Larry David’s God-Given American Right to Be a Jerk
by Ellen KarisWhat in the world is wrong with people in the entertainment industry who come from humble beginnings, have a few years of real struggle and then with their uniqueness and by the grace of God (which you could interpret as luck), they make it big, as in rich and famous big. The chances of becoming as famous as Lindsay Lohan are 1 in 1,574,638 as tracked by E-Poll Market Research, but really, wouldn’t you rather be you?
Mr. David has been blessed beyond any struggling writer, producer, actor or stand-up comedian’s wildest dreams. His total cash receipts have still not been tallied since the funds continue to pour in from “Seinfeld,” but it’s accurate to say that with what he has earned to date, he could have paid for a lot of Nancy Pelosi’s botox.
Years after helping make television history, David jumped back into the small screen with the blessing of HBO and created “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which — in line with him marching to the beat of his own drum — is done unscripted. The show has a very solid following as it is in its seventh season, which is three television lifetimes these days. Great Larry, Mazal Tov. Isn’t America grand? Bet you would only have had the career of Heidi from the Hills if you lived in Cuba.
So what would possess Larry to create a scene where he’s at a Catholic woman’s home and accidentally pees on a portrait of Jesus hanging in her bathroom (of all places)? I believe the motivator is pure and simple … an arrogant a sense of “I am a genius” entitlement because that’s what he’s been described as for two decades.
I’m a stand-up comedian and actress with a very high tolerance for humor. I’m also aware that comedy is subjective and what might be a falling-off-the-chair moment for one person can be an insomnia cure for another. However, I believe that Larry knew exactly what he was doing to get a reaction. It has now become vogue to take swipes at Christianity whenever possible. He could have picked anyone else to miss the toilet on and, by the way, for such a genius he used the lowest common denominator of humor: the bathroom and urinating — a fine improvisational moment if there ever was one.
Let’s put our imaginary hats on and think of what the outrage would have been if this had been done to say, Muhammad—yes, exactly, lawsuits a-flying, reparations, apologies, a lifetime supply of Starbucks!! How dare you!!! But using Jesus, the Lord and Savior to at least 65% of the United States population… eh, who cares, I have a show to do and a laugh to get.
I posted my disgust on Facebook and most people agreed. However, there are always those few who like to use freedom of speech as a replacement for freedom of being a complete jerk. One person I was arguing said, “Why don’t you stop complaining and do something, write or call HBO?” I hate to admit this lefty had a point, but he did, so I called HBO. It took 15 minutes to get the number and an actual person on the line, who I told in a very nice way (I toned down my New Yorkness) that I was a stand-up comic open to all types of humor, but as a Christian I was insulted and found it very disrespectful. As I was speaking she let out a sigh, a big fat sigh, she then said she would make a note of it, though she did not ask my name, email — nothing!
So I guess I have to turn to the only recourse I have and cancel HBO.
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286 Comments
There is a double standard when it comes to bashing Christianity and all other religions. But the essence of Larry David's crassness isn't knew–people have been bashing and persecuting Christians since its inception. Remember, its founder was murdered.
*new
I haven't watched HBO itself in probably about 15 years, and I've never felt that I was missing out. Heck, the only thing I tried watching that was HBO-related was a few seasons of The Sopranos (which I bought on Amazon for dirt cheap, used) , and stopped watching that after the 3rd season.
The problem I see with cancelling the subscriptions to stuff in these situations, is that for all the people that cancel their subscriptions, there's always a fraction that come back after they've cooled off. A lot of people aren't consistent with their beliefs.
Ellen is correct. Conservatives are free to make their own programs and movies to get their own point of view across (of course not in the crude, disgusting and insulting manner of the left). Complaining that the left does things that promote their childish world view gets us nowhere – and makes us appear as if WE want to squash free expression.
The sad fact is that conservatives are free to write, finance, and create their own productions – but they choose not to do so. They do not seem interested in devoting time, energy and money into the arts, as the left has been doing for fifty years. The left dominates art, entertainment and media because they worked tirelessly toward that goal and they were willing to make the necessary sacrifices. Conservatives prefer to pursue careers in non-media related businesses, play golf, watch sports, and plan to leave all their money to their children. If you wonder why the left so dominates big media, our own inaction and disintrest led directly to that.
