An unconventional behind-the-scenes sitcom based on a fictional talk show and centering on its neurotic and self-centered host,
The Larry Sanders Show bravely went behind the scenes of late night television and pulled no punches with its caustic humor and often abrasive mainstay characters. Originally airing on HBO, the writers of
The Larry Sanders Show were granted more freedom to express themselves, as well as accurately portray the often coarse backstage language, than would never be permitted on network television. As the eponymous host,
Garry Shandling endured the stresses of network executives, fractured relationships, and avalanching misunderstandings with the brand of wry, self-effacing humor that has become his trademark. Perhaps even more self-centered than the titular character, sidekick Hank Kingsley found comic actor
Jeffrey Tambor providing the perfect stressed-out complement to Larry's paranoid antics. However out of hand the host or his sidekick might get, a great producer is always ready and willing to settle matters and act as the rational voice of reason. As Artie, the producer of The Larry Sanders Show,
Rip Torn frequently provided Larry and Hank with the sort of level-headed advice only a seasoned producer can offer, even if he wasn't always quite so rational and restrained when it came to some of his own personal quirks. Frequently featuring celebrity guests who weren't afraid to poke a little fun at their public images,
The Larry Sanders Show possessed an unpredictability sorely lacking from both late-night television and the by-the-numbers sitcoms of the mid-'90s. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide