News

It’s quite often when a certain character in a TV or movie steals the show despite limited screen time, leaving the audience craving for more of them. These characters are often categorized as the best friend, oddball coworker, or even an eccentric neighbour, and they are the ones to land most unexpected laughs. One such intriguing character has been Kevin Sussman’s Stuart Bloom from the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, and his rise from recurring character to leading his own spinoff.

Many sitcoms are filled with such scene-stealing characters who deserve more recognition, and maybe even their own show. Here is a look at the top 10 most underrated sitcom actors who, like Sussman, have what it takes to lead a spinoff and really hog the spotlight.

10. David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane from Frasier Frasier | Credit: NBC

Playing Niles Crane, Frasier’s younger brother, David Hyde Pierce delivered...

When Steve Carell left The Office, the show never recovered. And when Chelsea Peretti left Brooklyn 99, a critical part of its cast’s dynamic was lost, which cost the show some of its edge. Usually, when a sitcom loses a character, no matter the reason, the show suffers. Sometimes, however, a departure is more akin to when a butcher trims the fat; the show is tightened up and, because time is no longer wasted on them, it’s an overall improved result, if anyone even notices at all.

Here are five such times where a character was removed from a sitcom, arguably for the better…

1 Mark Brendanawicz on ‘Parks and Recreation’

While actor Paul Schneider didn’t do anything wrong as the character Mark Brendanawicz on Parks and Recreation, he was meant to be a love interest for Leslie Knope, yet there was absolutely no chemistry between them. And...

Usually, when an established sitcom suddenly adds a new character, it’s a sign of desperation — and one most viewers can see right through. This, in turn, provokes them to attack without mercy. Just think of poor Cousin Oliver, the cute kid brought in for Season Five of The Brady Bunch who is still blamed for the show’s cancellation. Scooby-Doo fans similarly still revile Scrappy-Doo, and even Andy from The Office has his share of haters.

On the other hand, sometimes new blood is exactly the injection of energy a show needs. Here are five examples of new additions that actually made a series much, much better…

1 Frank Reynolds on ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’

Season One of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, while pretty rough, had an undeniable spark. The only problem? No one watched it. That’s why the head of FX insisted the show bring in...

Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm may get a season 13 after all, according to a new update from HBO’s head of comedy. The long-running comedy follows a fictionalized version of David as he crudely navigates the subtleties of social etiquette and normative absurdities. Since its debut in 2000, Curb has received countless award nominations and won two Emmy Awards for its improvisational style and sharp, cringe-inducing humor. Curb Your Enthusiasm also featured several iconic guest stars, from Ben Stiller and David Schwimmer to Michael J. Foxx.

Speaking with Deadline, HBO's head of comedy AmyGravitt revealed that she's talking about a new season of Curb Your Enthusiasm with David. She noted that while the writer-comedian had not yet spoken to HBO about doing another series, she remains open to the possibility and would "love that." Gravitt’s comments came as a surprise, given previous reports suggesting that David was ready to...

Jb Smoove is probably best known for playing Larry David’s sidekick/soulmate Leon Black on Curb Your Enthusiasm. But years earlier, the comedian was a writer for Saturday Night Live, where he came up with some gloriously bizarre pitches. For starters, there was the “Urine Detective” sketch, in which host Johnny Knoxville would play a gumshoe who solves crimes by tasting the pee of suspects. It never made it to the air.

Another rejected idea was about a couple that met as military helicopter pilots, but even after settling down and starting a family, they keep constantly screaming because they “can’t get the helicopter out of their systems.” He also pitched a sketch featuring host Tom Brady as “Nick Buttkowski,” the first football player to ever smack his teammate on the ass.

Play

But the first sketch of Smoove’s that actually made it onto the show was...

For more than two decades, Curb Your Enthusiasm has been a television comedy staple that everyone loves. A dark comedy that resonated with fans sadly ended after twelve seasons. While it’s hard to believe that Larry David’s wild, rule-breaking masterpiece will no longer entertain us, we can always go back to feel the nostalgia of laughing a bit too hard and cringing a bit too often.

As we have bid our goodbyes to Curb Your Enthusiasm, here are three reasons why the iconic show will be missed more than we realize.

1. Larry David’s Unfiltered Character Portrayal Larry David (Credits- HBO Entertainment)

Let’s start with the obvious. When it comes to Larry David’s character, there’s simply no other character on television like him. Through Curb Your Enthusiasm, he gave us a version of himself that said and did what most of us only think in fleeting moments.

