Top 10 comedy shows: #5 The Larry Sanders Show

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Watching this show changed American comedy for the good as celebrities realised they could play a version of themselves on screen for self-promotion and comedic reasons. Gary Shandling realised that could be even funnier and would be an even better send up if the celebs played themselves on a chat show, with Shandling as the vain host, Larry Sanders. It was a success straight from the pilot and celebs queued up to be on it to play an exaggerated version of themselves , A-List too. Its an intelligent adult comedy with plenty of celebrity in-joke humour and Shandling superb as the host. His sidekick Hank (Jeffrey Tambor) and Show boss Arty (Rip Torn) are as equally funny as the guys pull together the weekly show behind the scenes with a team of writers whilst pampering to the needy guests. There's something just right about a comedy like this coming along and knowing there is something funny for you out there as those dreadful 80s and 90s sitcoms kept coming. I dont think it lasted more than 6 years but won three Emmys. It knew it had peaked and left it on a high. Thats class.