I read a lot of comments here wondering why he wasn’t called over to the couch. It was probably a timing thing. I was a comic and I can tell you this was the best first Carson set I’ve seen. I loved, though, that Carson looked at his staff off camera and said, “ Thanks, Jim” referring to the talent coordinator who scouted new talent at the clubs for the show. Never heard Carson do that “ on-air” before. That may have been the ultimate compliment to Garry. What an enormous talent. RIP, Garry.
The best part of that was. Jim saw Shandling at the comedy store on the weekend and booked him right after his regular set. He said “ How’s Tuesday?” Carson was brilliant and he was responsible for making many many multi millionaires!
I hadn't even noticed that on first watch but I'm so glad you pointed it out. Very unusual for Johnny, he must've been really blown away. Can you imagine that feeling for Shandling right after finishing his set? I'll never experience such intensity.
When the talent coordinator for the Tonight Show first saw Shandling at the Comedy Store, he told Garry that he'd have to come back the next day to confirm that he was that good.
I read that he went back stage after his performance ( he had a small group of his friends) and just collapsed. He had worked so hard for that moment and he was overcome by emotion.
@@craigregan4862 many times with total noobs, they would only get a quick stand up the first time, then if they ever made it back they'd get some couch time after as well
I’m 71 years old I have anxiety and depression… Medicine doesn’t help me. The only medicine that I have now is music, and comedy. God love Johnny Carson God love Garry Shandling and all the other wonderful comedians and people who are no longer on planet earth as we know it. 😊❤❤❤
Exercise- nature- sun- good diet- solid sleep schedule. Supplements. Exercise. Sun. Purpose. Go volunteer for the local animal or homeless shelter or something like that.
I was SO forturnate to have seen him at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa just before he went on Carson... We were sitting right up front and he did his "Dad's Gross" routine...I never laughed so hard, Gary looked down and said. "I gotta take this guy to all my gigs.." Miss you man.
Johnny was right when he said more would be heard about Gary Shandling. It's too bad he is no longer of this planet. Rest in Peace Gary. Thanks for the yuk-yuks, guffaws, chuckles, belly busters, and, of course, the laughter.
True story: My wife used to date a guy called Scott who came from a very rich family and she was invited to his parents' house in Palm Springs and Johnny Carson was there. She says that Johnny was a very quiet and shy person.
He was unique. He became a spiritual seeker, a buddhist, I think. A complex guy. he went out with sharon stone for a time. I dont think he ever got over her. Anyway I miss him too
@@tubergetrude333 He was not a Buddhist. He made sure to tell people that. He was a Jew, through and through. Terribly funny and extremely clever. I once read an interview of his in a magazine at the doctor's office. His answers were so clever it was scary.
The Larry Sanders show was absolutely incredible. Great actors on the show, lots of cameo guest appearances, incredible writing, and Garry himself showed that he was actually a superb actor. What a loss for the world!
I crossed paths with Garry Shandling Once...I was a Chef for Wolfgang Puck at the time....we were at the Science Center in L.A. That Night... "The Who", was the entertainment. A long line of Celebrities were crossing my path...I had to get through them...Garry Shandling's Wife said, " Garry The Chef Needs To Get Through." So He Said, Oh Sorry Wolfgang, I Don't Want To Get In you're Way". It was a little dark that night. He acually thought I was Wolfgang Puck lol. I said in an Austrian accent, I'm a Big Fan Garry"!!!
I'm sure he wanted to have him come over cuz I know he really liked him... but in those days they really did have to move on.. take those breaks for commercials
The talent coordinator for the Tonight Show told Garry after seeing his set for the first time at the Comedy Store, he'd have to watch him again the following night to prove to himself that he was really that good and the first time wasn't just a fluke
And Carson didnt even invite him over to the chair? He invited Freddie Prinze over and that dude wasnt even slighlty funny. A bunch of lame Puerto Rican jokes?
His delivery was spot on, the timing perfect, especially for the little throw away line after the main joke. I love how his face would illustrate the joke, and then he would break into that innocent boyish grin that said “I’m so happy that you think I’m funny.”
@@trvman1 Johnny never invited comics to sit down on their debut performances. But if he gave the thumbs up -- as he did with Gary here -- that meant you would be invited to come back again. It was usually after three or four appearances that Johnny would then invite them to sit on the panel.
The episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with him and Jerry is a great nostalgic walk down memory lane. So glad it was captured before he passed.
Garry had already written for "Sanford and Son" and appeared on "Make Me Laugh" by the time he was invited to perform on Mr. Carson's "Tonight" show. This is great! Thanks for sharing.
I met him once in Atlantic city. I was star struck and shook his hand,telling him how much I appreciated his humor.I wouldn't let go off his hand and he told me he had to go to the bathroom..the look on his face was hysterical. He was a comedic genius.May he rest in peace with our Heavenly Father . Q
Have seen this before, know some of these classic Shandling jokes and still laughed out loud (and hard) at this -yet again. Gary’s act has aged well because it’s excellent and fairly timeless stuff and he was a great stand up. This isn’t always the case for some other 80s comedians.
And Carson didnt even invite him over to the chair? He invited Freddie Prinze over and that dude wasnt even slighlty funny. A bunch of lame Puerto Rican jokes?
That was possibly the best 6-minute comedy set I ever saw. He was hitting one home run after another. I don't ever remember hearing Carson laugh so much off camera.
Thanks for this. I forgot how funny Garry Shandling was back then. In those days, he and David Brenner were my favorite stand up guys, until I got into Rodney Dangerfield.
I love them all. It is such a wonderful thing to see this first appearance by Garry shandling I have a lifetime obsession with comedians sort of like a groupie without the sex.
I don't know what excited a comedian more the crowd laughing or hearing Johnny laughing. Robin Williams was one of Johnny's favorite guests. When he did his last shows Robin Williams was one of his guests and Bette Middler. He said before he did his last shows that these were some of his favorite guests.
Carson made so many careers just by greenlighting them on his show. A man who could hold 20 million people captive on any given weeknight but couldn’t maintain a close personal relationship for a length of time.
Every time I see it, he seems to kill just a little bit harder. And even though I've seen it at least a dozen times over the years, there are still laughs. He was just great.
What Gary did here was to go from prepared material to completely fresher material. Once the very first rough-draft joke worked on the audience, he got his 'Read' of the audience and went for the 'work-in-progress' material. This and Eddie Murphy's first appearance on JC are absolute Study material for future comedians.
To that end with the Seinfeld comparison, they were great friends for over 30 years coming up as comics and both appearing on Carson which really propelled their careers. Last I saw of Shandling just happened to be with Seinfeld on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Saw Mr Shandling on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee several years ago no long before he left us. It was just excellent to see the two of them interact. He was genius
Wow that was solid stuff. There was a kind of exaggerated story about how a comedian knew they'd really 'passed' if Johnny invited them to the desk. Later, people from the show said that was not actually a strict rule at all and I believe they mentioned Garry Shandling by name as an example. They said it just depended on the schedule, time leftover, commercials etc. Johnny MIGHT shake their hand or MIGHT invite them IF possible but you see here: Shandling had Carson dying in laughs but time didn't allow. Shandling would come back again and again.
There were a few ways that Johnny gave comedians approbation. Indicating to the comic that they take a bow (which happened here), giving them the ok👌sign, calling them over to the couch, and laughing his ass off (which also happened here, and must surely have been the most gratifying to a comic). Unlike the bow, ok sign and Johnny's laughter, the call to the couch was often contingent on how much time they had left over to do it.
@@NxDoyle Yes, I think that's what i was saying... well not that I said it but Johnny Carson people have said that. I do recall Carson himself saying that but certainly producers have since. Nevertheless, a kind of showbiz urban legend developed that being called to the couch for an interview was a kind of Roman 'thumbs up/down' that meant the comic was .. 'being made' like in the mafia OR being rejected as a made-man.
@@jonathandewberry289 Funny, the 70's were my teens and 80's my 20s and even recall seeing Letterman do HIS first appearance on Carson in the 70's. Still, I watched both Carson and Letterman virtually every night. Then, many years later I saw many of these same comedians interviewed about their first time appearances on Carson, knowing that it could literally make or break them. And virtually all of them said that getting the OK finger salute 👌 was a big mark of 'you made it' from Johnny, but getting the wave over to have a seat and chat for a few minutes was the holy grail for these guys. Since I heard it from the mouths of the actual comedians themselves I guess that's where that 'urban legend' came from. Time permitting of course.🙄
@@ntvypr4820 The last sentence is the key and turns it into what I passed on to you: Time permitting. Time permitting. So that means, if a comedian was NOT waved over to the chair it really didn't mean it would 'break you' or not make you. It may or may not mean they had 2 seconds to commercial or had big guests with a tight schedule etc. How do we know this? You just saw an example where Garry Shandling was NOT invited to the chair. Wait.. so Carson didn't like him and 'make him' and that broke him? Of course not. Shandling was invited back and back over and over as a guest and then fills in for Carson, hosting the show. So there you have it. The Carson people were correct when they say that it wasn't that way the showbiz legend was turned into some absolutist thing.
