OK, well I figured it was time for another top 10 list post and this time the next two posts will cover my pick of the top 10 best scenes from the acclaimed American sit-com, Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring Larry David, who plays a neurotic and exaggerated version of himself, who get's into trouble in a number of situations.
Now, this is going to be, to quote Larry, a prettay-prettay-prettayyy difficult list to do given that the show has so many great scenes and episodes. However, I will do my best to narrow it down as well as I can.
So, with being said, let's get on with the list....
WARNING: Given that I am dealing with individual scenes, there might be....
SOME SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
Not to mention some very strong language...
So, here we go....
10. The Surrogate (Series 4)
Scene - Larry fakes a heart attack "I just want to say....you f***ing asshole!!"
So, this scene kicks off the list and is from the 4th series episode, "The Surrogate" and this series centres around Larry being cast in a production of Mel Brooks acclaimed play, The Producers and after a fallout with Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer is cast to replace him but Larry continues to have tense moments with David also.
So, the gist of the scene involves, Larry making a call to apologise to David Schwimmer's dad, Irving, as he was the man behind a cashew-raisin pack product, which Larry accused David's dad of making the cashew-raisin ratio uneven. So, Larry in the scene, calls up at Irving on his mobilephone from his car and he get's the answer phone, so Larry leaves a message...
And after we hear Irving's message, Larry says "Oh, hi, Mr. Schwimmer. Uh, this is Larry David. I just want to say....". However at this exact minute a car pulls in behind his car and it hits the rear bumper of Larry's car, which prompts Larry to furiously shout "...you fucking asshole!!! What's your fucking problem, you prick???!!!". Larry then get's out his car and confronts the driver and shouts "What the hell is wrong with you??!!" and the driver angrily says "Who the fuck do you think you're talking to??!!". Larry then says "You bumped into my car!" and the driver angrily shouts "You think I hit your car???" and he goes and grabs a crowbar and he charges towards Larry "Now, I'm gonna hit you in the fuckin head!!".
However, as the driver advances, Larry quickly feigns a heart attack and he lifts up his shirt to reveal that he is wearing a heart monitor and he pulls off the electrodes. So, the driver quickly changes his tune and becomes concerned as Larry gasps "Oh, my heart! My heart!" and the driver says " What are you doing? What is this? Is it your heart? All right, just calm down. Don't take them off. You shouldn't have took them off. All right, uh Look oh, Christ. I don't know CPR. Hey, somebody call an ambulance!!".
And in the next moment, we see Larry being carted off into an ambulance on a stretcher, protesting as he tries to convince the paramedics that he feigned his heart attack. So, Larry says to them "Seriously, the guy was the guy was coming after me with a tire iron. I faked the whole thing. Do you understand what I'm saying?! This is ridiculous! There's nothing wrong with me. This is just so unnecessary!!".
So, its definitely one of the most priceless moments in the series and well worth a place on the list and it also highlights the cleverness of the show and how Larry David beautifully times his comedy. And suffice to say by the end of the episode, Larry recieves a rather angry call from David Schwimmer's dad in response to his call from earlier! So, it takes its place deservedly at No.10.
9. Krazee Eyez-Killa (Series 3)
Scene - Krazee Eyez confronts Larry and demands his jacket back "You ain't got no etiquette, motherfu****!!!"
At No.9 is this scene from the 3rd series episode, "Krazee Eyez-Killa" in which Larry befriends a rapper named Krazee Eyrez-Killa, who is dating Wanda (Wanda Sykes) who is also good friends with Larry's wife, Cheryl (Cheryl Hines). However, it soon becomes apparent that Krazee is cheating on Wanda with numerous women and Larry somehow manages to let it slip and Wanda finds out about it through Cheryl.
Larry also borrows a jacket from Krazee that he needs for a film he is making with Martin Scorsese, which was missing from the set and that serves as one of the main sub plots of the episode itself. However in this scene, Krazee finds out that Larry talked about his adulterous actions and confronts him at his house and he demands his jacket back.
So, in the scene, Krazee turns up at Larry's house and a rather drunk Cheryl (who had been on a night out) let's him in and Krazee yells out for Larry "Hey, where's Larry at? Larry!!!". Larry on hearing its Krazee decides to run upstairs to hide, however he accidentally steps on some bubble pack paper, which makes a loud popping noise that alerts Krazee. So, Krazee yells "He popping them fucking... Larry, I hear you popping those fucking bubbles. Get your ass down here!".
Larry then shows up at the top of the stairs and Krazee looks shocked and asks Larry "Motherfucker, what the fuck?! Motherfucker, what the fuck??!!". So, a nervous Larry asks "What, Krazee-Eyez?" and Krazee shouts back "Wanda fucking left me, man! What the fuck you say?!" and Larry tells him "I said nothing" but Krazee angrily says "I know you said something, motherfucker!". Krazee then says "I thought we cool-de-la, man!" and Larry says "No! We're cool-de-la!" and Krazee insists "No, we ain't cool-de-la!".
