The Larry Sanders Show
Encyclopedia
The Larry Sanders Show is a satirical television sitcom that aired from August 1992 to May 1998 on the HBO
cable television
network in the United States. It starred stand-up comedian Garry Shandling
as vain, neurotic talk show
host Larry Sanders, and centered on the running of his TV show, and the many people behind the scenes. It is notable for featuring celebrities playing exaggerated, self-parodying versions of themselves, and for its character-based humor. Other series which subsequently aired on HBO, such as Curb Your Enthusiasm
, Extras, and Entourage
, shared these traits.
The series, in which Shandling used his experience as a guest host on The Tonight Show
, is ranked by various critics and fans as one of the best TV comedies of the 1990s. The series ranked #38 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time
, the only HBO comedy to make the list. It was also included in Time
magazine's list of the "100 Best TV Shows of All Time."
The show won 24 major awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards, five CableACE Awards, four American Comedy Awards, two British Comedy Awards, a BAFTA Award and a Satellite Award. It also received 86 nominations, including 56 Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, five Directors' Guild of America nominations, six Writers' Guild of America nominations, six American Comedy Awards nominations, three Golden Globe nominations, three Satellite Awards nominations and a GLAAD Award nomination.
), host of the fictional late night talk show The Larry Sanders Show. It chronicles the daily life of Larry; the show's producer, Arthur "Artie" (Rip Torn
); Larry's sidekick, Hank Kingsley (Jeffrey Tambor
); and the production staff, as they attempt to produce a successful talk show each night while dealing with celebrities, the network and everything in between. Episodes focus on both the professional and personal lives of the characters, with most shows focusing on Larry Sanders. However, ancillary characters are also prominently featured, among them Jerry, the show's head writer for the first and second seasons; Phil, the head writer beginning in season two; Beverly, Larry's assistant; Darlene, Hank's assistant until the fourth season; Brian, Hank's assistant beginning in the fourth season; Paula, the show's booker until the fifth season; and Mary Lou, the assistant booker and then booker starting in the fifth season.
Much like Shandling's other work, The Larry Sanders Show presented its main character as rather selfish and neurotic (but also likable and charming), and it contained some "meta" touches, such as in the final episode, in which it is established that Garry Shandling exists in the Larry Sanders universe, and is the subject of a complaint by Sean Penn, involving Garry's narcissism and his behavior toward Penn's wife on the set of Hurlyburly
.
Jeff Cesario
was the butt of a long running joke, being frequently "bumped" when booked to appear.
In a commentary on the season 1 DVD, Shandling says the guests were invariably happy to parody their media images and generally shared the same sense of humor as himself and the other writers.
, who directed 52 episodes. Holland is also the only director to have directed episodes in all six seasons. Holland was the head director for season two, three, four and five. Garry Shandling was the primary director for the sixth season, having directed three episodes of the season, while Holland directed only two. Another major director was Ken Kwapis
; although he only directed episodes of the first and second season, overall he directed 13 episodes. Kwapis was the head director in the first season. Some directors who directed only one episode in show's run are: Dennis Erdman, Paul Flaherty
, John Riggi
, Michael Lange
, David Mirkin
, Melonie Mayron and Judd Apatow
. Directors who directed two or more episodes are: Michael Lehmann
and Alan Myerson
. The show received one Emmy Award for directing. It went to Todd Holland
for directing the series finale "Flip".
were the head writers for the entire six-season run. Garry Shandling and Dennis Klein wrote the pilot episode of the show. Shandling wrote 38, while Tolan wrote 23 episodes. Shandling and Tolan received an Emmy Award for writing the series finale "Flip". Other writers on the show were Maya Forbes, Paul Simms
, Judd Apatow
, John Riggi
, Jon Vitti
, Chris Thompson
, Dennis Klein, Drake Sather, Molly Newman
, Lester Lewis
, Becky Hartman Edwards and Jeff Cesario
.
Directors Guild of America
Satellite Awards
Writers Guild of America
ranked The Larry Sanders Show the 28th Greatest Show of the past 25 years. Also, TV Guide named it the 38th Greatest Show of All Time, the only HBO comedy to make it to the list. During its six year run, The Larry Sanders Show won 24 awards including three Emmy awards. In 1997, the episode "Everybody Loves Larry" was ranked #39 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time.
Some popular episodes of the season are: "The Garden Weasel", in which the network wants Larry to do live commercials during the show; "The Spider Episode", in which Larry is afraid to do a sketch which involves spiders; "The New Producer", in which the network wants to replace Artie; "Out of the Loop", in which Artie doesn't want Larry to know that Jerry and Sally have been having sex on his desk; "The Flirt Episode" in which Larry tries not to flirt with Mimi Rogers
; and the season finale "The Hey Now Episode", in which Larry and Artie try to make Hank appreciate the show more.
The season was nominated for eight Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, but lost to Seinfeld
. However, The Larry Sanders Show became the first cable TV series to be nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. Garry Shandling
was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Rip Torn
and Jeffrey Tambor
were nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Dana Carvey
and Carol Burnett
were nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor and Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. Dennis Klein and Garry Shandling was nominated for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for the Pilot episode. Garry Shandling, Paul Simms
, Peter Tolan
and Rosie Shuster were nominated in for the same category for "The Spider Episode".
Jeremy Piven grew tired of playing the character Jerry, head writer of the fictional Larry Sanders Show talk show; because his character was not given much of a background. He left during season two on the episode "Larry's Birthday", where Artie fired him because of his behavior on the show. Jerry later came back on the series finale to say good luck to Larry on his final show. Eventually, Phil replaced Jerry as the show's head writer.
The second season premiered on June 2, 1993 and ended on September 29, 1993. The story arc in this season involved Larry beginning a new relationship with his first wife, after he had divorced his second wife.
Season
Some popular episodes of the season were: "Larry's Agent", in which Larry tries to fire his agent; "Broadcast Nudes", in which Hank wants Darlene to pose naked in Playboy magazine (Linda Doucett, the actress who played Darlene and also Garry Shandling's girlfriend at the time, would later actually appear in the magazine); "Larry's Birthday" in which Larry doesn't want anyone throwing a party for his birthday; this is also the episode where Jerry (the head writer of the show) is fired; "The Grand Opening", in which Hank tries to promote his new restaurant; "Off Camera", in which Artie has to deal with all the stress that Larry suffers every show; and the season finale "L.A or N.Y?", in which Larry leaves the show and moves to Montana, to protest the network's desire to shift the show's base from L.A. to New York.
The show was nominated for four Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, but lost to Frasier
and would continue losing to the same series for the rest of its run. Rip Torn was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy. Todd Holland was nominated for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for the episode "Life Behind Larry". Garry Shandling
, Paul Simms
, Drake Sathers, Victor Levin and Maya Forbes where nominated for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for the episode "Larry's Agent".
Some of the most popular episodes of the season were: "Montana", in which the show gets back on the air after Larry discovers that life in Montana is not to his liking; "You're Having My Baby", in which a woman claims that she is having Larry's baby; "Hank's Night in the Sun", in which Hank fulfills his dreams of becoming guest host for the show; "The Mr. Sharon Stone Show", which Larry dates Sharon Stone
and finds out what it means to be the less famous member of a show biz couple; and the season finale "End of the Season" in which Larry gets engaged to Roseanne Barr
.
The season was nominated for six Emmy awards, including, for the third year in a row, for Outstanding Comedy Series, but lost to Frasier again. Garry Shandling
was nominated as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Rip Torn was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Todd Holland was nominated for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for "Hank's Night in the Sun". Peter Tolan was nominated for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Hank's Night in the Sun. It received another nomination in that same category, Garry Shandling and Peter Tolan for "The Mr. Sharon Stone Show". This season also received a Golden Globe nomination for Garry Shandling for Best Lead Actor in Musical or Comedy. It received one nomination for the Directors Guild of America Award for Todd Holland for "The Mr. Sharon Stone Show".
Darlene, Hank's loyal assistant left the show at the end of season three (the actress who portrayed her was previously in a relationship with Shandling, but the couple had become estranged between seasons). Supposedly Darlene was on vacation, but on the second episode of the fourth season, a letter arrived from Darlene telling Hank she decided to quit as his assistant to follow someone she describes as "a holy man" living in India. Later that same episode, Hank hires Brian, has reservations about him when he learns he is gay, but decides to keep him on when Brian is indirectly instrumental in Larry inviting Hank to join him for a game of poker. Darlene returned along with Jerry on the show's finale to congratulate Larry on his final show.
Season
The season premiered on July 19, 1995 and ended on November 22, 1995.
Some of the most popular episodes of the show included: "Rosanne's Return", in which Larry has to face Roseanne Barr
after their engagement broke off; "Arthur After Hours", in which it is revealed what Artie does after the show had an unsuccessful broadcast; "Jeanne's Visit", in which Larry's ex-wife, Jeannie, visits the show, "Hank's Sex Tape", in which Hank becomes incensed when Phil circulates a tape of him having sex; and the season finale "Larry's On Vacation", in which Sandra Bernhard
tries to take over the show .
The season was nominated for 12 Emmy awards, including for Outstanding Comedy Series, but lost for the third time in a row to Frasier
. But this year The Larry Sanders Show received its first Emmy award: Rip Torn
won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Jeffrey Tambor was also nominated in the same category. Garry Shandling was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and the show received two nominations for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: One for Todd Holland for "Arthur After Hours", another for Michael Leachmann for "I was a Teenage Lesbian". The show: one for Garry Shandling
, Steve Levitan and Maya Forbes for the episode "Roseanne's Return", another for Peter Tolan for the episode "Arthur After Hours", and another for Jon Vitti for "Hank's Sex Tape". Janeane Garofalo was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in Comedy Series. Rosie O'Donnell
and Mandy Patinkin
were nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress and Guest Actor in Comedy Series. Garry Shandling was nominated for the second time in a row for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series at the Golden Globe Award. This season received four Writers' Guild of America Awards, one for Garry Shandling, Steve Levitan and Maya Forbes for "Roseanne's Return", another for John Riggi for "Hank's New Assistant", another for Peter Tolan for "Arthur After Hours" and finally one for Peter Tolan for "Eight". It received one Director's Guild of America Award nomination for Todd Holland for the episode "Arthur After Hours".
Janeane Garofalo decided to leave due to decreasing screen time for her character Paula, the show's booker. Mary Lou, her assistant, replaced her as booker. In this season the show got a writer named Wendy. Also in this season, Jon Stewart became a frequent guest who threatened to replace Larry on the show.
Season
The season premiered November 13, 1996 and ended on February 26, 1997. There is only one episode that began with the original credit sequence of the series.