Garry is one of the funniest of them all. He wrote for Sanford and Son and other shows. How he and Steve Martin didn't end up doing a vaudeville act is a mystery.
Garry was inspired to give a comedy career a go when George Carlin looked over several pages of material this kid from Tucson nervously asked him to assess. Shandling said Carlin tore much of it apart, but ended with, “If you’re thinking of pursuing a comedy career, I’d do it.”
I remember that story. Garry finished college and then left for LA not knowing anyone in the business, aside from meeting Carlin at that AZ comedy club.
Rest in Peace to one man who made me laugh more then I had a right to. His book as Larry Sanders made me laugh out loud while reading it besides the show being hilarious groundbreaking and started a whole new genre of Television it made me laugh. Brilliantly funny and so much laughter put out in the world it was was a great gift and legacy.
Couldn't have gone better. "Thank you, Jim" says Johnny, for finding him that serious talent. "[Jim] McCawley discovered many of today's comedians and supported the likes of David Letterman, Garry Shandling, Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Roseanne Barr, Victoria Jackson, A. Whitney Brown, Paula Poundstone, Jon Lovitz and many more who got their start on The Tonight Show thanks to him." Garry didn't join the pantheon of first-timers who got called over to the couch though. Probably just short on time.
Love Garry, RIP ❤ After moving to a predominantly Dutch area of Michigan, he inspired me to create my own restaraunt joke. After walking in I book our reservation under the name Vandermuelengraffendykanlan. Then when our reservation is called everyone stands up to approach the hostess 😂
2 года назад+6
Gary was awesome. I watch the Larry Sander's show episodes from time to time. So funny.
Garry was the original Jerry Seinfeld. Seeing Garry cry when talking about the day Johnny died made me tear up. Garry was closer to Johnny that Garry realized.
That's why I like clean comedians. They don't rely on vulgarity and sexual jokes. They seldom curse or grab themselves. I respect that level of integrity. Anybody can get a laugh from a dirty comedian, but it takes a real skilled person to keep it clean. Real class acts don't need potty training.
Interestingly, some people don't know this.... there were some comics who Johnny Carson wanted dead, he couldn't stand them. So Johnny would also invite them over to sit down too. Then the next day they would get whacked
The word "underrated" is overused on RUclips, but Shandling really doesn't get mentioned too much. "The Larry Sanders Show" gets overlooked behind Seinfeld and Chappelle Show, but it really was one of a kind.
“It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” is still hilarious all these years later. I watched it several times a week in junior high school, having taped each week onto VHS.
Saw this show on Pluto and Carson was right - this crowd was amped up well before GS came on. To see Garry basking in this dream come true audience response - taking his time to appreciate the moment (looking at Johnny and the band) - is still an uplifting moment… Along with Johnny, George Carlin (another late great comedic mind) deserves huge credit too. He took the time to look at Garry’s unsolicited raw material, meet with him again the next night and encouraged him to forget his senior year at ASU, that he did have potential!
I loved Gary's "self absorbed" girlfriend whose dress caught on fire at a picnic. "Help, help, put ME out. Help ME." Everything always had to be about her.
That's real 80s fast-fast comedy but the title got it right: that's a "KO", that was a Sugar Ray Leonard of comedy, every shot was fast, fluid, combos, tight transitions. Shandling was a killer that night. No need for that Applesauce sign on that segment.
Love how Johnny would always help the young comedians by saying "The audience is in a great mood", just reminding the audience to have fun and laugh.
Or it's 10x worse if he bombs.
He truly was a master of the subtleties of hosting
Wow. True.
I read a lot of comments here wondering why he wasn’t called over to the couch. It was probably a timing thing. I was a comic and I can tell you this was the best first Carson set I’ve seen.
