Season 7 Episode 6: The Bare Midriff
Larry and Jerry Seinfeld consider incorporating Larry’s latest real-life experience–involving a bare-midriff assistant and a crying Jesus–into the reunion show.
I found this to be another solid episode. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previous couple, but found it had some really great moments. Like others, I really liked seeing the interactions between Larry and Jerry. I felt that it started really strongly with the whole midriff thing and the lunch with Richard, but faltered a little after this, as it ventured a little further into the absurd than I like from Curb. The violent ending to the already strange fantasy sequence seemed misplaced, and as others have mentioned the arrest for stealing napkins was a little too unrealistic. Occasionally Larry does seem to “crowbar” plotlines so that all different elements come together. This did feel a little contrived compared to usual. I enjoyed the latter part of the episode with Richard and Larry acting out the scene from the fantasy, and seeing Larry hanging on from Maureen’s stomach was absolutely hysterical. One of the great all-time endings for me.
Now for the issue that has seen over 30 comments this week. I can see how some Christians may have found the urine on the picture offensive. But for Curb fans, I can’t see how this crosses any boundaries that Larry hasn’t already crossed. Firstly, he did not intentionallry urinate on the picture. Secondly, I don’t believe it was intended as a criticism of Christianity. It was more about making light of that small group of people who are likely to purport to see effigies of Christ in their donuts and subsequently auction them on Ebay. Lastly, who could forget Season 3, Episode 9: Mary, Joseph and Larry? In that classic ep Larry not only commented on the “great bod” of a woman playing the virgin Mary but also ate Cheryl and her family’s Jesus cookie because he looked like a monkey! I don’t think this episode breaks new PC territory for Larry, and I found it really quite amusing. However I understand that others may have other opinions and its their right to express it on my blog. That said, some comments have seemed to be heading into a dierction that is outside the context of this site. I haven’t removed any comments yet but if things do get out of hand, I will have to moderate it.
Highlights:
- “Mayonaise is not personal”
- Jerry and Larry re-enacting the “choose” scene from Seinfeld – “You got odds. I got evens.”
- “You gotta flaunt for 24hours? Why not take a break in the flaunt?”
- The language of the gentle honk.
- “The swinging, sexy LA scene” where women expose their midriff at work.
- Drop off calls and official phone goodbye with guys. 100% agreement with Larry on this one. Its a big issue for me too, I have a friend that responds just like Richard did. Calling up just to confirm the official goodbye is a waste of time and money. Really need to establish an unwritten rule among guys for this. Thanks Larry for bringing it to society’s attention!
Again sorry this week’s review is late. Hope to be back on schedule next week. Until then, please keep discussing the season so far!
58 thoughts on “Season 7 Episode 6: The Bare Midriff”
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The episode started quite promising, but lost it’s focus after the eye splash incident, and generally seems like Larry is on acid lately. The ideas are becoming too farfetched, incoherent, and seldom mix together as well as they used to.
The napkin idea, although it had potential, was eventually ludicrous , instead of focusing on one element, Larry immediately incorporates new ideas and looses the punch.
The whole ending was a mess, Richard getting run over, and a suicide attempt… for a second I thought i flipped to a Sam Raimi film.
I really enjoyed Larry and Jerry hanging out, sitting in the office, conversing, poking and jabbing. As long as Larry kept it down, not overdoing, it felt realistic and i could actually relate to the characters once again. It just didn’t evolve as well, and certainly did not tie the loose ends, as well as the last episode.
Last thought,
The flashback scene was genuinely surprising, reminding the hilarious Scorsese scene on the roof. It’s nice to see Larry playing a different characters, changing scenery and soundtrack. Maybe Larry should consider, playing around with cultural flavors, rather than focusing on fast shifting situations most of the time.
I forgot to address the provocative, or more like offensive splash incident.
I know Larry likes to dabble with border line provocative matters, like religion or prejudice, seldom he literally would hit under the belt, referring to less important matters like human excretions, body fluids, bowel movements, and dog biting penises…
All in all, he does so with a reason, and comedic sense. Like Howard Stern, being allegedly offensive, helps him as to point out hypocrisy, and also to prove that rude, visceral humor, can coexist with highbrow anecdotal sarcasm. Good Humor is good Humor, don’t matter how you do it, and Larry keeps it real when he has to.
ONLY this time, I think he went a bit too far. pissing on Jesus eye… and later hitting the poor girl’s eye, even if by mistake, is really crossing the line. I’m sure, that’s the exact reason why Larry believed it would be funny, and indeed it has potential, but it was bluntly executed, and with minor changes, could have been within the usual boundaries.
