You had to be there
Chicago Sun-Times, Sep 9, 2007 by Doug Elfman
Some journalists don't exactly understand Larry David's humor. I won't name names, but judging by their stories lately, a few members of the press seem to think the creator of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is a jerk.
Why? Because he's getting divorced, and because he delivered a comedic performance at a press conference in July.
David spoke to fawning TV critics the way his TV character would: caustically, with a knowing smirk. It was, without question, the funniest press conference in history.
Critics in the room laughed throughout. But some press people who weren't there read bits of the transcript, took the tone the wrong way, and aren't on board.
It may seem strange to print the bulk of a press conference in a newspaper, but I think someone should in this case. So here we go. Just remember, each funny line was part of a truthful but comedic performance, not jerkiness.
Q. So what made you decide to keep doing ["Curb"]?
A. Well, [last] season ended, and all the editing was done. And I went into my office, and I was sitting at my desk, and I went, "Jeez, I don't have anything to do." ... And I thought, "This is very uncomfortable. I better do another season." So I did.
Q. Why are you so willing to portray yourself ... as such a shmuck?
A. I'm portraying you, shmucko! [Laughter.] That's you, too, not just me!
Q. But you're portraying yourself ...
A. I'm Jesus Christ. I'm Jesus Christ. I'm sacrificing myself for the betterment of humanity.
Q. I wonder if things happen to you in life now ... where you're angry at what's happening to you, but you're glad, because you're going to get your revenge by acting them out [on "Curb?"]
A. Yeah, if something happens, if I'm angry or something, I'll go, "I'm going to use that." Yeah, so it works like that. Does that answer your stupid question? (Laughter.) ... I can get away with that because there's a very fine line between TV Larry and me. Very close, very close.
Q. Larry, you talked about being raised in this small apartment in Brooklyn as a kid where everyone was yelling. So if everyone was yelling, in the midst of all that chaos, what was the voice of reason that enabled you to believe in yourself?
A. OK, there was no such person. (Laughter.) Nobody told me to believe in myself. Even if they did, I wouldn't have believed them. ... My mother said to me, "You're not special. You're not special, Larry." She begged me to take a Civil Service test to work in the post office. That was her dream for me to work in the post office, deliver the mail, and I thought, "You know, maybe she's right, not such a bad job." But I didn't take the test and, I don't know, one day, you know, I was funny and somebody said, "You should be a comedian."
Q. So you shattered your mother's dreams.
A. Right! [Laughter]
Q. If you do come back for a seventh season -- since there is such a thin line between TV Larry and real Larry -- would you and Cheryl have marital problems?
A. (Looks at actress Cheryl Hines.) Too bad. You're going to be off the show. [Laughter] Oh. What a shame.
Hines: What a way to find out!
A. Good idea for a seventh season, by the way. That's a good idea.
delfman@suntimes.com
REVIEW
Hail Larry once again
The one shining gem remaining on HBO finally returns tonight for its sixth season. Thank ye gods, the first new episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is as funny as usual. The plots weave archetypal "Curb" conflicts. A) Larry tries to party-hop in a bizarre way, and drags his wife, Cheryl, into a mess of angry confrontations at their friends' houses. B) Meanwhile, Cheryl tries to convince Larry they should shelter a homeless New Orleans family displaced by Katrina. There is a "penis" cake. There is a smoke detector that won't stop beeping. And it's all just swell to have one of the best shows on TV back.
'CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM' Rating 4 out of 4
Honesty is Garlin's middle name
Jeff Garlin's claim to fame is playing Larry's often flustered manager. But in real life, the Chicagoan is just as honest as Larry David is. For instance, he openly proclaims he filmed "Daddy Day Care" for one reason: cash.
"If you see me in something now that's not great, know that I was paid a lot of money," Garlin says. "You know when you have reviews that say, 'So-and-so must have been paid [a lot to be in it],' well, they were."
Garlin's not the only actor eyeing cash. He's just rare for admitting to cashing in.
"Michael Caine is the king of that," he says. "He's won Academy Awards -- and done 'Jaws 3-D' or whatever! And Gene Hackman! He's done his share of crap, but who's a better actor than Gene Hackman?"
I ask him if he also makes a ton of dough performing for private parties thrown by corporations and wealthy fans. He does a few stand- up gigs, he says, but won't name his price. Instead, he names other entertainers' prices.
"I make good money," Garlin says. "But guys like Jay Leno make $750,000 or a million dollars an appearance!"
Garlin does have principles. He wrote, directed and starred in a small movie, opening Oct. 5, called "I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With." He plays a depressed Second City actor. His co-stars are Sarah Silverman, Bonnie Hunt, Amy Sedaris, Dan Castellaneta and Paul Mazursky.
But he turned down a "Daddy Day Care" sequel, since he wasn't offered a good salary.
"I will be honest when it's called for. Why am I going to protect the people who made 'Daddy Day Camp?' " he says. "I've got no reason to protect them. Let 'em pay me enough money, and I'll do it.
"I'm even friends with Cuba Gooding Jr., who's starring in it. Our kids are friends. But you gotta pay me," he says. "And by the way, even when you're doing something for the money, you regret it while you're doing it."
