The seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm begins this Sunday, September 20th, at 9pm. With major reviews starting to come out, I figured it might be a good time to get the thread going and discussion churning on what could finally be Curb's winning season.

Variety's positive review
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Curb Your Enthusiasm
by Brian Lowry

Filmed in Los Angeles by HBO. Executive producers, Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Gavin Polone, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer, Tim Gibbons, Erin O'Malley; director, Larry Charles; story by David.

Larry - Larry David
Cheryl - Cheryl Hines
Jeff - Jeff Garlin
Susie - Susie Essman

Perhaps it's just the 22-month, "Sopranos"-esque layoff between seasons, but after ending on an improbable flight of fancy and a plot that uncomfortably mirrored star Larry David's marital split, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" returns as irascible, weird and flat-out-loud funny as ever. A (sort-of) "Seinfeld" reunion takes over, beginning in episode three, but in a more general way, David's obsessive world of the self-absorbed and privileged somehow seems even better suited to our Facebook-using, inward-looking times, resulting in a viewing experience that's pretty, pretty, pretty good.
Larry's marriage to Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) evaporated in the last season, freeing the actress up to go star (briefly) in ABC's "In the Motherhood." But Larry has moved on to a relationship with Loretta (Vivica Fox), whose entire family has become part of the deal.

What might have been a jump-the-shark moment yields several side-splitting new threads (some too good to reveal) in the first trio of episodes, showcasing David's sharp eye for the absurd and the violation of small social conventions. These include, but are not limited to, the etiquette of sifting through somebody else's refrigerator, how to tip on a split dinner check, whether it's insulting to tell someone who's gay that they "look gay," and how much time must pass before you are prepared to kiss a relative stranger who has just performed an act of oral sex.

What makes "Curb" such a rewarding show, ultimately, is how deftly David layers these exchanges -- which invariably include somebody shouting at the top of his or her lungs -- upon each other in the course of a mere half-hour. While the actual dialogue is loosely improvised, the story plotting is so intricate it's easy to overlook the meticulous spadework that goes into making a gag from the opening minutes pay off just before the credits roll.

If there's one cautionary note, although the "Seinfeld" hook is wildly promotable, it's still iffy whether the meta-concept of a faux reunion within another program -- while simultaneously deriding the notion of TV reunions -- will ring true. Then again, as Jason Alexander says (playing himself) about the series' disappointing actual finale, "We'll go out on a good note this time."

Saw the first episode about a week ago. HILARIOUS.

Hollywood Reporters review
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Curb Your Enthusiasm
by Gregg Kilday

Bottom Line: Larry David finds plenty of humor in his penchant for turning lemonade into lemons.

Life is as sweetly sour as ever as HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" returns for its seventh season Sunday night.

Sure, Larry -- producer-writer-star Larry David's dyspeptic TV alter-ego -- has a few nagging problems: Thieves have been spotted in his upscale neighborhood, but "I'd rather have thieves than the neighbors," he blusters. "The thieves don't impose." Apricots are a disappointing fruit. And, oh yeah, his new live-in girlfriend, Loretta (Vivica A. Fox), keeps the bedroom too warm at night, and getting rid of her isn't going to be easy since she's just been diagnosed with cancer.

Still, as soon as he hits upon a scheme to win back his separated wife, Cheryl (Cheryl Hines) -- which, conveniently, also provides the season with a through-line -- there's a spring in Larry's shameless, self-deluded step. Although he always has resisted the network's entreaties, "Seinfeld" co-creator David realizes if he agrees to a reunion show, he can ingratiate himself with his own TV ex by offering her the part of George Costanza's ex-wife on the project.

So by the third episode, Larry sets out to round up the old Seinfeld gang. Jerry Seinfeld and Julia Louis-Dreyfus are skeptical but good-naturedly game. Jason Alexander doubts that Costanza could possibly have ever married since "the character is unlovable" -- impervious to the fact that he's actually dumping on Larry as "Curb" enters meta-meta-territory. And Michael Richards doesn't even hear Larry's pitch because he becomes so mesmerized by the arty nude photos decorating the Venice restaurant where they meet.

Because most everything in Larry David's universe ends in an unexpected disaster, there's bound to be trouble ahead. But no matter, because "Curb" has always been the true son of "Seinfeld."

Both series obsess about life's little annoyances. Among "Curb's" privileged L.A. Westsiders, that means restaurants that are too dark to read the menu; humiliating rafter seats at Staples Center; competitive tipping; hard-plastic-sealed packaging that is impossible to open; and the dangers of driving while getting head.

And just like the best of "Seinfeld," each "Curb" episode pingpongs along from one improbable encounter to another like a crazily complicated Rube Goldberg device. Popping up as a just-released mental patient, new addition Catherine O'Hara brings a particularly demented madness to the cast, which has yet to sit through a dinner party that doesn't end in mutual recriminations.

There's reliable pleasure to be had in watching an increasingly embarrassed and panicky Larry rush from one self-created crisis to another until, wham, he steps on a figurative steel trap and suddenly realizes he'll probably have to gnaw off his leg if he's ever going to escape the hell he's made for himself.

