Larry Charles
Encyclopedia
Larry Charles is an American writer, director, and producer. He is best known as a staff writer for the American sitcom Seinfeld
for its first 5 seasons, contributing some of the show's darkest and most absurd storylines. He has also directed the films Borat
, Religulous
, Brüno
, and The Dictator
.
to a Jewish family, Charles performed stand-up comedy in the 1970s until he was hired to write for the short-lived sketch comedy show Fridays (where he worked with Larry David
, who would later give him a job as a writer on Seinfeld
and director on Curb Your Enthusiasm
). This began a career in television writing which included The Arsenio Hall Show
and eventually Seinfeld.
wrote the bulk of the show's episodes during the first five seasons, Charles was their second in command during this period. Charles had met Seinfeld co-creator Larry David
when he was part of the writing staff of the ABC
sketch show Fridays, on which David and Michael Richards
were also part of the show's ensemble cast. Charles had been unable to write for the show's first season
, as he had been writing for The Arsenio Hall Show
during its production.
Charles is noted for contributing some of the show's darker storylines and scenes; for example in the season 2 episode "The Baby Shower" Charles wrote a dream sequence in which the title character, Jerry Seinfeld, was killed. Charles's episodes also covered other controversial topics, such as Nazis
(in "The Limo
"), a psychotic stalker (in "The Opera
") and a hospital patient committing suicide (in "The Bris
"). In fact, Charles wrote an episode in the second season called The Bet concerning Elaine buying a handgun
to protect herself, that was never filmed because it was felt by NBC
, as well as some of the cast and the show's director, that the gun content was too provocative. Charles claimed that his writing on Seinfeld was heavily influenced by Dragnet, Superman
and Abbott and Costello
.
Charles was especially instrumental in the development of Cosmo Kramer
; he felt that "Jerry and George were so well-defined through Larry David and Jerry, that there was less room for me to, sort of, expand on those personas. But Kramer was very unformed at the beginning of the show and it gave me an area of creativity to, sort of, expand upon. So I spent a lot of time with Kramer because he was a character that I could have an impact on in the future of the show". It was Charles who imbued in Kramer a distrust of authority (especially in his episodes "The Baby Shower" and "The Heart Attack
"), and who created the character of Kramer's notorious unseen
friend Bob Sacamano, after his real-life friend of the same name.
Charles also has a cameo in the episode titled "The Parking Garage", which was written by David.
's Mad About You
.
on two critically acclaimed but short-lived programs, The Tick
(where he wrote two episodes), and the Dilbert
animated series, which he co-developed with Scott Adams
and co-wrote the following episodes:
and writer on the hit HBO show Entourage
for the first two seasons. The episodes that he wrote were:
(2003) which he directed, and co-wrote with Bob Dylan
(under the pseudonyms Rene Fonatine and Sergei Petrov respectively). The film has received a mixed reaction from audiences and critics alike, although it has been gathering somewhat of a cult following. However, Charles maintains that it takes many viewings to get true enjoyment from the film: "I want the movie to be like a great Bob Dylan song that is listened to over and over and for people to back and see it again and get a lot more things, or totally different things."
His second feature film as director, the critically acclaimed Borat
was much more successful. Charles was asked to take over when original director Todd Phillips
left the production after creative differences between Phillips and Sacha Baron Cohen
, the star of the film, forced Philips off the project. In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes
, Charles discussed how, because of the nature of the mockumentary process, he had to act as well, even if none of his performance made it to the screen: "We all, especially me, had to play a character as well. I wasn't Larry Charles when we were on the road. We all had to be in character, and we had to balance that with our aesthetic and logistical needs to produce the movie properly[...]The director also had to act." The film was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes.
Charles's third film was Religulous
- a documentary about Bill Maher
's take on the current state of world religion, which was released in October 2008.
and can be heard on several of their podcasts.
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
for its first 5 seasons, contributing some of the show's darkest and most absurd storylines. He has also directed the films Borat
Borat
Borat Sagdiyev is a satirical fictional character invented and performed by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen...
, Religulous
Religulous
Religulous is a 2008 American comic documentary film written by and starring comedian Bill Maher and directed by Larry Charles. The title of the film is a portmanteau derived from the words "religion" and "ridiculous"; the documentary examines and mocks organized religion and religious...
, Brüno
Bruno
Bruno is a male given name. It is derived from the Germanic word brun meaning "brown". It is also one of the most frequent Italian surnames. It also occurs very frequently in continental Europe and parts of Brazil as a given name for men and boys...
, and The Dictator
The Dictator (2012 film)
The Dictator is an upcoming 2012 film by Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen's fourth film will "tell the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed", according to Paramount Pictures, which will distribute the film...
.
Early life and career
Born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
to a Jewish family, Charles performed stand-up comedy in the 1970s until he was hired to write for the short-lived sketch comedy show Fridays (where he worked with Larry David
Larry David
Lawrence Gene "Larry" David is an American actor, writer, comedian and producer. He is best known as the co-creator , head writer, and executive producer of the television series Seinfeld from 1989 to 1996, and for creating the 1999 HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, a partially improvised sitcom in...
, who would later give him a job as a writer on Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
and director on Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
). This began a career in television writing which included The Arsenio Hall Show
The Arsenio Hall Show
The Arsenio Hall Show is an American variety/talk show that aired late weeknights in syndication from January 3, 1989 to May 27, 1994. The show was created and hosted by comedian/actor Arsenio Hall.- Background :...
and eventually Seinfeld.
Seinfeld
Although series co-creators Larry David and Jerry SeinfeldJerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
wrote the bulk of the show's episodes during the first five seasons, Charles was their second in command during this period. Charles had met Seinfeld co-creator Larry David
Larry David
Lawrence Gene "Larry" David is an American actor, writer, comedian and producer. He is best known as the co-creator , head writer, and executive producer of the television series Seinfeld from 1989 to 1996, and for creating the 1999 HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm, a partially improvised sitcom in...
when he was part of the writing staff of the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
sketch show Fridays, on which David and Michael Richards
Michael Richards
Michael Anthony Richards is an American actor, comedian, writer and television producer, best known for his portrayal of the eccentric Cosmo Kramer on the television sitcom Seinfeld....
were also part of the show's ensemble cast. Charles had been unable to write for the show's first season
Seinfeld (season 1)
Season one of Seinfeld, an American television series created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, began airing on July 5, 1989 on NBC. Originally called The Seinfeld Chronicles, the series' name was shortened to Seinfeld to avoid confusion with another sitcom called The Marshall Chronicles...
, as he had been writing for The Arsenio Hall Show
The Arsenio Hall Show
The Arsenio Hall Show is an American variety/talk show that aired late weeknights in syndication from January 3, 1989 to May 27, 1994. The show was created and hosted by comedian/actor Arsenio Hall.- Background :...
during its production.
Charles is noted for contributing some of the show's darker storylines and scenes; for example in the season 2 episode "The Baby Shower" Charles wrote a dream sequence in which the title character, Jerry Seinfeld, was killed. Charles's episodes also covered other controversial topics, such as Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
(in "The Limo
The Limo (Seinfeld episode)
"The Limo" was the 19th episode of the third season of the American sitcom Seinfeld . It aired on February 26, 1992.-Plot:...
"), a psychotic stalker (in "The Opera
The Opera (Seinfeld episode)
"The Opera" is the 49th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It is the ninth episode of the fourth season. It aired on November 4, 1992.-Plot:...
") and a hospital patient committing suicide (in "The Bris
The Bris
The Bris is the sixty-ninth episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It is the fifth episode of the fifth season, and it first aired on October 14, 1993.-Plot:The four go to the hospital to meet friends who have just had a baby...
"). In fact, Charles wrote an episode in the second season called The Bet concerning Elaine buying a handgun
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
to protect herself, that was never filmed because it was felt by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, as well as some of the cast and the show's director, that the gun content was too provocative. Charles claimed that his writing on Seinfeld was heavily influenced by Dragnet, Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
and Abbott and Costello
Abbott and Costello
William "Bud" Abbott and Lou Costello performed together as Abbott and Costello, an American comedy duo whose work on stage, radio, film and television made them the most popular comedy team during the 1940s and 1950s...
