View source for The Larry Sanders Show

{{short description|American television sitcom (1992–1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image              = Larrysandersshowtitlecard.jpg
| image_size         = 260
| genre              = [[Sitcom]]<br />[[Satire]]
| creator            = {{Plainlist|
* [[Garry Shandling]]
* Dennis Klein
}}
| music              = [[Frank Fitzpatrick]]
| cinematography     = {{Plainlist|
* Peter Smokler
* Christian Santiago
}}
| starring           = {{Plainlist|
* Garry Shandling
* [[Jeffrey Tambor]]
* [[Megan Gallagher]]
* [[Wallace Langham]]
* [[Jeremy Piven]]
* [[Penny Johnson Jerald|Penny Johnson]]
* [[Linda Doucett]]
* [[Janeane Garofalo]]
* [[Rip Torn]]
* [[Kathryn Harrold]]
* [[Scott Thompson (actor)|Scott Thompson]]
* [[Mary Lynn Rajskub]]
}}
| country            = United States
| language           = English
| num_seasons        = 6
| num_episodes       = 90
| list_episodes      = List of The Larry Sanders Show episodes
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
* Garry Shandling
* [[Brad Grey]]
* [[Paul Simms]]
* [[Peter Tolan]]
* Fred Barron
}}
| camera             = [[Single-camera setup|Single-camera]]
| runtime            = 21–26 minutes
| company            = {{plainlist|
* Partners with Boundaries Productions
* [[Brillstein Entertainment Partners|Brillstein-Grey Entertainment]]
* [[Home Box Office, Inc.|HBO]]<br>(1992–1995)<br>(seasons 1–4)
* [[Home Box Office, Inc.|HBO Original Programming]]<br>(1996–1998)<br>(seasons 5–6)
* [[Columbia Pictures Television]]
}}
| network            = [[HBO]]
| first_aired        = {{start date|1992|08|15}}
| last_aired         = {{end date|1998|05|31}}
}}

'''''The Larry Sanders Show''''' is an American television [[sitcom]] set in the office and studio of a fictional [[late-night talk show]]. Created by [[Garry Shandling]] and Dennis Klein, the show ran for six seasons and [[List of The Larry Sanders Show episodes|90 episodes]] on the [[HBO]] cable television network from August 15, 1992, to May 31, 1998.

The show stars Shandling, [[Jeffrey Tambor]], and [[Rip Torn]] and features celebrities playing exaggerated, parodic versions of themselves. The show has its roots in Shandling's [[stand-up comedy]] background, his experience as a [[guest host]] on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson|The Tonight Show]]'', and his earlier sitcom, ''[[It's Garry Shandling's Show]]''. The program has had a marked and long-lasting influence on HBO as well as on television shows in the United States and United Kingdom such as ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'' (which also aired on the same network), ''[[30 Rock]]'', and ''[[The Office (British TV series)|The Office]]''. The supporting cast includes [[Janeane Garofalo]], [[Wallace Langham]], [[Penny Johnson Jerald|Penny Johnson]], [[Linda Doucett]], [[Scott Thompson (actor)|Scott Thompson]], and [[Jeremy Piven]].

The show received universal critical acclaim and is often regarded as an influential and landmark series. It ranked 38 on [[TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time]], the only HBO comedy to make the list,<ref name="tvguide" /> and was also included in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's list of the "100 Best TV Shows of All Time".<ref name="time100">{{cite magazine| last = Poniewozik| first = James| url = http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/completelist/0,,1651341,00.html| title = The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME| magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine]]| access-date = December 4, 2010| author-link = James Poniewozik| date = September 6, 2007| archive-date = February 26, 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090226031518/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/completelist/0%2C%2C1651341%2C00.html| url-status = dead}}</ref> The show won 24 major awards, including three [[Primetime Emmy Awards]], five [[CableACE Awards]], four [[American Comedy Awards]], two [[British Comedy Awards]], two [[Peabody Awards]], a [[BAFTA Award]] and a Satellite Award. It also received 86 nominations, including 56 Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, five Directors Guild of America nominations, six Writers Guild of America nominations, six American Comedy Awards nominations, three [[Golden Globe]] nominations, three Satellite Awards nominations and a [[GLAAD Award]] nomination.<ref name="imdbawards">{{cite web| url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103466/awards| title = Awards for "The Larry Sanders Show"| access-date = December 4, 2010| work = [[IMDb]]}}</ref>

== Premise ==

=== Origins ===
From the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, a stream of American stand-up comedians found success in sitcoms on broadcast network television, including [[Bill Cosby]], [[Roseanne Barr]], [[Richard Lewis (comedian)|Richard Lewis]], [[Jerry Seinfeld]], [[Tim Allen]], [[Paul Reiser]], [[Tom Arnold (actor)|Tom Arnold]], [[Brett Butler (actress)|Brett Butler]], [[Ellen DeGeneres]], [[Drew Carey]], [[Kevin Brennan (comedian)|Kevin Brennan]], and [[Ray Romano]]. [[Garry Shandling]] took a slightly different path with the cable network sitcoms ''The Larry Sanders Show'' and its forerunner ''[[It's Garry Shandling's Show]]''.<ref name="EdgertonJones2008" />

In ''It's Garry Shandling's Show'', Shandling makes use of the [[George Burns]] technique of [[Fourth wall|directly addressing]] the audience. He speaks to the studio and home audiences as well as the other actors, often in quick succession.<ref name="EdgertonJones2008" /><ref name=latimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-oct-20-et-shandling20-story.html|title=Dollying through that fourth wall on 'It's Garry Shandling's Show'|access-date=15 April 2013|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Robert|last=Lloyd|date=20 October 2009|archive-date=8 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408040027/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/20/entertainment/et-shandling20|url-status=live}}</ref> In both shows celebrity guests appear as themselves and Shandling essentially plays himself: a star of a television show and stand-up comedian with a distinctive "comic persona and rhythm".<ref name="EdgertonJones2008" /> Shandling said, in an interview with ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', "the idea for doing something about a talk show host actually came out of an ''It's Garry Shandling's Show'' episode in which I was the guest on an LA morning show&nbsp;... I thought I could make the talk show look very real so the audience would buy that part and then slowly suck them into the realities of life once Larry goes behind the curtain."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/10/12/reunions-2012-garry-shandling-larry-sanders-show/|title='Larry Sanders' cast reunion: Garry Shandling on his groundbreaking comedy series -- VIDEO|access-date=15 April 2013}}</ref>