I loved, though, that Carson looked at his staff off camera and said, “ Thanks, Jim” referring to the talent coordinator who scouted new talent at the clubs for the show. Never heard Carson do that “ on-air” before. That may have been the ultimate compliment to Garry. What an enormous talent. RIP, Garry.
Great story bro.
The best part of that was. Jim saw Shandling at the comedy store on the weekend and booked him right after his regular set. He said “ How’s Tuesday?”
Carson was brilliant and he was responsible for making many many multi millionaires!
I hadn't even noticed that on first watch but I'm so glad you pointed it out. Very unusual for Johnny, he must've been really blown away.
Can you imagine that feeling for Shandling right after finishing his set? I'll never experience such intensity.
Pretty great, but I liked Drew Carey's first appearance better.
He really knocked it out of the park. True talent always showed up on Carson. Garry left us way way too soon.
He will always be around ;)
He had a great show
@@johnnythunders78 His concert video titled “Alone In Las Vegas” is hilarious and timeless!
Larry Sander’s show is still my favourite.
When the talent coordinator for the Tonight Show first saw Shandling at the Comedy Store, he told Garry that he'd have to come back the next day to confirm that he was that good.
I read that he went back stage after his performance ( he had a small group of his friends) and just collapsed. He had worked so hard for that moment and he was overcome by emotion.
He didn't get called over by Johnny?
Great story. Thanks for sharing.
@@craigregan4862 many times with total noobs, they would only get a quick stand up the first time, then if they ever made it back they'd get some couch time after as well
Over emotional Jewish guy lol
@@fish9905 so you're jewish?
I’m 71 years old I have anxiety and depression… Medicine doesn’t help me. The only medicine that I have now is music, and comedy. God love Johnny Carson God love Garry Shandling and all the other wonderful comedians and people who are no longer on planet earth as we know it. 😊❤❤❤
Laughter is the best medicine.
Exercise- nature- sun- good diet- solid sleep schedule. Supplements. Exercise. Sun. Purpose. Go volunteer for the local animal or homeless shelter or something like that.
Sometimes that is much too difficult. But I hear you.@@Godshonestruth
God bless you
Good fortune
Absolutely killed it. See how he slowed his cadence down a beat or two and really got in to a sweet groove? Astonishing.
You’re astonishing, too.
Astonishing?well no....but professional
This is more than 40 years old and the jokes still hit!
50
@@grahamhill9499 43
43 years ago. Wow. Garry was the best!!
I was SO forturnate to have seen him at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa just before he went on Carson... We were sitting right up front and he did his "Dad's Gross" routine...I never laughed so hard, Gary looked down and said. "I gotta take this guy to all my gigs.." Miss you man.
Great material, Excellent delivery...and NO Swear words! Genius!
Johnny was right when he said more would be heard about Gary Shandling. It's too bad he is no longer of this planet. Rest in Peace Gary. Thanks for the yuk-yuks, guffaws, chuckles, belly busters, and, of course, the laughter.
Highly recommend the documentary on Garry's life. Poignant and insightful about the complicated and layered lives we all have.
I can't even imagine how it must have felt to hear Johnny laughing out loud so hard while you are doing your act.
I wonder how it felt not being called over to the couch after killing it.
Right?
True story: My wife used to date a guy called Scott who came from a very rich family and she was invited to his parents' house in Palm Springs and Johnny Carson was there. She says that Johnny was a very quiet and shy person.
@@neiljohnson7914 so the guys name was relevant?
@@scottgordon7754 Scott Wolfe to be exact. I don't need to be relevant. I just mentioned the name for the hell of it.
One of the Greats. I Loved his first show on Showtime. The HBO Show was one of the Greatest of All Time! R.I.P. Gary.
Master performance. And it's his first appearance on Carson. Remarkable. That's Next-NEXT Level Comedy, right there.
Gary Shandling was really a talented guy. He was so damn funny. His smile brought you along with him and you just loved the ride. I miss him.
He was unique. He became a spiritual seeker, a buddhist, I think. A complex guy. he went out with sharon stone for a time. I dont think he ever got over her. Anyway I miss him too
Not really
@@cassandragarcia5548 not really to what? You don't miss him? You don't think he was talented?
@@neiljohnson7914 if people stink only they can clean themselves.
- me, probably.
