Larry David is back with a new show that commemorates 250 years of American independence. “Life, Larry, and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” reimagines important historical moments, like Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone call, Rosa Parks’ refusal to move to the back of a bus and the Boston Tea Party… all with Larry David dropped into the mix.
Leaning heavily on the Larry David persona he developed in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” David plays characters who kvetch their ways through history, constantly putting a damper on our country’s biggest milestones.
One of the show’s greatest pleasures is its parade of guest stars. Kaley Cuoco, Jon Hamm, Sean Hayes, Lin-Manuel Miranda, J.B. Smoove and series co-producer Barack Obama all make memorable appearances. Jewish audiences, though, have a little extra to enjoy. Jerry Seinfeld, Henry Winkler, Richard Kind, Susie Essman, Rob Reiner and others pop up throughout the season, creating a series of delightfully Jewish moments. Here are my five favorites so far, in honor of the finale airing today.
Jake Reiner joins the cast
Jake Reiner — son of the late Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer Reiner — has a small part in one of the early episodes, where he plays a level-headed foil to Larry, who, in this sketch, is playing a WWI soldier who has little interest in his job. It’s a sweet bit of casting that becomes even more meaningful in light of Rob Reiner’s own appearance later in the series.
Larry plays Jonas Salk’s very Jewish mother
Larry has played plenty of overbearing characters over the years, but few are as entertaining as his turn as the endlessly kvelling — and endlessly irritating — mother of Jonas Salk, the Jewish scientist who developed the polio vaccine. David fully commits to the role. The opening shot of him in the scene starts at his panty-hosed legs and slowly pans up, hilariously revealing David in a dress, wig and horn-rimmed glasses that perfectly fit the Queens setting. David’s Mrs. Salk is definitely a bit of a caricature of a braggadocious and overbearing Jewish mother, but she gets the last laugh watching her orange anti-vax neighbor “Bobby” get carted away to an insane asylum.
Henry Ford meets an Orthodox Rabbi
In what is my personal favorite sketch so far, Ike Barinholtz plays Henry Ford (a casting that would no doubt have Ford turning in his grave), highlighting the industrialist’s deep hatred of Jews. Larry appears opposite him as an Orthodox Rabbi, complete with black hat and payos. David’s character knows just how to poke the antisemitic bear, allowing viewers to laugh with him at Ford’s expense.
A “Curb” reunion with Susan B. Anthony
One of the most nostalgic sketches reunites Larry David and Susie Essman, who is almost unrecognizable in the role of Susan B. Anthony. Set during a dinner party hosted by the famous suffragette, she and Larry’s character, Lawrence, quickly butt heads.
David and Essman effortlessly revive the chemistry that made “Curb” so much fun. Lawrence repeatedly calls her “Susie” — a callback that Susan corrects every single time — before the inevitable explosion. The sketch ends exactly as longtime “Curb” fans might hope, with Susan screaming at Lawrence to “get the fuck out of my house.”
Rob Reiner’s final performance is also the show’s most powerful
The series saves its most memorable Jewish moment for George Washington’s farewell address. In what became one of his final performances, the late, great Rob Reiner plays Washington, a casting that, given the tragic death of Reiner and his wife Michelle, gives the scene added emotional weight. It is a gift to see this Jewish comedy icon in one last role.
It is also one of the most profound performances of the series so far. As Washington delivers a speech about the importance of the peaceful transfer of presidential power and the protections he’s put in place to safeguard democracy, Larry’s character, a citizen in the crowd, repeatedly interrupts with seemingly asinine questions.
“What if there’s some asshole in office, a narcissistic prick, who doesn’t follow the Constitution?” he asks, adding, “A man like that could foment an insurrection!”
Washington tries to reassure him that “in reality, a man of such poor character would never be elected in the first place.” As Washington warns against the erosion of democratic norms, Larry’s anxious interruptions sound much less paranoid than normal: they sound exactly like our current historical moment.
The result is one of the series’ best sketches, but also its most sobering. Reiner’s gravitas anchors the comedy, making its underlying commentary on America’s political moment especially poignant, even amidst the typical Davidian chaos. Not to mention, it’s pretty amazing to see Reiner act one last time.
Will every sketch land? Maybe not. Some inevitably work better than others, and even devoted “Curb” fans may find themselves wishing a few ideas had room to breathe over a full episode rather than five or six frenetic minutes.
Still, I’m looking forward to this week’s finale.
At a moment when so much Jewish representation on television revolves around upsetting themes, there’s something joyful about watching a show that delights in funny Jewish storylines, especially when these storylines place Jews squarely inside American history. Whether the sketch is about Henry Ford, George Washington, Susan B. Anthony or Jonas Salk, the very Jewish casting serves as a reminder that Jews have always been part of the American story.
New Year, More Kveller. A few dollars keeps Kveller joyfully, honestly free.
