Bruce Springsteen epic appearance on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' was 'Spinal Tap' brilliant
Bruce Springsteen rocked Larry David's bizarro world on the March 31 episode of HBO's “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
Springsteen was a Boss of comedy, with stellar comedic timing, darn-funny deadpans and classic raised eyebrows. The episode produced more than a few hilarious “Spinal Tap” moments, to say the least. Where do we start?
Springsteen avoids calls from Don Henley because the Eagles frontman gave him a band tape he can't stand listening to.
Springsteen's assistant Ken used to be a women named Kendra, who slept with David before she transitioned to a transgender man.
David gave Springsteen COVID, which forced the cancellation of the final show of Springsteen's “farewell tour.”
Springsteen's fans are mad at David and they attack his car as it departs Springsteen's residence in Los Angeles because David gave Springsteen COVID.
It's all fiction, of course, but there were enough elements that adhered close enough to fact to make Springsteen fans ask: “Did I just hear what I thought I heard?” For instance, Springsteen did have COVID last spring, and a bout with peptic ulcer disease did cause him to postpone multiple shows.
Also, the Springsteen and the E Street Band are not on a “farewell tour,” but the advanced age of some band members — the Boss is 74 — have led to murmurs of speculation among fans asking if this is the last go-round for the band. Perhaps Springsteen's appearance on “Curb,” specifically the notion of the “farewell tour,” is a truth through comedy moment?
Springsteen previously appeared on the Feb. 11 episode, when he publicly proclaimed that David was a man of “involvement” after David gave character Auntie Rae, in line to vote in Georgia, water because it was such a hot day. He was subsequently arrested for violating the state's Election Integrity Act, which makes it illegal to give free food or water to people in line to vote.
Springsteen, in Los Angeles for his “farewell tour,” wanted to meet David, who was involved in an imbroglio with a masseuse over the ending of a recent massage. The Boss sat down with David and Jeff Greene (Jeffrey Garland), David's manager, in Greene's home.
“I know one thing about Larry David, Larry David is a man who gets involved,” says Springsteen, referring to the Georgia episode. “The (blanks) it took to put yourself in that situation. I told myself, I want to meet Larry David — this guy's a hero of mine.”
An acquaintance calls to ask David if he's read a manuscript he's given him. David doesn't answer the call.
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“Same thing happened to me with a musician,” Springsteen says. “He gave me a demo of a band that that he liked and thought it could go somewhere. I get the tape and put it on for two seconds. I took it off. Never listened to the rest of it.”
Springsteen didn't want to say who it was, but after two seconds of prodding he divulges it was Henley.
“I would avoid him for the rest of my life,” David says.
Springsteen's assistant Ken (Ian Harvie) then comes with good news — the farewell tour is sold out. Ken then says he used to be a woman named Kendra, who slept with David multiple times at his former job with NBC/Universal.
They were often intimate on the floor.
“I didn’t make you out for a floor (blanker),” Springsteen says. “Small world, Larry, you and Ken sleeping together.”
“No, no, no, I slept with Kendra — not Ken,” David says.
“Kendra is Ken,” Bruce says.
Springsteen and David have a mix up over their glasses of water, a moment that will have consequences later. David has invited the masseuse over to meet the Boss, which might quell the disagreement over David's massage. It doesn't work as Springsteen is in a rush to leave — showtime is coming up — and he barely says hello.
Not so fast as Springsteen comes down with COVID. He blames David, who just tested positive, and the show's postponement is headline news. Fans are gathered outside Springsteen's Southern California residence.
“We love you, we miss you!” screams a fan.
“Asbury Park rules!” screams another.
David takes the masseuse over to Springsteen's place, and they sneak onto the grounds to where they're standing outside the room where the ailing rocker is watching “Young Mr. Lincoln” and blowing his nose.
David sheepishly refers to the fans outside.
“There's a lot of people out there, yeah, because they thought I was dying from the COVID I caught from you, Mr Three-Card Monte with the glasses,” Springsteen says. “That's how it happened. I lost my sense of smell.”
“There's nothing to smell — everything stinks,” David says. “It doesn't matter, you're better off.”
David gets a pic of the masseuse, outside the room, with Springsteen inside. Ken comes and throw them off the property.
Springsteen fans recognize David and attack his car for giving the Boss COVID.
The series finale of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” famously set in Los Angeles, is Sunday, April 7. Springsteen and the E Street Band play the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, that night.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bruce Springsteen guest stars on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'