@@tubergetrude333 He was not a Buddhist. He made sure to tell people that. He was a Jew, through and through. Terribly funny and extremely clever. I once read an interview of his in a magazine at the doctor's office. His answers were so clever it was scary.
R.I.P. one of my all time favorites---his 'Gary Shandling" shows and guest star appearances, all great.
It had the best theme song.
Marvelous comedic talent. The Larry Sanders Show on HBO is just one long usually hilarious standup. He was great. RIP.
The Larry Sanders show was absolutely incredible. Great actors on the show, lots of cameo guest appearances, incredible writing, and Garry himself showed that he was actually a superb actor. What a loss for the world!
The first time I saw him was the shortlived Gary Shandling show where he broke the 4th wall. It was so good.
Absolutely... I think calling it one long standup as 909 did undersells the show.@@centerice
Amazing seeing Gary as a “new” Comedian. In the time of only 3 major networks, killing on Carson could change your life overnight
And it did ❤
I crossed paths with Garry Shandling Once...I was a Chef for Wolfgang Puck at the time....we were at the Science Center in L.A. That Night...
"The Who", was the entertainment. A long line of Celebrities were crossing my path...I had to get through them...Garry Shandling's Wife said, " Garry The Chef Needs To Get Through." So He Said, Oh Sorry Wolfgang, I Don't Want To Get In you're Way". It was a little dark that night. He acually thought I was Wolfgang Puck lol. I said in an Austrian accent, I'm a Big Fan Garry"!!!
HaHa..great story. Short and sweet..the accent ending was the cherry to top it off.
The title undersold his performance here, he absolutely killed for a first performance on Carson's Tonight Show.
I wonder why Carson didn't invite over to the couch....always the sign that you nailed it and Johnny liked you.
@@hawkrider88 Me too. It was like what did Shandling have to do? The audience, and me watching this, were rolling in the aisles.
Sometimes there are time constraints and he has to move on.
I'm sure he wanted to have him come over cuz I know he really liked him... but in those days they really did have to move on.. take those breaks for commercials
The talent coordinator for the Tonight Show told Garry after seeing his set for the first time at the Comedy Store, he'd have to watch him again the following night to prove to himself that he was really that good and the first time wasn't just a fluke
2 great classics! Garry and Johnny. Thank you both for great entertainment!
An underappreciated comic genius. RIP Garry.
Never heard any other stand up Debut in Carson have such a rousing ovation...one after the other ....just killed it ...
And Carson didnt even invite him over to the chair? He invited Freddie Prinze over and that dude wasnt even slighlty funny. A bunch of lame Puerto Rican jokes?
@@jaysantos536 am curious too; someone mentioned in another comment that sometimes timing wouldn't allow for it.
@@jaysantos536 No, Prinze was legit funny. His TV show, 'Chico and the Man' , however, was lame and not funny.
His delivery was spot on, the timing perfect, especially for the little throw away line after the main joke. I love how his face would illustrate the joke, and then he would break into that innocent boyish grin that said “I’m so happy that you think I’m funny.”
I always thought his standup was hysterical. He had the jokes that would take a tangent at the end. RIP Garry.
This was 1981. I’ve chuckled all these years, because of his ‘dog dreaming joke’, every time I see a sleeping dog twitching. 👍😁
His TV show was great too. Surprised Johnny didn't call him over. You could hear him laughing at times.
His last appearance on Tonight Show with Johnny Carson he promoted Larry Sanders He was still filming it. Debuted in August 92.
Plus Garry had those wonderful facial expressions at the end of each joke.
@@trvman1 Johnny never invited comics to sit down on their debut performances. But if he gave the thumbs up -- as he did with Gary here -- that meant you would be invited to come back again. It was usually after three or four appearances that Johnny would then invite them to sit on the panel.
Always loved him. Loved your Show by the same name.
Thank you for all the years of Laughter Mr. Shandling. You left this world a better place.
The episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee with him and Jerry is a great nostalgic walk down memory lane. So glad it was captured before he passed.
I always liked Garry , great delivery and his face seems like he was made to be a comedian.
Many comedians/actors owe a lot of gratitude to Mr Carson.
I saw the original broadcast of this and have never forgotten the dad/robe joke to this day. RIP Garry.
I saw the original as well and have not forgotten the mooing at cows line. How can he afford that? hahaha
Doesn't even look or sound nervous... Just naturally talented and hilarious
this is truly phenomenal comedy... He could do this act today and it would be just as hilarious
agreed this is very good as Carson said.