.
Charles was especially instrumental in the development of Cosmo Kramer
Cosmo Kramer
Cosmo Kramer, usually referred to as simply "Kramer", is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Michael Richards...
; he felt that "Jerry and George were so well-defined through Larry David and Jerry, that there was less room for me to, sort of, expand on those personas. But Kramer was very unformed at the beginning of the show and it gave me an area of creativity to, sort of, expand upon. So I spent a lot of time with Kramer because he was a character that I could have an impact on in the future of the show". It was Charles who imbued in Kramer a distrust of authority (especially in his episodes "The Baby Shower" and "The Heart Attack
The Heart Attack
"The Heart Attack" is the eighth episode of the second season of NBC's Seinfeld, and the show's thirteenth episode overall. It aired on April 25, 1991.-Plot:...
"), and who created the character of Kramer's notorious unseen
Unseen character
In fiction, an unseen character is a character that is never directly observed by the audience but is only described by other characters. They are a common device in drama and have been called "triumphs of theatrical invention". They are continuing characters — characters who are currently in...
friend Bob Sacamano, after his real-life friend of the same name.
| |
||
| Season | Episode | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | "The Baby Shower" | "I was extremely happy and proud with this show, and I loved the idea of doing that fantasy sequence, I loved the cinematic quality of the story where we kinda go from a plane to a fantasy sequence, and we have all these stories swirling around. I thought that it was a good template for later episodes." — Larry Charles |
| 2 | "The Statue The Statue "The Statue" is the sixth episode of the second season of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld, and the show's eleventh episode overall. In the episode, protagonist Jerry Seinfeld inherits some old possessions of his grandfather. One of these is a statue, resembling one that his friend George Costanza broke... " |
|
| 2 | "The Heart Attack The Heart Attack "The Heart Attack" is the eighth episode of the second season of NBC's Seinfeld, and the show's thirteenth episode overall. It aired on April 25, 1991.-Plot:... " |
According to the Seinfeld Notes, Charles's own tonsils grew back in real life, just as George's do in the episode. Bob Sacamano is mentioned for the first time in this episode. |
| 3 | "The Library The Library (Seinfeld episode) "The Library" is the 22nd episode of the American NBC sitcom Seinfeld. The episode was the fifth episode of the show's third season.-Plot:Jerry learns he has a fine on an unreturned library book from 1971, Tropic of Cancer... " |
The 'Inside Look' feature on the Seinfeld Season 3 DVD features Charles in an interview, talking about how he wanted to create a Jack Webb Jack Webb John Randolph "Jack" Webb , also known by the pseudonym John Randolph, was an American actor, television producer, director and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet... /Dragnet Dragnet (series) Dragnet is a radio and television crime drama about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners... -style police monologue in a sitcom format, which was the inspiration for Lt. Bookman in this episode. |
| 3 | "The Subway The Subway (Seinfeld episode) "The Subway" is the 30th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It is the 13th episode of the show's third season. It aired on January 8, 1992.The episode was written by Larry Charles and was directed by Tom Cherones.-Plot:... " |
|
| 3 | "The Fix-Up The Fix-Up "The Fix-Up" is the thirty-fourth episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It is the 16th episode of the show's third season. It aired on February 5, 1992... " |
Charles and Elaine Pope Elaine Pope Elaine Pope is a writer and film producer. She began her career writing TV specials for Lily Tomlin and the HBO series Not Necessarily the News. She won an Emmy Award for co-writing the episode "The Fix-Up" of the TV series Seinfeld and was the producer and co-writer for the 2004 remake of Alfie... won the award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series at the 1992 Emmy Awards for this episode. |
| 3 | "The Limo The Limo (Seinfeld episode) "The Limo" was the 19th episode of the third season of the American sitcom Seinfeld . It aired on February 26, 1992.-Plot:... " |
|
| 3 | "The Keys" | |
| 4 | "The Trip Part 1 The Trip, Part 1 "The Trip" is a two-part story of NBC's popular sitcom, Seinfeld. Airing on August 12, 1992 and August 19, 1992, it kicked off the fourth season of the show.-The Trip, Part 1:... " |
|
| 4 | "The Trip Part 2" | Charles appears in a brief cameo alongside David on the far right of the screen next to the police when the authorities show up at Kramer's apartment in Los Angeles Los Ángeles Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants... to arrest him for murder |
| 4 | "The Opera The Opera (Seinfeld episode) "The Opera" is the 49th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It is the ninth episode of the fourth season. It aired on November 4, 1992.-Plot:... " |
