Garry Shandling

Performer / Writer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his two-hour interview, Garry Shandling (1949-2016) discusses his childhood in Arizona and describes his early interest in comedy. He tells of majoring in electrical engineering in college, then switching to the business school and pursuing comedy writing. He speaks of having early success as a comedy scribe, writing three episodes of Sanford and Son and one of Welcome Back, Kotter, and deciding to pursue stand-up comedy. Shandling recalls writing George Carlin-style monologues and actually meeting Carlin and having him read his material. He describes his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, which led to guest hosting the program. Shandling then details the creation of, the writers, and memorable moments on It's Garry Shandling's Show. He also describes the production and cast of The Larry Sanders Show, talks about working with Ricky Gervais, and touches on hosting the Emmy Awards. John Dalton conducted the interview on June 9th, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"It isn't about a guy who hosts a talk show, it's the ability to have that world within which you could tell the story of human beings. That show ['The Larry Sanders Show'] really became a lab for a study of human behavior, and we were all somehow meshed at the right point to study it together."

People Talking About ...
Garry Shandling
Highlights
Garry Shandling on the writing process on It's Garry Shandling's Show
03:50
Garry Shandling on the character "Larry Sanders"
01:31
Garry Shandling on Jeffrey Tambor as "Hank" on The Larry Sanders Show
02:53
Garry Shandling on writing George Carlin-style monologues and meeting Carlin
04:36
Garry Shandling on his first appearance on The Tonight Show
01:15
Garry Shandling on Gilda Radner's appearance on It's Garry Shandling's Show
02:17
Full Interview

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Chapter 1
On his early years and influences; on growing up in Tucson; on what he wanted to be when he grew up; on his interest in HAM radios as a kid; on his interest in comedy and comedians 
On studying electrical engineering in college and leaving his major; on writing George Carlin-style monologues and having Carlin critique his work; on moving to LA and writing for Sanford and Son and Welcome Back Kotter
On getting into stand-up comedy; on getting into a bad car accident; on being discovered as a stand-up comic; on his act and getting on The Tonight Show; on working with Johnny Carson; on guest hosting The Tonight Show
On his first Showtime special; on his acting teacher, Roy London; on The Garry Shandling Show 25th Anniversary Special; on his interest in hosting The Tonight Show when Joan Rivers left
On It's Garry Shandling Show; on how similar he is to the the TV version of Garry Shandling and Larry Sanders, and on breaking the fourth wall and other television conventions; on the theme song to It's Garry Shandling's Show

Chapter 2
On the writing process and cast of It's Garry Shandling's Show; on Gilda Radner's appearance on It's Garry Shandling's Show
On creating The Larry Sanders Show; on CBS offering him a late night show; on the death of his mentor, Roy London; on the character "Larry Sanders"; on the critics' reaction to the show; on using his personal experiences on The Larry Sanders Show; on the name "Larry Sanders"
On Jeffrey Tambor and Rip Torn on The Larry Sanders Show; on the relationship between "Larry", "Hank" and "Artie"; on Judd Apatow writing for The Larry Sanders Show; on keeping the show fresh; on working some of his legal wranglings with Brad Grey into The Larry Sanders Show; on the finale of the show and the possibility of a reunion
On the DVD extras of The Larry Sanders Show; on appearing on Ricky Gervais Meets; on hosting The Emmys; on then-current projects; on advice to aspiring comedians
Shows

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

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Garry Shandling on hosting the Emmys
02:03

Garry Shandling: Alone in Vegas

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Garry Shandling on his first special for Showtime, Alone in Vegas
01:04

It's Garry Shandling's Show.

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Garry Shandling on how his acting coach deconstructed scripts of the show
01:01
Garry Shandling on It's Garry Shandling Show and winding up on Showtime, not NBC; on the premise and theme song of the show
08:38
Garry Shandling on the writing process and cast on It's Garry Shandling's Show
10:28
Garry Shandling on an episode of It's Garry Shandling's Show inspiring The Larry Sanders Show
00:57

Larry Sanders Show, The

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Garry Shandling on creating The Larry Sanders Show; on the writers, cast, and finale
34:19

Sanford and Son

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Garry Shandling on writing a spec, and eventually three episodes of Sanford and Son
02:48
Garry Shandling on the scripts he wrote for Sanford and Son
03:27

Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The

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Garry Shandling on getting discovered as a stand-up comic and getting booked on The Tonight Show
06:59
Garry Shandling on his interest in hosting The Tonight Show when Joan Rivers left
02:44

Welcome Back, Kotter

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Garry Shandling on writing an episode of Welcome Back Kotter and getting an agent
01:35
Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

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Garry Shandling on how similar he is to the the TV version of Garry Shandling and Larry Sanders, and on breaking the fourth wall and other television conventions
01:51
Garry Shandling on the character "Larry Sanders"
01:01

Comedy

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Garry Shandling on the finale of The Larry Sanders Show
03:08

TV Theme Songs

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Garry Shandling on the theme song to It's Garry Shandling's Show
01:40
Professions

Actor

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Garry Shandling on his acting teacher, Roy London
02:37

Comedian

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Garry Shandling on being fascinated by comedians
03:27
Garry Shandling on writing George Carlin-style monologues and meeting Carlin
04:36
Genres

Awards Shows

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Garry Shandling on hosting the Emmys
02:03

Comedy Series

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Garry Shandling on the scripts he wrote for Sanford and Son
03:27
Garry Shandling on It's Garry Shandling Show and winding up on Showtime, not NBC; on the premise and theme song of the show
08:38
Garry Shandling on the writing process and cast on It's Garry Shandling's Show
10:28
Garry Shandling on creating The Larry Sanders Show; on the writers, cast, and finale
34:19

Late Night

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Garry Shandling on getting discovered as a stand-up comic and getting booked on The Tonight Show
06:59
People

Al Jean

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Garry Shandling on working with Al Jean 
00:30

Alan Zweibel

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Garry Shandling on the writing process on It's Garry Shandling's Show
03:50
Garry Shandling on the writing process on It's Garry Shandling's Show
01:32
Garry Shandling on Gilda Radner's appearance on It's Garry Shandling's Show
02:17

Brad Grey

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Garry Shandling on working some of his legal wranglings with Brad Grey into The Larry Sanders Show
02:21

David Spade

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Garry Shandling on David Spade appearing on an episode of The Larry Sanders Show
01:02

Don Mischer

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Garry Shandling on hosting The Emmys under producer Don Mischer
02:03

George Carlin

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Garry Shandling on being fascinated by comedians
01:26
Garry Shandling on writing George Carlin-style monologues and having Carlin critique his work
04:36

Gilda Radner

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Garry Shandling on Gilda Radner's appearance on It's Garry Shandling's Show
02:17

Jack Paar

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Garry Shandling on being fascinated by comedians 
02:25

Jay Leno

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Garry Shandling on his interest in hosting The Tonight Show when Joan Rivers left
02:44

Jeffrey Tambor

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Garry Shandling on Jeffrey Tambor as "Hank" on The Larry Sanders Show
02:53

Jerry Seinfeld

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Garry Shandling on what Jerry Seinfeld said to him about The Larry Sanders Show
00:29

Jim Carrey

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Garry Shandling on the finale of The Larry Sanders Show
03:08

Joan Rivers

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Garry Shandling on his interest in hosting The Tonight Show when Joan Rivers left
02:44

Johnny Carson

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Garry Shandling on getting discovered as a stand-up comic and getting booked on The Tonight Show
03:29
Garry Shandling on getting Johnny Carson on The Garry Shandling Show 25th Anniversary Special
00:45
Garry Shandling on his interest in hosting The Tonight Show when Joan Rivers left
02:44

Judd Apatow

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Garry Shandling on Judd Apatow writing for The Larry Sanders Show
00:17
Garry Shandling on Judd Apatow writing for The Larry Sanders Show
02:07
Garry Shandling on the finale of The Larry Sanders Show
03:08

Michael Fuchs

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Garry Shandling on his support from HBO on The Larry Sanders Show
02:08

Peter Tolan

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Garry Shandling on Peter Tolan writing for The Larry Sanders Show
00:56
Garry Shandling on the finale of The Larry Sanders Show
03:08

Ricky Gervais

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Garry Shandling on appearing on Ricky Gervais Meets
05:18

Rip Torn

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Garry Shandling on Rip Torn on The Larry Sanders Show
02:05

Sean Penn

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Garry Shandling on the finale of The Larry Sanders Show
03:08

Ted Bergmann

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Garry Shandling on writing a spec, and eventually three episodes of Sanford and Son
02:48

All Interviews

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