The Larry Sanders Show (1992)

Shandling created a comedy diamond with this behind-the-scenes parody of a late-night talk show. The US DVD set includes extensive extras like a feature-length doc and interviews with Judd Apatow.

The complete series DVD release highlights a naturalistic, laugh-track-free sitcom about a neurotic talk-show host that was a precursor to The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm and is probably the greatest of all time in calibre and consistency. The critic singles out the interplay of the three main stars—neurotic Larry, his insecure sidekick Hank, and combative producer Artie—as the show's greatest strength, along with its behind-the-scenes exposé of egos and staff.

The half-hour comedy is an almost total winner and an artistic success of stunning brilliance that no one in the business should miss. The finely tuned scripts and standout performances from Rip Torn and Jeffrey Tambor are singled out for praise.

This re-release of the HBO series confirms it as one of the greatest and most influential comedy series of all time, with a highly believable vérité style showing a hapless chat-show host and real celebrities playing versions of themselves both on and backstage. The critic praises the performances of Garry Shandling as the neurotic star, Jeffrey Tambor as the fall-guy sidekick, and Rip Torn as the producer, noting it remains close to comic perfection.

The first-season DVD release of this cult HBO sitcom shows how it changed TV comedy forever with its devastating backstage look at a talk show and celebrities playing self-parodying versions of themselves. The critic notes its influence on later shows like Extras and praises the writing team's impact, including Judd Apatow, as well as its corrosive analysis of the treacherous world of television entertainment.

The series is a very fast and funny take-off on life after prime time, ruthlessly skewering the late-night talkshow world. It is an absolute gem with sharp performances from Shandling, Rip Torn and Jeffrey Tambor.

The critic notes the show's strong 1990s timestamp in hair, fashion, sarcasm, and references but finds the acting, improvising, naturalistic structure, and edgy writing hold up well in 2011. It recommends revisiting the series as superior to contemporary late-night fare like Leno.

The critic calls the complete series one of the great achievements in television and essential viewing. He singles out the powerhouse cast, meta humor, and insightful look at show business relationships and behind-the-scenes dynamics for praise.