|
| 4 | "The Airport The Airport "The Airport" is the 52nd episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It was the 12th episode of the 4th season and aired on November 25, 1992.-Plot summary:... " |
Charles appears in this episode in a brief cameo as the passenger who vacates the plane's lavatory leaving a foul stench which Elaine Benes Elaine Benes Elaine Marie Benes is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Elaine's best friend is her ex-boyfriend Jerry Seinfeld; she is also good friends with George Costanza and Cosmo Kramer... discovers. |
| 4 | "The Outing The Outing "The Outing" is the fifty-seventh episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It is the 17th episode of the fourth season, and first aired on February 11, 1993.The line "..... " |
Charles was nominated for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Comedy Series at the 1993 Emmys for this episode. |
| 4 | "The Old Man" | |
| 5 | "The Bris The Bris The Bris is the sixty-ninth episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It is the fifth episode of the fifth season, and it first aired on October 14, 1993.-Plot:The four go to the hospital to meet friends who have just had a baby... " |
|
| 5 | "The Stall The Stall "The Stall" is the seventy-sixth episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. It is the twelfth episode of the fifth season, and first aired on January 6, 1994.-Plot:... " |
|
| 5 | "The Fire The Fire (Seinfeld episode) "The Fire" was the eighty-fourth episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld and the 20th episode for the 5th season. It aired on May 5, 1994.-Plot:... " |
Charles also has a cameo in the episode titled "The Parking Garage", which was written by David.
Mad About You
In 1995, Charles left the writing staff of Seinfeld to join that of another hugely successful mid-1990s sitcom: Paul ReiserPaul Reiser
Paul Reiser is an American stand-up comedian, actor, television personality, author, screenwriter and musician. He is most widely known for his role on the long-running television sitcom Mad About You.-Early life:...
's Mad About You
Mad About You
Mad About You is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 23, 1992 to May 24, 1999. The show starred Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt as a newly married couple in New York City. Reiser played Paul Buchman, a documentary film maker. Hunt played Jamie Stemple Buchman, a public relations specialist...
.
| |
||
| Season | Episode | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | "Fertility" | |
| 4 | "The Procedure" | |
| 4 | "The Weed" | Co-written with Billy Grundfest |
| 4 | "The Award" | Co-written with Seth Kurland and Ron Darian |
| 4 | "The Finale (1)" | Co-written with Billy Grundfest and Victor Levin |
| 4 | "The Finale (2)" | Co-written with Billy Grundfest, Victor Levin, and Paul Reiser Paul Reiser Paul Reiser is an American stand-up comedian, actor, television personality, author, screenwriter and musician. He is most widely known for his role on the long-running television sitcom Mad About You.-Early life:... |
| 4 | "The Finale (3)" | Co-written with Billy Grundfest, Victor Levin, and Paul Reiser |
| 5 | "Dr. Wonderful" | Co-written with Victor Levin |
| 5 | "The Grant" | Co-written with Richard Day Richard Day (writer) Richard Day is an American writer, producer, director and occasional actor. He has worked as a writer/producer for several television programs including Arrested Development, Spin City, Ellen, Roseanne, Mad About You and Aliens in America.In addition to his work in television, he has also written... , Victor Levin and Jenji Kohan Jenji Kohan Jenji Leslie Kohan is an American television writer, producer and director.-Early life:Kohan was born in Los Angeles, California and is Jewish... |
| 5 | "Burt's Building" | Co-written with Victor Levin and Ron Darian |
| 5 | "The Gym" | Co-written with Richard Day and Victor Levin |
| 5 | "Chicken Man" | Co-written with Ron Darian and Jonathan Leigh Solomon |
| 5 | "Astrology" | Co-written with Jenji Kohan |
| 5 | "The Penis" | Co-written with Richard Day and Maria Semple Maria Semple Maria Semple is an American novelist and screenwriter. She is the author of This One is Mine. .Her television credits include Beverly Hills, 90210, Mad About You, Saturday Night Live, Arrested Development, Suddenly Susan and Ellen.-Early life:Semple was born in Santa Monica, California on May 21... |
| 5 | "On The Road" | Co-written with Richard Day and Paul Reiser |
| 5 | "The Dry Run" | Co-written with David Guarascio and Moses Port |
| 5 | "The Birth (1)" | |
| 5 | "The Birth (2)" |
The Tick and Dilbert
Charles served as executive producerExecutive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
on two critically acclaimed but short-lived programs, The Tick
The Tick (live action TV series)
The Tick is an American sitcom based on the character Tick from the comic book of the same name . It aired on FOX in late 2001 and was produced by Columbia TriStar Television. With a pilot airing on November 8, the series only lasted nine episodes on broadcast television...
