As a huge fan of Curb, as someone who has watched every episode of the first 8 seasons at least twice, I naturally had high expectations of Season 9. Larry had set the bar so high...maybe that was the problem, because I'm disappointed in this season so far. Everyone is noticeably older, yet they all seem to be in denial about that. It's weird. Ted is banging Cheryl, Larry asks Mary out but she turns him down because Larry's not her body type, Larry gets advice on how to pick up women then ends up with a woman young enough to be his granddaughter...it's all contrived and strange. Nobody has grown up. Susie, Leon and Richard do the usual shtick, but it's tired shtick now...it lacks freshness. And Larry's turned his shtick up a couple of notches to the point where he's a ranting old man more than a savvy social assassin.
Having said that (thinking of the Having Said That scene now on an old Curb), it's still Curb, so it's still worth watching.