He Laughed Along With Larry David and Borat. Until He Didn't.
Early in Larry Charles's juicy showbiz memoir 'Comedy Samurai,' he describes a formative moment writing for the television sketch show 'Fridays.' Andy Kaufman was doing a bit with a masked magician swallowing a sword, only to spit up blood. 'These were the laughs, the comedy, that I would try to pursue all my life,' Charles writes. 'The deeper codes of comedy.'
His book, a must-read for comedy nerds, is an account of nearly half of a century attempting to crack those codes, mostly as a director and writer, working with the most famous funny people in show business (Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld) and some of its most notorious bullies (Scott Rudin, the Weinstein brothers).
Charles, 68, describes them all with entertaining candor, while also illuminating the creation of several of the greatest comedies of the modern era, including 'Seinfeld' (he wrote for the first five seasons), 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' (he directed episodes for two decades) and 'Borat,' which he directed.
His career, which began by selling a joke to Jay Leno, is a pocket history of modern comedy, anchored by surprisingly melancholy portraits of his two most fertile artistic relationships — with Larry David and Sacha Baron Cohen. In a recent interview over Zoom, he reflected on the path from Coney Island to Hollywood.
You grew up in Trump Village, a then new housing complex in Coney Island built by the President's father, Fred. You meet him?
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
18 minutes ago
- CBS News
Colorado's Empower Field at Mile High to take precautions for heat during The Weeknd concert
This Saturday, thousands of people are expected to attend The Weeknd concert at Empower Field at Mile High, and venue organizers are working to make sure the heat doesn't ruin the fun. The Weeknd is a popular Canadian singer and songwriter famous for hits such as "Blinding Lights," "Starboy" and "Die For You." His stop in Denver is part of the "After Hours Til Dawn Tour" with Playboi Carti. Officials expect there to be a large crowd and heavy traffic during the concert and are encouraging guests to arrive early. Lots will open at 3 p.m. The Weeknd performs onstage for "After Hours Til Dawn" 2025 Stadium Tour at State Farm Stadium on May 09, 2025, in Glendale, Arizona. Kevin Mazur via Getty Images for Live Nation The Denver metro area will be under a heat advisory Saturday, with temperatures possibly climbing into the triple digits. The heat advisory will go into effect at 11 a.m. and remain in place until 6 p.m. The stadium management company said there will be several precautions in place, including additional medical staff to help concert goers with heat related issues. Some areas around the stadium will be used as expanded medical treatment areas, and over 30 free water refilling stations will be positioned throughout the stadium. Organizers said there will also be water refilling stations outside the east and west areas of the stadiums for guests waiting to enter. Precautions will also be in place to protect staff from the heat, with additional break areas with hydration stations.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tim Daly's N.Y.C. Apartment in Photos
More from Robb Report 'Wings' Star Tim Daly's Upper West Side Pied-à-Terre Just Listed for $1.6 Million A 1,000-Acre Private Island Steeped in Scottish History Hits the Market for the First Time in 80 Years A Contemporary Artist's Serene Retreat in Bel Air Can Be Yours for $16.5 Million Best of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article. An entry foyer with four oversized closets opens to seventh-floor residence, which has two bedrooms and 1.5 baths in 1,300 square feet. North-facing windows in the living/dining room provides city views and plenty of natural light. Ten-foot ceilings and a white-painted wood floor add to the room's cloud-like airiness. A copper light fixture hangs over the dining table. The kitchen is outfitted with Viking and Fisher & Paykel appliances. A compact office space and a powder room are tucked behind the kitchen. The primary bedroom includes a large walk-in closet. The primary shares a simple bath with the secondary bedroom. The secondary bedroom comes with built-in shelving. The floor plan.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Save the Dates: Sinners to Stream on Max, The Summer I Turned Pretty Rollout Plan and More
Sinners is coming home. The big-screen blockbuster starring Michael B. Jordan will make its global streaming debut on Max Friday, July 4, the streamer has announced. The movie will then premiere on HBO linear Saturday, July 5 at 8/7c. More from TVLine Every New Scripted Show Confirmed to Premiere in 2025 - Save the Dates! Save the Dates: 4 Faith-Based Lifetime Movies, Roku's Love Letter to Dingers and More The Sandman's Final Season Trailer Features Dream's Return to Hell, Warns 'All Good Stories Come to an End' Written and directed by Black Panther's Ryan Coogler, Sinners stars Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers who return to their Mississippi hometown, where they face off with a swarm of vampires. The cast also includes Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O'Connell and Delroy Lindo. Hitting theaters in April, Sinners became a massive hit at the box office, grossing more than $275 million domestically. In other recent scheduling news… * The Summer I Turned Pretty's third and final season, premiering Wednesday, July 16, will open with the first two episodes, followed by weekly drops through Sept. 17. * Danica McKellar and Trevor Donovan will star in the Great American Family original movie Grounded in Love, which will begin streaming exclusively on Great American Pure Flix on Thursday, Aug. 7. It will then premiere on Great American Family Saturday, Sept. 27 at 8 pm. McKellar stars as a flight attendant who takes a road trip to her grandmother's Kentucky farm and reunites with her childhood friend, played by Donovan. Get a first look here: Best of TVLine 'Missing' Shows, Found! Get the Latest on Ahsoka, Monarch, P-Valley, Sugar, Anansi Boys and 25+ Others Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?) The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