In 1981, Shandling performed a stand-up routine on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson|The Tonight Show]]'' and subsequently became a regular guest, particularly on short notice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20094137,00.html|title=Johnny Carson and Joan Rivers Can Agree on One Thing: Garry Shandling Is Perfect for Her Old Tonight Show Job|access-date=13 April 2013}}</ref> He also began appearing as a [[guest host]] and, in 1986, replaced [[Joan Rivers]] as "permanent guest host." He was considered to be a possible, although unlikely, successor to [[Johnny Carson]]. After [[Jay Leno]] replaced Carson in 1992, Shandling was offered his own late-night (1 a.m.) talk show but preferred instead to create "a show about a talk-show", ''The Larry Sanders Show.''<ref name="EdgertonJones2008" /><ref name="Sweeney2006">{{cite book|author=Don Sweeney|title=Backstage at the Tonight Show: From Johnny Carson to Jay Leno|url=https://archive.org/details/backstageattonig00swee|url-access=registration|access-date=13 April 2013|date=27 April 2006|publisher=Taylor Trade Publishing|isbn=978-1-58979-637-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/backstageattonig00swee/page/n161 142]–}}</ref> The series has similarities to ''[[The Player (1992 film)|The Player]]'', ''[[The King of Comedy (film)|The King of Comedy]]'' and classic Hollywood [[Backstage musical|back-stage musicals]] with their "let's put on a show" theme, but the links to ''The Tonight Show'' are so strong it verges on parody.<ref name="EdgertonJones2008" /> [[Alex Pareene]] commented "Shandling turned down hosting a network late night show to do a brilliant cult hit sitcom about a version of himself who took the deal."<ref name="Quote pareene">{{cite web|last1=Pareene|first1=Alex|title=Twitter post|url=https://twitter.com/pareene/status/713192821826650114|website=Twitter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206104133/https://twitter.com/pareene/status/713192821826650114 |access-date=29 January 2017|archive-date=2017-02-06 }}</ref>

=== Plot ===
The show follows the production of a fictional [[late-night talk show]] ''The Larry Sanders Show''. It chronicles the daily life of host Larry (Garry Shandling), producer Arthur "Artie" ([[Rip Torn]]), sidekick Hank Kingsley ([[Jeffrey Tambor]]) and their interaction with celebrity guests, the network and others. Episodes focus on the professional and personal lives of the principal characters, with most focusing on Larry. Ancillary characters are also featured, among them the writers Phil (Wallace Langham) and Jerry (Jeremy Piven), talent bookers Paula (Janeane Garofalo) and Mary Lou (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and the personal assistants Beverly, Darlene, and Brian. Larry's wife, ex-wife, and girlfriends are frequent sources of conflict, and his home is a secondary location for the show.

Episodes often focus on power dynamics. Supporting characters commonly struggle for status or power, both within the structure of the show's staff as well as within the broader Hollywood community. These struggles almost always end with the character receiving their comeuppance from Larry, Artie, or one of the episode's guest stars.

A typical early episode opens to the titles with the sound of Hank's audience [[Warm-up comedian|warm-up routine]] in the background. This is followed by the talk show's titles and an excerpt from Larry's monologue. Episodes vary after this, sometimes continuing with the studio recording, but often cutting to a back-stage shot or to the production offices.

=== Writing and production ===
''The Larry Sanders Show'' is a [[satire]] on show business that mixes fact with fiction. It featured real-life celebrity guests as they performed on the talk show and as they appeared behind the scenes.<ref name="EdgertonJones2008" /> For example, in the final episode Larry interviews [[Sean Penn]] who, once they cut to a commercial break, gossips freely about Shandling's acting, insecurity, and behavior towards Penn's wife ([[Robin Wright]]) on the set of ''[[Hurlyburly (film)|Hurlyburly]]'', in which all three appear.<ref name="nytimes2">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/31/magazine/garry-shandling-goes-dark.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|title=Garry Shandling Goes Dark|access-date=9 March 2013 | work=The New York Times|first=Lynn|last=Hirschberg|date=31 May 1998}}</ref> The scripts often shocked by appearing to show the guest's malice, or the difference between their public and private personas.<ref name=telegraph2>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8029998/Larry-Sanders-the-greatest-TV-show-ever.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8029998/Larry-Sanders-the-greatest-TV-show-ever.html |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Larry Sanders: the greatest TV show ever?|access-date=30 April 2013 | location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=28 September 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Profanities are used on the show, although not gratuitously, with the writers taking advantage of the freedom allowed by HBO as a subscription cable service. It paved the way for subsequent HBO shows such as ''[[Oz (TV series)|Oz]]'', ''[[The Sopranos]]'', and ''[[Deadwood (TV series)|Deadwood]]''.<ref name="EdgertonJones2008" /> According to [[Peter Tolan]], early episodes were also recorded with language suitable for [[broadcast syndication]] until midway through the second season, when the actors resisted shooting the extra takes.<ref name=latimes2>{{cite news| url=https://articles.latimes.com/1998/may/26/entertainment/ca-53429/2| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221013647/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/may/26/entertainment/ca-53429/2| url-status=dead| archive-date=21 February 2014| title=The Last Word From 'Larry'| access-date=28 May 2013 | work=Los Angeles Times| first=Paul| last=Brownfield| date=26 May 1998}}</ref>