When the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards concluded on September 15, 2024, Curb Your Enthusiasm again walked away empty-handed. The long-running HBO sitcom created by and starring Larry David has become the most-snubbed TV comedy in history, winning just two Primetime Emmys out of 55 nominations between 2002 and 2024. For one of the most beloved TV shows on air over the past two decades, walking away without a single Primetime award following its 12th and final season is a giant slap in the face.

While many fans and industry pundits believed Curb Your Enthusiasm had a legitimate shot of winning Best Comedy Series following its series send-off in April 2024, the dark showbiz series Hacks walked away with the honor. For a popular show that has been on the air for 25 years and garnered positive reception from critics and TV lovers alike, the Curb Your Enthusiasm Emmy snub is one of the biggest TV injustices of the 21st century.

Exclusive: Emmy winner Jb Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm) is set to produce a comedic animated series based on the video game High On Life.

The actor, who launched his production outfit Alternate Side Productions last year, hasn’t officially been cast in the development project but we hear there’s a good chance he will.

High On Life is a comedic first-person shooter game with action-adventure and Metroidvania elements. It takes place in a science fiction world which features talking guns and sees humanity’s fate in jeopardy after an alien cartel discovers that humans are the most potent drug in the cosmos. Smoove is one of the key voice cast in the video game, which has also featured the voices of Jack Black, Susan Sarandon and Thomas Middleditch.

The development is underway between Alternate and Squanch Games and Striker Entertainment. Alternate Side Productions will serve as executive producers with...

Curb Your Enthusiasm officially ended on April 7, 2024, with its last episode, "No Lessons Learned." But that doesn't mean this has to be the end of the show. At least, according to showrunner and co-creator Jeff Schaffer, who has already said he and Larry David are still "talking about talking about stuff." The show, led by comedian and writer Larry David, ended its run in 2024 after 12 seasons of pure comedy bliss. Produced unrestrained in the creatively-open hallways of HBO, Curb Your Enthusiasm tells the story of a fictionalized version of David himself, who is now living as a semi-retired television writer and producer in Los Angeles.

Once a graced comedian and writer famous for creating Seinfeld, the NBC juggernaut sitcom, David is living off royalties, trying to have a decent life. His marriage crumbled to the point of meltdown, and all he has is his agent, Jeff Greene, his roommate, Leon Black,...

The future of Curb Your Enthusiasm is uncertain, but there's potential for a different format. Showrunner Jeff Schaffer hints at a revival or spinoff, with a focus on the character of Leon Black. However, Schaffer says it will likely take years for this to happen.

The future of Curb Your Enthusiasm gets a surprising update after the HBO show's finale earlier this year. After 22 award wins in total and a run that dates back to 2000, Curb Your Enthusiasm had its series finale in April. Although it went relatively big, with creator and star Larry David echoing his Seinfeld finale while bringing back some familiar faces, the curmudgeonly comedy's very last scene suggested that it could easily come back for another run.

Now, in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Jeff Schaffer reveals that he's spoken with David about continuing Curb Your Enthusiasm in some form. The showrunner shares,...

You know what they say -- the guests make the party.

Ok, nobody says that, but they should!

Your invited guests do the heavy lifting for any celebration.

TV Fanatics that we are, we can't think of anyone we'd love to attend the festivities more than our favorite TV characters.

Related: TV Shows Should Make Stars, Not Depend on Them

Here's who we're inviting to our 4th of July party!

Richie - The Bear

Right off the bat, Richie understands the concept of "play cousin" so well that he'd literally fit right in because of that alone.

He's brash and uncouth, sure, but he's also just a damn good time and pure entertainment.

He can fit into any environment and have some of the best conversations or debates about movies, music, and books, all the while making fun of people for their hot dog condiments.

Whether we get off the books Richie,...

Curb Your Enthusiasm ended in April after 25 years, one special, 12 seasons, and 120 pretty, pretty, pretty good episodes. While the show follows the misanthropic adventures of Larry David (Larry David), his friend Leon Black (J.B. Smoove) and his friend Jeff’s (Jeff Garlin) wife Susie Greene (Susie Essman) are two fan favorites. With the show coming to an end (and Emmy season approaching) we asked Smoove and Essman to watch back their first and final scenes on Curb. Susie’s first appearance is in “The Pants Tent,” Season 1 Episode 1. “I look so young,” says Essman of the 2000 episode. It’s a very brief appearance — you don’t get a sense of her filthy mouth or her outlandish fashion. Essman shares, “[Larry] hired me not for that scene, he hired me for the scene later on that season for the episode called ‘The Wire’…I just destroy Jeff and scream and yell and curse.

