Remembering Garry Shandling's influence on comedy
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
Comedian Garry Shandling聽was best known for his HBO program 鈥淭he Larry Sanders Show,鈥� which was on television during the 1990s. Mr. Shandling co-created and starred in the show, which centered on a late-night program.聽
聽named 鈥淭he Larry Sanders Show鈥� 鈥渙ne of the best comedies of the 鈥�90s.鈥澛�
鈥淢any television series have satirized show business, but none more realistically or successfully than HBO鈥檚 鈥楾he Larry Sanders Show,鈥欌�� Mr. Ryan wrote. 鈥溾�or six seasons on HBO, 鈥楾he Larry Sanders Show鈥� made some of the best comedy on television 鈥� Shandling, [Rip] Torn, and [Jeffrey] Tambor could carry it with their performances alone, but snappy writing, smart direction, and an excellent supporting cast mean they don鈥檛 have to.鈥�
础苍诲听聽wrote that it was possibly the best TV program of all time.
鈥橳he Larry Sanders Show鈥� paved the way for Ricky Gervais, Larry David and many others,鈥� Mr. Horne wrote. 鈥溾�Episodes are] gems of wit, economy, insight and irony 鈥� Nothing 鈥� has exceeded its power to shock, amuse, unsettle and dazzle with its dry, sharp intelligence and verve.鈥�
He also starred in the Showtime program 鈥淚t鈥檚 Garry Shandling鈥檚 Show,鈥� which debuted in 1986 and which he also co-created.聽
Shandling served as a writer on the programs 鈥淲elcome Back, Kotter鈥� and 鈥淪anford and Son.鈥� In addition to 鈥淭he Larry Sanders Show鈥� and 鈥淚t鈥檚 Garry Shandling鈥檚 Show,鈥� he appeared in such projects as the TV program 鈥淭he Ben Stiller Show鈥� and the movies 鈥淶oolander,鈥� 鈥淥ver the Hedge,鈥� and 鈥淐aptain America: The Winter Soldier.鈥澛�
He appeared earlier this year on Jerry Seinfeld鈥檚 Web series 鈥�,鈥� during which the two visited the CBS Studio Center. The two reminisce about their careers in comedy.
