The list of comedians who can come up with a huge hit network sitcom, finish with that and do it all over again via a new series are few and far between. This is especially true when one considers that the comedian in question is Larry David and that the initial huge network sitcom was Seinfeld – arguably the greatest American sitcom of all time. While some may also argue that Curb Your Enthusiasm lacks the chemistry that Seinfeld had, there’s no denying that David’s brand of success is one of a kind in the medium of comedic television.
With eight seasons under its belt, Curb Your Enthusiasm is now getting things underway on a ninth season – to be released at some point in 2017 – thereby equaling the number of seasons as Seinfeld had. Neither HBO nor Larry David have given any indication as to whether this will be the final season of the much loved dark comedy, but for now fans are really only concerned with the fact that after a five year hiatus, Curb is finally coming back to them in the new year.
Plot details for the new season have been non-existent to date, but we are slowly getting to know which Curb Your Enthusiasm cast members will be returning. So far we know that Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines, Susie Essman and of course, Larry David himself will all be back for the ninth season. According to Deadline, HBO has now confirmed that real-life married couple Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen will also return to their roles as close friends of David and co.
Curb Your Enthusiasm fans will be well familiar with Ted and Mary ever since their initial appearance in the second episode of the first season back in 2000. That episode, entitled “Ted and Mary,” was a hilarious introduction to the couple and the manner in which Larry David’s fondness for Mary often outweighs his interest in Ted. Later episodes delved deeper into the love-hate relationship that exists between David and the couple, with some particular standouts including season one’s aforementioned “Ted and Mary” as well as “The Freak Book” and “The Anonymous Donor” episodes of season six. Danson has appeared in 13 episodes of the hit series, as opposed to Oscar-winner Steenburgen, who’s only starred in five. As of this writing there is no confirmation of how many ninth season episodes the couple will appear in.
Though Ted Danson once joked that he and Steenburgen initially offered their services on Curb Your Enthusiasm to David out of sympathy, the truth is that the series has made great use of the pair. Ted and Mary are often the voices of reason in the typically paranoid and neurotic world of Larry David and this in itself has created much of the ongoing rift between them. While some might claim that Larry David’s character is too far-fetched and silly, Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen are a great aid in reigning things in – even though David is rarely interested in their efforts to sooth his jangled nerves.
It’s wonderful news for both Curb Your Enthusiasm fans and the series as a whole that Danson and Steenburgen are returning for another season. There has also been talk of the hilarious Leon (J.B. Smoove) returning once more, but at present there is no confirmation. With the Curb family appearing to be getting back together bit-by-bit, hopefully it won’t be much longer before news of Smoove’s return is a certainty. For now, the long awaited ninth season is very much on its way, offering fans a lot to look forward to.
Screen Rant will continue to keep you updated on Curb Your Enthusiasm season 9 as development continues.
Source: Deadline