I saw it when it aired in 1981 and laughed. Laughed in 2023. Those were great jokes.
Garry had already written for "Sanford and Son" and appeared on "Make Me Laugh" by the time he was invited to perform on Mr. Carson's "Tonight" show. This is great! Thanks for sharing.
I met him once in Atlantic city. I was star struck and shook his hand,telling him how much I appreciated his humor.I wouldn't let go off his hand and he told me he had to go to the bathroom..the look on his face was hysterical. He was a comedic genius.May he rest in peace with our Heavenly Father .
Q
thanks for the memories from the past.i always liked his comedy...lol
His self-confidence is amazing!
LOVED Garry Shandling. Understated comedic genius.
Have seen this before, know some of these classic Shandling jokes and still laughed out loud (and hard) at this -yet again. Gary’s act has aged well because it’s excellent and fairly timeless stuff and he was a great stand up. This isn’t always the case for some other 80s comedians.
Wearing a suit that blends with the curtains is what they call a "Shandling-ism"
You know you’re killing it when you can hear Johnny laughing in the background
And Carson didnt even invite him over to the chair? He invited Freddie Prinze over and that dude wasnt even slighlty funny. A bunch of lame Puerto Rican jokes?
I could hear Johnny laughing too.
he actually laughed at everything
@@jaysantos536 Carson did one better he gave him guest hosting duties in the 80’s he would have made a next perfect replacement after Letterman
@@MrDuds1984 I believe he was in the running for Conan's spot, didn't do it because he was busy doing 'The Larry Sanders Show'.
That was possibly the best 6-minute comedy set I ever saw. He was hitting one home run after another. I don't ever remember hearing Carson laugh so much off camera.
Thanks for this. I forgot how funny Garry Shandling was back then. In those days, he and David Brenner were my favorite stand up guys, until I got into Rodney Dangerfield.
I love them all. It is such a wonderful thing to see this first appearance by Garry shandling I have a lifetime obsession with comedians sort of like a groupie without the sex.
I’m 71 years old. I remember when this program was first aired. I’ve been sleep deprived since Johnny Carson used to be on.
I don't know what excited a comedian more the crowd laughing or hearing Johnny laughing.
Robin Williams was one of Johnny's favorite guests.
When he did his last shows Robin Williams was one of his guests and Bette Middler.
He said before he did his last shows that these were some of his favorite guests.
If Johnny gave you the wave, the wink, and had you take another bow: career made.
Facts no one will ever again experience
Carson made so many careers just by greenlighting them on his show. A man who could hold 20 million people captive on any given weeknight but couldn’t maintain a close personal relationship for a length of time.
Wow. Did you read that somewhere?
@@RockyRMR no, why?
@@f0rmaggi0 I heard it was 90 million.
R.I.P. Gary Shandling. Left us too soon. Only 66 when he died in 2016.
Every time I see it, he seems to kill just a little bit harder. And even though I've seen it at least a dozen times over the years, there are still laughs. He was just great.
What Gary did here was to go from prepared material to completely fresher material. Once the very first rough-draft joke worked on the audience, he got his 'Read' of the audience and went for the 'work-in-progress' material. This and Eddie Murphy's first appearance on JC are absolute Study material for future comedians.
I watched his comedy as a teenager and was blown away by his calm, easygoing, nice guy style. Reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld in some ways
To that end with the Seinfeld comparison, they were great friends for over 30 years coming up as comics and both appearing on Carson which really propelled their careers. Last I saw of Shandling just happened to be with Seinfeld on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
How do you know this? Would love to hear about it if he described this set somewhere
I loved the Gary Shandling TV show-the theme song was hilarious🤣!
I loved that show.
The Larry Sanders show was hilarious for sure.
Saw Mr Shandling on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee several years ago no long before he left us. It was just excellent to see the two of them interact. He was genius
This was hilarious. Loved the Gary Shandling and Larry Saunders shows.
Didnt know he was so great at standup though 👍
That’s when you know you’re really good when you write a comedy act and 40 years later it makes people laugh. I miss you both Gary & Johnny.
@@southtxguitarist8926 me too. I love Gary and I hadn’t heard any of this routine and I was laughing out loud as if he wrote this yesterday.