Some of the most famous episodes of the series were made in this season: "Everybody Loves Larry", in which Larry starts suspecting that David Duchovny
has sexual feelings for him; "My Name is Asher Kingsley", in which Hank explores his Jewish roots, much to the crew's dismay; "Ellen, or Isn't She?", in which Larry and Artie try to find if Ellen DeGeneres
is really a lesbian; "The New Writer", in which Wendy begins working as a writer for the show, much to Phil's dismay; "The Book", in which Larry is convinced to write an autobiography; "Pain Equals Funny", in which Paula leaves the show; and the season finale, "Larry's New Love", in which Hank is afraid the network is trying to replace him.
The show was nominated for 16 Emmy awards, breaking the record for most nominations for a Comedy Series for an individual Emmy year. The record was maintained for ten years, until 30 Rock
received 17 nominations. The show was nominated for the fifth time for Outstanding Comedy Series, and was considered a front-runner for Primetime Emmy Award, but was defeated again by Frasier
. Garry Shandling was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Rip Torn and Jeffrey Tambor were nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in Comedy Series. Janeane Garofalo was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. It received two nominations for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series; one for Todd Holland for Everybody Loves Larry, another for Alan Myerson for "Ellen, Or Isn't She?". It received three nominations for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series; one for Garry Shandling, John Markus and Judd Apatow for the episode "Ellen, Or Isn't She?", another for Peter Tolan for "My Name is Asher Kingsley", another for Jon Vitti for Everybody Loves Larry. David Duchovny and Ellen DeGeneres received nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor and Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. The show was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Series-Musical or Comedy. It received two Directors' Guild of America Award nominations; one for Todd Holland for Everybody Loves Larry, another for Alan Myerson for Ellen, Or Isn't She?. It was also nominated for two Writers' Guild of America Awards; one for Maya Forbes for The Book and another for Garry Shandling, John Markus and Judd Apatow for Ellen, Or Isn't She?.
Most of the changes of the show occurred offscreen this season. Many of the show's writers left the show (all except Garry Shandling, Peter Tolan, and Judd Apatow), and a new writing staff was hired. Todd Holland, who directed more than 48 episodes of the show, only directed two episodes the sixth season. This season was also markedly less comedic than earlier ones. Sid, the cue card guy at the show, commits suicide on the 8th episode of the season, but this was not considered a huge change, because there were only three episodes left in the series at that point.
Season
This was the final season of The Larry Sanders Show. It premiered on March 15, 1998 and ended on May 31, 1998. There is only one episode which began with the original show's opening.
Some of the most popular episodes of the season were: "Another List", in which the network threatens to replace Larry with Jon Stewart
unless he makes some changes; "The Beginning of the End", in which the show gets a new creative consultant who wants to make big changes in the show; "Adolf Hankler", in which Hank has to play Adolf Hitler
, while Larry is on vacation and Jon Stewart guest hosts; "Beverly's Secret", in which Beverly tries to tell the father of her baby she's pregnant; "Putting the 'Gay' Back in Litigation", in which Brian (Hank's assistant) sues Phil and the show for sexual harassment due to Phil's gay jokes; and the series finale: "Flip", in which the cast gets ready for their final broadcast and Larry and Artie deal with Hank and the emotions of the crew.
For its final Emmy year, it received 10 nominations, receiving its final nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series
, but it lost once again to Frasier
, for the fifth year in a row. Nevertheless, it won two Emmys: one for Todd Holland for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for his direction of the final episode of the show, another for Garry Shandling and Peter Tolan for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series also for the final episode of the show. Garry Shandling was nominated Outstanding Lead Actor in Comedy Series. Rip Torn and Jeffrey Tambor were nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in Comedy Series. It received one nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Richard Day, Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck for "Putting the 'Gay' Back in Litigation." It received only one nomination for Directors' Guild of America Award: Todd Holland for the episode "Flip."
Garry Shandling says he was very proud of the show's popularity and was sad it couldn't continue. Members of the cast and crew expressed disappointment and even depression with the end of the show. The finale was written by Garry Shandling and Peter Tolan, and was directed with Todd Holland. They both won Emmy Awards for directing and writing the final episode. The episode was filmed in March 1998, the same month the season premiered, with a running time of 53 minutes (90 with commercials), unlike all the other episodes with a running time of 22 to 28 minutes.
The episode aired 16 days after the finale of Seinfeld aired on May 31 and was watched by 2.5 million viewers, which was a significant number for HBO. The finale got very positive reviews from critics, especially in comparison to Seinfelds season finale. Coincidentally, Jerry Seinfeld
appears as himself in the Larry Sanders finale.
The episode was nominated for five Emmy Awards and won two: Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for Todd Holland and Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Shandling and Tolan.
called it "One of the Greatest Achievements in Television". LA Weekly
called it "Very Funny". Time
said it was "The Closest Sitcom Ever Came to Perfect Pitch". The Washington Post
called the show "Brutally and Blatantly Hilarious" and USA Today
gave it four stars.
Many critics alike called it one of the greatest television shows of all time. Metacritic gives the show a metascore of 96%, based on 8 reviews. Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly
said "Revisiting former colleagues and friends to find out how they felt about both Larry Sanders and Garry Shandling amounts to a monumental display of ...fearless revelation and humor." Doug Elfman from the Chicago Sun-Times
said "It is simply the one of the best sitcoms ever". Ivan Morales calls it "the greatest HBO sitcom of all time".
returned to his roots of stand-up comedy. He also worked as a voice actor in the children's film Over the Hedge
. Rip Torn guest-starred on 30 Rock
, and was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance.
Jeremy Piven
portrayed Ari Gold in the HBO series Entourage
and Spence Kovak on the ABC sitcom Ellen
. He has won three Emmy awards, a Golden Globe Award and several other awards for his performance in the show. Jeffrey Tambor
played George Bluth Sr. in the critically acclaimed FOX sitcom, Arrested Development. He was nominated for two Emmy awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He also appeared in the first two Hellboy films. Janeane Garofalo
, Penny Johnson and Mary Lynn Rajskub
all appeared on the television show 24
. Wallace Langham appeared on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
.
Judd Apatow, one of the producers of the show and writers, had a successful career after the show, making many adult comedy films such as Knocked Up
, Pineapple Express
, The 40-Year-Old Virgin
, and Funny People
. Brad Grey, the show's executive producer, produced the Martin Scorsese
film The Departed
and was the executive producer on The Sopranos
. Writer Peter Tolan
would find success as a Hollywood screenwriter with Analyze This
and create his own hit TV show with Rescue Me
.
On February 26, 2002 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
released the complete first season on DVD in Region 1.
On April 17, 2007, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
released a best-of compilation featuring episodes from all six seasons entitled Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show. The 4-disc DVD set features 23 episodes and features 8 hours of bonus material.
On November 2, 2010, Shout! Factory
released The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 (USA). The 17-disc set features extensive bonus features including featurettes, commentaries & outtakes. Shout! Factory has also released the seasons as stand-alones one by one.
Home Box Office
HBO, short for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner. , HBO's programming reaches 28.2 million subscribers in the United States, making it the second largest premium network in America . In addition to its U.S...
cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
network in the United States. It starred stand-up comedian Garry Shandling
Garry Shandling
Garry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show....
as vain, neurotic talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
host Larry Sanders, and centered on the running of his TV show, and the many people behind the scenes. It is notable for featuring celebrities playing exaggerated, self-parodying versions of themselves, and for its character-based humor. Other series which subsequently aired on HBO, such as Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
, Extras, and Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
, shared these traits.
The series, in which Shandling used his experience as a guest host on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
, is ranked by various critics and fans as one of the best TV comedies of the 1990s. The series ranked #38 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time
TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time
TV Guides 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time is TV Guides list of the 50 most entertaining and influential television series in American pop culture...
, the only HBO comedy to make the list. It was also included in Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine's list of the "100 Best TV Shows of All Time."
The show won 24 major awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards, five CableACE Awards, four American Comedy Awards, two British Comedy Awards, a BAFTA Award and a Satellite Award. It also received 86 nominations, including 56 Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, five Directors' Guild of America nominations, six Writers' Guild of America nominations, six American Comedy Awards nominations, three Golden Globe nominations, three Satellite Awards nominations and a GLAAD Award nomination.
Plot
The show revolves around Larry Sanders (Garry ShandlingGarry Shandling
Garry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show....
), host of the fictional late night talk show The Larry Sanders Show. It chronicles the daily life of Larry; the show's producer, Arthur "Artie" (Rip Torn
Rip Torn
Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn, Jr. , is an American actor of stage, screen and television.Torn received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1983 film Cross Creek. His work includes the role of Artie, the producer, on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he was nominated...
); Larry's sidekick, Hank Kingsley (Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
); and the production staff, as they attempt to produce a successful talk show each night while dealing with celebrities, the network and everything in between. Episodes focus on both the professional and personal lives of the characters, with most shows focusing on Larry Sanders. However, ancillary characters are also prominently featured, among them Jerry, the show's head writer for the first and second seasons; Phil, the head writer beginning in season two; Beverly, Larry's assistant; Darlene, Hank's assistant until the fourth season; Brian, Hank's assistant beginning in the fourth season; Paula, the show's booker until the fifth season; and Mary Lou, the assistant booker and then booker starting in the fifth season.
Different kind of sitcom
The Larry Sanders Show mixed video-taped footage of the fictional broadcast show (which was recorded in front of an actual live studio audience) with "behind the scenes" footage shot on film (for example, Larry talking to his guests during the commercial break or the everyday workings of the office between shows). As such, it featured real-life celebrity guests as they appear on the talk show, but also as they appeared behind the scenes. This gave writers and the celebrity guest the opportunity to send up their media image while making the show more realistic.Much like Shandling's other work, The Larry Sanders Show presented its main character as rather selfish and neurotic (but also likable and charming), and it contained some "meta" touches, such as in the final episode, in which it is established that Garry Shandling exists in the Larry Sanders universe, and is the subject of a complaint by Sean Penn, involving Garry's narcissism and his behavior toward Penn's wife on the set of Hurlyburly
Hurlyburly (film)
Hurlyburly is a 1998 independent film, based on the acclaimed 1984 play of the same name by David Rabe, who adapted it into a screenplay for the film...
.
Guests
Most episodes featured celebrity guests who usually played themselves appearing on the fictional Larry Sanders Show, and who were often the primary source of conflict between Sanders and his co-workers. The following is a list of some of the celebrity guests who appeared at one time or another on the show.- Kip AddottaKip AddottaKip Addotta is an American comedian notable for often being featured on The Tonight Show and the syndicated show Make Me Laugh. He was also featured on "The Dr. Demento Show" for his novelty music, the biggest hits of which are "Wet Dream" and "Life in the Slaw Lane", a series of fish puns and...