(where he wrote two episodes), and the Dilbert
Dilbert (TV series)
Dilbert is an animated television series spin-off of the comic strip of the same name, produced by Adelaide Productions, Idbox, and United Media and distributed by Columbia TriStar Television...
animated series, which he co-developed with Scott Adams
Scott Adams
Scott Raymond Adams is the American creator of the Dilbert comic strip and the author of several nonfiction works of satire, commentary, business, and general speculation....
and co-wrote the following episodes:
| Season | Title | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Name | Dilbert is made head of the project to find a name for a product that hasn't even been made yet, and as a result begins to fall victim to the legend of the "Chicken Man". Co-written with Scott Adams |
| 1 | The Takeover | Dilbert and Wally invest in their company's stock after Dogbert manipulates the price. Co-written with Scott Adams and Ned Goldreyer Ned Goldreyer Ned Goldreyer is a television writer, television producer and comedian who currently lives in Los Angeles.-Career:He began his career as a freelance writer for Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher and went on to join the staffs of Late Night with Conan O' Brien, The Simpsons, Dilbert, Grounded for... |
| 1 | Little People | Dilbert discovers that his dry-erase markers are missing, which leads to the discovery of little "downsized" people addicted to the marker's fumes. Co-written with David Silverman David Silverman David Silverman is an animator best known for directing numerous episodes of the animated TV series The Simpsons, as well as The Simpsons Movie... , Stephen Sustarsic, and Scott Adams |
| 1 | The Knack | Dilbert loses "the knack" for technology when he drinks from the Boss's cup by mistake and gets management DNA. His following goof-ups send the world back to the Dark Ages. Co-written with Ned Goldreyer and Scott Adams |
| 1 | Y2k | Dogbert and Ratbert try to decide where they are going to celebrate the new millennium, and Dilbert is put in charge of the company's Y2K problem. Co-written with Andrew Borakove, Rachel Powell, and Scott Adams |
| 1 | Charity | Dilbert is forced to be a charity coordinator for the "Associated Way" charity drive. Co-written with Stephen Sustarsic, David Silverman David Silverman David Silverman is an animator best known for directing numerous episodes of the animated TV series The Simpsons, as well as The Simpsons Movie... , and Scott Adams |
| 1 | Holiday | Dilbert is annoyed at the amount of holidays because he believes it to be a waste of time. Dogbert Dogbert Dogbert is Dilbert's anthropomorphic pet talking dog from the Dilbert comic strip. According to creator Scott Adams, the character is being based on, if not a member of, the beagle breed.-Characterization:... concurrently convinces the United States Congress United States Congress The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.... to abandon all holidays in favor of a National Dogbert Day. Co-written with Ned Goldreyer Ned Goldreyer Ned Goldreyer is a television writer, television producer and comedian who currently lives in Los Angeles.-Career:He began his career as a freelance writer for Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher and went on to join the staffs of Late Night with Conan O' Brien, The Simpsons, Dilbert, Grounded for... , Stephen Sustarsic, David Silverman, and Scott Adams |
| 1 | The Infomercial | The Gruntmaster 6000 is sent to be tested by a Texan Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... family. Co-written with Ned Goldreyer and Scott Adams |
| 2 | Art | Dilbert is assigned to create a work of art. Co-written with Ned Goldreyer and Scott Adams |
| 2 | The Dupey | Dilbert has to design a toy called a "Dupey" but has problems doing so successfully. Co-written with Scott Adams |
| 2 | The Merger | The Boss decides that the company needs to merge with another. Co-written with Scott Adams |
| 2 | Hunger | Dilbert makes a new food product to end world hunger but is rejected because of its taste. Co-written with Scott Adams |
| 2 | The Assistant | Dilbert is unwillingly promoted to management and given an assistant.Co-written with Mark Steen, Ron Nelson Ron Nelson Ron Nelson is a composer of both classical and popular music and a retired music academic.-Biography:A native of Joliet, Illinois, Ron Nelson was born December 14, 1929. He studied composition at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester earning a bachelor's degree in 1952, a... , and Scott Adams |
