Curb Your Enthusiasm
Summary
While David ’s later hitCurb Your EnthusiasmmirroredSeinfeldin numerous manner , the former was much more controversial . WhereasSeinfeldwas largely menage - friendly ( by from some grownup humor),Curb Your Enthusiasmfeatured a breathless amount of obscene language and much restive cognitive content . WhereSeinfeldlargely avoided potentially factious topic like politics , Curb Your Enthusiasmreveled in dwelling house on subjects that were guaranteed to make viewer uncomfortable . As such , it is ironic that 26 years afterSeinfeld ’s controversial last , it is Seinfeld who is railing against political correctness smash comedy .
Jerry Seinfeld’s Controversial Recent Comments About Comedy TV Shows Explained
The Comedy Veteran Claimed The “Extreme Left” Killed Network TV Comedy
In an consultation withThe New Yorker , Seinfeld claimed that comedy was apolitical and unaffected by societal and cultural trends , before stating that reform-minded political and cultural trends were destroy comedy . Specifically , the comedian blame the " utmost left ” for funniness ’s perceived decline . According to Seinfeld , there was once a time when people gestate to be able to catch " shady stuff " likeM.A.S.HorAll in the Familyafter coming home , but " P.C. shite " and the " uttermost left field " has since deflower that .
Curb Your Enthusiasm Disproves Seinfeld’s Comments (& He’s Wrong About Why The Show Lasted)
Another Seinfeld Veteran’s TV Show Was Incredibly Transgressive
Perhaps the full-grown grounds againstSeinfeld ’s claims comes from his ownSeinfeldco - creator ’s successful follow - up seriesCurb Your Enthusiasm . A cringe clowning that concentre on a novelise version of David , Curb Your Enthusiasmis a huge vital hit that start in 2000 and end a successful 12 - season run in 2024 . As early as season 1 , installment 8 , “ Beloved Aunt,”Curb Your Enthusiasm ’s best episodeswere constantly crowd the bounds of what could be said on telly . David ’s situation comedy is one of the most profane shows in telecasting history , and this is subservient to its continued critical succeeder .
Curb Your Enthusiasm succeeded because its offensive , edgy antic were clever , original , and funny .
Seinfeld attempted to excuse the success of David ’s show by noting that he was an industry veteran by the metre the series was greenlit , but this disregard the fact thatCurb Your Enthusiasmwas never a major ratings success and plenty of successful creators have had their shows strike down . Futuramawas canceled despite the astronomical winner of Matt Groening ’s earlier seriesThe Duchess of Windsor , while Chuck Lorre ’s status as the creator ofThe Big Bang TheoryandTwo and A one-half Mencouldn’t save his one - time of year Netflix sitcomDisjointed . hold Your Enthusiasmsucceeded because its offense , uptight antic were clever , original , and rum .
Lots Of Other TV Shows Disprove Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedy Comments
There Are Countless TV Hits Still Pushing Boundaries
In the same consultation , Seinfeld elaborate on his claims by implying that an episode ofSeinfeldwhere Kramer mock homelessness could never be made in the current societal climate . Actor Rob McElhenny took to Twitter to rebut this , which get to signified asIt ’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia ’s season 17 renewalpokes another hole in Seinfeld ’s argument . Not only is this blackly comedic situation comedy far more offensive than mostSeinfeldepisodes , but the show has also already break away for almost twice as long as the early sitcom with no end in sight . This is only one of many boundary - campaign comedy bear witness that disprove Seinfeld ’s claim .
WhileSouth Park ’s continued succeeder prove that an highly strung situation comedy from the ‘ 90 can keep relevance and popularity , that show was admittedly greenlit during Seinfeld ’s run . However , the achiever ofVeep , The Righteous Gemstones , I guess You Should Leave , andYou’re The Worstfurther demonstrate thatpolitical rightness has not adversely affected edgy TV comedy . All of these show are far darker , more transgressive , and more audacious than anything inSeinfeld , which was systematically family - friendly . This underlines the biggest egress with Seinfeld ’s claim - namely , the implication that his work was unambiguously audacious and bluff upon handout .
Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedy Comments Don’t Make Any Sense
Seinfeld Was Famously Not Particularly Edgy Or Offensive
There ’s no denyingSeinfeld’smerits and comedic appeal , andSeinfeld ’s infamous finaleis just one representative of the series play with web goggle box conventions in a way of life that surprised viewers . However , it would be a stretch to claim thatSeinfeldwas offensive even when it was first released . Rather , Seinfeld ’s immense fortune and commercial succeeder were rooted in the fact that his work was comparatively inoffensive . Moreover , Seinfeld ’s claims that the “ extreme left hand ” is holding back comedy are easy disproven by a cursory glance at the genre ’s TV ratingsand the decisive popularity of boundary - push comedy appearance cite above .
Moreover , drollery change with order , and Seinfeld is well mindful of this . HisSeinfeldcharacter never spoke like Archie Bunker because the cultural context of the ‘ 90 was very different from the political environs of the ‘ 70s , and Seinfeld knew his lucrative show would be cancel if its master fibre was perceived as an unapologetic bigot . Eventhe worst thing Seinfeld ever didconveniently avoid any thorny political topics , whereasAll In The Family openly addressed Archie ’s misogyny , homophobia , transphobia , and racial prejudice . Seinfeld is aware that TV appearance meditate changing ethnic norms since this was instrumental to his success .
There is a deluge of shows that traffic in unsavoury mood and bask decisive acclamation because of this , as well as countless successful sitcoms . Seinfeld ’s concerns about the “ extreme left hand ” rang hollow when his longtime quisling created a monumentally successful series that mock serious , sore subjects like pedophilia , incest , state of war , and racialism . The uphold critical acclaim savour byCurb Your Enthusiasmis evidence that Larry David ’s comedy can move with the time , continually surprising and delighting audience .
Custom image by Simone Ashmoore