Am I wrong? Prove it.
"As I was speaking she let out a sigh, a big fat sigh, she then said she would make a note of it, though she did not ask my name, email — nothing!"
Several good points made by Ms. Karis… the folks at HBO could care less and the only thing that will get their attention is a serious reduction in subscriptions. They have offered excellent series/shows in their programming, e.g., The Wire, but unfortunately, the good stuff is outweighed by the flotsam that could only appeal to the lowest common denominator in our society.
You sound like a real hoot. Too bad you were unable to demonstate scintilla of wit in your story. Reminds of what Jesus said on the cross…"what way to spend easter."
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Big Hollywood, Vincent deCastro. Vincent deCastro said: Hollywood trash. RT @bighollywood http://bit.ly/4qgcAk [...]
I'll admit that this sin lead to another sin as I took the Lord's name in vain in my reaction. The slippery slope of evil is steeper each day.
It was a cheap shot, not the least bit clever or original. Mocking Christianity in a attempt to be cutting edge, Larry? You want to be bold? Try mocking Islam tough guy and I'll call you bold, Mr. David.
BTW – I was a huge Seinfeld fan and have HBO but never really got around to making time to watch Curb. This type of crap doesn't exactly peak my interest any further.
It may be that Larry can't hit the toilet either. That picture looks chest-high on the wall…must have been a stunt double, as I doubt Little Larry can do much more than wet his pants.
There is some continuity in the world…HBO still sucks.
Someone made a conservative movie a couple of years ago. I think it was called An American Carol. It was sort of like Scary Movie but it made fun of people like Michael Moore. Bill O'Reilly was in it. So was Jon Voight. It was in the theatres for about 20 minutes. Nobody was interested.
Hah! Good one. Thanks.
Joe has a very good point. Trying to break into the entertainment business is risky. You can be talented and work at it for years and never make it. Maybe conservatives just don't want to take that risk.
This column makes no sense. Curb did not take a 'cheap shot' at Christianity nor Christians, rather he was mocking the gullible people who happen to 'see' things like Christ in their cookie dough, a minority of nit-wits. No one should be offended by this, unless you're one of them.
Is it possibly enough to, instead of cancelling HBO, just not watch Larry David. The cable companies, unlike the nets, know precisely how many TV s turn on to any given show. If no one watches piss-David, he's history.
I'd cancel my HBO subscription, but I already did it last year over Maher's boorish behavior. This month my cable company offered to give me free HBO and I declined. It's OK. Netflix is going to put them out of business eventually when the technology is in place. Be honest, other than them being allowed to swear or show the occasional flash of nudity, is there any pay-cable show other than Dexter that wouldn't be just as good (or just as bad) on regular TV? It's a waste of money.
David does have a right to his pee. I have right to do similar things to Barak Obama, the OTHER savior. (But I won't, too busy making a living).
Larry David has always been an equal opportunity offender on Curb. He has mocked the peculiarities of jews, muslims and christians repeatedly on the show. This is no exception. He made fun of the people who are part of the fringe of christianity who will flock every time you can sort of see the outline of Jesus or Mary in some random pattern/ How many times have we seen news stories like this? Candle light vigils etc.. I seriously doubt that the vast MAJORITY of christians believe those fuzzy images are anything but coincidences.
Yeah, like someone pissing on a Mohammed cartoon could say they were only be making fun of the "bad" Muslims, right?
If anyone is paying for HBO…..they're part of the problem in much the same way as they'd be donating to moveon.org. Cancel or shut up, folks.
I signed up with HBO to watch the Sopranos. As soon as the series had run its course I cancelled.
Tho it would take much more than the Sopranos to get me to resign, I only regret
that I miss the actual cancellation of HBO. I would sign up again just to cancel but I have to spend
too much time responding to the Natalie Portmann's of the world.
In all fairness, Curb Your Enthusiasm (like South Park) has made fun of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. During one season, Larry David hired a private investigator who also a member of the Nation of Islam. There was also another episode that dealt with a burqua wearing woman dating a blind man.
