Garry Shandling's 'Larry Sanders Show' to Return to HBO (Exclusive)

Shortly before Garry Shandling‘s tragic death Thursday, he completed a deal to return his classic “The Larry Sanders Show” exclusively to HBO.

“I loved Garry. We were fulfilling his wishes to see the show move to HBO,” Sony Pictures Television chairman Steve Mosko told TheWrap.

The show will appear on the network and its streaming services, another person familiar with the deal said. The Sony Pictures Television comedy, which aired from 1992 to 1998, featured Shandling playing a prickly talk-show host surrounded by sniping underlings. His supporting cast was a comical murderers’ row that included Janeane Garofalo, Bon Odenkirk, Scott Thompson, Jeremy Piven and Kathryn Harrold.

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Every episode of “The Larry Sanders Show” was on the Sony streaming platform Crackle earlier this year. But two months ago, the service lost content rights, which returned to Crackle’s parent company.

After Shandling’s death Thursday, Crackle’s programmers became interested in making the episodes available again, but the exclusive HBO deal precludes that possibility.

Shandling, who also starred in “It’s Garry Shandling‘s Show” on Fox, died Thursday of a heart attack. In his later years he became a mentor to a generation of comedians, hosting Sunday basketball games where he dealt out advice and jokes.

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Just as “It’s Garry Shandling‘s Show” deconstructed the typical TV sitcom — with Shandling breaking the fourth wall by talking to viewers, “Larry Sanders” upended the talk-show formula. Its reality bending premise featured a fictional talk show, led by Sanders/Shandling, that welcomed real-life guests.

Garry Shandling's 7 Greatest Roles (Photos)

"The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"

Shandling first made a name for himself doing stand-up on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," frequently serving as guest host on the NBC late-night show. Leading up to Carson's retirement in 1992, Shandling was one of the names rumored to replace him.
NBC
"It's Garry Shandling's Show"

Beginning in 1985, Shandling co-created and starred in the Showtime series "It's Garry Shandling's Show," the fourth-wall-breaking sitcom that went on to be nominated for four Prime-Time Emmy Awards. Shandling himself received a writing nod in 1988.
Showtime
"The Larry Sanders Show"

Shandling's biggest and most influential role was as the creator and star of HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show." The show's powerhouse comedy lineup also included Jeffrey Tambor, Janeane Garofalo and Bob Odenkirk.
HBO
"What Planet Are You From?"

In this comedy gem, Shandling played an alien sent to earth with one mission--have sex. His all-male planet can no longer reproduce and all their hopes for a future rest with him.
Columbia Pictures
"Iron Man 2"/"Captain America: The Winter Soldier"

Shandling also appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in both "Iron Man 2" and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" as the self-interested Senator Stern.
Marvel
"Town & Country"

In 2001, Shandling starred alongside Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn in the noted box-office flop "Town & Country," playing the husband caught in a tryst with a cross-dressing man.
New Line Cinema
"The X-Files"

A small but memorable role for Shandling came in the seventh season of the first run of Fox's "The X-Files." The actor appeared in one episode with Tea Leoni as the Hollywood version of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson's Mulder and Scully.
Fox