After 12 seasons and 24 years, HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” aired its final episode in April. But J.B. Smoove, who has played Larry David‘s housemate Leon Black since 2007, wasn’t sure how to feel on the last day of filming. “It was definitely a sad day,” he tells us, “but it’s also a day of being on the fence about what’s really gonna happen.” Why? Because star/producer David had taken off “six years between seasons” before, and so Smoove still had hope it wasn’t over. “We don’t know what this man’s thinking half the time,” he jokes. Watch our exclusive video interview above.

Smoove is already an Emmy winner for starring on the short form series “Mapleworth Murders” in 2021, and now he’s looking for his first nomination for “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” where he’s competing in the category of Best Comedy Supporting Actor.

Leon Black became a game-changer in Curb Your Enthusiasm, and his best episodes are unforgettable. J.B. Smoove's Leon is a comedic force, stealing scenes with absurdity and innovative ideas. Leon's antics, from exposed testicles to taboo-breaking jokes, make him a highlight of the show.

Curb Your Enthusiasm changed forever with the introduction of Leon Black, and he ended up headlining some of the shows best episodes. At the beginning of season 6, Cheryl convinced Larry to open up their house to a family who were left homeless by a massive storm called Hurricane Edna (a satirical stand-in for Katrina). Loretta Black, Auntie Rae, and Lorettas kids promptly flew out to Los Angeles to move in. A couple of days later, Lorettas motormouth brother Leon showed up and began occupying a guest bedroom.

Leon ended up staying with Larry for the rest of the series. Even after his family moved out,...

Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm is often described in mainstream media as a cringe comedy series. David’s sitcom evokes laughter from situations that create social awkwardness, self-depreciation, or guilty pleasure. Over the years, audiences have come to love David’s type of comedy, but it is undeniable that the Seinfeld creator had crossed the line with a few jokes. David recently dismissed the critics of the series who called it cringeworthy.

Larry David in a still from Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s 12th season

Curb Your Enthusiasm premiered its twelfth and final season in 2024, with the finale episode airing on April 7, 2024. The series ran from 2000 to 2011 for eight consecutive seasons and resumed in 2017 with the ninth season.

Larry David Defended One Cringeworthy Scene In Curb Your Enthusiasm

Larry David’s controversial scene in Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 2

Larry David‘s Curb Your Enthusiasm came to an end after more...

If Larry David had it his way, there would be no references to “Curb Your Enthusiasm” being a “cringe comedy” in conversations about the show’s legacy.

The creator and star of the long-running HBO comedy joked “when people call it ‘cringe comedy,’ I want to wring their neck,” at the PaleyFest LA 2024 panel for the 12th and final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (which also doubled as the show’s Emmys FYC event) on April 18.

The controversial subject had come up when Jb Smoove, who plays Leon Black on the show, explained how calling something “Curb-y” or “such a ‘Curb’ moment” has become part of the pop culture lexicon in the same way people say they feel like they’re in “The Twilight Zone.” “I hear it all the time, because there are moments where you are fucking cringing,” said the comedian. “Larry has found those moments, and he remembers them,...

Jb Smoove stars in Netflix's Good Times, perfect for fans missing Curb Your Enthusiasm. Good Times features a star-studded cast and is trending despite mixed reviews. Wanda Sykes stars in Good Times with Smoove, reuniting after Curb Your Enthusiasm.

After 12 seasons and 120 episodes, Curb Your Enthusiasm came to an end in April 2024, and Jb Smoove, who played Leon Black in the HBO television series, already has the perfect show to replace it. The sitcom, created by and starring Larry David, aired on HBO from 2000 to 2024 and depicted a fictionalized version of David (as a semi-retired television writer and producer). Curb Your Enthusiasm season 12's 10 episodes covered Larry's arrest for handing out water to people in line at a polling station and subsequent trial (which intentionally paralleled Seinfeld's last episode).

Smoove's Leon was introduced in Curb Your Enthusiasm season 6 in a recurring role before being promoted to series regular in season 9. Leon's sister — Loretta Black,...