I'm not an atheist and I love the show. I hope someday Larry David has something to say about Scientology.
Get a grip!
Dont Worry Satan loves you
Christians are going about this matter all wrong. Use this opportunity to show that at least they can have pictures of their most revered figure in their homes.
Yes by his own father.
"I and the father are one." John 10:30
anyone in their right mind knows Larry David's intent was not to prove he can do whatever he wants. it's his humor, and the people who are upset about the urine tear on the Jesus painting need to lighten up. Larry David has made fun of Christianity endless times during the series' duration; but just because of the Seinfeld reunion, there are people jumping on the Curb band-wagon. I guess those are the people who don't get the show at all, are only watching for the Seinfeld reunion, and are uber-sensitive Catholics. Please, America. There are so many other real issues to be upset about in our country.
So it waws suicide
Too bad you are unable to demonstrate a scintilla of originality in your comments.
Search pages for "easter":
http://www.jokesnjokes.net/funny.jokes.amusing.hu...
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=4476
http://liberator.net/humor/Jesus/Jesusjokes.html
oh, and you know you're not going to cancel your HBO because of this. That's laughable.
[...] reading: Ellen Karis, Big Hollywood: Larry David’s God-Given American Right to Be a Jerk ‘Islam Day’ Approved by Hawaii’s State Senate: Good or Bad Idea? | Update: Obama to Not Meet [...]
Just my opinion, but in order to rise from the dead, one must first be dead.
Judges1:19And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
I mean, Whats the deal with Iron?
I consider Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world. I believe that He is the literal son of God, and that condescended to come to Earth and suffer far more than any other being on this planet has suffered, because He loves me. And I love him very much for it and all that He has done for me. He is my elder brother, and He is my friend, and I worship Him. I am deeply offended that somebody would urinate on His image.
And no, I don't see His image in my cookie dough.
I have no facts to back this statement up but, I would guess that conservatives are the biggest group of non-subscribers to HBO. Yes, a lot still watch and that is there choice. There is however a correlation to the drop in
newspaper, mags, subscribes and reduction in ratings for the alphabet media by conservatives as the increase of watchers to the hated (by libs) FOX programming. So to say Conservatives are not going to
drop their subscribes is a bit misleading when all other mentioned media is effected.
I will give props to HBO for the Adams miniseries. The first few episodes were out standing.
That's because I don't have HBO in my home to begin with. That station is nothing but filth.
Unless you're an unfortunate Danish cartoonist, WHERE would you come up with an image of Mohammed to do whatever to it???
It is entirely a Jewish thing and is codified in their "holy books" i.e. the Talmud, the Zohar and the writings of Moses ben Maimon.
Jews hate all Christians and in their classically Jewish passive aggressive way will do anything they can to mock or damage them.
Yes you are! And I'm not excited because you're wrong, but because this flick was so good, and has such a priceless story behind it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805526/
Yes you are! And I'm not excited because you're wrong, but because this flick was so good, and has such a priceless story behind it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805526/
That's almost as funny as burning in a lake of fire for eternity…let me know how that one works out for you.
Hey Larry! Try this for a storyline: you discover a cave while taking a stupid hike that put you in the Sierras. You happen upon a guy who's been living in them for three years and having "visions." Somehow, you get sucked into "consulting" the caveman about how he can market thru infomercials and web pop-ups, The Meaning of the Universe as told to him by Allah.
Zany! Hijinx! Oh! And how's this? Add that the cave guy can't stand Jews, either? Hilarity ensues! Slapstick genius!
As long as Santa doesn't put me on his Naughty List
Tell you what – if it's so pointless to get angry over, I'll give you my name and address, then you can bring your parents over while I piss on them and other people laugh at it.
As I recall he said 'forgive them Father they know not what they do.'
What gives Hollywood Jews the right to mock Christianity when if it was served back at them they'd be howling "anti-Semitism" and filing defamation lawsuits?
Larry David has always been an equal opportunity offender on Curb
So what. Hollywood Jews pretty much control all of the material and financing in that town. Case in point, outside of the gravitas and money of a Mel Gibson try geting a conservative/religious/ liberal mocking themed script and financing past the liberal brick wall. The humor of mocking and bashing select groups and ideas with impunity flows from a very narrow group of people. So it isn't much of an equal opportunity, is it?
I hear he loos remarkably similar to the Great Gazoo from the Flintstones
In the same way liberals do.
Dexter is freakin' fantastic…I just finished the first season and I love it. (I also netflix it and forgo buying Showtime, hahaha)
Not to defend this rude and insulting attempt at humor, the ending of this show was for me the telling point.
Albeit in a pseudo-intellectual liberal passive-aggressive sort of way.
David was hanging off the roof, the only thing saving his sorry ass was the thing that he derided from the beginning, the fat Christian chicks' flabby midriff that he was clinging to. I'd like to think that it would be those same Christians who would save his butt (and the pseudo-intellectuals like him) when push comes to shove.
Larry David is a very talented writer and actor. The episodes of CYE are damn hilarious and quit genious by totally overblowing small things until they become a huge catastophy.
So he splashed some urine water on Jesus. It wasn't his fault.
I doubt Jesus would have cared. He might have even seen the humor in that.
Hell, we paid for a crucifix to be placed in a bottle of urine.
I heard that was really good…never got around to seeing it, though.
Great story; of course it's totally fictional, but a good read nonetheless…
i actually agree with you. And I'm not offended. But people are offended, and I can understand why.
What really infuriates Christians about this is if it were some other religion, the MSM and the left would be going bat shit crazy, demanding David set himself on fire. Multi-culti and all that diversity.
But pick on Christianity? Who cares, that's republicans and conservatives, so they have no problem with it. This is no different than the nuts in California going after the LDS.
It's about modern liberals having zero respect for anything their political opponents have respect for.
And they have a point.
Why don't you tell that to his face, tough guy? You sound like a little b*tch to me…
They pick Jesus instead of Mohammed because they know the consequences.
I don't think that's the case. Unless someone agrees to have their programming data shared, it is highly illegal for a cable company to encroach on someone private viewing habits. Besides, lefties subsidizing that which isn't being viewed en masse is a common practice (NPR, PBS, Air America, etc.)
HBO fired Dennis Miller and replaced him with Bill Maher (fresh off being fired from network tv) because of politics. Miller had a slew of Emmys & hoardes of viewers, but, it was political.
To say that you're going to keep your HBO package & just "not watch the progamming that offends" is rationalizing akin to subscribing to Playboy & complaining about the nudity while telling yourself (generic "you", by the way) that you're okay because you don't look at the naked women & just stick to reading the viewer mails & the jokes (and articles!). It's a cop-out.
Cancel HBO, folks. If you're giving them your money, you're part of the problem.
Sorry, I thought you were replying to another post I made about the movie Facing Giants.
This first 3 or 4 episodes are really good, and historically accurate, like Franklin and Adams trying to convince a rep from PA. who was a Quaker and just flat out refused to endorse the Declaration of Independence because it would mean war.
They convinced him to just not attend the vote, that way he wouldn't be forced to vote against it.
In my opinion, it starts getting bogged down when Adams was sent to Europe to beg for loans to finance the revolution. But the first few are excellent.
I did not know John Adams defended the British soldiers accused of murder for the Boston Massacre. And he won with a Boston jury.
Never watched it, never will. I think Jason Alexander does a better job at being Larry David than David does.
I cancelled HBO a few years ago due to their non-stop politics (the Rosie O'Donnel cruise, which I had no problem with, being placed on the HBO family channels, which I had a big problem with, was the final straw).
Are you laughing, now?
I'm Catholic, and I'm not offended by the thought there are morons out there.
However, uber-sensitive Catholics I do find offensive.
I don't believe that forgiveness will extend to Judgement day unless they
humble themselves to Jesus which if current posts mean anything they have
a ways to go.
Next time I'm in Hollywierd , I will look him up. Thanks for the advice…..B*tch.
Of course not. It's part of a bundle subscription I'd have to lose about 5 – 10 other channels.
But of course you already knew that, now didn't you?
The Great Gazoo was either the worst idea in the world, or the most brilliant artistic play in modern TV history.
