The “Seinfeld” reunion Larry David swore for a decade would never happen is finally happening — but only within the fictional universe of “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
The seventh season of David’s improvised HBO comedy, which returns on Sept. 20, will be centered around the TV version of David finally agreeing to do a reunion of the defining ’90s sitcom. All four “Seinfeld” castmembers — Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Michael Richards — will play themselves in multiple episodes, and the season finale will feature extensive snippets of the show-within-the-show.
“For years, I’ve been asked about a ‘Seinfeld’ reunion,” David told reporters at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Pasadena. He always refused, but, “Then I thought it might be very funny to do that on ‘Curb.’ And I kept thinking about it.”
Seinfeld will appear in five episodes, sprinkled throughout the season, and the others will appear in as many as four or five episodes, albeit not always together.
“We’ll see writing, see aspects of the read-through, parts of rehearsal, see the show being filmed, and see it on TV,” David explained. “You won’t see the entire show. You’ll see parts of the show. You’ll get an idea of what happened (to the ‘Seinfeld’ characters) 11 years later. Within the show, it will be incorporated into regular ‘Curb’ episodes. “
“Seinfeld” questions, not surprisingly, dominated the “Curb” press conference.
Would Richards’ infamous racist tirade at a comedy club be acknowledged?
“It’s possible.”
If the real Larry refuses to do a reunion, why would the TV version agree?
“That’s a very good question, and that will be answered within the show.”
How was it writing for these characters so many years later, and in the context of a different show?
“It was surprisingly smooth. Coming up with the right ideas for what’s happened in 11 years, that took some thought. Three of the guys working on my show as executive producers also were producers on ‘Seinfeld,’ so I was working with them.”
Is there any chance the reunion will be any good?
“You mean, as opposed to the finale?”
In hindsight, what did you think of the finale?
“Excellent show! Excellent show?”
And the people who criticized it?
“Morons! Morons!”
Wouldn’t TV Larry automatically wreck any chance of the reunion being good.
“He might?”
After that, the questions died down a bit as the critics — most of them longing for a day when there were sitcom as good and as popular as “Seinfeld” — began frantically typing up blog entries just like this one.
But there were some funny moments in the session’s second half, including David admitting that he’s become more like TV Larry and is happier that way, and David doing an impression of the cast of “Gossip Girl,” which he watches with his daughters.
“Would I prefer they watch ‘Seinfeld’ or ‘Curb’? ” he admitted. “Yes. They don’t seem to be fans of mine. Go figure.” (Reprinted from the Star Ledger)
