I’ve recently finished watching all six seasons of The Larry Sanders Show and it is one of the best comedies of the 90s and perhaps all time. I didn’t have HBO so I think I saw a couple of episodes, but I think you need to be a regular viewer to truly appreciate the highly crafted characterizations that even the secondary characters brought to the show. The triumvirate of Garry Shandling (Larry Sanders), Rip Torn (Arty), and Jeffery Tambor (Hank Kingsley) was the key to the humor and success of the show but all of the secondary character actors had their moments in the sun as well. This list includes Jeremy Piven, Jenaene Garafalo, Penny Johnston (who with late coming regular Mary Lynn Rajskub would go onto to further fame in drama in the 24 series), Wallace Langham (as the head writer Phil), the foxy Linda Doucett (Hank’s personal assistant Darlene, who is replaced by Kids In The Hall member Scott Thompson in a role that prefigures Ari Gold’s gay Asian assistant Lloyd in Entourage), and Sarah Silverman among others. That’s not mention all the great cameos throughout the years by actors portraying versions of themselves and the many comedian friends of Shandling that found their way on the set. Some of my favorite guests include: Bruno Kirby, David Duchovny, Dana Carvey, David Spade, and the list goes on.
Getting back to the triumvirate of Garry Shandling (Larry Sanders), Rip Torn (Arty), and Jeffery Tambor (Hank Kingsley): it was the interactions between these three that created most of the most memorable moments in the series. Garry Shandling’s anal, needy, insecure, and high maintenance character was necessary for interactions with people like Hank and the guests. Torn, the gruff man’s man runs the show, has the experience and confidence to command the utmost authority from everyone on the show. Hank is the also needy insecure and Tambor was willing to do almost anything to get a laugh from Hank’s pathetic outbursts tempered by his selfish tirades. Hank is one of the greatest losers in comedy: think George Costanza, think GOB from Arrested Development.
This show was seminal and paved the way for so many others. Without it there would be no Curb Your Enthusiasm or Entourage. It was a model of how to blend reality with fiction. I’m under the impression that it suffers from low ratings numbers like the current brilliant critic’s choice The Wire. Tambor has the distinction of having appeared on two of the best TV shows of all time after his stint on Arrested Development.
One of my favorite lines from the series:
Larry: Be there or be square.
Arty: I can do both.
Posted by: switters | June 25, 2007 at 06:09 AM