L.A. or N.Y.? (29 Sep. 1993)

Director:

Todd Holland

Writers:

Garry Shandling (creator), Dennis Klein (creator),

Stars:

Garry Shandling, Jeffrey Tambor, Kathryn Harrold

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Garry Shandling	...	Larry Sanders
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Hank Kingsley
Kathryn Harrold	...	Francine Sanders
Wallace Langham	...	Phil
Penny Johnson	...	Beverly Barnes
Linda Doucett	...	Darlene Chapinni
Rip Torn	...	Arthur
Chris Farley	...	Chris Farley
Howard Stern	...	Howard Stern
Bob Odenkirk	...	Stevie Grant
David Warner	...	Richard Germain
Robin Quivers	...	Robin Quivers (voice)
Sid Newman	...	Sid
Fred Pinkard	...	Fisherman

Storyline

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 1993 (USA)

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, Partners with Boundaries

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Season 2: Consistently solid – I like it but don't love it (SPOILERS)

When I watched the first season of this show I was a little disappointed by how solid and consistent it was, since I had been led to believe that the show was the peak of comedy gold. I still enjoyed it enough to come back for the second season though. This second batch of episodes seems a bit more assured about what it is about in terms of tone and content but generally it keeps the same relaxed tone. I think part of my lack of love for it is down to me because I do keep hoping it is sharper and faster than it is, but actually the show has quite a relaxed pace to it.

We stay with the show format and it is cleverly done to mix fiction and reality together by using different cameras with a different look to the film, using real guests within the context of this fictional chat show etc. I like the structure a great deal and generally the plots are pretty good albeit that they rarely feel like the episode is filled to bursting point; again the relaxed feel it has. In moments it has brilliance and there are lots of great lines in here – particularly from Artie and Hank, who dominate the show. In terms of the other characters there seems to be a bit of house cleaning as some of the characters are removed while others just appear to stop showing up each week; the season ends with a real house-clean so we'll see where that goes in the third.

And I will see, because the show is solidly enjoyable enough for me to keep watching it – partly for what it does well but also, if I'm honest, in the hope for the areas I think it could have been stronger (or to my taste I suppose). Shandling himself remains a problem for me as I really don't like his character – he seems constantly tired of it all in a way that the material doesn't back up, he also usually seems like a plot device for others around him rather than a lead character. Tambor and Torn remain great, while Johnson does good work too – not sure why Piven and Garofalo both seem to drop off for the second half of the season, but at least with Piven it is scripted.

Overall this second season improves on the first but not hugely. It remains strong in certain areas and is enjoyable for its consistent acerbic tone and sharp dialogue; it doesn't deliver regular big laughs but yet it remains funny in its own way. I continue to like it – but I'm still not sure where the love is.