Wow that was solid stuff. There was a kind of exaggerated story about how a comedian knew they'd really 'passed' if Johnny invited them to the desk. Later, people from the show said that was not actually a strict rule at all and I believe they mentioned Garry Shandling by name as an example. They said it just depended on the schedule, time leftover, commercials etc. Johnny MIGHT shake their hand or MIGHT invite them IF possible but you see here: Shandling had Carson dying in laughs but time didn't allow. Shandling would come back again and again.
There were a few ways that Johnny gave comedians approbation. Indicating to the comic that they take a bow (which happened here), giving them the ok👌sign, calling them over to the couch, and laughing his ass off (which also happened here, and must surely have been the most gratifying to a comic).
Unlike the bow, ok sign and Johnny's laughter, the call to the couch was often contingent on how much time they had left over to do it.
@@NxDoyle Yes, I think that's what i was saying... well not that I said it but Johnny Carson people have said that. I do recall Carson himself saying that but certainly producers have since.
Nevertheless, a kind of showbiz urban legend developed that being called to the couch for an interview was a kind of Roman 'thumbs up/down' that meant the comic was .. 'being made' like in the mafia OR being rejected as a made-man.
@@jonathandewberry289 Funny, the 70's were my teens and 80's my 20s and even recall seeing Letterman do HIS first appearance on Carson in the 70's. Still, I watched both Carson and Letterman virtually every night. Then, many years later I saw many of these same comedians interviewed about their first time appearances on Carson, knowing that it could literally make or break them. And virtually all of them said that getting the OK finger salute 👌 was a big mark of 'you made it' from Johnny, but getting the wave over to have a seat and chat for a few minutes was the holy grail for these guys. Since I heard it from the mouths of the actual comedians themselves I guess that's where that 'urban legend' came from. Time permitting of course.🙄
@@ntvypr4820 The last sentence is the key and turns it into what I passed on to you: Time permitting. Time permitting.
So that means, if a comedian was NOT waved over to the chair it really didn't mean it would 'break you' or not make you.
It may or may not mean they had 2 seconds to commercial or had big guests with a tight schedule etc.
How do we know this?
You just saw an example where Garry Shandling was NOT invited to the chair.
Wait.. so Carson didn't like him and 'make him' and that broke him?
Of course not. Shandling was invited back and back over and over as a guest and then fills in for Carson, hosting the show.
So there you have it. The Carson people were correct when they say that it wasn't that way the showbiz legend was turned into some absolutist thing.
@@jonathandewberry289 Having said all of that, this is the hardest by far I've seen any comedian kill with Carson and *not* get called over.
Garry is one of the funniest of them all. He wrote for Sanford and Son and other shows. How he and Steve Martin didn't end up doing a vaudeville act is a mystery.
I liked his show where he had a job doing what Johnny does and it showed what goes on behind the scenes. He was a great comedian and actor.
Garry was inspired to give a comedy career a go when George Carlin looked over several pages of material this kid from Tucson nervously asked him to assess. Shandling said Carlin tore much of it apart, but ended with, “If you’re thinking of pursuing a comedy career, I’d do it.”
I remember that story. Garry finished college and then left for LA not knowing anyone in the business, aside from meeting Carlin at that AZ comedy club.
I remember watching this when it first aired. Really, really funny. Especially the part about "what's a nightmare for a dog?"😁
This is without a doubt among the loudest times you can hear Carson laugh.
It always made me mad when I tuned into The Tonight Show only to find there was a guest host...except when it was Garry Shandling.
Yes, same!
When The Johnny Carson show was on I was to young to really appreciate it, now i'm binging ! This was really Gold !
I Love coming across Great Old(er) Comedy! Wow, the freshness of it!!
Puuuuure Genius! Garry Shandling, the purest bestest, most wonderful comedian
Rest in Peace to one man who made me laugh more then I had a right to.
His book as Larry Sanders made me laugh out loud while reading it besides the show being hilarious groundbreaking and started a whole new genre of Television it made me laugh.
Brilliantly funny and so much laughter put out in the world it was was a great gift and legacy.
What an crowd amazing energy 😊
This is what a great comedian looks like.
Over 10 applause breaks; probably the greatest first set of all time...
Couldn't have gone better. "Thank you, Jim" says Johnny, for finding him that serious talent.
