The Larry Sanders Show The Complete First Season   Starring: Garry Shandling, Jeffrey Tambor, Rip Torn and Penny Johnson Mediumrare Entertainment RRP: £29.99 FHED2771 Certificate: 12 Available 27 September 2010

The Larry Sanders Show was the original meta-sitcom - a wish fulfilling peak behind the chat show curtain into a hilarious world of egos, backstabbing and paranoia. It was the best, nastiest, and funniest comedy program on either side of the Atlantic during the 1990’s. This is where it all began, the whole postmodernist, self-reflective fact fiction sitcom thing - loudly claimed by the likes of Alan Partridge, Entourage, Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and 30 Rock began...

The Larry Sanders Show ran for six seasons, season one being originally broadcast in 1992.

The show stars Garry Shandling as chat show host Larry Sanders and each week the viewer is allowed on the other side of the cameras to see what goes on behind the scenes of Sanders's show. On screen, Hank Kingsley (Jeffrey Tambor) is Larry's sidekick. Hank is responsible for warming up the audience and keeping the show running smoothly should Sanders hit a problem. Rip Torn also stars as Sanders's producer, helping to pull the whole show together and Megan Gallagher plays Sanders's second wife Jeannie.

This 3-disc collection includes all 13 shows from season one. Highlights include:

Spiders, in which a bug man is going to appear on the show with a collection of giant spiders. Even though he's terrified of arachnids, Sanders agrees to let them be placed on his body... just to get laughs from the audience. However, as the time gets closer and closer, Sanders hatches a clever plot to ensure Hank take his place.

The Flirt, sees Mimi Rogers make an appearance on Sanders's show. There's an obvious chemistry between the two, and before he knows what's happening Sanders's has invited her to come back on for the next show. He can't help himself, but Sanders's is really worried that, if push comes to shove, he won't be able to stop himself sleeping with her.

Hank's Contract, in which Hank's contract is up for negotiation and like every year he holds out for everything he can get. However this year the studio don't want to play ball. This has the longest guest interview segment as Robin Williams shows he's worried about whether people find him funny. George Foreman also makes an appearance as one of Sanders's guests.

A Brush with the Elbow of Greatness, sees Sanders make the news for pushing over a woman in a supermarket. He denies it until CCTV footage appears showing that he did - much to his surprise. The studio hires a professional to help with damage limitation, but this individual seems more interested in antagonising the situation to help with the show's ratings.

Notable guests stars, who do an incredible job of sending themselves up, include Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Catherine O'Hara, Peter Faulk and a telephone conversation with William Shatner.

There are no extras in this collection, which is a shame as an interview with Shandling or some audio commentaries would have been interesting.

My only complaint is that all 13 episodes would have easily fitted across two DVDs, so charging £30 for this collection is a little steep. But then, as most online stores are charging under £20 for it I find it hard to grumble too much.

9

Darren Rea