I rarely watch the late night talk shows. Growing up in the 60's & 70's saw Carson (and Merv & Mike Douglas occasionally in the afternoon, not much else on at times) with regularity, but by the 80's when cable arrived I found other things more interesting to watch the formulaic late night talk shows. Plus I don't find stand- up comedy monologues particularly funny (exception Rickles, Dangerfield and Carlin.) But "The Larry Sanders Show" a sit-com about the genre, may be the funniest show ever done, a masterful satire about the pretentious and egotistical creatures who inhabit the TV and entertainment world.
At the heart of it is a trio of very funny comedic actors. Garry Shandling as Larry, Jeff Tambor as Hank "Hey Now" Kingsley, the announcer and sidekick and screen vet Rip Torn as Artie, the producer. Larry Sanders is a completely neurotic and self- absorbed comedian who has made it to the pinnacle of his profession. His main concerns are staying there and also getting laid by hot looking women and if they happen to be celebrities, so much the better. Hank is a virtually talentless asshole (at one time he had been the MC on a cruise ship) who is blessed with a superb voice and an absolutely massive ego. Artie is the producer, with 40 years of being backstage in the TV business. His specialty is kissing ass with the network suits, the guests and most importantly Larry's, while kicking virtually everyone else's. The key to the chemistry of this is that Shandling actually lets Torn and Tambor get the best story lines and consequently some of the funniest dialogue.
A word of caution to the snowflakes or anyone who may be easily offended. TLSS is loaded with hilarious repartee and situations that may be considered sexist, racist and homophobic by those who can't appreciate rich, earthy and realistic dialogue.
At the heart of it is a trio of very funny comedic actors. Garry Shandling as Larry, Jeff Tambor as Hank "Hey Now" Kingsley, the announcer and sidekick and screen vet Rip Torn as Artie, the producer. Larry Sanders is a completely neurotic and self- absorbed comedian who has made it to the pinnacle of his profession. His main concerns are staying there and also getting laid by hot looking women and if they happen to be celebrities, so much the better. Hank is a virtually talentless asshole (at one time he had been the MC on a cruise ship) who is blessed with a superb voice and an absolutely massive ego. Artie is the producer, with 40 years of being backstage in the TV business. His specialty is kissing ass with the network suits, the guests and most importantly Larry's, while kicking virtually everyone else's. The key to the chemistry of this is that Shandling actually lets Torn and Tambor get the best story lines and consequently some of the funniest dialogue.
A word of caution to the snowflakes or anyone who may be easily offended. TLSS is loaded with hilarious repartee and situations that may be considered sexist, racist and homophobic by those who can't appreciate rich, earthy and realistic dialogue.