Krazee then demands his jacket back "Motherfucker, get my jacket!" but Larry tries to plead with him to keep it "Krazee Eyez...." however Krazee gives Larry a glare and warns him "Don't make me come up there!". Larry then goes off to jacket and while he does, Krazee eyes up Cheryl for a moment and tells her "You fine, you know that?!". Larry then returns with the jacket and he throws it down to Krazee from the top of the stairs rather than hand it to him, which angers Krazee. So, Krazee shouts "How you gonna throw the jacket at me, motherfucker?!! How you gonna throw the jacket at me?!! You ain't got no etiquette, motherfucker!".
And just before Krazee goes, Cheryl tells him off for cheating on Wanda "That's not how you treat someone you love!" and Larry tries to allay Krazee and tells him "Don't pay attention to her". So, just before Krazee leaves, he looks up at Larry in disappointment and tells him "I thought you were my nigga!" and Larry says "I'm you're nigga!" and Krazee says "You ain't shit!" and he storms out.
So, this scene is again a prime example of the hilarity of the show's comedy and Krazee Eyez Killa also makes for a priceless character and his response to Larry with "You ain't got not etiquette, motherfucker!" is one of the funniest in the show. In fact that line alone is worth putting this scene as high up as it is and it deservedly get's its place here at No.9.
8. Vehicular Fellatio (Series 7)
Scene - Dr Trundle confronts Larry over why he and Loretta didn't show at her lecture
"I think you blew him!"
At No.8 is this scene from an episode of the 7th series, "Vehicular Fellatio" of which the basis of the episode sees Larry desparate to end his relationship with his current girlfriend, Loretta Black (Vivica Fox) who has been diagnosed with cancer. So on seeing a female doctor on the television, Dr Trundle (Sharon Lawrence) who advocates that any patient suffering from cancer and is in a "toxic" relationship to leave their partner, he instantly decides to make Loretta an appointment to see her.
And at their initial meeting, Larry is blatantly rude and obnoxious to both Loretta and Dr Trundle and at a certain point, Dr Trundle asks Larry to leave the room. Dr Trundle then asks them to attend a lecture she is giving and on the day of the lecture as Larry and Loretta drive over there, they see Dr Trundle's husband drive the car infront of them and of all a sudden, Dr Trundle's head pops up from her husband's lap much to the surprise of Larry and Loretta. So, Loretta then decides after she witnesses what very much looks like Dr Tundle giving her husband a blow job, not to go to the lecture.
So, in the scene, Larry goes back to the practice where Dr Trundle asks him to come into her office and she has words with him about his relationship with Loretta. So, Dr Trundle says to Larry "I wanted to tell you how disappointed I was that you and Loretta were not at the lecture yesterday. And I think the reason that you weren't there was because you recognized that I am going to recommend that she leave the relationship. That terrifies you and that's why you didn't want her to be there". Larry then laughs and says to Dr Trundle "No, no. That's the furthest thing from the truth".
Dr Trundle then continues and says "I have a lot of experience with this, and I find that men often have this reaction. It's certainly understandable. It's very threatening. But the fact is we're talking about a woman's life and I'm saying something that you just don't want to hear". Larry smiles and says "Its not true. I reject your hypothesis" so Dr Trundle firmly asks "Why didn't she come to the lecture?". Larry asks her "You really want to know?" and Dr Trundle says "Of course I do" and Larry smiles and says "OK, I'll tell you. We were driving to the lecture, we were on our way - Mm-hmm. and then I noticed your husband in the car ahead of us. Then you picked your head up off of his lap and Loretta decided that she didn't want anything to do with a doctor who would, you know, do that!".
Dr Trundle then looks a little puzzled and asks "Would do what?" and Larry tries to say it without actually saying "Come on..." and it sinks in for Dr Trundle and she reacts with surprise and embarrassment "Oh, my God! My husband was driving the car, and yes, I dropped my cell phone on his side of the car, and I was looking for the cell phone!". Larry then decides to wind her up and says "Long time to look for a cell phone" and Dr Trundle angrily says "You are so ridiculous! So juvenile! You are exactly the kind of man - I'm talking about in this book!". Larry, a little taken aback asks "Me?!" and Dr Trundle furiously says "You are a tiny, little, insecure, infantile mind of about a 12-year-old!". And Larry grins and says "I think you blew him!" which prompts Dr Trundle to hit him with her book and yell "You have nothing better in your mind than that?! You're out of control! Get him out of my office!" and Larry cowers from her hitting him.
So, there you go, this scene from "Vehicular Fellatio" is another great example of Larry being caught up in an embarrassing situation and milking it for all its worth. Its a very funny scene and definitely one that deserves to go on the list here and so it takes its place at No.7.
7. The Sabbath (Series 5)
Scene - Larry meets with Mr Henieman and pretends to be an orthodox Jew
"I cannot go to the baseball game on the Sabbath, sorry!".
