After 24 years and 12 seasons, Curb Your Enthusiasm came to an end on Sunday.
Although fans are sad to see the sitcom go, the finale is receiving rave reviews from both critics and viewers.
Playing the long game, creator and star Larry David used the final episode—titled "No Lessons Learned"—to silence those who disparaged the Seinfeld finale 26 years before.
The comedian and writer co-created the comedy, which aired from 1989 to 1998, with leading man Jerry Seinfeld. Although the show is considered one of the best sitcoms of all time, the finale disappointed many fans, with the cast ending up in jail.
Although David left Seinfeld after Season 7, he did return for the finale. In a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" in 2014, the sitcom legend said he was "happy" with Seinfeld's ending.
However, the 76-year-old poked fun at himself and the criticism he received via Curb's final episode, with David's crotchety TV writer put on trial, just like the Seinfeld cast.
Fans appreciated the throwback, describing the finale as the "perfect send-off."
"Larry stuck the landing. Absolutely hilarious final episode," said @_shutupmatt on X, formerly Twitter.
"A fitting end to one of the greatest comedy shows ever," wrote Ryan Hicks.
"The only lesson Larry David ever learned in his entire life was that the Seinfeld finale could've been a little better," said Jordan.
"Curb Your Enthusiasm was just a ploy for Larry to spite everyone that's b****** and complained about the Seinfeld finale these past decades," joked Alexa La Cerva.
"Larry getting to end Curb Your Enthusiasm as one big ode to the Seinfeld finale felt so, so right," said Jakob Kolness.
"It takes a truly special show to deliver exactly the swan song we all expected in the most perfect way possible," wrote Joshua Axelrod.
Curb had been dropping references to Seinfeld throughout Season 12. Jerry Seinfeld also alluded to a possible reunion during a standup show in Boston in October, 2023, with the 69-year-old making a cameo in Curb's finale.
Seinfeld stars Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards and the late Estelle Harris also guest-starred throughout Curb's run.
The finale sees David sentenced to one year in prison for breaking the "Election Integrity Act," with the Seinfeld cast receiving the same sentence for not helping to stop a carjacking.
Alongside Curb stars Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines, Susie Essman and J.B Smoove, the finale also brought back series regulars, Ted Danson, Alison Janney and Richard Lewis, who passed away in February.
Rock star Bruce Springsteen, Trump whistleblower Alexander Vindman and Saverio Guerra (Mocha Joe) were among David's enemies to testify against him in court, while Greg Kinnear guest-starred as the prosecutor.
Curb was nominated for 164 awards during its run, with the show winning two Emmys, a Golden Globe and a Writers Guild of America award.
During an appearance on the Today show on Sunday, David explained why he'd decided to end the comedy after 12 seasons.
"I'm too old to really be on camera every single week now," he said. "To act the way I do on this show, how can I continue to act like that? It's insane.
"Yeah, I can do it in my 50s and 60s to mid-70s. I'm not going into the 80s acting like that."
However, David admit that he'd miss working on the show, adding: "[I] couldn't imagine ever having more fun in my life than I did doing that show."
Uncommon Knowledge
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About the writer
Sophie is a Newsweek Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in Lincoln, UK. Her focus is reporting on film and ... Read more
