Dana Delany
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.