The fictional Larry David has been put in every preposterous situation the real Larry David could think of in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” from investing in a Palestinian chicken franchise to pitting a Holocaust survivor against a “Survivor” cast member. At last night’s star studded premiere of the 9th season of “Curb,” US asked David if the fake Larry would ever “take the knee.” “Take the knee,” he replied and said, “Now that’s a good idea.”
David was joined last night at the “Curb” premiere by his cast– Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines, JB Smoove and Susie Essman– not to mention two Kennedys– Robert Kennedy Jr and Caroline Kennedy, as well as actor Marc Feuerstein, whose new show “9JKL” debuts this Monday on CBS, plus Aida Turturro (The Sopranos), Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham (“Homeland”), Keegan-Michael Key, HBO’s John Oliver, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, Amy Schumer, Steve Buscemi, Bryant Gumbel, Andrew Rannels, Lorraine Bracco, Aziz Ansari, SNL’s and Pete Davidson.
I’m not allowed to tell you what the “Curb” story arc is going to be, but I can tell you it’s hilarious. All of the above mentioned cast is in it as well Ted Danson, who gives a surprise fake meta announcement, and Richard Lewis, of course. In Episode 5, which we also saw last night, there’s kind of a genius sequence devised by Larry and director Larry Charles involving “giving a face.” In a continuous fire of rat-tat-tat jokes, this is like a mini story arc that shows the real artistry here.
At the after party at Tao Downtown former “Sopranos” Turturro and Bracco gushed over Michael Gandolfini, 18 year old son of the late James Gandolfini. He told US he’s just started NYU where he’s going to take after his Emmy winning dad and study acting. “I was already in the Law & Order Menendez Brothers movie,” he said, “playing Erik’s friend. But I was cut from the final edit. But it was a good experience because I got to be there with Edie Falco, who was with my dad on the Sopranos.”
I am sad to report that George Englund passed away about ten days ago, on September 14th. He was 91 and had fallen. There’s been no announcement, but there is a family obituary. George was quite a figure in Hollywood, at the center of everything in his heyday– actor, director, producer, he was married to Cloris Leachman (1953-79)and was the father of her five children. He had an infamous affair with Joan Collins during that marriage. He was also Marlon Brando’s best friend. When Brando died in 2004, it was George who helped me get the scoop and write the announcement. I will be forever in his debt.
Englund produced and directed a number of films and TV shows but was best known for directing “The Ugly American” (1963) starring Brando, and producing “The Shoes of the Fisherman” starring Anthony Quinn. In 1992, he was a production executive on “The Golden Girls” and helped usher in its ill fated spin off, “The Golden Palace.” He also wrote a very good TV movie about the tragic Challenger space shuttle in 1990 starring Karen Allen and Barry Bostwick.
