Chris Wallace Cracks Up Larry David Over Famous Seinfeld Masturbation Contest

CNN anchor Chris Wallace managed to make comic actor Larry David laugh with a well-timed crack as they discussed the infamous Seinfeld ode to masturbation called, “The Contest.”

Wallace interviewed David for this week’s edition of his Max series Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace on a variety of topics, including politics, his signature cringe-com Curb Your Enthusiasm, and his persona.

While David frequently had Wallace in stitches, Wallace got off (pardon the pun) a good line as they talked about perhaps the most famous episodes of the seminal (sorry) comedy series:

WALLACE: Well, that’s something (Yeah.) You started Seinfeld in 1989. And I want to play a clip from perhaps the most famous episode “The Contest” that won you an Emmy, and TV Guide, that great authority, said was the greatest episode of TV ever.

DAVID: Is that right? (Yeah.)

[[CLIP]]

WALLACE: So first of all, how did you come up with that idea?

DAVID: I had a contest with a friend. (Literally?), literally, (that that contest?) that contest. (Who could put it off longer?) Yes, I had a contest.

WALLACE: And then what were the results of said contest?

DAVID: I was clearly the winner. (Really?) Yeah. (What you go 2 days?) *laughs* Anyway, that’s where they came from.

WALLACE: And how much trouble did you have getting it past the NBC censors?

DAVID: Usually, the network would they would, when they would come into the room after a show or after a run through. They would look at our board and see upcoming shows. And they’d say what’s that one about? What’s that one about? And for “the contest,” I didn’t put it up on the board because I didn’t want them asking what it was about because I knew they wouldn’t do it. They came to a read-through, and they heard the show. And in my head, I’m going well, if they don’t let if they don’t let us do this, I’m done. I’m quitting. Soon as they say, No, we’re not doing it. And I’ve got the whole speech in my head. Sorry, good luck. I’m done. You know, that’s what I was gonna do. I was gonna quit. But then we have the read through it got great laughs. They came back to our office. And they didn’t say a word. I was stunned.

WALLACE: Maybe a little disappointed too?

DAVID: Yeah, would have been a good scene. I missed out on a big dramatic moment.

WALLACE: So why do you think they let it go?

DAVID: I don’t know. I don’t know. I guess because they heard laughs and when they hear laughs it kind of changes their thinking about something.

Watch above via Max’s Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace.