Larry David’s humor is one of a kind. The perfect mixture of cringe slapstick and aggressive improv, Larry has perfected the awkward situation in modern TV comedy. While he is the face ofCurb Your Enthusiasm, the wildly funny HBO show in which he stars as himself, Larry is also renowned as the creator and writer ofSeinfeld, the classic 90s sitcom about four New Yorkers and their antics.
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Curb your Enthusiasmis a unique show in that it is written as a reflection of Larry’s real-life: he plays himself, the creator ofSeinfeld, now living in Hollywood and causing chaos at every possible opportunity. As such, there are lots ofSeinfeldreferences throughout the show. Some are more obvious than others, but die-hard fans of the sitcom will be able to spot them out.
5The Entirety Of Season 7 Is A Seinfeld Reference
Season 7 of the show was essentially dedicated toSeinfeld. A clever ode to the humor that madeCurbpossible, Larry decides to reboot the show in an effort to win back his ex-wife, Cheryl.Throughout the season, the four main actors (Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards) all appear as themselves.
It’s hilarious how Larry weaves their personal lives in with the characters they played on the show. Even funnier is Larry’s bumbling self-sabotaging screwing up the production. Every episode isladen with referencesto the show, from minor call-back jokes to pop culture easter eggs. In many ways,Curb Your Enthusiasmis a sequel of sorts toSeinfeld,carrying the torch whereSeinfeldleft off in the 90s.
4But Season 7 Isn’t The Only Seinfeld-Centric Season Of Curb Your Enthusiasm
The second season of Curb Your Enthusiasm also explores the success of Seinfeld through the rearview mirror of Larry and the cast. Larry decides to create a new show, first with Jason Alexander,which of course falls through, and then with Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
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Any fan of either show knows this spells a recipe for disaster as Larry destroys everything good he touches. In many ways, this season is an allusion to the Seinfeld episode in which Jerry and George pitch a show to NBC about “nothing” – a clever inside joke about how Seinfeld itself was a show about “nothing.”
3Larry And George Costanza
Larry David and George Costanza are two peas from the same pod. In fact, it is said that George Costanza was based on Larry David in real life. Jason Alexander appears as himself multiple times onCurb Your Enthusiasm, often appearing more formal and well-spoken than Larry, who ironically plays the screwy “George character” on his own show. Larry even follows some of George’s mannerisms and uses his vocabulary and diction.
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He even performs as George Costanzaduring theSeinfeldproduction in season 7, with hilarious results. It isn’t hard to see how George’s character was an extension of Larryduring the original show’s run.
2The Car Periscope
There are various minor allusions toSeinfeldthat die-hard fans could likely recognize, from subtle character nods to more blatant references. One of the more obvious call-backs is the car periscope from season 8. Larry and Jeff are confronted with a potential investment opportunity while in New York. The investment? A car periscope that allows the user to look above their caras if on a submarine. This idea is actually one of Kramer’s schemes he conjured up onSeinfeld. Kramer is known for his far-fetched quick cash cons, but the car periscope is a hilarious one that Larry brought back to life years later.
1Larry’s Pressure Point Issues
Larry David isn’t afraid to confront people for what he believes are social misdeeds. All throughoutSeinfeldandCurb Your Enthusiasm, Larry makes it a point to correct others on their faulty habits. As such, there is a lot of crossoversbetween the two showswith regards to Larry’s irks. One particular example would be the “Happy New Year’s” phrase – which characters onSeinfeldadmonish shouldn’t be spoken to someone in February or March.
Larry, himself, takes issue with the delayed greeting in an episode ofCurb Your Enthusiasmin which he chastises the use of the saying after the new year has already begun. Larry is never one to just let something slide and that’s why audiences love him. Both his character onCurb Your Enthusiasmand his fictional creations onSeinfeldrepresent the assertiveness of speaking one’s mind in a society that doesn’t really care what anyone has to say.
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