‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ 9.1: Run Fatwa Run

The only comprehensible difference between Curb Larry David and real-life Larry David is that Curb Larry David did not create and star in a beloved HBO comedy called Curb Your Enthusiasm, which is a pity, because it’d give the writers of Curb a goldmine of material in explaining just what Larry has been doing for the last 5 years. As it is, he’s been working on a musical about Salman Rushdie’s Fatwa (Islamic death sentence) that has “loads of major producers” attached. Things are looking up for Larry, until — as always — he starts to screw up.

Larry feuds with a lesbian couple after making some stereotypical assumptions and assertions about which of the pair should be the ‘bride’ and ‘groom’ at their wedding. Then, he goes on Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote his Fatwa musical and — by insulting the Ayatollah and his diet of granola — is himself issued a Fatwa. It’s a marvellous concept for a new season of Curb (though I imagine it’ll only be a central plot intermittently over the next 10 episodes), and gives Larry a much-needed excuse to a hide away from people b wear hilarious disguises and c escape the confines of L.A. at some point (which always gives the show a shot of energy).

The Ayatollah stuff is great, but Curb episodes almost always run too long, and — at 37 minutes — this is no exception. A subplot about Larry’s assistant (Carrie Brownstein) and her constipation is a weak rehash of previous storylines; how many awful assistants can Larry fire? A token appearance by Cheryl is instantly forgettable, as is the pointless Ted Danson cameo in the same scene. Lawrence O’Donnell being the announcer of Larry’s Fatwa is topically ironic consider his own recent media troubles, and Jeff and Susie don’t really need to be here at all; Susie, it must be said, appears to have mellowed quite significantly during the show’s recess.

Should this Fatwa plot take Larry to some crazy and interesting places, I’m all in for 9 more weeks of lampin’ with Curb.