Curb Your Enthusiasm's Jeff Garlin steps out on his own

ICE CREAM SOCIAL Garlin and Sarah Silverman in a scene from his new film, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With

Fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm know Jeff Garlin as Jeff Greene, Larry David's jolly manager-sidekick and chief enabler (who in one recent episode also revealed himself to be an imprudent masturbator). But in his new movie, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, Garlin runs his own show, writing, coproducing, directing, and starring as an underemployed, overweight comic who nonetheless proves irresistible to Sarah Silverman and "chubby chaser" Bonnie Hunt. On the morning of Cheese's Los Angeles premiere, Garlin spoke to Radar about the future of Curb, managing fame, and how his film's gift to the world may be a dirty little something called the "hoagie shack."

RADAR: Thanks for getting up early for us.
Garlin: For me, this ain't nothing. I wake up between 5:30 and 6:30 am without an alarm. It's the life I lead.

You've been coast to coast on a publicity blitz for the movie. Is it wearing on you?
It's completely wearing on me. At this point I cannot stand anything I have to say. The only thing that matters now is getting people to see my movie, or to watch Curb Your Enthusiasm, because that's my work and I do it for people's enjoyment. Generally, I don't care about fame.

But you're willing to suffer it for the work you get to do?
In all sincerity, I don't think anybody needs to or wants to see me having sex with Sarah Silverman.
I guess. That sounds sort of weird, me saying I'm willing to suffer it. But the premise is that I have no choice. And anyone who ever approaches me I'm kind and cordial to, even if it's an inopportune moment—I'm eating or something. I'm just nice to everybody. What am I going to do? It's part of the gig.

When the movie screened at the IFC Center last week, a lot of people left repeating the "hoagie shack" line.
Hopefully people will pick up on that. Would be fun.

Hoagie shacking [described by Sarah Silverman's character as a romantic act, in which a gentleman "places his wiener between the bosoms of a lady"] may very well sweep the nation. Did lines like that come out of improvisation?
Everything was scripted, so there's no comparison to what we do on Curb. That hoagie shack came from Sarah Silverman and me. It was a stand-in word for the actual...act. You know what I mean? My producer, Steve Pink, said, "Look, this alone gives you an R rating. Can you give me an alternate?" So Sarah said, "Hoagie," and I said, "Shack." Then we threw in wieners and bosoms.

LARGER THAN LIFE Garlin literally took over the big screen, when Cheese showed at New York's Rockefeller Center

Did you write the part with Sarah Silverman in mind?
I did, but at the time she was not famous at all. I shouldn't say not at all, actually. She was gaining notoriety but she didn't have a TV show. She wasn't nearly as famous as she is now. Maybe a quarter as famous. I felt like she's so great I wanted to write something for her where people see how great she is.

She plays one of your love interests in the film. Why no sex scene?
Well, first thing I'd have to have for that to happen would be to convince Sarah to do that scene with me. No. In all sincerity, I don't think anybody needs to or wants to see me having sex with Sarah Silverman.

In the movie, your character is pursued by a chubby-chasing schoolteacher [played by Bonnie Hunt]. Was this plot point pulled from any personal experience?
Oh yeah, I've met girls before who like big guys. Now, I've not met any girl who loves hugely obese guys, but I have met girls who like a bigger than average guy.

Ever feel objectified?
No, it's a good thing. It's about time someone dug that look.

LADIES' MAN Garlin with costars Sarah Silverman and Bonnie Hunt

The New York Times interviewed you last year when your movie was first premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival. The article made you seem nervous and insecure about how the film would be received. How are you feeling now that you've received some good reviews?
I'm very secure as a person, I'm secure as a father. I'm secure in what I do. But you know, when you make a movie that's yours, that's personal, it's harder to take criticism. The fact that I've gotten all these positive reviews and the movie seems to be doing well at the box office alleviates most of that tension.

So you read the reviews?
Not consciously. Someone might say to me, you should read it, the New York Times wrote a great review. I'm like, hey, why not read that? Generally, I don't believe the reviews one way or another. They can say I'm great, they can say I suck. I know what I am.

BUDDY COMEDY Garlin with Curb creator Larry David

Curb Your Enthusiasm also premiered last week. You've said you think it might be the last season.
I think every year is the last season. This year more than ever, but we'll see. I think all shows should go out on top. Who wants to go out when they're sucking up the place? Curb does have one thing that's different from other shows. We have Larry David, and Larry David doesn't need to work. He only needs to do the show because he has something creative to say. He doesn't need the money. The only reason he'll do another season is if he has a good idea.

Cheese isn't your directorial debut. You also got behind the camera for an episode of Curb, right?
I like directing my own things, my own projects. Even if I direct Curb Your Enthusiasm, it's still Larry David's show.
Yes, I directed one episode in season two because Larry promised me I could. But you know, being the executive producer and an actor on the show gives me more than my share of creative input. I like directing my own things, my own projects. Even if I direct Curb Your Enthusiasm, it's still Larry David's show.

How does Larry take direction?
Fine. Great. He doesn't give any problems. But, to me, being a good director doesn't mean that you're ordering everybody around. It means that you're helping to shape whatever it is. In the case of Curb Your Enthusiasm, you're really working to shape whatever is Larry David's vision.

Any big changes or major plot twists this season?
Nothing I can talk about. Larry David has sworn me to secrecy. He takes these things pretty seriously.

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