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The Larry Sanders Show

  • TV Series
  • 1992–19981992–1998
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
8.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,438
28
The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
The Larry Sanders Show
Play trailer1:29
4 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
A comedic behind the scenes look at a late night talk show.A comedic behind the scenes look at a late night talk show.A comedic behind the scenes look at a late night talk show.
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
8.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,438
28
  • Creators
    • Dennis Klein
    • Garry Shandling
  • Stars
    • Garry Shandling
    • Jeffrey Tambor
    • Wallace Langham
Top credits
  • Creators
    • Dennis Klein
    • Garry Shandling
  • Stars
    • Garry Shandling
    • Jeffrey Tambor
    • Wallace Langham
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 39User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 46 wins & 138 nominations total

    Episodes89

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos4

    What Mindy Kaling Is Watching
    Clip 3:28
    What Mindy Kaling Is Watching
    The Larry Sanders Show
    Trailer 1:29
    The Larry Sanders Show
    Promo Trailer - The Larry Sanders Show
    Promo 2:04
    Promo Trailer - The Larry Sanders Show
    Judd Apatow on "The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling"
    Video 3:34
    Judd Apatow on "The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling"

    Photos734

    Helen Hunt and Garry Shandling in The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
    Nicollette Sheridan and Garry Shandling in The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
    Colin Quinn in The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
    Jeffrey Tambor, Kevin Nealon, and Garry Shandling in The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
    David Letterman and Garry Shandling in The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
    Billy Crystal and Garry Shandling in The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
    Garry Shandling in The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
    Chevy Chase and Garry Shandling in The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
    John Ritter and Garry Shandling in The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
    Carol Burnett and Garry Shandling in The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
    Elvis Costello and Garry Shandling in The Larry Sanders Show (1992)
    Sharon Stone and Garry Shandling in The Larry Sanders Show (1992)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Garry Shandling
    Garry Shandling
    • Larry Sandersas Larry Sanders
    89 episodes89 eps • 1992–1998
    Jeffrey Tambor
    Jeffrey Tambor
    • Hank Kingsleyas Hank Kingsley
    89 episodes89 eps • 1992–1998
    Wallace Langham
    Wallace Langham
    • Philas Phil
    89 episodes89 eps • 1992–1998
    Rip Torn
    Rip Torn
    • Arthuras Arthur
    89 episodes89 eps • 1992–1998
    Penny Johnson Jerald
    Penny Johnson Jerald
    • Beverly Barnesas Beverly Barnes
    82 episodes82 eps • 1992–1998
    Janeane Garofalo
    Janeane Garofalo
    • Paulaas Paula
    52 episodes52 eps • 1992–1997
    Linda Doucett
    Linda Doucett
    • Darlene Chapinnias Darlene Chapinni
    45 episodes45 eps • 1992–1998
    Sid Newman
    Sid Newman
    • Sidas Sid
    37 episodes37 eps • 1992–1998
    Scott Thompson
    Scott Thompson
    • Brianas Brian
    35 episodes35 eps • 1995–1998
    Jeremy Piven
    Jeremy Piven
    • Jerry Capenas Jerry Capen
    26 episodes26 eps • 1992–1998
    Kathryn Harrold
    Kathryn Harrold
    • Francine Sandersas Francine Sanders
    18 episodes18 eps • 1993
    Mary Lynn Rajskub
    Mary Lynn Rajskub
    • Marylou Collinsas Marylou Collins
    18 episodes18 eps • 1996–1998
    Megan Gallagher
    Megan Gallagher
    • Jeannie Sandersas Jeannie Sanders
    14 episodes14 eps • 1992–1995
    Bob Odenkirk
    Bob Odenkirk
    • Stevie Grantas Stevie Grant
    12 episodes12 eps • 1993–1998
    Deborah May
    Deborah May
    • Melanie Parrishas Melanie Parrish
    10 episodes10 eps • 1992–1998
    John Riggi
    John Riggi
    • Mike Pattersonas Mike Patterson…
    8 episodes8 eps • 1992–1994
    Doug Ballard
    Doug Ballard
    • Dennisas Dennis…
    6 episodes6 eps • 1993–1996
    Jon Stewart
    Jon Stewart
    • Jon Stewartas Jon Stewart
    6 episodes6 eps • 1996–1998
    • Creators
      • Dennis Klein
      • Garry Shandling
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Shandling based the show on his experience as the Monday night guest host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) from 1986 to 1987. Shandling was offered numerous deals to host his own late-night talk show, but turned them all down.
    • Quotes

      Hank Kingsley: What about the time I chipped my tooth on the bathroom urinal? What the FUCK is so comical about that!

      Larry: It was a back tooth Hank.

      [under his breath]

      Larry: I don't know how you did it.

    • Connections
      Edited into Shandling Talks... No Flipping! (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Love Guarantee
      Written by Diana Williamson and Frank Fitzpatrick

      Performed by Diana Williamson

    User reviews39

    Review
    Top review
    Brilliant Writing
    The Larry Sanders Show is one of the greatest television shows ever. The best description that I can come up with for TLSS is that it's a free-form pre-scripted reality show. The writing sparkles, the characterizations are wonderful, and the plotlines are engaging. TV Guide recently said that Seinfeld is the greatest tv show of all time; that might be true for a network program that you can skip for a few minutes while you yell at the kids or go make a sandwich, but TLSS requires your full attention.

    Garry Shandling plays Larry Sanders in this mock-talk show. Larry is the neurotic straight-man surrounded by crazy characters and situations. Famous celebrities wander the offices, waiting in the green room or shagging in the prop room. Larry takes everything in stride, shooting off an acerbic remark for everything that doesn't go his way.

    TLSS is shot on video for the talk show portions, the part that is "broadcast", while the behind-the-scenes reality parts are shot on film, giving you a line of demarcation for what's "real" and what's "the show".

    Three actors make up the triumvirate of drama: Garry Shandling, Rip Torn, and Jeffrey Tambor. Torn is dead-perfect as the show's producer, Artie. With his weathered face, odd expressions, blustery voice, and bulldozer personality he barges into rooms like he owns the place. Torn's performances are brilliantly conceived.

    Tambor plays Hank Kingsley, the insecure sidekick to Larry Sanders. With his subtle, simmering delivery and steel-eyed glare, no one but Tambor could play Hank. From show to show, you find yourself alternately loving and hating him. On one show, he guest-hosts TLSS and believes that it is a stepping-stone to his own program. He becomes a raving egomaniac and threatens to take over the show. On a consecutive night of hosting, however, he stumbles and falls on his face.

    The writing crackles like lightning. When Artie tells Larry that he needs to throw anxious network honchos "a bone", Larry retorts "why don't you fake-throw and see if their heads move?" In another scene, Hank comes up to Larry and Artie, sits down, and begins to ask a question that Artie guesses even before it's out of Hank's mouth. "I'll bet you want to have your wedding on the show." When Hank says, "My God, how could you possibly know that?", Artie retorts "You should know by now that I can see...into...your...mind." I watched that scene five times.

    The only flaw in TLSS is that in every episode there is a butt joke. Sure they're funny once in a great while, but if it comes to the point where you're anxiously waiting for it so you can get it out of the way, then something is wrong. I'm surprised that the writers would insert such childish, immature jokes into an otherwise brilliantly-written program.

    Despite the show's above flaw, this series is a masterwork of humor and drama, a fly-on-the-wall view of the production of a talk show. This is television at its best.
    helpful•18
    6
    • bregund
    • Dec 6, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 15, 1992 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El show de Larry Sanders
    • Filming locations
      • CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
      • Columbia Pictures Television
      • Columbia TriStar Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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