AILSA CHANG, HOST:
HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" ended its 12-season run on Sunday. And if you didn't catch it, the episode's title gives a big hint - "No Lessons Learned."
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
That was essentially the ethos of "Seinfeld." "Curb Your Enthusiasm" creator and star Larry David created that show along with Jerry Seinfeld back in the '90s.
ERIC DEGGANS, BYLINE: And their famous motto was, no hugging, no learning. Their characters were terrible people, and they didn't apologize for them.
CHANG: That's NPR TV critic Eric Deggans. He was one of the 76 million viewers who watched the divisive "Seinfeld" finale back in 1998, when the main characters - Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer - were put on trial for their selfish behavior over the years.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "SEINFELD")
JAMES REBHORN: (As D.A. Hoyt) And you will see how everyone who has come into contact with these four individuals has been abused, wronged, deceived and betrayed.
(LAUGHTER)
SHAPIRO: Well, that's also kind of what happens to Larry David in the "Curb" finale.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM")
GREG KINNEAR: (As Earl Mack) Larry David doesn't respect the law. He lives outside, unrestrained by the guardrails of human decency.
CHANG: Greg Kinnear guest stars as a prosecutor who calls to the stand characters from previous seasons to testify to David's selfish behavior. But unlike in the "Seinfeld" finale, David got in trouble for doing a selfless thing. He was arrested for giving water to a friend waiting in line to vote.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM")
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: (As character) It is illegal for anyone in the state of Georgia to provide food or water to voters in line at the polls.
LARRY DAVID: (As himself) But that's barbaric. What kind of law - are you serious?
SHAPIRO: Besides mocking Georgia's Election Integrity Act, Deggans points to another key difference from the "Seinfeld" finale.
DEGGANS: It was not funny (laughter). But the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" finale actually learned from that - was funnier, was way more entertaining and was much more in line with the overall vibe of the show.
CHANG: So in the end, maybe some lessons were learned?
SHAPIRO: Towards the end of the episode, Larry David says this to Jerry Seinfeld, both playing versions of themselves.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM")
DAVID: (As himself) This is how we should have ended the finale.
JERRY SEINFELD: (As himself) Oh, my God, you're right. How did we not think of that?
SHAPIRO: I suppose it's never too late to get it right.
(SOUNDBITE OF LUCIANO MICHELINI'S "FROLIC") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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