- Jason AlexanderJason AlexanderJay Scott Greenspan , better known by his professional name of Jason Alexander, is an American actor, writer, comedian, television director, producer, and singer. He is best known for his role as George Costanza on the television series Seinfeld, appearing in the sitcom from 1989 to 1998...
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- Tom ArnoldTom ArnoldTom Arnold may refer to:* Tom Arnold , American actor* Tom Arnold , British politician* Tom Arnold , CEO of Concern Worldwide...
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- Carrot TopCarrot TopScott Thompson , better known by his stage name Carrot Top, is an American comedian known for his bright red hair, prop comedy, and self-deprecating humor.-Early years:...
- Dana CarveyDana CarveyDana Thomas Carvey is an American actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for playing the role of Garth in the Wayne's World movies.-Early life:...
- Dave ChappelleDave ChappelleDavid Khari Webber "Dave" Chappelle is an American comedian, screenwriter, television/film producer, actor, and artist. Chappelle began his film career in the film Robin Hood: Men in Tights in 1993 and continued to star in minor roles in the films The Nutty Professor, Con Air, and Blue Streak. His...
- Chevy ChaseChevy ChaseCornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
- Shawn ColvinShawn ColvinShawn Colvin is an American singer-songwriter and musician.-Childhood and early career:Colvin was born in Vermillion, South Dakota. Her formative years were spent in the town of Carbondale, Illinois, where she attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She learned to play guitar at the age...
- Tim ConwayTim ConwayThomas Daniel "Tim" Conway is an American comedian and actor, primarily known for his roles in sitcoms, films and television. Conway is best known for his role as the inept second-in-command officer, Ensign Charles Parker, to Lt...
- Bob CostasBob CostasRobert Quinlan "Bob" Costas is an American sportscaster, on the air for the NBC network since the early 1980s.-Early life:...
- Elvis CostelloElvis CostelloElvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
- Courteney CoxCourteney CoxCourteney Bass Cox is an American actress, she is best known for her roles as Monica Geller on the NBC sitcom Friends, Gale Weathers in the horror series Scream and as Jules Cobb in the ABC sitcom Cougar Town, for which she earned her first Golden Globe nomination....
- Norm CrosbyNorm CrosbyNorm Crosby is an American comedian sometimes associated with the Borscht Belt who often appeared on television in the 1970s. He is best known for his use of malapropisms and is often called The Master of Malaprop. He was born in Boston.-Career:Crosby went solo as a standup comedian, adopting a...
- Billy CrystalBilly CrystalWilliam Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
- Fred De Cordova
- Ellen DeGeneresEllen DeGeneresEllen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
- Dana DelanyDana DelanyDana Welles Delany is an American film, stage, and television actress, producer, host and health activist.After various roles in the early career, Delany garnered her first leading role in 1987 in the short-lived NBC sitcom Sweet Surrender and achieved wider fame in 1988–1991 as Colleen McMurphy...
- Danny DeVitoDanny DeVitoDaniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
- Laura DernLaura DernLaura Elizabeth Dern is an American actress, film director and producer. Dern has acted in such films as Smooth Talk , Blue Velvet , Fat Man and Little Boy , Wild at Heart , Jurassic Park and October Sky...
- Angie DickinsonAngie DickinsonAngie Dickinson is an American actress. She has appeared in more than fifty films, including Rio Bravo, Ocean's Eleven, Dressed to Kill and Pay It Forward, and starred on television as Sergeant Suzanne "Pepper" Anderson on the 1970s crime series Police Woman.-Early life:Dickinson, the second of...
- Illeana DouglasIlleana DouglasIlleana Douglas is an American actress, director, screenwriter, and producer.-Background:Douglas is a granddaughter of the actor Melvyn Douglas and his first wife, artist Rosalind Hightower, and has said that her grandfather's performance in Being There, in particular, was influential on her own...
- David DuchovnyDavid DuchovnyDavid William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:...
- Peter FalkPeter FalkPeter Michael Falk was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo...
- Chris FarleyChris FarleyChristopher Crosby "Chris" Farley was an American comedian and actor. Farley was a member of Chicago's Second City Theatre and cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1990 to 1995....
- Farrah FawcettFarrah FawcettFarrah Fawcett was an American actress and artist. A multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee, Fawcett rose to international fame when she first appeared as private investigator Jill Munroe in the first season of the television series Charlie's Angels, in 1976...
- Sally FieldSally FieldSally Margaret Field is an American actress, singer, producer, director, and screenwriter. In each decade of her career, she has been known for major roles in American TV/film culture, including: in the 1960s, for Gidget or Sister Bertrille on The Flying Nun ; in the 1970s, for Sybil , Smokey and...
- Harvey FiersteinHarvey FiersteinHarvey Forbes Fierstein is a U.S. actor and playwright, noted for the early distinction of winning Tony Awards for both writing and originating the lead role in his long-running play Torch Song Trilogy, about a gay drag-performer and his quest for true love and family, as well as writing the...
- Bridget FondaBridget FondaBridget Jane Fonda is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in films such as The Godfather Part III, Single White Female, Point of No Return, It Could Happen to You, and Jackie Brown...
- George ForemanGeorge ForemanGeorge Edward Foreman is an American two-time former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Olympic gold medalist, ordained Baptist minister, author and successful entrepreneur...
- Jeff FoxworthyJeff FoxworthyJeffrey Marshall "Jeff" Foxworthy is an American comedian, television and radio personality and author. He is a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, a comedy troupe which also comprises Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall and Ron White. Known for his "you might be a redneck" one-liners, Foxworthy...
- Al FrankenAl FrankenAlan Stuart "Al" Franken is the junior United States Senator from Minnesota. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which affiliates with the national Democratic Party....
- Daisy FuentesDaisy FuentesDaisy Fuentes is a Cuban-American television host, model, and comedian. Daisy Fuentes broke barriers as MTV's first Latina VJ , and as Revlon's first Latina spokesperson to be signed to a worldwide contract.-Early life:Fuentes was born in Havana, Cuba to a Cuban father and Spanish mother...
- Jennie GarthJennie GarthJennifer Eve "Jennie" Garth is an American actress and director, best known for starring in the prominent role of Kelly Taylor throughout the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
- Gina GershonGina GershonGina L. Gershon is an American film, television and stage actress, singer and author, known for her roles in the films Cocktail , Showgirls , Bound , Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back , Face/Off , The Insider , Demonlover , Category 7: The End of the World , P.S...
- Jeff GoldblumJeff GoldblumJeffrey Lynn "Jeff" Goldblum is an American actor. His career began in the mid-1970s and he has appeared in major box-office successes including The Fly, Jurassic Park and its sequel Jurassic Park: The Lost World, and Independence Day...
- Bobcat GoldthwaitBobcat GoldthwaitRobert Francis "Bobcat" Goldthwait is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film and television director. He is commonly known for his energetic, ravenous stage personality, his dark, acerbic black comedy, and his gruff but high-pitched voice.- Early life :Goldthwait was born in Syracuse,...
- Jim Gray
- Rosey GrierRosey GrierRoosevelt "Rosey" Grier is an American actor, singer, Christian minister, and former professional American football player. He was a notable college football player for Pennsylvania State University who earned a retrospective place in the National Collegiate Athletic Association 100th anniversary...
- Mary GrossMary GrossMary Gross is an American comedian and actress, perhaps best known for her four-year stint on Saturday Night Live from 1981 to 1985. Her credits also include minor roles on Animaniacs, Boston Legal and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch...
- Phil HartmanPhil HartmanPhilip Edward "Phil" Hartman was a Canadian-American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and graphic artist. Born in Brantford, Ontario, Hartman and his family moved to the United States when he was 10...
- Colin HayColin HayColin James Hay is a Scottish-Australian musician, who made his mark during the 1980s as lead vocalist of the Australian band Men at Work, and later as a solo artist.- Early life and Men at Work :...
- Hugh HefnerHugh HefnerHugh Marston "Hef" Hefner is an American magazine publisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises.-Early life:...
- Chris IsaakChris IsaakChristopher Joseph "Chris" Isaak is an American rock musician and occasional actor.-Early life:Isaak was born in Stockton, California, the son of Dorothy , a potato chip factory worker, and Joe Isaak, a forklift driver. Isaak's mother is Italian American, originating from Genoa...
- Jake JohannsenJake JohannsenJake Johannsen is an American comedian.Johannsen attended Iowa State University in the early 1980s, originally majoring in veterinary medicine, and then later changing to chemical engineering. He left after three years in college and relocated to San Francisco, California in order to pursue a...
- Kristen JohnstonKristen JohnstonKristen Johnston is an American stage, film, and television actress. She may be most famous for her role as Sally Solomon in the television series 3rd Rock from the Sun...
- Jonathan KatzJonathan KatzJonathan Paul Katz is an American comedian, actor, and voice actor who is best known for his starring role in the animated sitcom Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist...
- Andy KindlerAndy KindlerAndy Kindler is an American stand-up comedian from New York City who now resides in Los Angeles.-Stand up:His material often covers the comedy industry itself, criticizing other comedians for being too predictable. One of his more notable criticisms was that of Dane Cook where he compared the...
- Greg KinnearGreg KinnearGregory "Greg" Kinnear is an American actor and television personality who first rose to stardom in 1991. He has appeared in more than 20 motion pictures, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in As Good as It Gets.-Early life:Kinnear was born in Logansport, Indiana, the son of...
- Larry KingLarry KingLawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
- Bruno KirbyBruno KirbyBruno Kirby was an American film and television actor. He was perhaps best known for his roles in the Hollywood films City Slickers, When Harry Met Sally..., Good Morning, Vietnam, The Godfather Part II and Donnie Brasco.-Early life:Kirby was born Bruno Giovanni Quidaciolu, Jr. in New York City,...
- Heidi KlumHeidi KlumHeidi Samuel , better known by her birth name Heidi Klum, is a German model, actress, television host, businesswoman, fashion designer, television producer, and occasional singer. In 2008 she became an American citizen while maintaining her native German citizenship...
- Kris KristoffersonKris KristoffersonKristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
- k.d. langK.D. LangKathryn Dawn Lang, OC , known by her stage name k.d. lang, is a Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter and occasional actress...
- Eriq La SalleEriq La SalleEriq La Salle is an American actor and director, known for his portrayals of Darryl in the 1988 comedy film Coming to America and Dr. Peter Benton on the NBC drama series ER.-Early life:...
