NEW YORK (AP) - The biggest shows of 2009 couldn't always be contained by the TV screen. There were breakout tabloid scandals with Jon and Kate Gosselin. A wannabe reality TV star crashed the White House. David Letterman's hanky-panky seized headlines. Oprah Winfrey grabbed the nation's attention as she began her long goodbye. This was TV run amok.

But in 2009 other shows proved outstanding on more manageable terms: as excellent TV shows. They include:

- "Breaking Bad" (FX). Here's the cruelest premise on series TV: a high-school teacher with terminal cancer gets into the crystal-meth...

Much like the finale of that other show, this season's ending of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" was a bit underwhelming.

Yes, it was funny with many of the usual "Curb" hijinks to keep the show moving nicely (the respect for wood, the continual doing of favors, and the "having said that") but for the anticipation of more than six months approaching this moment, it, once again, just couldn't quite live up to the hype.

There were two aspects to this episode - the "Seinfeld" show and the "Curb" show. With "Curb" we got the usual interconnected storylines. The first featured Larry and the studi...

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia started out seeming like just another crude comedy about a few dudes (and one chick) drinking away their mediocrity in some random bar. Airing on the FX Network, its cult following has managed to grow steadily by word of mouth and social networking sites, and now, in the show's fifth season and following a one-of-a-kind live tour for their breakout episode, The Nightman Cometh, the Sunny gang is finally getting some wider spread success as well. For the creator of the series, Rob McElhenney, this recognition is really not surprising: "I personally definitel...

And here we are, finally at the place we'd been waiting to get to since the season began - a place of nothingness, a place of "Seinfeld". Of course, that didn't mean we had to leave "Curb Your Enthusiasm" completely behind in the process of returning to its predecessor.

The episode revolved around the table read and dress rehearsals for the "Seinfeld" reunion special. Those scenes were pretty much run-of-the-mill behind-the-scenes TV stuff, not a whole lot new, but it was a bit thrilling to see the rulers of 90s television back in their element.

The uniquely "Curb" touches came in t...

"There are only two ways to injure your neck: A car accident and cunnilingus." ~ Larry David

If the above sentence were the only words spoken during "Office Krupke", the eighth episode of this season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm", the would have been enough to make it a classic. Fortunately, Larry David saw it fit enough to build an entire half-an-hour around those fourteen words.

Okay, so it wasn't all built around that. The action of the episode was mostly built around two pairs of pants: the pair Larry kind of stole from a Santa Monica Banana Republic and the pair of panties Susie fo...

If it were any other series, last night could be counted as the moment 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' jumped the shark.

No, it's not because last night's episode was bad, it certainly wasn't. While 'Bare Midriff' wasn't quite on the level of this season's brilliant oeuvre, it was definitely funnier than television's usual sitcom fare.

What was so jarring about this episode, the thing that made the episode nearly dorsal-themed, were all the strange new additions it made. Things like a crazy 60s flashback featuring Larry playing an entirely separate character, and a napkin thief lineup so far...

With all the sacred cows Larry David's desecrated throughout the decade, you'd think he'd have gotten to a farce involving the wheelchair bound by now. But, alas, last night's episode was his first foray into the paraplegic, and it was worth the wait.

Larry met his two-wheeled conquest while listening to some classical music in a coffee shop. Her recognition of his whistled tune led to a conversation and eventual invitation to a private recital by the artist playing in his headphones.

Of course, this is Larry David, so a simple date at the recital wasn't going to work for him. Ther...

We're excited to see the cast of Seinfeld back on Curb Your Enthusiasm. The premise of a fictional reunion show is good enough to get Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards and Julia Louis-Dreyfus in the same room. Now it looks like we'll get to see their famous supporting cast too.

Estelle Harris, who played George's mom along with Jerry Stiller as his dad, has shot her appearance for Curb Your Enthusiasm. "We've done it," Harris said. "I was asked and I did. I was invited. I was so pleased to be invited."

Unfortunately, Harris suggested that the fictional Seinfeld reunion...

Larry David took a break from 'Seinfeld' this week to deliver an episode in the classic 'Curb' motif of his inability to successfully maneuver through any social situation.

It's not that Larry's intentions weren't good throughout the episode. Sure, he ruined a present he gave to Ted and Mary by horning in on their dinner, but at least he got them a nice gift. He keeps interrupting his doctor in his spare time, but that's mostly by accident. Yes, he massively offended Christian Slater, but at least he was trying to ensure everyone else at the party got their fair share of caviar. He m...

Finally, the moment of nothingness for which we've all been waiting. On last night's episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm", aptly titled "Reunion", Larry David's old cohorts, the cast of "Seinfeld", joined him on screen in unison for the first time in more than a decade. Yes, this titular throwback to the nineties was something "Curb" devotees had been expecting for the many months leading up to this season, but that didn't make moment any less sublime.

In the most meta of all meta-plots, the old gang rejoined Larry in order to set up a reunion episode. No, not the reunion episode that ser...

