While Susie Essman, popularly known for portraying Susie Greene, the foulmouthed wife of Jeff Greene (Jeff Garlin) on Curb Your Enthusiasm, continues her profane outbursts on the acclaimed HBO series, the comedy actress can also be seen presiding over six episodes of a new reality series called Better Half.

Broadcast on Bravo, Better Half features spouses/mates of two trained professionals such as chefs, comedians, party planners, and hairstylists as they square off in competition.  With only two days to coach, they train their novice partner to take on their jobs and beat the opposing “better half” in a final challenge.  In each episode, three judges who are noted in the featured line of work will evaluate how well each couple executed the job handoff.  The new series, which debuted on October 3, features the Curb star as the outspoken host that will critique how the couples listen and learn from each other.

"It's not exploitive," the Curb star said, before recognizing that the premise is little but intrusive.  "You do follow the couples and see there's a tremendous amount of stress between them for 48 hours.  Invariably someone ends up having a fight and hating the other one.”

"I don't think we broke anyone up," she added.  "Actually, one couple broke up, but they should have broken up."

Just like on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Essman is expected to infuse her words with enough salty exhortation on Better Half.  While some deem her outbursts as offensive, Curb costar Larry David considers her as an authentic comedian.

"As soon as I look at her, I know she's going to call me a name or whatever, and I just lose it," David said of Essman.  "It takes me like five takes."

"I have to picture my kids held hostage by terrorists," David, who devises mental tricks to fend off Essman's infectious humor, said.  "And if I laugh, they're going to harm my children."

Better Half airs every Wednesday 11/10c on Bravo while Curb Your Enthusiasm airs every Sunday at 10pm on HBO.


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Bravo, Sun-sentinel.com
(Image courtesy of HBO)