Dierdre Dolan is the author of “Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Book,” a coffee table book for the socially disinclined. This big, beautiful text offers a sort of oral history of the show, including interviews with everyone from the set designers to Larry David himself. I talked with her about the book, and I’m giving two away, as well — look for the contest below the interview.
Why does the world need a book about Curb Your Enthusiasm? There’s a TV show already.
The book is for fans of the show who want to know more — how it’s made (what does the editor, director, producer do); what are the real relationships between the cast like; what does the process of an entirely improvised show entail exactly. It’s a non-fictional account of a fictional TV show.
Who did you talk to (besides LD) who gave you the most insight? What was the insight?
Director Bob Weide, director Larry Charles, actor/executive producer Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines and Susie Essman were all full of insight, and they all said the same thing: Larry David listens to himself more than anyone else, and that’s why the show works. It’s not that David won’t ask for everyone’s opinion, it’s just that ultimately he trusts his own inner compass about what’s funny more than he trusts anyone else’s. This is one of the keys to the show’s success. HBO leaves him alone where most network shows would be offering tons of suggestions and notes (expected to be followed). With Seinfeld, Larry David earned the right to ignore the network suits. And of course, since so much of the comedy comes from his own life, it only makes sense for him to be the last word on a line read or an edit. The more personal comedy stays, the funnier it usually is. Comedy writing by committee doesn’t work as well.
David is notoriously unwilling to analyze his work, and you are one of the few folks who’s spoken with him formally about Curb. What did he say that surprised you?
I know one thing that surprised David was that, after years of working behind the scenes on Seinfeld, he found it so enjoyable to be in front of the camera acting (he says it’s much easier than writing). He never anticipated how much he would enjoy acting. I’ve been on the sets of a number of different TV shows, and “Curb” was hands down the happiest. When asked about their jobs, actors often say that they spend all day laughing at work, but on “Curb” everyone really does spend all day laughing because every take is different and funny in a new way.
In terms of analyzing his own work, David said he thinks the secret to the success of “Curb” and Seinfeld is that he writes about the ordinary things — the small slights and annoyances of daily life (not enough shrimp in our chinese order, the annoying girlfriend of a good friend, etc.).
“When we were doing Seinfeld I realized that there was this whole world available that nobody was writing about,” says David. “And I didn’t understand it. I mean it puzzled me. What’s the big deal? It just wasn’t being done. And I’m not immodest when I say that. I just didn’t see anythign being done like Seinfeld. And that’s why people took to it.”
What horrible thing that Larry’s done on the show did you most identify with?
I relate to the smaller things because I live on a smaller scale than his character — like the fight he gets into with Jason Alexander because he won’t meet him halfway for a meeting, or when he complains about the waiting policy at the doctor’s office. I’m also a grudge holder, so I identify with that too.
Is there something you’ve done in your life that’s as awful as the things Larry does serially on the show? A particular incident you can share with our readers in all its gruesome detail?
I asked a woman when she was due once, and then she told me she wasn’t pregnant. I couldn’t figure out if the right move was to apologize and come up with some convoluted explanation, or just let it go. Instead I spent the next twenty minutes talking a mile a minute praying she would just forget that I ever asked the question.
Curb Your Enthusiasm the book is in stores now
Here’s the contest: share with us, in the comments, the single most awful, Larry-David-esque thing you’ve ever done. If you want to do it anonymously, email it to me at jesse@maximumfun.org, and I’ll post it for you. On Monday, I’ll decide my two favorites, and each will get a copy of the book.
Ready, steady… go!
Previously on The Sound of Young America:
Interview with Curb producer Robert Weide (MP3)