Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good

For Larry David, success was no sure thing. A frustrated New York comic who was known to walk off the stage in disgust, David was barely making a living. At least until his friend Jerry Seinfeld asked him to create a new kind of television sitcom for NBC. The result - Seinfeld - started slowly but became a gigantic hit. But most people didn't know that the real genius behind the show was Larry David.

Rich beyond his wildest dreams, David still had something to prove - and some television boundaries to push. And so he created Curb Your Enthusiasm, the improvised comedy that cast aside political correctness and made for hilarious, cringeworthy TV, a show that dared to relive the disastrous Seinfeld finale and turn it into a triumph.

This second, fully updated edition of Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good offers a complete episode-by-episode guide to the series and recounts David's early struggle to succeed in television and movies, the creation and development of his hit sitcoms, and his later success starring in the HBO film Clear History and the Broadway hit Fish in the Dark. It also explores Larry's on- and off-screen relationships with famous pals like Richard Lewis, Ted Danson, and Jerry, Jason, Julia, and Michael. Filled with candor and humor David himself would respect, Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good is an essential companion to a comedic force.


Dives into Larry David's career, from his early stand-up days to creating Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. It explores his comedic style, key relationships, and how he captivated audiences with his irreverent humor. Includes an episode guide to all seasons of Curb.


Josh Levine is a film and television critic. He is the author of books on the Coen Brothers, David E. Kelly, and Jerry Seinfeld. He lives in Toronto, ON.


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• INCLUDES PHOTOGRAPHS.



• PRETTY, PRETTY, PRETTY GOOD 2.0: Fully revised with 50 new pages on the making of the show and the lives of the actors, along with Larry David's forays into Broadway and film. Now features five additional seasons of episode guides, including the finale. It's the perfect opportunity for old fans to relive the series and to introduce Larry David's comedy to a new generation of fans.



• EXPLORES THE BIGGEST NAMES IN COMEDY: Levine explores Larry David's positive and negative relationships with notable personalities both on- and off-screen, including Jerry Seinfeld, Mel Brooks, Wanda Sykes, Richard Lewis, Jeff Garlin, and Ted Danson.



• THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY: Levine details the history of David's lengthy career with honesty, candor, and humor: from his Brooklyn upbringing, first jobs (bra salesman!), and angry stand-up years, to the unlikely collaboration with Jerry Seinfeld, his first disastrous foray into movies, his surprise at being offered the lead in a Woody Allen film, his surprising turn as a Broadway playwright and star, and his return to film and stage, as well as his dating and married life, his discomfort with enormous wealth, and the creation of his own show that finally made him a household name.



• ADDRESSES CURB'S BIGGEST CONTROVERSIES: Larry David wasn't afraid to make comedy about Christians, Jews, trans people, and #MeToo - angering some and delighting others in the process. This book doesn't shy away from diving into those controversies.



• ONGOING POPULARITY AND INFLUENCE: One of the most popular sitcoms in history, Seinfeld aired its final episode to 76.3M viewers worldwide and continues to draw viewership on streaming services and reruns 26 years later. Curb Your Enthusiasm debuted in 1999 and its final episode aired on April 7, 2024, after an astonishing 12 seasons. With Curb's finale featuring Jerry Seinfeld and a scene that mocked Seinfeld's own controversial ending, there has been an uptick in interest in both series.