- Wendy Leibman
- Laura LeightonLaura LeightonLaura Leighton is an American actress. She is best-known for the role of Sydney Andrews, introduced in the 1990s television series Melrose Place. She reprised the role in the 2009 series of the same name...
- Jay LenoJay LenoJames Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
- Sugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray LeonardSugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
- David LettermanDavid LettermanDavid Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
- Barry LevinsonBarry LevinsonBarry Levinson is an American screenwriter, film director, actor, and producer of film and television. His films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Sleepers and Rain Man.-Early life:...
- Richard LewisRichard LewisRichard Lewis may refer to:* Richard Lewis , Welsh defendant a.k.a. Dic Penderyn* Richard Lewis , British religious leader* Richard Lewis , British religious leader...
- Warren LittlefieldWarren LittlefieldWarren W. Littlefield is an American former television executive.A protégé of Brandon Tartikoff, Littlefield developed Cheers, The Cosby Show, and The Golden Girls as senior and executive vice president of NBC Entertainment under Tartikoff...
- Jon LovitzJon LovitzJonathan "Jon" Lovitz is an American comedian, actor, and singer. He is best known as a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990.-Early life:...
- Rob LoweRob LoweRobert Hepler "Rob" Lowe is an American actor. Lowe came to prominence after appearing in films such as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, and Wayne's World. On television, Lowe is known for his role as Sam Seaborn on The West Wing and his role as Senator Robert...
- Julianna MarguliesJulianna MarguliesJulianna Luisa Margulies is an American actress and producer.After several small television roles, Margulies achieved success in her regular role as Nurse Carol Hathaway on NBC's long-running medical drama ER, for which she won an Emmy Award...
- Norm MacdonaldNorm MacDonaldNorman Gene "Norm" Macdonald is a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is best known for his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which included anchoring Weekend Update for three years...
- Bill MaherBill MaherWilliam "Bill" Maher, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor. Before his current role as the host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher hosted a similar late-night talk show called Politically Incorrect originally on Comedy Central and...
- Marlee MatlinMarlee MatlinMarlee Bethany Matlin is an American actress. She is the only deaf actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, which she won for Children of a Lesser God. Her work in film and television has resulted in a Golden Globe award, with two additional nominations, and four Emmy...
- Ed McMahonEd McMahonEdward Peter "Ed" McMahon, Jr. was an American comedian, game show host and announcer. He is most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's sidekick and announcer on The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. He also hosted the original version of the talent show Star Search from 1983 to 1995...
- Larry MillerLarry MillerLarry Miller is the name of:*Larry H. Miller , American businessman, owner of the Utah Jazz 1985–2009*Larry Miller , American comedian, actor and columnist...
- Rita MorenoRita MorenoRita Moreno is a Puerto Rican singer, dancer and actress. She is the only Hispanic and one of the few performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony, and was the second Puerto Rican to win an Academy Award....
- Martin MullMartin MullMartin Mull is an American actor who has starred in his own television sitcom and acted in prominent films. He is also a comedian, painter, and recording artist...
- Kevin NealonKevin NealonKevin Nealon is an American actor and comedian, best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1995, acting in several of the Happy Madison films, for playing Doug Wilson on the Showtime series Weeds, and providing the voice of the title character, Glenn Martin on Glenn Martin,...
- Maureen O'BoyleMaureen O'BoyleMaureen O'Boyle is a female American news anchor. Currently, she is a lead anchor for WBTV News 3 in her hometown, Charlotte, North Carolina. Before anchoring the daily news in Charlotte, O'Boyle worked on national TV programs for 20th Television and Warner Bros.. She was the anchorwoman for the...
- Rosie O'DonnellRosie O'DonnellRoseann "Rosie" O'Donnell is an American stand-up comedian, actress, author and television personality. She has also been a magazine editor and continues to be a celebrity blogger, LGBT rights activist, television producer and collaborative partner in the LGBT family vacation company R Family...
- Catherine O'HaraCatherine O'HaraCatherine Anne O'Hara is a Canadian-American actress and comedienne. She is well known for her comedy work on SCTV, and her roles in the films After Hours, Beetlejuice, Home Alone, and The Nightmare Before Christmas, and also in the mockumentary films written and directed by Christopher Guest...
- Ryan O'NealRyan O'NealCharles Patrick Ryan O'Neal , better known as Ryan O'Neal, is an American actor best known for his appearances in the ABC nighttime soap opera Peyton Place and for his roles in such films as Paper Moon , Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon , A Bridge Too Far , and Love Story , for which he received...
- Sarah Jessica ParkerSarah Jessica ParkerSarah Jessica Parker is an American film, television, and theater actress and producer.She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City , for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards...
- Sean PennSean PennSean Justin Penn is an American actor, screenwriter and film director, also known for his political and social activism...
- Bernadette PetersBernadette PetersBernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
- Tom PettyTom PettyThomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
- Regis PhilbinRegis PhilbinRegis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Philbin is often called "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera...
- Tom PostonTom PostonThomas Gordon "Tom" Poston was an American television and film actor. He starred on television in a career that began in 1950...
- Victoria PrincipalVictoria PrincipalVictoria Principal is an American actress, best known for her role as Pamela Barnes Ewing on the CBS nighttime drama Dallas from 1978 to 1987.-Early life:...
- Charles Nelson ReillyCharles Nelson ReillyCharles Nelson Reilly was an American actor, comedian, director and drama teacher known for his comedic roles in theater, movies, children's television, animated cartoons, and as a panelist on the game show Match Game....
- Carl ReinerCarl ReinerCarl Reiner is an American actor, film director, producer, writer and comedian. He has won nine Emmy Awards and one Grammy Award during this career...
- Rob ReinerRob ReinerRobert "Rob" Reiner is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and political activist.As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence as Archie and Edith Bunker's son-in-law, Michael "Meathead" Stivic, on All in the Family. That role earned him two Emmy Awards during the 1970s...
- Burt ReynoldsBurt ReynoldsBurton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
- Michael RichardsMichael RichardsMichael Anthony Richards is an American actor, comedian, writer and television producer, best known for his portrayal of the eccentric Cosmo Kramer on the television sitcom Seinfeld....
- Don RicklesDon RicklesDonald Jay "Don" Rickles is an American stand-up comedian and actor. A frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Rickles has acted in comedic and dramatic roles, but is best known as an insult comic....
- John RitterJohn RitterJonathan Southworth "John" Ritter was an American actor, voice over artist and comedian perhaps best known for having played Jack Tripper and Paul Hennessy in the ABC sitcoms Three's Company and 8 Simple Rules, respectively...
- Mimi RogersMimi RogersMimi Rogers is an American movie actress and competitive poker player.-Early life:Rogers was born Miriam Spickler in Coral Gables, Florida, the daughter of Philip C...
- Wayne RogersWayne RogersWilliam Wayne McMillan Rogers III is an American film and television actor, best known for playing the role of 'Trapper John' McIntyre in the U.S...
- Winona RyderWinona RyderWinona Ryder is an American actress. She made her film debut in the 1986 film Lucas. Ryder's first significant role came in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice as a goth teenager, which won her critical and commercial recognition...
- Bob SagetBob SagetRobert Lane "Bob" Saget is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and television host. Although he is best known for his roles as Danny Tanner in Full House, host of America's Funniest Home Videos and Future Ted Mosby on How I Met Your Mother, Saget is also known outside of television for his blue...
- Pat SajakPat SajakPat Sajak is a television personality, former weatherman, actor and talk show host, best known as the host of the American television game show Wheel of Fortune.-Early life:...
- Adam SandlerAdam SandlerAdam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician, and film producer.After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100 million at the box office...
- George SegalGeorge SegalGeorge Segal is an American film, stage and television actor.-Early life:George Segal, Jr. was born in 1934 Great Neck, Long Island, New York, the son of Fannie Blanche and George Segal, Sr. He was educated at George School, a private Quaker preparatory boarding school near Newtown, Bucks County,...
- Jerry SeinfeldJerry SeinfeldJerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
- Doc SeverinsenDoc SeverinsenCarl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen is an American pop and jazz trumpeter. He is best known for leading the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.-Early life:...
- Tom ShalesTom ShalesThomas William "Tom" Shales is an American critic of television programming and operations. He is best known as TV critic for The Washington Post; in 1988, Shales received the Pulitzer Prize...
- Nicollette SheridanNicollette SheridanNicollette Sheridan is an English film and television actress. She is best known for her roles as Edie Britt on Desperate Housewives and as Paige Matheson on Knots Landing.-Early life:...
- Brooke ShieldsBrooke ShieldsBrooke Christa Shields is an American actress and model. Some of her better-known movies include Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon, as well as TV shows such as Suddenly Susan, That '70s Show and Lipstick Jungle....
- Pauly ShorePauly ShorePaul Montgomery "Pauly" Shore is an American comedian and actor who starred in several comedy films in the 1990s and hosted a video show on MTV in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
- Richard SimmonsRichard SimmonsMilton Teagle Simmons , known professionally as Richard Simmons, is an American fitness personality who promotes weight-loss programs, most famously through his Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobics videos and DVDs and is known for his eccentric, outgoing and frequently flamboyant personality...
- Gene SiskelGene SiskelEugene Kal "Gene" Siskel was an American film critic and journalist for the Chicago Tribune. Along with colleague Roger Ebert, he hosted the popular review show Siskel & Ebert At the Movies from 1975 until his death....
- Tom SnyderTom SnyderThomas James "Tom" Snyder was an American television personality, news anchor and radio personality best known for his late night talk shows The Tomorrow Show, on the NBC television network in the 1970s and 1980s, and The Late Late Show, on the CBS Television Network in the 1990s...
- Suzanne SomersSuzanne SomersSuzanne Somers is an American actress, author, singer and businesswoman, known for her television roles as Chrissy Snow on Three's Company and as Carol Lambert on Step by Step....
- David SpadeDavid SpadeDavid Wayne Spade is an American actor, comedian and television personality who first became famous in the 1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and from 1997 until 2003 when he starred as Dennis Finch on Just Shoot Me!. He also starred as C.J...
- John StamosJohn StamosJohn Phillip Stamos is an American actor, singer and musician best known for his work in television, especially in his starring role as Jesse Katsopolis on the ABC sitcom Full House. Since the cancellation of that show in 1995, Stamos has appeared in numerous television films and series. From 2006...
- Gloria SteinemGloria SteinemGloria Marie Steinem is an American feminist, journalist, and social and political activist who became nationally recognized as a leader of, and media spokeswoman for, the women's liberation movement in the late 1960s and 1970s...
- Howard SternHoward SternHoward Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
- Shadoe StevensShadoe StevensShadoe Stevens is an American radio host, voiceover actor, and television personality. He was the host of American Top 40 from 1988 to 1995...
