"The Larry Sanders Show" (1992) TV series 1992-1998

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Creators:

Dennis Klein
Garry Shandling
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

15 August 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Talk-Show

Plot:

A comedic behind the scenes look at a late night talk show.

Plot Keywords:

Sitcom | Television | Gay Personal Assistant | Cameo Appearance | Movie Business

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 24 wins & 83 nominations

Cast

Garry Shandling	...	Larry Sanders (89 episodes, 1992-1998)
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Hank Kingsley (89 episodes, 1992-1998)
Rip Torn	...	Arthur (89 episodes, 1992-1998)
Wallace Langham	...	Phil (75 episodes, 1992-1998)
Penny Johnson	...	Beverly Barnes (70 episodes, 1992-1998)
Janeane Garofalo	...	Paula (49 episodes, 1992-1997)

(more)

Series Directed by
Todd Holland		(52 episodes, 1992-1998)
Ken Kwapis		(13 episodes, 1992-1993)
Alan Myerson		(8 episodes, 1994-1998)
Michael Lehmann		(5 episodes, 1994-1997)
Garry Shandling		(3 episodes, 1998)
Brent Carpenter		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Dennis Klein		(89 episodes, 1992-1998)
Garry Shandling		(89 episodes, 1992-1998)
Peter Tolan		(26 episodes, 1992-1998)
Paul Simms		(18 episodes, 1992-1994)
Maya Forbes		(16 episodes, 1992-1997)
John Riggi		(9 episodes, 1993-1997)
Judd Apatow		(7 episodes, 1993-1998)
Jon Vitti		(5 episodes, 1995-1997)
Drake Sather		(4 episodes, 1993-1994)
Molly Newman		(3 episodes, 1993-1994)
Adam Resnick		(3 episodes, 1998)
Chris Thompson		(2 episodes, 1992-1993)
Mike Martineau		(2 episodes, 1994)
Jeff Cesario		(2 episodes, 1995-1997)
Lester Lewis		(2 episodes, 1995-1997)
Steven Levitan		(2 episodes, 1995)
John Markus		(2 episodes, 1996)
Kell Cahoon		(2 episodes, 1998)
Alex Gregory		(2 episodes, 1998)
Peter Huyck		(2 episodes, 1998)
Tom Saunders		(2 episodes, 1998)
Brad Isaacs		(unknown episodes)
Victor Levine		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Brad Grey	....	executive producer (89 episodes, 1992-1998)
Garry Shandling	....	executive producer (89 episodes, 1992-1998)
Judd Apatow	....	consulting producer / co-executive producer (76 episodes, 1993-1998)
John Ziffren	....	producer (61 episodes, 1992-1997)
Michael J. Fitzsimmons	....	associate producer / co-producer (38 episodes, 1993-1998)
Maya Forbes	....	co-producer / co-executive producer (31 episodes, 1994-1995)
John Riggi	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer / ... (28 episodes, 1995-1997)
Jon Vitti	....	co-executive producer (28 episodes, 1995-1997)
Paul Simms	....	executive producer / producer (27 episodes, 1993-1994)
Peter Tolan	....	executive producer / consulting producer / ... (26 episodes, 1992-1994)
Todd Holland	....	co-producer (18 episodes, 1995-1997)
Jeff Cesario	....	producer (13 episodes, 1996-1998)
Richard Day	....	co-executive producer (11 episodes, 1997-1998)
Craig Zisk	....	producer / co-executive producer (11 episodes, 1997-1998)
Adam Resnick	....	co-executive producer (11 episodes, 1998)
Becky Hartman-Edwards	....	supervising producer (8 episodes, 1996-1998)
John Markus	....	consulting producer / supervising producer (7 episodes, 1996-1997)
Earl Pomerantz	....	consulting producer (7 episodes, 1996-1997)
Brent Carpenter	....	coordinating producer (6 episodes, 1992)
Barton Dean	....	consulting producer (6 episodes, 1998)
Kelly Grant	....	associate producer (6 episodes, 1998)
Leslie Tolan	....	co-producer (6 episodes, 1998)
Carol Leifer	....	supervising producer (5 episodes, 1997)
Fred Barron	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 1992)
Dick Blasucci	....	supervising producer (3 episodes, 1992)
Steven Levitan	....	co-executive producer (3 episodes, 1995)
Marjorie Gross	....	supervising producer (2 episodes, 1992)
Kell Cahoon	....	co-producer (2 episodes, 1998)
Tom Saunders	....	co-producer (2 episodes, 1998)
Victor Levin	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Frank Fitzpatrick		(38 episodes, 1992-1998)

