The Shocking Truth Behind Larry David's Departure from Seinfeld After Season 7
Larry David's departure from Seinfeld after season 7 was driven by noble reasons, leading to significant consequences for the show Discover why he found Curb Your Enthusiasm less stressful and how his tenure on the latter show surpassed his time with Seinfeld
Summary
Larry David left Seinfeld after season 7 because he feared the quality of writing would decline and the pressure to produce better material became overwhelming.
The quality of Seinfeld declined in the seasons following Larry David's departure, especially for the character of George Costanza, whom David understood best. Larry David, recognizing the difference, found Curb Your Enthusiasm to be less demanding than Seinfeld, with shorter seasons, a more relaxed schedule, and greater creative freedom, enabling him to fully embrace his comedic vision.
Many fans continue to ponder why Larry David chose to depart from Seinfeld after season 7, given the immense success of the sitcom. Conceived by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld in 1988, the show was originally pitched as a portrayal of how a comedian comes up with their material. While Jerry became the face of the show, Larry David undertook the role of running it behind the scenes, serving as the head writer and executive producer during its highly acclaimed "golden era." The question still lingers as to why Larry David decided to leave Seinfeld.
Although the show was as much Larry David's creation as Seinfeld's, it took on Jerry's last name, focusing on a somewhat fictionalized version of the comedian and his group of friends. Larry David's name may not have been in the show's title, but his presence was ever-present, particularly in the character of George Costanza. David and Jason Alexander openly acknowledged that George was largely inspired by Larry David's mannerisms and personal experiences to the extent that people often wondered why David did not simply portray the character himself. Despite not playing a version of himself like Jerry, Larry David made cameo appearances throughout Seinfeld, both with his voice work and on-screen appearances, most notably as the voice of George Steinbrenner.
The Reason Larry David Left Seinfeld
Larry David left Seinfeld due to mounting pressure and concerns about the decline in writing quality after years of success. By the end of the seventh season, he feared the writers would exhaust ideas, leading to increased stress to deliver stronger episodes. Jason Alexander, who played George Costanza, acknowledged that Larry always found Seinfeld to be a highly stressful job, as ultimate responsibility for its failure rested more on him than Jerry. Rumors even circulated about David's recurring threats to quit each season, although he was ultimately convinced to stay. Despite leaving after seven seasons, Larry David's impact on the show remained iconic throughout its nine-season run.
How Seinfeld Suffered After Larry David's Exit
Larry David's departure from Seinfeld had a noticeable impact on the show's subsequent seasons. Critics consistently criticized the decline in quality after David's exit, but no one felt the loss more than Jason Alexander. Being intimately familiar with George Costanza's quirks, Larry David, who essentially embodied the character, took the essence of George with him when he left as a writer for Seinfeld. However, there were no ill feelings between David, the cast, and crew of Seinfeld, as he continued to provide the voice for George Steinbrenner and returned to write the show's controversial season 9 finale.
After the success of Seinfeld, Larry David turned to HBO and created Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2000. The series revolves around a semi-fictionalized version of himself following his Seinfeld fame. Throughout the 11 seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm, David frequently refers to his time on Seinfeld and incorporates it into the show's plot. Additionally, the entire main cast of Seinfeld has made appearances in several episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Playing on the criticisms of the Seinfeld finale, a season 7 episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm showcased a fictional Seinfeld reunion. David wrote the episode while Jerry, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards reprised their iconic roles. Surprisingly, David found himself harboring the same concerns about Curb Your Enthusiasm as he did with Seinfeld, contemplating whether to continue the series after eight years due to fears of declining comedic storytelling. However, David ultimately made the decision to return, bringing his comedic genius and storytelling prowess to further episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Why Larry David Found Curb Your Enthusiasm Less Stressful Than Seinfeld
- Yet, David's comic sensibility prevailed, and he chose to stay committed to Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Larry David's time writing for Curb Your Enthusiasm appears to have been less stressful than his time writing for Seinfeld. One reason for this is that Curb had a significantly lower average number of episodes per season compared to Seinfeld. Over the course of two decades, David only had to worry about ten episodes per season, while Seinfeld required double that number over eight consecutive years. This more relaxed schedule is likely the reason why Curb Your Enthusiasm is still going strong with its upcoming twelfth season, even though the show originally premiered in 2000.
Related to this, NBC insisted on airing consecutive seasons of Seinfeld, whereas HBO has provided David with more generous gaps between seasons of Curb. Additionally, HBO has granted the Seinfeld writer greater artistic liberty, a factor that undoubtedly enhances the overall satisfaction derived from the project. Larry David's talent for comedy writing is unparalleled, making it especially advantageous that he has been able to wholeheartedly devote himself to a show that aligns with his comfort zone.
Larry David Has Worked On Curb Your Enthusiasm For Longer Than Seinfeld
Contrary to popular belief, Larry David's departure from Seinfeld during its peak was not a misstep. His television fame was far from being diminished, proven by the remarkable success of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which is now embarking on its 12th season. The remarkable longevity of his current show can be attributed to the disparities between the two series, while the similarities between them might elucidate his unwavering commitment to continue.
Curb Your Enthusiasm is a seamless extension of Larry David's previous work on Seinfeld, featuring numerous Seinfeld-esque episodes. David, alongside Jerry Seinfeld, skillfully employed his unique brand of humor to revolutionize the sitcom genre. This success granted him the freedom to unleash his comedic talents on cable networks, allowing his creative vision to flourish. With Curb Your Enthusiasm receiving accolades similar to Seinfeld, it is evident that David's humor resonates deeply with audiences.
