Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm is often described in mainstream media as a cringe comedy series. David’s sitcom evokes laughter from situations that create social awkwardness, self-depreciation, or guilty pleasure. Over the years, audiences have come to love David’s type of comedy, but it is undeniable that the Seinfeld creator had crossed the line with a few jokes. David recently dismissed the critics of the series who called it cringeworthy.
Curb Your Enthusiasm premiered its twelfth and final season in 2024, with the finale episode airing on April 7, 2024. The series ran from 2000 to 2011 for eight consecutive seasons and resumed in 2017 with the ninth season.
Larry David Defended One Cringeworthy Scene In Curb Your Enthusiasm
Larry David‘s Curb Your Enthusiasm came to an end after more than two decades since it began. The finale was a call out to the infamous Seinfeld climax, that left many unsatisfied with the Jerry Seinfeld-led series. The cast of David’s sitcom reunited two weeks after the show’s ending at PaleyFest on Thursday.
Several cast members of the series joined the panel discussion moderated by Judd Apatow. Apatow raised a question about some of the negative reactions to the show. J. B. Smoove, who played Leon Black, shared his amusement at how people saw the show’s scenes as synonymous with cringe moments.
David was not too happy with the term, as he never got his head around why people would call his show ‘cringey’. He heard people using the term more often after the second or third season aired. David further added that when people called his show ‘cringe comedy’, he wanted to wring their necks. David shared on the panel discussion (via The Hollywood Reporter):
“About this cringey thing — I never dreamed in a million years that it would have that kind of effect on people. After the second or third show I hear, ‘Oh it’s cringey, I’m cringing, I have to leave the room.’ When people call it cringe comedy, I want to wring their necks.”
However, Apatow pointed out some of the scenes were rather cringeworthy in the series. In a scene that received wide-scale criticism from the audience, David puts a water bottle in his pants only to be hugged by a young girl, who then runs off to tell her parents.
Many felt that the scene from the season 2 episode, The Doll, crossed a line, however, David had no clue why. He retorted at the discussion, “I don’t understand how that’s cringeworthy.” The comedian’s ignorant attitude about the scene might be up for a controversial debate.
Larry David Says The Reception For The Finale Exceeded Expectations
Speaking to Apatow about the critically acclaimed finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David shared that he was blown away at the response. He added that the reception exceeded his wildest expectations. He also shared with Apatow that he read the reviews for the episode, provided they only had good things to say. David shared (via THR):
“Honestly I was kind of blown away at the response to the finale, yeah. It exceeded my wildest expectations; of course, I never have expectations for anything.”
Jeff Schaffer, the exec producer of the series, joked that the finale of the series was 26 years in the making, hinting at the infamous Seinfeld finale in 1998. When the crowd cheered at the joke, David flipped them off jokingly for not liking the finale of his acclaimed sitcom.
All 12 seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm are now available for streaming on Max. Seinfeld is available for streaming on Netflix.
