavior that drove her away in the first place, was fascinating and funny.
Finally, stepping back from this one episode and examining the show from Larry David's real life perspective, outside of both “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” offers an interesting exercise in trying to separate art from reality.
After all in real life, Larry David and his wife Laurie (who is an environmental activist and was actually the producer of Al Gore's Oscar-winning documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth”), really did split up a few years ago. And I understand that Larry really did plan for season 6, which ended with Larry and the Black (that's their name) family living “happily ever after” to be the series finale of “Curb.”
Season 6 actually aired two years ago and supposedly it took HBO executives almost a year to finally talk Larry David into signing on for two more seasons of “Curb.” So it sort of made sense that Larry would have to get Cheryl back in season 7, and that is the real reason that he concocted this “meshugas” scheme to win her back.
It will be very interesting to see what Larry comes up with as a story arc for season 8. Having done the “Seinfeld reunion” thing, I can't imagine what it will entail.
But I can hardly wait. So let me be the first to begin the over the top hype for next season, so I can probably be a bit disappointed yet again. After all that is what happens when you are a Larry David addict.
Showing posts with label Curb Your Enthusiasm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Curb Your Enthusiasm. Show all posts
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
When the 'Curb' and 'Seinfeld' Worlds Collide...Magic Happens!
Now that's what I am talking about!
Sunday night's episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” titled “The Table Read,” was as brilliant a piece of television comedy that I can ever recall viewing. By blending it with a pseudo-Seinfeld reunion rehearsal, Larry David managed to capture the best of both shows.
Frankly I had thought that this season of “Curb” had not been Larry at his best, but all is forgiven after last night's hilarious show.
It wasn't just the pure comedy, but the weaving together of snippets of both shows into 45 minutes of pure genius. Perhaps one must be a fanatic follower of every episode of “Curb” and “Seinfeld” to totally appreciate the humor (as I am), but I for one could not stop laughing throughout the show.
(By the way I am also a fanatic football fan, but was so enthralled by this episode that I watched it INSTEAD of viewing the Patriots-Colts game, a decision that totally shocked my wife.)
I thought it was fascinating to see actors Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards morph into their Elaine, George, and Kramer characters. Of course Jerry always appears as just himself, whether on stage, or on his or Larry's show.
There were great pure “Curb” references such as Marty Funkhouser showing up uninvited to the table reading. And pure “Seinfeld” references, such as Jerry once again delivering the famous “Hello Newman” line and the appearance by mediocre comedian Kenny Banya complaining that the economy was killing his already moribund career. Of course as in every “Seinfeld” episode there had to be a Superman reference, which last night involved Jerry being surprised that Elaine already knew about the Fortress of Solitude crystals.
But what really made the show a classic was when the “Curb” and “Seinfeld” worlds collided, best exemplified by Kramer being diagnosed with the fictitious Groats disease (which Larry had helped raise money for in a Season two episode).
In the piece de resistance of the whole “Curb” season came the interaction between Michael Richards and Larry's “boarder” Leon (JB Smoove). The latter's attempts to portray Danny Duberstein; a white Jewish accountant who had passed away from Groats has to rank as one of the funniest scenes in any show ever!
Naturally that scene led to Richards going off on another racist tirade with bystanders all around taping the scene on their cell phones. Kudos to “Kramer” for allowing Larry to reprise that incident, which in real life practically ruined his career.
Overall the show worked on so many levels and left me totally satisfied and looking forward to next week's season finale. And if you were a more loyal Patriots fan than I and missed the show or forgot to DVR it, make sure you catch it on reruns of HBO later this week!
You won't be sorry.
Sunday night's episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” titled “The Table Read,” was as brilliant a piece of television comedy that I can ever recall viewing. By blending it with a pseudo-Seinfeld reunion rehearsal, Larry David managed to capture the best of both shows.
Frankly I had thought that this season of “Curb” had not been Larry at his best, but all is forgiven after last night's hilarious show.
It wasn't just the pure comedy, but the weaving together of snippets of both shows into 45 minutes of pure genius. Perhaps one must be a fanatic follower of every episode of “Curb” and “Seinfeld” to totally appreciate the humor (as I am), but I for one could not stop laughing throughout the show.