| 2 | The Return | Dilbert tries to buy a greatly advanced computer online but has problems when he gets the wrong model. Charles's ex-boss Jerry Seinfeld Jerry Seinfeld Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,... guest stars as Comp-U-Comp. Co-written with Ned Goldreyer and Scott Adams |
| 2 | The Virtual Employee |
Dilbert, Alice and Wally hear about an empty cube to hide their junk. Co-written with Ned Goldreyer and Scott Adams |
| 2 | Pregnancy | Ratbert accidentally sets off Dilbert’s model rocket into space, to collect DNA but comes back and impregnates Dilbert. Co-written with Scott Adams Scott Adams Scott Raymond Adams is the American creator of the Dilbert comic strip and the author of several nonfiction works of satire, commentary, business, and general speculation.... |
| 2 | The Delivery | Dilbert fights over the rights to keep his baby. Co-written with Scott Adams |
| 2 | The Fact | Dogbert posts false information on the Internet and releases a book about a made up disease called “Chronic Cubicle Syndrome.” Co-written with Ron Nelson Ron Nelson Ron Nelson is a composer of both classical and popular music and a retired music academic.-Biography:A native of Joliet, Illinois, Ron Nelson was born December 14, 1929. He studied composition at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester earning a bachelor's degree in 1952, a... , Mark Steen, and Scott Adams |
| 2 | Ethics | The show's finale. The company employees are forced to take ethical training classes but then Dilbert is made project lead for an unethical contract. Co-written with Scott Adams |
Curb Your Enthusiasm
In 2000, Charles began his first job as a director, on Seinfeld creator Larry David's follow-up series Curb Your Enthusiasm. To date he has directed 16 episodes of the hit HBO show.| Season | Episode | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Wire" | To bury a telephone wire, Larry must befriend his next door neighbors, the Weinstocks (Wayne Federman Wayne Federman Wayne Federman is an American comedian, actor, author, and comedy writer. He is noted for his numerous stand-up comedy appearances in clubs, theaters, and on television; his biography of "Pistol" Pete Maravich; and his supporting comedic acting roles in The X-Files, The Larry Sanders Show, Curb... , Lucy Webb Lucy Webb Lucy Webb is an American comedienne and actress, most famous for her work on the 1980s HBO series Not Necessarily the News.Webb has appeared in multiple films and television programs, including Corrina, Corrina, where she portrayed Shirl.... ), who ask to meet Julia Louis-Dreyfus Julia Louis-Dreyfus Julia Scarlett Elizabeth Louis-Dreyfus is an American actress and comedienne, widely known for her sitcom roles in Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine.... . |
| 2 | "Trick Or Treat" | Larry refuses to give candy to uncostumed teenagers on Halloween Halloween Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day... . Larry and Cheryl Cheryl Hines Cheryl Ruth Hines is an American actress and director, known for her role as Larry David's wife Cheryl on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. She currently appears on the ABC sitcom Suburgatory... attend a handicapped friend's movie premiere. |
| 3 | "The Benadryl Brownie" | Larry's first cell phone call leads to an allergic Allergy An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid... reaction involving Richard Lewis Richard Lewis (comedian) -Early life:Lewis was born in Brooklyn, New York City and was raised in Englewood, New Jersey. His father worked as a caterer and his mother was an actress. Lewis is Jewish. He later attended Ohio State University and was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity.... ' Christian Scientist girlfriend. |
| 3 | "The Nanny From Hell" | Charles was nominated in the 'Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series' categories at both the Directors Guild of America Directors Guild of America Directors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry... and Emmy awards ceremonies for this episode. |
