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But David and his collaborators don't just pile outrage upon outrage to see what they can get away with. There's a structure, a rhythm and a point to every episode, just as there was on David's previous series, NBC's "Seinfeld." And just like any other ambitious, long-running series, this one inspires obsessive scrutiny and list-making. This slide show ranks my 10 favorite "Curb" episodes; the list is weighted toward the earlier season, but there are a few later entries, too. I hope that it is, to quote one of Larry's catchphrases, "Pretty, pretty, pretty... pretty good." And I hope you'll share your picks in the Letters section.

A word of warning, though: Considering the raunchy, profane, sexually frank, politically incorrect nature of "Curb," most of these entries -- and the clips linked within them -- are not safe for work.

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Last night's seventh season finale offered a particularly tantalizing taste of just how funny the "Seinfeld" cast and its creators still are after all these years. The finale and its fictional reunion show not only found several fun and clever ways to bring these familiar characters into a current landscape -- George invents the iToilet but his fortune is ripped off by Bernie Madoff, Elaine ignores Jerry to read her BlackBerry -- but it also featured some truly memorable scenes between Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld.

The behind-the-scenes bits from the reunion plot have proven entertaining all season, particularly when they didn't involve some tiff with Larry David that we've seen a million times before. Larry's spat with Julia Louis-Dreyfus over water stains on her antiques fell into repetitive territory, of course. (And how many times can Suzie call Larry an asshole and throw him out of her house?)

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Besides, how rude is it to show up at someone's galactic doorstep without inviting them to your solar system first? Of course they say they're in desperate need of our valuable resources, because it sounds a lot better than admitting that once they mastered quantum physics and nanotechnology and the like, they got bored and decided to tool around the universe, looking for fun ways to fuck shit up.

In fact, their planet is actually a lot nicer and cleaner than ours, because they spent all their time making scientific and technological advances instead of poisoning their delicate ecosystem with carbon emissions and spray tans and "Two and a Half Men" reruns.

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Weide, 49, is a thin man with closely cropped dark hair, a neatly trimmed salt-and-pepper beard, and a focused set of brown eyes, protected behind black rectangular glasses. He grew up in Southern California, watching comedy from the Marx Brothers through "Annie Hall," which may account for his somewhat New Yorkerish vibe. "People are shocked when I tell them I grew up out here," he said. "There's a Lenny Bruce bit -- 'If you're from New York you're Jewish, even if you're not Jewish. And if you're from the Midwest you're not Jewish, even if you're Jewish.'" Weide is the kind of genuine man, less common in Hollywood by the second, who lacks slickness, excessive amounts of aggression, the desire to show off, cut corners and name-drop -- all issues broached in his feature directing debut, out this week, called "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People."


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The global warming yuk-fest has an all-star roster, featuring Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Cameron Diaz, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin and Ben Stiller, among many others. Writers from "The Daily Show," "The Simpsons," "King of the Hill" and "Everybody Loves Raymond" conspired to help with the event, which will be staged live at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

Earlier this week, America's favorite curmudgeon, Larry David, talked by phone from his home in Los Angeles, with some inside dish on the show.

What's your 20-second pitch for "Earth to America"?

A 20-second pitch?

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No, America is snoozing soundly once again. Would Dick Cheney dare to foist Henry Kissinger, who can't go out for coffee without getting arrested by foreign authorities, and John Poindexter, who's lucky he's still able to vote, upon anything but a safely somnolent American public? I didn't think so.

But I'm too cruel to my comrade with the big glowing screen. Television is our friend. It is what we watch while pretending to listen to our loved ones. It is where the 30 percent of us who vote go to get information from trusted news professionals, until we remember that they're a bunch of jabbering idiots and turn it off in disgust. Yes, truly was it written over and over on a haunted hotel's walls by the patriarch of "The Simpsons": "No TV and no beer make Homer go crazy."

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1. Live from the sands (of the Jersey shore)

For all the kudos given to Carmela's full-frontal rages in the season-ending episode of "The Sopranos," they were straight out of the Actors Workshop -- and anger is the easiest emotion to play on-screen. No, the great performance of that episode came from Tony's boat right before the closing credits. Alone in the night, but still singing along to Rat Pack dreams, winning the battle if never the war. As false and perfect as the Frank Sinatra on your jukebox, it's Tony's reminder to the world that he too has been a pauper, a poet, a pawn and a king, usually all at the same time.