(By the way I am also a fanatic football fan, but was so enthralled by this episode that I watched it INSTEAD of viewing the Patriots-Colts game, a decision that totally shocked my wife.)
I thought it was fascinating to see actors Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards morph into their Elaine, George, and Kramer characters. Of course Jerry always appears as just himself, whether on stage, or on his or Larry's show.
There were great pure “Curb” references such as Marty Funkhouser showing up uninvited to the table reading. And pure “Seinfeld” references, such as Jerry once again delivering the famous “Hello Newman” line and the appearance by mediocre comedian Kenny Banya complaining that the economy was killing his already moribund career. Of course as in every “Seinfeld” episode there had to be a Superman reference, which last night involved Jerry being surprised that Elaine already knew about the Fortress of Solitude crystals.
But what really made the show a classic was when the “Curb” and “Seinfeld” worlds collided, best exemplified by Kramer being diagnosed with the fictitious Groats disease (which Larry had helped raise money for in a Season two episode).
In the piece de resistance of the whole “Curb” season came the interaction between Michael Richards and Larry's “boarder” Leon (JB Smoove). The latter's attempts to portray Danny Duberstein; a white Jewish accountant who had passed away from Groats has to rank as one of the funniest scenes in any show ever!
Naturally that scene led to Richards going off on another racist tirade with bystanders all around taping the scene on their cell phones. Kudos to “Kramer” for allowing Larry to reprise that incident, which in real life practically ruined his career.
Overall the show worked on so many levels and left me totally satisfied and looking forward to next week's season finale. And if you were a more loyal Patriots fan than I and missed the show or forgot to DVR it, make sure you catch it on reruns of HBO later this week!
You won't be sorry.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Has Larry David Become Too Obnoxious?
Well, LD, you have managed to “curb my enthusiasm” for “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
And I feel betrayed. Earlier this year I proclaimed “Curb Your Enthusiasm” my all-time favorite sitcom, and I praised to the hilt the episode titled “The Reunion,” in which Larry got the Seinfeld cast back together for a mock reunion.
But the past three episodes, including last night's “The Bare Midriff,” were in combination the worse sequence of shows in “Curb's” seven year run.
Dare I say that “Curb” has “jumped the shark?”
I hope not, because I really love the show and the characters. And the concept of the upcoming mock Seinfeld reunion is still a wonderful one. The scenes in last night's episode in which Larry is verbally sparring with Jerry Seinfeld were funny and made a fan such as I wonder how brilliant the two of them must have been when putting together the original “Seinfeld” series. It was almost like pulling back the curtain so the rest of us could take a peek to see how Larry and Jerry worked their magic during the 90s.
And I like the building plot twist with ex-wife Cheryl being told by Larry that she has the part of George's ex-wife in the Seinfeld reunion, although Larry told Jerry she is just auditioning for the part. It resulted in some of Larry's best verbal scuffling.
BUT (and you know what it means when the word “but” is capitalized), almost every plot twist and turn in the past three episodes that has nothing to do with the Seinfeld reunion has seemed like filler, just tossed into the script without any creative thinking.
Now Larry has always come across as an “a-hole,” making verbal mountains out of mole hills. His overreacting to the commonplace nuisances of life (and people's overreactions to his reactions) has always formed the meat and potatoes of the humor of “Curb.”
Incidents like not having enough change to get out of a parking lot or not want to give candy to teen age girls not wearing Halloween costumes, or being annoyed when he discovers that a friend lied when claiming his ancestor invented the Cobb salad were hysterical twists on the absurdities of life that confront us all.
How many times have you found yourself in similar annoying situations and remarked “this is like a Larry David scene?” I have countless times. And while Larry's reactions often seemed a bit over the top, they were still reactions to which I could easily relate. Often I have wished that I had Larry's nerve to tell off an obnoxiously pushy salesperson or to complain out loud when I show up at a doctor's office on time and am kept waiting for over an hour.
But in the past several episodes (in the non-Seinfeld scenes) Larry's obnoxiousness has gone too far, even by his standards. Interrupting Jeff and Susie Greene's daughter Sammy who was singing at the Danson's anniversary party, or also interrupting the opera singer at the Italian restaurant, or insisting that his doctor give Larry his home number, or pushing a woman in a wheelchair into a closet, or wrestling Rosie O'Donnell to the floor in a fight over a check, or urinating so hard that the backsplash landed on a picture of Jesus and not bothering to wipe it off.
