Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Producers

[tkts]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 10:10pm

Anyone see the HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm tonight? The season premier had Mel Brooks offering Larry David the role of Max on Broadway. Ben Stiller is to play Leo. Of course this is fiction but the show did have some shots from the Broadway cast from last summer even though it was supposed to be in LA. Hearing Stadlen again made me remember why I didn't care for him as Max all over again. The whole season is going to feature Larry going through the rehearsal process. Interesting to say the least.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 10:50pm

Did you see Larry and his wife having a conversation during "The Producers"? Talk about making the pet peeve list. It was funny when he fell asleep after taking the pain killer and drooled from his balcony or box seat onto a man's head seated below.
Updated On: 1/4/04 at 10:50 PM

[cbrown828]

Posted: 1/4/04 at 10:53pm

the real question is would u pay money to see larry david and ben stiller in the producers. i would

[Auggie27]

Posted: 1/5/04 at 10:55am

I agree. I found myself thinking: Stiller might be ideally cast as Leo. And if Larry could sing, he, too, would work. 'Course neither gent would do the show, but the whole idea as a multiple-episode arc on CURB feels surprisingly workable. What's great on the show is how fully it plays into the Larry's-ego-uber-alles premise.

[Alvin and My Sheepdog Rex]

Posted: 1/5/04 at 1:35pm

Last year I attended the opening night of The Producers in Los Angeles. At intermission, as we looked down from the Mezzanine into the Orchestra area there was Mel Brooks, Larry David, and Carl Reiner conversing. What a trio, definitely a holy trinity of modern comedic history. Somehow,I believe this Curb Your Enthusiasm inclusion of The Producers concept was likely hatched that evening.

Regarding Larry David, comedic genius yes, actor no. In my opinion, Larry David on stage in the real world would likely be a disaster, which explains the horror in Ben Stiller's eyes when he heard the idea of the two of them teaming up as Max and Leo.

It should be fun to watch the plot twists in upcoming episodes since Curb You Enthusiasm definitely pushes the comedic envelope.

Keep in mind that Larry in this episode was also looking for his someone to enjoy his 10 Year Anniversary gift from his wife, which is a "spouse approved" one night affair that he can have with any one female he can seduce between now and midnight of their anniversary, which happens to be the same day as Larry's possible debut on Broadway. He did seem to be leering as he watched Cady perform as Ulla! Could he have her in his sights?

Updated On: 1/5/04 at 01:35 PM

[tkts]

Posted: 1/5/04 at 1:58pm

Intersting about Ulla. Here's something from hbo.com the cast list for last night episode. Notice that Cady Huffman is "Guest Starring" with Mel and Ben and Stadlen and Stephenson were under "Featuring".

Guest Starring:
Mel Brooks (Himself)
Ben Stiller (Himself)
Paul Mazursky (Norm)
Christine Taylor (Herself)
Cady Huffman (Herself/Ulla)


Featuring:
Philip Baker Hall (Doctor Morrison)
Michael D'Amore (Man in Wheelchair)
Rudy De Luca (Rudy)
Teresa DePriest (Single Woman)
Rachel Harris (Joanne)
Lela Lee (Bobbi)
Jeffrey Meyer (Karaoke MC)
Andrea Piedmonte (Restaurant Waiter)
Antoinette Spolar-Levin (Antoinette)
Lewis J. Stadlen (Himself/Max Bialystock)
Don Stephenson (Himself/Leo Bloom)
Tracy Vilar (Nurse #1)

Posted: 1/5/04 at 2:00pm

Maybe because Cady won the Tony? (Let's have the whole original cast bronzed!)

[orchajaws]

Posted: 1/5/04 at 5:36pm

David and Stiller...hmmm...could work. What do you think of these "couples" for Bialystock and Bloom:
1. Jim Belushi and Seth Green
2. John Goodman and Rick Moranis
3. Richard Kind and David Schwimmer

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/5/04 at 5:44pm

Rick Moranis is a good idea, as is David Schwimmer. Can he sing though?

[tkts]

Posted: 1/5/04 at 5:46pm

Well, it's Short and Oscar next acording to Mandelbaum.
Mandelbaum

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 1/5/04 at 6:07pm

I do like Brad. He makes an excellent Max. Not crazy about Short, though.

A good future Bloom would be John Tartaglia.

Updated On: 1/5/04 at 06:07 PM

[BialyBloomInc02]

Posted: 1/5/04 at 9:41pm

Well one of the biggest rumours at the moment is Danny DeVito & Tom Hanks as the producing duo...this could prove to be a really great combo if they both can bring their singing skills up to snuff. It'll be very interesting to see who's on board for 4/06/04 onward...

BBi02

[tkts]

Posted: 1/5/04 at 9:51pm

BialyBloomInc02, look above, it's Oscar and Short after Lane and Broderick.

[Theatreboy33]

Posted: 1/6/04 at 12:46pm

All these combos sound good (with the exception of Jim Bellushi doing ANYTHING on stage). But im afraid of the Leo Bloom role falling under the basic stereotype of "nerd" such as seymour in little shop. Leo isnt really a nerd at all, and the role is performed best when he is played as a quirky adult with an inner child that has been suppressed forever. I just think that people being cast for Leo simply because of their nerd appeal is wrong and will produce bad effects. Personally, I think that the last Leo on bway ( the one b4 broderick) plays it like the biggest nerd on earth, and in result, is the worst Leo Ive seen by far. he doesnt look the role, he doesnt act it well, and just looks like this idiotic child on stage the entire show. i cant believe he's still in the cast (well not anymore i guess). i just hope the role doesnt fall by the wayside of stereotypical "nerds." its far more complex than that.

[orchajaws]

Posted: 1/6/04 at 5:11pm

Belushi actually started out in the theatre; one of his first performances ever was in "Pirates of Penzance!" and regarding your "quirky adult with an inner child" thing, that's why Schwimmer and Green would be really great. Though, Moranis has a very nice voice, and would probably do an extraordinary job. Updated On: 1/6/04 at 05:11 PM

[tkts]

Posted: 1/7/04 at 2:27pm

Does anyone know if Cady Huffman left The Producers on Broadway to do the new season of Curb and be his new "love" interest?