Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Series 1 [Dvd] [2000] [2004]

ICurb Your Enthusiasm/I is the brainchild of star-creator Larry David who cocreated ISeinfeld/I and was the basis for the easily rattled George Costanza. Like George David has a tendency to speak too much blow things out of proportion and most often fail in the end (and often liking it that way). David's new show is also like its predecessor it's about 'nothing' except following the day-to-day ramblings of a sometime writer and comic (this time in LA). Eternal questions stemming from universal daily dilemmas are honed to perfect comedic absurdity. A notable exception is that the show is only scripted by plot much of the action is improvised. The first season starts with a one-hour mockumentary following David's return to stand-up for the first time in years. The other 10 episodes follow a more traditional sit-com setup. p David plays 'himself' (as does his friend Richard Lewis) although his manager and wife are played by comedians Jeff Garlin and Cheryl Hines. Although this first season is a comedic gem one can't take more than an episode or two at a time--it's caustic biting comedy. The episodes are often built like a house of cards which the irritable David will surely collapse by the end. --IDoug Thomas/I