Funkhouser's Crazy Sister (20 Sep. 2009)

Larry attempts a preemptive breakup with an ailing Loretta, and learns with Jeff that you can't make an "empty gesture" to a Funkhouser.

Director:

Larry Charles

Writer:

Larry David (story)

Stars:

Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Cheryl Hines

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Larry David	...	Larry David
Jeff Garlin	...	Jeff Greene
Cheryl Hines	...	Cheryl David
Susie Essman	...	Susie Greene
Vivica A. Fox	...	Loretta Black
J.B. Smoove	...	Leon Black
Ellia English	...	Auntie Rae
Bob Einstein	...	Marty Funkhouser
Catherine O'Hara	...	Bam Bam
Wanda Sykes	...	Wanda Sykes
Jessica Chaffin	...	Hostess
Eric Scott Cooper	...	Dr. Schaffer's Partner
Alex Daniels	...	Cop
Lou DiMaggio	...	Lou DiMaggio
Loretta Fox	...	Lou's Wife

Storyline

Larry attempts a preemptive breakup with an ailing Loretta, and learns with Jeff that you can't make an "empty gesture" to a Funkhouser.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Details

Release Date:

20 September 2009 (USA)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

29 min

Did You Know?

Connections

References Hannah Montana (2006)

User Reviews

Empty gestures

The show begins with Loretta complaining about the house temperature. She feels it's too low, as she prefers a warmer climate inside. Dr. Schaeffer comes in to take a look at Loretta and he goes to the kitchen before he leaves. The doctor proceeds to open the refrigerator and gets a lemonade can, to Larry's total surprise; Larry does not mince words in telling Schaeffer how he feels about a guest that goes into the fridge to get something without the host's permission.

Marty Funkhouser arrives to ask Larry if he would consider going to see his sister Bam Bam, a woman with mental problems now at home. Larry enlists Jeff into accompanying him. When Larry asks Marty if Schaeffer was correct in taking something that was not offered to him, and he is assured that as long as it's liquid, it's fine. Later, as Jeff and Larry preparing to go to visit Bam Bam, Susie comes in to ask Larry if he wants to come to a dinner party that same night. Larry would like to know who's coming, something that Susie doesn't appreciate. She tells Larry off.

Jeff and Larry try to make conversation with Bam Bam, something that is almost impossible. The woman is nuttier than a fruit cake! As Larry wanders into the kitchen, he decides to open the refrigerator to get a drink, but being hungry, he also takes deli cold cuts as well. As Larry returns to the living room, he hears noises coming from upstairs. Little does he know Jeff and Bam Bam are locked in the bathroom doing the nasty! When Larry sees Marty, later on, he tells him he will be seeing him at night, taking for granted the doctor will be at Susie's dinner party, not realizing he was not invited. Larry, not realizing has made a blunder.

During the dinner party, Larry gets to meet Schaeffer and his gay partner. Larry tells the doctor he didn't know he was gay, but tells him that his partner is obvious, whereas he is not. At the table, Bam Bam, who has come also, exchange glances with Jeff, to Larry's annoyance. This is short lived because he is called to pick up Loretta's prescription telling Susie he'll be back, but she informs him to forget it.

As Larry is driving back, he stops at a place where he wants to order something to take home. Little prepares him to find out Cheryl and Wanda are having dinner in the place. He goes to say hello and asks if he can join them. The lighting is poor, as it's candlelit. Cheryl, who has the same problem suggests they go outside to look at the menu. This is an awkward moment for both of them. Larry is saved by a phone call from home to inform him Dr. Schaeffer is on his way with the results of Loretta's biopsy. News about Loretta is bad. She is definitely afflicted with the disease. Schaeffer suggests Larry better prepare himself for the treatments. All Larry could ask is whether he can play golf, much to the doctor's surprise.

Directed by Larry Charles, this show deals with social gaffes that are committed by people, like going to someone's fridge uninvited. Another point made by Larry David is how we want to know, ahead of time, who are going to be at a particular party, or event. If we don't like the answer, we probably will decide to stay away because our own preferences to stay away from those people we don't want to see.

Excellent appearance by Catherine O'Hara as the nutty Bam Bam. She is a welcome addition to any show. Seth Morris appears as Dr. Schaeffer. The regulars do their magic work. Vivica Fox only appears shortly in this segment.