Thus, the myth of the Seinfeld curse was born. Just when it seemed that the stars of the iconic sitcom would never find true success on television again, The New Adventures of Old Christine starring Louis-Dreyfus premiered in 2006. The multi-camera sitcom, created by Kari Lizer, starred Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell, a single mother making her way through life.
The show also starred Clark Gregg as Christine’s ex-husband, Richard; Trevor Gagnon as Christine’s son, Ritchie; Hamish Linklater as Christine’s brother, Matthew; Wanda Sykes as Christine’s best friend, Barb; and Emily Rutherfurd as Richard’s new girlfriend, also named Christine, but nicknamed New Christine. This meant that Louis-Dreyfus’ character was Old Christine.
The New Adventures of Old Christine ran for five seasons from 2006-2010. When it premiered, it received positive reviews from critics, and the Seinfeld curse was finally broken. The show still holds up today, and features some of Louis-Dreyfus’ funniest performances.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus Won An Emmy For The New Adventures Of Old Christine, Breaking The Seinfeld Curse
On August 27, 2006, Louis-Dreyfus broke the Seinfeld curse when she won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for The New Adventures of Old Christine. This was her second Emmy win after she took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1996 for Seinfeld.
When Louis-Dreyfus accepted her Emmy for The New Adventures of Old Christine, she said, “Well, I’m not somebody who really believes in curses … but curse this, baby!” She was nominated for the award for every year that the show aired, but she didn’t win it again until she starred as Selina Meyer in Veep in 2012. She won six Emmy Awards for that role.
Christine Campbell Is One Of Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Best Roles
Louis-Dreyfus is widely known for her roles of Elaine Benes in Seinfeld and Selina Meyer in Veep, but Christine Campbell is one of her best. The character made her a representative for middle-aged women, examining their struggles with humor and heart. In the role, Louis-Dreyfus was able to showcase her comedic timing, cracking joke after joke with perfect delivery. Louis-Dreyfus expertly became Christine, and she settled into the role immediately, as evidenced by her Emmy win for episode 2 of the series, entitled “Supertramp.”
Throughout The New Adventures of Old Christine, Louis-Dreyfus not only highlighted her incredible ability to deliver hilarious lines, but also her physical comedy skills. In “The Happy Couple,” she and Sykes engaged in one of the funniest scenes of the series when Christine tries to physically stop Barb from seeing her brother, Matthew, after they shared an intimate moment together. The hysterical scene showcased a whole new level of Louis-Dreyfus’ comedic genius.
In addition, due to the nature of Seinfeld, Louis-Dreyfus didn’t have much of a chance to portray Elaine’s sensitive side because she simply didn’t have one. However, in The New Adventures of Old Christine, Christine’s relationships with her family members and friends allowed Louis-Dreyfus to play a more vulnerable character, which was refreshing to see. It’s impossible to imagine anyone in the role of Christine except for Louis-Dreyfus, which is the mark of a superb actor.
Why The New Adventures Of Old Christine Is Still Worth Watching
Although The New Adventures of Old Christine premiered twenty years ago, the show is still worth watching. It addresses some of the most serious issues–divorce, racism, homophobia, classism, and ageism–through a comedic lens, teaching important life lessons without being preachy.
In The New Adventures of Old Christine season 4 episode 3, “White Like Me,” Christine worries she’s racist after she feels uncomfortable when Barb’s article in a Black business owner’s magazine attracts an influx of Black women to their gym. In season 4 episode 11, “Unidentified Funk,” Christine and Barb must decide if they want to stay in business with their homophobic parent company. Both of these episodes address intense issues with humor and sensitivity, and they’re still relevant in 2026.
Another issue that The New Adventures of Old Christine tackled was ageism and the pressures that women face as they get older to look a certain way. In “Beauty is Only Spanx Deep,” Christine considers having plastic surgery when she worries that she’s dating out of her league with the gorgeous Mr. Daniel Harris (Blair Underwood). Watching her ex-husband date a much-younger woman doesn’t help, especially when she feels invisible around her. These are issues that every woman can relate to, and Louis-Dreyfus makes it her mission to make a middle-aged woman the star of her own story.
In addition, Christine spends the entire series trying to keep up with the rich parents at Ritchie’s expensive private school, especially Marly (Tricia O’Kelley) and Lindsay (Alex Kapp Horner). However, it’s her true friendship with Barb, who she even marries to help her stay in the country, that shines. Christine’s relationships with her brother, son, and ex-husband are also realistic and, at times, even touching. Also, her dating struggles are something that people of any age can relate to.
Twenty years ago, The New Adventures of Old Christine gave a voice to women who were balancing raising their families, working, dating, and struggling to carve out their own identities, all while battling sexism and ageism from society. Not only did it break the Seinfeld curse, but it helped to break stereotypes about middle-aged women by giving a glimpse into their everyday lives. It still holds up today because its themes are univeral. Louis-Dreyus was the perfect person to play Christine, and the role proved why she’s considered one of the best comedic actors of our time.
The New Adventures of Old Christine airs on TVLand. Please check local listings.
Sources: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Archive/YouTube, TV Land/YouTube