Larry could have hit the picture with water from the faucet, and still have a good joke going on. It would have ruined the whole, uncontrolled spraying, but at the end of the day, Larry has to decide which is the more important joke.
I loved it. For the first time this season we saw some fun back and forth between him and Jerry.
The splashback on Jesus was fun come on ChicoDivine, it had to be his splashback and not some random spray from the faucet.
@ChicoDivine
So you aren’t an athiest then?
@Dangles
on the contrary, I’m an atheist, but still I find it embarrassing for Christians, the way Jesus is being treated on many sitcoms like south park, or films like dogma. If you want the criticize, religion, it’s can be enough if you show ridiculous habits and customs. You can always dig deeper, like “Name of the rose” did, though it was not a comedy. South Park usually throws chip tricks, by making Jesus a real person, which can be fun, but is not really critical of the religion.
Again, I liked the fake tear on Jesus’ eye, but did not appreciate the hole splash thing.
The second splash scene in particularly, was just a D grade movie, done without any charm, or intricacy. If you want to have a public “pee” scene, which is very rare in movies, and further more, you want to make it funny (not mentioning a religious connotation), make sure you aim right… and plan it thoroughly.
You are reading way too much into the urine, Chico.
Loved it. Flashback was a bit weird, but seemed to work. Could relate to the dropped out call incident (there’s not a lot of point in calling back to confirm goodbyes when the conversation is as good as over anyway!) but generally thought the ending was a bit far fetched. But hey, you come to expect that from Curb nowadays anyway.
The incident with the picture of Jesus didn’t offend me; I think in post-Life of Brian Britian, we can never really take offence at ‘blasphemy’, we’re far too liberal as a society; it’s just funny. Even if it is a bit far fetched to actually be true. And it wasn’t really as if Larry deliberately pee on a photograph of Christ.
Overall I liked the episode. The scenes with Larry and Jerry were the best, very funny. The napkin incident was really badly done, and I didn’t care for the whole pee thing either. I’m really looking forward to the whole Seinfeld crew on the set recording the episode. Perhaps Larry is so focused in doing that bit well that he’s not giving proper attention to the other parts.
I agree, liked to see Seinfeld and David back and forth – comletely self-absorbed – funny! Elaine is way to strident and bossy. ever since Christine stuff..very tiresome on-screen persona, not cute enough…Didn’t mind pee on jesus – I am a pastafarian, so I see his noodliness in many places..
but grabbing the girls fat, to save him, at the end? No good. Jumped the shark with that one..whole episode too weird..mostly..
and also, proves my point – Larry David as a skinny older guy, is craving young fat flesh to cushion with..
maybe..
🙂
also getting arrested for napkins too far-fetched..but the line-up – where the guy couldn’t tell him from the black guy..very funny – perfect black guy, also, and nice bookend to saying he didn’t feel he looked like the older ladies husband..role confusion..midsummer nights dream!
but the getting arrested and the fat grabbing – no good..
I thought that this was a pretty good episode. Some of these recent episodes have been more wacky and cartoonish. The napkin theft arrest and police lineup thing were very unrealistic but I thought that the lineup thing was still a funny joke. Perhaps Larry is just taking a crazy and cartoonish approach because he is trying to avoid repetition and is constantly looking to blaze new comedy trails. I’m undecided as to whether I like this new approach. I’m interested to see where this show is headed. There were far fetched plot lines in the old episodes too but I didn’t mind that much if they were necessary for making a funny joke.
(to trace) In the spirit of Larry David I would like to tell you to SHUT THE FUCK UP with your stupid theory that Larry has a fat fetish. Perhaps he does, it wouldn’t bother me if he did, but so far there has been no fucking evidence to indicate that, so it’s fucking idiotic. It wasn’t funny the first time so quit repeating it. It’s fucking annoying.
Well i thought this was one of the funniest episodes so far apart from the whole napkin incident, which was just plain stupid. The ending was classic as was the scene with Lewis getting run over. The peeing on Jesus incident wasn’t offensive, but i agree that maybe water would’ve been a better option. I found it weird that when the girl got splashed on she wasn’t revolted at all.
I am no prude but pissing and havign splash damage on the Jesus picture corssed a line. I am christian but I would nver desecrate a religious symbol such as the Koran, Talmud, or hte bible, and any otehr significant symbol of the religion. I am one of Larry Davids biggest fans but unfortunately without an apology to christians I will no longer be watchign the Curb show or supporting HBO projects.
