Sharon Lawrence sure to go down in "Curb" history

Tonight's new episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," which is stronger than the season's premiere and sure to be an instant classic, prominently features Raleigh native and Emmy-nominated actress, Sharon Lawrence.

In the episode, Lawrence plays a cancer specialist who believes personal relationships can contribute to a patient's recovery, and who advises her patients to "walk out on" toxic partnerships.

As we know, the show's star, Larry David, wants out of his relationship with Loretta (Vivica A. Fox), who has cancer. Larry may not know what it's like to have cancer, but he knows what it's like to be with someone who has cancer, and Larry isn't built for that kind of sacrifice.

So as he's making Loretta's fresh-squeezed carrot juice and contemplating missing his golf game to drive her to a hair appointment, he hears Dr. Trundle (Lawrence) describe to Dr. Phil the type of toxic personality she advises her cancer patients to avoid:

"Someone who is impatient, someone who is obnoxious, someone who is petty and argumentative, and obsesses over meaningless details at the expense of a harmonious relationship."

Sound like anyone we know?

Naturally, Larry gets his ailing girlfriend an appointment with Dr. Trundle, and proceeds to behave like a monumental ass (complete with Jackie Mason impression) in the meeting, knowing full well what will happen.

But there are always kinks in Larry's schemes, and tonight's kinks get rather kinky.

The hilarity that begins playing out through the string of seemingly unconnected situations can't adequately be described in a family newspaper, or on a family newspaper's website (though, you might get a clue from the episode's title).

Let's just say that Larry and Loretta witness Dr. Trundle engaging in an unsafe driving practice and it leads, of course, to a confrontation. A hilarious and perfectly played confrontation.

We talked to Lawrence this week about her role on "Curb," and she had some interesting things to say about filming the somewhat awkward scene on the show. You can read about the interview here or in Sunday's N&O.

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" airs at 9pm on Sundays on HBO.