A damned shame Garry died suddenly because he was a quiet, unsung hero of comedy but it wasn’t always that way. When I first saw him, he was in the same camp as Billy Crystal, a rather boring Johnny Carson favorite. Sure there was a good joke now and then.
My opinion changed with a bit on Televisions Parts, a short-lived Summer filler show NBC aired by Michael Nesmith. Between the musical or odd bits, Nesmith’s program would elaborate on a comedian’s stand-up bit by transforming it into something more tangible. An example of one you can find is Jay Leno’s schtick about owning an original Buick in the Eighties. Garry’s was the awkwardness of going on a date with a beauty pageant contestant. If you ever see the skit, it’s pretty solid and funny.
I never saw his Showtime run of It’s Garry Shandling’s Show due to college and I probably wouldn’t have given it much of a chance. We had Showtime in North Dakota. The “edgy” offerings they had while I was finishing high school (Washingtooon and Brothers) weren’t very strong. The final season or two did jump ship to the fledgling Fox network. I was definitely getting swayed to understand Garry’s more offbeat humor through the lowest-common-denominator network. Obviously, Show was canceled after a short run. Fox used to (still does) go through programs like everyone changes socks…daily. One legacy from this, Al Jean used to write for Show and he went on to gamble his career writing for some silly cartoon based upon this doodles of LA cult fave Matt Groening.
Garry didn’t stay under the radar for long. He was back on HBO by 1992 with what I believe will be his greatest legacy…The Larry Sanders Show. Much like Chevy Chase, David Letterman, Joan Rivers, Jay Leno, etc. Garry had been mentioned as Johnny Carson’s successor. I’m glad this never happened. He would’ve failed because the transition would’ve happened while Carson’s core audience remained intact. Giving him a later slot as Letterman might have been successful. However, it was rumored Garry felt a daily talk show was too much of a grind so Letterman following Johnny was wiser; Garry and David did share similar comedic DNA as peers at the Comedy Store in the Seventies.
Anyway, HBO was where Garry and his crew could cut loose with Larry, a very hilarious, nasty, behind-the-scenes comedy about a talk-show host and his staff. It was genius. There were segments on tape in which you’d see some of this show on an imaginary network while “real life” took place on film. Larry‘s ensemble cast paved the way for News Radio too. Rip Torn and Jeffrey Tambor’s careers received a new act through Larry. Before then, Torn usually played heavies (his villain in The Beastmaster was only funny by accident). Tambor I only knew as the snobby neighbor on the Three’s Company spinoff The Ropers. Actual celebrities getting in on the act was fantastic too. David Duchovny’s suspected crush on Larry; William Shatner always shilling his TekWar novels; Sharon Stone dating Larry; and Carol Burnett complaining about Larry’s lack of comedic timing. The “off-screen” antics were what made Larry a hit and if you were a comedy nerd like me, you could see it was a commentary on what was going on in Hollywood and the networks. Garry proved to be a generous force through this show as well. Larry propelled Judd Apatow, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Janeane Garafolo, Wally Langham, Scott Thompson, Jeremy Piven, Sarah Silverman, Jon Favreau and the biggest boost recipient in my opinion was Jon Stewart; he was Larry’s permanent guest host and eventual successor when the show ended.
Larry could’ve kept going a few more seasons but Garry decided to wrap it up at six, provide a conclusive bittersweet finale (the network shafted him and he had little talent so his fate is left up to the viewers). Bittersweet? Johnny Carson and Letterman finished at retirement age so they enjoyed (or are enjoying) the twilight years; Ferguson hosts a show on History which is more his pace. Larry had no such options.
For the last ten years though, most people went to recognize Garry as Iron Man’s US Senate antagonist, Senator Stern. Him being a member of Hydra was a funny twist since Garry wasn’t really the diabolical type.
Lastly, playing Verne the Turtle in Over the Hedge was a rare, perfect casting decision by Dreamworks. Garry’s uptight personality provided the conflict and comedy needed to counter Bruce Willis’ RJ the devil-may-care raccoon.
Thanks Garry. I’m glad I scored the boxed set of Larry Sanders. When we get our TV situation figured out and resolved, I will be binge watching those DVDs laughing through some tears. You will be missed enormously because in death, your non-comedic contributions in helping other comedians like Conan O’Brien get through tough times have come to light.
I’ll close with a zinger he gave about Trump several weeks ago. It demonstrated his self-deprecating humor, skill and timing.
“(Re: Trump) A real man doesn’t talk about the size of his penis unless he’s a comedian.”