Last night on "Curb Your Enthusiasm", Larry David faced down one of his oldest enemies: germs. He also attempted to extricate himself from the situation that's currently giving him the most trouble, his relationship with Loretta Black.

Of course, in the land of Larry David, everything can cause a little bit of trouble, even something as pleasurable as oral sex. In "Vehicluar Fellatio", that bit of roadside help seemed waiting for Larry at every curve, guiding his every action in this episode.

Initially, we find Larry trying his best to get rid of Loretta. Fearing the reprisal of du...

Eighties and Nineties nostalgia are running rampant in pop culture right now. Television networks and film companies are resurrecting TV shows and movies like 90210, Melrose Place, Halloween, and Transformers. This obsession with the 80s and 90s have lead to TV specials and debates about which decade is better. Both provided us with fascinating films to watch, memorable music to listen to, and new forms of entertainment that we still use today. But when it comes to entertainment, which decade was better?

TELEVISION

In the 80s, there were only three major broadcast networks - ABC, NBC,...

There's nothing funny about mental illness or cancer except, of course, when Larry David is involved. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" made its two-years-in-the-making return to the air last night in much the same way it left us - social mores taken to their logical extreme through myriad heightened circumstances. It wouldn't be a "Curb" return if these circumstances didn't make the audience cringe a little bit, and feel guilty for laughing afterwards, and that bit of dichotomy was fully on parade last evening.

We quickly discover, after the show's long absence, that Larry is still involved with ...

What happened in the wide, wonderful world of celebrity news & gossip today? Here's a quick recap of the top stories in Starpulse News for Thursday, August 27, 2009:

Kelly Osbourne Took 50 Pills A Day, Didn't Bathe Before Going To Rehab - Who cares about the 50 pills; not bathing before you go though? That's just wrong...

Shanna Moakler Attacks Travis Barker, Says She Is An 'Amazing' Mother - Is this the same Shanna Moakler who said something about how she hates stars who feel they have to be outrageous to get famous?

Tom Sizemore Charged With Spousal Battery - Is it Thursday alre...

NEW YORK - This week's Entertainment Weekly goes on the set for a Seinfeld reunion with Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), George (Jason Alexander), Elaine (Julia Louis Dreyfus), and Kramer (Michael Richards) as they join old pal Larry David for the new season of HBO's cult hit Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Over the last six seasons, viewers have come to expect the outrageous from Curb, Larry David's exploration of a man named Larry David whose self-conscious series about curmudgeonry and comeuppance is about to take a turn for the surreal by reuniting the cast of his old, pathologically revered NBC sitcom...

Movie executives at Twentieth Century Fox have sent bosses of adult film studio New Sensations a cease and desist missive after learning they've completed filming of a sexy new X-Files porn spoof.

The X-Files: A Dark XXX Parody is now in post-production, but the steamy X-rated DVD, which features a stunning Gillian Anderson look-alike, will never be released if film chiefs get their way.

In the letter, a representative from Fox demands that New Sensations change the title of the film and cease using any X-Files trademarks.

Defiant porn bosses insist their intended product does no...

It's possible you don't recognize the name John Michael Higgins -- as he even points out in this interview -- but everyone has seen him in something. John Michael Higgins joins us to discuss his two upcoming films -- "The Ugly Truth" and "Couples Retreat" -- plus speculate on the return of his "Arrested Development" character, Wayne Jarvis, in a possible feature film. He also takes a look back at his roles in "Best in Show" and "A Mighty Wind" and poignantly discusses what was not the happiest time in his life: Portraying the most powerful man in late night television, David Letterman, in H...

If you don't know her as vampire Pam from HBO's "True Blood," you may recognize Kristin Bauer from "Dark Angel", "JAG" or from the classic "Seinfeld" episode where she played Jerry's "Man Hands" girlfriend, Gillian.

Kristin recently talked to Starpulse about her passionate advocacy for animal welfare, as well as her role as a vampire. She has worked with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Tails for Whales campaign, which raises awareness about the threats facing whales and their habitats, including commercial whaling and climate change.

Starpulse: When you started w...

In the world of television, the big networks - NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX - are typically considered to be the "A" team, or the major leaguers of TV stations. Now they have a bit of competition.

The network we are most confused by is NBC. NBC used to be a ratings powerhouse with its "Must See TV" marketing campaigns. Weeknights were appointment television nights for millions of viewers tuning in first in the genesis of it all, the 1980s with Hill Street Blues, The Cosby Show, Cheers, and LA Law. The 1990s came in strong with ER, Friends, Frasier, Mad About You, Seinfeld, and the last of...

During these hot summer months, nothing is quite as fun as jumping in your car, winding the windows down, turning the radio up, and hitting the blacktop in search of new adventures. Who's up for a road trip?

Now, before you fill up your tank, we should tell you that we're not talking about any old road trip. We're not talking about heading for the beach or the Grand Canyon. We're not talking about following the same itinerary that your parents did when you were just a kid sitting in the back of the family station wagon with no say in the matter.

