The Very Best of Curb Your Enthusiasm

By Mark Pukalo

Trouble doesn't find Larry David. He seems to seek it out, and that has led to 12 fun-filled seasons on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

David created the greatest conventional sitcom in history with "Seinfeld," and he has gone farther with Curb. There are wacky situations, odd characters and cringe-worthy hilarious scenes while Larry is not afraid to tackle issues such as divorce, racial relations, sex, religion and politics in a comedic way.

It is basically Seinfeld without any rules on what can be said. It may not be for everyone, but it should be. You know why? We need to be able to laugh at ourselves, at the extremes of important issues and at things that annoy us. The heck with the language. Deal with it. I know I have always hated people that can't park their cars between the lines. Now, after watching Curb, I can call them Pig Parkers and chuckle over it.

Plus, you get great advice from Larry's free-loading house guest Leon, who often brings the ruckus: "You can't pause toast, Larry. It loses it's Essence."

The pandemic gave me a chance to watch the first 100 episodes in the series and I have updated by re-watching the final two seasons to make a list of the top 25, plus honorable mentions. It's not easy to place them, especially after the top few, because they are all "Prett-Ay, Prett-Ay, Prett-Ay Good."


Top 25

1. Season 8, Episode 9: Mister Softee - The music of the Softie truck brings back bad memories for Larry and causes a brutal error to end a softball game, while Bill Buckner saves the day.

2. Season 8, Episode 3: Palestinian Chicken - Larry is torn between some really good chicken, a beautiful new Palestinian girlfriend and his Jewish Heritage.

3. Season 1, Episode 3: Porno Gil - Bob Odenkirk plays Gil, a former porn star who invites Larry and Cheryl to their off-the-beaten-track house for a party that turns into a disaster.

4. Season 2, Episode 9: The Baptism - Larry loses plane tickets to Monterrey, which sends him and Cheryl on a roundabout route to an adult baptism. Larry, of course, causes problems upon arrival.

5. Season 4, Episode 6: The Car Pool Lane - Larry rents a prostitute so he can use the Car Pool Lane to beat the traffic on the way to the Dodgers game, buys pot and gets Funkhouser arrested.

6. Season 8, Episode 7: The Bi-Sexual - Larry uses performance-enhancing drugs to help win a battle with Rosie O'Donnell over a pretty girl. "Where's my ticket?" Larry says on the steps of the Hall of Fame after the blue pill is revealed. Jane retorts: "You're not getting in."

7. Season 12, Episode 4: Disgruntled - Tension is high after a note by a "disgruntled" club member is tacked on the wall at Larry's golf course. Willie Geist from Morning Joe unmasks the mystery club member, or does he?

8. Season 5, Episode 2: The Bowtie - Larry loses the support of the lesbian community and regains it while dealing with his racist dog.

9. Season 12, Episode 1: Atlanta - Larry is hired to attend the birthday party for a wealthy businessman with Leon and Maria Sofia before battling with the hotel cleaning woman. David is not very cordial at the party, argues with a guest - Brooke or Brookie? - and does not get paid.

10. Season 5, Episode 10: The End - Kidney transplant complications lead to death for Larry, who has an interesting brief stay in Heaven before being returned to life.

11. Season 6, Episode 7: The Tivo Guy - The Tivo repairman distracts Larry from Cheryl's frantic call on a shaky airplane and leads to a separation.

12. Season 10, Episode 1: Happy New Year - A MAGA hat proves a perfect people repellent for Larry, who is accused of sexual assault for wanting some pigs in a blanket, while Jeff is mistaken for Harvey Weinstein.

13. Season 1, Episode 9: Affirmative Action - An untended bad racial joke causes all kinds of problems for Larry. It's cringy at times, but very funny.

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14. Season 12, Episode 3 - Vertical Drop, Horizontal Tug - Larry's golf game improves after stealing tips from a coach and that causes problems. Four!!!

15. Season 10, Episode 10: The Spite Store - The finale brings all the stories of the season together as his former secretary finds her memory, spite stores crop up everywhere and Mocha Joe wins.

16. Season 7, Episode 10: Seinfeld - The Seinfeld reunion is finally done and a lack of respect for wood foils Larry's chance to get back with Cheryl.

17. Season 11, Episode 10: The Mormon Advantage - Not a good call! Alexander Vindman catches Larry trying to bribe a city councilman to end a so-so season.

18. Season 3, Episode 8: Krazee-Eyez Killa - Larry befriends and then betrays Wanda Sykes' cheating rap-music star boyfriend.

19. Season 8, Episode 1: The Divorce - Lawyers and girl scout cookies cause problems for Larry as his divorce to Cheryl goes through and he loses out on Dodgers club tickets.

20. Season 2, Episode 7: The Doll - Larry makes the daughter of a TV executive cry after cutting her doll's hair and a broken bathroom latch causes major issues.

