the Larry Sanders Show

although his film work counts against him

I would give that honor to Danny McBride, personally

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzEpC8QFmUE

I just watched the episode where Larry faxes his "Dear Dumb Fuck" letter to Hank rather than the critic, A+ comedy gold

"I'm pissing my pants, conceptual flaw and all"

It's just possible that 'Hank's Night in the Sun' is the greatest episode of any tv show ever.

god yes. the rise, the inevitable fall, the acrid implosion. and burt reynolds.

Had to look it up--I was thinking it might have been his post-divorce episode--but yes, one of the best. Isn't that also the one where Hank says to Phil "Do you like your job?" and finds himself stuck for a comeback when Phil emphatically says "No"?

Yes, that's it. I've probably seen it (and the show as a whole) at least four times now and it's still just so... Like before he first goes on, and he's crumpling up and talking about not wanting to experience his dream in case he fucks it up, and it was genuinely affecting! And I knew full well the level of assholism to follow!

I don't think I could possibly get tired of rewatching this show. Not only does it remain amazingly fresh (I've been LOLing every episode), I think familiarity with the character dynamics actually enhances the experience. Anticipating a character's predictable reaction to a situation is half the fun at this point.

Hank: What is wrong with mankind, I ask you?
Darlene: Electromagnetic fields.
Hank: Please be quiet. Please be quiet.

Pretty sure the episode with Colin Quinn as Artie's son is the worst episode by some margin. But then it extensively features Colin Quinn 'acting' so there you go.

Agreed.

I'll have to demur there--I like that episode a lot, and Quinn's creepy, self-centered jerkdom seems perfect to me (and the dilemma he puts Artie in, compelling),

The fact of Colin Quinn's career is an enduring mystery to me.

is that the one where he chooses a career based on being able to wear shorts all day? extremely good and relatable content imo

He struck me as someone who was probably thoroughly mediocre as an actual comedian, which works well for the character--he's supposed to be completely annoying, and he is. And I love the way Paula finds him so interesting, leading to Artie's warning not to fall for sullen.

the new Apatow-directed HBO doc is really good

We just started watching this and 4 episodes in it is amazing. Like a little love letter from 1992. Artie is the best.

I laughed so hard at the episode with Carole Burnett and the spiders I was actually out of breath.

Oh, just you wait, friend. You're in for such a treat.

I've been planning a fourth or fifth time through...The only show I still rank with Mad Men and The Sopranos.

yeah it gets so much better (and the first season is good!)

I think I've probably seen every season of this at least 3 times

the "penis vagina" hank fan newsletter episode is maybe the funniest ep of TV ever (to me)

Did my last run through the series--my second, not counting my regular-ish viewing when it was airing--following Garry's death, so I'll probably be due for another in a year or so. If you can get your hands on a copy of the complete series box set, there are some lovely extras; I don't usually care that much about those things, but this is one of the few collections where I've not only bothered to watch all of the special features, but I've actually watched all of them both times that I went though the series.

Heads up: if you're able, get the out-of-print and therefore expensive Shout Factory set, not the (afaik) special feature-free yet super cheap Mill Creek set.

Thanks--I should have been clear that this is the box I was referring to:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91HStpxVUXL._SL1500_.jpg

that’s not available as Region 2 iirc

So far I'm getting Albert Grossman/Colonel Tom Parker vibes from Artie.

OMG at the New Producer episode where the entire staff thinks they're going to be replaced. Artie (on demerol) getting Hank drunk on tequila then storming into Larry's office. Hank's hissing, "you're as young as you feeeeel . . . " was incredible. I re-watched that line 4-5 times.

Rip Torn's linereadings are pretty uniformly amazing. I've been informally working on my Artie impression for years (which mostly just consists of growling 'goddamnit, Larry').