Sure, the typical tourist spots are gr...

Celebrity is something of a double edged sword. On one hand you could make millions and be adored by fans all over the world, but it also means the loss of privacy and the constant nitpicking of the mainstream critics. One slip up is all it takes for your face and words to be scattered over magazines and blogs, but sometimes the controversies are worth being taken to task for.

Here's a look at some of the celebrities who lost their mind or temper at the wrong time, and whether or not they have managed to bounce back from the incidents. What do you think of these moments in celeb history...

TV legend Larry David has expressed his support for his embattled former co-star Michael Richards - insisting the comic is a changed man since he was accused of racial abuse.

The Seinfeld co-creator will star alongside the hit show's original cast, including Richards, when a new season of his hugely popular Curb Your Enthusiasm hits TV later this year.

And David loved working with Richards again - insisting he is back to his best after the actor was caught up in a race mêlée following a hate-filled rant against black people in a 2006 stand-up routine.

David explains, "(Richards)...

I finally got around to seeing "Terminator Salvation," and I must admit I wasn't terribly impressed. Overall the film was better than "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," but that doesn't say a whole lot because "T3" was pretty bad. Sam Worthington and Anton Yelchin were great, while Christian Bale gave an okay performance. I was expecting a more epic movie considering all its hype.

This week there are five films premiering: "Year One," "The Proposal," "Whatever Works," "Food Inc," and "Dead Snow." There are three I think are worth seeing, and two I think you should wait to rent.
...

May sweeps is coming to an end after this week with dramatic TV season finales and cliffhangers. Last week shows like Lost ended their season with thrilling and unexpected moments that left audiences with more questions than answers. Season Finales are often the most memorable episodes during a TV series' run. They often include a mystery that is left unsolved until the next season. And most of the time they reveal something unexpected - like a surprise marriage proposal or a main character being killed off. Here's a list of some great season finales that have left viewers at the edge of th...

Beloved sitcom Friends is set for a revival - as a porn film. Central Perk will be much more perkier in the new adult film, Friends - A XXX Parody, which will hit DVD stores this summer.

As for the racy plot, a movie spokeswoman says, "Hilarity and deep penetration ensues when Freebie accidentally spills the beans about Moanica's bachelorette party, leading the boys to decide to throw a bigger and raunchier bachelor party."

The DVD comes as part of a package of sitcom parodies, which are currently in production at film studio New Sensations. These include 30 Rock - A XXX Parody, S...

Seinfeld star Julia Louis-Dreyfus is ready to revive the hit 1990s sitcom for the big screen - after reuniting with her former cast mates for guest spots on Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Seinfeld fans will get a teaser when Louis-Dreyfus and her former TV co-stars Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards appear together in a number of shows for the upcoming season of Larry David's comedy series. Returning to the set with her former colleagues brought back fond memories for the actress, 11 years after Seinfeld came to an end in 1998 following a nine-season run.

She tells Peop...

Actor Neil Patrick Harris scorched up the stage at the TV Land Awards in Los Angeles - when a stunt set his tuxedo on fire.

The star, who was hosting the prize giving, was rehearsing his opening number just before the show started on Sunday when his costume went up in smoke. According to blogger Marc Malkin, the funnyman was left shaken and a little burned when sparks from electronic devices he was wearing for a stunt set his suit on fire.

A source says, "He just had some welts on his back (but) he didn't have to be taken to a hospital or anything like that."

Harris made n...

Beloved sitcom Seinfeld is set to raise laughs and temperatures when it returns as a porn film later this year. X-rated filmmaker Lee Roy Myers is currently filming Seinfeld: A XXX Parody! for adult movie studio New Sensations.

The comedy show ran from 1989 to 1998 and is still a big hit in re-runs.

New Sensations are also responsible for adult movie spoofs The Office: A XXX Parody and Scrubs: A XXX Parody.

- Click here for more Seinfeld pictures -

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

The moment the entire cast of hit sitcom Seinfeld reunited on the set of TV show Curb Your Enthusiasm was "electrifying", according to actress Cheryl Hines.

Seinfeld co-creator Larry David has brought Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Julia Louis Dreyfus and Michael Richards back together - 11 years after the last episode of the multi-award-winning comedy aired - to appear in the upcoming seventh season of his spin-off show.

And Hynes, who plays David's on-screen wife, insists the actors clicked instantly.

She says, "It was electrifying to have them all together. To sit the...

TV Land announced today that it will pay tribute to "M*A*S*H," "Married...With Children," "Home Improvement," "Magnum PI," "Knots Landing" and "Two And A Half Men" at the 7th Annual TV Land Awards.

Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, the two-hour show will tape on Sunday, April 19th at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City and will air on TV Land during a special presentation of TV Land PRIME on Sunday, April 26th at 8PM ET/PT.

All of this year's honorees are cultural icons representing a cross-section of classic and modern television that viewers love. Below are details on this y...