The Larry Sanders Show

Possibly the best show that has ever been broadcast. In Hank Kingsley and Artie we are in the company of two of the finest comedy characters in television history. Coupled with the galaxy of real stars (Bruno Kirby and Elvis Costello the first amongst equals) playing deranged versions of themselves and the excellent, sometimes breathtaking scripts, this transcends the 30 minutes sitcom format to become totally unforgettable entertainment.

Having recently (re)watched The Larry Sanders Show [in 2011]: I think The Larry Sanders Show is one of the great American television programs and one of the great comedy programs of all time. Though it was certainly not the first TV show to parody TV, nor was it the first show to be about the behind the scenes goings on of talk shows, it was the first laugh-track-less American comedy I know of – setting the stage for the numerous laugh-track-less comedies we have now – and it was about as dark and outrageous as anything then on television at the time. The acting is so good that you sort of forget it’s a comedy at times, and start thinking of these people as real people. I will forever think of Garry Shandling as Larry Sanders. Sorry Garry. It is an incredible thing and, as I mentioned, also very influential. There really isn’t anything else like it in the history of TV comedy. It belongs with Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Kids In The Hall and select few other shows (perhaps) as one of the greatest TV comedies of all-time.