I have to agree with Ray about desecrating religious or national symbols. I’m not Israeli or American, but I find it extremely offensive when someone burn their flags in public, infect any reference towards the flag, should be handled with the out most dignity. Same goes with religious symbols like the bible, or a picture of Christ. You better have a darn good reason, or a deep criticism before you make mockery of them. I understand Larry meant well, and has no ill intentions towards Christianity, it’s all comedy for him, but for many people it might not be the case. If it was the koran on the wall, Larry would have been in deep trouble.
“I took a chance” as Larry said in previous episodes, and although personally I see it as miscalculated attempt, Larry might pay a price for it. Apology might help, but also might blow it out of proportions..
Larry has crossed the line with the splashing Jesus episode. His creativity is thining out or he is going mad. Mr. David, stay out of religion and stop making fun of handicapped people, should you like to keep your fans entertained. I am sure there are so many other very funny plots short of making fun of Christians and Disabled.
You guys forgot the scene in the restaurant with Jerry, Larry and Lewis. That was the funniest thing I’ve seen so far this season (besides the ‘shut the fuck up’ scene). Almost metaphysical in its comedic dimension – very profound in fact. To me, one of the greatest comedic scene ever written – up there with Lubitsch’s, Mel Brooks’ or Philip Roth’s finest.
perfect episode… so much in it…
I loved the enraged driver’s expletives directed at Jerry
wonder if Larry is familiar with Andres Serrano’s 1987 photograph… (it’s on Wiki)
@psychofan – having trouble with your weight, are we?
I don’t think I am saying LD has a fat fetish. I geuss you could see it as just one more thing he is attempting to look at in a clear-eyed and comedic fashion..It does seem the natural id impulse, when confronted with puffy fat exposed like that- grab it and hang on…
I think it’s funny..
sorry psychofan seems so psycho about it..
Get real, I think its hypocritical how the Jewish owned Hollywood can criticize Jesus, yet cry wolf about everything else pertaining to their belief system and other.
@kokosam
Larry has been laughing on himself, for being Jewish, more than he does on Christianity. Also, He does use the conflict between religions ( him and Cheryl family…)
Remember the survival episode, or whistling Richard Wagner on the street. Richard Lewis will often be self deprecating, loathing himself for being a short Jewish guy.
There are some major episodes where he taunts Christianity, or laughing at the prospect of him becoming one.. mainly because He looks ridiculous dressing and behaving as a conservative christian, the joke is on both sides.
Don’t forget his main audience are Christians, if he did the show in Israel, he probably would have focused mainly on the Jewish religion. All in all, he reminds authentic to his own background and the way he interacts with Christians or other faiths.
Also, this is a part of classic insult comedy, which Don Rickles mastered and does it much harsher.
I’m lol-ing at the people who are super offended by the piss on Jesus….have you ever watched Curb before? Nothing is sacred! Religious things get mocked all the time! That’s just the way the show is, but he serves it out in equal doses so EVERYONE gets offended, which makes it fun (if you can take a a joke…..) I was raised Catholic, by the way, and a good section of my family is very religious including my Father, who also watches Curb and thought that this was the best episode of the season so far.
I didn’t even think it was THAT bad, it wasn’t like he pissed on the painting on purpose. He has a ‘medical problem’ 🙂
I thought this was a really good episode, especially Jerry and Larry’s moments together. It really felt like Jerry and George from Seinfeld. When those two were having back and forth, the dialog was so paced just like an old episode of that show. Loved that Jerry got to show off a couple of his sweet cars, too, I thought that was a nice detail. The napkin thing was hilarious in my opinion…but maybe it’s because I have a friend who ALWAYS uses a dozen or so napkins when he eats a messy sandwich….Also, I loved the mother and daughter characters…they were just SO weird.
Larry David is a joke. This ugly Jewish Man has gone too far this time. Very distasteful and the sad part is he did it for a higher rating, this means he’s getting desperate and old. Why not leave religion alone man,. You’re an idiot because this type of rating will not last and in the end you lose many views. Make your complaints to HBO. Contact HBO Chairman and CEO, Bill Nelson: Bill.nelson@hbo.com
For everyone that wants an apology from Larry David, you’re not going to get one. If you found it offense you may want to stop watching the show because I doubt that it will be the last time he makes fun of the Christian religion. He doesn’t write comedy for everyone to enjoy, he writes what he finds funny and hopes people with a similar since of humor will enjoy. If you don’t like it, that’s too bad. Also there seems to be a lot of Anti-Semitic phrases going around. That not only makes you sound like an idiot, it also weakens your argument that things like religion should be a taboo subject.
