Larry resists Jeff’s suggestion to do a Seinfeld reunion special–until he figures out a compelling personal reason to do so.
They’re back. But are they still funny? Spoilers ahead.
I’ve been looking forward to this episode for a while. I regretfully have to say that I found this episode really disappointing. It just wasn’t funny. The first two episodes of this season (particularly the second) were really quite hilarious but this first of several revolving around the Seinfeld reunion fell completely flat for me. Jerry, Jason, Julia and Michael seemed self-conscious. The story and writing felt forced. The scenes with Cheryl were not only unfunny but just plain annoying, as were the fantasy sequences. Curb is a show that I can rely on to give me a few good belly laughs if not have me on the floor in a lot of cases. I barely chuckled watching this episode. The situations just didn’t work. For example, I did not understand the point of the part where Michael Richards was unaware of what Larry was saying to him. What was funny about it? I can only hope this episode was a necessary evil to set up the whole reunion arc. I also really missed Leon, Loretta and Richard who were so funny last week. Let’s hope that Larry can save this reunion idea (at least for me) in the rest of the season because at the moment it seems to have been a mistake. I’ve read some reviews in the blogosphere where people have said it’s nice to see the cast together again. Well yeah, it is nice and all that. But if it’s not funny, then it’s not Curb.
What did you think?
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I had the same feeling watching this episode. The first ten minutes or so were unfunny, but it picked up and had a curb feeling for the rest of the episode.
I still have a feeling Season 7 haven’t really picked up speed yet.
OP: the funny part about michael richards was him looking all around the restaurant at the pictures of the naked women…which is why he wasnt paying attention…and larry had commented on the pictures the day before…
Well, despite agreeing that some situations were forced, for me the hardest part was seeing the guys, despite Julia, so aged. The iconic image we have of them is quite different. But I also think that the next episodes will be better, and there was no way our expectations could be reached after all…
I liked it. How could you not? The restaurant scene was funny for the jim’s stated reason, as well as the fact that we know that Michael hasn’t heard a single word of Larry’s pitch. This adds to the orchestral undoing of Larry at the end of the episode – Michael (scoffing): “What reunion episode?”
Also, remember it’s an ironic parody of other reunion episodes. I liked seeing the older cast, without the usual BS glamor, actually saying that they hate ‘reunion episodes’ and that they always seem ‘pathetic.’ I thought it was clever and funny. Maybe it ust needed a pinch of Leon.
Peace.
So far I think I’m in the minority, most reviewers and a lot of viewiers seem to have enjoyed it. Perhaps my expectations were a bit high? I understand the idea about Michael Richards being distracted by the naked photos, I just didn’t find it all that funny. I guess I was using it as an example of how the elements just didn’t really work for me. I will give it another view at some stage to see if I’ve been unfair.
I don’t understand what you want from Larry…
I’ve just watched it a 2nd time and loved it – he’s setting the series up – part of the process is getting the cast back together but it was still funny… especially the banter between Jerry & Larry “there’s a shift” & Jason’s total disregard for his character of George
I have a feeling it’s going to get better & better – and Leon is still in it!
by far the best thing on telly and well worth the wait
i agree. i actually thought episode 1 was the worst so far, but couldnt agree more that the seinfeld cast members really change the element of the show — it doesnt feel loose and goofy anymore. i also feel like the new season (with the cameras and whatnot) is aimed towards a different audience…like for the kids that watch entourage.
when season 6 started, i thought “wow, this is really different than season 1,” but the story lines and humor withstood all doubt i had and turned out to be a great season. this season so far is so completely different than the first 3 or so seasons that it’s almost uncomfortable. we’ll see though…episode 2 was fairly solid.
I thought it was great although I agree that it probably wasn’t the best so far.\
LD changing his mind on the reunion idea purely for his own egotistical purposes and Jeff calling him out for it?! Come on that’s funny! Especially every cast member hinting at a hidden reason for Larry’s change of heart. I, for one, thought that Jerry’s deconstruction of Larry was hilarious.
I think the highlight though is the tip dispute between Larry and Jason. “Touch your face if he gave you more than 12$… OMG what an asshole!”
How can anyone be against tip coordination?!
2 larry david updates:
1.) a new (full) interview with david letterman http://www.tv.com/video/MsS4y0oabSXk1owM1EYW_5_nZjYmnsB3/10-2-2009?o=cbs&tag=;thumb;
2.) an article/interview about the seinfeld reunion http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-larry-david2-2009oct02,0,3263167.story
p.s. i didn’t think that the last episode was bad. there have been worse episodes. there were enough funny moments for me to consider it a solid episode. the seinfeld thing never really excited me very much in the first place. i was just happy that larry was returning for another season.
I thought it was pretty good, some funny bits. I think it is more a set up episode though. Look forward to next week.
I will say though… It was pretty awesome to see all the characters back in one room.
Curb 4 Ever!
i thought it was pretty ok. there was a lot to set up and i think a lot of editing was done. the greatest laugh for me was larry having to flip a coin to to decide whether or not to do the show and reunite with cheryl or to just let the head of nbc die, both options being equally attractive.
I liked it alot, but not as much as the first 2 (which were brilliant). Highlights for me included: Jason ripping apart the character of George and the Seinfeld Finale, Larry busting the NBC Exec screening his call and his comment about how he always suspected people screening his calls, and Larry and Susie screaming at each other about her not thanking him.
Check out Susie Essman at the link below. So funny!
http://tinyurl.com/yzjo8mk
Wow. I’d never watched this show before, and thought this episode was brilliant.
Seriously: longtime fans couldn’t figure out what was funny about Mike Richards being so distracted at the restaurant he wound up having no idea a reunion was in the works (i.e., just as sex-addicted and ADD as Kramer)? Expecting the Seinfeld cast to take on their Seinfeld personas?
Lennos was right: irony and parody oozed. Nowhere more so than when Jason excoriated his Costanza character, as if unaware that George was based on Larry.
I was immediately taken with the sheer genius, not to mention “Seinfeld Zen”, in the very “reunion that isn’t a reunion” concept. If the characters didn’t behave like Seinfeld characters, all the better. It isn’t their show, and they weren’t there to live up to those expectations. If you had them, worse for you, apparently.
Little did I know at the time that this is the motif of the series; having bought all the DVDs since, I do now. It’s classic sitcom schtick! It’s reality show! It’s got subplots! It’s improv! It’s perfect! It’s got warts! I love it.
One can only wonder how many other similarly unfamiliar new fans were also first exposed to Larry’s genius vis-a-vis CYE by this episode. Lucky us, I say.