(S07E06) "Larry?! You sprayed on Jesus??" - Maureen
For as good an episode as "The Bare Midriff" was, it still had one huge problem that has plagued many past episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm as well. The central conflict -- Maureen's exposed stomach -- was just too much of a stretch (no pun intended). Why's that? The beauty of Curb is how well it sheds light on awkward situations we all relate to. Not so much on this one, because honestly, who in their right mind would think a short shirt like that was work appropriate attire? It wasn't believable, that Maureen thought her shirt was OK for the office. Fortunately, if you were willing to look past the absurdity of the issue, it paid off with arguably one of Curb's top five endings ever.
As Larry tried to stop Maureen's mother from jumping off the roof at the studio, he slipped and grabbed on to Maureen's stomach to save himself. He grabbed her pudgy, stomach flab and didn't fall off the roof -- the bare midriff saves the day! Had she been wearing a normal t-shirt, he would have grabbed that and the cotton surely would have ripped. Makes me feel bad for Jillian Bell, the actress who played Maureen, because lets face it -- while it was in the service of good comedy, she was cast in this role for only one reason.The rest of the episode featured some really great moments, but the highlight was the Mad Men-esque flashback to 1962, when Maureen's mother, Madeline, recounted the story of her murdered husband Tom, who looked just like Larry. It was great, how in her re-telling of his last minutes on Earth, Tom seemed to act just like Larry. The pay off at the end, as she re-lived the same moment and thought Richard Lewis was going to attack Larry with the baseball bat was even better. The car was the same, the song on the radio was the same -- no blood on the windshield this time, though.
More thoughts:
- I watched this one live and didn't DVR it, so I'm not sure I heard it clearly, but did the irate driver call Jerry a c*nt face?
- What's Larry taking? Avodart? That's the weak pee stream pill, right? Or is it Flomax? Whatever it is, I wonder how they feel about their pill being used as a set-up for Jesus' likeness being splashed on?
- Add in the pizza shop owner sending the cops after Larry because he took too many napkins to the unrealistic pile. This was set up simply to serve the plot and there were plenty of other ways Larry could have been held up that were legit.
- I was also hoping that Meg Ryan would create a bit more tension with Cheryl, but that got dumped pretty quickly since her schedule is busy.
- Larry called Maureen's stomach a "protuberance." Hilarious.
- "All bald people do not look alike!" Apparently they do, black or white.
Seeing as how Larry is using all his experiences from the past for the Seinfeld reunion special (the doll, the TiVo guy), I wonder if this experience, the girl with the bare midriff, will make the cut?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-26-2009 @ 10:56AM
Josh said...
Anyone know the name of the song that was playing on the radio?
Reply
11-03-2009 @ 7:22AM
Richard said...
I really want to know that too, ie. the name of the song Larry & Madeline are listening to in the car in the flashback scene.
It goes something like "thinking about my baby" - or something similar to that.
11-03-2009 @ 10:55AM
Richard said...
I found out the answer:-
Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby) by The Cookies
10-26-2009 @ 10:56AM
Alex K. said...
This was not a good episode. Ridiculously unrealistic and the only one in "Curb" history I found to be offensive. And not because of the stomach.
Reply
10-26-2009 @ 11:22AM
emmeff said...
I thought it was a great episode. The napkin thing was a a plot device for sure, but pretty much in line with the focus on trivial annoyances that has always been a hallmark of David and Seinfeld's comedy. They can't all be gems.
The midriff thing was so dead on accurate and funny considering what we have all seen in public the last few years (tell me you haven't seen someone who should have covered that midriff). The all bald guys look the same was great commentary on stereotypes, very similar to the wheelchair episode when Larry asked Wendy Wheelchair if she knew his other handicapped friend.
Bit shocked by the blood on the windshield, but didn't offend me, just wasn't expecting them to go that far.
What I really liked was the interaction between Larry and Jerry. I know it was improv, but it made me think I was getting a glimpse into how that writing process must have been for them during Seinfeld. Whether it was true or not, for a Seinfeld fan, it was a real treat.
10-27-2009 @ 7:53AM
Adam said...
.....obviously didn't see the "The Christ Nail"
10-26-2009 @ 11:23AM
Tony said...
