"Curb Your Enthusiasm" Takes On Michael Richards Fiasco (VIDEO)

Last night marked the penultimate "Curb" episode featuring the "Seinfeld" cast, and while we've learned a lot about what's happened to the characters since the show went of air (Elaine gave birth to Jerry's child who calls him "uncle," George lost all his money in Madoff's ponzi scheme) we've heard little of the actors' real lives...until now. In the episode dubbed "The Table Read," Leon Black and Michael Richards had a run-in. Richards yelled, "I'm so pissed off I could put this hat up your ass...You made a chump out of me...If only there were a horrible name that I could call you that would make you as angry as I am." At this point dozens of people had gathered around them filming him with their camera phones, just like what happened in 2006 when Richards went on a racist tirade at the Laugh Factory in real life. In that instance he yelled at heckler saying, "Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f***ing fork up your ass...Throw his ass out. He's a n***er! He's a n***er! He's a n***er!"


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Comments

[balancedsolution]

Personally don't think Richards is a racist. He just lost it for a moment......

When you are in the creative arts and sports it's difficult to be homophobic or racist, since you are working with a wide variety of people.

This episode was the best of the year though and it was a good resolution with Kramer and Leon.

Funny. Keep it coming. Can't there be more episodes than 9 or 10 each year?

[brooklyncitizen]

What's interesting is to contrast this Richards' rant with Mel Gibson's admittedly drunken rant when arrested a couple of years back. No one lets Mel Gibson forget it, and he's forever labelled as anantisemite.Yet here we are asked to let bygones be bygones because Richards was merely being offensive to AA....which is not as pejorative as being an antisemite in this country.

[Jaime13]

I've never heard any apologies from Mel Gibson or his father renouncing their views. If they did then perhaps they should be given a chance also. Micheal Richards however called and apologized to both Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. And as someone else stated below has had multiple fellow black comedians come out on his behalf saying they do not believe he is racist. Noones trying to say being racist against blacks is more forgivable than being racist against Jews, that's rediculous. I think we're saying everyone deserves a second chance. Having one outburst doesn't make you Hitler or David Duke. Life is not that simple.

[brooklyncitizen]

Well I agree that life is not that simple.

The apology to Jackson and Sharpton were ridiculous- did he apologize to the people he offended? No. They waited for an apology.Jackson and Sharpton are not spokespersons for AA, they are political individuals.

So everyone is to be forgiven EXCEPT for Mel Gibson and his father whose beliefs are just offensive but were not addressed to anyone in particular and were not part of an attack. How about respecting that they don't have your world view? To borrow your phrase, their views don't make them Hitler or David Dukes.

[rabblerouser42]

Obama to Send Leon From ‘Curb’ to Kickstart Middle East Peace Talks
http://satiricalpolitical.com/2009/11/16/obama-to-send-leon-from-curb-to-kickstart-middle-east-peace-talks/

[vandegrasse]

Didn't a lot of Black People consider OJ Simpson not guilty despite the overwhelming evidence. That was just as wrong (worse because it was murder) than holding Richards eternally accountable for one misjudgement.

[UnknownSolider]

Whenever someone uses the phrase "Overwhelming Evidence" when talking about the OJ trial it tells me one thing.............. They did not watch the trial, and they got all of their information from the Mainstream Media

Outside of the glove that was probably planted and the socks that were more than likely tampered with, there wasn't much evidence.

The smudge on the Bronco didn't have the victimsBlood it was only OJs and there wasn't much there.

OJ might be guilty but it wasn't proven in that trial, the prosecutors rushed the case and then got out lawyered.

Our system is not perfect, but it is the best one out there.

[Jasel]

Two words. Mark Fuhrman.

I'm not sure what this has to do with O.J at all. Blacks didn't consider OJ guilty in large part because a racist white cop was caught planting evidence. Which doesn't exactly scream slam dunk case to begin with.

