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Curb Your Enthusiasm – Why was the swan running loose in the first place?

- Season 7, Episode 7 - "The Black Swan"

derek-jeter

In part, I am at fault. In fact, those of us tuning in for Seinfeld are all partly to blame. How did we not see it coming? The bait and switch is one of the oldest tricks in the book, and here we are, caught with our pants down in the glare of the light shining off of Larry’s head.

Of course we weren’t about to be spoon-fed another season of Seinfeld. They’re guesting on Curb; the reunion show is a plot–point; but is it all that’s currently going on in Larry David’s life? Of course not. This week’s attention to it? Larry let his family know that they were doing a read-through next week. And that was it for the episode.

There was a little bit of a shout-out to Seinfeld, however. Over the same dinner, Larry offered to pay for Cousin Andy’s (Richard Kind) kid to go to college. On a side note, barring whatever else stemmed from that offer, I have to say that that was so unbelievably kind and generous of Larry … I don’t know what to say. I realize this is television, but someone wrote it in there. Yeah, probably to mine later for the cosmetology tuition request, but offering to pay for someone else’s kid to go to college? No strings attached? No cap on where, how much, or whatever else? It wasn’t the point, but I was really amazed.

Anyway, Andy’s wife makes hats. At first I thought they were going to be of the “Paper Mache” variety, but then I realized that would be too plagiaristic. Instead, the key was the request to have a celebrity friend, maybe Jerry, wear one of the hats, ala … “The Puffy Shirt!” You know the gift-set of seasons four and five that come with “The Puffy Shirt” encased in plastic? I had that standing on my desk at work once upon a time. Having Jerry actually wear the hat might be a bit too blatant, but the thought was memory enough.

Finally, because I can, a word for the Stone Mason, and others out there like him: he’s not the star with the MVP skills; no one’s ever said that he is. But to question Derek Jeter as a player? As a leader? We fans always have a lot to say, but I don’t think that there are many major leaguers out there who would ever think to question Jeter’s status around the league. And there is nary a team on which he wouldn’t start.

So, Stone Mason, you can have your revenge on Larry on his mother’s headstone (classy, by the way). But all you’re doing is crying all the way home because your own teams just don’t match up. So have your laugh at Larry’s expense … meanwhile, we’ll be enjoying our ticker-tape parade.

As to the initial question in my title … anybody?

Photo Credit: Yankee Magazine

2 Responses to “Curb Your Enthusiasm – Why was the swan running loose in the first place?”

November 3, 2009 at 11:06 AM

This season reminds like the Broadway season where Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer and Mel Brooks etc. showed up occasionally. I think it’s great the way they are structuring the season around the Seinfeld reunion without losing the unique elements of the CYE we love.

I can totally see Larry offering to pay for the kid’s college. It’s clear he doesn’t give a damn about money…he’s got so much of it. However, it is also completely in his character to flip out when he thinks someone is trying to get one over on him. Notice that even though Andy ratted him out, and his wife had the nerve to request to be sent to beauty school…. he never took back his initial offer. He instead threatened to destroy all the stupid hats if they opened their friggin’ mouths. (“especially the red one you’re was making for that asshole stone mason”)

November 6, 2009 at 2:23 AM

I’m not so familiar with him, or his character, but even if I was, I was extremely impressed. And I did see the flip-out coming, as well. ;)

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