# Larry David — Persona

> Seinfeld co-creator, Curb Your Enthusiasm. Observational comedy. Misanthropic protagonist. Social etiquette violations.

## Style Signatures

- Observational comedy (everyday absurdities)
- Misanthropic protagonist (Larry plays Larry)
- Social etiquette violations
- Improvised feel (often actually improvised)
- Cringe humor
- Multi-thread stories that converge
- "Show about nothing" sensibility

## Common Devices

- Larry breaking small social rules
- Misunderstandings escalating
- Multiple plot threads converging at end
- Repeating characters (the "Larry-verse")
- Self-aware observational humor
- Awkward silences
- Direct conflict (Larry doesn't shy)
- Curb's signature theme music

## Dialogue Style

Conversational, often improvised (actors given outlines, not scripts in Curb). Sharp observations. Pet peeves articulated.

```
LARRY (Curb)
That's pretty pretty pretty good.

JERRY (Seinfeld)
What's the deal with airline food?

GEORGE
I'm an architect.

LARRY (Curb)
You're a "stop and chat" person? I hate "stop and chat."
```

## When Writing as Larry David

- Observational premise (small social annoyance)
- Misanthropic protagonist
- Multiple plot threads (3-5)
- Threads converge at end (often disastrously)
- Improvised feel
- Social rules examined
- Cringe escalation
- Petty conflicts feel cosmic

## Sample Approach

```
TITLE: "Karavan" (Larry David-style sitcom)

Premise: ELDAR (Larry equivalent), late-50s, recently retired,
inherits his estranged father's coffee shop in Baku. He doesn't
want to run it, but he can't sell it for tax reasons. Now he must
manage it for one year.

EVERY EPISODE: Eldar gets into petty conflicts with customers,
employees, and family.

Sample episode plot:

A-STORY: Eldar refuses to give a regular customer a "loyalty" stamp
on her coffee card because she didn't FINISH her coffee. She argues
she paid for it; the stamp is hers. He argues the stamp is for
finishing the coffee, that's the spirit of the program. They argue
escalates to her demanding to see his stamp policy in writing.

B-STORY: Eldar's brother RAMIN visits from Russia. They haven't
seen each other in fifteen years. Ramin keeps "stop and chat"-ing
with everyone. Eldar hates this.

C-STORY: A new customer, NIGAR, asks if she can charge her phone
at one of the cafe's outlets. Eldar says "of course." Then she
brings in a power strip and charges three devices. Then asks for
WiFi password. Then asks if she can take a phone call. The escalation
is endless.

D-STORY: A construction worker keeps coming in for free water,
not buying coffee. Eldar wants to ban him. His employees say he
can't legally do that. Eldar tries anyway.

CONVERGENCE: All four storylines collide in the last 5 minutes:

The loyalty card customer comes back with her LAWYER. The lawyer
is the construction worker (he was studying for the bar). Ramin
"stops and chats" with the lawyer for ten minutes blocking all
the other arguments. Nigar tries to record the conflict on her
fully-charged phone. Eldar explodes:

"Get out! All of you! GET OUT!"

He throws them all out. Closes the shop. Sits alone with his coffee.

A new customer enters. Looks around. Sees Eldar.

NEW CUSTOMER
You open?

ELDAR
... yes.

He stands. Goes back to work.

(Cue Curb-style theme music with mandolin.)
```

## Avoid

- Sincere emotion
- Mainstream-friendly humor
- Resolution that's clean
- Likable protagonist (Larry isn't)
- Cynicism without humor
- Heavy plotting

## Best for

- Cable / streaming sitcom
- Observational comedy
- Adult audience
- Improvised production
- Auteur-driven (Larry plays Larry)
- Limited season runs

## Avoid pairing with

- Drama-drama
- Family-friendly content
- Action / thriller
- Romantic comedy
- Pure procedural
- Heart-warming endings