- Jon StewartJon StewartJon Stewart is an American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedian...
- Ben StillerBen StillerBenjamin Edward "Ben" Stiller is an American comedian, actor, writer, film director, and producer. He is the son of veteran comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara....
- Jerry StillerJerry StillerGerald Isaac "Jerry" Stiller is an American comedian and actor.He spent many years in the comedy team Stiller and Meara with his wife Anne Meara...
- StingStingSting , CBE, is an English musician, singer-songwriter, activist, actor and philanthropist...
- Sharon StoneSharon StoneSharon Vonne Stone is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct...
- Dave Thomas
- Lea ThompsonLea ThompsonLea Katherine Thompson is an American actress and director. She is best known for her 1990s NBC situation comedy Caroline in the City and her portrayal of Lorraine Baines McFly, Marty McFly's mother, in the Back to the Future trilogy...
- Alex TrebekAlex TrebekGeorge Alexander "Alex" Trebek is a Canadian American game show host who has been the host of the game show Jeopardy! since 1984, and prior to that, he hosted game shows such as Pitfall and High Rollers. He has appeared in numerous television series, usually as himself...
- Vince VaughnVince VaughnVincent Anthony "Vince" Vaughn is an American film actor, screenwriter, producer and comedian. He began acting in the late 1980s, appearing in minor television roles before attaining wider recognition with the 1996 movie Swingers...
- Jimmie WalkerJimmie WalkerJames Carter "Jimmie" Walker is an American actor and stand-up comedian, known for portraying J. J. Evans on the television series Good Times, which ran from 1974 to 1979...
- George WendtGeorge WendtGeorge Robert Wendt III is an American actor, best known for the roles of Norm Peterson and Tug Clarke on the television shows Cheers and Modern Men.-Early life:...
- Paul WesterbergPaul WesterbergPaul Westerberg is an American musician, best known as the former lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter of The Replacements, one of the seminal alternative rock bands of the 1980s. He launched a solo career after the dissolution of that band...
- Andy WilliamsAndy WilliamsHoward Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
- Robin WilliamsRobin WilliamsRobin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
- Henry WinklerHenry WinklerHenry Franklin Winkler, OBE is an American actor, director, producer, and author.Winkler is best known for his role as Fonzie on the 1970s American sitcom Happy Days...
- Steven WrightSteven WrightSteven Alexander Wright is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is known for his distinctly lethargic voice and slow, deadpan delivery of ironic, philosophical and sometimes nonsensical jokes and one-liners with contrived situations.-Early life and career:Wright was born in Mount Auburn...
- Warren ZevonWarren ZevonWarren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician noted for including his sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes.Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known...
Jeff Cesario
Jeff Cesario
Jeff Cesario is an American comedian and writer, who has written for Dennis Miller Live and The Larry Sanders Show...
was the butt of a long running joke, being frequently "bumped" when booked to appear.
In a commentary on the season 1 DVD, Shandling says the guests were invariably happy to parody their media images and generally shared the same sense of humor as himself and the other writers.
Cast and characters
The following is a list of cast and characters who have appeared in all or some seasons of the show.- Garry ShandlingGarry ShandlingGarry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show....
as Larry Sanders, the show's primary character. - Rip TornRip TornElmore Rual "Rip" Torn, Jr. , is an American actor of stage, screen and television.Torn received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1983 film Cross Creek. His work includes the role of Artie, the producer, on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he was nominated...
as Arthur ("Artie"), the show's producer - Jeffrey TamborJeffrey TamborJeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
as Larry's sidekick, Hank Kingsley - Penny JohnsonPenny Johnson JeraldPenny Johnson Jerald is an American actress. She played Beverly Barnes on the HBO comedy series The Larry Sanders Show, Kasidy Yates on the syndicated science fiction series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Sherry Palmer on the Fox action/drama series 24.-Career:Trained at the Juilliard School,...
as Larry's personal assistant, Beverly - Janeane GarofaloJaneane GarofaloJaneane Garofalo is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist and writer. She is the former co-host on the now defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. Garofalo continues to circulate regularly within New York City's local comedy and performance art scene.-Early...
as the show's booker Paula (until the 5th season) - Mary Lynn RajskubMary Lynn RajskubMary Lynn Rajskub is an American actress and comedian, best known for her leading role as Chloe O'Brian on the Fox action-thriller 24.-Early life:...
as the show's booking assistant/booker Mary Lou (from episode 69) - Jeremy PivenJeremy PivenJeremy Samuel Piven is an American film producer and actor best known for his role as Ari Gold in the television series Entourage for which he has won three Emmy Awards as well as several other nominations for Best Supporting Actor....
as head writer Jerry (until episode 25) - Wallace LanghamWallace LanghamJames Wallace Langham II is an American actor. He currently plays the role of David Hodges in the American crime drama television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.-Film career:...
as writer/head writer Phil - Linda Doucett as Hank's personal assistant Darlene (until episode 48; Doucett was Garry Shandling's live-in girlfriend at the time of production)
- Scott ThompsonScott ThompsonScott Thompson is a Canadian television actor and comedian, best known for his time as a member of the comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall.-Personal life:...
as Hank's personal assistant Brian (from episode 50) - Megan GallagherMegan GallagherMegan Gallagher is an American actress.Gallagher was born in Reading, Pennsylvania and grew up in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Her mother, Aileen Gallagher, was a model.Gallagher has largely worked in television and theatre...
as Larry's second ex-wife Jeannie (episodes 1-13, 53) - Kathryn HarroldKathryn Harrold-Background:Harrold was born in Tazewell, Virginia. She attended Mills College in Oakland, California, majoring in Drama.-Television:She has appeared in a number of TV series, including The Rockford Files, MacGruder and Loud, The Bronx Zoo, I'll Fly Away, The Larry Sanders Show, and Mister...
as Larry's first ex-wife Francine (episodes 14-31) - Deborah MayDeborah MayDeborah May is a television and film actress. She has appeared in such TV shows as ER, The Golden Girls, Days of our Lives, The Larry Sanders Show, Murder One, St...
as network executive Melanie Parrish - Bob OdenkirkBob OdenkirkRobert "Bob" Odenkirk is an American actor, comedian, writer, director and producer. He is best known as the co-creator and co-star of the HBO sketch comedy series Mr...
as Larry's agent Stevie Grant - Sarah SilvermanSarah SilvermanSarah Kate Silverman is a Jewish American comedian, writer, actress, singer and musician. Her satirical comedy addresses social taboos and controversial topics such as racism, sexism, and religion....
as writer Wendy (episodes 70, 74, 75, 87, 88) - Sid Newman as Sid the cue-card guy (various episodes)
Directors
The show had many directors for its run. The most frequent director was Todd HollandTodd Holland
Todd Holland is an American television and film director and producer.-Personal life:Holland was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania and raised in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was an honor student, graduating from Meadville Area Sr. High School. While there, he got his feet wet...
, who directed 52 episodes. Holland is also the only director to have directed episodes in all six seasons. Holland was the head director for season two, three, four and five. Garry Shandling was the primary director for the sixth season, having directed three episodes of the season, while Holland directed only two. Another major director was Ken Kwapis
Ken Kwapis
Ken Kwapis is an American film and television director and screenwriter. He specialized in the single-camera sitcom in the 1990s and 2000s and has directed feature films such as Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and He's Just Not That Into...
; although he only directed episodes of the first and second season, overall he directed 13 episodes. Kwapis was the head director in the first season. Some directors who directed only one episode in show's run are: Dennis Erdman, Paul Flaherty
Paul Flaherty
Paul Andrew Flaherty was an American computer scientist. He was a renowned specialist for internet protocols and the inventor of the AltaVista search engine.-Biography:...
, John Riggi
John Riggi
John Riggi is an American television writer, producer, director, and actor who has worked on various television shows.He has worked as a writer on the NBC comedy series 30 Rock...
, Michael Lange
Michael Lange
Michael Lange is an American television director and record producer.-Early life:Born and raised just outside New York City, in Mamaroneck, New York and attending Mamaroneck High School where he was heavily involved in music and a bit in drama, Michael Lange first developed a taste for drama in...
, David Mirkin
David Mirkin
David Mirkin is an American feature film and television director, writer and producer. Mirkin grew up in Philadelphia and intended to become an electrical engineer, but abandoned this career path in favor of studying film at Loyola Marymount University. After graduating, he became a stand-up...
, Melonie Mayron and Judd Apatow
Judd Apatow
Judd Apatow is an American film producer, director, and screenwriter. He is well known for his work in comedy films, especially for films he has been involved with throughout the latter half of the 2000s. He is the founder of Apatow Productions, a film production company that also developed the...
. Directors who directed two or more episodes are: Michael Lehmann
Michael Lehmann
Michael Stephen Lehmann is an American film and television director.Lehmann attended Columbia University. His first job in the film industry was answering phones at Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope film company. Later he supervised cameras on films that included 1983's The Outsiders...
and Alan Myerson
Alan Myerson
-Career:Myerson began working in theatre in New York City, then directing The Second City in Chicago. He founded The Committee in San Francisco in 1963...
. The show received one Emmy Award for directing. It went to Todd Holland
Todd Holland
Todd Holland is an American television and film director and producer.-Personal life:Holland was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania and raised in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was an honor student, graduating from Meadville Area Sr. High School. While there, he got his feet wet...
for directing the series finale "Flip".
Writers
More than 40 writers wrote episodes of the show. Garry Shandling and Peter TolanPeter Tolan
Peter James Tolan III is an American television producer, director, and screenwriter.-Early life and career:Tolan was born in Scituate, Massachusetts where he was a perrenial favorite in the high school's dramatic productions. Before leaving to pursue a career in Hollywood, Tolan founded a theater...
were the head writers for the entire six-season run. Garry Shandling and Dennis Klein wrote the pilot episode of the show. Shandling wrote 38, while Tolan wrote 23 episodes. Shandling and Tolan received an Emmy Award for writing the series finale "Flip". Other writers on the show were Maya Forbes, Paul Simms
Paul Simms
Paul Simms is an American television writer.Paul spent some years of his life in Saudi Arabia, where his parents were school teachers, but began his career in television writing for Late Night with David Letterman. Simms later wrote for the HBO program, The Larry Sanders Show. He was the creator...
, Judd Apatow
Judd Apatow
Judd Apatow is an American film producer, director, and screenwriter. He is well known for his work in comedy films, especially for films he has been involved with throughout the latter half of the 2000s. He is the founder of Apatow Productions, a film production company that also developed the...
, John Riggi
John Riggi
John Riggi is an American television writer, producer, director, and actor who has worked on various television shows.He has worked as a writer on the NBC comedy series 30 Rock...