Michael Richards was caught on video and witnessed by dozens of people besides that. I'm not catching the above posters comparison. And I've never seen any blacks say that he should be held eternally responsible. It's been 3 years *rolls eyes*

[AudiGuy]

Exactly!

FYI - I believe he did it, but trials are based on evidence.

[vandegrasse]

I love Michael Richards and I always will. Just as I admire Malcolm X though not all his racist viewpoints!

[joceeco]

What racist view points did Malcom X have? Please list them.

[brooklyncitizen]

Early on he thought whites were the devil.
Malcolm went through a real transformation as a person and as a thinker.

[Mike Sprinkel]

I'm glad they addressed this. I've always felt bad for Michael Richards because, in my opinion, actions speak louder than words. To my knowledge, his actions never manifested racist sentiment, so I consider his little Laugh Factory rant to be a relatively benign instance of temporary insanity.

A lot of people have anger issues; if you've ever left your house, you undoubtedly know this. The only way to condition these folks to control their anger is to hold them accountable for it. Depending on the severity, the penalties can stem from public scorn to life imprisonment. Anyway, I think that's what happened here - Richards was just an angry guy looking to hurt his mark. He saw a vulnerability, i.e. race, and he attacked it in a rage. Thereafter, he was held accountable. Hopefully, the mortification he endured was enough to condition his future responses to anger invoking stimuli.

[JonnytheMonkey]

@Mike Sprinkel

Agree ! Proof Michael Richards is *opposite* of racist (ENN article):
http://celebs.electronicnewsnetwork.com/michael-richards/

[fresno500]

Proof that he is: Laugh Factory Rant

[1UnknownSoldier]

ok, now the question I'd like for you to answer is why did Richards single out those 2 black people who were with a group of whites and latinos.

I agree with your sentiments in most instances, but not this one. Isiah Washington is a still an untouchable in Hollywood, but he doesn't have the same level of friends Richards does.

I say Washington is getting what he deserves for not controlling his anger.

[vandegrasse]

And yes his outburst was uncalled for, but he sought forgiveness and that is that.

[enlightened cat]

Agree. Michael suffered a temporary lapse of reason and lost it for a few moments. Who hasn't lost control at least once in their lives. Someone pushes a button that you didn't even know was there, and then you're asking yourself, "where did THAT come from!"

I never for a minute believed his outburst was racially motivated. If it were white boys causing the same disturbance he would have railed them good with every tool in his stage toolbox.

I believe he was mortified by his behavior, sincerely asked for forgiveness, and then retreated for several years to sort things out on the inside.

Anyone who doesn't accept his plea for forgiveness has their own problem.

[UnknownSolider]

There was no disturbance, you should watch the entire video.

It was a small group of different ethnicity white, black and latino were late getting to their seats because they were at the bar buying drinks. They didn't say anything, they were sitting down to watch the performance.

Richards only singled out the two black people in the group for his tirade.

So what are you talking about?

Curb your Enthusiasm was wrong for trying mock this incident, and even worse for trying to use Richards to do it.

[Jaime13]

are you refering to me? seems like I'm what? I never defended what he said. simply his and everyones ability to learn and grow from their mistakes. sorry if I refuse to believe a person can be defined by one thing they did or said years ago. I don't recall ever saying what he said was okay.

[Jaime13]

what's the trust?

[ChrisVan8]

You have to admit, this entire episode was hilarious even if the Michael Richards bit did seem a little forced. But the story line about Larry exchanging texts with the 9 year old with a rash on her pus*y, you can't get any less PC than that. But it's still pretty darn funny.

[1UnknownSoldier]

The point that I will make about Richards incident was that the person he chose to single out for his racial comedy was the black guy in a mixed group of friends. There were white and latinos in the group and Richards upset them too with his comments.

Richards is not very talented, is he racist, not in the southern way as we know it. However if Richards was asked what contributions can he think of that Black Americans have made to America prior to Martin Luther King, he may be at a loss for words.

