The brain child of actor-comedian Garry Shandling and Dennis Klein, this HBO original series was a brilliant satire of the cut throat world of late night network TV shows. Focusing on a fictional talk show, it revolved around the host himself, Larry Sanders, an insecure, self-absorbed ex-stand up comic, played to perfection by Shandling. Shandling’s own experiences in the field gave him plenty of material to create the most acurate, and funniest, portrayal of Hollywood in the history of television.

Shandling and Klein created a fascinating setting, and filled it with wonderful (if not always sympathic) characters: among the founding cast: Artie (Rip Torn), the foul mouthed but dedicated veteran producer; Hank Kingsley (Jeffrey Tambor), Larry’s couch-dwelling second banana...with seemingly no talent and less sense; Beverly (Penny Johnson), Larry’s sharp witted personal assistant who frequently held the immature star’s life together; Paula (Janeane Garofalo), the show’s independant minded talent booker; Phil (Wallace Langham) and Jerry (Jeremy Piven), a pair of crude, fratboy-ish comedy writers; Darlene (Linda Doucett), the beautiful-yet-innocent assistant of Hank, and cause of many errections.

The cast changed over the years, with no less than two Larry ex-wives (Megan Gallagher and Kathryn Harrold) vanishing from Larry’s life. New staff arrivals, such as Darlene’s replacement, the good natured, gay Brian (Scott Thompson), and the somewhat scatterbrained new talent booker Mary Lou (Mary Lynn Rajskub).

One of the most remarkable things about the show was the array of performers who played themselves. Admittingly, many of them still got to hype their own projects like they did on a regular TV show, but often they were willing to do hilarious self-parodies, such as Mandy Patinkin, Warren Beatty, Sharon Stone, Ellen DeGeneres, Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, Brett Butler, Jim Carrey, John Ritter and Roseanne. Perhaps the most more engaging guest of the show was David Duchovny, who made three appearances. His first was during The X-Files early days, and he played himself as a deranged ego maniac. As one of the characters said “Put him on the Sean Young list”. Duchovny’s next appearance was a potentially unwise performance, as he hit on Larry, no doubt causing some fans to question the star’s sexuality. Duchovny’s comic genius was perfect along with Shandling, and the pair reprised their surreal homoerotic banter at the Emmys and the shows final episode.

The real brilliance of The Larry Sanders Show lay in it’s scripts. Shandling and his team of gifted writers turned out some of this most intelligent plots ever developed for TV. The loving-yet-vicious potshots at showbiz might have gone over the heads of casual viewers who aren’t too familar with the entertainment business, but the show’s writers kept the satire balanced with broader, more accessible humor...often in the form of Hank’s moronic’s antics. Actor’s egos...agent’s greed...network’s inference...all targets that the show hit directly between the eyes.

THE EMMYS The Larry Sanders Show was nominated for Best Comedy each year of it’s run, though it somehow never won, being beaten regularly by Frasier and once by Seinfeld. Shandling himself received 5 nominations for his acting, and no less than 7 for his writing. Ironically, he took the writing Emmy home, along with Peter Tolan, for the very final episode, the superb, star-studded “Flip”.

Of the supporting cast, Rip Torn received nominations for every year, and worn a well-deserved Emmy back in 96. Jeffrey Tambor received three nominations for the last trio of seasons, and Janeane Garofalo got took a pair. Neither Tambor or Janeane actually won one, however. One the guest acting side, Mandy Patinkin, Ellen DeGeneres, David Duchovny and Rosie O’Donnell all received nominations for playing themselves.

Todd Holland, who was probably the show’s best director, had a multiple nominations, and rightfully won for his work on “Flip”. Other director nominees included Michael Lehmann and Alan Myerson.

The show picked up many nominations for writing over the years. Other than Shandling and Tolan, nominees included Paul Simms, Drake Sather, Maya Forbes, Victor Levin, Steven Leviatan, Jon Vitti, Judd Aptow, John Markus, Richard Day, Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck.

In the end, The Larry Sanders Show had only ever won three Emmys, but it’s many nominations had confirmed it’s effectiveness and intelligence. Still, if there was real justice, it would have been the big winner every year. Then again, thats what the ACE awards were for...

JANEANE as PAULA

Janeane has gone on record saying Larry Sanders was the work she is most proud. Although she was often just a minor character with a couple of scenes each episode, the role of Paula was still a wonderful part. There was much of Janeane in the talent booker...outspoken, down-to-earth, unpretentious, intelligent. Garofalo has commented about Shandling being great to work with/for, and she was given freedom to explore her character. Many of her character’s greatest wisecracks are pure Janeane.

When Janeane was given the spotlight, she shone. Several episodes stand out, and none moreso than “I Was A Teenage Lesbian” (written by Peter Tolan, directed by Cats & Dogs’ Michael Lehmann). Paula underwent a breast cancer scare, and her past lesbian lover, actress Brett Butler (in a wonderful performance), shows up. The two have a disargument, and it’s a remarkably realistic scene, with Janeane barking “You’re very selfish. Very selfish.” Janeane’s dramatic skills were at their peak here.

Another key episode was actually her last. In “Pain Equals Funny”, a disillusioned Paula threatens to quit for another show, but Larry impulsively gives her a promotion to producer. However, Artie doesn’t take kindly to this, and it shakes up the whole show. What’s ironic about this episode is that Paula gets a promotion, yet it’s the last time we ever see her, or ever hear about her. Her name is not mentioned once in the final season. Why couldn’t Janeane have done a cameo in the final episode “Flip”, like other former cast members Jeremy Piven and Linda Douchett?

Other Janeane plots involved her unlikely romance with Larry’s slimey, opportunistic agent Stevie Grant (Janeane’s real life ex, Bob Odenkirk), and one where she fears for losing her job, and will do anything possible to book Danny DeVito.

The Larry Sanders Show is still unseen by many Janeane fans, which is a shame considering it was a showcase for some of best performances. And it was also fun keeping track of her various looks, most notably in hair styles....long and black, short and black, short and blonde...