| 4 | "Mel's Offer" | Larry is offered the lead role in Mel Brooks Mel Brooks Mel Brooks is an American film director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, comedian, actor and producer. He is best known as a creator of broad film farces and comic parodies. He began his career as a stand-up comic and as a writer for the early TV variety show Your Show of Shows... ' musical, The Producers The Producers (musical) The Producers is a musical adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from Brooks' 1968 film of the same name, with lyrics written by Brooks and music composed by Brooks and arranged by Glen Kelly and Doug Besterman. As in the film, the story concerns two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich... . Larry reminds Cheryl of an anniversary gift she had promised him ten years earlier. |
| 4 | "The Blind Date² | Larry sets up Michael on a "blind" date with a veiled Muslim Muslim A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable... woman; Jeff admits to Larry he fantasized Fantasy (psychology) Fantasy in a psychological sense is broadly used to cover two different senses, conscious and unconscious. In the unconscious sense, it is sometimes spelled "phantasy".-Conscious fantasy:... about Cheryl. |
| 4 | "The Surrogate" | Larry befriends a surrogate mother; Larry confronts his doctor about the waiting room's magazine selection. |
| 4 | "The Survivor" | Charles received his second Emmy nomination in the category of 'Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series' for this episode. |
| 5 | "The Bowtie" | Larry hires a private investigator to find out if he is adopted. After Larry adopts a dog, Wanda Wanda Sykes Wanda Sykes is an American writer, stand-up comedian, actress, and voice artist. She earned the 1999 Emmy Award for her writing on The Chris Rock Show. In 2004 Entertainment Weekly named Sykes as one of the 25 funniest people in America... deems it to be racist Racism Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature... after she visits and finds it barking at her. |
| 5 | "The Ski Lift" | Larry and Jeff befriend the head of a kidney Kidney The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and... transplant consortium in an attempt to get Richard Lewis on the top of the hospital waiting list; Jeff and Susie invite Larry and Cheryl to spend the weekend at their ski lodge; Larry learns something about Jeff's penis Penis The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates... . |
| 5 | "The End" | Charles received his second Directors Guild of America Directors Guild of America Directors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry... nomination for 'Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series' for this episode. |
| 6 | "Meet the Blacks" | Charles directed the season premiere of season 6. |
| 6 | "The Bat Mitzvah" | Charles directed the season finale of season 6. |
| 7 | "Funkhouser's Crazy Sister" | Charles directed the season premiere of season 7. |
| 7 | "The Bare Midriff" | Charles directed episode 66, the 6th installment to season 7, where Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld further discuss possibilities for the role of George's wife in Seinfeld reunion show and confront a secretary about her work attire. |
| 8 | "Mister Softee" | An ice cream truck triggers a painful childhood memory for Larry. |
Entourage
More recently, Charles served as an executive producerExecutive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
and writer on the hit HBO show Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
for the first two seasons. The episodes that he wrote were:
| Season | Episode | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Talk Show" | |
| 1 | "Busey and the Beach" | co-written with Doug Ellin Doug Ellin Douglas Reed Ellin is the creator of the HBO television series Entourage. Ellin also serves as executive producer and head writer for the series. He attended Tulane University.-Life and career:... |
| 1 | "New York" | co-written with Doug Ellin Doug Ellin Douglas Reed Ellin is the creator of the HBO television series Entourage. Ellin also serves as executive producer and head writer for the series. He attended Tulane University.-Life and career:... |
| 2 | "Chinatown" | co-written with Brian Burns Brian Burns Brian Burns is an American film and television writer, producer and director. Brian was born and raised in Long Island, New York... |
Film
Charles's feature debut was Masked and AnonymousMasked and Anonymous
Masked and Anonymous is a 2003 comedy-drama film directed by Larry Charles, who is better known for his writing on successful TV sitcoms, Seinfeld and Mad About You and for executive producing episodes of The Tick and Dilbert. The film was written by Larry Charles and Bob Dylan, the latter under...