So at No.7 is this great scene from the episode "The Sabbath" in the 5th series where Larry meets with the head of kidney consortium, Mr Henieman as Larry is desparate to help his good friend, Richard Lewis out, who needs a kidney transplant. So, in the scene, Larry shows up wearing a Yarmukle having earlier dented Mr Henieman's car as a way to meet with him to apologise and make up for it.
So, the scene begins with Larry walking into a diner and up to Mr Henieman and he affects an exaggerated Jewish-American accent "How are you sir? What a great, great pleasure it is to meet you!" and he sits down with him. Mr Henieman then says "What a mitzvah it was for you to leave that note on my car" and Larry says "Well, how could I do anything less that that? I'd have to be a sociopath to hit somebody's car and then, and then go away into the night as if nothing happened!". Larry then goes onto explain about the car accident "What happened, I was listening to Jewish radio and they were talking about Israel and I got so worked up I lost control of my car!".
Mr Henieman then offers Larry to take lunch, which he agrees to and then all of a suddeny, Larry's phone rings and he takes the call and says to the caller "Uh, thank you, thank you for that invitation, but I cannot go to the baseball game on the Sabbath, I'm sorry. It's impossible. I'll take a rain check, however!". Larry hangs up and then tells Mr Henieman "I'd love to go to the game, but not on the Sabbath. The Yankees are playing and I would - I would kill to go down there!". Mr Henieman surprised asks "You're a Yankees fan?" and Larry exaggeratedly says "Ohh, I'm a Yankee fan! Huge Yankee fan!".
Mr Henieman then confesses "There's so many times when the Yankees were playing in Anaheim that I've so much wanted to go to see it. I even cheat by watching it on television. I shouldn't do that!". Larry then wags his finger cheekily and Mr Henieman says something in Hebrew and Larry, who clearly doesn't understand the language pretends to say something Hebrew in response, which is the single funniest moment in the scene!
After this, Larry manages to get himself invited along to Mr Henieman's ski lodge for the weekend where Larry would go on to meet Mr Henieman's daughter, who is also an orthodox Jew and of course plenty of hilarity ensues there too!
So, while I haven't done a full out transcript for this scene, its more than good enough to warrant its place on here and Larry pretending to be an orthodox Jew and his fake Hebrew are both absolutely priceless and are worth the price of admission alone. So, this definitely deserves to take its spot here at No.7.
6. Club Soda and Salt (Series 3)
Scene - The end scene where Larry is confronted by a weird shop store worker's husband
"I need club soda and salt!"
So, at No.6 is this hilarious end scene to the episode "Club Soda and Salt" of which the title refers to a scene at the start (and THIS one at the end!) where there is a wine spillage in the restuarant that Larry is co-financing and one of the workers manages to successfully clean it using club soda and salt.
So...this has much relevance later on in the episode when after Larry and Cheryl go and see a play together starring an actor, Brad, who is friendly with Cheryl and later on they all go to dinner and join Ted Danson and Larry's manager and friend, Jeff Greene (Jeff Garlin) at a restaurant. And after dinner, Larry has the waiter open a bottle of wine, which Larry pours out and share with Cheryl and his friends.
However at this point, an angry man storms up to Larry and pushes him, causing Larry to spill his glass of wine over Cheryl's top. So, the man angrily shouts at Larry "Hey, what's your problem?! What is your problem?!!". Brad however on seeing Cheryl's wine stained top quickly get's up and says to her "Cheryl, don't move! I've got it under control! I need club soda and salt!" so off he goes to find some.
Meanwhile Larry continues to be accosted by the angry man who turns to someone and says "Is this the guy?! That's him?!!" and we see it is female store worker, who pestered Larry earlier on in the store when he was browsing around and after he told her to stop and left, she soon calls the cops on him for allegedly following her while driving! So, the man angrily asks "You were following my wife???!!" and Larry, surprised says "I wasn't following her!" and the man shouts "She called the cops on you! Look at me!". However, Larry at this point is distracted at the sight of seeing Brad wipe Cheryl's top around her chest area with a cloth soaked with club soda!
Brad then shouts "Salt! I need salt!" and Larry continues being distracted by Brad while being shouted out by the man, who grabs a hold of Larry by his jacket and yells "I'm talking to you!! I said look at me! She was scared half to death, and you're some kind of pervert following her in the store?!". And at this point, Brad comes back with salt in his hands, which he rubs into Cheryl's breast area on her wine stained top, much to Larry disbelief as the angry husband continues to shout at him "I'll take you outside look at me! I will kick your ass right now!". And this brings the episode to an end!!
So while its quite a short scene, it still definitely ranks as one of the funniest in the show and also one of the best end scenes of any episode in the whole series. It also neatly sees two plot strands come together with the weird female store worker thinking she's being followed by Larry when its actually the other way round and of course Brad's somewhat platonic friendship with Cheryl ending the episode on a note that appears to be anything but!
And I figured this scene definitely deserves its place at No.6 on the list.
Right, so that's it for Part1 of this list and I will be back soon with Part 2.
Till then its bye for now!
No comments:
Post a Comment