Most importantly, such scenes were not even mildly amusing.
And being pulled over by a policeman for taking too many napkins from an Italian take out restaurant was also a plot line that was just too absurd, even for “Curb.” (Though I will admit that I laughed out loud when viewing the police lineup, the restaurateur could distinguish between men who were bald with glasses, but not between men of different races.)
But overall, Larry's antics have not been those of the loveable curmudgeon of previous seasons. Perhaps he is intentionally trying to point out that without wife Cheryl to keep him in check, the loveable Larry goes too far and becomes just a purely, obnoxious Larry.
I hope that's the case, and I will continue to watch the show, also hoping that the remainder of the season focuses more on the Seinfeld reunion than the inane goings on of the past three episodes.
After all, the brilliance of the previous six seasons earns Larry my continued faithful viewing. So Cheryl, please take him back, as he is just too much of an “a-hole” without you.
And I feel betrayed. Earlier this year I proclaimed “Curb Your Enthusiasm” my all-time favorite sitcom, and I praised to the hilt the episode titled “The Reunion,” in which Larry got the Seinfeld cast back together for a mock reunion.
But the past three episodes, including last night's “The Bare Midriff,” were in combination the worse sequence of shows in “Curb's” seven year run.
Dare I say that “Curb” has “jumped the shark?”
I hope not, because I really love the show and the characters. And the concept of the upcoming mock Seinfeld reunion is still a wonderful one. The scenes in last night's episode in which Larry is verbally sparring with Jerry Seinfeld were funny and made a fan such as I wonder how brilliant the two of them must have been when putting together the original “Seinfeld” series. It was almost like pulling back the curtain so the rest of us could take a peek to see how Larry and Jerry worked their magic during the 90s.
And I like the building plot twist with ex-wife Cheryl being told by Larry that she has the part of George's ex-wife in the Seinfeld reunion, although Larry told Jerry she is just auditioning for the part. It resulted in some of Larry's best verbal scuffling.
BUT (and you know what it means when the word “but” is capitalized), almost every plot twist and turn in the past three episodes that has nothing to do with the Seinfeld reunion has seemed like filler, just tossed into the script without any creative thinking.
Now Larry has always come across as an “a-hole,” making verbal mountains out of mole hills. His overreacting to the commonplace nuisances of life (and people's overreactions to his reactions) has always formed the meat and potatoes of the humor of “Curb.”
Incidents like not having enough change to get out of a parking lot or not want to give candy to teen age girls not wearing Halloween costumes, or being annoyed when he discovers that a friend lied when claiming his ancestor invented the Cobb salad were hysterical twists on the absurdities of life that confront us all.
How many times have you found yourself in similar annoying situations and remarked “this is like a Larry David scene?” I have countless times. And while Larry's reactions often seemed a bit over the top, they were still reactions to which I could easily relate. Often I have wished that I had Larry's nerve to tell off an obnoxiously pushy salesperson or to complain out loud when I show up at a doctor's office on time and am kept waiting for over an hour.
But in the past several episodes (in the non-Seinfeld scenes) Larry's obnoxiousness has gone too far, even by his standards. Interrupting Jeff and Susie Greene's daughter Sammy who was singing at the Danson's anniversary party, or also interrupting the opera singer at the Italian restaurant, or insisting that his doctor give Larry his home number, or pushing a woman in a wheelchair into a closet, or wrestling Rosie O'Donnell to the floor in a fight over a check, or urinating so hard that the backsplash landed on a picture of Jesus and not bothering to wipe it off.
Most importantly, such scenes were not even mildly amusing.
And being pulled over by a policeman for taking too many napkins from an Italian take out restaurant was also a plot line that was just too absurd, even for “Curb.” (Though I will admit that I laughed out loud when viewing the police lineup, the restaurateur could distinguish between men who were bald with glasses, but not between men of different races.)
But overall, Larry's antics have not been those of the loveable curmudgeon of previous seasons. Perhaps he is intentionally trying to point out that without wife Cheryl to keep him in check, the loveable Larry goes too far and becomes just a purely, obnoxious Larry.