The show used both [[videotape]] and film. The behind the scenes footage was shot on film, often using [[hand-held camera]]s, in a documentary style. Four video cameras recorded the [[show-within-a-show]] which gives a brighter, less grainy picture<ref name=guardian2>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/mar/30/larry-sanders-show-dvd|title=The Larry Sanders Show: the king of chat returns|access-date=29 April 2013 | location=London|work=The Guardian|first=David|last=Stubbs|date=30 March 2011}}</ref> and helps distinguish the talk show from the back-stage scenes.<ref name="EdgertonJones2008" /> The talk show was staged with realistic music, lighting and set design. It was recorded in front of an actual live studio audience during the first season and then occasionally during later episodes.<ref name="EdgertonJones2008">{{cite book|author1=Gary Richard Edgerton|author2=Jeffrey P. Jones|author3=George Plasketes|title=The Essential HBO Reader|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=odSAPSA1JFEC&pg=PA183|access-date=13 January 2013|year=2008|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=978-0-8131-2452-0|pages=183–192}}</ref>

The show had a few catchphrases used throughout its entire run. The most common was "Hey now," a phrase Hank repeats in the opening credits of the fictional talk show and whenever he greets someone (though it was intellectual property of the network; season 3, episode 1, "Montana"). It mirrors the "Hi-yo" catchphrase used by [[Ed McMahon]] (sidekick on ''The Tonight Show''), upon whom Hank Kingsley was based.<ref name="EdgertonJones2008" /> In season 1 episode 10, "The Party", Hank says: "No, no, no. You see, when I was a kid, I used to say 'hey,' and then later I said 'now,' but I never put them together until much later." Radio host [[Howard Stern]] later adopted “Hey now!” as his on-air greeting, stating that it was a deliberate homage to Hank Kingsley and the series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sandler |first=Eric |date=2017-11-22 |title=Stern Files Declassified: The Origins of 'Hey Now' |url=https://www.howardstern.com/show/2017/11/22/stern-files-declassified-origins-hey-now/ |access-date=2025-06-15 |website=Howard Stern |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2007, Nickelodeon's TV Land ranked "Hey Now" as the 87th Best Television catchphrase. "No flipping" is a phrase Larry uses to go to commercial breaks, encouraging the viewer audience not to change to another channel (which was considered public domain; season 3, episode 1, "Montana"). At the end of the season 2, (episode 17, "New York or LA"): Larry says: "You may feel free to flip" upon deciding at the end of a talk show scene to retire and relocate to Montana. During the series finale, the last thing Larry says on his talk show is, "You may now flip."

== Episodes ==
{{Main|List of The Larry Sanders Show episodes}}
{{:List of The Larry Sanders Show episodes}}

=== Season 1 ===
The first season premiered on August 15, 1992, and ended on November 7, 1992, and was an immediate success.<ref name="nytimes1">{{cite news| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/10/garden/at-work-with-garry-shandling-late-night-tv-ever-more-unreal.html?scp=10&sq=larry%20sanders%20show&st=Search| title = AT WORK WITH Garry Shandling; Late-Night TV, Ever More Unreal| work = [[The New York Times]]| first = Bernard| last = Weinraub| date = December 10, 1992| access-date = December 4, 2010| quote = The reaction to "Larry Sanders", perhaps the most widely acclaimed new comedy on television, has stunned him.}}</ref> Story arcs include the breakdown of Larry's relationship with his second wife Jeannie ([[Megan Gallagher]]) and his abuse of [[Excedrin]] tablets.

=== Season 2 ===
The second season premiered on June 2, 1993, and ended on September 29, 1993. The story arcs include Larry beginning a new relationship with his ex-wife Francine ([[Kathryn Harrold]]) and Hank investing all his money in a street-level revolving restaurant.<ref name=washpost>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/25/AR2010102504937.html|title=TV review of "The Larry Sanders Show" coming out on box set|access-date=28 March 2013 | newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Tom|last=Shales|date=26 October 2010}}</ref>

[[Jeremy Piven]] grew tired of playing the character Jerry, head writer of the fictional talk show, because his character was not given much of a background. He was written out during the episode "Larry's Birthday", where Artie fired Jerry because of his behavior. Eventually, [[Wallace Langham]] (Phil) replaced him as the talk show's head writer.
Some popular episodes of the season were: "Larry's Agent", in which Larry tries to fire his agent; "Broadcast Nudes", in which Hank wants Darlene ([[Linda Doucett]]) to pose nude in ''Playboy'' magazine (Doucett actually appeared in the September 1993 edition of the magazine);<ref name=people1>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20106022,00.html|title=Cleared for Takeoff|access-date=7 May 2013}}</ref> "Larry's Birthday" in which Larry doesn't want anyone throwing a party for his birthday; "The Grand Opening", in which Hank tries to promote his new restaurant; "Off Camera", in which Larry has to deal with all the stress that Artie suffers every show and the season finale "L.A. or N.Y?", in which Larry leaves the talk show and moves to Montana, to protest the network's desire to shift the talk show's base from L.A. to New York.

=== Season 3 ===
The season premiered on July 22, 1994, and ended on October 12, 1994. Some of the most popular episodes of the season were: "Montana", in which the talk show gets back on the air after Larry discovers that life in Montana is not to his liking; "You're Having My Baby", in which a woman claims that she is having Larry's baby; "Hank's Night in the Sun", in which Hank fulfills his dream of becoming guest host; "The Mr. Sharon Stone Show", which Larry dates [[Sharon Stone]] and finds out what it means to be the less famous member of a show business couple; and the season finale "End of the Season" in which Larry gets engaged to Roseanne Barr.

=== Season 4 ===
The season premiered on July 19, 1995, and ended on November 22, 1995. Linda Doucett (Darlene) left the show at the end of season three. She had been in a six-year relationship with Shandling, but the couple became estranged between seasons and she was written out of the show. Doucett filed a lawsuit against Shandling and producer [[Brad Grey]]'s company for [[sexual harassment]] and [[wrongful termination]], which was settled out of court for $1 million.<ref name=times>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/13/movies/13holl.html?pagewanted=all | work=The New York Times | first1=David M. | last1=Halbfinger | title=A Studio Boss and a Private Eye Star in a Bitter Hollywood Tale | date=March 13, 2006}}</ref> She was replaced as Hank's assistant by [[Scott Thompson (actor)|Scott Thompson]] (Brian). Some of the most popular episodes of the season included: "Roseanne's Return", in which Larry has to face Roseanne Barr after their engagement broke off; "Arthur After Hours", in which it is revealed what Artie does after an unsuccessful broadcast; "Jeannie's Visit", in which Larry's ex-wife visits the talk show; "Hank's Sex Tape", in which Hank becomes incensed when Phil circulates a tape of him having sex with two women; and the season finale "Larry's On Vacation", in which [[Sandra Bernhard]] tries to take over the talk show.

