Larry gets himself in trouble, when he makes a racist-like comment to Richard's friend. Also, Larry inadvertently loses Cheryl's prescription note.
WAR
53.3
Wins Above Replacement
“Affirmative Action” ranks #45 of 120 Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 82.4 — Elite. The episode packs 48 scored jokes at 1.5 per minute, averaging 7.1 on craft and 7.1 on impact, with Larry landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Denise: My friends, this is Larry David... the man who refused to hire a sister for a job... because he's a racist, a bona fide racist
Denise Escalation Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Larry: "You let him work on you even with the whole affirmative action thing?"
Larry Callback Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Callback Larry: I tend to say stupid things to black people sometimes.
Larry Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Dr. Grambs: He's much better when he has a chance to write it, and look it over.
Dr. Grambs Meta/Self-Referential Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Larry: Even with the whole affirmative action thing?
Larry Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 48 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Larry: Just pretend we're blind. What's the matter with that?
Larry Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Larry: You don't have to back up. I don't think it's contagious. Is it contagious?
Larry Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Larry: Can't Rosa take you? She drives right by there.
Larry Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Larry: Even with the whole affirmative action thing?
Larry Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Larry: I see it in a historical sense, but not in a nice-day sense.
Larry Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Unknown character: Holy shit! What hit you?
Richard Lewis: Holy shit! What hit you?
Larry: I tend to say stupid things to black people sometimes. That's, like, gonna be in the time capsule.
Larry Meta/Self-Referential Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Larry: I tend to say stupid things to black people sometimes.
Larry Cringe/Discomfort Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Larry: I was so discombobulated because... Oh, my God, I completely humiliated...
Larry Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Cheryl: Why would you even make a joke about that? Why even joke about it?
Larry · Cheryl: Men do this, right? I've seen men do it. Haven't we seen this? I've seen men do it in movies.
Larry: Things are done, right, aren't things done?
Larry Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Larry: That's 'cause it's criminal. Women are attracted to criminals.
Larry Observational Character Comedy Larry: How can a handicapped person use a non-motorized wheelchair?
Larry Observational Absurdist Larry: Going to another restaurant to use the bathroom
Larry Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Larry: There's a restaurant two doors down. I'm gonna go in there. I'm gonna go to the bathroom in there.
Larry Escalation Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Larry: Are you out of your mind? No, I don't wanna say hello. I don't like those hellos.
Larry Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Denise: I watched your show, Seinfeld, for seven, eight years, and not one black person.
Denise Meta/Self-Referential Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Denise: Is it a black thing with Larry David?
Denise Cringe/Discomfort Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Denise: I saw Sour Grapes, and the title was very apropos.
Denise Wordplay/Pun Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Larry · Cheryl: The prescription/money mix-up revelation
Larry: Norman, is somebody calling? Who's calling? We're in the middle of dinner, Norman!
Larry Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Larry: "Norman, is somebody calling? Who's calling? We're in the middle of dinner, Norman! This better be life-threatening, or you're not gonna leave this house!"
Larry Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Larry: "Norman... unless they were burned in a fire... I don't want you getting up from your chair. Do you understand, Norman?"
Larry Escalation Character Comedy Maitre d': You'll find it in a trash can, right through those double doors. Help yourself.
Maitre d' Deadpan/Understatement Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Callback Larry · Cheryl: Dumpster diving for the prescription
Larry Cheryl Physical/Slapstick Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Larry: This is a very pleasant activity. Can you lock me in a toilet after this?
Larry Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Richard Lewis: She has a medical emergency. She has a tremendous rash.
Richard Lewis: You were like James Earl Ray today, with this guy.
Sofia: Good, now we're all happy. You're happy, he's happy, I'm happy. She's sick and you're not, how's that?
Sofia Irony/Sarcasm Escalation Richard Lewis: Mind your own fucking business here!
Larry: Navigation system celebration and father praise
Larry Character Comedy Absurdist ★ Rewatch Larry: "Daddy, I'm not so stupid!"
Larry Character Comedy Escalation Larry: God Almighty, I can't believe I said that.
Larry Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Callback Larry · Dr. Grambs: And again, I'm so sorry about.... God Almighty, I can't believe I said that. I think I might have overreacted.
Larry: Eat. You got peanuts and cookies. Drinks. You're probably having a very stimulating conversation... until we came in, so, believe me.... My advice to you, go back, because....
Larry Escalation Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Larry: I am apologizing for pretty much nothing. It is nothing. It's so unimportant.
Larry Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Larry: You let him work on you even with the whole affirmative action thing?
Larry Callback Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Callback Larry: "You let him work on you even with the whole affirmative action thing?"
Larry Callback Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Callback Larry: It was a joke. It was a bad joke. I was trying to be too affable. I went overboard in my affability.
Larry Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Larry: I don't think white people should have anything! I think we should be sleeping on the street, eating crumbs.
Larry Escalation Absurdist ★ Rewatch Dr. Grambs: He's much better when he has a chance to write it, and look it over.
Dr. Grambs Meta/Self-Referential Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Larry: I was about to say 'sister,' but I can't....
Larry Meta/Self-Referential Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Denise: My friends, this is Larry David... the man who refused to hire a sister for a job... because he's a racist, a bona fide racist
Denise Escalation Callback ★ Rewatch Callback Larry · Cheryl: You could scratch yourself to death! I feel like I could scratch myself to death... if it goes untreated.
Larry: You could scratch yourself to death!
Pharmacist: Are you trying to bribe me? Do I look like I can be bribed? Take your money! Nobody bribes a pharmacist!
Pharmacist Escalation Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Top Episodes — Curb Your Enthusiasm