Larry David has been in the news lately—not that there’s anything wrong with that.
The brains behind Seinfeld, along with Jerry Seinfeld (of course), and the epically funny Curb Your Enthusiasm, David failed as a stand-up comic, but he has more than made up for those losses with his incredible work on two long-running sitcoms.
From Yada-yada-yada, to “It wasn’t a pick” to the Master of One’s Domain, Larry David is all kinds of funny. The theme songs for his sitcoms are still ear candy for the average American.
Even in real life, he’s acting, he’s making jokes, and he’s fun to watch. Who can forget his friendly frolic fighting with Elmo on the set of CBS? Progressive brat Wil Wheaton was traumatized, but the rest of us said, “Grow up, and have a laugh.” Frankly, I’m glad someone goofed the ooh-too-gooey puppet. David’s kind of honest irreverence is refreshing.
That’s why it stuns me that in early April, 2025, David would write such a dry, hollow, sarcastic editorial mocking fellow comedian Bill Maher’s meeting with Donald Trump. Comedians making fun of comedians? Right away, you’re going to have problems.
Reading his clearly bitter New York Times Op-Ed “My Dinner with Adolph,” anyone with two eyes in their head can see that David is laying into Maher for sitting with Orange Man Bad, or “He who will not be named,” per Whoopi Goldberg
Let no one claim that we are reading too much into this. NBC called it a mockery of Maher. The Daily Beast and The Wrap also piled on. Their target was Bill Maher, and it was not about funny observations. As Scott Jennings stated on CNN, this was about intimidating and shaming anyone who would make overtures to President Trump.
Was this just another bit of irreverent humor from the otherwise refreshing sitcom writer, though? It’s really hard to see the humor or the irony in any of this. It’s not funny, it’s not appropriate. Frankly, David needs to curb his Trump Derangement Syndrome.
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But let’s explore this further. Why did David’s editorial fail as comedy?
The “Trump is Hitler” joke is so old, and the attacks are so old, or the joke is an old attack: take your pick! It’s about as funny as Kathy Griffin holding up a severed head of Trump. Putting aside the bad taste and insulting (even dangerous) insinuations, it’s just not funny.
Left-wing comedians lecturing us on their politics or launching out their bitterness does not make us laugh. We want them to make fun of the things that we don’t like, or that we can relate to. We also like comedians to poke fun at pretense in general or people in power.
In this country, a lot of people like Donald Trump (he won the popular as well as the electoral vote, after all!) What’s worse, the snide comparisons to Adolf Hitler come off as hollow and elitist. Larry David is not poking fun at Trump. He’s berating (not making fun of) you and me because we were tired of the destructive progressivism that was destroying this country. Like Wanda Sykes, who got booed in Boston in early 2017 after launching into a raunchy anti-Trump tirade, Larry’s instance of editorialized, politicized “humor” just doesn’t resonate.
Let’s keep it simple on this point, especially: when David upbraids Trump as the next Hitler, he’s saying that lots of Americans supported Hitler, too. Arrogantly, condescendingly insulting your audience does not make for good comedy.
Besides, it’s hard to see the Nazi in a head of state who just recently posted that he and the Israeli prime minister pretty much agree on everything. (Now that’s funny!) Bill Maher’s cogent reaction faults David’s diminution of the Holocaust, as well. Should we declare that all Hitler jokes are off limits? Don’t get me wrong: Hitler jokes can be lots of fun, too. “The Producers” proved that you can make fun of the Third Reich, and have people coming back for more.
Should David avoid roasting serious issues in general, too? Of course not!
One of David’s best Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes mocked the intense acrimony of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Everyone’s trying to decide if they want to eat or protest the Palestinian Fried Chicken place down the street. These silly adults want to fight over something—anything—and it all revolves around a chicken diner. What’s not to laugh at?
In another episode, David asked a gay couple why they chose one last name over another last name. This kind of relentless awkwardness was repeated on Saturday Night Live recently, and it was also funny!
David has poked fun at Trump, and he has poked fun at the left, too. Currently, he is one of the few recurring guests who make Saturday Night Live watchable. His skit “Bern Your Enthusiasm” deserves an Emmy for its smart script and irreverent humor. Even Bernie Sanders likes Larry!
What makes the sitcoms work? Larry David is making fun of himself while making fun of human nature. What made the SNL comedy skit work? Not only a brilliant crossover from his signature show, he was making fun of himself as much as he was pretending to be Bernie.
Humor depends on making quirky observations or witty parodies with some truth. No axes to grind, no agendas to press, just point out the funny somethings in the daily nothings of our lives. But railing at people with bitterness? Not funny! (to quote Jerry Seinfeld’s girlfriend switching dolls on his act)
Here's an idea for a skit, Larry: how about Trump and Bibi do something like “Trading Places”? Have one scene where Trump visits the Western Wall, saying, “I build the best walls, the tallest walls. We will put a big beautiful door right in the middle!” Bibi could get rid of the Coke Button in the Oval Office because it isn’t kosher. What do you think, Larry?
But eating dinner with Adolph Hitler? All I can say is “Serenity Now.”
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