Larry David, creator of Seinfeld and noted social assassin, recently announced the return of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which hasn’t aired on HBO since 2011. In honor of the return of the show, here is a completely objective, inarguable, unordered list of the five best episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm. (Disclaimer: This was, without a doubt, the most difficult list I’ve ever put together.)
“Officer Krupke” (S7E8): Larry becomes embroiled in Jeff’s extramarital affairs and has some very stern words for a local lemonade stand, all while running into an Officer Krupke, who is woefully unaware of his theatrical counterpart. More importantly, Larry tells the world loud and proud, “I’m Larry David, I happen to enjoy wearing women’s panties.”
“Freak Book” (Season 6, Episode 5): Testing social boundaries, Larry invites his limo driver into Mary Steenburgen’s birthday party, with disastrous results. As a favor to the limo driver, he picks up John McEnroe, and the two enjoy the titular book and inadvertently offend Heather Mills. (Watch here)
“The Seder” (S5, E7): In the midst of an investigation into his stolen newspapers, Larry invites a sex offender to Seder. Larry exposes the immorality of the lone conservative at the Seder, who he accuses of conspiring with his son to locate the afikoman. Also, this:
“Car Salesman” (S2, E1): Bored with his post-Seinfeld life, Larry decides to take a day-job as a car salesman, which proves far more difficult than he had previously believed. Also features a blow-out fight with Richard Lewis that ends very poorly for Larry. (Watch here)
“The Black Swan” (S7, E7): This episode has everything you want. Funkhouser. Jeff. And, of course, Larry gets himself caught in a lie with far-reaching consequences.
Honorable mentions: “Krazee-Eyez Killa” (S3, E8), “Palestinian Chicken” (S8, E3), “The Ida Funkhouser Roadside Memorial” (S6, E3), “The End” (S5, E10), and “The Table Read” (S7, E9)
Super honorable mention: “Vow of Silence” (S8, E5), “Opening Night” (S4, E10)
Jesse Bernstein is a former Intern at Tablet.
