In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, comedian Susie Essman shared some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from the hit show Curb Your Enthusiasm. Essman, who has been a part of the show for an impressive 24 years, revealed that many of the iconic lines on the show are completely improvised.
When asked if she expected to still be talking about Curb Your Enthusiasm 20 years later, Essman replied with a resounding “no.” She explained that when the show first started, it was a small, under-the-radar comedy with a low budget. There were no scripts, just an outline of the scene. All the hilarious and raunchy dialogue that came out of Essman’s mouth was straight from her head.
Fallon praised Essman’s comedic timing and mentioned that the latest season of Curb Your Enthusiasm had some great moments. Essman revealed that her character, Susie, starts a caftan business this season, which leads to a hilarious scene involving a defaced billboard. To promote the season, HBO actually put up a real billboard on Santa Monica Boulevard, which was eventually defaced with male genitalia. Essman couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.
But perhaps the most surprising guest appearance this season was none other than Bruce Springsteen himself. Essman shared that Springsteen improvised one of his lines, saying the infamous “floor [bleep].” The line was so memorable that fans at one of Springsteen’s concerts were actually holding up signs referencing it. Springsteen’s appearance on the show was a one-day event, but it seems the impact will stay with him for a while.
Essman also mentioned her love for one of her co-stars, Richard Lewis. She described him as one of the funniest and most original people she has known, as well as incredibly generous and kind. Lewis’s presence on the show will be greatly missed.
Ending the interview on a light-hearted note, Fallon praised Essman for her incredible talent and thanked her for 24 years of laughter on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Essman jokingly refused to take a selfie with the iconic Bruce Springsteen, explaining that she doesn’t do selfies. The interview concluded with a clip from the final season of the show, showcasing the hilarious banter between Essman’s character and Larry David.
Fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm certainly have a lot to look forward to this season, with unexpected cameos and unforgettable moments of improvisation. And with Essman’s comedic brilliance, it’s no wonder the show has become such a cultural phenomenon over the past two decades.