(2003) which he directed, and co-wrote with Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
(under the pseudonyms Rene Fonatine and Sergei Petrov respectively). The film has received a mixed reaction from audiences and critics alike, although it has been gathering somewhat of a cult following. However, Charles maintains that it takes many viewings to get true enjoyment from the film: "I want the movie to be like a great Bob Dylan song that is listened to over and over and for people to back and see it again and get a lot more things, or totally different things."
His second feature film as director, the critically acclaimed Borat
Borat
Borat Sagdiyev is a satirical fictional character invented and performed by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen...
was much more successful. Charles was asked to take over when original director Todd Phillips
Todd Phillips
Todd Phillips is an American screenwriter and film director. He is best known for directing the comedy films Road Trip, Old School, The Hangover, and Due Date.-Early life:...
left the production after creative differences between Phillips and Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Noam Baron Cohen is an English stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and voice artist. He is most widely known for his portrayal of three unorthodox fictional characters: Ali G, Borat, and Brüno...
, the star of the film, forced Philips off the project. In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, Charles discussed how, because of the nature of the mockumentary process, he had to act as well, even if none of his performance made it to the screen: "We all, especially me, had to play a character as well. I wasn't Larry Charles when we were on the road. We all had to be in character, and we had to balance that with our aesthetic and logistical needs to produce the movie properly[...]The director also had to act." The film was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globes.
Charles's third film was Religulous
Religulous
Religulous is a 2008 American comic documentary film written by and starring comedian Bill Maher and directed by Larry Charles. The title of the film is a portmanteau derived from the words "religion" and "ridiculous"; the documentary examines and mocks organized religion and religious...
- a documentary about Bill Maher
Bill Maher
William "Bill" Maher, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor. Before his current role as the host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher hosted a similar late-night talk show called Politically Incorrect originally on Comedy Central and...
's take on the current state of world religion, which was released in October 2008.
Filmography (Director)
- Masked and AnonymousMasked and AnonymousMasked and Anonymous is a 2003 comedy-drama film directed by Larry Charles, who is better known for his writing on successful TV sitcoms, Seinfeld and Mad About You and for executive producing episodes of The Tick and Dilbert. The film was written by Larry Charles and Bob Dylan, the latter under...
(2003) - BoratBoratBorat Sagdiyev is a satirical fictional character invented and performed by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen...
(2006) - ReligulousReligulousReligulous is a 2008 American comic documentary film written by and starring comedian Bill Maher and directed by Larry Charles. The title of the film is a portmanteau derived from the words "religion" and "ridiculous"; the documentary examines and mocks organized religion and religious...
(2008) - BrünoBrüno (film)Brüno is a 2009 British mockumentary comedy film directed by Larry Charles and starring Sacha Baron Cohen, who produced, co-wrote, and starred as the gay Austrian fashion journalist Brüno...
(2009) - The Dirt (2011)
- The DictatorThe Dictator (2012 film)The Dictator is an upcoming 2012 film by Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen's fourth film will "tell the heroic story of a dictator who risked his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed", according to Paramount Pictures, which will distribute the film...
(2012)
Live performances
Charles rarely performs live, but has appeared at Un-CabaretUn-Cabaret
Un-Cabaret is a Los Angeles-based alternative comedy organization that produces live, TV and multi-media projects, workshops and events.-History:...
and can be heard on several of their podcasts.
Further reading
- Parker, Robin (31 July 2008). "Larry Charles: Anarchy in the USA", Broadcast Now, EMAP. Retrieved on 7 August 2008.