Diary of a Curb Your Enthusiasm virgin – Whitefish, sable, and capers … oh my!

(Season 5, Episodes 1-2)

After a forced six week hiatus from my Curb Your Enthusiasm virgin diary, I was finally able to get back to the series this week. Why do networks airing a “full run” of a show skip the odd episode here and there? Is someone in programming simply not paying attention?

Anyway, while I wasn’t 100% into season four of Curb, I really did like the progression of The Producers plot. If they combined the creativity that spawned that idea with the enjoyable lightness of seasons one through three, season five should be okay.

5.1 “The Larry David Sandwich”

If Larry David was going to end up with a sandwich named for him anywhere, I figure it would be at Tom’s Restaurant on 112th and Broadway. That’s the real life location that was used for the exterior shots of Monk’s on Seinfeld. But I’m not surprised Larry’s sandwich anywhere would be as awful as the whitefish, sable, capers, onions, and cream cheese sandwich named for him at Leo’s Deli. Yours for the low, low price of $8.95 … is that what they’d pay us to eat it?

I loved how the sandwich was the “first time [Nat] really swelled up with pride” due to something Larry accomplished. With all his successes, that’s awesome. Good for Ted Danson for not agreeing to swap sandwiches with Larry, but who in the world is Richard Lewis that he was able to steal Larry’s sandwich? Curb is the only reason I even know who he is.

The side story with Nat and his stroke was odd, even if it was the way in which the Larry adoption story was introduced. I’ll admit that I know a little something about the plot, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be the overarching one for the season. But the whole surgeon with the Yips thing? First of all, huh? Was that just to tee up the taking a call during sex bit? But second, isn’t that from How I Met Your Mother? I know Curb came first, but I’d expect better ideas from Larry.

5.2 “The Bowtie”

I love Mekhi Phifer as the enigmatic, bowtie wearing private investigator Omar Jones that Larry hires to look into the adoption story that Nat hinted at last episode. But Sheriff the “racist” dog? And what was it supposed to mean that Sheriff didn’t bark at Jones?

The handicap stall in the bathroom was awesome. First when the guy in the wheelchair yelled at Larry, then when Larry tried to use stuttering to cut the line and use the handicap stall, and finally when Larry yelled at the same guy in the wheelchair for using the normal stall. That’s Larry’s comedy — a simple (warped) observation of the unfairness of bathroom stall availability turned into a handful of scenes.

Mayim Bialik guest starred as Funkhouser’s daughter Jodi. No way do I believe that Larry’s known as a “friend o’ lesbians.” Funkhouser’s daughter was as much a disappointment as he always is.

It’s funny that, at least when this was shot, Larry was one of the few people in the world not feuding with guest Rosie O’Donnell. I’d have pegged him for someone with a lot of feud balls up in the air at the same time. Either way I could have done without her.

By the way, the best exchange of the series so far took place this episode. Larry walked into the house to find Cheryl waiting for him in the foyer. She says, “We need to talk,” to which he replies, “It’s over?” Like he knew his days were numbered!

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Dec 31, 2010 @ 14:00 EST5EDT