Larry David Blasted for 'Curb' Episode Where He Urinates on Jesus - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 10-28-2009, 09:27 AM

Comedian Larry David pushed the mocking of religion and Christian belief in miracles over the edge in the latest episode of his HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

On Sunday's installment, David's character urinates on a painting of Jesus Chris, causing a woman to believe the painting of Jesus is crying.

The president of the Catholic League Bill Donohue responded to the episode saying David should "quit while he's ahead," and that the show is proof that the comedian's best years are behind him.

"Was Larry David always this crude? Would he think it's comedic if someone urinated on a picture of his mother?" Donohue said in a statement released Monday. "This might be fun to watch, but since HBO only likes to dump on Catholics (it was just a couple of weeks ago that Sarah Silverman insulted Catholics on "Real Time with Bill Maher") and David is Jewish, we'll never know."

During Sunday's episode, David, who created, wrote and produced "Seinfeld," visits a bathroom in a stranger's home and splatters urine on a picture of Jesus. Instead of wiping it off, David leaves the restroom. Minutes later, a woman enters the bathroom and concludes that Jesus is crying before summoning her mother to the bathroom, where both women kneel in prayer.

"When David and Jerry Seinfeld (playing himself) are asked if they ever experienced a miracle, David answers, "every erection is a miracle," Donohue's statement continued. "That’s what passes for creativity these days."

Calls to HBO seeking comment were not immediately returned Wednesday.

The episode, "The Bare Midriff," primarily revolves around David's assistant and her belly-revealing attire. According to the show's Web site, a "new pill" increased David's urine flow, leading to the "misunderstanding about a miraculously weeping Jesus."

HBO promoted the controversial scene on the show's site, complete with a "squirm-o-meter" that ranked the urine incident ahead of David's confronting his assistant about her exposed midriff.

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...rinates-jesus/

catlover79 · 10-28-2009, 11:18 AM

He SHOULD be blasted for this! There's a lot of other things I could say, but as a Christian, I will keep my anger in check. Just sickening!!!

Mr. Television · 10-28-2009, 06:48 PM

That's disgusting.

Marvo301 · 10-28-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

He SHOULD be blasted for this! There's a lot of other things I could say, but as a Christian, I will keep my anger in check. Just sickening!!!

It's very sickening that this is what passes for comedy these days! It's also sickening that this episode made it to air. I'm offended by this as a Christian and I'm also offended by this as a fan of comedy. I think Mr. David has seriously lost his perspective.

Retro4Life · 10-28-2009, 07:51 PM

This is something I'd expect to see from Sasha Cohen, but not Larry David.

I'm not even talking about the tastelessness of it, really. It just seems so juvenile and intended solely for shock value. It's lazy writing and while I will always defend his right to do it, it's very disappointing to realize this type of lowest common denominator stuff is coming from the guy who helped create "Seinfeld".

catlover79 · 10-28-2009, 09:17 PM

I agree with all of you. Not only is it sickening from a Christian perspective, but it also shows that Larry David has sunk to the the lowest common denominator. It IS lazy writing - shock value. Does shock value even HAVE shock value anymore??

JamesG · 10-28-2009, 10:50 PM

Alright, does anyone here who is complaining actually watch Curb.. or has actually seen the episode being discussed here?

He did not actually urinate on Jesus, as in directing his privates to the picture and started peeing, as what is being implied on all of the news reports.

Larry David's bladder medication made his piss stream too powerful and the splashes from the toilet got onto a picture of Jesus hanging over the bowl.

In my opinion I think the thing to be offended about is that the Christians were portrayed as idiots who dropped everything and kneeled in prayer because they thought the picture was crying.

This is what satire is.

Retro4Life · 10-28-2009, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

Alright, does anyone here who is complaining actually watch Curb.. or has actually seen the episode being discussed here?

He did not actually urinate on Jesus, as in directing his privates to the picture and started peeing, as what is being implied on all of the news reports.

Larry David's bladder medication made his piss stream too powerful and the splashes from the toilet got onto a picture of Jesus hanging over the bowl.

In my opinion I think the thing to be offended about is that the Christians were portrayed as idiots who dropped everything and kneeled in prayer because they thought the picture was crying.

This is what satire is.

I'm well acquainted with the definition of satire.

I've seen a lot of CYE and laughed till I cried at a lot of it. Regardless this still strikes me as lazy writing.

catlover79 · 10-28-2009, 10:58 PM

I've never seen CYE but I do take umbrage at any show/movie that portrays Christians as simpering idiots. If the issue here was Buddhism, Islam, Judiasm, Larry David's offices would be bombarded with people armed with torches and pitchforks (and worse).

Mr. Television · 10-28-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

Alright, does anyone here who is complaining actually watch Curb.. or has actually seen the episode being discussed here?

He did not actually urinate on Jesus, as in directing his privates to the picture and started peeing, as what is being implied on all of the news reports.

Larry David's bladder medication made his piss stream too powerful and the splashes from the toilet got onto a picture of Jesus hanging over the bowl.

In my opinion I think the thing to be offended about is that the Christians were portrayed as idiots who dropped everything and kneeled in prayer because they thought the picture was crying.

