Redemption is like the Road Runner: elusive, beguiling, and really into birdseed. Our hapless Wile E. Coyote in this little scenario is recently-outed racist Michael Richards, who has been in pursuit of the Road Runner since dropping an anvil of n-bombs on his career in 2006.  His efforts have included a painful public apology on Letterman (rocket skates) and cozying up to black leaders Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson (giant slingshot), but true to form, the Coyote has never come close.

Fortunately for Wile E, however, he has some powerful friends that seem intent on seeing him get his wish.  Jerry Seinfeld himself hooked up the Letterman appearance, and now Seinfeld co-creator Larry David is stepping in to give the beleaguered Coyote a boost.  David has written an elaborate five-episode Seinfeld reunion storyline into the seventh season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.  This means two things:

1. Jerry better dust off his mom-jeans.
2. Michael Richards gets a second chance.

Richards couldn’t hope for a better re-introduction to the world than as the beloved Kramer, and coverage of the event seems to indicate that Richards is up for a reprieve.  The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly discusses the reunion in great detail, though barely touches on Richards’ recent struggles.  The most we get is a few canned lines of remorse from Richards, as he tells us he did “a lot of deep work” on himself, and explaining that “I’m kind of grateful that I blew it because it let me step into another place with myself and the world around me.”

Is this Richards’ welcome back moment, or another ill-fated attempt to catch his Road Runner?  Does he deserve a second chance?  Sound off in the comments below.

Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 6 begins Sunday night at 12:30 and 1 AM, followed by Season 4 of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia at 1:30 AM.