I hope that's the case, and I will continue to watch the show, also hoping that the remainder of the season focuses more on the Seinfeld reunion than the inane goings on of the past three episodes.
After all, the brilliance of the previous six seasons earns Larry my continued faithful viewing. So Cheryl, please take him back, as he is just too much of an “a-hole” without you.
Monday, October 5, 2009
A Pret-ty, Pret-ty Good "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
A standard plot line in many movies and television shows is the old “We have to get the gang back together again.”
Whether done with the enthusiasm of an old Andy Hardy movie, or the wackiness of “The Blues Brothers” film, or the coolness of “Ocean's 11,” I always enjoy them.
But when Larry David applies his peculiar and totally absurd take on getting Jerry, Elaine, and Kramer to agree to do a “Seinfeld Reunion Show,” the results were an HBO episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” that will go down as one of my all-time favorites on what I have previously stated is my all-time favorite sitcom!
What I find especially appetizing is the fact that this planned reunion show comprises the main gist of a story arc that will cover the entire season of “Curb!”
To recap last night's episode, Larry has always labeled such reunion shows as “pathetic” and “desperate.” But he buckles under NBC's pressure to produce such a show for a reason only Larry's peculiar mind can concoct.
Currently separated from wife Cheryl, Larry determines that he can win her back by putting together the reunion show and casting Cheryl as the divorced wife of George's character, who is desperately trying to win his wife back.
Get it? A Larry David show is like an artichoke, with layers of plot twists piled upon one another, and mixed in with obscure references to past shows.
But first Larry must convince the main cast characters to get on board. While they are all very reluctant, he weasels them into participating by appealing to their egos and pulling out a classic Larry David tactic…lying. He tells each of them that the others are all “chomping” at the bit to participate.
Jason Alexander (George) gives the best reason of all to do a reunion show, to make up for the finale of “Seinfeld” which was a letdown to most people. (Including myself) Of course Larry, who wrote that episode, disagrees.
In his persuasive arguments, Larry suggests plot lines that reference back to previous “Curb” shows. He tell Julie Louis-Dreyfus that her Elaine could cut off a doll's hair, and he tells Michael Richards that Kramer could pick up a hooker in order to use the carpool lane to get to a Dodgers' game.
Of course scattered throughout the show are the usual Larry David battles with people over the size of a tip, diagnosing Susie Greene's lime disease, and the location of a pair of free Lakers' tickets.
In the process he manages to alienate everyone, including the NBC executive who had green-lighted the show.
But in his usual style of offering begrudging apologies and apologies for his apologies, Larry eventually gets everyone back on board, and we are left with the final cliffhanger.
Remember, Larry's whole reason for doing the show is to win back Cheryl by casting her as George's ex-wife. However, much to Larry's consternation, we discover that Jerry has already promised the role to actress Meg Ryan.
And now the fun begins! I personally can't wait for the coming “Curb” episodes. I am sure that they will be pret-ty good, pret-ty, pret-ty good.
Whether done with the enthusiasm of an old Andy Hardy movie, or the wackiness of “The Blues Brothers” film, or the coolness of “Ocean's 11,” I always enjoy them.
But when Larry David applies his peculiar and totally absurd take on getting Jerry, Elaine, and Kramer to agree to do a “Seinfeld Reunion Show,” the results were an HBO episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” that will go down as one of my all-time favorites on what I have previously stated is my all-time favorite sitcom!
What I find especially appetizing is the fact that this planned reunion show comprises the main gist of a story arc that will cover the entire season of “Curb!”
To recap last night's episode, Larry has always labeled such reunion shows as “pathetic” and “desperate.” But he buckles under NBC's pressure to produce such a show for a reason only Larry's peculiar mind can concoct.
Currently separated from wife Cheryl, Larry determines that he can win her back by putting together the reunion show and casting Cheryl as the divorced wife of George's character, who is desperately trying to win his wife back.
Get it? A Larry David show is like an artichoke, with layers of plot twists piled upon one another, and mixed in with obscure references to past shows.
But first Larry must convince the main cast characters to get on board. While they are all very reluctant, he weasels them into participating by appealing to their egos and pulling out a classic Larry David tactic…lying. He tells each of them that the others are all “chomping” at the bit to participate.
