Ted Danson revealed that he volunteered to appear on Control your enthusiasm because he felt sorry for series creator and star Larry David. Control your enthusiasm began with a special that aired on HBO in 1999, with the series running for 12 seasons between 2000-2024. On the series, Danson played a fictional version of himself and frequently appeared with his real-life wife, Mary Steenburgen. Danson first appeared in Season 1, Episode 2, and would make frequent appearances throughout the series, including in this year's episode. Control your enthusiasm end of the series.
On your podcast Where everyone knows your name (through The Hollywood Reporter), Danson Discusses Joining the Show after watching the pilot episode. Even though Steenburgen enjoyed the episode Danson reveals he wasn't a fan and felt sorry for Davidwho was a new friend to him at the time. He later told David that he and Mary would be “happy“to appear on the show as themselves if they ever needed them. Looking back on the series, Danson says they appeared on the show”changed my life.” Danson's full comments about joining the series can be found below:
Curb It really changed my life because it reinvigorated my desire to be funny. But, I did it, I've told this story before, but we watched the pilot of CurbMary and me. Mary thought it was great. I thought it sucked. I thought it was shit. And I felt sorry for my new friend, Larry David. So, trying to be encouraging, I said, 'You know, if you need us to play ourselves, we'd be happy to do so.' And in that kind of idiocy, you know, I ended up being part of something that changed my life.
What Danson appearing on Curb Your Enthusiasm meant for the show
Danson became David's archenemy
Danson's role on the series gave the fictional version of Larry David an archenemy. In Danson's first episode, “Ted and Mary”, Larry tells Cheryl that he would rather be friends with Mary over Ted, showing that the two already have a strained relationship. Throughout the series, Larry and Ted often had misunderstandings and clashedme with each other. Although Larry made enemies in almost every episode, Ted would be the one he would see regularly because he was friends with Cheryl. After Ted started dating Cheryl, it added another layer to their antagonistic relationship.
Because Danson is an actor, the series was able to use the fictional version of him in a way that wouldn't have been possible with the other characters. This included Ted having a role on Larry's fictional TV show Young Larryas well as Larry attacking a standee from a film starring Danson as Robert E. Lee.
The fictional Danson brought out the worst in Larry
Danson's difficult relationship with Larry led to some of the series' most conflicted and awkward moments, especially after he started dating Cheryl. Although Larry also had a difficult relationship with Susie (Susie Essman), Jeff Greene's (Jeff Garlin) wife, Ted's relationship with Cheryl placed him in another category on Larry's list of enemies.
Danson's comments on the pilot Control your enthusiasm it also puts into perspective that the first few episodes of the series weren't as strong as the series would later become. Many other beloved TV comedies, such as Seinfeld and The office, it also had early episodes that didn't reflect the heights the shows would reach later in their seasons. While Danson's original offer may have been because he felt sorry for David, he was able to play a major role in a show that would evolve into one of TV's best comedies.
Source: Where Everyone Knows Your Name (via THR)