The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series will be released on November 2, 2010
A daringly outspoken and highly creative talk show host opened a wisecracked window on the world of late night chatter—and made The Larry Sanders Show must-see TV in television history. Created by Garry Shandling and Dennis Klein, the award-winning hit series The Larry Sanders Show follows Larry Sanders (Shandling) and the twisted inner workings of his late-night talk show. Larry’s suave persona on-stage and angst-ridden antics off-stage drew millions of viewers, eager for backstage access to a show unlike any other.
Throughout its six-year (1992-1998) run on HBO, the series raised the bar for fearless, acerbic Hollywood satire. The innovative use of both video and film to distinguish on-air events from back stage happenings, displaying the jarring dynamic between Larry’s on-camera poise and backstage neurosis, was brutally fascinating. And in the company of a patronizing, combative staff and a parade of A-list guests — more than game for putting their own celebrity in the crosshairs — you had a backstage pass to a Hollywood that was shockingly raw and hilarious.
Shandling’s mercurial Larry was front and center, bolstered by Artie (Rip Torn, 30 Rock), his caustic, often foul-mouthed producer, and Hank Kingsley (Jeffrey Tambor, Arrested Development), his affection-hungry sidekick, whose signature “Hey Now” was one of television’s most recognized catch phrases. Larry’s staff was portrayed by a great comedic ensemble including Linda Doucett, Janeane Garofalo (24), Penny Johnson (24), Wallace Langham (CSI), Bob Odenkirk (Mr. Show), Jeremy Piven (Entourage), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24), Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program) and Scott Thompson (Kids In The Hall).
Marking 18 years after The Larry Sanders Show’s initial debut on television in 1992, the entire ground-breaking comedy series will finally be available for the first time on DVD November 2, 2010 from Shout! Factory. Offering the most comprehensive array of both classic and fresh, never-before-seen bonus material, The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series DVD box set boasts all 89 acclaimed episodes and a comprehensive collection of bonus content. Moreover, Shout! Factory invites fans and viewers to further immerse themselves in a special 60-page complete guide on the show. A must-have gift set for the holiday season, this uncompromising 17-DVD box set with a special commemorative guide book are collected in a lavishly packaged box and is priced to own at $149.99 SRP.
The Larry Sanders Show was recognized by TV Guide Magazine’s list of the “50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.” Time Magazine called it “the closest sitcom to ever come to a perfect pitch.” The New York Post labeled the series “one of the greatest achievements in television.”
Over the course of its six-year run on HBO, the series garnered three Emmy® Awards (unprecedented 56 Emmy nominations), two Peabody® Awards, two TV Critics Awards, five CableACE Awards for Best Comedy Series, and numerous coveted honors and accolades including multiple Golden Globe®, Directors Guild and Writers Guild Awards nominations.
Laced with acidic irreverence, the series lampooned the enormous egos and sugar-substitute smiles of late night TV. Shandling’s impeccable portrayal of the host—genial one minute, verging on meltdown the next – mined his own roots in standup comedy, as well as his experiences as guest host on “The Tonight Show” where he filled in for the iconic Johnny Carson.
Hip and edgy, The Larry Sanders Show’s innovative combination of videotape for the talk show segments and film for off-stage scenes created a fresh, documentary infused style unseen in any other TV series of the era, creating an insider’s sense of raw Hollywood and paving the way for popular series like Curb Your Enthusiasm, 30 Rock, The Office, Da Ali G Show, Entourage, among others.
A constellation of guest stars consistently graced The Larry Sanders Show – playing exaggerated versions of themselves: Alec Baldwin, Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Petty, Ellen DeGeneres, Sharon Stone, Jim Carrey, Robin Williams, Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Howard Stern, Dana Carvey, David Duchovny, Roseanne Barr, Jon Stewart, Jon Lovitz, Rob Reiner, Mimi Rogers and many more. They regularly displayed unexpected and often outrageous angles of some of entertainment’s most famous faces.
THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW: THE COMPLETE SERIES DVD BOX SET
EXTENSIVE BONUS CONTENT
- 60-page collector’s book – The Larry Sanders Show The Complete Guide
- Video introduction by Garry Shandling
- All-new deleted scenes
- All-new outtakes
- Garry Shandling lectures at University of Southern California (40 min.)
- Audio commentaries with Garry Shandling, Todd Holland, Judd Apatow and Peter Tolan.
- The Making Of The Larry Sanders Show feature-length documentary
- Garry Shandling and Judd Apatow on “The Writer’s Process”
- Interviews with cast and crew – Garry Shandling, Jeremy Piven, Bob Odenkirk, Linda Doucett, Penny Johnson, Janeane Garofalo, Scott Thompson, Wallace Langham, Sarah Silverman, and Mary Lynn Rajskub.
- Garry Shandling’s personal visits with guest stars: Alec Baldwin, Sharon Stone, David Duchovny, Tom Petty, Jon Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, Jerry Seinfeld, Carol Burnett and more.
- Rip and Jeffrey visit with Garry in his living room
- EMMY® print campaign gallery (Season 6)
- The Journey Continues . . .
