Editing The Larry Sanders Show (section)

== Reception ==

=== Critical reaction ===
After the show ended, the ''[[New York Post]]'' called it "one of the greatest achievements in television." ''[[LA Weekly]]'' deemed it "very funny." ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' said it was "the closest sitcom ever came to perfect pitch." ''[[The Washington Post]]'' called the show "brutally and blatantly hilarious" and ''[[USA Today]]'' gave it four stars.

Many critics called it one of the [[List of television shows considered the best|greatest television shows of all time]].<ref name=latimes /><ref name=telegraph>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/dvd-reviews/8410940/The-Larry-Sanders-Show-DVD-review.html|title=The Larry Sanders Show, DVD review|access-date=27 March 2013|location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|first=Mark|last=Monahan|date=28 March 2011|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011719/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/dvd-reviews/8410940/The-Larry-Sanders-Show-DVD-review.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=rolling /> [[Metacritic]], which uses an [[weighted average]], gives the show a score of 95 out of 100 based on 69 critic reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web |title=The Larry Sanders Show |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-larry-sanders-show |accessdate=June 19, 2023 |website=Metacritic|publisher= |language=en-US}}</ref> Doug Elfman from the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' said "It is simply one of the best sitcoms ever." Ivan Morales calls it "the greatest HBO sitcom of all time." Brooke Allen in the ''New York Times'' called it "a comedy series so funny and risque as to make ''Seinfeld'' look positively bland".<ref name=nytimes4>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/99/01/24/bib/990124.rv041526.html|title=CONFESSIONS OF A LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST|access-date=19 March 2013|work=The New York Times|archive-date=28 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828022643/http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/01/24/bib/990124.rv041526.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Mark Monahan in ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' called it "very close indeed to comic perfection."<ref name=telegraph />

=== Influence ===
Despite drawing small audiences, ''The Larry Sanders Show'' has been influential.<ref name=timeout1>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/film/not-just-the-best-of-the-larry-sanders-show|title=Not Just the Best of The Larry Sanders Show|work=Time Out Los Angeles |date=19 April 2007 |access-date=25 April 2013|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011739/https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/film/not-just-the-best-of-the-larry-sanders-show|url-status=live |last1=Seitz |first1=Matt Zoller }}</ref> It helped establish HBO's reputation for quality shows, leading to ''[[Sex and the City]]'', ''The Sopranos'', ''[[The Wire]]'' and ''Deadwood''.<ref name=guardian1>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/mar/19/larry-sanders-show-box-set|title=Your next box set: The Larry Sanders Show|access-date=25 April 2013|location=London|work=The Guardian|first=Andrew|last=Pulver|date=19 March 2010|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011719/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/mar/19/larry-sanders-show-box-set|url-status=live}}</ref> The show influenced subsequent series with satirical backstage show business and celebrity culture themes, such as ''30 Rock'', ''[[Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List]]'', ''[[The Showbiz Show with David Spade]]'',  ''[[Extras (TV series)|Extras]]'', ''[[Action (TV series)|Action]]'', and ''[[Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip]]''.<ref name="EdgertonJones2008" />

The show's most significant innovation is in celebrities playing themselves.<ref name=guardian1 /> It was followed in its use of celebrity guests, its lack of [[laugh track]], and its comedy of embarrassment by ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'', ''[[The Office (British TV series)|The Office]]'' and ''[[Arrested Development]]''.<ref name=timeout1 /><ref name=guardian1 /> Shandling's performance is a precursor to [[Larry David]]'s in ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' and [[Ricky Gervais]] (''The Office'', ''Extras'') as [[David Brent]].<ref name="rolling">{{cite web| url=http://www.rollingstoneme.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=250|title=Rewind: The Larry Sanders Show|access-date=25 April 2013}}</ref> Gervais said in ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' that he was heavily influenced by the show and that "It taught me that flawed characters can be compulsive viewing&nbsp;– seeing them squirm and get their comeuppance."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2010/tv/news/gervais-glad-to-be-part-of-the-hbo-family-1118026464/|title=Gervais glad to be part of the HBO family|access-date=25 April 2013|work=Variety|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011735/https://variety.com/2010/tv/news/gervais-glad-to-be-part-of-the-hbo-family-1118026464/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Armando Iannucci]] said that his political satire ''[[The Thick of It]]'' strove to mix comedy and authenticity in a similar manner to ''The Larry Sanders Show''.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/12_december/08/thick_armando.shtml| title=The Thick Of It| work=BBC| date=8 December 2005| access-date=22 August 2015| archive-date=15 November 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011720/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/12_december/08/thick_armando.shtml| url-status=live}}</ref>