Series Cinematography by
Peter Smokler		(40 episodes, 1992-1998)
Christian Santiago		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Paul Anderson		(24 episodes, 1993-1998)
Leslie Dennis		(21 episodes, 1993-1995)
Sean K. Lambert		(11 episodes, 1996-1998)
Leslie Tolan		(11 episodes, 1996-1998)
Brent Carpenter		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Meg Liberman		(89 episodes, 1992-1998)
Francine Maisler		(37 episodes, 1992-1998)
Bonnie Zane		(10 episodes, 1995-1997)
Grace Wu		(6 episodes, 1998)
Michael A. Katcher		(3 episodes, 1991-1992)
Marc Hirschfeld		(unknown episodes, 1991-1992)

Series Production Design by
Thomas Meleck		(29 episodes, 1994-1998)

Series Art Direction by
Thomas Meleck		(1 episode, 1992)

Series Set Decoration by
Kathy Curtis-Cahill		(5 episodes, 1992)

Series Costume Design by
Bernadene Morgan		(9 episodes, 1997-1998)

Series Makeup Department
Bruce Grayson	....	key makeup artist / makeup artist (40 episodes, 1992-1998)
Mary Guerrero	....	key hair stylist / hair stylist (39 episodes, 1992-1998)
Lori Benson	....	makeup artist (24 episodes, 1996-1998)
Linda D. Flowers	....	key hair stylist (17 episodes, 1995)

Series Production Management
Kent Zbornak	....	unit production manager (83 episodes, 1992-1998)
Richard A. Wells	....	unit production manager (8 episodes, 1997-1998)
Denny Salvaryn	....	unit production manager (6 episodes, 1992)
Brian James Ellis	....	unit production manager (5 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Gray	....	second assistant director (14 episodes, 1995)
Peter Margolis	....	second assistant director (9 episodes, 1994)
Ron Paul	....	second assistant director (7 episodes, 1996-1997)
Kent Zbornak	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 1992)
Diana E. Williams	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 1998)
Doug Tobin	....	second assistant director (5 episodes, 1993-1994)
Gary Edwards	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1993-1994)
Stephen Messer	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1995)
Brian James Ellis	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Jode S. Mann	....	property master (34 episodes, 1993-1998)
Kelly H'Doubler	....	assistant props (18 episodes, 1993-1994)
Melvin 'Butch' Von Bulow	....	construction coordinator (18 episodes, 1993-1994)
John Frantz	....	assistant props (16 episodes, 1995-1998)
Ken Curtis	....	lead person / property master (5 episodes, 1992)
Frank Molina	....	assistant props (4 episodes, 1992)
Michelle Souza	....	property master (4 episodes, 1992)

