CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM: THE SURROGATE (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series in which producer/comedian Larry David plays a slightly exaggerated version of himself who often ends up embroiled in misunderstandings and social faux pas. In this episode, Larry and Cheryl are annoyed by Marilyn's nightly post-"Seinfeld" phone call, and Cheryl asks him to buy a gift for the Dusenberrys' baby shower, though Larry wonders if he is supposed to buy something for their surrogate as well. Later, he undergoes a physical and, after hassling the doctor about his shoddy magazine selection, is forced to wear a Holter monitor for twenty-four hours, thanks to the attractive Renee's effect on his heart rate. He commiserates with Richard, who is also interested in Renee, though Richard worries that he may prove "insufficient" in comparison to the black men she has dated. Wanda catches Larry mistaking a black man for a valet and calls him out on his racism, and she is further annoyed when he asks if there are any "discernible differences" between the male anatomy of the two races. She questions him about her script, which he has promised to show around, and he later ends up purchasing a biracial baby doll for the shower. At the party, everyone is embarrassed by his use of the outdated word "mulatto," and he makes matters worse by giving a present to the surrogate and then tactlessly comparing Wanda's powerless surrender of her "baby," the script, to the surrogate's situation.
At rehearsal for "The Producers," Mel Brooks is surprised to see that Larry is still not off-book, though he hastily explains about the misunderstanding with the heart monitor and Renee. His co-star David Schwimmer brings his father Irving to meet Mel, though Larry ends up offending him and when he phones later to apologize, he is rear-ended by another car and ends up leaving an expletive-filled voicemail for Irving. When the other driver threatens to attack him, Larry uses the Holter monitor to fake a heart attack, and Cheryl arrives at the hospital, exasperated by the lie and by Larry's apparent meddling with the Dusenberrys' surrogate, who now wishes to keep the baby. Larry assures Richard that the "rumor" about black men is not true, though he is forced to fake another heart attack when he offends NBA player Muggsy Bogues in the men's room by "verifying" the claim with a glance. Wanda again catches him in a seemingly racist action, though she is frustrated that he did not "play the card" in promoting her script for her, and though he forces himself not to look at Renee at his next doctor's appointment, his heart rate again spikes when he learns that Bernie Dusenberry is on his way. Later, Cheryl tells him that the surrogate changed her mind again, but Larry's troubles continue when Irving angrily returns his rude phone call.
This selection from the Alan Gerry Cable Collection has been made available by the Gerry Foundation, Inc.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: February 22, 2004 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:30:01
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:86517
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 2000-2024
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jeff Garlin … Executive Producer
- Gavin Polone … Executive Producer
- Robert B. Weide … Executive Producer
- Larry Charles … Executive Producer, Director
- Larry David … Executive Producer, Writer
- Tim Gibbons … Producer
- Erin O'Malley … Co-Producer
- Megan Murphy … Associate Producer
- Larry David … Cast, Himself
- Jeff Garlin … Cast, Jeff Greene
- Cheryl Hines … Cast, Cheryl David
- Mel Brooks … Cast, Himself
- David Schwimmer … Cast, Himself
- Richard Lewis … Cast, Himself
- Muggsy Bogues … Cast, Himself
- Wanda Sykes … Cast, Herself
- Eric Alexander … Cast, Car Alarm Offendee
- Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon … Cast, Renee
- Elizabeth Beckwith … Cast, Surrogate
- Eliza Coyle … Cast, Betty Dusenberry
- Jack Gallagher … Cast, Doctor
- Mark Griffin … Cast, Paramedic #1
- Jack Heller … Cast, Irving Schwimmer
- Frank John Hughes … Cast, Angry Driver
- Thomas Jones … Cast, Valet Offendee
- Melissa McCarthy … Cast, Saleswoman
- Masasa … Cast, Nurse
- Jane Piper … Cast, Receptionist
- Murray Rubin … Cast, Elderly Man
- Ryan Yu … Cast, Paramedic #2