"Curb Your Enthusiasm" Lewis Needs a Kidney (2005)

Director:

Robert B. Weide

Writer:

Larry David (story)

TV Series:

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" (2000)

Original Air Date:

30 October 2005 (Season 5, Episode 5)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Larry learns that Richard Lewis is bedridden and needs a kidney transplant. Larry and Jeff both turn up as positive matches for Lewis, but neither one are willing to give up their precious organs that easily. |

Plot Keywords:

Kidney Transplant | Kidney Donor | Sexual Harassment | Eeny Meeny Miny Moe | Grab Ass

Cast

Larry David	...	Larry David
Jeff Garlin	...	Jeff Greene
Cheryl Hines	...	Cheryl David
Richard Lewis	...	Richard Lewis
Bob Einstein	...	Marty Funkhouser
Susie Essman	...	Susie Greene
Mekhi Phifer	...	Omar Jones
Frank Whaley	...	Peter Hagen
Timothy Brennen	...	Police Detective
Claudia Cohen	...	Woman in Line
Nicole Randall Johnson	...	Omar's Receptionist
Mindy Kaling	...	Richard Lewis's Assistant
Suzanne Kent	...	Nurse
Kelvin Han Yee	...	Newscaster
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ian Michaels	...	Stoner #1 (uncredited)
Al Whiting	...	Orderly (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert B. Weide

Writing credits
Larry David		(story)

Produced by
Alec Berg	....	consulting producer
Larry Charles	....	executive producer
Larry David	....	executive producer
Jeff Garlin	....	executive producer
Tim Gibbons	....	co-executive producer
David Mandel	....	consulting producer
Megan Murphy	....	co-producer
Erin O'Malley	....	producer
Gavin Polone	....	executive producer
Jeff Schaffer	....	consulting producer
Robert B. Weide	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Bill Sheehy		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jon Corn		(as Jonathan Corn)
Steven Rasch		(supervising editor) (as Steve Rasch)

Casting by
Allison Jones

Art Direction by
Michael DiMeo

Set Decoration by
Lisa Thompson

Costume Design by
Christina Mongini

Makeup Department
Barbara Dally	....	key hair stylist
Saundra Jordan	....	key makeup artist
Thomas Kolarek	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Linda Balaban	....	production supervisor
Dimitri Lacey	....	assistant production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dale Stern	....	associate director

Art Department
Dort Clark	....	prop master
Anne Marie Hamill	....	art swing
Peter Kang	....	art swing (as Pete Kang)
David Maturana	....	on-set dresser
Jefferson Murff	....	leadman

Sound Department
William F. MacPherson	....	audio mixer (as Bill MacPherson)
Earl Martin	....	re-recording sound mixer
Karl Ritter	....	boom operator
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist (as Ed Steidele)
Chris Trent	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Daniel DeFabio	....	digital effects
Randy Lowder	....	digital effects
Kenneth R. Shapiro	....	film effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Thomas Bango	....	assistant camera (as Tom Bango)
Hugh Casey	....	electrician
Derek K. Cunningham	....	grip (as Derek Cunningham)
Allen De Silva	....	grip (as Alan DeSilva)
Pete Galullo	....	camera operator
Sean Haeseler	....	electric
Vesa Holle	....	electric
Joseph Keppler	....	camera utility (as Joe Keppler)
Dana Kilgore	....	best boy electric
Jonas Lagunoff	....	key grip
Todd Liggitt	....	grip
Meggins Moore	....	camera utility (as Meggins Spek)
Jack Nagle	....	best boy grip
Caleb H. Poynter	....	electric
Richard Tibbetts	....	gaffer
Rob Vuona	....	camera operator
Mark Wright	....	grip
Warren Yeager	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Marla Garlin	....	original casting
Phyllis Smith	....	casting associate
Michelle Rejwan	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jennifer Steele	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Todd Dusenberry	....	colorist
Kip Gibson	....	on-line editor
Amanda Mace	....	post-production coordinator (as Amanda Howell)
Chris Mohr	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Steven Rasch	....	music supervisor (as Steve Rasch)