Airdate: 9 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 20 (HBO)
Cast: Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman
Story: Larry David
Director: Larry Charles
Executive producers: Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Gavin Polone, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer, Tim Gibbons, Erin O'Malley

I can't wait to get back into Curb this season, especially with the Seinfeld reunion! This should be lots of fun to watch! I'm excited!

Episode Title: "Funkhouser's Crazy Sister"

Synopsis: In the seventh season premiere of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Larry attempts a preemptive breakup with an ailing Loretta, and later learns (with Jeff) that you can't make an "empty gesture" to a Funkhouser.

Guest Stars: Bob Einstein, Vivica A. Fox, Catherine O'Hara, J.B. Smoove, Wanda Sykes

Discuss.

When does the Seinfeld reunion start?

quote:

Originally posted by BC:
When does the Seinfeld reunion start?

The reunion story-arc begins in episode three and the hour long season finale in November will focus on the actual reunion itself, though according to David we'll see bits and pieces of it along the way.

Hilarious start to the season. If there's any justice, this will be the season that'll finally get Curb it's Emmy. Catherine O'Hara rocked it here, too. Great stuff all around.

Episode Grade: A-

Great premiere. One of their best yet. There's no one like Larry on television, and this could really be the season for them to go all the way at the Emmys. Catherine O'Hara was amazing too. That would be a great guest actress nomination. Bob Einstein was awesome. I didn't like Jeff cheating on Susie with Bam Bam, but other than that, this was a great return for them. It'll be interesting to see what they do with Loretta now.

Grade for "Funkhouser's Crazy Sister": A-

A little underwhelmed by this episode.

Curb's made better use of crazy people before (the one who hummed the Looney Tunes theme comes to mind) and I personally didn't find this particularly funny -- it was too much set up for the season and not enough laughs. C+/B-

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Episode Title: "Vehicular Fellatio"

Synopsis: Larry deliberately tries to annoy Loretta, against the advice of a renowned doctor; Larry later dooms Richard Lewis' new relationship and ends up profiting from Leon's indiscretion with the wife of a depressed pal.

Guest Stars: Vivica A. Fox, Sharon Lawrence, Richard Lewis, JB Smoove

Discuss.

"Secondhand semen", the airtight X-Acto knife, and Jeff and Susie's car accident. Classic example of CYE full circle structure. The departure of the Blacks was swift, but great, and Sharon Lawrence was very funny here ("I think you blew him"). Seinfeld reunion arch begins next week -- can't wait to see the direction they go now, especially in bringing back Cheryl Hines.

Episode Grade: B+

The way that everything connects in the end with this show is wonderful to watch. Something as throwaway as the airtight plastic packages that Larry can't get into would come back to haunt him with Susie and Jeff's car accident. And all of the "vehicular fellatio" stuff with Sharon Lawrence's character and her husband and then Loretta seeing what she did with Larry and Leon's mistress . . . wow. Great plotting there. Sharon Lawrence was great here, and I'd place her on the early longlist of guest actress contenders with Catherine O'Hara. I didn't like them making Loretta so one-note, and I'd have hoped for a better exit for Vivica A. Fox than that. All of Larry's arguments came off as excessive, like the display he gave at Loretta's appointment, all of his scenes with Richard Lewis (as funny as they are), and the glasses incident with the neighbor guy. But the "Seinfeld" arc is coming up, so I'm geared up for that and hope that it's a great storyline for the season.

Grade for "Vehicular Fellatio": B

The ending scene with Jeff's accident and Larry vs the plastic was classic Curb. Those are the moments that make us miss the show when its gone for a year. The complete revolving connections are what makes the show great. You know a seemingly throwaway scene like Larry trying to open the GPS will somehow factor in, but its never quite like you assume it will be.

I meant to say this last week, but start putting down Catherine O'Hara as a guest actress nominee.

Episode Title: "The Reunion"

Synopsis: Larry resists Jeff's suggestion to do a "Seinfeld" reunion special -- until he figures out a compelling personal reason to do so that involves Cheryl.

Discuss.

Entertainment Weekly has a very positive review for the Seinfeld arc, which of course begins tonight.
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MUST WATCH OF THE WEEK
Curb Your Enthusiasm
"Those reunion shows, they're so lame," says Larry David in the opening scene of his meta sitcom. Given that the much-anticipated Seinfeld reunion story line kicks off in this episode, it's a nice joke that could double as a warning. However, we're optimistic: Tonight Larry falls out with both Jason Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Over what? Well, nothing (predictably and excellently). Meanwhile, Larry's master plan to win back his estranged wife, Cheryl, by casting her in the reunion show is unwittingly sabotaged by Jerry. True, a plotline that involves Michael Richards being so fascinated by some erotic photographs in a restaurant that he misses the fact that there is a reunion happening doesn't pay off. But this is one get-together about which our enthusiasm remains entirely un-curbed

"Vehicular Fellatio" was hilarious! Sharon Lawrence was great! But the best part was Susie and Jeff's car accident! I was laughing so hard throughout the entire episode!

Grade: A-

*I can't wait until the Seinfeld reunion tonight! This should be extremely exciting!

It was great to see all gang together again but it seemed off?

Was that guy really head of NBC? Seemed bit contrived to think NBC wouldn't jump through hoops to make show on reunion of Seinfeld work