Can you blame them? The sequel was much more successful.
/snarc
So go around that liberal brick wall.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805526/
Look on the bright side. It's one less guy in line in front of you to get past St. Peter's gate.
So you're saying that even though Larry David is consistent in his own work he should be judged based on your perception of the industry as a whole? Your argument completely avoids the actual subject.
Also, how exactly has Larry David been able to make jewish jokes for all of these years under the tightly controlled system you mentioned above?
It was funny, I am Christian and YES.THE EPISODE WAS FUNNY. So if the largest religious group in this country could not laugh at themselves by David's humor than so be it., DON'T WATCH!
Jesus was a JEW before he was anything else.
The Jews have to take it on the chin by David and Seinfeld, why because these men are Jewish and could mock their own stereotypical mannerisms?
Larry David is one funny, miserable jerk and we love him.
You may contact HBO's Consumer Affairs Department at 212-512-1208 Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM Eastern Time and let them know how you feel.
I called just to find out if they are planning on an apology or explanation?
I was told that they are considering the # of calls this week but no decision has been made yet.
I will give them a couple more days and tif they don't corret this than I will unsubscribe.
For me it's not about making fun of christians, that goes with the territory, it's mocking Christ that so offends the senses.
I for one, won't be losing any sleep over it.
This reminds me that all of the major film studios have created divisions and hired staff to work in the faith area. There was some press on this back when Fireproof came out (distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment btw). It only makes sense. Those businesses will pursue money. Do you really think that there is a massive market for preachy christian movies going completely untapped? Do you really think that existing Hollywood studios could really keep that down? Film studios struggle to stay alive all the time. Do you really think they would leave that market sitting idly if there were billions to be made? Do you really think that Rupert Murdoch would let that market pass him by?
OF COURSE NOT!!!!!!! Instead there are some modest profits to be made by making low budget films for this NICHE audience and that is what the studios are aiming for.
HBO presented The Wire to us; that makes up for a lot.
As presented in the show, the bathroom would have been covered in urine. The curious thing to me was that Larry David seemed terrified of the image of Jesus and what he had done to it. It wasn't that he was just wary of being caught by the homeowner, he was afraid to even touch the print to dab the urine off.
Thee movie Whatever Works was even worse. Classic Woody Allen/Manhattan/Hollywood/Secular liberal "oh we are so smart and red states are so dumb." The term genius must have been used 10 times, in a yet another mildly amusing but hugely narcissistic and pretentious Allen movie, yet another auto-bopic. Yes Woody, you are such a genius with your mildly amusing movies, and yes, young girls love you older geniuses nebbishes (Evan Rachel Wood is long way from Soon Yi). We are so dumb with our guns and religion here in flyover country. If only exposed to your wonderfully cosmopolitan enclave for a week, we'd drop it all and move in with two lovers and open an art gallery and abandon our religion.
I can't find your comment to my post below on my screen yet for some reason only known to Bill Gates
but I respond. Its not your sleep or time on earth that would be up for grabs but the hereafter.
I hope this doesn't sound preachy as I am in no better position than anyone else and probably worse than
most. Its just that I am a believer tho I certainly don't live like it.
That's good because you'll have plenty of time to sleep when you're dead.
Interesting comment — doesn't address Ms. Karis' point or her argument, but merely feebly tries to mock her and take a shot at Christianity. As someone once said, your inconsequential comment reveals your lack of insight, intelligence and character. I would say you're just a moron.
I can't wait for the version with Mohammed or buddah on the bathroom wall, but safe to say that version will never happen. I was a fan of curb, and enjoyed it very much. But not any more.
My point is, its not a niche audience, it's THE audience, and that's what Hollywood no longer gets.
I'm not talking about religious films that happen to be entertaining, I'm talking about entertaining films that may have a religious aspect to them, that's not portrayed as pedophile, hatred, violence, or what ever.
That's what they don't get. There are normal people out there, who don't live in Hollywood, who aren't repulsed by the concept of morals. From what I gather here at BH there's a lot of people in Hollywood who think that too. And I find it encouraging.