This is what satire is.

I've watched a couple of episodes but I just can't get into it. I did love Seinfeld though. I did not see this episode but going by what you said, I still find it disgusting.

Mr. Television · 10-28-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I've never seen CYE but I do take umbrage at any show/movie that portrays Christians as simpering idiots. If the issue here was Buddhism, Islam, Judiasm, Larry David's offices would be bombarded with people armed with torches and pitchforks (and worse).

and that's another thing. Christians are always ridiculed in Hollywood. It gets old.

JamesG · 10-28-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

I'm well acquainted with the definition of satire.

I've seen a lot of CYE and laughed till I cried at a lot of it. Regardless this still strikes me as lazy writing.

Perhaps so...

catlover79 · 10-28-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

and that's another thing. Christians are always ridiculed in Hollywood. It gets old.

That's just one more reason I don't watch the current shows. Give me the good old classics on DVD that weren't topical, but just good clean fun. Even Norman Lear never went that far!

JamesG · 10-28-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I've never seen CYE but I do take umbrage at any show/movie that portrays Christians as simpering idiots. If the issue here was Buddhism, Islam, Judiasm, Larry David's offices would be bombarded with people armed with torches and pitchforks (and worse).

I think it's fair to say that people go into an uproar whenever their religion, race, political beliefs, and what have you are mocked in a public medium.

I do believe that nobody should be immune.

catlover79 · 10-28-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

I think it's fair to say that people go into an uproar whenever their religion, race, political beliefs, and what have you are mocked in a public medium.

I do believe that nobody should be immune.

We're going to have to agree to disagree on that one.

10-28-2009, 09:27 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Larry David Blasted for 'Curb' Episode Where He Urinates on Jesus Comedian Larry David pushed the mocking of religion and Christian belief in miracles over the edge in the latest episode of his HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm." On Sunday's installment, David's character urinates on a painting of Jesus Chris, causing a woman to believe the painting of Jesus is crying. The president of the Catholic League Bill Donohue responded to the episode saying David should "quit while he's ahead," and that the show is proof that the comedian's best years are behind him. "Was Larry David always this crude? Would he think it's comedic if someone urinated on a picture of his mother?" Donohue said in a statement released Monday. "This might be fun to watch, but since HBO only likes to dump on Catholics (it was just a couple of weeks ago that Sarah Silverman insulted Catholics on "Real Time with Bill Maher") and David is Jewish, we'll never know." During Sunday's episode, David, who created, wrote and produced "Seinfeld," visits a bathroom in a stranger's home and splatters urine on a picture of Jesus. Instead of wiping it off, David leaves the restroom. Minutes later, a woman enters the bathroom and concludes that Jesus is crying before summoning her mother to the bathroom, where both women kneel in prayer. "When David and Jerry Seinfeld (playing himself) are asked if they ever experienced a miracle, David answers, "every erection is a miracle," Donohue's statement continued. "That’s what passes for creativity these days." Calls to HBO seeking comment were not immediately returned Wednesday. The episode, "The Bare Midriff," primarily revolves around David's assistant and her belly-revealing attire. According to the show's Web site, a "new pill" increased David's urine flow, leading to the "misunderstanding about a miraculously weeping Jesus." HBO promoted the controversial scene on the show's site, complete with a "squirm-o-meter" that ranked the urine incident ahead of David's confronting his assistant about her exposed midriff. http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...rinates-jesus/
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10-28-2009, 11:18 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	He SHOULD be blasted for this! There's a lot of other things I could say, but as a Christian, I will keep my anger in check. Just sickening!!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

10-28-2009, 06:48 PM	#3
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	That's disgusting.
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10-28-2009, 07:51 PM	#5
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	This is something I'd expect to see from Sasha Cohen, but not Larry David. I'm not even talking about the tastelessness of it, really. It just seems so juvenile and intended solely for shock value. It's lazy writing and while I will always defend his right to do it, it's very disappointing to realize this type of lowest common denominator stuff is coming from the guy who helped create "Seinfeld".
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

10-28-2009, 09:17 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I agree with all of you. Not only is it sickening from a Christian perspective, but it also shows that Larry David has sunk to the the lowest common denominator. It IS lazy writing - shock value. Does shock value even HAVE shock value anymore??

10-28-2009, 10:50 PM	#7
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,265	Alright, does anyone here who is complaining actually watch Curb.. or has actually seen the episode being discussed here? He did not actually urinate on Jesus, as in directing his privates to the picture and started peeing, as what is being implied on all of the news reports. Larry David's bladder medication made his piss stream too powerful and the splashes from the toilet got onto a picture of Jesus hanging over the bowl. In my opinion I think the thing to be offended about is that the Christians were portrayed as idiots who dropped everything and kneeled in prayer because they thought the picture was crying. This is what satire is.

10-28-2009, 10:58 PM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I've never seen CYE but I do take umbrage at any show/movie that portrays Christians as simpering idiots. If the issue here was Buddhism, Islam, Judiasm, Larry David's offices would be bombarded with people armed with torches and pitchforks (and worse).