[-0013]

What does "racist in a southern way as we know it mean"?

Is racism in the south that much higher quality than found everywhere else around the country?

[1UnknownSoldier]

I'm not getting into that debate, I have my opinions and I'm sure you have yours

[brooklyncitizen]

Ehrmm....blatant you know...slavery, Jim Crow, lynching that sort of stuff that happenned only in the south.

[dontpanic1]

Good point...but of course, people will overlook that.

[Jaime13]

grind88 good post.

[Jaime13]

lol, none of you live in the south do you. I know very racist white people and very racist black people. I've heard extremely racist violent crap out of both races while in the heat of the moment in a fight. no, I'm not racist. I have plenty of black friends who I love and respect and have never been able to tolerate hatred from some of the rednecks that I knew growing up. I have simply learned over the years that things are not so black and white. I've had serious in depth discussions about race with all types and have seen with my own eyes people change and lose predjudices when givin a chance to be heard and get feedback for their feelings. if wishing for more understanding so that the country can get over the hatred and bad feelings makes me stupid liberal so be it. I come from a city that is at times still very racially charged so I think I have a good insight on this issue.

[Classof89]

I live in North Carolina (born and raised), in what they call the "bible-belt" state, and I am a black woman, and yes, even though racism has always been more prominent in the South, racism is not immune from the rest of the country, nor the rest of the world. You find straight-up racists and people with deep-seated prejudices in every culture, not just black and white. I've seen and experienced my share of racism (being a recipient of it most recently from an employee at a Hallmark store of all places), but no question it's come moreso from whites, and that's just a matter of fact that you all have to face. Look at the high increase of hate groups in the past year or two.

As I've stated before, forgiveness is not a problem for me personally, and I am a firm believer in people redeeming themselves, but all I ask is never tell us to forget something that was this hurtful.

[Jaime13]

I don't think any one expects the past to be forgotten. I would never suggest that. I have respect for anyone who went through those times. I do want our country to move on and be better for it though.

[Bulbul]

Michael Richars is one lucky man, serrounded by well wishing friends in high places helping him to salvage his sagging career, does not matter to me, never been a fan. Actually he was my least favorite character in Seinfeld. But what he had done was inexcusable, only time will tell if his fans would take him back !
On a positive note, Leon has been discovered.......

[Jaime13]

why the comparisons to Mel Gibson? two completely different situations. Mel Gibson said those things completely unprovoked while drunk. to me people show their true side while drunk. we also have heard his father is an avowed holocaust denier, which just makes it seem worse. I do think if he came out and wanted to discuss what he said he should also be allowed to make ammends if he seemed genuine. all this hatred and judgement for Richards isn't any better than him yelling out what he did. forgiveness and understanding is how we defeat predjudice, that goes both ways.

[bostongreen]

Whatever you say, Gandhi. I have nagging suspicion that you would be screaming for any comedian's head if they were black and said something about wanting to lynch white people. White people are the most ignorant about racism and the destructive qualities it brings to minority communities.

[Arthur reed]

Shad up, Rber.

[MainSpark]

"White people are the most ignorant about racism and the destructive qualities it brings to minority communities."

Whatever...

Instead of building bridges of understanding between races, you seem to be intent on burning them. Good luck with that, though.

[dontpanic1]

Hey, it doesn't effect them AND they get to play innocent.

[Jaime13]

no, i wouldn't. is this how you win a debate. by assumptions and name calling?

[adam704a]

I really like Larry David and pretty much everything he does (the obvious exception to that of course, is his role in the movie Whatever Works). But this is an excellent example of a subject that just can't be made funny. I know this is kind of his schtick, take something that is not normally funny and make it funny. Well, it just doesn't work here. Its not funny, its sad.

If anything after watching this clip I feel sorry for Michael Richards.

[brooklyncitizen]

Great post.
There was something tragic and uncomfortable about it.

[JimR]

Respectfully disagree, but we all have different opinions.