=== Season 5 ===
The season premiered November 13, 1996, and ended on February 26, 1997. Janeane Garofalo decided to leave due to decreasing screen time for her character Paula, the talk show's talent booker. [[Mary Lynn Rajskub]] (Mary Lou, Paula's assistant) replaced her as booker. [[Jon Stewart]] became a frequent guest who threatened to replace Larry on the talk show. Some of the most famous episodes of the series were made in this season: "Everybody Loves Larry", in which Larry starts suspecting that [[David Duchovny]] has sexual feelings for him;<ref name="Mink">{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/sanders-art-real-article-1.741623|title='SANDERS' AND THE ART OF THE REAL|access-date=21 January 2013|last=Mink|first=Eric|work=The New York Daily News|date=November 12, 1996}}</ref> "My Name is Asher Kingsley", in which Hank explores his Jewish roots; "Ellen, or Isn't She?", in which Larry and Artie try to find out if Ellen DeGeneres is really a lesbian; "The New Writer", in which Wendy ([[Sarah Silverman]]) begins working as a writer, much to Phil's dismay; "The Book", in which Larry [[#Books|writes an autobiography]]; "Pain Equals Funny", in which Paula leaves the show; and the season finale, "Larry's New Love", in which Hank is afraid the network is trying to replace him.

=== Season 6 ===
The season premiered on March 15, 1998, and ended on May 31, 1998. Shandling decided to make this the final season in part because of his high workload on the show.<ref name=nytimes3 /> The main story arc is the increasing pressure from the network to aim for a younger audience that results in Larry deciding to leave the talk show.<ref name=latimes2 />

Most of the changes to the show occurred offscreen this season. All of the show's writers left except Shandling, Tolan, and Apatow, and a new writing staff was hired. Shandling's relationship with his manager, Brad Grey, had broken down and in January 1998, Shandling filed a lawsuit for $100 million against Grey.<ref name=nytimes2 /> In an interview with ''[[The New York Times]]'', Shandling said "We had a situation in which the writers were leaving the show for other Brillstein-Grey shows, which became part of the issue of a lawsuit".<ref name=nytimes3>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/arts/television/31sanders.html?_r=0|title=Garry and Larry and Jeffrey and Hank|access-date=13 March 2013 | work=The New York Times|first=Dave|last=Itzkoff|date=29 October 2010}}</ref> (The suit was settled out of court for $10 million.)<ref name=times /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-mar-17-et-pellicanonotes17-story.html|title=What's next after Shandling shocker?|access-date=13 March 2013 | work=Los Angeles Times|first=Rachel|last=Abramowitz|date=17 March 2008}}</ref> Todd Holland, who directed more than 48 episodes of the show, only directed two of the sixth season. This season was also markedly less comedic than earlier ones. Sid, the cue card guy at the talk show, commits suicide in the episode "I Buried Sid".

Some of the most popular episodes of the season were: "Another List", in which the network threatens to replace Larry with Jon Stewart unless he makes some changes; "The Beginning of the End", in which the talk show gets a new creative consultant who wants to make big changes; "Adolf Hankler", in which Hank has to play [[Adolf Hitler]], while Larry is on vacation and Jon Stewart guest hosts; "Beverly's Secret", in which Beverly ([[Penny Johnson Jerald|Penny Johnson]]) tries to tell the father that she's pregnant; "Putting the 'Gay' Back in Litigation", in which Brian sues Phil and the talk show for sexual harassment; and the series finale "Flip", in which the cast gets ready for their final broadcast and Larry and Artie deal with Hank and the emotions of the crew.

The finale was written by Shandling and Tolan. It was directed by Holland with a running time of 53 minutes. It aired on May 31, 16 days after the finale of ''Seinfeld'', and was watched by 2.5 million viewers, which was a significant number for HBO. The finale got very positive reviews from critics, especially in comparison to ''Seinfeld'''s series finale. Coincidentally, Jerry Seinfeld appears as himself in the ''Larry Sanders'' finale. Other guests in the finale included [[Warren Beatty]], [[Jim Carrey]] and Sean Penn.

== Cast and characters ==
{{Main|List of characters on The Larry Sanders Show}}

=== Main characters ===
The following is a list of cast and characters who regularly appeared in one or more seasons of the show.<ref name="imdbcrew">{{cite web| title = Full cast and crew for "The Larry Sanders Show"| url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103466/fullcredits#cast| work = [[IMDb]]| access-date = December 4, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Garry Shandling]] as Larry Sanders, the eponymous talk show host
* [[Rip Torn]] as Arthur ("Artie"), the talk show's producer
* [[Jeffrey Tambor]] as Hank Kingsley, Larry's sidekick
* [[Penny Johnson Jerald|Penny Johnson]] as Beverly, Larry's personal assistant
* [[Janeane Garofalo]] as Paula, talent booker (seasons 1–5)
* [[Mary Lynn Rajskub]] as Mary Lou, talent booker (seasons 5–6)
* [[Jeremy Piven]] as Jerry, head writer (seasons 1–2)
* [[Wallace Langham]] as Phil, writer/head writer
* [[Linda Doucett]] as Darlene, Hank's personal assistant (seasons 1–3)
* [[Scott Thompson (actor)|Scott Thompson]] as Brian, Hank's personal assistant (seasons 4–6)
* [[Megan Gallagher]] as Jeannie, Larry's wife (season 1)
* [[Kathryn Harrold]] as Francine, Larry's ex-wife (season 2)
* [[Deborah May]] as Melanie Parrish, network executive
* [[Bob Odenkirk]] as Stevie Grant, Larry's agent
* Sid Newman as Sid, Cue-card guy (various episodes)
* [[Phil Leeds]] as Sid, Hank's agent