Series Sound Department
Dennis Kirkpatrick	....	boom operator (52 episodes, 1993-1995)
John Bickelhaupt	....	sound re-recording mixer (36 episodes, 1992-1998)
Edward L. Moskowitz	....	sound mixer (34 episodes, 1993-1998)
John W. Cook II	....	sound re-recording mixer (34 episodes, 1994-1995)
Derek Sample	....	sound editor (34 episodes, 1994-1995)
Laurence Abrams	....	boom operator (24 episodes, 1996-1998)
John Cook	....	sound re-recording mixer (15 episodes, 1994-1995)
Ed Golya	....	sound re-recording mixer (13 episodes, 1996-1998)
Dennis Durante	....	sound re-recording mixer (7 episodes, 1992-1993)
Bruce Bisenz	....	sound mixer (6 episodes, 1992)
Fred Tator	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 1992)
Larry Goodwin	....	foley mixer (unknown episodes)
Doug Madick	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)
Stacey Michaels	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Whitney Purple	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Peter Rand	....	utility sound (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Nichols	....	key grip (40 episodes, 1992-1998)
Peter Pilafian	....	camera operator (34 episodes, 1992-1998)
Keith Orefice	....	gaffer (33 episodes, 1993-1998)
Ivan Craig	....	camera operator (25 episodes, 1992-1998)
Al Orefice	....	dimmer operator (16 episodes, 1995-1998)
John Huneck	....	camera operator (8 episodes, 1996-1998)
Michael Orefice	....	gaffer (7 episodes, 1992-1993)
Lonnie Leslie	....	best boy grip / gaffer best boy (7 episodes, 1996-1997)
Michael E. Little	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1992)
Rick Robertson	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1994-1997)
Scott J. Prophet	....	best boy grip (6 episodes, 1998)
Robert Leacock	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1992)
Vernon Kifer	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1994-1997)
David Gasperik	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1997-1998)
Norman G. Langley	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1994)
Paul M. Pollard	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1995-1998)
Mike Denton	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1995)
Elizabeth Algieri	....	camera loader (unknown episodes)
Vincent Contarino	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Art Martin	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Leslie Otis	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Larry Watson	....	unit still photographer (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Francine Maisler	....	original casting (3 episodes, 1992)
Michael A. Katcher	....	casting associate (2 episodes, 1992)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nancy Gould	....	costumer / costume supervisor / ... (40 episodes, 1992-1994)
Bernadene Morgan	....	costumer / costume department supervisor (30 episodes, 1992-1997)
Alice Daniels	....	costumer / costume supervisor: women / ... (26 episodes, 1992-1998)
Terry Anderson	....	costumer / costume supervisor: men (21 episodes, 1994-1998)
Shawn Holly Cookson	....	costumer / costumer assistant (6 episodes, 1992)
Glen Bradley	....	costumer (4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Bart C. Hubenthal	....	costumer (3 episodes, 1992)
Robin Michel Bush	....	key costumer (3 episodes, 1997)
Elaine Down	....	set costume (unknown episodes)
Philip Maldonado	....	costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
John Starr	....	assistant editor (6 episodes, 1992)
Blake Dennis	....	assistant editor (6 episodes, 1998)
Josh Paul	....	post-production coordinator (6 episodes, 1998)
Paul Anderson	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1993)

Series Music Department
David Tobocman	....	composer: contributing composer / music mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Sandy Wernick	....	executive consultant (40 episodes, 1992-1998)
Michele Azenzer	....	stage coordinator / production staff / ... (34 episodes, 1992-1998)
Joanne Geller	....	assistant to producer / production staff (34 episodes, 1992-1997)
Kelly Grant	....	assistant: Garry Shandling (34 episodes, 1992-1997)
Judy Gordon	....	production accountant (34 episodes, 1993-1998)
James Kantrowe	....	technical advisor / associate director (34 episodes, 1993-1998)
Mark Lavine	....	production coordinator / production staff / ... (27 episodes, 1992-1995)
Susan Leslie	....	script coordinator / assistant coordinator (27 episodes, 1992-1995)
Christine Nyhart	....	script supervisor / script coordinator (26 episodes, 1992-1995)
Robert M. Angel	....	production attorney (26 episodes, 1994-1998)
Thomas Patrick Rowan	....	production attorney (26 episodes, 1994-1998)
Jonathan Glabman	....	script coordinator (16 episodes, 1994-1995)
Chris Robinson	....	production coordinator / production staff (14 episodes, 1995-1998)
Esther Himbaugh	....	script supervisor (13 episodes, 1996-1998)
Julie Bean	....	assistant to producers (12 episodes, 1994)
Peter Dante	....	production staff (12 episodes, 1994)
Alan Sweeney	....	production staff (12 episodes, 1994)
Sara Endsley	....	production staff (11 episodes, 1994)
Nellie Stevens	....	production staff / assistant to executive producer (11 episodes, 1998)
Gary Gamble	....	production staff (10 episodes, 1994)
Justin Adler	....	assistant to producers / production staff (10 episodes, 1995-1997)
Maya Forbes	....	executive story editor / story editor (9 episodes, 1992-1993)
Lester Lewis	....	executive story editor / production consultant (8 episodes, 1995-1997)
Ian Busch	....	assistant to director (7 episodes, 1995-1998)
Sarah Kupper	....	production staff (7 episodes, 1996-1997)
Eve Needleman	....	script coordinator (7 episodes, 1996-1997)
Josh Paul	....	production staff (7 episodes, 1996-1997)
Michael J. Fitzsimmons	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 1992)
Gordon McKee	....	script coordinator (6 episodes, 1992)
Paul Simms	....	executive story editor (6 episodes, 1992)
Rory Conway	....	production staff (6 episodes, 1998)
Cody Farley	....	script coordinator (6 episodes, 1998)
D.J. Feldman	....	production staff (6 episodes, 1998)
Jill Gordon	....	assistant to producers (6 episodes, 1998)
Jon Stewart	....	creative consultant (6 episodes, 1998)
Ty Vaughn	....	production staff (6 episodes, 1998)
Katy Dowdalls	....	script supervisor (5 episodes, 1992)
Molly Newman	....	story editor (5 episodes, 1993)
Alex Gregory	....	executive story editor (5 episodes, 1998)
Peter Huyck	....	executive story editor (5 episodes, 1998)
Rob Baedeker	....	production staff (4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Ross McCall	....	script coordinator (4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Sarah Levy	....	production staff (3 episodes, 1992)
Deborah Scarborough	....	script coordinator (3 episodes, 1993)
Marjorie Levy	....	assistant to producers (3 episodes, 1995)
Jodie Saklad	....	production staff (3 episodes, 1995)
David Spancer	....	script coordinator (3 episodes, 1996-1997)
Eva Almos	....	production staff / script coordinator (2 episodes, 1992)
Devin O'Brien	....	production staff (2 episodes, 1992)
Kenny Schwartz	....	production staff (2 episodes, 1992)
Sandy Soucza	....	production staff (2 episodes, 1992)
Janis Finkle	....	script coordinator (2 episodes, 1993)
Aaron Lemos	....	production staff (2 episodes, 1995)
David Sirianni	....	production staff (2 episodes, 1997)
Billy Pittard	....	title designer (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Roy London	....	special thanks (89 episodes, 1992-1998)