Before the premiere of Season 6, Curb Your Enthusiasm had already established itself as a groundbreaking sitcom and one of the best shows of the Golden Age of cable television in the 2000s. With this new season, Larry David's worthy follow-up to Seinfeld was elevated to new heights with the arrival of the Blacks, a New Orleans family affected by Hurricane Katrina whom Larry and Cheryl Hines shelter in their home. In Episode 2, "The Anonymous Donor," Loretta (Vivica A. Fox) invites her brother, who already lives in Los Angeles, to the David house. Her brother, Leon Black (J.B. Smoove), began as a visitor, then situated himself as a temporary resident, and then, six seasons later, became Larry's permanent houseguest and closest confidant. Most importantly to the show's success, no co-star of David's was as consistently funny as Leon throughout his duration on Curb.

For all the Larry David fans out there, the moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived. Curb Your Enthusiasm just wrapped up its 12-season journey.

First airing in 2000, the show follows the life of Larry David (a well-known television writer and producer). Throughout the series, he finds himself in all sorts of mishaps and funny situations with his friends and famous colleagues in Los Angeles. Now, the finale aired recently, treating us to one final round of cringe-inducing encounters and social blunders.

Larry David in a still from Curb Your Enthusiasm (1999)

So, while the ride may be over, the laughs from Curb Your Enthusiasm will stick with us for a long time to come. What sets this finale apart is its surprising twist, which might have pleased fans of Seinfeld — the show David also had a hand in creating.

Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s Finale Rescued Seinfeld‘s Legacy

The...

[This story contains major spoilers from the series finale of Curb Your Enthusiasm, “No Lessons Learned.”]

And, that’s a wrap on Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The series finale of the Emmy-winning HBO improv comedy kicked off with a big circle back to how the final season began, with the ensemble heading to Atlanta to support Larry David (played by series creator-star David) in his trial.

For a refresher: Season 12 opened with Larry getting arrested for violating a 2021 voting law in Georgia when he gave Leon Black’s (Jb Smoove) Auntie Rae (played by Ellia English) a glass of water while she was waiting in line to vote. Larry didn’t know about the law, but he became a liberal hero anyway, with the likes of Stacey Abrams, Bruce Springsteen and Sienna Miller becoming his adoring new fans.

An unfortunate issue with a replacement lawn jockey, however, led to Larry pleading not guilty to obstructing the election process...

Get ready to “say farewell to a beloved icon.” One of TV’s longest-running comedies of all time, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” is sailing off into the sunset after 24 years and 12 seasons. Hey now, that’s pretty, pretty, pretty good! The series finale, titled “No Lessons Learned,” will wrap up the storyline involving Larry David‘s court case in Atlanta, Georgia in which he’s on trial for giving water to a woman waiting in line to vote. Read on to see how to watch or stream the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” series finale.

The official synopsis for the last episode reads: “Larry finds himself back in Atlanta, where he meddles in Richard’s love life and reveals a big secret about Cheryl.” Watch the trailer above. David is expected to be joined in the finale by fellow cast members Jeff Garlin as Jeff Greene, Cheryl Hines as Cheryl David, Susie Essman as Susie Greene,...

J.B. Smoove jokes he'd love to be a Bond villain in the future, adding a unique spin on the character with his comedic charm. While Smoove's Bond villain role may be a dream, it's uncertain if he'll fit in the gritty and intense new 007 franchise. Despite the end of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Smoove's career is secure, landing roles in Netflix's Good Times and Harley Quinn.

Curb Your Enthusiasm star J.B. Smoove discusses his plans for after the HBO sitcom ends. Known previously for Def Comedy Jam and Saturday Night Live, the comedian joined the Curb Your Enthusiasm cast in season 6 as Leon Black, a man who moves in with Larry David after his family was displaced during Hurricane Edna despite never actually being affected himself, and later becomes Larry's permanent housemate. After 12 successful seasons that aired over the course of 24 years, Curb Your Enthusiasm is finally coming to an end.

HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is so effective at creating a plausible reality for Larry David‘s eponymous character that one could be forgiven for assuming the entire series is simply shot in pre-existing locations. While the show has unquestionably made hilarious use of dozens of Los Angeles locations over its 12 seasons, some of its most recognizable environments are sets that have been carefully designed and decorated to express character.

The guest house in which Larry’s permanent roommate, Leon Black (Jb Smoove), lives is a case in point, and its design is a subtle blend of Larry and Leon’s personalities since it’s Larry’s property but, for all practical purposes, Leon has taken it over. “The big furniture is all Larry’s,” set decorator Eden Barr told IndieWire, “but Leon has ‘Leon-ed’ it up with things that make it his happy place.” To that end, the guest...

The plot from this season’s Curb Your Enthusiasm has captured the attention on the state of Georgia’s top elections official.

