Earlier this season onSaturday Night Live,Curb Your Enthusiasmstar/creatorLarry Davidmade a few surprise appearances, portraying Democratic Presidential candidateBernie Sandersin episodes hosted byTracy MorganandDonald Trump. Last night,Larry DavidhostedSNL, and, as expected, the actor/writer once again portrayedBernie Sanders, but in a way most hadn’t expected. One of last night’s most popular sketches was a spoof onLarry David’s own show,Curb Your Enthusiasm, entitledBern Your Enthusiasm.
The sketch featuresBernie Sanderson the campaign trail in Iowa, where the caucus was recently held, where the Presidential candidate is shaking hands with his supporters after a rally. The plot thickens when an avid fan (Leslie Jones) wants to shake his hand, but she coughs into her hand first, which creates quite a stir when the candidate refuses to shake her “germ-infested hand.” The sketch also features different takes on some ofCurb Your Enthusiasm’s supporting players, with Bobby Moynihan playingJeff Garlin, Vanessa Bayer playingCheryl Hinesand Jay Pharoah playingJ.B. Smoove.
Larry Davidhas always been a perfect fit to playBernie Sanders. Many observers have noticed that the New Hampshire Senator’s voice is strikingly similar toLarry David’s voice portrayal of late New York Yankees owner George M. Steinbrenner on the classic sitcomSeinfeld. With several months left until the Presidential election in November, it remains to be seen ifLarry Davidwill come back asBernie Sanders.
It’s been nearly five years since the last season ofCurb Your Enthusiasm, but we reported back in September that HBO is considering aSeason 9order and a new movie. That news was revealed byJeff Schaffer, who has collaborated withLarry Davidfor more than a decade.Jeff Schafferwrote a number ofSeinfeldepisodes and served as an executive producer on the show during its last two seasons. He went on to both executive produce and write for Curb Your Enthusiasm, before creating the FXX seriesThe League, recently aired its final season. WhileThe Leagueis a much different show than Curb Your Enthusiasm, it follows the same type of format where actors follow an outline instead of a full script, and improvise their lines.
The show’s cast has always been a revolving door, withJeff Garlinthe only actor who has appeared in every one of the show’s 81 episodes alongside Larry David.Cheryl Hinesis the only othercast memberwho has been on board since the first season, with other notable cast members including Susie Essman,Richard Lewis, Bob Einstein,J.B. SmooveandTed Danson. It isn’t clear yet which of these actors will be coming back forSeason 9. While we wait for more onCurb Your Enthusiasm, take a look at the “Bern Your Enthusiasm” sketch that aired last night onSaturday Night Live.