21. Season 5, Episode 8: The Ski Lift - Larry hopes to convince the leader of the kidney consortium to move Richard Lewis up on the list for a new organ, but it ends in disaster.

22. Season 12, Episode 7: The Dream Scheme - Jeff, Freddy and Larry use dreaming tactics to get out of things they do not want to do. Guess who gets caught by Susie?

23. Season 8, Episode 5: Vow of Silence - Larry loses his head over some pig parkers, the "chat & cut" is introduced and Oscar does not get his last meal. R.I.P.

24. Season 2, Episode 3: Trick or Treat - Larry's nasty exchange with two teenagers trick or treating without costumes is the centerpiece.

25. Season 10, Episode 8: Elizabeth, Margaret and Phillip - Jon Hamm is hilarious while he mirrors Larry for a future project ... playing Mr. David.

Honorable Mention: Mary, Joseph and Larry (Larry wrecks Christmas), The Bat Mitzvah (Larry has an itch), Beloved Aunt (A typo ruins an obit written by Larry), The Nanny from Hell (Pound cake saves Susie from Cheri Oteri), The Black Swan (Larry commits murder on the golf course), Vehicular Fellatio (car hijinks), The Seder (Larry gets his newspaper stolen), Denise Handicap (Larry finds some advantages dating the disabled), The Shrimp Incident (Larry gets screwed out of some shrimp), The Bare Midriff (Larry is saved on the roof by flabby skin), Interior Decorator (Larry is tackled by a Decorator), Never Wait for Seconds (Fatwa! Off), Shaq (Larry accidentally trips Mr. O'Neal), Thor (Professional wrestler slashes Larry's tires), Ken/Kendra (Larry meets an angry Masseuse and gives the Boss Covid), No Lessons Learned (Larry is jailed. The finale).

My Favorite TV Shows of All Time (Updated)

By Mark Pukalo


I'm not quite sure what was actually the first television show I watched multiple times, more than 50 years ago.

The late 1960s brought us Hogan's Heroes, Bewitched, I Love Lucy, Hawaii Five-O, I Dream of Jeannie, Star Trek and many other classics. But I bet my love for the tube started with Marcia, Jan, Greg, Bobby and the others. I can remember that stacked Friday night lineup with the Brady Bunch followed by the Partridge Family, Room 222, The Odd Couple and Love American Style.

I've missed so many great shows over the years. Even more so of late, because so many have gone to streaming like "The Studio" and "Widow's Bay." It's impossible to catch them all and some just don't work for me. 

But here's an "updated" list of the all-time favorites that I have enjoyed. The top two may surprise you, but one is so unique, sometimes inappropriate and funny, it deserves the top spot while the second is perhaps the best written, unfortunately short-lived, and most compelling in my lifetime.

First, here's some well-liked shows I have not seen much or not at all: Abbott Elementary, The Americans, Boardwalk Empire, The Chappelle Show, Deadwood, Dexter, Empire, Fleabag, Friday Night Lights, The Handmaid's Tale, House, Killing Eve, Lost, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, NewsRadio, Oz, Parks and Recreation, Quantum Leap, The Queen's Gambit, Ripley, Riverdale, Severance, Sex in the City, Shogun, The Simpsons, South Park, Stranger Things, Succession, Suits, True Detective, Twin Peaks, WandaVision, Yellowjackets, The 70s Show.

Special Award: Saturday Night Live - Depending on the period, it could be top 10 if included along with Late Night with David Letterman. Dave was the Goat of late night.

Underappreciated/Guilty Pleasures: UFO, Moonlighting, Felicity, American Bandstand, Jericho, The Hudson Brothers, Earth II, Alf.

Honorable Mention: All in the Family, Andor, Battlestar Galactica, Big Little Lies, The Bob Newhart Show, The Carol Burnett Show, Charlie's Angels, Criminal Minds, CSI Miami, Dallas, Family Guy, Family Ties, FBI, Friends, Get Smart, Grey's Anatomy, Happy Days, Hill Street Blues, House of the Dragon, I Love Lucy, The Jetsons, L.A. Law, Landman, Laugh In, Laverne and Shirley, Law & Order, Law & Order Criminal Intent, Lost in Space, The Love Boat, Mad Men, Mare of Eastown, Married. .. With Children, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Miami Vice, Mork & Mindy, My Name is Earl, NCIS, The Night Stalker, Orange is the New Black, Ozark, Poker Face, Rescue Me, The Rockford Files, Scrubs, Star Trek, Taxi, The Testaments, Three's Company, Two and a Half Men, Veep, Welcome Back, Kotter, Welcome to Wrexham, WKRP in Cincinnati, The X Files.

TOP 25 (with favorite character)

25. (tie) Schitt's Creek (Alexis, Annie Murphy) and Hacks (Ava Daniels, Hannah Einbinder); 24. Ted Lasso (Roy Kent, Brett Goldstein); 23. MASH (Corporal Klinger, Jamie Farr); 22. ER (Doug Ross, George Clooney); 21. (The first three seasons of) Arrested Development (Gob Bluth, Will Arnett); 20.  Cheers (Norm, George Wendt).