Jason Alexander (George) gives the best reason of all to do a reunion show, to make up for the finale of “Seinfeld” which was a letdown to most people. (Including myself) Of course Larry, who wrote that episode, disagrees.
In his persuasive arguments, Larry suggests plot lines that reference back to previous “Curb” shows. He tell Julie Louis-Dreyfus that her Elaine could cut off a doll's hair, and he tells Michael Richards that Kramer could pick up a hooker in order to use the carpool lane to get to a Dodgers' game.
Of course scattered throughout the show are the usual Larry David battles with people over the size of a tip, diagnosing Susie Greene's lime disease, and the location of a pair of free Lakers' tickets.
In the process he manages to alienate everyone, including the NBC executive who had green-lighted the show.
But in his usual style of offering begrudging apologies and apologies for his apologies, Larry eventually gets everyone back on board, and we are left with the final cliffhanger.
Remember, Larry's whole reason for doing the show is to win back Cheryl by casting her as George's ex-wife. However, much to Larry's consternation, we discover that Jerry has already promised the role to actress Meg Ryan.
And now the fun begins! I personally can't wait for the coming “Curb” episodes. I am sure that they will be pret-ty good, pret-ty, pret-ty good.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Ten Favorite TV Sitcoms
With my all-time favorite TV show returning September 20 (and with a preview of it appearing on HBO tonight at 10 p.m.), I thought I would present my top ten list of favorite sitcoms. These are all shows that, while watching, I found myself laughing out loud quite often.
*****
1. Curb Your Enthusiasm – (HBO 2000-present)
IMBD description: Seinfeld co-creator Larry David stars as himself in this hilarious, off-kilter comedy series that presents an unflinching, self-depreciating depiction of his life.
Why I laughed so hard: I totally identify with Larry, being a semi-retired balding Jewish guy married to a WASP and who constantly puts my foot in my mouth while waiting in line at the bank or in the waiting room of a doctor's office.
Funniest memory: Larry at the Incest Survivor's Support Group, having to make up a story about his uncle.
*****
2. Seinfeld - (NBC, 1990-1998)
IMBD description: The continuing misadventures of neurotic New York stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York friends.
Why I laughed so hard: I guess I didn't think of them as that neurotic, and of course I identified with George. But all the characters were memorable, especially George and Jerry's parents, Uncle Leo, Mr. Pitt, and of course my favorite, the evil Newman.
Funniest memory: George in his hospital bed trying to pay attention to his mother while watching the silhouette of a sexy nurse giving a sponge bath to the female patient in the next bed.
*****
3. All In The Family – (CBS, 1971–1979)
IMBD description: A working class bigot constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.
Why I laughed so hard: As a liberal, Baby Boomer sort of hippie in the 1970s, I totally identified with Meathead and loved to see Archie get his comeuppances. The fact that it was the first show to deal with serious issues in a humorous way was inspiring.
Funniest memory: Archie getting extremely aggravated at Michael, because he got dressed sock shoe, sock shoe, instead of sock sock, shoe, shoe.
*****
4. The Office – (NBC, 2005–present)
IMBD description: A mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium.
Why I laughed so hard: Michael Scott could be the single funniest character in TV history! How 30 Rock keeps winning the Emmy over The Office is a tremendous injustice. Dwight, Kevin, Phyllis, Creed, what more can I say?
Funniest memory: Michael's speech on the “Booze Cruise” that led to someone jumping overboard. Actually any speech by Michael to his staff, whether the subject is sexual harassment or stealing office supplies.
*****
5. The Larry Sanders Show - (HBO, 1992-1998)
IMBD description: A comedic behind the scenes look at a late night talk show.
Why I laughed so hard: This was the first truly hysterical cable series that broke through the barriers erected by network comedies. The portrayal of Larry's, Artie's, and Hank's insecurities bouncing off one another was both revealing and very, very funny.
Funniest memory: Any attempt by Hank “Hey Now” Hank Kingsley to make money outside of the show, such as endorsing various products or opening his rotating restaurant.
*****
6. The Phil Silvers Show (Sergeant Bilko) – (CBS, 1955-1959)
IMBD description: Sgt. Ernie Bilko is the ultimate con man. He runs the motor pool at a small Kansas US Army Camp.
