HBO's New Low: Urinating on Jesus
October 27, 2009 by Patrick Madrid
Filed under Patrick's Blog
Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on last night’s episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” the HBO show where Larry David plays himself:
Mention Larry David in a word association game and “Seinfeld” rolls off the lips. That show, which David created, wrote and produced, was brilliant. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is not. Indeed, last night’s episode demonstrates that David’s best years are behind him. He ought to quit while he’s ahead.
At one point in the show, David goes to the bathroom in a Catholic home and splatters urine on a picture of Jesus; he doesn’t clean it off. Then a Catholic woman goes to the bathroom, sees the picture and concludes that Jesus is crying. She then summons her equally stupid mother and the two of them fall to their knees in prayer. When David and Jerry Seinfeld (playing himself) are asked if they ever experienced a miracle, David answers, “every erection is a miracle.” That’s what passes for creativity these days.
Was Larry David always this crude? Would he think it comedic if someone urinated on a picture of his mother? 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.
Contact HBO Chairman and CEO, Bill Nelson: Bill.nelson@hbo.com
Many comedians who have nothing more creative to offer degenerate into crass, shock and potty humor.
Somehow, though, I doubt David will be splattering urine on a picture of Muhammad any time soon. Comedic "courage" has its limits.
I agree with Donohue. Seinfeld was brilliant – creative and pretty clean for the most part (although toward the end, I could have done without certain episodes). But Curb Your Enthusiasm just isn't really entertaining or funny. I tried to watch it a few times because of Seinfeld and could never make it through an entire episode. Just as well. I hardly watch anything on tv now except for sports, EWTN, the History Channel and Discovery. It's a minefield, and sometimes the advertisements are worse than the shows.
M. Forrest
Catholics, like anyone else, often lack faith.
When we don't make a habit of stepping out on faith, allowing our faith to be tested, we tend towards bemoaning the state of things instead of being pro-active.
When we work at having faith, suddenly we CAN make a difference and the change in attitude alone invigorates the faith of those around us.
Thanks for being a beacon of light in these dark times, Patrick.
Cori
You know what I find hypocritical about some Catholics? They only complain about problems when it affects them. They don't warn people about the dangers of something until it affects something they love, like the Eucharist or the Virgin Mary. Obviously not all Catholics are like this, but it's just something I've noticed from time to time. I wish more Catholics were like you where they warned people about certain dangers before the said dangers become personal.