Matt Zoller Seitz wrote in ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out Los Angeles]]'' that it introduced to television the cinematic technique of "[[walk and talk]]" where the camera follows the actors as they move around the offices in conversation. This later became an important part of the style of ''[[The West Wing]]'' and ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]''.<ref name="timeout1" /> The show can also be seen as a distorted example of [[reality television]] because the portrayal of the talk show production is so convincing.<ref name="washpost" /> According to Andrew Pulver in ''[[The Guardian]]'', "This is where it all began. The whole postmodernist, self-reflexive fact-fiction sitcom thing."<ref name=guardian1 />

=== Awards and honors ===
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by The Larry Sanders Show}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Recipient
|-
| [[American Comedy Awards]] 1994 || Funniest Supporting Male in a TV Series || [[Rip Torn]]
|-
| American Comedy Awards 1998 || Funniest Male Performance in a TV Series || [[Garry Shandling]]
|-
| American Comedy Awards 1999 || Funniest Male Guest Appearance on a TV Series || [[David Duchovny]]
|-
| American Comedy Awards 1999 || Funniest Female Guest Appearance on a TV Series || [[Ellen DeGeneres]]
|-
| [[British Comedy Awards]] 1997 || Best International Comedy Show ||
|-
| British Comedy Awards 1999 || Best International Comedy Show ||
|-
| [[BAFTA Awards]] 1999 ||  Outstanding International Program || Garry Shandling
|-
| [[CableACE Awards]] 1993 || Outstanding Comedy Series ||
|-
| CableACE Awards 1994 || Outstanding Comedy Series ||
|-
| CableACE Awards 1995 || Outstanding Comedy Series ||
|-
| CableACE Awards 1996 || Outstanding Comedy Series ||
|-
| [[50th Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Awards]] 1998 || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series]] || [[Peter Tolan]] & [[Garry Shandling]] (for "Flip")
|-
|[[50th Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Awards]] 1998 || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series|Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series]] || [[Todd Holland]] (for "Flip")
|-
|[[48th Primetime Emmy Awards|Emmy Awards]] 1996 || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series]] || [[Rip Torn]]
|-
| [[Peabody Awards]] 1998 ||Area of Excellence || "Flip"<ref>[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-larry-sanders-show-flip 58th Annual Peabody Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705015644/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-larry-sanders-show-flip |date=2017-07-05 }}, May 1999.</ref>
|-
| [[Peabody Awards]] 1993 || Area of Excellence ||''The Larry Sanders Show''<ref>[http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-larry-sanders-show 53rd Annual Peabody Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115011752/http://www.peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-larry-sanders-show |date=2020-11-15 }}, May 1994.</ref>
|-
| [[Rose d'Or]] 1997 || Sitcom ||
|-
| [[Satellite Awards]] 1997 || Best Television Series&nbsp;– Comedy or Musical ||
|-
| [[Television Critics Association Awards]] 1997 || Outstanding Achievement in Comedy ||
|-
| Television Critics Association Awards 1998 || Outstanding Achievement in Comedy ||
|}

==== [[BAFTA Television Awards]] ====
* 1998: Best International Programme or Series ('''won''')

==== [[Directors Guild of America]] (DGA) ====
* 1994: Outstanding Directing&nbsp;– Comedy Series (Todd Holland for "The Mr. Sharon Stone Show", nominated)
* 1995: Outstanding Directing&nbsp;– Comedy Series (Holland for "Arthur After Hours", nominated)
* 1996: Outstanding Directing&nbsp;– Comedy Series (Holland for "Everybody Loves Larry", nominated)
* 1996: Outstanding Directing&nbsp;– Comedy Series ([[Alan Myerson]] for "Ellen, Or Isn't She", nominated)
* 1998: Outstanding Directing&nbsp;– Comedy Series (Holland for "Flip", nominated)

