5.0 out of 5 stars
Improvised comedic gems
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 April 2008
Larry David has a tendency to speak too much, blow things out of proportion, and, most often, fail in the end (and often liking it that way). David's new show is also like its predecessor: it's about "nothing" except following the day-to-day ramblings of a sometime writer and comic (this time in L.A.). Eternal questions stemming from universal daily dilemmas are honed to perfect comedic absurdity. A notable exception is the show is only scripted by plot; much of the action is improvised. The first season starts with a one-hour mockumentary following David's return to stand-up for the first time in years; the other 10 episodes follow a more traditional sit-com setup.
Well, Larry David, creator of the over-rated SEINFELD, plays himself in a Los Angeles version of Seinfeld with bad language and strange situations. Partners in crime include Larry's agent and best friend, Jeff Greene, and comedian-friend Richard Lewis. Other celeb's, such as Ted Danson, make an appearance. With every episode, Larry runs afoul of almost everyone he encounters, not to mention his wife, Cheryl, and Jeff's shrewish wife, Susie. In Season 1 included are many classic moments, among the best might be the disastrous "porn dinner party," where Larry is forced to do an embarrassing "double goodbye." None of the shows, however, are weak.
Having watched CYE recently, and when factoring in Larry's seven seasons on Seinfeld, I now subscribe to the Tao of Larry. What is it, you ask? Perhaps it's that people are functionally insane; that no good deed goes unpunished (or bad deed for that matter); and that we are creatures of passion and habit, not our environment. Some might find Larry the world's most obnoxious man. Others (and I'm one) might find him the funniest. If there is a "Seinfeld Curse" it certainly does not apply to Larry. While at times too confrontational, Larry is more often than not, I think, right. Some people wonder, "What Would Jesus Do?" I often wonder, "What Would Larry David do?" Spread the word.
Understandably, people have made comparisons of CYE and Seinfeld, which Larry David had a major hand in. However, in my opinion it's much better than Seinfeld. Fans of The Office will easily take to CYE, (and will be able to see where Ricky Gervais stole some of his ideas from!).
It's not a show for minors due to some of the language as well as some of the situations and themes, which are not particularly suitable for kids. However I think that this is one of the rare occasions where adult themes and strong language work well in a TV show and somewhat surprisingly, demonstrates how frequent swearing can be made to be very funny indeed!
Larry David's life, as presented in this HBO series, is one long excruciating faux pas. The plot twists in this first season sometimes come across as a bit too forced and coincidental, an aspect that was greatly improved upon in the second season, but the most important question is: Are the laughs there? They certainly are. The criticism of some reviewers that a little Larry David goes a long way is well taken--your enjoyment of this series will depend on how you feel about him. I think he's funny. The episodes guest-starring Richard Lewis are doubly funny. They should make greater use of him as a foil for Larry. They have great chemistry with natural, unforced repartee.
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