2. Why you keep handcuffs in your nightstand drawer.

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This is not necessarily true of the real Larry David, New York comedy club veteran, co-creator of "Seinfeld" and current star of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," although he is rather famously the model for "Seinfeld's" George Costanza. And "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was inspired by a 1999 cinéma vérité mock documentary based on his post-"Seinfeld" life. On the series, which began its third season Sunday night, David spends most of his time putzing around Los Angeles alternately worrying aloud, taking umbrage and pissing people off. Maybe he's more modulated in real life, maybe he wishes he wasn't. "I have a tendency toward catastrophic thinking," he has said. "Sometimes, I'll be in a situation and think, If I'd said this, or done that, that would have been very funny. And I have the luxury of living out that fantasy on the show, where you couldn't have done that in real life."

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E! True Hollywood Story (8 p.m. Sun., E!) shines a two-hour spotlight on "L.A. Law." American Masters (9 p.m. Sun., PBS, check local listings) chronicles the history of vaudeville. Larry gets a massage, and trouble follows, on Curb Your Enthusiasm (10 p.m. Sun., HBO).

Specials

Radio's most played artists (and you know what that means) are honored on the Radio Music Awards (9 p.m. Fri., ABC). Try to contain your excitement. Allison Janney hosts Women Rock! Girls & Guitars (9 p.m. Fri., Lifetime), a breast cancer benefit concert featuring Mary J. Blige, the Dixie Chicks, Emmylou Harris, Nelly Furtado, Sheryl Crow and more. The Blair Witch Project (8 p.m. Sun., FX) gets a pre-Halloween airing. The new TV movie The Wedding Dress (9 p.m. Sun., CBS) charts the course of one vintage dress as it changes the lives of several people, one of whom is Doogie Howser.

Sports

World Series:
Yankees at Diamondbacks (7:30 Sat., Sun., Fox)

Football:
Jaguars at Ravens, Jets at Panthers or Bengals at Lions (1 p.m. Sun., CBS)
Saints at Rams, Vikings at Buccaneers or 49ers at Bears (1 p.m. Sun., Fox)
Patriots at Broncos, Raiders at Eagles, Bills at Chargers or Dolphins at Seahawks (4 p.m. Sun., CBS)
Giants at Redskins or Cardinals at Cowboys (4 p.m. Sun., Fox)

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Ellen is photographed for a magazine spread on dot-com has-beens on The Ellen Show (8 p.m. Fri., CBS). Sam the artist (Steven Weber) is back in Judy's life on Once and Again (10 p.m. Fri., ABC). Drew Barrymore hosts Saturday Night Live (11:30 p.m. Sat., NBC) with music from Macy Gray. Inside the Actors Studio (7 p.m. ET/ 8 PT, Sun., Bravo) has a two-hour special celebrating its 100th episode. Gene Hackman is the guest. Aaliyah is the subject of both E! True Hollywood Story (8 p.m. Sun., E!) and Behind the Music (9 p.m. Sun., VH1). The new sitcom Men, Women and Dogs (8:30 p.m. Sun., WB) stars Bill Bellamy one of a group of friends who tries to get lucky in a dog park. Sydney goes up against her arch-nemesis, a female Russian agent, on Alias (9 p.m. Sun., ABC). Two college pals, one British and one American, share a New York bachelor pad in the new sitcom Off Centre (9:30 p.m. Sun., WB). Sounds almost as good as "Men, Women and Dogs." Larry tries to set up an HBO project for Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Curb Your Enthusiasm (10:15 Sun., HBO). It won't work out. It never does. But the way it won't work out will be brilliant.

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Ed (8 p.m., NBC) opens its new season with the bowling alley lawyer caught between a rock and a hard place. Actually, he's caught between Carol and Bonnie. Kim Fields -- that's Tootie from "Facts of Life" to you -- gets her very own Biography (8 p.m., A&E). College life beckons for everyone except Pacey in the season opener of Dawson's Creek (8 p.m., WB). The West Wing (9 p.m., NBC) gets back to business with the season opener, in which Bartlet makes his reelection intentions public. On the season premiere of Felicity (9 p.m., WB), senior year proves to be a rude awakening for our girl, who has to decide what she's going to be when she grows up. Drew juggles two wives on The Drew Carey Show (9 p.m., ABC). In case you fell asleep waiting for it to start Sunday, Curb Your Enthusiasm (9 p.m., HBO) gets another airing. Larry's affection for the composer Wagner gets him labeled a "self-hating Jew."

