The Larry Sanders Show

The Larry Sanders Show is the name of a satirical situation comedy television series that originally aired from 1992 to 1998 on the HBO cable television network in the USA. It starred former standup comedian Garry Shandling as the show's vain, self-obsessed, neurotic host, Larry Sanders. The series, which was partly inspired by Shandling's stint as a guest host on The Tonight Show, is ranked by many critics and fans alongside Seinfeld as one of the best TV comedies of the decade.

Related Topics:
1992 - 1998 - HBO - Cable television - USA - Garry Shandling - The Tonight Show - Seinfeld

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The series was a unique satire of the behind-the-scenes problems and relationships of a network talk show host, his staff and their guests. The plot and situations found in each episode drew heavily from the real life world of shows like The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show (under both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno), and The Arsenio Hall Show, although some aspects were definitely exaggerated.

Related Topics:
Talk show - The Late Show with David Letterman - The Tonight Show - Johnny Carson - Jay Leno - The Arsenio Hall Show

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The series was particularly notable because the offstage segments of the show had no 'laugh track' (most situation comedies are either taped before a live audience or dubbed with canned laughter); however it cleverly kept a foot in both camps, so to speak, because the 'onstage' segments depicting the Larry Sanders Show in production were filmed before a live audience like a real "Tonight Show." It was also renowned (or notorious) for its no-holds-barred language, and featured four-letter words and profanities galore--a luxury made possible by being screened on cable TV, which is not subject to the same censorship restrictions that apply on American network TV.

Related Topics:
Canned laughter - Four-letter words - Profanities - Cable TV - Censorship

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Each episode featured celebrity guests who usually played themselves as celebrity guests of the fictional "Larry Sanders Show," and who were often the primary source of conflict and turmoil between Sanders and his co-workers. Guests included Elvis Costello, Chris Farley, Sharon Stone, Danny DeVito and others. One of the most memorable guest spots was the cameo appearance in the final episode by X-Files star David Duchovny, who performed a hilarious parody of the Sharon Stone 'flashing' scene from Basic Instinct.

Related Topics:
Elvis Costello - Chris Farley - Sharon Stone - Danny DeVito - X-Files - David Duchovny - Basic Instinct

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In addition to Shandling, the show also starred Rip Torn as Arthur, the show's producer, Jeffrey Tambor as Larry's egotistical sidekick Hank Kingsley, Janeane Garofalo, Scott Thompson, Bob Odenkirk, Linda Doucett, Penny Johnson and others.

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Rip Torn - Jeffrey Tambor - Janeane Garofalo - Scott Thompson - Bob Odenkirk - Linda Doucett - Penny Johnson

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Directors and writers of note include David Mirkin (The Simpsons, Get A Life), Paul Flaherty (SCTV), Carol Leifer (Seinfeld), comedian Jeff Cesario, and Adam Resnick (Late Night with David Letterman, Get A Life).

Related Topics:
David Mirkin - The Simpsons - Get A Life - Paul Flaherty - SCTV - Carol Leifer - Jeff Cesario - Adam Resnick - Late Night with David Letterman

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The series also screened in Australia on free-to-air television on Network Ten (in a late-night timeslot, and with some censoring of language) and unedited on the Foxtel cable network's Comedy Channel. It also aired in the UK on BBC Two, originally in late-night slots despite calls by fans and critics for a primetime screening. Regular repeats later appeared on UK Satellite television on the Paramount Comedy Channel. It is currently being repeated on the Irish television network RTÉ Two.

Related Topics:
Australia - Network Ten - Foxtel - BBC Two - Satellite television - Paramount Comedy Channel - RTÉ Two

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