Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2007)

Mel's Offer

Episode 1 of Season 4 (2003-2004)
Originally aired Jan 4, 2004

Larry (Larry David) and Cheryl's (Cheryl Hines) tenth anniversary is approaching. Cheryl knows what she wants, and asks Larry to keep an open mind. "Has it ever once been closed, to anything?" asks Larry. But he readily agrees to her wish to renew their marriage vows. Larry says that her present to him was already agreed upon ten years earlier, and reminds Cheryl that before they were married, she told him that on their tenth anniversary, he could have sex with another woman. Cheryl is a bit taken aback. "You have a good memory," she tells him. "For some things," he responds. When Larry offers to forget about the offered gift, Cheryl insists, and goads Larry by insinuating that he won't be able to find anyone who'll have sex with him. At a karaoke party later that night, Larry sings "Swanee" and catches the eye of Mel Brooks, who calls him and Jeff (Jeff Garlin) in for a meeting the next day. Larry proceeds to alienate both the office's wheelchair-bound computer tech (Michael D'Amore) and Brooks's lesbian receptionist, Joanne (Rachael Harris). But Brooks still asks him to take over the role of Max Bialystock in the Broadway show The Producers, inviting him to see the L.A. production that night to help him make up his mind. There, he runs into his proposed co-star, Ben Stiller, and his wife, Christine Taylor. Larry commits another faux pas when he refuses to shake Stiller's hand because Stiller has just sneezed. Cady Huffman, Paul Mazursky, and Philip Baker Hall also appear in this episode. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide