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Special Features
Introduction by Garry Shandling
All-New Deleted Scenes
All-New Outtakes (bloopers)
Garry Lectures At USC
60-Page Collector's Book featuring essays from Howard Rosenberg and Jeffrey Tambor
The Making Of The Larry Sanders Show: Feature-Length Documentary
Garry Shandling And Judd Apatow On "The Writer's Process"
Interviews With Cast
Garry Shandling's Personal Visits With Guest Stars Alec Baldwin, Sharon Stone, David Duchovny, Tom Petty, Jon Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, Jerry Seinfeld And Carol Burnett
Commentaries by Garry Shandling, Judd Apatow, Peter Tolan and Todd Holland
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The Larry Sanders Show is "how good television could be." So proclaims Ricky Gervais in the definitive documentary "The Making of The Larry Sanders Show" included in this 17-disc boxed set that would be essential even without the prodigious bonus features. After the welcome but woefully inadequate Season One and Not Just the Best of…. sets, this long-overdue complete collection takes full measure of the groundbreaking series TV Guide listed 38th (just behind The X-Files and ahead of The Rockford Files) among the top 50 TV series of all time. One could only imagine the exquisite ego-pierced pique that Larry Sanders (Garry Shandling), the angst-ridden, neurotic, and self-absorbed late-night talk show host, would exhibit upon learning of that ranking. It was Larry, in one of the series' most memorable episodes, who went to desperate lengths to get Ben Stiller bumped so he could take Stiller's place on People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive list. The bracingly funny and show business savvy Larry Sanders Show set the stage for later classics of discomfort television Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office, and Extras with its unflinching documentary style that captured the raw personalities and the chaotic process behind the production of a late-night talk show. How real did this show seem? To this day when I watch The Daily Show, I still harbor some resentment toward Jon Stewart, who in the series is tapped by the network to be Larry's replacement. The talent in front of and behind the cameras is staggering. The seamless ensemble includes Emmy® winner Rip Torn as Artie, Larry's old school producer; Jeffrey Tambor as clueless sidekick (and "poor deluded bastard") Hank "Hey Now" Kingsley; Penny Johnson as Larry's indispensable secretary Beverly; Janeane Garofalo at her deadpan best as talent booker Paula (followed by 24's Mary Lynn Rajskub); Jeremy Piven as cocksure head writer Jerry (followed by Wallace Langham); and Scott Thompson as Hank's sensitive assistant. The writers included Peter Tolan (Rescue Me), Jon Vitti (The Simpsons), Adam Resnick (Late Night with David Letterman), Steven Levitan (Modern Family), Paul Simms (NewsRadio), and Judd Apatow (you know). Adding to the verisimilitude are the scores of celebrity guest stars (David Duchovny, Ellen DeGeneres, Sharon Stone, and Roseanne are standouts) who sportingly tweak their personas. The topical jokes and pop culture references are necessarily dated, but some have a longer shelf life than others. When one particular joke bombs, Larry recovers with, "And Conan O'Brien thinks this is going to be easy." One doesn't have to be a Hollywood insider to fully appreciate The Larry Sanders Show. This is a workplace comedy whose portrayals of ego clashes, petty jealousies, and bureaucratic B.S. will be relatable to anyone who's ever worked in an office. Among the highlights of the bonus features are intimate, hilarious, and, in the case of Linda Doucett--who portrayed Hank's New Agey assistant Darlene, and was at the time Shandling's girlfriend--achingly personal interviews. The Larry Sanders Show never earned an Emmy for best comedy series. As Larry insincerely remarks at one point, "I prefer to let the work speak for itself." Here's the work. It speaks volumes. --Donald Liebenson
Product Description
Live on tape, from Hollywood, its The Larry Sanders Show
The Complete Series: 89 Original Episodes on 17 Discs
At long last, Garry Shandling s comedy series about the twisted inner workings of a late-night talk show, and its host, comes to DVD. All of it.