OMG at the New Producer episode where the entire staff thinks they're going to be replaced. Artie (on demerol) getting Hank drunk on tequila then storming into Larry's office. Hank's hissing, "you're as young as you feeeeel . . . " was incredible. I re-watched that line 4-5 times.

one of the best. also the one where Artie gets drunk with the janitor after hours

artie's line in this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF94LvnRlKA

People in American shows and films stick up for each other unconditionally in a way they just never do in British shows.

Had Rip done much comedy before this? It amazes me that i only saw him be serious before he did this, which is one of the best comedy performances ever given by a human.

Albert Brooks' Defending Your Life came a year earlier; he's funny in that, but it's not really comparable--much more genial performance.

It's just possible that 'Hank's Night in the Sun' is the greatest episode of any tv show ever.

― Another helping of mouthwatering cobbler? (Old Lunch), Saturday, March 17, 2018 10:21 AM (three years ago) bookmarkflaglink

lol, was just about to post this precise sentiment again, glad I scanned the thread first

"But...I'm finally where I belong."

Scary.

how quickly he turns on a dime when one joke doesnt go well and totally ruins his moment.

i think about this show all the time. i annoy my wife by singing "ride a painted pony make the spinning wheel bwaaa"

lol

I'm on probably my fifth or so rewatch atm. It just never loses its magic.

I’ve been doing an episode here or there for months, third or fourth rewatch — I think I’m in the fifth season now and even at that pace I don’t want it to ever end

Finished what I think is my fourth time through. I could fill eight screens with all its brilliance--much of it I've noted before in this thread--but a minor quibble that I kept noticing throughout this time: Larry is often mediocre at best as an interviewer, and sometimes he's flat-out terrible. Maybe that's intentional--a comment on the format itself--but he's viewed as something special by the people he interviews, so that's a bit of a disconnect for me. I don't keep up with talk shows anymore: maybe Fallon and Colbert and the rest are no better. That's not my memory of Carson or Letterman, though.

One of my very favourite things: the show is a time capsule of the '90s, but played off against that, primarily via Artie (but Larry, too, witness him watching Jack Paar's farewell), another world long-gone: Jackie Gleason, Totie Fields, Andy Williams, etc.

The actual show we're watching is otherwise brilliant enough that I've long assumed that the in-universe show is intended to kind of suck and that Larry Sanders is intended to be a pretty mediocre talent.

(And one that celebrities hoping to get booked again are quick to kiss up to. Because it's partly an exposé of people with a pathological need for attention.)

I'm actually in my first watch of this show though I'm spacing out the seasons a bit (finished S2 so far). It doesn't have as many laughs as I was expecting but I'm enjoying it

I've gone back and forth on whether Larry's a good host or not. He's a bit low energy but he can be pretty funny with guests. The monologues are where he really flounders imo

The best recurring joke on Flight of the Conchords was how much they sucked whenever shown actually playing live in front of other people.

the show-within-the-show is always losing in the ratings to leno and letterman

The actual show we're watching is otherwise brilliant enough that I've long assumed that the in-universe show is intended to kind of suck and that Larry Sanders is intended to be a pretty mediocre talent.

― Marty J. Bilge (Old Lunch)

I've always thought he was supposed to be just good enough to keep the job on the network he was on, but not good enough to move up to a more prestigious spot. And he kind of knew it.

I just finished watching the whole series for the first time starting about 6 months ago and finishing a couple weeks ago. Really great job of sustaining the humor and interest, and I'd say ended just at the right time.

And by "always thought" I mean in the past several months I've been watching.

btw, anyone know where I can find Bojack Horseman post season 3? (besides subscribing to Netflix, of course).

where can I find a netflix-made-and-exclusive show without looking at Netflix or stealing it, you mean??

Larry is absolutely meant to suck shit as an interviewer (1st) and host (2nd), the bar just hadn’t been lowered to Fallon and Corden irl yet (or until 25 years later)

where can I find a netflix-made-and-exclusive show without looking at Netflix or stealing it, you mean??

Yes. They had the first 3 seasons on Adult Swim, which my cable has. Was hoping it might be hosted elsewhere now that it's fairly old.