The premiere episode of the final season for the HBO improv comedy featured star-creator Larry David being arrested for violating the state’s election integrity law after giving his friend Leon Black’s (Jb Smoove) aunt (played by Ellia English) a bottle of water while she waited in line to vote during a hot day in Atlanta. Larry (played by David) — whose mugshot invoked Donald Trump’s, when the former president was arrested in Georgia — is now facing a looming trial on the series.

The premiere storyline has been hanging over the entirety of the final season, which wraps with its series finale this Sunday.

The storyline also must have made its way to the State Capitol, because last month Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger sent a...

As “Curb Your Enthusiasm” prepares to bid farewell after a 24-year run and 12 seasons on HBO, star J.B. Smoove argues there’s one mystery left unsolved that he’d love to see get the spin-off treatment: What was Leon Black up to before he met Larry David?

“I’d be a fool to say I wouldn’t be open to a spin-off,” Smoove told TheWrap. “I think this dude has levels to him. We don’t know what he does when he’s not with Larry, we don’t know where he came from. I think there’s something to this guy that’s really interesting in how he sees things.”

Leon first appeared in “Curb” during Season 6 when he decides to take refuge at Larry and Cheryl’s house after his family is displaced by a hurricane — and proceeds to never move out. Over the subsequent seven seasons, he...

Curb Your Enthusiasm is one of the funniest shows on TV!

Sadly, Larry David confirmed that the long-running HBO television series would be coming to an end with Season 12, which is about to air its finale on April 7.

The sitcom has been airing since October 15, 2000, created by Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself. It follows his life as a semi-retired TV writer and producer and features stars like Cheryl Hines as his wife Cheryl, Jeff Garlin as his manager and best friend Jeff Greene, Susie Essman as Jeff’s wife Susie, and J. B. Smoove as Larry’s house mate Leon Black.

We’ve looked through all of the Rotten Tomatoes audience scores for every season, and ranked the whole series from lowest to highest ratings. Two seasons are nearly perfect, with a 97% rating!

Click through to see what the best seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm are,...

Late additions to TV shows can bring something different to the dynamic, standing out from the crowd. Cast changes in long-running shows require flexible actors, clever writing, and a bit of luck. Supporting characters can be just as important and compelling as the main protagonists of a TV show.

Most TV shows follow the same characters from start to finish, but sometimes a character appears midway through a show's run and changes everything. It's not very common for a character to join the main cast of a show after it has already found its rhythm, and it's even less likely for these characters to become as popular as those who have been there since day one. However, if a character can bring something different to the dynamic while still working with the show's established tone, they can stand out from the crowd.

Long-running shows are bound to go through some...

Exclusive: We are hearing that Apollo Global Management, which was mulling an offer for National Amusements, the Redstone family company that controls Paramount Global, is no longer considering the move.

Reps for Apollo Global Management, Paramount Global and National Amusements declined comment Monday.

While the situation remains fluid and it may be too early to count Apollo out of the process entirely, sources tell us that the private equity company co-founded by Marc Rowan, Josh Harris and Leon Black is skittish in the wake of the FCC blowing up hedge fund Standard General’s attempted $8.6 billion bid for the Tegna station group — a deal Apollo Global Management was set to provide funding toward. The deal was inked in 2022 and fell apart in May 2023.

Apollo is also an investor in Dune movie studio Legendary Entertainment.

“Capital is not the issue, approval is the commodity; very few people can get FCC approval,...

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Curb Your Enthusiasm season 12, episode 1!

Curb Your Enthusiasm season 12 brings back beloved character Auntie Rae after a long absence, adding hilariously bizarre storylines to the show. Auntie Rae's return highlights the great addition of Leon's family to the show, bringing new perspectives and humor outside of the usual confines. The show continues to improve and explore timely storylines, showcasing the quarrels and affection between Auntie Rae and Larry, and even tackles political implications.

After 15 years of being absent from the show, Curb Your Enthusiasm’s season 12 premiere marks the return of a beloved character originally introduced in season 6. Among the greatest attributes of Curb Your Enthusiasm’s cast is its revolving door of guest stars and recurring figures, with many returning after years to find themselves in the middle of another one of Larry’s social disasters. Curb Your Enthusiasm’s last season is no different,...

Until you rewatch the early seasons, it’s easy to forget that Leon Black wasn’t always part of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Larry David‘s permanent houseguest, played to delirious perfection by comedian J.B. Smoove, feels like a supporting player the show couldn’t exist without, yet he joined the cast in Season Six, crashing the David home along with relatives displaced by a hurricane in New Orleans (even though he already lived in L.A.).