Larry Sanders (Garry Shandling) is a neurotic late-night talk show host flanked by Artie (Rip Torn), his caustic, foul-mouthed producer, and Hey Now Hank Kingsley (Jeffrey Tambor), his hopelessly insecure, ethically inept sidekick. Off-air it is all train wrecks and egos, but when the lights go down and the theme music kicks in, you get late-night Entertainment Inc. at its finest.
The Larry Sanders Show raised the bar for fearless, acerbic Hollywood satire. The innovative use of both video and film to distinguish on-air events from real-life happenings, displaying the jarring dynamic between the on-camera poise of Larry and his backstage neurosis, was brutally fascinating. And in the company of a patronizing, combative staff and a parade of A-list guests, more than game for putting their own celebrity in the crosshairs, you had a backstage pass to a Hollywood that was shockingly raw and hilarious.
Also starring Linda Doucett, Janeane Garofalo (24), Penny Johnson (24), Wallace Langham (CSI), Bob Odenkirk (Mr. Show, Breaking Bad), Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24), Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program), Scott Thompson (Kids In The Hall), and written and produced by Garry Shandling, Peter Tolan (Rescue Me) and Judd Apatow (Knocked Up), The Larry Sanders Show was the hippest TV show . . . probably ever. Late-night would never be the same again.
The Complete Series: 89 Original Episodes on 17 Discs
At long last, Garry Shandling s comedy series about the twisted inner workings of a late-night talk show, and its host, comes to DVD. All of it.
Larry Sanders (Garry Shandling) is a neurotic late-night talk show host flanked by Artie (Rip Torn), his caustic, foul-mouthed producer, and Hey Now Hank Kingsley (Jeffrey Tambor), his hopelessly insecure, ethically inept sidekick. Off-air it is all train wrecks and egos, but when the lights go down and the theme music kicks in, you get late-night Entertainment Inc. at its finest.
The Larry Sanders Show raised the bar for fearless, acerbic Hollywood satire. The innovative use of both video and film to distinguish on-air events from real-life happenings, displaying the jarring dynamic between the on-camera poise of Larry and his backstage neurosis, was brutally fascinating. And in the company of a patronizing, combative staff and a parade of A-list guests, more than game for putting their own celebrity in the crosshairs, you had a backstage pass to a Hollywood that was shockingly raw and hilarious.
Also starring Linda Doucett, Janeane Garofalo (24), Penny Johnson (24), Wallace Langham (CSI), Bob Odenkirk (Mr. Show, Breaking Bad), Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24), Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program), Scott Thompson (Kids In The Hall), and written and produced by Garry Shandling, Peter Tolan (Rescue Me) and Judd Apatow (Knocked Up), The Larry Sanders Show was the hippest TV show . . . probably ever. Late-night would never be the same again.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Hank Kingsley is probably the most completely realized, wonderfully written and ultimately hilarious comedy character on any U.S. or British show within the past 30 years. Cynical,vulnerable,venal,egotistical,craven yet strangely likeable, Jeffrey Tambors great portrayal of the cruise ship compere made good provides so many of the shows brilliant scenes.
Comparisons with 'Curb' have always baffled me,the Larry Sanders show is so far out on its own as to defy comparison with anything subsequently produced.Garry Shandling continues to provide laughs,as he appears to have been pre-embalmed to save time post mortem.
Comparisons with 'Curb' have always baffled me,the Larry Sanders show is so far out on its own as to defy comparison with anything subsequently produced.Garry Shandling continues to provide laughs,as he appears to have been pre-embalmed to save time post mortem.
