1998
The Larry Sanders Show
May 14, 2010
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
With all of the talk about the late night talk show wars during the past few months, one name has been left out of the discussion.
Larry Sanders.
From 1992 to 1998, The Larry Sanders Show aired on HBO. It was a look at a fictional late night talk show hosted by Larry Sanders, played by Garry Shandling.
Occasionally, episodes featured scenes from the actual talk show hosted by Sanders in front of a television audience.
Stars played themselves.
Dana Delany. Sharon Stone. Dana Carvey.
For advice about navigating the shark-infested waters of the entertainment industry and his own staff, Larry frequently turned to veteran producer Artie for advice. Rip Torn played Artie while Jeffrey Tambor played sidekick announcer Hank Kingsley.
Jeremy Piven played Jerry, a young writer on Larry’s staff. Years later, a mini-reunion occurred when Jeffrey Tambor played himself on an episode of Entourage while Piven played his agent, Ari Gold.
The Larry Sanders Show debuted in the firestorm of the early 1990’s when Johhny Carson left The Tonight Show, David Letterman started a late night franchise at CBS, and the audience split its loyalties between Jay Leno and David Letterman.
The area was ripe for exploration as the public became more aware of the business side of show business.
But The Larry Sanders Show explored another side beyond advertisers, demographics, and ratings. This side features topics familiar to every industry -- insecurity, office politics, and the high pressure of job performance in an increasingly competitive atmosphere.
david@davidkrell.com
With all of the talk about the late night talk show wars during the past few months, one name has been left out of the discussion.
Larry Sanders.
From 1992 to 1998, The Larry Sanders Show aired on HBO. It was a look at a fictional late night talk show hosted by Larry Sanders, played by Garry Shandling.
Occasionally, episodes featured scenes from the actual talk show hosted by Sanders in front of a television audience.
Stars played themselves.
Dana Delany. Sharon Stone. Dana Carvey.
For advice about navigating the shark-infested waters of the entertainment industry and his own staff, Larry frequently turned to veteran producer Artie for advice. Rip Torn played Artie while Jeffrey Tambor played sidekick announcer Hank Kingsley.
Jeremy Piven played Jerry, a young writer on Larry’s staff. Years later, a mini-reunion occurred when Jeffrey Tambor played himself on an episode of Entourage while Piven played his agent, Ari Gold.
The Larry Sanders Show debuted in the firestorm of the early 1990’s when Johhny Carson left The Tonight Show, David Letterman started a late night franchise at CBS, and the audience split its loyalties between Jay Leno and David Letterman.
The area was ripe for exploration as the public became more aware of the business side of show business.
But The Larry Sanders Show explored another side beyond advertisers, demographics, and ratings. This side features topics familiar to every industry -- insecurity, office politics, and the high pressure of job performance in an increasingly competitive atmosphere.
From the Earth to the Moon
September 10, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
In 1994, Ron Howard brought the story of Apollo 13 to the big screen. Directed by Howard and starring Tom Hanks as astronaut Jim Lovell, Apollo 13 is the classic kid stuck in a well story line. Except it takes place in outer space.
Apollo 13 served as the basis for space buff Hanks to further explore NASA's Golden Age in the 1998 HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon.
Co-produced by Hanks, Howard, Michael Bostick, and Brian Grazer, From the Earth to the Moon is a 12-part miniseries detailing the Apollo space program based on the book Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin.
Hanks introduces each episode with a brief monologue.
From the Earth to the Moon won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries.
It shows the intensity, creativity, and dedication of the Apollo engineers, managers, and astronauts.
It reveals stories that aren't likely known beyond space historians, space buffs, and NASA insiders.
We learn about the improvements in the Apollo spacecraft triggered by the investigation into Apollo 1 fire that killed astronauts Gus Grissom, Roger Chaffee, and Ed White.
We learn about the engineers' trial and error that led to the creation of the lunar module used by the astronauts to land on the moon.
We learn about Alan Shepard's comeback from an inner ear problem that grounded him to groundbreaking surgery that allowed him to fly on Apollo 14 in 1971. At the time, he was the oldest astronaut to launch into space. He was 47.
The Greek chorus in From the Earth to the Moon Emmett Seaborne, the news anchor of the fictional National Television Company.
Character actor Lane Smith plays Seaborne, a journalist with deep knowledge about the space program.
From the Earth to the Moon also shows the behind-the-scenes drama of America's heroes.
How did NASA decide who would be the first astronaut to set foot on the moon and how did Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin address that situation between themselves?
What impact did the astronauts' professional lives have on their families.
And how did the astronauts train for subjects beyond flying, for example, geology, to familiarize themselves with moon rocks that could unlock secrets of the universe?
From the Earth to the Moon is a terrific miniseries that intensifies a long faded spotlight and shines it on America's space pioneers.
During a decade of war, assassinations of political leaders, and riots in the streets, the brave men and women involved in America's space program gave something good to America and the world.
Something inspirational.
Something awesome.
david@davidkrell.com
In 1994, Ron Howard brought the story of Apollo 13 to the big screen. Directed by Howard and starring Tom Hanks as astronaut Jim Lovell, Apollo 13 is the classic kid stuck in a well story line. Except it takes place in outer space.
Apollo 13 served as the basis for space buff Hanks to further explore NASA's Golden Age in the 1998 HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon.
Co-produced by Hanks, Howard, Michael Bostick, and Brian Grazer, From the Earth to the Moon is a 12-part miniseries detailing the Apollo space program based on the book Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin.
Hanks introduces each episode with a brief monologue.
From the Earth to the Moon won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries.
It shows the intensity, creativity, and dedication of the Apollo engineers, managers, and astronauts.
It reveals stories that aren't likely known beyond space historians, space buffs, and NASA insiders.
We learn about the improvements in the Apollo spacecraft triggered by the investigation into Apollo 1 fire that killed astronauts Gus Grissom, Roger Chaffee, and Ed White.
We learn about the engineers' trial and error that led to the creation of the lunar module used by the astronauts to land on the moon.
We learn about Alan Shepard's comeback from an inner ear problem that grounded him to groundbreaking surgery that allowed him to fly on Apollo 14 in 1971. At the time, he was the oldest astronaut to launch into space. He was 47.
The Greek chorus in From the Earth to the Moon Emmett Seaborne, the news anchor of the fictional National Television Company.
Character actor Lane Smith plays Seaborne, a journalist with deep knowledge about the space program.
From the Earth to the Moon also shows the behind-the-scenes drama of America's heroes.
How did NASA decide who would be the first astronaut to set foot on the moon and how did Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin address that situation between themselves?
What impact did the astronauts' professional lives have on their families.
And how did the astronauts train for subjects beyond flying, for example, geology, to familiarize themselves with moon rocks that could unlock secrets of the universe?
From the Earth to the Moon is a terrific miniseries that intensifies a long faded spotlight and shines it on America's space pioneers.
During a decade of war, assassinations of political leaders, and riots in the streets, the brave men and women involved in America's space program gave something good to America and the world.
Something inspirational.
Something awesome.