=== Guests ===
{{Main|List of The Larry Sanders Show guest stars}}
The following is a list of some of the celebrity guests who appeared on the show.<ref name="imdbcrew" />
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Kip Addotta]]
* [[Jason Alexander]]
* [[Tim Allen]]
* [[Jennifer Aniston]]
* [[Tom Arnold (actor)|Tom Arnold]]
* [[Elizabeth Ashley]]
* [[Alec Baldwin]]
* [[Daniel Baldwin]]
* [[Roseanne Barr]]
* [[Drew Barrymore]]
* [[Warren Beatty]]
* [[Beck]]
* [[Ed Begley Jr.]]
* [[James Belushi]]
* [[Richard Belzer]]
* [[Ben Folds Five]]
* [[Butthole Surfers]]
* [[Sandra Bernhard]]
* [[Corbin Bernsen]]
* [[Clint Black]]
* [[Eric Bogosian]]
* [[Michael Bolton]]
* [[Terry Bradshaw]]
* [[Joyce Brothers|Dr. Joyce Brothers]]
* [[Carol Burnett]]
* [[T Bone Burnett]]
* [[Brett Butler (actress)|Brett Butler]]
* [[Drew Carey]]
* [[Jim Carrey]]
* [[Carrot Top]]
* [[Dana Carvey]]
* [[Jeff Cesario]]
* [[Dave Chappelle]]
* [[Chevy Chase]]
* [[Shawn Colvin]]
* [[Ray Combs]]
* [[Tim Conway]]
* [[Bob Costas]]
* [[Elvis Costello]]
* [[Courteney Cox]]
* [[Norm Crosby]]
* [[Billy Crystal]]
* [[Fred de Cordova]]
* [[Ellen DeGeneres]]
* [[Dana Delany]]
* [[Danny DeVito]]
* [[Laura Dern]]
* [[Angie Dickinson]]
* [[Illeana Douglas]]
* [[David Duchovny]]
* [[Peter Falk]]
* [[Chris Farley]]
* [[Farrah Fawcett]]
* [[Wayne Federman]]
* [[Sally Field]]
* [[Harvey Fierstein]]
* [[Bridget Fonda]]
* [[George Foreman]]
* [[Jeff Foxworthy]]
* [[Al Franken]]
* [[Daisy Fuentes]]
* [[Jennie Garth]]
* [[Gina Gershon]]
* [[Jeff Goldblum]]
* [[Bobcat Goldthwait]]
* [[Jim Gray (sportscaster)|Jim Gray]]
* [[Rosey Grier]]
* [[Mary Gross]]
* [[Phil Hartman]]
* [[Colin Hay]]
* [[Robert Hays]]
* [[Hugh Hefner]]
* [[Earl Holliman]]
* [[Helen Hunt]]
* [[Kathy Ireland]]
* [[Chris Isaak]]
* [[Jake Johannsen]]
* [[Kristen Johnston]]
* [[Jonathan Katz]]
* [[Gary Kemp]]
* [[Andy Kindler]]
* [[Greg Kinnear]]
* [[Larry King]]
* [[Bruno Kirby]]
* [[Heidi Klum]]
* [[Kris Kristofferson]]
* [[k.d. lang]]
* [[Eriq La Salle]]
* [[Laura Leighton]]
* [[Jay Leno]]
* [[Sugar Ray Leonard]]
* [[David Letterman]]
* [[Barry Levinson]]
* [[Richard Lewis (comedian)|Richard Lewis]]
* [[Wendy Liebman]]
* [[Warren Littlefield]]
* [[Los Lobos]]
* [[Lori Loughlin]]
* [[Jon Lovitz]]
* [[Rob Lowe]]
* [[Julianna Margulies]]
* [[Norm Macdonald]]
* [[Bill Maher]]
* [[Marlee Matlin]]
* [[Ed McMahon]]
* [[Larry Miller (comedian)|Larry Miller]]
* [[Rita Moreno]]
* [[Martin Mull]]
* [[Kevin Nealon]]
* [[Tommy Newsom]]
* [[Maureen O'Boyle]]
* [[Pat O'Brien (radio and television personality)|Pat O'Brien]]
* [[Rosie O'Donnell]]
* [[Catherine O'Hara]]
* [[Ryan O'Neal]]
* [[Donny Osmond]]
* [[Sarah Jessica Parker]]
* [[Mandy Patinkin]]
* [[Tatjana Patitz]]
* [[David Paymer]]
* [[Sean Penn]]
* [[Bernadette Peters]]
* [[Tom Petty]]
* [[Regis Philbin]]
* [[Porno for Pyros]]
* [[Tom Poston]]
* [[Victoria Principal]]
* [[Charles Nelson Reilly]]
* [[Carl Reiner]]
* [[Rob Reiner]]
* [[Burt Reynolds]]
* [[Michael Richards]]
* [[Don Rickles]]
* [[John Ritter]]
* [[Colin Quinn]]
* [[Mimi Rogers]]
* [[Wayne Rogers]]
* [[Winona Ryder]]
* [[Bob Saget]]
* [[Pat Sajak]]
* [[Adam Sandler]]
* [[George Segal]]
* [[Jerry Seinfeld]]
* [[Doc Severinsen]]
* [[Tom Shales]]
* [[William Shatner]]
* [[Nicollette Sheridan]]
* [[Brooke Shields]]
* [[Sarah Silverman]]
* [[Pauly Shore]]
* [[Richard Simmons]]
* [[Gene Siskel]]
* [[Tom Snyder]]
* [[Suzanne Somers]]
* [[David Spade]]
* [[John Stamos]]
* [[Gloria Steinem]]
* [[Howard Stern]]
* [[Shadoe Stevens]]
* [[Jon Stewart]]
* [[Ben Stiller]]
* [[Jerry Stiller]]
* [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]
* [[Sharon Stone]]
* [[Dave Thomas (actor)|Dave Thomas]]
* [[Lea Thompson]]
* [[Alex Trebek]]
* [[Vince Vaughn]]
* [[Hervé Villechaize]]
* [[Jimmie Walker]]
* [[David Warner (actor)|David Warner]]
* [[George Wendt]]
* [[Paul Westerberg]]
* [[Andy Williams]]
* [[Robin Williams]]
* [[Henry Winkler]]
* [[Steven Wright]]
* [[Wu-Tang Clan]]
* [[Noah Wyle]]
* [[Warren Zevon]]
{{div col end}}

