Was Larry David more responsible for the funniness of "Seinfeld" than Jerry Seinfeld?

[smoochpooch]

I ask because I have seen Seinfeld's "The Marriage Ref" a couple times and it is terribly unfunny. Additionally, when good ol' Jerry appeared on "The Marriage Ref" and whenever I have seen him as a guest on talk shows like Letterman, all his jokes seem about 20 years old. It feels like comedy has just passed him by over the last 20 years (I will readily admit that his comedy from the 80's has been hugely influential).

Meanwhile, Larry David's show continues to be funny and his appearance on "The Marriage Ref" was one of the show's more refreshing moments. I can't help but wonder if the person who made "Seinfeld" as funny as it was just so happens to be Mr. David. :shrug:

[begin_within]

1. If he was, then he must have been responsible for the dramatic decline of "Seinfeld"

its last 2 or 3 years were stunningly unfunny.

[smoochpooch]

2. Agreed, it was still popular when it went off the air, but it did overstay its welcome. nt

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. He left after the 7th season, it ended with the 9th, he wrote the final episode

The DVD commentary for the series basically acknowledges the fact that it became a different show when he left.

[Duer 157099]

4. Yeah, I vote for Larry David

He's consistently funny, whereas Jerry was funny when he first was doing standup. I saw him on TDS recently and didn't find him very funny at all, in fact he was sorta jerkish. But he was funny on Curb this past season, so yeah, it's LD.

[Mojambo]

5. No doubt. n/t

[Skittles]

6. yes

[CBGLuthier]

7. Yes, absolutely and undeniably

Saw Seinfeld's act live after the show was over and did not laugh once. Compare that to any given half hour of Curb Your Enthusiasm and you have your answer.

Also notice how the Seinfeld show started to suck right after Larry David left.

[bif]

8. Have you seen "Whatever Works"?

He was so unfunny it was painful I can't stand him.

[PunkinPi]

16. Saw it a few weeks ago, and it was a stinker.

Still like LD though.

[vi5]

19. Wasn't that a Woody Allen movie?

He's definitely not a good actor (LD that is). But when he writes the material it's definitely funnier.

[JohnnyBoots]

9. 100% yes. LD was about 90% and the cast around Jerry was the

other 10%. Jerry could have been a card board cut out with a voice recording for the same effect.

[gmoney]

15. Someone said the cast must have a lot of back problems...

from carrying Jerry for 9 seasons...

[msanthrope]

10. Watch a single episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." You'll have your answer.

(It's Larry David.)

[Initech]

12. Personally I'd recommend "The Doll" from season 2.

:rofl:

[Gabi Hayes]

14. yeah...pretty hard to top that. anything with extended Susie. also

this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ewr4BSTr8Q

[Gabi Hayes]

17. "Get me the HEAD!!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ItuXlIEne4

[Initech]

21. Suzie is hilarious. I loved watching her reactions in "Officer Krupke" from this season.

"I'm Larry David, I happen to enjoy wearing women's panties!"

:rofl:

[msanthrope]

23. "The Doll" is awesome--but "Christ Nail" is priceless--then, of course

there's the time Larry David tried to 'help' his Tourette's-afflicted chef...

NOT WORK SAFE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFnLpXzkw4Y

[Initech]

24. I like the one where Rob Corddry is a sex offender and Larry invites him to Seder.

:rofl:

[DerekG]

22. Absolutely! Curb Your Enthusiasm ends this debate.

At least twice as funny as Seinfeld.

[Initech]

11. Absolutely.

Curb Your Enthusiasm - especially this season with the Seinfeld reunion - is proof that Larry David was the real brains behind the operation.

[Gabi Hayes]

13. you want funny? here:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gervais+larry+david&search_type=&aq=f

[CreekDog]

18. Yes, Larry David was the brains behind that

Seinfeld, while funny, could not act to save his life. At times it was almost painful to watch him.

That was a really clever show about how people interact and what happens when they don't do what is expected in certain situations.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

20. Jerry Seinfeld was not funny. That's the gag.

It's a show about an unfunny stand up comedian and his goofy friends.

That's why when Seinfeld went on tour after the show he quickly canceled it because he kept getting booed off the stage.

That's why when everybody does an impression of a bad stand up comedian, they do a Seinfeld impersonation.