Parents' Guide to

Curb Your Enthusiasm

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Laugh until it hurts with Seinfeld creator.

TV HBO, Syndicated Comedy 2000
Curb Your Enthusiasm Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 15+

Based on 16 parent reviews

Maya16
Maya16 Adult
October 8, 2017
age 15+

A similar show to Seinfeld with more language

This is a really good comedy show made by Larry David. It's kinda of like Seinfeld but with a lot more profanity. It's a better show for older teenagers and adults who appreciate and understand the jokes better.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
Drew9
Drew9 Adult
January 12, 2011
age 14+
Better than "Seinfeld" and easily one of the funniest/best shows ever on televison. Curb is so artistaclly creative and unique, and so darkly hilarious. Although this show is excellent, it has some mature content. There is frequent cursing in every episode. The most vulgar (and hilarious) swearing comes from Susie Green, who swears up a storm almost every time she's on camera. Also, the show has occasional sexual content. Frequent talk of sex, but nothing too explicit. And mostly all sexual dialogue, but one episode in the 7th season has scenes which take place in a restauraunt which has pictures of women's breasts on the walls. Very little drug/drinking content that is that bad. But mature teens will love the show. It's so different and the humor is really unlike anything in any other sitcom.
1 person found this helpful.
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What's the Story?

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM is a largely improvised cable sitcom based on the life of Larry David, the co-creator and executive producer of Seinfeld. David plays a version of himself -- a rich semi-retired comedy writer who likes to golf with his loyal friend and agent, Jeff Greene (Jeff Garlin), and go out to dinner with his patient wife, Cheryl (Cheryl Hines). Extending the Seinfeld concept of a "show about nothing," Curb follows Larry during his normal outings -- visits with friends, evenings out with Cheryl, errands around town.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (16):
Kids say (14):

What makes the show so entertaining and hilarious is Larry's tendency to be socially inappropriate (much like Seinfeld's George Costanza) and get obsessed with tiny details, like Jerry Seinfeld's TV character. Larry's social stumbles aren't your usual gaffes, but rather painful, cringe-inducing idiocy -- like when he jokes with an African-American dermatologist about getting into medical school thanks to affirmative action. When Larry is later forced to ask the dermatologist for a favor, he finds himself in a room full of African Americans who compel him to repeat his tasteless joke and be branded a racist.

While Seinfeld occasionally ventured into adults-only territory, Curb Your Enthusiasm never visits anyplace else. Jeff's wife Susie (Susie Essman) regularly curses up a storm -- not just an expletive here and there, but a steady stream of crude (but funny) vitriol. And in addition to Jeff's penchant for golf, he's a porn addict with a history of infidelity. Nothing is off limits in David's comedic world: He takes on religion, disability, even the death of his own mother.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Larry David's inappropriate comments. Do you think the character is prejudiced against certain types of people? What about the real-life Larry? How accurate a reflection of his life do you think the show is?

  • What makes Larry's comments funny? What is the purpose of this kind of humor? Why does his wife put up with him?

  • For Seinfeld fans: Can you spot similarities between Larry and his Seinfeld characters? Do you remember Seinfeld episodes that dealt with similar issues to those you see here?

TV Details

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