In a commentary on the season one DVD, Shandling says the guests were invariably happy to parody their media images and generally shared the same sense of humor as himself and the other writers.<ref name="dvd1">{{cite AV media notes
   | title = The Larry Sanders Show – The Entire First Season
   | title-link = Larry_Sanders_Show#DVD_releases
   | orig-year = 1992
   | others = Todd Holland
   | type = Audio commentary
   | publisher = [[Sony Pictures]]
   | id = 0767847563
   | year = 1992
   }}</ref>

== Crew ==

=== Directors ===
The show had a total of thirteen directors. [[Ken Kwapis]] directed most of the first season, including the pilot, and contributed to the visual style of the show. (He later went on to direct episodes of ''[[The Office (American TV series)|The Office]]'', also including the pilot, using a "[[mockumentary]]" approach.)<ref name="EdgertonJones2008" /> Todd Holland directed 51 episodes spanning all six seasons. Shandling directed three episodes of the final season.<ref name="imdbcrew" /> Acting coach [[Roy London]] directed two episodes and received a "Special Thanks" credit at the end of every episode for his influence on the show.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117926877/|title=Special Thanks To Roy London|access-date=27 February 2013|work=Variety|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011746/https://variety.com/2005/film/markets-festivals/special-thanks-to-roy-london-1200526354/|url-status=live}}</ref> The show received one Emmy Award for directing. It went to Holland for the series finale "Flip".<ref name="imdbawards" />

=== Writers ===
More than 40 writers wrote episodes of the show. Shandling and Tolan were the head writers for the entire six-season run. Shandling and Dennis Klein wrote the pilot episode of the show. Shandling wrote 38, while Tolan wrote 23 episodes.<ref name="imdbcrew" /> Shandling and Tolan received an Emmy Award for writing the series finale "Flip".<ref name="imdbawards" /> Other writers on the show were [[Maya Forbes]], [[Paul Simms]], [[Judd Apatow]], John Markus, [[John Riggi]], [[Jon Vitti]], [[Chris Thompson (TV producer)|Chris Thompson]], Drake Sather, [[Molly Newman]], [[Lester Lewis]], [[Steven Levitan]], Becky Hartman Edwards and [[Jeff Cesario]].<ref name="imdbcrew" />

== Reception ==

=== Critical reaction ===
After the show ended, the ''[[New York Post]]'' called it "one of the greatest achievements in television." ''[[LA Weekly]]'' deemed it "very funny." ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' said it was "the closest sitcom ever came to perfect pitch." ''[[The Washington Post]]'' called the show "brutally and blatantly hilarious" and ''[[USA Today]]'' gave it four stars.

Many critics called it one of the [[List of television shows considered the best|greatest television shows of all time]].<ref name=latimes /><ref name=telegraph>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/dvd-reviews/8410940/The-Larry-Sanders-Show-DVD-review.html|title=The Larry Sanders Show, DVD review|access-date=27 March 2013|location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|first=Mark|last=Monahan|date=28 March 2011|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011719/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/dvd-reviews/8410940/The-Larry-Sanders-Show-DVD-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=rolling /> On the [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the first season holds a score of 100% based on 23 critics' reviews. The consensus reads: "The genre-bending satire of ''The Larry Sanders Show'' gives viewers a surreal look at the inner workings of late night television."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Larry Sanders Show: Season 1 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_larry_sanders_show/s01 |access-date=2025-09-22 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Metacritic]], which uses a [[weighted average]], gives the show a score of 95 out of 100 based on 69 critic reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Larry Sanders Show |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-larry-sanders-show |accessdate=June 19, 2023 |website=Metacritic|publisher= |language=en-US}}</ref> Doug Elfman from the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' said "It is simply one of the best sitcoms ever." Ivan Morales calls it "the greatest HBO sitcom of all time." Brooke Allen in the ''New York Times'' called it "a comedy series so funny and risque as to make ''Seinfeld'' look positively bland".<ref name=nytimes4>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/99/01/24/bib/990124.rv041526.html|title=CONFESSIONS OF A LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST|access-date=19 March 2013|work=The New York Times|archive-date=28 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828022643/http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/01/24/bib/990124.rv041526.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Mark Monahan in ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' called it "very close indeed to comic perfection."<ref name=telegraph />

=== Influence ===
Despite drawing small audiences, ''The Larry Sanders Show'' has been influential.<ref name=timeout1>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/film/not-just-the-best-of-the-larry-sanders-show|title=Not Just the Best of The Larry Sanders Show|work=Time Out Los Angeles |date=19 April 2007 |access-date=25 April 2013|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011739/https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/film/not-just-the-best-of-the-larry-sanders-show|url-status=live |last1=Seitz |first1=Matt Zoller }}</ref> It helped establish HBO's reputation for quality shows, leading to ''[[Sex and the City]]'', ''The Sopranos'', ''[[The Wire]]'' and ''Deadwood''.<ref name=guardian1>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/mar/19/larry-sanders-show-box-set|title=Your next box set: The Larry Sanders Show|access-date=25 April 2013|location=London|work=The Guardian|first=Andrew|last=Pulver|date=19 March 2010|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011719/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/mar/19/larry-sanders-show-box-set|url-status=live}}</ref> The show influenced subsequent series with satirical backstage show business and celebrity culture themes, such as ''30 Rock'', ''[[Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List]]'', ''[[The Showbiz Show with David Spade]]'',  ''[[Extras (TV series)|Extras]]'', ''[[Action (TV series)|Action]]'', and ''[[Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip]]''.<ref name="EdgertonJones2008" />