Some journalists don't exactly understand Larry David's humor. I won't name names, but judging by their stories lately, a few members of the press seem to think the creator of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is a jerk.
Why? Because he's getting divorced, and because he delivered a comedic performance at a press conference in July.
David spoke to fawning TV critics the way his TV character would: caustically, with a knowing smirk. It was, without question, the funniest press conference in history.
Critics in the room laughed throughout. But some press people who weren't there read bits of the transcript, took the tone the wrong way, and aren't on board.
It may seem strange to print the bulk of a press conference in a newspaper, but I think someone should in this case. So here we go. Just remember, each funny line was part of a truthful but comedic performance, not jerkiness.
Q. So what made you decide to keep doing ["Curb"]?
A. Well, [last] season ended, and all the editing was done. And I went into my office, and I was sitting at my desk, and I went, "Jeez, I don't have anything to do." ... And I thought, "This is very uncomfortable. I better do another season." So I did.
Q. Why are you so willing to portray yourself ... as such a shmuck?
A. I'm portraying you, shmucko! [Laughter.] That's you, too, not just me!
Q. But you're portraying yourself ...
A. I'm Jesus Christ. I'm Jesus Christ. I'm sacrificing myself for the betterment of humanity.
Q. I wonder if things happen to you in life now ... where you're angry at what's happening to you, but you're glad, because you're going to get your revenge by acting them out [on "Curb?"]
A. Yeah, if something happens, if I'm angry or something, I'll go, "I'm going to use that." Yeah, so it works like that. Does that answer your stupid question? (Laughter.) ... I can get away with that because there's a very fine line between TV Larry and me. Very close, very close.
Q. Larry, you talked about being raised in this small apartment in Brooklyn as a kid where everyone was yelling. So if everyone was yelling, in the midst of all that chaos, what was the voice of reason that enabled you to believe in yourself?
A. OK, there was no such person. (Laughter.) Nobody told me to believe in myself. Even if they did, I wouldn't have believed them. ... My mother said to me, "You're not special. You're not special, Larry." She begged me to take a Civil Service test to work in the post office. That was her dream for me to work in the post office, deliver the mail, and I thought, "You know, maybe she's right, not such a bad job." But I didn't take the test and, I don't know, one day, you know, I was funny and somebody said, "You should be a comedian."
Q. So you shattered your mother's dreams.
A. Right! [Laughter]
Q. If you do come back for a seventh season -- since there is such a thin line between TV Larry and real Larry -- would you and Cheryl have marital problems?
A. (Looks at actress Cheryl Hines.) Too bad. You're going to be off the show. [Laughter] Oh. What a shame.
Hines: What a way to find out!
A. Good idea for a seventh season, by the way. That's a good idea.
delfman@suntimes.com
REVIEW
Hail Larry once again
The one shining gem remaining on HBO finally returns tonight for its sixth season. Thank ye gods, the first new episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" is as funny as usual. The plots weave archetypal "Curb" conflicts. A) Larry tries to party-hop in a bizarre way, and drags his wife, Cheryl, into a mess of angry confrontations at their friends' houses. B) Meanwhile, Cheryl tries to convince Larry they should shelter a homeless New Orleans family displaced by Katrina. There is a "penis" cake. There is a smoke detector that won't stop beeping. And it's all just swell to have one of the best shows on TV back.
'CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM' Rating 4 out of 4
Honesty is Garlin's middle name
Jeff Garlin's claim to fame is playing Larry's often flustered manager. But in real life, the Chicagoan is just as honest as Larry David is. For instance, he openly proclaims he filmed "Daddy Day Care" for one reason: cash.
"If you see me in something now that's not great, know that I was paid a lot of money," Garlin says. "You know when you have reviews that say, 'So-and-so must have been paid [a lot to be in it],' well, they were."
Garlin's not the only actor eyeing cash. He's just rare for admitting to cashing in.
"Michael Caine is the king of that," he says. "He's won Academy Awards -- and done 'Jaws 3-D' or whatever! And Gene Hackman! He's done his share of crap, but who's a better actor than Gene Hackman?"
I ask him if he also makes a ton of dough performing for private parties thrown by corporations and wealthy fans. He does a few stand- up gigs, he says, but won't name his price. Instead, he names other entertainers' prices.
"I make good money," Garlin says. "But guys like Jay Leno make $750,000 or a million dollars an appearance!"
Garlin does have principles. He wrote, directed and starred in a small movie, opening Oct. 5, called "I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With." He plays a depressed Second City actor. His co-stars are Sarah Silverman, Bonnie Hunt, Amy Sedaris, Dan Castellaneta and Paul Mazursky.
But he turned down a "Daddy Day Care" sequel, since he wasn't offered a good salary.
"I will be honest when it's called for. Why am I going to protect the people who made 'Daddy Day Camp?' " he says. "I've got no reason to protect them. Let 'em pay me enough money, and I'll do it.
"I'm even friends with Cuba Gooding Jr., who's starring in it. Our kids are friends. But you gotta pay me," he says. "And by the way, even when you're doing something for the money, you regret it while you're doing it."
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