Transportation Department
James C. Alford	....	driver (as James Alford)
Tennie E. Barnes	....	driver (as Tennie Barnes)
John Cherry	....	transportation coordinator
Dennis 'Tony' Compton	....	driver (as Tony Compton)
Charles Conley	....	driver (as Bud Conley)
Jerry Glassman	....	driver
Michael Hindman	....	driver (as Mike Hindman)
Dennis Lally	....	transportation captain
David Lovett	....	driver
Chris Mendoza	....	driver
Charles O'Malley	....	driver
Eugene Rangel	....	driver
Benjamin Rivera	....	driver (as Bennie Riveria)
Anne Valentine	....	driver
Carlos Williams	....	driver

Other crew
Eric Alexander	....	set production assistant
Candace Brown	....	secretary
Jesse Cole	....	assistant location manager
Charles de Bernier	....	production accountant
Laurie Epstein	....	assistant: Robert B. Weide
Russ Fega	....	location manager
Ryan Gibson	....	production assistant
Charlene Halphen	....	production assistant (as Charlee Halphen)
Jonathan Harris	....	stage manager
Eric Madrid	....	set production assistant
Lissa Mahler	....	payroll accountant
Feldo Nartapura	....	production assistant (as Feldo Nartatpura)
Tanya Oskanian	....	assistant: Larry Charles
Mary Ellen Seaman	....	craft service
Kate Simonides	....	assistant: Tim Gibbons
Laura Streicher	....	assistant: Larry David (as Laura Fairchild)
Nazanin Subat	....	production assistant
Pete Sununu	....	assistant: Jeff Garlin
Maureen Tenenbaum	....	script supervisor
Bill Watterson	....	set production assistant
Robert Yacobian	....	assistant production accountant (as Rob Yacobian)
Rebecca Thornell	....	script clearance (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Home Box Office (HBO)

Distributors

• HBO Hungary (2009) (Hungary) (TV)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2005) (USA) (TV)
• Sky Atlantic HD (2012) (Germany) (TV)

Other Companies

• Visual Sound  post-production facilities (closed captioning)

Runtime:

Germany:31 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Quotes:

Omar's Receptionist:Alright Mr. David. What's this call regarding?
Larry David:Uh... He'll know what it's about. I'm a client.
Omar's Receptionist:Got that, but what is the call regarding?
Larry David:You know to be honest, it's kind of personal.
Omar's Receptionist:I'm sure it is. But you can't speak with him until you tell me what this call is regarding.
Larry David:But it has nothing to do with you. It has to do with him. I don't really want to tell you what it's about.
Omar's Receptionist:Ok sir you gon' need to control your levels and tell me what this call is regarding.
Larry David:Do me a favor. Tell me the details of your last conversation.
[...]

Eenie meenie miny moe

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This installment of the 2005 season finds Larry with a dilemma. Richard Lewis, one of his best friends, needs to have a kidney transplant. A haggard looking Lewis tells Larry about his luck running out because the need of a donor. Larry suggests to try searching within his own family as he feels there will be someone compatible. Larry never ventures to offer to help.

Larry, who finds himself locked out of his car, calls Jeff to come help him. He is near a fast food place; feeling hungry he decides to order something to wait for his ride. The dining area is closed, but the drive-through window is open. He decides to stand behind the last car, but when his turn comes, he is refused service. In order to be able to place an order, he must be in a car; he will not be served otherwise. As he asks drivers waiting their turns, everyone turns him down except Pete, a young guy who is happy to help out.

When Larry contacts Omar's office, the receptionist asks him to elaborate what is the nature of his call, he tells her is personal, something that is questioned. The two end up shouting to each other. His call to Richard's office goes badly as well. He tells Lewis' assistant he is calling regarding the kidney donation. The secretary, not having a clue her boss needs the operation break up, inconsolably.

Larry convinces Jeff to take the test to see if anyone of them could help their friend. They are told both have their friend's blood type and are candidates. Larry starts doubts about donating his kidney. Marty Funkhouser intervenes by offering to do an 'eenie meenie miny moe' riddle with them. Larry, who is the last to be named, believes Jeff is the one that has been selected to donate his kidney, but both Marty and his manager tell him he really lost.

This episode rises the moral question about what would one do to help a friend. In theory it is a noble cause, but the mere idea of losing an organ to give it to a friend takes its toll on anyone facing that situation. Larry also offers a take on the receptionists that are so annoying by insisting they are to be told personal things the callers don't want to share with them.

Director Robert B. Weide's timing is perfect as usual. Frank Whaley, an actor that deserves to be seen more often shows up as Pete, the man that hides a criminal secret, but who comes to help a stranger in need. The regulars do their usual best to make this an episode that both, makes us think, and laugh.