'Curb Your Enthusiasm' looks to repeat on-again feat
Was Grover Cleveland one president or two?
Your answer to that question could speak to how much change will come to the Emmy comedy series category this year.
Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms in the Oval Office, becoming the White House's ultimate answer to "The more things change, the more they stay the same." In the comedy race, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" fits that description and then some.
"Curb" frequently takes more than a year off between seasons, begetting the following bit of trivia: It has been nominated for three consecutive comedy series Emmys after being ineligible the previous year.
Curb Your Enthusiasm — Emmy history
| Season | Airdates | Nomination |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | October-December 2000 | None |
| 2 | September-November 2001 | 2002 |
| 3 | September-November 2002 | 2003 |
| 4 | January-March 2004 | 2004 |
| 5 | September-December 2005 | 2006 |
| 6 | September-November 2007 | 2008 |
| 7 | September-November 2009 | 2010 |
| 8 | July-September 2011 | 2012?? |
With such episodes from this past season as "Palestinian Chicken" in its arsenal, "Curb" has plenty of opportunity to repeat its year-off, year-on Emmy pattern — and earn its seventh consecutive series nomination in its own history.
To do so, it would hold off other newcomers while unseating one of the six returning comedy series nominees from 2011: winner "Modern Family" and runners-up "30 Rock," "The Big Bang Theory," "Glee," "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation." As discussed 10 days ago, you could argue that half that group — "30 Rock," "Glee and The Office" — is vulnerable to being on a downward slope in the eyes of voters, while "Curb" seemed pretty refreshed thanks to its shorter schedule and time on vacation.
A native of Los Angeles raised by two parents and "Hill Street Blues," Jon Weisman ankled his scriptwriting career and began working for Variety in 2004, subsequently serving as associate editor of features and television reporter before becoming awards editor. He promises not to use this platform to retroactively campaign for Oscars for “The Misfits,” though he’d feel justified in doing so.
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My nominees for Comedy Series are: "Parks & Rec", "Community", "30 Rock", "Curb", & "New Girl." (since I KNOW Community won't get the nod, it can be replaced w/Girls or Veep.) **Since the animated shows have their own category, I won't suggest Archer for comedy series, though it's MORE than deserving.
I don't get the obsession with "Modern Family" or "The Big Bang Theory." "Family" has moments of comedy, but it seems like the same thing is happening in every episode (How can we "Threes Company" our way into a heart-warming lesson?) And "Theory"... I'm STILL scratching my head as to ANY critical acclaim this show gets. Talk about a stagnant show, just replacing the thinnest of plots... I mean, it's a vehicle that just finds new ways to exploit socially awkward people in "geek" costumes.
Posted by: SnapTheJap | 04/30/2012 at 03:11 PM
I disagree about Big Bang - I think it's funny - as funny as ever this season, benefiting greatly from the female cast members, and is hardly exploitative at all of anyone except perhaps Raj. I don't think its plots are thin.
You get six series nominees, by the way.
Posted by: Jon Weisman | 04/30/2012 at 03:17 PM