Anybody see The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling on HBO

Was just watching this last night. Seen most of it. I was always an admirer of Shandling, especially after the Larry Sanders Show, which for me, along with The Sopranos completely shaped televison as it is now. I think those are the two most impactful shows of the lats 25 years. Seinfeld was bigger, but it can't really be duplicated. And Larry David doesn't get his show if HBO doesn't already see something like that work on its network.

But after watching, I came to respect Shandling even more. Not only as a comic, but as person. Yes, he was troubled emotionally, but it wasn't all his own doing. His mother was basically mentally ill and he was sent away as a kid after his older brother died.

The guy truly came from nothing and was a true genius of the screen who all the while had massive confidence problems and was always searching for a purpose that he kind of didn't really find.

The Brad Grey stuff was just painful. Here's a guy he's basically a brother to and he manipulates his show powers to frick over Shandling's efforts all for more greed and power. The lawsuit obviosuly affected him greatly.

Shandling is underrated. He never had the gigantic status as Letterman, or probably even Leno, but he was just as big a comedic heavyweight as them, and probably more of an overall talent.

Shandling turned doen that life only to make a more lasting product. Leno even said it best in the doc.

"besides maybe the Drew Barrymore like stuff from Johnny Carson, nobody is going to see what me and Dave and the rest of us all did a hundred years from now. But people will with what Gary did with The Larry Sanders Show. It will outlast all of us."

Really good. I was engrossed the entire 4+ hours. Always thought Shandling was one of the funniest and sharpest comedians around. Learned a lot about him.

He would kill on Johnny Carson.

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I was engrossed the entire 4+ hours

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Me too, and I knew nothing about the guy. Really good work by Apatow.