Sports

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Dear Diary,

When promoting "Pasadena," a Fox series that debuted Friday night, creator Mike White ("Chuck and Buck") promised a "psychotic soap" that would "only get darker." I was excited after seeing the previews, which made it look like a lunatic "Dynasty" crammed with intentional jokes. But the pilot, which was rather remarkably unremarkably directed by Diane Keaton, seemed a lot less psychotic than it did catatonic, or at least heavily medicated. Watching "Pasadena" was like watching "Dynasty" on lithium. Hopefully, something or someone will start foaming soon. Maybe it'll be Dana Delaney, whose character already appears to be in need of a nice, long rest.

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Reruns still dominate the prime-time schedule; the new season is now scheduled to begin next week. Biography (8 p.m., A&E) has a new profile of "Godfather" author Mario Puzo. CBS resumes new episodes of the reality show The Amazing Race (9 p.m., CBS). The West Wing (9 p.m., NBC) reruns last season's cliffhanger finale, in which Bartlet grapples with all manner of crises as he decides whether or not to run for reelection. HBO reruns the season premiere of Curb Your Enthusiasm (9 p.m., HBO); Larry and Cheryl go house hunting, and Larry realizes his dream of being a car salesman.

Sports

Baseball:
Diamondbacks at Rockies (7 p.m., ESPN)
Braves at Phillies (7 p.m., ESPN2)
Astros at Giants (10 p.m., ESPN)
Padres at Dodgers (10 p.m., ESPN2)

Talk

The networks' talk-show guest rosters are in flux due to travel and security concerns.

All times Eastern unless noted.

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Love, exploitative and new ... Love Cruise: The Maiden Voyage (9 p.m., Fox) sets sail into "Temptation Island" waters with 16 singles changing partners every two days and voting off the incompatibles; $200,000 goes to the last couple standing. Well, maybe not standing. What would Captain Steubing say about this? Mysterious Ways (9 p.m., PAX) begins a new season of weirdness. The new HBO comedy series The Mind of the Married Man (10 p.m., HBO) premieres. Apparently, the mind of the married man is filled with thoughts of cheating on his wife. Comedian Mike Binder created and stars in what he thinks is the male version of "Sex and the City." The best comedy on TV, Curb Your Enthusiasm (10:30 p.m., HBO), returns with new episodes, and not a moment too soon. Larry David plays Larry David, the co-creator of "Seinfeld," now living crankily off his royalties in L.A. splendor. In this episode, Larry gets the opportunity to be a car salesman, something he's always wanted to do. And Jason Alexander shows up to complain that he never liked George Costanza. ("Curb Your Enthusiasm" moves to Sundays after this special airing.)

Specials

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Mad TV (11 p.m. Sat., Fox) has its Christmas show, with guest Everclear. Lucy Liu hosts the Christmas edition of Saturday Night Live (11:30 p.m. Sat., NBC), with music from Jay-Z. On The Simpsons (8 p.m. Sun., Fox), a blizzard traps principal Skinner, groundskeeper Willie and the students at Springfield Elementary. One spoof of "The Shining," coming right up. The Sopranos (8 p.m. Sun., HBO) repeats the Emmy-winning episode "College," in which Tony takes care of a little business on the side while chaperoning Meadow on a tour of Maine colleges. Scully and Doggett investigate a mass cult murder on The X-Files (9 p.m. Sun., Fox). Behind the Music (9 p.m. Sun., VH1) looks back at the music stars of 2000. On The Practice (10 p.m. Sun., ABC), Bobby has to defend his pal Scott again, serial murderer William Hinks returns to spook Lindsay and Helen prosecutes a mob case involving a former lover. Curb Your Enthusiasm (10 p.m. Sun., HBO) ends its season (too short!) with Cheryl exhibiting uncharacteristic jealousy toward Larry's former girlfriend. Laraine Newman guests. On Queer as Folk (10 p.m. Sun., Showtime), the guys keep watch over Ted, who is in a coma after being slipped a party drug.