, Jon Vitti
Jon Vitti
Jon Vitti is an American writer best known for his work on the television series The Simpsons. He has also written for the King of the Hill and The Critic series, and has served as a consultant for several animated movies, including Ice Age and Robots...
, Chris Thompson
Chris Thompson (TV producer)
Chris Thompson is an American television writer, producer and director. Since 1977, he has written and produced for the television series Laverne & Shirley and The Larry Sanders Show...
, Dennis Klein, Drake Sather, Molly Newman
Molly Newman
Molly Newman is an Emmy Award-winning television writer and producer who is most known for work on shows such as The Larry Sanders Show "Frasier" "Murphy Brown" "Tracey Takes On..." "Maximum Bob" and Brothers & Sisters....
, Lester Lewis
Lester Lewis
Lester Lewis is an American television writer and producer, whose credits include sitcoms such as Flight of the Conchords, Caroline in the City and The Larry Sanders Show. He is currently a supervising producer and writer on The Office and is developing a musical series for Disney Channel...
, Becky Hartman Edwards and Jeff Cesario
Jeff Cesario
Jeff Cesario is an American comedian and writer, who has written for Dennis Miller Live and The Larry Sanders Show...
.
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Premiere Date | End Date | Timeslot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | August 15, 1992 | November 7, 1992 | Saturdays at 10:00 PM |
| 2 | 18 | June 2, 1993 | September 29, 1993 | Wednesdays at 10:00 PM |
| 3 | 17 | June 22, 1994 | October 12, 1994 | |
| 4 | 17 | July 19, 1995 | November 22, 1995 | |
| 5 | 13 | November 13, 1996 | February 26, 1997 | |
| 6 | 11 | March 15, 1998 | May 31, 1998 | Sundays at 10:00 PM |
Catchphrases
The show had two catchphrases used throughout its entire run, the most notable being "Hey now", a phrase Hank repeats in the opening credits of the fictional talk show, and whenever he greets someone. In one episode, Hank says he invented the phrase when he accidentally said it to someone and liked it. In 2007, TV Land ranked "Hey Now" as the 87th Best Television catch phrase. "No flipping" is a phrase Larry uses to go to commercial breaks, encouraging the at-home audience not to use their remotes to flip to another channel. In the series finale, the last thing Larry says on the show is, "You may now flip."Awards and honors
| Award | Category | Recipient |
|---|---|---|
| American Comedy Awards American Comedy Awards The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States from 1987 to 2001 recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films... 1994 |
Funniest Supporting Male in a TV Series | Rip Torn Rip Torn Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn, Jr. , is an American actor of stage, screen and television.Torn received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1983 film Cross Creek. His work includes the role of Artie, the producer, on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he was nominated... |
| American Comedy Awards American Comedy Awards The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States from 1987 to 2001 recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films... 1998 |
Funniest Male Performance in a TV Series | Garry Shandling Garry Shandling Garry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show.... |
| American Comedy Awards American Comedy Awards The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States from 1987 to 2001 recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films... 1999 |
Funniest Male Guest Appearance on a TV Series | David Duchovny David Duchovny David William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:... |
| American Comedy Awards American Comedy Awards The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States from 1987 to 2001 recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films... 1999 |
Funniest Female Guest Appearance on a TV Series | Ellen DeGeneres Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season.... |
| British Comedy Awards British Comedy Awards The British Comedy Awards is an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom celebrating notable comedians and entertainment performances of the previous year.-History:... 1997 |
Best International Comedy Show | |
| British Comedy Awards British Comedy Awards The British Comedy Awards is an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom celebrating notable comedians and entertainment performances of the previous year.-History:... 1999 |
Best International Comedy Show | |
| BAFTA Awards 1999 | Outstanding International Program | Garry Shandling Garry Shandling Garry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show.... |
| CableACE Awards 1993 | Outstanding Comedy Series | |
| CableACE Awards 1994 | Outstanding Comedy Series | |
| CableACE Awards 1995 | Outstanding Comedy Series | |
| CableACE Awards 1996 | Outstanding Comedy Series | |
| Emmy Awards 50th Primetime Emmy Awards The 50th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were held Sunday, September 13, 1998. It was broadcast on NBC. Nominees and winners are listed below, winners are in bold.- Outstanding Comedy Series :*3rd Rock from the Sun, NBC*Ally McBeal, FOX... 1998 |
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Comedy Series | Peter Tolan Peter Tolan Peter James Tolan III is an American television producer, director, and screenwriter.-Early life and career:Tolan was born in Scituate, Massachusetts where he was a perrenial favorite in the high school's dramatic productions. Before leaving to pursue a career in Hollywood, Tolan founded a theater... & Garry Shandling (for "Flip") |
| Emmy Awards 1998 | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Comedy Series | Todd Holland (for "Flip") |
| Emmy Awards 1996 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Rip Torn |
| Peabody Awards 1998 | "Flip" | |
| Peabody Awards 1993 | ||
| Rose d'Or Rose d'Or The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40... 1997 |
Sitcom | |
| Satellite Awards Satellite Awards The Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards.- Film :*Best Actor – Drama*Best Actor – Musical or Comedy*Best Actress – Drama... 1997 |
Best Television Series — Comedy or Musical | |
| Television Critics Association Awards 1997 | Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | |
| Television Critics Association Awards 1998 | Outstanding Achievement in Comedy |
Directors Guild of AmericaDirectors Guild of AmericaDirectors Guild of America is an entertainment labor union which represents the interests of film and television directors in the United States motion picture industry...
(DGA)
- 1994: Outstanding Directing — Comedy Series (Todd HollandTodd HollandTodd Holland is an American television and film director and producer.-Personal life:Holland was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania and raised in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was an honor student, graduating from Meadville Area Sr. High School. While there, he got his feet wet...
for "The Mr. Sharon Stone Show", nominated)
- 1995: Outstanding Directing — Comedy Series (Holland for "Arthur After Hours", nominated)
- 1996: Outstanding Directing — Comedy Series (Holland for "Everybody Loves Larry", nominated)
- 1996: Outstanding Directing — Comedy Series (Alan MyersonAlan Myerson-Career:Myerson began working in theatre in New York City, then directing The Second City in Chicago. He founded The Committee in San Francisco in 1963...
for "Ellen, Or Isn't She", nominated)
- 1998: Outstanding Directing — Comedy Series (Holland for "Flip", nominated)
Golden Globe Awards
- 1994: Best Actor - Musical or Comedy Series (Garry ShandlingGarry ShandlingGarry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show....
for playing "Larry Sanders", nominated)
- 1995: Best Actor — Musical or Comedy Series (Shandling, nominated)
- 1996: Best Series - Musical or Comedy (nominated)
Image Awards
- 1997: Outstanding Supporting Actress — Comedy Series (Penny Johnson for playing "Beverly Barnes", nominated)
Satellite AwardsSatellite AwardsThe Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards.- Film :*Best Actor – Drama*Best Actor – Musical or Comedy*Best Actress – Drama...
- 1996: Best Actor - Musical or Comedy SeriesSatellite Award for Best Actress - TV Series Musical or ComedyThe Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical or Comedy Television Series is one of the annual Satellite Awards given by the International Press Academy.- 1990s :- 2000s :-2010s:...
(Garry ShandlingGarry ShandlingGarry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show....
for playing "Larry Sanders", nominated) - 1996: Best Actor — Musical or Comedy Series (Rip TornRip TornElmore Rual "Rip" Torn, Jr. , is an American actor of stage, screen and television.Torn received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1983 film Cross Creek. His work includes the role of Artie, the producer, on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he was nominated...
for playing "Arthur", nominated) - 1996: Best Series - Musical or ComedySatellite Award for Best TV Series - Musical or ComedyThe Satellite Award for Best Television Musical or Comedy Series is an annual award given by the International Press Academy as one of its Satellite Awards.- 1990s :- 2000s :- 2010s :...
(won)
- 1997: Best Actor — Musical or Comedy Series (Shandling, nominated)
- 1997: Best Series — Musical or Comedy (nominated)
Writers Guild of AmericaWriters Guild of AmericaThe Writers Guild of America is a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different US labor unions:* The Writers Guild of America, East , representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi....
(WGA)
- 1995: Best Writing — Episodic Comedy (Garry ShandlingGarry ShandlingGarry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show....
for "Roseanne's Return", nominated) - 1995: Best Writing — Episodic Comedy (John RiggiJohn RiggiJohn Riggi is an American television writer, producer, director, and actor who has worked on various television shows.He has worked as a writer on the NBC comedy series 30 Rock...
for "Hank's New Assistant", nominated) - 1995: Best Writing — Episodic Comedy (Peter TolanPeter TolanPeter James Tolan III is an American television producer, director, and screenwriter.-Early life and career:Tolan was born in Scituate, Massachusetts where he was a perrenial favorite in the high school's dramatic productions. Before leaving to pursue a career in Hollywood, Tolan founded a theater...
for "Arthur After Hours", nominated)
- 1996: Best Writing — Episodic Comedy (Tolan for "Eight", nominated)
- 1997: Best Writing — Episodic Comedy (Shandling for "Ellen, Or Isn't She?", nominated)
- 1997: Best Writing — Episodic Comedy (Maya Forbes for "The Book", nominated)
Other honors
After the show ended, it came to be considered one of the finest TV shows of all time. The biggest honor it received was a spot on Time magazine's 100 Greatest Shows of All Time. In 2008, Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
ranked The Larry Sanders Show the 28th Greatest Show of the past 25 years. Also, TV Guide named it the 38th Greatest Show of All Time, the only HBO comedy to make it to the list. During its six year run, The Larry Sanders Show won 24 awards including three Emmy awards. In 1997, the episode "Everybody Loves Larry" was ranked #39 on TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time.
Season 1
The first season premiered on August 15, 1992 and ended on November 7, 1992, and was an immediate success. For the first season, the show always began with Hank's introduction, and some early episodes of the show began with the opening credits of the fictional talk show, The Larry Sanders Show. In later seasons, the episodes often began without the fictional opening credits.Some popular episodes of the season are: "The Garden Weasel", in which the network wants Larry to do live commercials during the show; "The Spider Episode", in which Larry is afraid to do a sketch which involves spiders; "The New Producer", in which the network wants to replace Artie; "Out of the Loop", in which Artie doesn't want Larry to know that Jerry and Sally have been having sex on his desk; "The Flirt Episode" in which Larry tries not to flirt with Mimi Rogers
Mimi Rogers
Mimi Rogers is an American movie actress and competitive poker player.-Early life:Rogers was born Miriam Spickler in Coral Gables, Florida, the daughter of Philip C...