Why I laughed so hard – I always watched this show with my father and brother, and we used to kid my dad that he looked like Private Doberman. Bilko's various money-making schemes and his buttering up of Colonel Hall's wife always broke me up.
Funniest memory: The episode “The Twitch,” in which Bilko creates a pool on how many times a boring guest speaker will twitch during her speech was probably my favorite and funniest episode on any show ever!
*****
7. The Honeymooners – (CBS, 1955-56) (Originally a sketch on various Jackie Gleason variety shows)
IMBD description: A bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience.
Why I laughed so hard: The interplay between bus driver Ralph Kramden and sewer worker Ed Norton has never been topped by any duo on any show since. While most other sit-coms in this era took place in white suburbia, the Kramdens lived in a spartan Brooklyn tenement.
Funniest memory: About to win the top prize on a quiz show, Gleason's Kramden fails to know the name and author of the song “Swanee River,” which Norton always used to warm up with on the piano whenever they practiced.
*****
8. The Mary Tyler Moore Show - (CBS, 1970-1977)
IMBD description: The lives and trials of a young single woman and her friends, both at work and at home.
Why I laughed so hard: Simply the fact that was a tremendously well-written and acted show. All of the characters surrounding Mary were funny and unique, especially Rhoda, Phyllis, Lou, and the wonderful announcer, Ted Baxter.
Funniest memory: Mary breaking out in uncontrollable laughter at the funeral of Chuckles the Clown. You had to be there.
*****
9. Weeds (HBO, 2005-present)
IMBD description: Comedy about a suburban mother turned marijuana dealer.
Why I laughed so hard: I didn't say these were the best or funniest sit-coms ever, just my favorites. And there is something about the absurd wackiness of this show that is so unbelievable, I can't stop chuckling while watching it.
Funniest memory: Kevin Nealon's character Doug goes to a marijuana festival and “researches” various strains of pot. I don't know, this episode just struck my funny bone.
*****
10. The Bob Newhart Show – (CBS, 1972-1978)
IMBD description: The professional and personal misadventures of a psychologist and his family, patients, friends and colleagues.
Why I laughed so hard: In the 1970s, this show completed the best night of comedies in history. It was the real “Must see TV,” as people all over America stayed home on Saturday nights to watch Archie, Mary, and Bob. Newhart's dry wit played perfectly against his whacky patients, especially when they did group therapy.
Funniest memory: Any scene involving Mr. Carlin, the paranoid, neurotic patient who was insecure and hostile, yet extremely lovable.
Overall, putting together this list was harder than I thought it would be. I have to give Honorable Mention mentions to the following: I Love Lucy, Mash, The Odd Couple, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (mainly because I had a mad teen age crush on Tuesday Weld's Thalia Menninger), and Car 54 Where are You? And finally, the short-lived but brilliant HBO show Lucky Louie.
*****
1. Curb Your Enthusiasm – (HBO 2000-present)
IMBD description: Seinfeld co-creator Larry David stars as himself in this hilarious, off-kilter comedy series that presents an unflinching, self-depreciating depiction of his life.
Why I laughed so hard: I totally identify with Larry, being a semi-retired balding Jewish guy married to a WASP and who constantly puts my foot in my mouth while waiting in line at the bank or in the waiting room of a doctor's office.
Funniest memory: Larry at the Incest Survivor's Support Group, having to make up a story about his uncle.
*****
2. Seinfeld - (NBC, 1990-1998)
IMBD description: The continuing misadventures of neurotic New York stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York friends.
Why I laughed so hard: I guess I didn't think of them as that neurotic, and of course I identified with George. But all the characters were memorable, especially George and Jerry's parents, Uncle Leo, Mr. Pitt, and of course my favorite, the evil Newman.
Funniest memory: George in his hospital bed trying to pay attention to his mother while watching the silhouette of a sexy nurse giving a sponge bath to the female patient in the next bed.
*****
3. All In The Family – (CBS, 1971–1979)
IMBD description: A working class bigot constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day.
Why I laughed so hard: As a liberal, Baby Boomer sort of hippie in the 1970s, I totally identified with Meathead and loved to see Archie get his comeuppances. The fact that it was the first show to deal with serious issues in a humorous way was inspiring.
