How ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ ended with a ‘Seinfeld’ twist
It’s pretty, pretty good.
“Curb Your Enthusiasm” ended Sunday night with a twist paying homage to creator Larry David’s “Seinfeld” roots.
Spoilers ahead for the series finale of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
At the end of the HBO comedy, titled “No Lessons Learned,” the show — which aired for 12 seasons, from 2000 to 2024 — circled back to the plot line that began when Larry was arrested in Atlanta for giving water to Auntie Rae (Ellia English) while she was standing on line to vote.
This violated a local Georgia law and made Larry an unlikely folk hero, despite the fact that he didn’t do it on purpose. In the spirit of the show, he had been unaware that he was breaking any law, and he hadn’t intended for the gesture to be a grand statement.
In the finale, Larry and his pals go to Atlanta for the trial. He’s accompanied by Cheryl (Cheryl Hines), Ted Danson (playing himself), Jeff (Jeff Garlin), Susie (Susie Essman), Leon (JB Smoove) and the late Richard Lewis (playing himself. He died in February).
During the trial, presided over by Judge Whitaker (Dean Norris), Larry and his lawyer Sibby Sanders (Sanaa Lathan) are up against district attorney Earl Mack (Greg Kinnear).
But, Larry is more concerned about more urgent matters, like the lack of coasters in court.
Many of Larry’s enemies over the years take the stand to testify about his antisocial behavior, including Mocha Joe (Saverio Guerra), Mr. Takahashi (Dana Lee), Rachel Heineman (Iris Bahr), and Bruce Springsteen (playing himself — appearing via video to berate Larry for giving him COVID-19).
Larry is found guilty and sentenced to a year in prison.
“Seinfeld” notoriously ended with a polarizing episode that David wrote. It saw Jerry, George Costanza (Jason Alexander), Kramer (Michael Richards) and Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) also spending a year behind bars.
But, unlike the “Seinfeld” cast, on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Larry is then saved by Seinfeld, who rescues him after he learns that a juror broke the rules of his sequestration, causing a mistrial. So Larry gets out on a technicality.
Jerry and Larry have a chat that gives a nod to the “Seinfeld” finale.
“You don’t want to end up like this. No one wants to see it. Trust me,” Jerry says.
Larry responds, “Oh my God, this is how we should have ended the finale!”
The series closes on Larry and his entourage getting into a petty squabble on the flight back to LA after Susie opens the window shade.
