On September 27, 2017, The Knockturnal was on the scene for HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” season 9 premiere at SVA Theater.
From the show: Jeff Schaffer (Executive Producer), Jeff Garlin (Executive Producer/”Jeff”), Larry David (Creator/Executive Producer/Star), Cheryl Hines (“Cheryl”), Susie Essman (“Susie”), J.B. Smoove (“Leon”) were in attendance. They were joined by directors Bryan Gordon, Jessie Nelson and David Steinberg.
What’s Larry David the character’s worst and best trait?
Larry David: His best trait is his honesty. His worst trait is his honesty.
Did you think in a million years that you’d be back here doing Curb again?
David Steinberg: No.
What is the creative process between the two of you? I’m sure it’s an amazing dynamic. How do guys collaborate?
David Steinberg: Oh very comfortably. We’ve been friends for 30 years. It’s family. He could look at me when an actor’s doing the wrong thing. All he’ll do is look at me and I look back and I say, “Cut,” and we move on.
Susie Essman: Well Larry ruins all my best takes because he loves to be screamed and yelled at. So, every time I open my mouth, he gets the giggles and he ruins all my best takes.
Cheryl Hines: Well, Larry writes a story outline so he’s a great writer and he writes what the show is about. You know what your character is. You know what Larry’s character is. You know your point of view and then you just improvise the dialogue.
Biggest lesson you learned doing the show?
Cheryl Hines: You just have to listen. You have to listen to what everybody says. It’s a good life lesson. And then let it go. Yeah, don’t keep it. No, don’t keep it too long. Let it go. Let it flow through you.
Leon does everything for this man. Is there anything he can’t-do?
J.B. Smoove: No. There’s nothing in this world, in this functional world that Leon cannot do. There’s a lot of things that you can’t-do out there. But, there’s nothing, I repeat, nothing Leon cannot do. I can do everything. He’s a jack of all trades.
Everybody needs a Leon.
J.B. Smoove: He helps Larry all the time, don’t he? Leon is like a condom in your wallet, you understand. You pull them out when you need them.
Are you similar to TV Larry or George Costanza?
Larry David: That’s a good question. TV Larry.
So what can we expect this season? More of what?
Susan: More of the same, a little edgier maybe. I don’t know, it’s always edgy. It’s really, really funny. I can’t reveal any plot lines, but the plot line is just really interesting this season.
A lively party hosted by HBO CEO Richard Plepler followed at Tao Downtown. Other guests in attendance included F. Murray Abraham, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Aziz Ansari, Lorraine Bracco, Steve Buscemi, Rebecca Creskoff, Cazzie David, Pete Davidson, Mark Feuerstein, Henry Louis “Skip” Gates Jr., Jon Glaser, Ira Glass, Bryan Greenberg, Bryant Gumbel, Kevin Hayes, Daniel Jacobs, Keegan-Michael Key, Richard Kind, Kenny Kramer, Jake Lacy, Lawrence O’Donnell, John Oliver, Yvonne Orji, Carole Radziwill, Andrew Rannells, Amy Schumer, Lindsay Shookus, Zuzanna Szadkowski, Jonathan Tropper, Aida Turturro, Jimmy Vesey, and Meredith Vieira.
Be sure to tune in on Sundays at 10 p.m.
Photo Credit: HBO / Starpix