My favorite part of this is “Why not leave religion alone man?”, that really cracked me up.
I’m sure that you could find things MUCH more offensive on HBO if you really tried.
David just pulled a Letterman. 😉 Not that anyone watches the show…. but now I have more of reason to NOT to watch it other than it’s stupid.
Anti-Semitic phrases??? Don’t you get it, when you mess with someone’s religion, you should expect the same hostility in return. There is no Anti-Semitism here, there are angry people whom are offended that Larry David’s idea of a funny episode is BLASPHEMY. Now this is a fact. Maybe you need to understand the definition of both and come to your own intelligent conclusion…THIS IS WHY IT’S BEST TO LEAVE RELIGION OUT OF IT! Case closed!
Definition of Blasphemy: the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God. The act of claiming the attributes of deity
irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable
Definition of Anti-Semitism: hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group
WOW! MANY THANKS for PROVING to me that the BIBLE is RIGHT ON about ‘creatures” like these “coming out of the woodwork” to demean RELIGION and JESUS CHRIST!!
My first day in Sunday School the teachers described “creatures” like Larry David and his “hangers on”, and JUST WHAT they would do in BOTH hatred and jealousy of GOD!!
AMAZING tho’, how these “creatures” are the WORST ever, and thus…THEIR OWN WORST ENEMIES, FIRST and FOREMOST!!! “THE BEGINNING of WISDOM is THE FEAR of GOD.”..and…THEIR OWN POOR CHILDREN are the POORER for their parents’ EVIL CHOICES!! SAD, SAD ‘creatures”. Michael Savage is RIGHT as USUAL…Larry David also creates “anti-semitism”…is THAT so much FUN?????????????????????????????????
I liked it, it was funny. I just think he lost it towards the end. As soon as the cop picked him up for having to many napkins it just went down hill.
You yanks are so religious (sorry to put you all in one basket), you dont need to take offence to everything that happens. Its a TV show, watch it for its comedic value and just leave it at that. Don’t take it soooo seriously!
What pissed me off more was the stupid napkin thing.
Anyway…
I look forward to the Seinfeld thing going ahead, or NOT going ahead (which I’m predicting.) Seeing Jerry on screen going back and forth with “The Real George” was pretty awesome.
@David
Get a life dude, go outside and take a walk, get some fresh air, get a better job, get a hobby, get a partner, get a pet, do something for gods sake, remember TV is not real life, its TV… If you dont like the show, just dont’ watch anymore. Simple!
Why don’t you nutjobs stop watching Curb and go back to talking to your imaginary friends.
@BizzaroG
Oh please, don’t dictate to me about classic humor ie Don Rickles, a funny jewish guy indeed – but Don Rickles worked during an era where he didn’t have the ADL on his back!
Larry used smut humor in an age where people are having anti-discrimination crap shoveled down their throats daily thanks to Jewish backed interests. How often do we see anything slightly insulting against the Jews, but its always open season for this industry to attack christian beliefs and the goyim! I draw your attention to the outrage by the Jewish community against the Mel Gibson movie ‘Passion of the Christ’ because they denied the events accurately portrayed… oh so now the new testament is wrong about who crucified Jesus!
@kokosam
Do you watch anything made by Seth MacFarlane or Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Jewish jokes aplenty!
I’m all in favour of the moral majority vetting our programmes and deciding what’s acceptable for us to watch…
this Larry David must be stopped at all costs
How about “the life according to Brian’, since there seems to by a brit in these posts…..these posts are exactly why I do not go to any church – churches attract real nut-jobs ..”if you have something in your life that you can’t make fun of, you better start making fun of it immediately” Buddha..
we got WAY too many churches in america..so boring..cannot relate in any way..
and also, in the pee on Jesus – why was Jesus hung by the toilet -? that is something you often find in these nut-job religious households..
and secondly, he was also parodying something these nut-job churches have brought on themselves, when they see jesus in the plaster on the wall, or in the toast they just toasted, so they have to sell it on e-bay – except then the jesus they just found on the back of a fountain STARTS CRYING BLOOD..Please..this is so ridiculous, it begs to be made fun of..sort of like the start of Mormonism, with the glasses that only one guy could read the word of god through, and then the glasses broke!!!’dum dum dum dum’ as South Park sang as the greek chorus to their mormon episode..