That is THE audience they're ignoring. There's a huge market between Disney and action/sex/violence/hatred for religion. I know. I'm one of them, and I know I'm not alone. We're willing to spend money. But we don't get the options under the current economic business model from the studios.
But we're still out here, and we're still looking for something to spend out hard earned money on.
I love how the picture of Jesus is posed so as to be looking at you while you pee. The whole thing is too funny.
Is that right? Well I've always tried to be as considerate as possible. Never screwed anyone out of money, always give up my seat on the bus to old ladies etc. etc. So if I'm going to burn in a lake of fire for all eternity I guess there is no God.
WAY TO FAR…HBO AND DAVID JUST WENT WAY TOOOOOO FAR!
Thanks for the number. I'll call them to tell them I thought the episode was hilarious and to keep them coming. Instead of turning it off, you have to "F" it up for the rest of us with a sense of humor. Nice going prude.
Conservatives are "free" to make and distribute movies about the same way that citizens of the Soviet Union were "free" to criticize the Communist regime. There may be no visible barriers, but it just doesn't happen.
Suppose I want to make a movie. I need money. If I am known to be a "right-wing fascist" (i.e., say, a Republican or even an old-school Democrat), I can't draw on the funding sources available to the movie industry in Hollywood. So I'll need to arrange outside funding, which is difficult — and which stigmatizes the project from the start as some kind of "right-wing kook movie."
Next I need a director and cast. Again, as a "right-wing fascist" I'll have trouble doing that. Even people who agree with my politics might be reluctant to take the jobs because it would hurt their chances of getting good jobs and favorable coverage later.
Now I need to distribute it. I'll have an uphill struggle getting any of the majors to distribute this "dangerous right-wing fringe project" so it'll either go direct to video (oblivion) or I'll have to somehow talk theater chains into showing it myself.
Assuming I do all that, I face a gauntlet of hostile media attention and negative reviews of this "controversial, fascist, murder-causing" film.
The liberals dominate media because they enforce their domination ruthlessly and without pity.
Maybe they could do a CYE with Muhammed's picture on a roll of toilet paper.
It would be great to wipe your butt with it.
You're way off base. Easter was days later. Jesus was on the cross on Friday. At best, he would have said "what a way to spend the Friday before Easter". Therefore, your attempt to demonstrate a scintilla of wit was actually a fail in disguise.
They are saving Muhammad for next season…lol.
Trey, you're an idiot.
He has a right to his religous intolerance and I have a right not to watch his show because of it.
It's too bad that we all don't have a "god given right to be a jerk" without incurring hate crimes charges or "holocaust denial" punishments when a membr of one of gods chosen is criticized or debated about that historial event that isn't allowed to be debated.
a Roman prefect and some Roman soldiers? whaaaat?
Band of Brothers was very good too.
Glenn- Bravo! Exactly right and although I probably don't agree with your politics I think you're absolutely correct about the problems conservatives are facing in trying to get their point-of-view across in mainstream culture: too much complaining and not enough work.
Cambias- I though you guys we're supposed to be the tough guys and Liberals the limp-wristed nancy-boys but apparently I'm wrong. You don't like the system? Work to change it. You can't find funding from certain places? Go find it elsewhere. You can't find distribution? Build your own channels. And so on, and so on. Or just keep complaining that you're all just victims.
Here's what I consider to be a great irony: growing up I noticed many conservatives refused to allow African-Americans the argument that 'the Man' was holding them down and therefore they could never get ahead. It became and excuse for many of them to not even try. The conservatives were right, of course. And now look at you, Cambias, doing nothing but making excuses. The Man holding you down. By all means, do nothing. Let the Liberals you hate keep creating the culture while you sit on the sidelines and bitch. How's that working out so far?
I've said this before and now I say it again — most conservative money men, if they're not actually RINOs, nevertheless see investing in "the arts" as the equivalent of setting their money on fire and flushing the ashes down the sewer.
If the liberal money men had been equally skeptical about the arts, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in.
Okay, B*tch!
We know why you visit Hollyweird…they have the best streetcorners!
His humor is orwellian irony in the post-modern urban schizoid style. I give this schmuck a limp on the Putz-Meter Rating, a true schmatta.
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