; and the season finale "The Hey Now Episode", in which Larry and Artie try to make Hank appreciate the show more.
The season was nominated for eight Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, but lost to Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
. However, The Larry Sanders Show became the first cable TV series to be nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. Garry Shandling
Garry Shandling
Garry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show....
was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Rip Torn
Rip Torn
Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn, Jr. , is an American actor of stage, screen and television.Torn received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1983 film Cross Creek. His work includes the role of Artie, the producer, on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he was nominated...
and Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
were nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Dana Carvey
Dana Carvey
Dana Thomas Carvey is an American actor and stand-up comedian, best known for his work as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and for playing the role of Garth in the Wayne's World movies.-Early life:...
and Carol Burnett
Carol Burnett
Carol Creighton Burnett is an American actress, comedian, singer, dancer and writer. Burnett started her career in New York. After becoming a hit on Broadway, she made her television debut...
were nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor and Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. Dennis Klein and Garry Shandling was nominated for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for the Pilot episode. Garry Shandling, Paul Simms
Paul Simms
Paul Simms is an American television writer.Paul spent some years of his life in Saudi Arabia, where his parents were school teachers, but began his career in television writing for Late Night with David Letterman. Simms later wrote for the HBO program, The Larry Sanders Show. He was the creator...
, Peter Tolan
Peter Tolan
Peter James Tolan III is an American television producer, director, and screenwriter.-Early life and career:Tolan was born in Scituate, Massachusetts where he was a perrenial favorite in the high school's dramatic productions. Before leaving to pursue a career in Hollywood, Tolan founded a theater...
and Rosie Shuster were nominated in for the same category for "The Spider Episode".
Season 2
ChangesJeremy Piven grew tired of playing the character Jerry, head writer of the fictional Larry Sanders Show talk show; because his character was not given much of a background. He left during season two on the episode "Larry's Birthday", where Artie fired him because of his behavior on the show. Jerry later came back on the series finale to say good luck to Larry on his final show. Eventually, Phil replaced Jerry as the show's head writer.
The second season premiered on June 2, 1993 and ended on September 29, 1993. The story arc in this season involved Larry beginning a new relationship with his first wife, after he had divorced his second wife.
Season
Some popular episodes of the season were: "Larry's Agent", in which Larry tries to fire his agent; "Broadcast Nudes", in which Hank wants Darlene to pose naked in Playboy magazine (Linda Doucett, the actress who played Darlene and also Garry Shandling's girlfriend at the time, would later actually appear in the magazine); "Larry's Birthday" in which Larry doesn't want anyone throwing a party for his birthday; this is also the episode where Jerry (the head writer of the show) is fired; "The Grand Opening", in which Hank tries to promote his new restaurant; "Off Camera", in which Artie has to deal with all the stress that Larry suffers every show; and the season finale "L.A or N.Y?", in which Larry leaves the show and moves to Montana, to protest the network's desire to shift the show's base from L.A. to New York.
The show was nominated for four Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series, but lost to Frasier
Frasier
Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
and would continue losing to the same series for the rest of its run. Rip Torn was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy. Todd Holland was nominated for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for the episode "Life Behind Larry". Garry Shandling
Garry Shandling
Garry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show....
, Paul Simms
Paul Simms
Paul Simms is an American television writer.Paul spent some years of his life in Saudi Arabia, where his parents were school teachers, but began his career in television writing for Late Night with David Letterman. Simms later wrote for the HBO program, The Larry Sanders Show. He was the creator...
, Drake Sathers, Victor Levin and Maya Forbes where nominated for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for the episode "Larry's Agent".
Season 3
The season premiered on July 22, 1994 and ended on October 12, 1994. The original title credits of the show appear less frequently this season.Some of the most popular episodes of the season were: "Montana", in which the show gets back on the air after Larry discovers that life in Montana is not to his liking; "You're Having My Baby", in which a woman claims that she is having Larry's baby; "Hank's Night in the Sun", in which Hank fulfills his dreams of becoming guest host for the show; "The Mr. Sharon Stone Show", which Larry dates Sharon Stone
Sharon Stone
Sharon Vonne Stone is an American actress, film producer, and former fashion model. She achieved international recognition for her role in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct...
and finds out what it means to be the less famous member of a show biz couple; and the season finale "End of the Season" in which Larry gets engaged to Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, television producer and director. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the sitcom Roseanne. The show was a hit and lasted nine seasons, from 1988 to 1997...
.
The season was nominated for six Emmy awards, including, for the third year in a row, for Outstanding Comedy Series, but lost to Frasier again. Garry Shandling
Garry Shandling
Garry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show....
was nominated as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Rip Torn was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Todd Holland was nominated for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for "Hank's Night in the Sun". Peter Tolan was nominated for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Hank's Night in the Sun. It received another nomination in that same category, Garry Shandling and Peter Tolan for "The Mr. Sharon Stone Show". This season also received a Golden Globe nomination for Garry Shandling for Best Lead Actor in Musical or Comedy. It received one nomination for the Directors Guild of America Award for Todd Holland for "The Mr. Sharon Stone Show".
Season 4
ChangesDarlene, Hank's loyal assistant left the show at the end of season three (the actress who portrayed her was previously in a relationship with Shandling, but the couple had become estranged between seasons). Supposedly Darlene was on vacation, but on the second episode of the fourth season, a letter arrived from Darlene telling Hank she decided to quit as his assistant to follow someone she describes as "a holy man" living in India. Later that same episode, Hank hires Brian, has reservations about him when he learns he is gay, but decides to keep him on when Brian is indirectly instrumental in Larry inviting Hank to join him for a game of poker. Darlene returned along with Jerry on the show's finale to congratulate Larry on his final show.
Season
The season premiered on July 19, 1995 and ended on November 22, 1995.
Some of the most popular episodes of the show included: "Rosanne's Return", in which Larry has to face Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, television producer and director. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the sitcom Roseanne. The show was a hit and lasted nine seasons, from 1988 to 1997...
after their engagement broke off; "Arthur After Hours", in which it is revealed what Artie does after the show had an unsuccessful broadcast; "Jeanne's Visit", in which Larry's ex-wife, Jeannie, visits the show, "Hank's Sex Tape", in which Hank becomes incensed when Phil circulates a tape of him having sex; and the season finale "Larry's On Vacation", in which Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard is an American comedian, singer, actress and author. She first gained attention in the late 1970s with her stand-up comedy in which she often bitterly critiques celebrity culture and political figures. Bernhard is number 97 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 greatest standups of...
tries to take over the show .
The season was nominated for 12 Emmy awards, including for Outstanding Comedy Series, but lost for the third time in a row to Frasier
Frasier
Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
. But this year The Larry Sanders Show received its first Emmy award: Rip Torn
Rip Torn
Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn, Jr. , is an American actor of stage, screen and television.Torn received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1983 film Cross Creek. His work includes the role of Artie, the producer, on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he was nominated...
won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Jeffrey Tambor was also nominated in the same category. Garry Shandling was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and the show received two nominations for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series: One for Todd Holland for "Arthur After Hours", another for Michael Leachmann for "I was a Teenage Lesbian". The show: one for Garry Shandling
Garry Shandling
Garry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show....
, Steve Levitan and Maya Forbes for the episode "Roseanne's Return", another for Peter Tolan for the episode "Arthur After Hours", and another for Jon Vitti for "Hank's Sex Tape". Janeane Garofalo was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in Comedy Series. Rosie O'Donnell
Rosie O'Donnell
Roseann "Rosie" O'Donnell is an American stand-up comedian, actress, author and television personality. She has also been a magazine editor and continues to be a celebrity blogger, LGBT rights activist, television producer and collaborative partner in the LGBT family vacation company R Family...
and Mandy Patinkin
Mandy Patinkin
Mandel Bruce "Mandy" Patinkin is an award-winning American actor of stage and screen and a tenor vocalist. He is a noted interpreter of the musical works of Stephen Sondheim, and is best-known for his work in musical theatre, originating iconic roles such as Georges Seurat in Sunday in the Park...
were nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress and Guest Actor in Comedy Series. Garry Shandling was nominated for the second time in a row for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series at the Golden Globe Award. This season received four Writers' Guild of America Awards, one for Garry Shandling, Steve Levitan and Maya Forbes for "Roseanne's Return", another for John Riggi for "Hank's New Assistant", another for Peter Tolan for "Arthur After Hours" and finally one for Peter Tolan for "Eight". It received one Director's Guild of America Award nomination for Todd Holland for the episode "Arthur After Hours".
Season 5
ChangesJaneane Garofalo decided to leave due to decreasing screen time for her character Paula, the show's booker. Mary Lou, her assistant, replaced her as booker. In this season the show got a writer named Wendy. Also in this season, Jon Stewart became a frequent guest who threatened to replace Larry on the show.
Season
The season premiered November 13, 1996 and ended on February 26, 1997. There is only one episode that began with the original credit sequence of the series.
Some of the most famous episodes of the series were made in this season: "Everybody Loves Larry", in which Larry starts suspecting that David Duchovny
David Duchovny
David William Duchovny is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.-Early life:...
has sexual feelings for him; "My Name is Asher Kingsley", in which Hank explores his Jewish roots, much to the crew's dismay; "Ellen, or Isn't She?", in which Larry and Artie try to find if Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen Lee DeGeneres is an American stand-up comedienne, television host and actress. She hosts the syndicated talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and was also a judge on American Idol for one year, having joined the show in its ninth season....
is really a lesbian; "The New Writer", in which Wendy begins working as a writer for the show, much to Phil's dismay; "The Book", in which Larry is convinced to write an autobiography; "Pain Equals Funny", in which Paula leaves the show; and the season finale, "Larry's New Love", in which Hank is afraid the network is trying to replace him.
The show was nominated for 16 Emmy awards, breaking the record for most nominations for a Comedy Series for an individual Emmy year. The record was maintained for ten years, until 30 Rock
30 Rock
30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...
received 17 nominations. The show was nominated for the fifth time for Outstanding Comedy Series, and was considered a front-runner for Primetime Emmy Award, but was defeated again by Frasier
Frasier
Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
. Garry Shandling was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Rip Torn and Jeffrey Tambor were nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in Comedy Series. Janeane Garofalo was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. It received two nominations for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series; one for Todd Holland for Everybody Loves Larry, another for Alan Myerson for "Ellen, Or Isn't She?". It received three nominations for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series; one for Garry Shandling, John Markus and Judd Apatow for the episode "Ellen, Or Isn't She?", another for Peter Tolan for "My Name is Asher Kingsley", another for Jon Vitti for Everybody Loves Larry. David Duchovny and Ellen DeGeneres received nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor and Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. The show was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Series-Musical or Comedy. It received two Directors' Guild of America Award nominations; one for Todd Holland for Everybody Loves Larry, another for Alan Myerson for Ellen, Or Isn't She?. It was also nominated for two Writers' Guild of America Awards; one for Maya Forbes for The Book and another for Garry Shandling, John Markus and Judd Apatow for Ellen, Or Isn't She?.
