Customer Reviews

Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Second Season

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Season 2 of CYE is arriving in June! Here's hoping HBO keeps the sets coming more frequently than they've done with Oz. Season 2 ranks up there and has some priceless moments including the doll episode! I would like to see more bonus features on the CYE discs...maybe outtakes or the ultimate idea...the cast roasting Larry!

List of Season 2 episodes (air date):

The Car Salesman (9/23/01)
Thor (9/30/01)
Trick Or Treat (10/7/01)
The Shrimp Incident (10/14/01)
The Thong (10/21/01)
The Acupuncturist (10/28/01)
The Doll (11/4/01)
Shaq (11/11/01)
The Baptism (11/18/01)
The Massage (11/25/01)

I rated this four stars relative to the series as a whole; in relation to every other comedy currently on the air, it really warrants the full five stars. In short, I have to agree with other reviewers who feel Season Two is probably the weakest in the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" series. Still, this is worth the price of admission for the "Doll Head" episode alone, maybe the funniest 30 minutes ever aired in television history, even if the rest isn't quite up to the usual Larry David standards. And while I'm not generally a fan of DVD extras, shelling out 35 bucks for a no-frills five-hour's worth of viewing seemed a tad inflated compared to similar DVD sets on the market (really, all the HBO series DVD's are over-priced).

It was still worth it in the end, as nothing makes me laugh harder than watching this poor shlub stammer his way through ridiculous situations of his own making. Priceless moments this season include an uncomfortably realistic bit with Jason Alexander suffering the slings and arrows of post-Seinfeld Costanza-typecasting; Ed Asner's hysterical turn as a gruff and horny old geezer on his last legs; and a horrified Larry encountering his shrink sporting a package-revealing thong at the beach -- not to even mention the nightmarish water bottle incident in the "Doll Head" episode.

This is "Curb Your Enthusiasm" undergoing growing pains, unsuccessful in fully re-capturing the spontaneous greatness of Season One and not yet on the reliably steady legs that will later hallmark its prime. While the writing and guest spots improve markedly in subsequent years, this series is still superior to everything being served up by the networks, even in its weakest hour.

Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm is the gold standard in comedy series at the moment. I just started getting in the show a few months ago after renting season one on DVD. While season one was enjoyable season two raises the bar even higher. In the second season there is a common theme that runs throughout the episodes. Larry David tries to pitch a new TV show to variety of networks. Season Two has many appearances by former Seinfeld stars Jason Alexander and Julia-Louis Dreyfus as they try to pitch the new show.

The writing and acting on this improved show are great. I cannot wait for season three to come out on DVD in January. More good news is that Larry David is working on a new season right now. I recommend this show for anyone that is a big fan of Seinfeld. I would also recommend Arrested Development and the UK's The Office. These shows are creating the best comedy today.

11 - The Car Salesman
12 - Thor
13 - Trick or Treat
14 - The Shrimp Incident
15 - The Thong
16 - The Acupuncturist
17 - The Doll
18 - Shaq
19 - The Baptism
20 - The Massage

If you loved Seinfeld, you will love Curb Your Enthusiasm. Like Seinfeld, this show is mostly about nothing. While it does have situations mixed into the fold, the core laughs come from throwing the characters into everyday situations and picking apart the day-to-day things that we all can relate to.

It has been common knowledge that Larry David, the co-creator of Seinfeld was the real-life version of Jason Alexander's character, George Costanza. When you watch this show, you can't help but see the similarities.

One of the more interesting things about this show is that the dialogue is totally unscripted. This adds a freshness to the show that is very unique.

The show features a lot of cameos from Larry David's circle of Hollywood friends who generally play themself.

My only complaint is that there are only 10 episodes per season. I can't get enough of this show. It's clearly the funniest show on TV today!

There are two reasons I had never really watched CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM. One, we don't get cable or HBO, and two, everything I heard about it was that Larry David was such a miserable, downer character. While I think SEINFELD was some of the funniest stuff on television, I figured I didn't need to watch this glum guy who isn't really an actor starring in a TV show as "himself."

Well, finally, my 17 year old son dragged me in front of the TV to watch some of the DVDs he had borrowed. I'm so GLAD he did!!