19. Blue Bloods - This cop show has grown on me over the years and it is a fair depiction of life in the uniform despite the slight right-wing lean. The characters are rich and diverse while the stories have heart. Best Character: Jamie Reagan, Will Estes.

18. The Brady Bunch (left) - It only lasted five seasons, but many of the best moments live on 50 years later. "Sure, Jan." No, it's true. Best Character: Marcia, Marcia, Marcia, Maureen McCormick.

17. Madam Secretary - Tea Leoni made this show tick as she grew into a formidable figure and made for a President we could all support - fearless, smart and fair. Best Character: Stevie, Wallis Currie-Wood.

16. One Tree Hill - The teen drama series really hit home for me because it was centered around basketball and one great cast of characters. While it did get a soap opera-like at times in its pacing, the storylines were always good and there has never been a show with more beautiful women. Best Character: Peyton Sawyer, Hilarie Burton.

15. Entourage - I rewatched all eight seasons and loved every minute. Vince, Johnny Drama, E, Turtle and Ari were fantastic characters and it may be second to One Tree Hill in beautiful women on set. I still love you Sloan! Best Character: Johnny Drama, Kevin Dillon.

14. The Bear - Five-season series that follows the workings of a family-owned restaurant in Chicago with incredibly rich characters and real-life issues. Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri lead a brilliant cast. Best Character: Richie, Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

13. Law & Order Special Victims Unit - Sam Waterson was great in the first Law & Order shows, but the SVU cast and storylines have been stronger in this series. The interesting subjects and scenarios continue. Best Character: Olivia Benson, Mariska Hargitay

12. The Wire - It took me awhile to get around to this inner-city Baltimore police drama and I was blown away by its authenticity. The acting was brilliant through all five seasons. Best Character: Omar Little, Michael K. Williams.

11. Euphoria - I finally binged three incredible seasons in a few weeks this summer and it ended with a bang. Director Sam Levinson built this series around addiction, centering on Rue (Zendaya), along with with an all-star cast. Riveting Season 3 moved this from outside the the top 25 to No. 11. Best Character: Ali, Colman Domingo (right).

10. The Office - The final two seasons aside, it ranks among the best four comedies of all time in my book. Dwight, Michael and the others were brilliant characters at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in Scranton, Pa. Best Character: Jim Halpert, John Krasinski.

9.. Breaking Bad - The AMC classic provides an amazing performance by Bryan Cranston as Walter White, who evolves from a chemistry teacher with cancer to an international drug dealer. The final episode is one of the best in TV history. Best Character: Walter White, Bryan Cranston.

8. Modern Family - A remarkably-written sitcom about a diverse family, which takes many hilarious turns along the way. Ty Burrell as Phil Dunphy took his place among the best comedic TV stars with his performance over 11 seasons. Best Character: Cam, Eric Stonestreet.

7. The Sopranos - David Chase makes you understand and even like a unique crime family over six thrill-filled seasons. Tony (the late James Gandolfini) commands the show, but Carmela (Edie Falco) takes no backseat as his wife. Best Character: Silvio Dante, Steven Van Zandt.

6. The Pitt - An amazing hospital drama, so compelling and well written that it easily beats the many similar medical shows of the past. Noah Wylie brings Dr. Robbie to life as the main character, but there are so many wonderful people on the show and your eyes never leave the screen. Swept the Grammy awards in its first season and No. 2 was just as good. Best Character: Dr. Mel. Taylor Dearden (left).

5. Game of Thrones - Free HBO on my newest TV plan finally gave me a chance to watch this epic series about kings, queens, dragons and heroes. Never thought I would like it this much, but what an amazing eight years. Best Character: Arya Stark, Maisie Williams.

4. The West Wing - Creator Aaron Sorkin's first of two in the top four (also No. 2) is an incredible journey of seven seasons in the White House with tremendous performances and interesting, topical storylines. Best Character: Josh, Bradley Whitford.

3. Seinfeld - The show "about nothing" lasted nine seasons and rarely had an off half hour. It was one part goofy humor and one part intelligent comedy with Jerry Seinfeld and the cast causing problems wherever they went. Best Character: George Costanza, Jason Alexander.

2. The Newsroom - It only lasted three seasons and 25 episodes, but the cheeky writing and real-life drama make you want to watch shows over and over. The characters are more deep and compelling than in any show in history, in my opinion. Best Character: Will McAvoy, Jeff Daniels.

1. Curb Your Enthusiasm - Trouble does not find Larry David through 12 hilarious seasons of Curb, his character seems to seek it in every episode. The show tackles subjects that sometimes make you cringe, but also make you laugh uncontrollably. Best Character: Leon Black, J.B. Smoove.