Smoove didn’t know back then that after the rest of his fictional family packed up and left,...

Curb Your Enthusiasm season 12 is a strong final outing with great gags, political satire, and hilarious catastrophes. The recurring cast and guest stars, including J.B. Smoove's Leon Black, make season 12 entertaining and memorable. The show's sharp writing pushes the boundaries of comedy, focusing on Larry's political situation, social insensitivities, and awkward run-ins.

Larry David returns for Curb Your Enthusiasm season 12 with a pretty, pretty, pretty good final outing, as his social graces prove to be as terrible – if not even more entertainingly worse – as ever after 25 years. Curb Your Enthusiasm began life as a 1999 mockumentary about a fictionalized Larry David attempting to make a comedy special after the conclusion of his revolutionary sitcom Seinfeld. The comedy was soon picked up for a series order, and now, 12 seasons of absurd interactions and rejections of social norms later, HBO’s longest-running comedy show is finally coming to an end.

Curb Your Enthusiasm...

Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is coming to an end after almost a quarter of a century.

“It’s time,” the famously curmudgeon funny man told me Tuesday at the Season 12 premiere at the DGA in Los Angeles. “Twelve seasons – that’s a lot for a television show – over 24 years. It was time.”

However, David has claimed he was done with the HBO series before, only to return again. “Yeah, I said it before,” David admits. “But I wasn’t 76 when I said it.”

David and his cast, including Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, J.B. Smoove, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Ted Danson and Vince Vaughn, reunited for the premiere, which included the screening of Episode 1 and Episode 7 of Season 12, and a party at Sunset Tower Hotel.

Where the real Larry David ends and his TV alter ego begins was, no surprise, hard to decipher on the red carpet. At one point,...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Quick Answer: Currently, new episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm can only be streamed on Max, or although past seasons are available on Hulu with the Max add-on or to rent on Prime Video.

stream with Max

After twelve seasons and 24 years since Curb Your Enthusiasm first made its television debut, Larry David’s “prettay, prettay good” comedy is finally come to a close (for real this time). Starring David playing a George Costanza-fied,...

After 12 seasons, Curb Your Enthusiasm is ending, but a potential spinoff would keep the meta spirit alive. Speculation suggests that a spinoff called Young Larry could continue the story, going back to explore David's character in his twenties. A Young Larry spinoff would serve as fan service and pay homage to the beloved series.

After 12 seasons of great television, Curb Your Enthusiasm is ending. However, the show, which has always thrived on its meta qualities, has the opportunity to become even more meta following the series finale. Larry David created the HBO sitcom that premiered in 2000, a couple of years following Seinfeld's end, and the show follows David, a semi-retired television writer and producer. Over the 11 seasons it has been on the air, the HBO series has received critical acclaim and won numerous prestigious awards, but viewers will have to bid it farewell in 2024.

Aside from David, the cast of...

The trailer for the final season of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm confirms the return of beloved characters, including Leon, Jeff, Susie, and Cheryl. Leon Black, played by J.B. Smoove, will continue to be a frequent accomplice to Larry and his disregard of social conventions in season 12. The trailer hints at a hilarious feud between Larry and Freddy Funkhouser, played by Vince Vaughn, while also teasing the return of other characters like Richard Lewis and Ted Danson.

HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm is set to premiere its twelfth and final season on February 4, with the first trailer confirming the returns of several beloved characters alongside Larry David. Following a fictionalized version of Seinfeld creator Larry David playing himself, Curb Your Enthusiasm began as a 1999 mockumentary special that evolved into 12 seasons of Larry causing rivalries and mayhem with various celebrities, Hollywood figures, and individuals he comes into contact with each day. Though...

An associate of Jeffrey Epstein‘s has been sued in United States District Court in the Southern District of New York for allegedly raping a 16-year-old autistic girl.

Leon Black, the billionaire founder of the hedge fund Apollo Global Management, is accused of raping the then-16-year-old girl in 2002 at Epstein’s townhouse on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, according to the complaint. The victim, identified as Jane Doe, is autistic and was born with Mosaic Down Syndrome, a form of Down Syndrome that results in a select number...

While most TV casts are relatively stagnant throughout a series' run, some TV shows have added characters that completely saved the show. Many shows have most of the building blocks of something great but are just missing one key detail, with the formula being refined by the addition of a new character. TV shows add in new side characters in an attempt to fix things, but these 11 characters actually ended up saving their respective shows.