I am a Christian and i am in no way offended by this, it was actually hilarious. I think you’d have to be very silly to take offense to this. It is a TV show. It’s not someone on a news report burning a bible.
@trace
Hey trace, It’s good you brought Monty Python to the table, they have done the same provocative things since the 70’th. Let alone “life of Brian”, which was an entire movie mocking the origins of Christianity, they have done some brilliant job in later films like The “Meaning of Life” , and their comedic sketches. I’m trying to imagine, how would I reacted, If they made a “pissing on Jesus” sketch, and quite frankly, I think I would still find it borderline, even for their standards. For some reason, which I can’t entirely explain, that Piss stain on Jesus’ eye, made me really uncomfortable, I don’t remember having many second thoughts about Monty Python’s material, which could be much more critical and generally offensive.
I just think, he should have used water instead, and all would have been fine. Using Excretions with sacred religious symbols, – Oy vay, how low can you get. Splashing on someone’s eye, again, in the right context, maybe….. the way he did it, embarrassing.
If it was another Monty python pirate movie, where a sleazy, drunk, pirate, is unconsciously or even intended, is splashing all over his crew, or bystanders, than it would have been hilarious. When Larry does it, on that poor naive girl, which is treated together with her mom like two degenerates, I found it to be just in poor taste, bad humor.
It could be funny, nowadays, to see, a common everyday scene, where someone carelessly splashes his friends, The office can easily pull it off, but Larry didn’t do a great job with that premise.
I am a Christian and believe the show was not acceptable….personal opinion!! I will not watch the show again.
@kokosam
Kokosam, Mel Gibson is a well know anti Semite, he is not the right person to direct Passion of the Christ just on these basis. Secondly, this movie has a great potential, in raising hatred towards a minority, which has an incomprehensible tragic history, in Europe ( The holocaust ), and basically everywhere else. Christianity on the other hand, has more than 2 billion followers, is well established, and has nothing to worry about, in the coming centuries. Israel, on the contrary, might not survive, the coming decade…
Thirdly, Christianity has a dark era, called the middle ages, which is acknowledged by its follower as an absurdity, leading to infinite critical essays, films, and jokes. You can’t take any religion too seriously, but Christianity really excel when it comes to finding it’s weak spots, especially in past and even current rituals. Because, Eventually the dark ages, led to the Renaissance, the raise of science free thought and freedom, It became a common trait to make critical jokes, regarding the neo-liberal every day man, which is still surrounded by “old” hardcore believers.
That is why these jokes, that Larry does on the expense of Christianity, work so well, It is all is the context of History. My point is, Christianity is easier to bash, it has a vast history of good deeds, but also ridiculous ones, it led to the birth the modern free man, and therefor is much more forgiving, when it is criticized.
Is it ok to hang a picture of Jesus right over the toilet?
and yes, I agree – I don’t think Monty Python ever was so scatological..they really weren’t very scatological at all when you think about it..Sort of a relief from the usual level of adam sandler comedies, as well as everyone else, these days..
Reminds me of the Mayor Guiliani episode of the painting in the Brookly Museum with elephant dung, and I think the subject was religious..Guiliani banned it to the horror of Manhattanites..
Hm..ok, I have sympathy for people who think pee on jesus is too much..
But the question remains, should one hang a picture of jesus where it can be peed on?inkkle jle
I am ashamed and for all of you who are claiming that you are christians and are happy or don’t care, at the mocking of our Lord Jesus. Shame on you. welcome to the liberal America. It is a shameful act, dispicable sin aganist our Lord. shame on you HBO, Larry and Seinfield. Shame on you. May God forgive you b/c you don’t even know what you have done. forgive us Lord.
Did you here that Larry and Jerry are going to do a follow-up but instead of a picture of Jesus they are going to use a picture of Mohamad? I couldn’t believe it! What guts! They really are going tick-off alot of people with that one!
@Joe
What !?!?!?!, your are joking i presume.
Larry- Jesus Christ will not be mocked! This is clearly stated in the Bible. I pray for your salvation.
@Braydon
And when the came for me nobody was left to defend me as I stood by each time and did nothing.
@John in New York
John, we had a civilized discussion, your remarks will just make people abstain from further contributing…
Larry, if you only knew that huw much Jesus loves you, perhaps you would have reconsidered. He still loves you, Larry. He is the Messiah perdicted long ago by the prophets and other writers of the Hebrew Scriptures. Wise men still seek Him.
Larry, this won’t seem so funny, and you won’t be hailed as a comedic genius when you stand before Jesus. God is not mocked.