First of all, Larry David is far from a complete misanthrope. Granted, he's got a naturally whiny voice, slouchy posture and a natural cynicism that comes with intelligence. But he's actually a fairly warm guy. Unlike Jerry and his gang, he actually mostly gets himself into trouble trying to do something NICE, not nasty. A good example: In one episode, he's at a party that he's clearly not terribly interested in. He goes upstairs to find a restroom (cuz the lock downstairs doesn't work...that's a whole other subplot) and bumps into the young daughter of the family that owns the house. He uses the restroom and then he actually takes a moment to speak with the young girl in a friendly and genuine manner. He apparently feels for the fact that she's been made to be cooped up in her room while the adults chat and drink below. He talks with her about her doll, and as the two interact, she asks Larry to cut the doll's hair. Not having children of his own and not knowing better, Larry does so, and actually seems to enjoy his time with the little girl. Of course, five minutes later she's screaming and complaining to momma about the horrible man that cut the doll's hair! It's a frustrating situation that gets funnier as Larry tries to solve it...but the catalyst for the whole thing stems from Larry David being nice. Genuinely.

The show has lots of moments like this. And it's greatly helped by the delightful Cheryl Hines who plays David's wife. They have a palpable affection, but if feels like the affection of a couple that's been together for awhile. They can clearly annoy each other, but always with affection underneath. They understand each other's weaknesses, but never is the solidity of their relationship threatened. It's a believably happy marriage.

The show is in a very improvisational style, not at all like carefully crafted dialogue on SEINFELD. Yet the plots are neatly structured and the characters are rich. The episodes are sprinkled with wonderful cameos and appearances by many recognizable character actors. The show is pleasantly non-mean-spirited, and very funny.

In keeping with HBO shows, it can be fairly graphic in its language, so it's not for kids. But the humor isn't much for kids either. It's a grownup show for intelligent grown-ups, and I HIGHLY recommend it. Thank goodness for DVDs so I can finally see this show!!

This show in the 4 seasons that have aired is comedy that is nothing short of brilliance, and the core of the minds producing it's genius work is Larry David. He was the true brains of Seinfeld and this show is the continuing proof of his brilliant mind for great comedy. Larry's own character in the show is the obvious inspiration for Jerry Seinfeld and George Costanza. You can see Jerry and George in his attitude, his facial expressions, his movements, his interaction with people, and even his voice. The stories in Curb your enthusiasm and the way people interact with one another are all very similar to the Seinfeld style, with the exception of all the dirty 4 letter words thrown around of course. Larry has the knack for making people who watch the show cringe with embarassment for him. He never fails to hurt someone's feelings somehow and have it bite him in the rear-end later on in the show or even later in the series. With appearences by big name hollywood stars to add to his roster of characters, Larry David has definite potential to have another legendary show to remember him by.

Unlike most people, I feel Curb Your Enthusiasm should go down as Larry David's crowning achievement; not the overrated Seinfeld.

Season 2 is the best season of ...Enthusiasm and it contains the best Curb Your Enthusiasm episode of all time: The Doll. This is the ultimate CYE episode. If you only watch one episode, watch this one. It's the funniest and most entertaining. All the episodes are gems but The Doll, Shaq, and The Shrimp Incident probably round out the best three.

The show has declined in the past couple of seasons, but it is still a fresh, entertaining show with Season 2 being the best.

Season One was wonderful. Season Two is terrific. Too bad all America doesn't have HBO so they can grow to love this unusual and very funny show. CURB follows an intricate formula with the same precision of a Bach fugue. That's why I can watch these episodes over and over again without getting tired of them. (Try that with your average throw-away TV sitcom!) If it takes one sampling to hook you, I recommend "The Doll." This episode has so many little comedic set-ups and pay-offs running through it that you shake your head (while laughing) in complete respect for what Larry David pulls off when the 30 minutes are over. These days, TV gives us hundreds of channels of mostly-crumby programming. CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM is a unique entertainment from a really original and creative mind. Buy this and enjoy!

I am not an avid viewer of television, but of the few shows I do watch, Curb Your Enthusiasm is by far the best. Larry David is absolutely hilarious. One thing I can warn people who have never seen the show before: Firstly, you need to start watching the shows from the very first episode, you'll appreciate the humor that much more. As well, one thing I personally went through is that at first the show seems very boring. After getting into it, however, you'll start to see each character's personality, which is what makes Curb shine. After you get into curb, you'll be addicted. The only complaint I would have against curb is that eventually you get to really like David's character on the show, but unfortunatly, like the George on Seinfeld who was based on David, nothing will ever work out for David, and things always will go bad for him to no fault of his own. You'll almost find yourself wanting him to succeed just once! It can be slightly frustrating at times, but is too minimal to take away from this great show. 5 stars!

I just finished watching the season finale and I must say I am going to miss this show. In the past few months I have watched all four seasons and this is the ONLY television show that almost every time leaves me with a huge laugh at the end. This show is intelligent and so brilliantly simple and complex at the same time. Do yourself a favor, WATCH this show, comprised of people who are at the top of their craft!