55 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Finally! I have already pre-ordered The Complete Series. The Complete First Season and Not Just The Best Of The Larry Sanders Show are already in my collection, and I have enjoyed those sets over and over and over again. The First Season has an enteraining interview with Garry Shandling, and Not Just The Best includes amazing, personal, informative, funny and long visits between Shandling and his friends Carol Burnett, Tom Petty, Jerry Seinfeld, Alec Baldwin, John Stewart, Sharon Stone and others. The first two collections are thus definitely worth having. The forthcoming Complete Series will give us all a chance to enjoy the episodes we haven't seen in decades. I can't wait to see Hank confess to Larry's ex wife, after spending a night in a hotel room together, that he emptied the mini-bar and that he will reimburse her. Such situations, sublime and tears-down-your-face-funny, were the result of patient character development and a deep understanding of the human condition. Garry Shandling created the most intelligent comedy series ever. Every writer, every director and every actor responded to his concept and made The Larry Sanders Show a timeless masterpeice. Whatever the reasons were for delaying this release, I am grateful they no longer exist.
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By max
Format:DVD
According to Shout Factory, it looks like the extras that were on "Season One" and "Not Just The Best Of..." will be included on this set:
The Complete Introduction With Garry Shandling
All-New Deleted Scenes
All-New Outtakes
Garry Lectures At USC
60-Page Collector's Book
The Making Of The Larry Sanders Show: Feature-Length Documentary
Garry Shandling And Judd Apatow On "The Writer's Process"
Extended Interviews With Cast
Garry Shandling's Personal Visits With Guest Stars Alec Baldwin, Sharon Stone, David Duchovny, Tom Petty, Jon Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, Jerry Seinfeld And Carol Burnett
And Much More!
The Complete Introduction With Garry Shandling
All-New Deleted Scenes
All-New Outtakes
Garry Lectures At USC
60-Page Collector's Book
The Making Of The Larry Sanders Show: Feature-Length Documentary
Garry Shandling And Judd Apatow On "The Writer's Process"
Extended Interviews With Cast
Garry Shandling's Personal Visits With Guest Stars Alec Baldwin, Sharon Stone, David Duchovny, Tom Petty, Jon Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, Jerry Seinfeld And Carol Burnett
And Much More!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
BEST COMEDY EVER
No flipping!
The creation of Larry Sanders was comedic genius.
What a drag it was when this show had to end.
You may now flip.
The creation of Larry Sanders was comedic genius.
What a drag it was when this show had to end.
You may now flip.
Published 19 days ago by John Griffin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Entertaining
When it's funny, it's very funny. Not always funny, but always compelling. Couldn't stop watching until they were all watched.
Published 1 month ago by WalterB
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not a bad episode among 'em
Well, I made my way through every DVD track. The writing is phenomenal; I enjoyed every single episode. And the acting by Torn and Tambor is outstanding. Read more
Published 2 months ago by T. Klonoski
5.0 out of 5 stars
if you like larry, this is it
Ok, so not everybody got this show. Maybe it was before it's time, butt also many did not have access to the show when it was aired. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Steven Baum
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Fun, Too bad the video quality is from hunger....
One of the funniest shows ever. I especially love Rip Torn's character in the series, he's the guy who keeps it all real... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Gary Galimidi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best sitcom ever
This show could come out today and be a hit. Very smart and full of laughs. A must have for any Gary fan.
Published 7 months ago by gud
2.0 out of 5 stars
Love the show, hate these DVDs
I am a HUGE fan of the Larry Sanders show - I was SO excited when I found these. But they look like they're filmed on some horrible VCR in 1979 with a thunderstorm outside. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Tiffany Rae
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great show, but..
Obviously it's one of the best shows ever to air on television.. but the video transfer is hideous. My god, its 2012! Was this a project performed by interns? Read more
Published 10 months ago by Gregory A. Thow
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent show. Excellent box set.
Wish this was available in Region 4 but it was worth switching a drive over to watch this collection. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Clinton
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 stars for the show but 2 stars for the lousy video quality
Gary Shandling was a standup comedian who became Johnny Carson's regular guest host and was heir to the Tonight Show. Read more
Published 14 months ago by S. Naimpally
