Monday, August 15, 2011

HBO Sunday Night - 8/14/11

Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Hero
Season 8, Episode 6

The show picked up right where the last one ended - on the plane from LA to NY - where LD trips on his shoelaces and inadvertently becomes a hero. After arriving in New York, he runs into Ricky Gervais, who will insult Larry, steal his girl, and take some of his money. If I actually liked Gervais, I might have enjoyed the episode more. He has never worked for me outside of Extras and the UK version of The Office. His arrogance and constant condescension during his standup routines and talk show appearances have ruined him . . .

As for the show, it verged into to frustrating territory this week with implausible occurrences (the dinner party seating arrangement) and annoying characters (mainly the waiter) wasting great performances from David and Susie Essman (Jeff's wife). Gervais is no substitute for Super Dave or Richard Lewis. B

Entourage: The Whiz Kid
Season 8, Episode 4

Vince has to take a drug test and turns to Billy for help. Ari uses Dana to get back at his wife. Nora Dunn's marriage counselor returns to gang up on Ari. And Scott Caan uses a fake fifth appendage as a telephone. The bulk of the short episode (less than 20 minutes without credits) was spent on Vince's urine test - an uncomfortable issue and an unusual place for the show to go with so few episodes left. Turtle whined the whole time. Rob Morrow was underused. At least a paranoid Johnny was good for a couple of smirks. And the great Rhys Coiro came through again. B-

1 comment:

Lawyer said...

Disagree on Curb. Gervais was really funny as a pompous guy and I have been to enough weird dinner parties that I can really appreciate the odd seating and the horrible small/medium talk. Gervais in that scarf carrying that copy of extras is really funny.