Funniest memory: Archie getting extremely aggravated at Michael, because he got dressed sock shoe, sock shoe, instead of sock sock, shoe, shoe.
*****
4. The Office – (NBC, 2005–present)
IMBD description: A mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium.
Why I laughed so hard: Michael Scott could be the single funniest character in TV history! How 30 Rock keeps winning the Emmy over The Office is a tremendous injustice. Dwight, Kevin, Phyllis, Creed, what more can I say?
Funniest memory: Michael's speech on the “Booze Cruise” that led to someone jumping overboard. Actually any speech by Michael to his staff, whether the subject is sexual harassment or stealing office supplies.
*****
5. The Larry Sanders Show - (HBO, 1992-1998)
IMBD description: A comedic behind the scenes look at a late night talk show.
Why I laughed so hard: This was the first truly hysterical cable series that broke through the barriers erected by network comedies. The portrayal of Larry's, Artie's, and Hank's insecurities bouncing off one another was both revealing and very, very funny.
Funniest memory: Any attempt by Hank “Hey Now” Hank Kingsley to make money outside of the show, such as endorsing various products or opening his rotating restaurant.
*****
6. The Phil Silvers Show (Sergeant Bilko) – (CBS, 1955-1959)
IMBD description: Sgt. Ernie Bilko is the ultimate con man. He runs the motor pool at a small Kansas US Army Camp.
Why I laughed so hard – I always watched this show with my father and brother, and we used to kid my dad that he looked like Private Doberman. Bilko's various money-making schemes and his buttering up of Colonel Hall's wife always broke me up.
Funniest memory: The episode “The Twitch,” in which Bilko creates a pool on how many times a boring guest speaker will twitch during her speech was probably my favorite and funniest episode on any show ever!
*****
7. The Honeymooners – (CBS, 1955-56) (Originally a sketch on various Jackie Gleason variety shows)
IMBD description: A bus driver and his sewer worker friend struggle to strike it rich while their wives look on with weary patience.
Why I laughed so hard: The interplay between bus driver Ralph Kramden and sewer worker Ed Norton has never been topped by any duo on any show since. While most other sit-coms in this era took place in white suburbia, the Kramdens lived in a spartan Brooklyn tenement.
Funniest memory: About to win the top prize on a quiz show, Gleason's Kramden fails to know the name and author of the song “Swanee River,” which Norton always used to warm up with on the piano whenever they practiced.
*****
8. The Mary Tyler Moore Show - (CBS, 1970-1977)
IMBD description: The lives and trials of a young single woman and her friends, both at work and at home.
Why I laughed so hard: Simply the fact that was a tremendously well-written and acted show. All of the characters surrounding Mary were funny and unique, especially Rhoda, Phyllis, Lou, and the wonderful announcer, Ted Baxter.
Funniest memory: Mary breaking out in uncontrollable laughter at the funeral of Chuckles the Clown. You had to be there.
*****
9. Weeds (HBO, 2005-present)
IMBD description: Comedy about a suburban mother turned marijuana dealer.
Why I laughed so hard: I didn't say these were the best or funniest sit-coms ever, just my favorites. And there is something about the absurd wackiness of this show that is so unbelievable, I can't stop chuckling while watching it.
Funniest memory: Kevin Nealon's character Doug goes to a marijuana festival and “researches” various strains of pot. I don't know, this episode just struck my funny bone.
*****
10. The Bob Newhart Show – (CBS, 1972-1978)
IMBD description: The professional and personal misadventures of a psychologist and his family, patients, friends and colleagues.
Why I laughed so hard: In the 1970s, this show completed the best night of comedies in history. It was the real “Must see TV,” as people all over America stayed home on Saturday nights to watch Archie, Mary, and Bob. Newhart's dry wit played perfectly against his whacky patients, especially when they did group therapy.
Funniest memory: Any scene involving Mr. Carlin, the paranoid, neurotic patient who was insecure and hostile, yet extremely lovable.
Overall, putting together this list was harder than I thought it would be. I have to give Honorable Mention mentions to the following: I Love Lucy, Mash, The Odd Couple, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (mainly because I had a mad teen age crush on Tuesday Weld's Thalia Menninger), and Car 54 Where are You? And finally, the short-lived but brilliant HBO show Lucky Louie.
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