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In the new action series Freedom (8 p.m. Fri., UPN), from producer Joel Silver ("The Matrix"), the U.S. is a police state and it's up to four special-forces members to put things right. Starring Holt McCallany (no relation to Troy McClure from "The Simpsons"). In another new UPN action series, Level 9 (9 p.m. Fri., UPN), from producer John Sacret Young ("China Beach," "VR.5"), the U.S. is under the constant threat of cyberterrorism and it's up to four government superhackers to put things right. Starring Max Martini and Fabrizio Filippo (no relation to Milli Vanilli). Mad TV (11 p.m. Sat., Fox) spoofs Halloween at celebrities' homes. Saturday Night Live (11:30 p.m. Sat., NBC) takes the week off with a compilation of past Halloween sketches. The Simpsons (8 p.m. Sun., Fox) reruns last year's Halloween anthology, where Homer causes a Y2K disaster and Marge accidentally kills Ned Flanders. Carol is jealous of Ed's attractive new client on Ed (8 p.m. Sun., NBC). Nature (8 p.m. Sun., PBS, check local times) presents "The Octopus Show," an up close and personal look at our tentacled friend. Robert Redford is profiled on a new two-hour Biography (8 p.m. Sun., A&E). The X-Files (9 p.m. Sun., Fox) repeats last year's cliffhanger finale, which sets up Mulder's disappearance and reveals a surprise about Scully that you probably know already. Tiffany, the Britney Spears of the '80s, is scrutinized on Behind the Music (9 p.m. Sun., VH1). The new cooking show Naked Chef (10 p.m. Sun., Food Network) stars British cooking superstar Jamie Oliver, who, despite the title, isn't naked. But he sure is cute. On Curb Your Enthusiasm (10 p.m. Sun., HBO), Larry and Cheryl attend a dinner party at the home of a former porno movie star (Bob Odenkirk), where their host talks shop about a little-known use for Tabasco sauce.

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Providence (8 p.m. Fri., NBC) opens its new season; so does Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (10 p.m. Fri., NBC). Barbara Walters interviews Lee Radziwill, sister of the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, on 20/20 (10 p.m. Fri., ABC). The new series The Fearing Mind (8 p.m. Sat., Fox Family) is a family comedy with overtones of horror -- real horror, because Dad is a famed writer of spooky novels. Harry van Gorkum stars as the Kingly protagonist. Mad TV (11 p.m. Sat., Fox) features a parody of Madonna's rhinestone cowgirl/pimp video for "Music." Plus, a performance from Barenaked Ladies. The Church Lady -- OK, Dana Carvey -- returns to host Saturday Night Live (11:30 p.m. Sat., NBC), with musical guests the Wallflowers. On Ed (8 p.m. Sun., NBC), the man with the toothy smile gets served with divorce papers, which inspires him to woo his dream girl Carol with a homemade music video. Nature (8 p.m. Sun., PBS, check local times) begins a new season with "Wild Horses of Mongolia," in which Julia Roberts lives on the plains with nomadic herders. But where does she plug in her curling iron? Sinéad O'Connor tore up a picture of the pope; then she became a priest; now she's the subject of a new Behind the Music (9 p.m. Sun., VH1). On Curb Your Enthusiasm (10 p.m. Sun., HBO), Larry and Cheryl go bowling with Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, Larry's shoes are stolen from the bowling alley and ... oh, it's too complicated to explain. Just watch.

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"Mary Queen of Scots: Heroine or Harlot?" That's the title of a new edition of Biography (8 p.m. Fri., A&E). Enquiring minds want to know! Kate Hudson hosts Saturday Night Live (11:30 p.m. Sat., NBC), with musical guest Radiohead. Last week's season opener was stunningly mediocre. Was Cheri Oteri such an integral part of the show that the whole thing has gone to hell without her? There was a whole summer of targets waiting to be parodied, but "SNL" missed them all. I mean, Jimmy Fallon and Eddie from "Big Brother" were separated at birth! A "Big Brother" skit would have been a no-brainer. Come on, people! Snap to it! On the weird and wonderful Ed (8 p.m. Sun., NBC), Ed enlists Carol's help in his defense of an elderly magician. Sex and the City (9 p.m. Sun., HBO) winds up its season. Will Carrie get back with Big, now that he's single again? Will Miranda catch a break? Will Charlotte ever be able to help Trey sustain a stiffie? Still, the problems of the "Sex and the City" girls pale in comparison to those of "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David in his impeccably nasty new sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm (9:30 p.m. Sun., HBO). On The Practice (10 p.m. Sun., ABC), Bobby gets surprising help from Helen when he appeals his client's murder conviction.

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