Production Companies

• Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
• Columbia Pictures Television
• Home Box Office (HBO)
• Partners with Boundaries

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (1992-1998) (USA) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Other Companies

• Cherokee Studios  music recorded at
• Hollywood Digital  post-production video and audio
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Runtime:

30 min (89 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:M18 (season 1) | USA:TV-MA

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Brillstein-Grey Entertainment

Trivia:

The first cable series to receive an Emmy nomination for Best Comedy Series.

Quotes:

Larry: We sat in the car and we talked.
Arthur: What'd you talk about Larry, about the distinguishing marks around your dick? How else would she know?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Making of 'The Larry Sanders Show' (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Love Guarantee

Brilliant Writing

The Larry Sanders Show is one of the greatest television shows ever. The best description that I can come up with for TLSS is that it's a free-form pre-scripted reality show. The writing sparkles, the characterizations are wonderful, and the plotlines are engaging. TV Guide recently said that Seinfeld is the greatest tv show of all time; that might be true for a network program that you can skip for a few minutes while you yell at the kids or go make a sandwich, but TLSS requires your full attention.

Garry Shandling plays Larry Sanders in this mock-talk show. Larry is the neurotic straight-man surrounded by crazy characters and situations. Famous celebrities wander the offices, waiting in the green room or shagging in the prop room. Larry takes everything in stride, shooting off an acerbic remark for everything that doesn't go his way.

TLSS is shot on video for the talk show portions, the part that is "broadcast", while the behind-the-scenes reality parts are shot on film, giving you a line of demarcation for what's "real" and what's "the show".

Three actors make up the triumvirate of drama: Garry Shandling, Rip Torn, and Jeffrey Tambor. Torn is dead-perfect as the show's producer, Artie. With his weathered face, odd expressions, blustery voice, and bulldozer personality he barges into rooms like he owns the place. Torn's performances are brilliantly conceived.

Tambor plays Hank Kingsley, the insecure sidekick to Larry Sanders. With his subtle, simmering delivery and steel-eyed glare, no one but Tambor could play Hank. From show to show, you find yourself alternately loving and hating him. On one show, he guest-hosts TLSS and believes that it is a stepping-stone to his own program. He becomes a raving egomaniac and threatens to take over the show. On a consecutive night of hosting, however, he stumbles and falls on his face.

The writing crackles like lightning. When Artie tells Larry that he needs to throw anxious network honchos "a bone", Larry retorts "why don't you fake-throw and see if their heads move?" In another scene, Hank comes up to Larry and Artie, sits down, and begins to ask a question that Artie guesses even before it's out of Hank's mouth. "I'll bet you want to have your wedding on the show." When Hank says, "My God, how could you possibly know that?", Artie retorts "You should know by now that I can see...into...your...mind." I watched that scene five times.

The only flaw in TLSS is that in every episode there is a butt joke. Sure they're funny once in a great while, but if it comes to the point where you're anxiously waiting for it so you can get it out of the way, then something is wrong. I'm surprised that the writers would insert such childish, immature jokes into an otherwise brilliantly-written program.

Despite the show's above flaw, this series is a masterwork of humor and drama, a fly-on-the-wall view of the production of a talk show. This is television at its best.