Summary Of The Article 'Curb Your Enthusiam' By Lisa Williamson

In Lisa Williamson’s article, “Challenging Sitcom Conventions,” Williamson describes HBO’s original comedies as generally being different from the network sitcoms from the technical, aesthetic, and contextual elements. She mentions one of the examples of HBO’s comedy series, “Curb Your Enthusiam,” to provide how the show approaches in using a docu-real style that benefits the show’s storyline, and this is also evident in the second and fourth episodes of the first season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” titled “Ted and Mary” and “The Bracelet” respectively. While still following the sitcom structure, the show subverts the expectations of standard sitcoms by implementing docu-real style, realistic production value, and the approach of going beyond

When compared to standard sitcoms, this show is presented in a more serious-like tone but comical at the same time, due to the complicated situations Larry David, the main character, gets involved in. It does not rely on a convention of audience reactions that create a sense of collective audience, but on the response of the individual viewers that rightly corresponds to the timing of the humor. In other shows such as “The Comebacks” and “The Office,” the cinematography is used in such a way in which a realistic documentary crew is actually around the character, but “Curb Your Enthusiasm” utilizes it as more of a stylistic approach. The only time the show implemented the documentary crew aspect it during the 1999 HBO special “Larry David: Curb Your Enthusiasm,” before the series was ordered. Williamson mentions that even without the presence of a crew, which may challenge the audience of authenticity or a performance, “it plays with this ambiguity extensively by adopting a reality aesthetic, and by featuring the “real-life” character of David in the main role (118),” so this allows the audience to become aware of David’s style of humor and the

In network programs, product promotion is sometimes apparent in shows, but sitcoms often input fake brand names that may not adhere to authenticity. Some product placement usage can be found in the second episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” such as the Spanish shoe company, Camper, and one of the popular department stores in the United States, Barneys New York. Williamson notes that this lends authenticity to the viewers and the program, but does not play it as merely product placement. Due to the realistic approach of the show and docu-real format, this comes as a more natural way of presenting these products, and they also help further the plot’s complication. Just because there is a product placement does not mean that it is meant to be only presented in a positive light, but they are placed in situations that would later put Larry in a negative position. For example, Larry is trying to find a replacement of his original Camper shoes, until he finds them later on. However, the Barneys employee gets angry at him, since the employee has already placed replacement Campers for Larry. In the context of this story, the story does not highlight the Camper product itself, but is used as a catalyst for Larry’s trouble in finding the right balance of relationship between characters. According to