A new character can completely change the course of a TV show, mixing up the dynamic between the cast. Sometimes additional characters can end up hurting a show, with series like New Girl, Friends, and Full House getting kneecapped by the addition of new cast members in later seasons. Less often, however, a new character perfectly compliments an already existing show, and here are 11 characters that actually make their TV shows much better.

Related: 10 TV...

HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm was stuck in a malaise prior to season 6, with Larry and Cheryl's divorce subsequently saving the show. Curb Your Enthusiasm centers on a (somewhat) fictionalized version of Seinfeld creator Larry David, whose socially unorthodox approach to everyday life lands Larry in various deplorable situations and labyrinthine misunderstandings. For the first six seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry's grating persona takes the highest toll on his exasperated wife Cheryl (Cheryl Hines), who acts as the series' initial foil for Larry's uncompromising approach to life. Cheryl finally snaps mid-way through Curb Your Enthusiasm season 6, specifically in episode 7, "The TiVo Guy."

As her plane back to LA is caught in a storm, Cheryl calls Larry for reassurance and affection, but instead, Larry is preoccupied with getting the notoriously hard-to-schedule TiVo technician (Kevin Heffernan) comfortable before he hangs up on her. Disappointed and hurt, Cheryl leaves Larry, and the pair eventually divorce.

Larry David’s fictionalized self is surrounded by colorful characters brought to life by a gifted cast in Curb Your Enthusiasm. The show revolves around David’s life as a successful TV producer in Los Angeles, which has allowed some of Hollywood’s most prolific stars to play satirically exaggerated versions of themselves, while others have enjoyed the freedom of creating an original character. The only constant in every single episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm is David himself, but supporting players like his manager, Jeff Greene, and his wife-turned-ex-wife, Cheryl, have remained a consistent presence since the beginning of the series.

This is far from an average situation comedy. As some of the best quotes in Curb Your Enthusiasm are entirely improvised, based on story outlines dreamt up by David, the actors have to be talented enough to make these lines funny while also moving the story forward. It’s a tall order,...

The new Squanch Games Fps High on Life is the latest to come out of the Justin Roiland-led developer. Considering Roiland's involvement in the television sphere - as he's the co-creator of Rick and Morty alongside a storied history with other comedies both in voice acting and writing - it's no surprise that the game's cast contains a slew of well-known names from comedy and beyond. Whether they appear for a moment as a random Npc or long-term as a main character of the game, there are bound to be many voices players recognize throughout High on Life.

While the most prominent roles in the game are arguably all of High on Life's talking guns - which are from a sentient race of weapons called Gatlians - there are many other important characters throughout the story. From the unnamed protagonist's sister to the various strange NPCs encountered throughout the title,...

Curb Your Enthusiasm season 12 has started filming, as revealed by a funny Nsfw set video. After some speculation that season 11 would be the HBO show's last, creator and star Larry David made the surprise announcement earlier this year that Curb Your Enthusiasm would be returning for a season 12. Later, showrunner Jeff Schaffer said the writers were working on season 12's scripts and aiming to start shooting in the fall. Now, it appears Curb Your Enthusiasm season 12 is moving along right on schedule.

On Instagram, J.B. Smoove shared a video from the set of Curb Your Enthusiasm season 12 revealing that production has officially begun. Smoove starts the set video by introducing some of the show's beloved cast members, such as Jeff Garlin and Susie Essman, before taking the opportunity to promote his stand-up comedy tour, sparking a light-hearted spat between him and David. Watch the video below:

Related: Curb Your Enthusiasm...

TV fans have a lot to catch up before the 2022 Emmy Awards air on Monday, September 12 — but cord-cutters can rejoice, as you can stream nearly all the nominated series are actually on one platform, HBO Max.

Before the show airs live at 8 Pm Et / 5Pm Pt on NBC, HBO Max is the perfect place to binge watch your favorite programs thanks to leading the pack this year with a whopping 108 nominations (combined with the parent channel HBO, that number jumps to a whopping 140). The majority of the nominations went to...

J.B. Smoove was a rather late addition to the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" cast. He joined the show in its sixth season in 2007, by which time it was already a well-established hit with copious Emmy nominations. When he went in for his audition, Smoove had to make an impression, and he did it in a way that is probably not advisable outside a controlled improv setting.

The threat of physical violence — specifically, a slap to creator and star Larry David's face in a comedy context — is what landed Smoove his role as Leon Black opposite David's fictionalized self on "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Smoove related the story of his audition in an oral history of the show via The Hollywood Reporter, where he said:

"I go in there as Leon. They said, 'Ok, J.B., you're going to improv with Larry directly.' And I had no idea I was going...

Larry David’s satirical, semi-autobiographical series Curb Your Enthusiasm has been one of the funniest shows on HBO’s airwaves for over two decades – and the show is still going strong, as David recently announced that a 12th season is on the way. Many fan-favorite Curb characters have been there since the beginning: Jeff, Susie, Cheryl, Ted Danson, Richard Lewis, and of course Larry himself.

But a ton of the show’s best characters – from Marty Funkhouser to Leon Black – joined in subsequent years. Even in its most recent installment, season 11, Curb introduced a handful of hilarious new additions to the cast.

It can be hard to write critically about “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” For one thing, after 20 years the show is a bit critic-proof. The audience for “Curb” is locked in at this point; one is on board for the periodic ten-episode journey through well-meaning gripes and grudges, or one is avowedly not. What’s more, the show’s best and worst qualities tend to be unusually entrenched with one another, such that an episode can contain bits that work beautifully and some that fall utterly flat. Were one designing the show now, it’s impossible to imagine coming up with latter-day “Curb” from scratch; its gnarls and knots have accreted over time to build a show that appears entirely congruent with Larry David’s worldview.

And while the show has always been nimble in coming up with new turns of phrase or fresh terms along which to hold an argument, finding...

Like Cosmo Kramer before him, Leon Black (J.B. Smoove) has little direction or skill, yet he’s usually in cushy circumstances. Even when he does slip up, the blowback is minimal, if it exists at all. More often than not, things work out in Leon’s favor, which may be why people are inclined to listen to him, even…...

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (Pcf) 25th Annual New York Dinner took place at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

David Foster, Katharine McPhee, and Andrea Bocelli perform at Pcf's Annual New York Dinner

Credit/Copyright: Patrick McMullan

The end-of-the-year benefit supported Pcf’s programs and celebrate the millions raised and achievements made in the past quarter-century through Pcf. The charitable organization founded by Mike Milken is dedicated to identifying and funding groundbreaking cancer research programs. The memorable evening welcomed leaders in medicine, top research scientists, business leaders and distinguished New York City socialites. The event raised over $6 Million.

The gala began with a lively cocktail reception. During a lavish dinner party, Mike Milken along with celebrity host Whoopi Goldberg gave a special presentation on Pcf’s recent accomplishments. There was also a live auction for various unique experiences as well as investment in Young Investigators who are changing the...

Wall Street billionaire Leon Black allegedly pushed a New Jersey model into a “backbend” over a massage table in disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan mansion and raped her in 2002, new court documents claim.

The unidentified woman makes her harrowing allegation in a proposed amended complaint filed Monday by lawyers for former Russian model Guzel Ganieva, another alleged victim already suing Black for defamation in New York.

Black, the co-founder of Apollo Global Management, resigned from his private equity firm in March amid revelations he paid Epstein an eye-popping $158 million...

J.B. Smoove celebrated his Creative Emmy Award win for Outstanding Actor In a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for Mapleworth Murders by teasing what’s ahead on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm when it returns in Oct.

“What I can say is that it’s going to be another amazing season. Season 11 is something else,” Smoove, who portrays Leon Black in the hit comedy series, told Deadline at the Creative Emmy Awards on Sunday. “Where does Larry end this? I don’t know. When I first met Larry in season 6, I asked him when he was going to end this and he said he didn’t know. I do think that him taking those years off to shoot the movie and do the play, he came back with new energy. And, you know what? He’s having a ball. And as long as you’re having fun, it’s effortless.

Tyrion Lannister is trending on Twitter as fans discuss the HBO characters they'd most enjoy joining for dinner. Expertly played by Peter Dinklage throughout all eight seasons of Game of Thrones, the character was a standout fan favorite for many who watched the series. Regardless of the backlash over the show's ending, Tyrion had long been one of the show's most popular characters.

On Twitter, HBO asked followers to imagine themselves at a dinner with HBO characters. With a max limit of three, people were asked to name who was on their guest list, with the entire library of HBO content to choose from. The lists vary with the many responses, though most seem to always include Tyrion as one of the three. As a result, the character has begun trending with more and more responses naming the character continuing to come in.

"Lafayette Reynolds from True Blood, Renata Klein...