Sharon Stone
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.
Dennis Franz
July 15, 2009
by David Krell
david@davidkrell.com
Dennis Franz stayed with NYPD Blue for its entire 12-year run from 1993 to 2005.
But before his Emmy-winning turn as Detective Andy Sipowicz, Franz starred in some television series that are long gone and perhaps forgotten.
After the critically acclaimed debut of Hill Street Blues in 1981, NBC aired an even more ambitious ensemble program in 1982 -- Chicago Story.
Each episode was 90 minutes in length.
The stories centered on doctors, cops, and the justice system.
Naturally, Franz played a tough Chicago cop -- Officer Joe Gilland.
Chicago Story did not last, perhaps because of the length of each episode and despite an outstanding cast -- Craig T. Nelson, Maud Adams, Vincent Baggetta, Molly Cheek, Kristoffer Tabori, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Richard Lawson.
In 1983, Franz was part of Steven Bochco's attempt at a baseball-themed ensemble drama. Set in fictional Bay City, California, the short-lived Bay City Blues focused on a AA minor league team, the Bluebirds.
Bay City Blues starred Michael Nouri, Ken Olin, Sharon Stone, and Bernie Casey. Franz played pitching coach Angelo Carbone.
In Bochco's more successful 1980's ensemble drama Hill Street Blues, Franz played two roles.
He first guest starred as dirty cop Sal Benedetto in a multi-episode story arc. After Benedetto's story line ended with his suicide, Bochco brought Franz back to Hill Street Station as Detective Norman Buntz.
Buntz' informant was Sid the Snitch, played by another Bay City Blues alumnus, Peter Jurasik.
The pair offered comic relief and gained enough confidence from NBC to star in a spinoff -- Beverly Hills Buntz.
The show lasted a few episodes in 1987 and featured Buntz opening a private investigation agency in the glamorous southern California locale of Beverly Hills.
In 1989, Franz starred in a 2-hour NBC tv-movie entitled Nasty Boys. The theme song was the popular eponymous song of the day.
Nasty Boys featured an elite undercover narcotics squad in Las Vegas led by Franz' Lieutenant Krieger.
In 1990, NBC expanded Nasty Boys into a television series. Benjamin Bratt of Law & Order also starred.
In addition to these starring roles, Franz' resume includes numerous guest spots -- Hunter, Matlock, The A-Team, Riptide, Simon & Simon, Street Hawk, T.J. Hooker.
Dennis Franz' work on NYPD Blue secured his place in the annals of television history.
But his earlier television work ought not be overlooked.
And the aforementioned shows starring Franz have a common thread with NYPD Blue -- the ensemble.
david@davidkrell.com
Dennis Franz stayed with NYPD Blue for its entire 12-year run from 1993 to 2005.
But before his Emmy-winning turn as Detective Andy Sipowicz, Franz starred in some television series that are long gone and perhaps forgotten.
After the critically acclaimed debut of Hill Street Blues in 1981, NBC aired an even more ambitious ensemble program in 1982 -- Chicago Story.
Each episode was 90 minutes in length.
The stories centered on doctors, cops, and the justice system.
Naturally, Franz played a tough Chicago cop -- Officer Joe Gilland.
Chicago Story did not last, perhaps because of the length of each episode and despite an outstanding cast -- Craig T. Nelson, Maud Adams, Vincent Baggetta, Molly Cheek, Kristoffer Tabori, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Richard Lawson.
In 1983, Franz was part of Steven Bochco's attempt at a baseball-themed ensemble drama. Set in fictional Bay City, California, the short-lived Bay City Blues focused on a AA minor league team, the Bluebirds.
Bay City Blues starred Michael Nouri, Ken Olin, Sharon Stone, and Bernie Casey. Franz played pitching coach Angelo Carbone.
In Bochco's more successful 1980's ensemble drama Hill Street Blues, Franz played two roles.
He first guest starred as dirty cop Sal Benedetto in a multi-episode story arc. After Benedetto's story line ended with his suicide, Bochco brought Franz back to Hill Street Station as Detective Norman Buntz.
Buntz' informant was Sid the Snitch, played by another Bay City Blues alumnus, Peter Jurasik.
The pair offered comic relief and gained enough confidence from NBC to star in a spinoff -- Beverly Hills Buntz.
The show lasted a few episodes in 1987 and featured Buntz opening a private investigation agency in the glamorous southern California locale of Beverly Hills.
In 1989, Franz starred in a 2-hour NBC tv-movie entitled Nasty Boys. The theme song was the popular eponymous song of the day.
Nasty Boys featured an elite undercover narcotics squad in Las Vegas led by Franz' Lieutenant Krieger.
In 1990, NBC expanded Nasty Boys into a television series. Benjamin Bratt of Law & Order also starred.
In addition to these starring roles, Franz' resume includes numerous guest spots -- Hunter, Matlock, The A-Team, Riptide, Simon & Simon, Street Hawk, T.J. Hooker.
Dennis Franz' work on NYPD Blue secured his place in the annals of television history.
But his earlier television work ought not be overlooked.
And the aforementioned shows starring Franz have a common thread with NYPD Blue -- the ensemble.