"[Jim] McCawley discovered many of today's comedians and supported the likes of David Letterman, Garry Shandling, Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Roseanne Barr, Victoria Jackson, A. Whitney Brown, Paula Poundstone, Jon Lovitz and many more who got their start on The Tonight Show thanks to him."
Garry didn't join the pantheon of first-timers who got called over to the couch though. Probably just short on time.
The music used to bookend Gary's appearance is "Salt Peanuts," written by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. 🙂
The best stand up performance on the Tonight Show ever
One of the best stand up comics in my lifetime
Has Seinfeld been influenced by this guy or what? This was 1981, it's pre-Seinfeld Seinfeld. Killing it Jerry, killin' it!
Love Garry, RIP ❤ After moving to a predominantly Dutch area of Michigan, he inspired me to create my own restaraunt joke. After walking in I book our reservation under the name Vandermuelengraffendykanlan. Then when our reservation is called everyone stands up to approach the hostess 😂
Gary was awesome. I watch the Larry Sander's show episodes from time to time. So funny.
A true comic genuis and passed away way too young. Always did want to know the true story as to why Johnny didn't invite him over.
His routine was pretty long. Sometimes Johnny was just out of time.
@@erestube It was going so well, they let him run extra long.
he was asked to replace Johnny Carson and instead went on with his own show how do you guys not know this
Clean and timeless.
👍
still vulgar with the robe joke.... polite vulgar humour.
@@mrveritas700 vulgar? wow, never watch Eddie Murphy's stand up routine.
@@mrveritas700 yeah agree.
You could hear Johnny cracking-up during his bit.
Garry was the original Jerry Seinfeld. Seeing Garry cry when talking about the day Johnny died made me tear up. Garry was closer to Johnny that Garry realized.
That's why I like clean comedians. They don't rely on vulgarity and sexual jokes. They seldom curse or grab themselves. I respect that level of integrity. Anybody can get a laugh from a dirty comedian, but it takes a real skilled person to keep it clean. Real class acts don't need potty training.
This man was great!
He brought the house down. He seems fully formed even at this early date.
Before he turned to stand-up, Garry wrote sitcom scripts.
I am surprised he didn't call him over to sit down. That was the ultimate sign from Johnny.
The show was probably running long.
Interestingly, some people don't know this.... there were some comics who Johnny Carson wanted dead, he couldn't stand them. So Johnny would also invite them over to sit down too. Then the next day they would get whacked
I literally stuck my head out the window today and mooooo'd a bunch of cows. They looked at me funny. Now I know what they were thinking.
This was two months before my high school graduation. How time flies.
The word "underrated" is overused on RUclips, but Shandling really doesn't get mentioned too much. "The Larry Sanders Show" gets overlooked behind Seinfeld and Chappelle Show, but it really was one of a kind.
“It’s Garry Shandling’s Show” is still hilarious all these years later. I watched it several times a week in junior high school, having taped each week onto VHS.
Really loved his style of comedy!
Absolute natural Talent. Every word is Humour. I miss him.
The intro to his TV show was the best intro and I will always have it memorized
Saw this show on Pluto and Carson was right - this crowd was amped up well before GS came on.
To see Garry basking in this dream come true audience response - taking his time to appreciate the moment (looking at Johnny and the band) - is still an uplifting moment…
Along with Johnny, George Carlin (another late great comedic mind) deserves huge credit too. He took the time to look at Garry’s unsolicited raw material, meet with him again the next night and encouraged him to forget his senior year at ASU, that he did have potential!
He went to the University of Arizona.
I loved Gary's "self absorbed" girlfriend whose dress caught on fire at a picnic. "Help, help, put ME out. Help ME." Everything always had to be about her.
2023, still a solid funny set
Who else has the Theme to Gary's show stuck in their cranium now?
Always liked him
😄
Wow, that was a very good debut; he nailed it. There were several real killers in there.
He became a frequent guest host of the tonight show, so he did ok.
This is still my favorite debut.
Saw this when it happened. Couldn't wait for his second appearance.
One of the greatest comedians on the greatest late night show featuring the greatest host of all time.
He killedit!!!killed it!!!!
Never realised how funny Gary Shandling was…
That's real 80s fast-fast comedy but the title got it right: that's a "KO", that was a Sugar Ray Leonard of comedy, every shot was fast, fluid, combos, tight transitions. Shandling was a killer that night. No need for that Applesauce sign on that segment.