The show's most significant innovation is in celebrities playing themselves.<ref name=guardian1 /> It was followed in its use of celebrity guests, its lack of [[laugh track]], and its comedy of embarrassment by ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'', ''[[The Office (British TV series)|The Office]]'' and ''[[Arrested Development]]''.<ref name=timeout1 /><ref name=guardian1 /> Shandling's performance is a precursor to [[Larry David]]'s in ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' and [[Ricky Gervais]] (''The Office'', ''Extras'') as [[David Brent]].<ref name="rolling">{{cite web| url=http://www.rollingstoneme.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=250|title=Rewind: The Larry Sanders Show|access-date=25 April 2013}}</ref> Gervais said in ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' that he was heavily influenced by the show and that "It taught me that flawed characters can be compulsive viewing&nbsp;– seeing them squirm and get their comeuppance."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2010/tv/news/gervais-glad-to-be-part-of-the-hbo-family-1118026464/|title=Gervais glad to be part of the HBO family|access-date=25 April 2013|work=Variety|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011735/https://variety.com/2010/tv/news/gervais-glad-to-be-part-of-the-hbo-family-1118026464/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Armando Iannucci]] said that his political satire ''[[The Thick of It]]'' strove to mix comedy and authenticity in a similar manner to ''The Larry Sanders Show''.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/12_december/08/thick_armando.shtml| title=The Thick Of It| work=BBC| date=8 December 2005| access-date=22 August 2015| archive-date=15 November 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011720/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/12_december/08/thick_armando.shtml| url-status=live}}</ref>

Matt Zoller Seitz wrote in ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out Los Angeles]]'' that it introduced to television the cinematic technique of "[[walk and talk]]" where the camera follows the actors as they move around the offices in conversation. This later became an important part of the style of ''[[The West Wing]]'' and ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]''.<ref name="timeout1" /> The show can also be seen as a distorted example of [[reality television]] because the portrayal of the talk show production is so convincing.<ref name="washpost" /> According to Andrew Pulver in ''[[The Guardian]]'', "This is where it all began. The whole postmodernist, self-reflexive fact-fiction sitcom thing."<ref name=guardian1 />

=== Awards and honors ===
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by The Larry Sanders Show}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Recipient
|-
| [[American Comedy Awards]] 1994 || Funniest Supporting Male in a TV Series || [[Rip Torn]]
|-
| American Comedy Awards 1998 || Funniest Male Performance in a TV Series || [[Garry Shandling]]
|-
| American Comedy Awards 1999 || Funniest Male Guest Appearance on a TV Series || [[David Duchovny]]
|-
| American Comedy Awards 1999 || Funniest Female Guest Appearance on a TV Series || [[Ellen DeGeneres]]
|-
| [[British Comedy Awards]] 1997 || Best International Comedy Show ||
|-
| British Comedy Awards 1999 || Best International Comedy Show ||
|-
| [[BAFTA Awards]] 1999 ||  Outstanding International Program || Garry Shandling
|-
| [[CableACE Awards]] 1993 || Outstanding Comedy Series ||
|-
| CableACE Awards 1994 || Outstanding Comedy Series ||
|-
| CableACE Awards 1995 || Outstanding Comedy Series ||
|-
| CableACE Awards 1996 || Outstanding Comedy Series ||
|-
| [[50th Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Awards]] 1998 || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series]] || [[Peter Tolan]] & [[Garry Shandling]] (for "Flip")
|-
|[[50th Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Awards]] 1998 || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series|Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series]] || [[Todd Holland]] (for "Flip")
|-
|[[48th Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Awards]] 1996 || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series]] || [[Rip Torn]]
|-
| [[Peabody Awards]] 1998 ||Area of Excellence || "Flip"<ref>[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-larry-sanders-show-flip 58th Annual Peabody Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705015644/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-larry-sanders-show-flip |date=2017-07-05 }}, May 1999.</ref>
|-
| [[Peabody Awards]] 1993 || Area of Excellence ||''The Larry Sanders Show''<ref>[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-larry-sanders-show 53rd Annual Peabody Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011752/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-larry-sanders-show |date=2020-11-15 }}, May 1994.</ref>
|-
| [[Rose d'Or]] 1997 || Sitcom ||
|-
| [[Satellite Awards]] 1997 || Best Television Series&nbsp;– Comedy or Musical ||
|-
| [[Television Critics Association Awards]] 1997 || Outstanding Achievement in Comedy ||
|-
| Television Critics Association Awards 1998 || Outstanding Achievement in Comedy ||
|}

==== [[BAFTA Television Awards]] ====
* 1998: Best International Programme or Series ('''won''')

==== [[Directors Guild of America]] (DGA) ====
* 1994: Outstanding Directing&nbsp;– Comedy Series (Todd Holland for "The Mr. Sharon Stone Show", nominated)
* 1995: Outstanding Directing&nbsp;– Comedy Series (Holland for "Arthur After Hours", nominated)
* 1996: Outstanding Directing&nbsp;– Comedy Series (Holland for "Everybody Loves Larry", nominated)
* 1996: Outstanding Directing&nbsp;– Comedy Series ([[Alan Myerson]] for "Ellen, Or Isn't She", nominated)
* 1998: Outstanding Directing&nbsp;– Comedy Series (Holland for "Flip", nominated)

==== [[GLAAD Media Awards]] ====
* 1996: Outstanding Series&nbsp;– Comedy (nominated)

==== [[Golden Globe Awards]] ====
* [[Golden Globe Awards 1994|1994]]: [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy Series|Best Actor – Musical or Comedy Series]] ([[Garry Shandling]] for playing "Larry Sanders", nominated)
* [[Golden Globe Awards 1995|1995]]: Best Actor&nbsp;– Musical or Comedy Series (Shandling, nominated)
* [[Golden Globe Awards 1996|1996]]: [[Golden Globe Award for Best Series – Musical or Comedy|Best Series – Musical or Comedy]] (nominated)

==== [[Image Awards]] ====
* 1997: Outstanding Supporting Actress&nbsp;– Comedy Series ([[Penny Johnson]] for playing "Beverly Barnes", nominated)

==== [[Satellite Awards]] ====
* 1996: [[Satellite Award for Best Actress – TV Series Musical or Comedy|Best Actor – Musical or Comedy Series]] (Garry Shandling for playing "Larry Sanders", nominated)
* 1996: Best Actor&nbsp;– Musical or Comedy Series (Rip Torn for playing "Arthur", nominated)
* 1996: [[Satellite Award for Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy|Best Series – Musical or Comedy]] ('''won''')
* 1997: Best Actor&nbsp;– Musical or Comedy Series (Shandling, nominated)
* 1997: Best Series&nbsp;– Musical or Comedy (nominated)