==== [[GLAAD Media Awards]] ====
* 1996: Outstanding Series&nbsp;– Comedy (nominated)

==== [[Golden Globe Awards]] ====
* [[Golden Globe Awards 1994|1994]]: [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy Series|Best Actor – Musical or Comedy Series]] ([[Garry Shandling]] for playing "Larry Sanders", nominated)
* [[Golden Globe Awards 1995|1995]]: Best Actor&nbsp;– Musical or Comedy Series (Shandling, nominated)
* [[Golden Globe Awards 1996|1996]]: [[Golden Globe Award for Best Series – Musical or Comedy|Best Series – Musical or Comedy]] (nominated)

==== [[Image Awards]] ====
* 1997: Outstanding Supporting Actress&nbsp;– Comedy Series ([[Penny Johnson]] for playing "Beverly Barnes", nominated)

==== [[Satellite Awards]] ====
* 1996: [[Satellite Award for Best Actress – TV Series Musical or Comedy|Best Actor – Musical or Comedy Series]] (Garry Shandling for playing "Larry Sanders", nominated)
* 1996: Best Actor&nbsp;– Musical or Comedy Series (Rip Torn for playing "Arthur", nominated)
* 1996: [[Satellite Award for Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy|Best Series – Musical or Comedy]] ('''won''')
* 1997: Best Actor&nbsp;– Musical or Comedy Series (Shandling, nominated)
* 1997: Best Series&nbsp;– Musical or Comedy (nominated)

==== [[Writers Guild of America]] (WGA) ====
* 1995: Best Writing&nbsp;– Episodic Comedy (Garry Shandling for "Roseanne's Return", nominated)
* 1995: Best Writing&nbsp;– Episodic Comedy (John Riggi for "Hank's New Assistant", nominated)
* 1995: Best Writing&nbsp;– Episodic Comedy (Peter Tolan for "Arthur After Hours", nominated)
* 1996: Best Writing&nbsp;– Episodic Comedy (Tolan for "Eight", nominated)
* 1997: Best Writing&nbsp;– Episodic Comedy (Shandling for "Ellen, Or Isn't She?", nominated)
* 1997: Best Writing&nbsp;– Episodic Comedy (Maya Forbes for "The Book", nominated)

==== Other honors ====
After the show ended, it came to be considered one of the finest TV shows of all time. The biggest honor it received was a spot on ''Time magazine's'' 100 Greatest Shows of All Time. In 2008, ''Entertainment Weekly'' ranked ''The Larry Sanders Show'' the 28th Greatest Show of the past 25 years. Also, ''[[TV Guide]]'' named it the 38th Greatest Show of All Time, the only HBO comedy to make it to the list.<ref name="tvguide">{{cite news
   | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tv-guide-names-top-50-shows/
   | access-date = December 4, 2010
   | date = April 26, 2002
   | first = Bootie
   | last = Cosgrove-Mather
   | work = [[CBS News]]
   | title = TV Guide Names Top 50 Shows
   | quote = 38. The Larry Sanders Show (HBO)
   | archive-date = September 4, 2012
   | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120904061715/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/04/26/entertainment/main507388.shtml
   | url-status = live
   }}</ref> During its six-year run, ''The Larry Sanders Show'' won 24 awards including three Emmy awards. In 1997, the episode "Everybody Loves Larry" was ranked 39 on [[TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time]].<ref>{{cite journal |year=1997 |title=Special Collector's Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time |journal=[[TV Guide]] |issue=June 28–July 4 }}</ref> In 2013, TV Guide ranked it No. 56 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/|title=TV Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time|work=TV Guide|access-date=2020-04-20|archive-date=2018-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115211728/http://www.tvguide.com/news/tv-guide-magazine-60-best-series-1074962/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Writers Guild of America]] ranked it No. 20 on their list of the 101 Best Written TV Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wga.org/writers-room/101-best-lists/101-best-written-tv-series/list|title=101 Best Written TV Series|website=Writers Guild of America West|date=June 2, 2013}}</ref>