I'm pretty liberal and up for a good joke - but urinating on a the face of Jesus is very offensive and I'm surprised Jerry would be a part of that sort of an episode . .
Reply
10-26-2009 @ 12:48PM
MJL said...
"I'm pretty liberal and up for a good joke..."
Apparently not.
10-26-2009 @ 12:49PM
conor said...
anything is game in comedy, my conservative friend. you are NOT, in fact, Liberal. Anyone that believes that some things are above humor are a threat to good comedy and should thus not be allowed to watch it.
you should be banned from curb.
you probably wrote your senator during "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Life of Brian
10-26-2009 @ 3:44PM
GL said...
Nope, not offensive. Funny.
10-26-2009 @ 12:48PM
Craig said...
I have to say that the urine on the picture of Jesus offended me, what if that was a picture of Mohammad?
Can you say RIOTS!
The interaction between Jerry and Larry, was fantastic.
MORE SEINFELD PLEASE!
Reply
11-09-2009 @ 11:13PM
steve said...
So craig ,you are comparing your and christian reactions to a religous insult to a muslims??????
10-26-2009 @ 1:05PM
MacGuffin said...
I loved this episode. It was laugh out loud for most of the episode. I agree that it deviated from the typical CYE formula in that most of the set-ups weren't believable, but so what. But there are women in LA who wear shirts like this -- I've seen it.
What I really liked was the chemistry between Larry and Jerry. You could totally see how these guys wrote Seinfeld together and got their ideas.
The pee scenes were really funny, too, BTW. And who cares if it was iconoclastic re: Jesus. I bet if Jesus was actually real and not fiction, he would be ROFL.
P.S. Yes the irate driver called Jerry a c*nt face. But not a beloved 'aunt' face =)
Reply
10-26-2009 @ 1:06PM
MacGuffin said...
I forgot to mention the whole bit about honking. People in LA do go bat-sh*t crazy if you honk at them in traffic. I do it all the time since about half the people are eating, putting on make-up, texting, masturbating, sleeping, day-dreaming, and generally zombie-like while driving.
10-27-2009 @ 7:53AM
ray said...
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.
Reply
10-27-2009 @ 10:26AM
Eric H said...
You wont be missed, were you also offended by the baptism?
10-27-2009 @ 11:56AM
Kell31 said...
Should the issue not be....Why did they have a picture of Jesus over the commode in the bathroom? Divine Intervention needed?
Reply
10-27-2009 @ 8:52PM
Tom Hila said...
This crossed the line. Urine on that picture made a statement about the man and his view as a Jew. To hell with what everyone else thought.
And you're wrong about the audience not being missed. Let me piss on one of your loved ones, let's say your mother or your deceased spouse, then nationally televise it, and see how you feel about it.
I watched him in the past and I enjoyed most of the episodes. I could forgive actions that in my view were of ignorance, versus malice. This was malice, pure and simple.
I will join others in demanding the episode be pulled from future airing. I'll not watch any of his shows going forward.
Tom, 2009 A.D. That's right -- that's 2009 years since the event that shaped the calendar most widely used in the world. That event? The birth of Christ.
Reply
10-27-2009 @ 4:20PM
Chris said...
First off - jeez, lighten up Tom. Post your religious outrage elsewhere.
Loved the episode. I don't watch Curb for any sense of realism - I watch it for the hilarious dialogue and Seinfeld-esque humor (and people inevitably yelling at Larry of course). Which this episode delivered on, especially the scenes with Jerry and Larry together. I agree with above posts - you can completely see how they collaborated on Seinfeld over the years. I could watch their hilariously pointless dialogue (the conversation about who gets the "luxury suite" at lunch w/ Richard Lewis was priceless) all day. Good episode - can't wait till the reuinion starts getting "filmed".
Any one who got offended by the Jesus picture part of the episode - lighten up. If Larry David gets under your skin that much, how in god's name did you watch the show for this long.
Reply
10-28-2009 @ 10:18AM
MikLamb said...
"Any one who got offended by the Jesus picture part of the episode - lighten up. If Larry David gets under your skin that much, how in god's name did you watch the show for this long."
QFT