==== [[Writers Guild of America]] (WGA) ====
* 1995: Best Writing&nbsp;– Episodic Comedy (Garry Shandling for "Roseanne's Return", nominated)
* 1995: Best Writing&nbsp;– Episodic Comedy (John Riggi for "Hank's New Assistant", nominated)
* 1995: Best Writing&nbsp;– Episodic Comedy (Peter Tolan for "Arthur After Hours", nominated)
* 1996: Best Writing&nbsp;– Episodic Comedy (Tolan for "Eight", nominated)
* 1997: Best Writing&nbsp;– Episodic Comedy (Shandling for "Ellen, Or Isn't She?", nominated)
* 1997: Best Writing&nbsp;– Episodic Comedy (Maya Forbes for "The Book", nominated)

==== Other honors ====
After the show ended, it came to be considered one of the finest TV shows of all time. The biggest honor it received was a spot on ''Time magazine's'' 100 Greatest Shows of All Time. In 2008, ''Entertainment Weekly'' ranked ''The Larry Sanders Show'' the 28th Greatest Show of the past 25 years. Also, ''[[TV Guide]]'' named it the 38th Greatest Show of All Time, the only HBO comedy to make it to the list.<ref name="tvguide">{{cite news
   | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tv-guide-names-top-50-shows/
   | access-date = December 4, 2010
   | date = April 26, 2002
   | first = Bootie
   | last = Cosgrove-Mather
   | work = [[CBS News]]
   | title = TV Guide Names Top 50 Shows
   | quote = 38. The Larry Sanders Show (HBO)
   | archive-date = September 4, 2012
   | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120904061715/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/26/entertainment/main507388.shtml
   | url-status = live
   }}</ref> During its six-year run, ''The Larry Sanders Show'' won 24 awards including three Emmy awards. In 1997, the episode "Everybody Loves Larry" was ranked 39 on [[TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time]].<ref>{{cite journal |year=1997 |title=Special Collector's Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time |journal=[[TV Guide]] |issue=June 28–July 4 }}</ref> In 2013, TV Guide ranked it No. 56 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/|title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time|work=TV Guide|access-date=2020-04-20|archive-date=2018-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115211728/http://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Writers Guild of America]] ranked it No. 20 on their list of the 101 Best Written TV Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wga.org/writers-room/101-best-lists/101-best-written-tv-series/list|title=101 Best Written TV Series|website=Writers Guild of America West|date=June 2, 2013}}</ref>

== Home media ==
In 2000, ''The Larry Sanders Show: The Best Episodes'' was released by Sony Pictures UK in Region 2. The compilation contains the episodes: "Montana" (Robin Williams); "Hank's Sex Tape" (Henry Winkler, Norm Macdonald);  "Larry's Big Idea" (Courteney Cox, David Letterman); "I Was a Teenage Lesbian" (Brett Butler). Also included are two first-season episodes, "The Guest Host" and "The Talk Show", as well as the second-season episode, "The List" which was left out of the American cable syndication package offered to [[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]].

On February 26, 2002, [[Sony Pictures Home Entertainment]] released the complete first season on DVD in Region 1.

On April 17, 2007, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released a best-of compilation featuring episodes from all six seasons entitled ''Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show''. The 4-disc DVD set includes 23 episodes and eight hours of interviews with members of the cast and guests including Sharon Stone, Jon Stewart, Tom Petty, Judd Apatow, Alec Baldwin, and David Duchovny.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2007/04/12/not-just-best-larry-sanders-show/|title=Not Just the Best of The Larry Sanders Show (2007)|access-date=27 March 2013|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=12 April 2007|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011735/https://ew.com/article/2007/04/12/not-just-best-larry-sanders-show/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On November 2, 2010, [[Shout! Factory]] released ''The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series'' on DVD in Region 1 (USA). The 17-disc set features extensive bonus features including featurettes, commentaries & outtakes. Shout! Factory has also released separate releases for seasons 2 & 3.

On August 27, 2013, it was announced that Mill Creek Entertainment had acquired the rights to various television series from the Sony Pictures library including ''The Larry Sanders Show.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Site-News-Mill-Creek-Sony-License-Deal/18902|title=Site News DVD news: Mill Creek Licenses 52 TV Shows from Sony for Low-Cost DVD Release – TVShowsOnDVD.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006134321/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Site-News-Mill-Creek-Sony-License-Deal/18902|archive-date=2014-10-06}}</ref>  They subsequently re-released the first two seasons on June 24, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Larry-Sanders-Seasons-1-and-2/19716|title=The Larry Sanders Show DVD news: Release Date for The Larry Sanders Show – Seasons 1 & 2 – TVShowsOnDVD.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816024208/http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Larry-Sanders-Seasons-1-and-2/19716|archive-date=2014-08-16}}</ref>

On May 19, 2015, Mill Creek re-released ''The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series'' on DVD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Larry-Sanders-The-Complete-Series/20892|title=The Larry Sanders Show DVD news: Re-Release for The Larry Sanders Show – The Complete Series – TVShowsOnDVD.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326221624/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Larry-Sanders-The-Complete-Series/20892|archive-date=2015-03-26}}</ref>

As of 2025, this show is currently available on [[HBO Max]].

== Books ==
* ''Confessions of a Late-night Talk-show Host: The Autobiography of Larry Sanders'' was written in-character as Larry Sanders by Shandling with David Rensin.<ref name=nytimes4 /> It was released October 4, 1999, and was the topic of season five's episode "The Book".

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0103466}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19970317180502/http://www.hbo.com/larry/ HBO official site (archived from 2001)]

{{The Larry Sanders Show}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by The Larry Sanders Show|Awards for ''The Larry Sanders Show'']]
|list =
{{Satellite Award Best Musical or Comedy Television Series}}
{{TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy}}
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{{HBONetwork Shows}}

{{Commons category|The Larry Sanders Show}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Larry Sanders Show, The}}
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