Season 6
ChangesMost of the changes of the show occurred offscreen this season. Many of the show's writers left the show (all except Garry Shandling, Peter Tolan, and Judd Apatow), and a new writing staff was hired. Todd Holland, who directed more than 48 episodes of the show, only directed two episodes the sixth season. This season was also markedly less comedic than earlier ones. Sid, the cue card guy at the show, commits suicide on the 8th episode of the season, but this was not considered a huge change, because there were only three episodes left in the series at that point.
Season
This was the final season of The Larry Sanders Show. It premiered on March 15, 1998 and ended on May 31, 1998. There is only one episode which began with the original show's opening.
Some of the most popular episodes of the season were: "Another List", in which the network threatens to replace Larry with Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart is an American political satirist, writer, television host, actor, media critic and stand-up comedian...
unless he makes some changes; "The Beginning of the End", in which the show gets a new creative consultant who wants to make big changes in the show; "Adolf Hankler", in which Hank has to play Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
, while Larry is on vacation and Jon Stewart guest hosts; "Beverly's Secret", in which Beverly tries to tell the father of her baby she's pregnant; "Putting the 'Gay' Back in Litigation", in which Brian (Hank's assistant) sues Phil and the show for sexual harassment due to Phil's gay jokes; and the series finale: "Flip", in which the cast gets ready for their final broadcast and Larry and Artie deal with Hank and the emotions of the crew.
For its final Emmy year, it received 10 nominations, receiving its final nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series is an Emmy given to the best television comedy series of the year.-Winners and nominees:...
, but it lost once again to Frasier
Frasier
Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
, for the fifth year in a row. Nevertheless, it won two Emmys: one for Todd Holland for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for his direction of the final episode of the show, another for Garry Shandling and Peter Tolan for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series also for the final episode of the show. Garry Shandling was nominated Outstanding Lead Actor in Comedy Series. Rip Torn and Jeffrey Tambor were nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in Comedy Series. It received one nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series: Richard Day, Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck for "Putting the 'Gay' Back in Litigation." It received only one nomination for Directors' Guild of America Award: Todd Holland for the episode "Flip."
Series finale
After six years on the air, HBO and Garry Shandling announced that the show would not continue for a seventh season. The series finale aired in May 1998.Garry Shandling says he was very proud of the show's popularity and was sad it couldn't continue. Members of the cast and crew expressed disappointment and even depression with the end of the show. The finale was written by Garry Shandling and Peter Tolan, and was directed with Todd Holland. They both won Emmy Awards for directing and writing the final episode. The episode was filmed in March 1998, the same month the season premiered, with a running time of 53 minutes (90 with commercials), unlike all the other episodes with a running time of 22 to 28 minutes.
The episode aired 16 days after the finale of Seinfeld aired on May 31 and was watched by 2.5 million viewers, which was a significant number for HBO. The finale got very positive reviews from critics, especially in comparison to Seinfelds season finale. Coincidentally, Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerome Allen "Jerry" Seinfeld is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television and film producer, known for playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the situation comedy Seinfeld , which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David, and, in the show's final two seasons,...
appears as himself in the Larry Sanders finale.
The episode was nominated for five Emmy Awards and won two: Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series for Todd Holland and Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for Shandling and Tolan.
Critical reaction
After the show ended, the New York PostNew York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
called it "One of the Greatest Achievements in Television". LA Weekly
LA Weekly
LA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
called it "Very Funny". Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
said it was "The Closest Sitcom Ever Came to Perfect Pitch". The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
called the show "Brutally and Blatantly Hilarious" and USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
gave it four stars.
Many critics alike called it one of the greatest television shows of all time. Metacritic gives the show a metascore of 96%, based on 8 reviews. Ken Tucker from Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
said "Revisiting former colleagues and friends to find out how they felt about both Larry Sanders and Garry Shandling amounts to a monumental display of ...fearless revelation and humor." Doug Elfman from the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
said "It is simply the one of the best sitcoms ever". Ivan Morales calls it "the greatest HBO sitcom of all time".
After the show
After the show ended, many members of the cast and crew enjoyed other success in television or movies. Garry ShandlingGarry Shandling
Garry Emmanuel Shandling is an American comedian, actor and writer. He is best known for his work in It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show....
returned to his roots of stand-up comedy. He also worked as a voice actor in the children's film Over the Hedge
Over the Hedge
Over the Hedge is a syndicated comic strip written and drawn by Michael Fry and T. Lewis. It tells the story of a raccoon, turtle, a squirrel, and their friends who come to terms with their woodlands being taken over by suburbia, trying to survive the increasing flow of humanity and technology...
. Rip Torn guest-starred on 30 Rock
30 Rock
30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...
, and was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance.
Jeremy Piven
Jeremy Piven
Jeremy Samuel Piven is an American film producer and actor best known for his role as Ari Gold in the television series Entourage for which he has won three Emmy Awards as well as several other nominations for Best Supporting Actor....
portrayed Ari Gold in the HBO series Entourage
Entourage (TV series)
Entourage is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on July 18, 2004 and concluded on September 11, 2011, after eight seasons...
and Spence Kovak on the ABC sitcom Ellen
Ellen (TV series)
Ellen is a U.S. television sitcom that ran on the ABC network from March 29, 1994 to July 22, 1998, producing 109 episodes.The theme song, "So Called Friend" is by Scottish band Texas...
. He has won three Emmy awards, a Golden Globe Award and several other awards for his performance in the show. Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Tambor
Jeffrey Michael Tambor is an American actor, perhaps best known for his roles as George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth on Arrested Development and Hank Kingsley on The Larry Sanders Show.-Early life:...
played George Bluth Sr. in the critically acclaimed FOX sitcom, Arrested Development. He was nominated for two Emmy awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He also appeared in the first two Hellboy films. Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo is an American stand-up comedian, actress, political activist and writer. She is the former co-host on the now defunct Air America Radio's The Majority Report. Garofalo continues to circulate regularly within New York City's local comedy and performance art scene.-Early...
, Penny Johnson and Mary Lynn Rajskub
Mary Lynn Rajskub
Mary Lynn Rajskub is an American actress and comedian, best known for her leading role as Chloe O'Brian on the Fox action-thriller 24.-Early life:...
all appeared on the television show 24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
. Wallace Langham appeared on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
.
Judd Apatow, one of the producers of the show and writers, had a successful career after the show, making many adult comedy films such as Knocked Up
Knocked Up
Knocked Up is a 2007 American romantic comedy drama film co-produced, written, and directed by Judd Apatow. Starring Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, and Leslie Mann, the film follows the repercussions of a drunken one-night stand between Rogen's slacker character and Heigl's just-promoted...
, Pineapple Express
Pineapple Express (film)
Pineapple Express is a 2008 American stoner action comedy directed by David Gordon Green, written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and starring Rogen and James Franco. Producer Judd Apatow, who previously worked with Rogen and Goldberg on Knocked Up and Superbad, assisted in developing the story,...
, The 40-Year-Old Virgin
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
The 40-Year-Old Virgin is a 2005 American buddy comedy film about a middle-aged man's journey to finally have sex. The film was written and directed by Judd Apatow and co-written by its lead star, Steve Carell, though the film itself features a great deal of improvised dialogue...
, and Funny People
Funny People
Funny People is a 2009 American comedy-drama film written, co-produced and directed by Judd Apatow, and starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, and Leslie Mann. The film was released on 31 July 2009 in North America, and on 28 August 2009 in the United Kingdom. Funny People uses considerably more...
. Brad Grey, the show's executive producer, produced the Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
film The Departed
The Departed
The Departed is a 2006 American crime thriller film, fashioned as a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan...
and was the executive producer on The Sopranos
The Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
. Writer Peter Tolan
Peter Tolan
Peter James Tolan III is an American television producer, director, and screenwriter.-Early life and career:Tolan was born in Scituate, Massachusetts where he was a perrenial favorite in the high school's dramatic productions. Before leaving to pursue a career in Hollywood, Tolan founded a theater...
would find success as a Hollywood screenwriter with Analyze This
Analyze This
Analyze This is a 1999 gangster comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, who co-wrote the screenplay with playwright Kenneth Lonergan and Peter Tolan. The film stars Robert De Niro as a mafioso and Billy Crystal as a psychiatrist...
and create his own hit TV show with Rescue Me
Rescue Me (TV series)
Rescue Me is an American television drama series that premiered on the FX Network on July 21, 2004, and concluded on September 7, 2011. The series focuses on the professional and personal lives of a group of New York City firefighters in the fictitious Ladder 62 / Engine 99 firehouse.The show...
.
DVD releases
In 2000, The Larry Sanders Show: The Best Episodes was released by Sony Pictures UK in Region 2. The compilation contains the episodes: #302, "Montana" (Robin Williams); #403, "Hank's Sex Tape" (Henry Winkler, Norm Macdonald); #408, "Larry's Big Idea" (Courteney Cox, David Letterman); #411, "I Was a Teenage Lesbian" (Brett Butler). Also included are two first season episodes (#109, "The Guest Host;"#113, "The Talk Show"), as well as the second season episode, "The List" (#203) which was left out of the US cable syndication package offered to Bravo. However, it is available to local affiliates.On February 26, 2002 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the home video distribution arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation. It was established in November 1979 as Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment, releasing 20 titles: The Anderson Tapes, Bell, Book and Candle, Born Free, Breakout,...
released the complete first season on DVD in Region 1.
On April 17, 2007, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is the home video distribution arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation. It was established in November 1979 as Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment, releasing 20 titles: The Anderson Tapes, Bell, Book and Candle, Born Free, Breakout,...
released a best-of compilation featuring episodes from all six seasons entitled Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show. The 4-disc DVD set features 23 episodes and features 8 hours of bonus material.
On November 2, 2010, Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory is an entertainment company founded in 2003 that was started by Richard Foos , Bob Emmer and Garson Foos initially as a specialty music label...
released The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 (USA). The 17-disc set features extensive bonus features including featurettes, commentaries & outtakes. Shout! Factory has also released the seasons as stand-alones one by one.
Books
- Confessions of a Late-night Talk-show Host: The Autobiography of Larry Sanders (ISBN 067102910X) was written by Garry Shandling in-character as Larry Sanders. It was released October 4, 1999. The book was the topic of season five's episode ten, which was also under the same title.