"It's Garry Shandling's Show."

1986-1990
A singular slice of TV history. A cable show before cable shows hit the big time. Eye-poppingly irreverent and revolutionary - against the backdrop of a regular sitcom, Garry would break the fourth wall to talk right to the audience. They turned conventions on their ears, and milked the silly for all it was worth. In hindsight, it plays like a junior varsity warm-up for the volcano of brilliance that was THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW...but it's more than worth a spin.
GREATEST EPISODES (season)
-Live Election Show (3)
It wasn't until the third season that they finally mastered the light, loose energy that makes the show fly. Garry covers the Dukakis/Bush election returns. He brings in Don Cornelius of SOUL TRAIN as his in-studio (er, in-home) correspondent. Who wouldn't?
-Save Mr. Peck's (3)
A cornucopia of all-time comedy greats would probably elevate this onto any "SHANDLING'S Best" list all by themselves...but they're woven into a ferociously fun frolic. Mr. Peck's, the "legendary" club where Garry and every other comedy luminary of the past four decades got their start, is about to be turned into a strip mall. Garry launches a benefit to save the day. He has to chloroform the headlining act, Red Buttons, to get him to come, and the cheeky wonderfulness in this three-parter never lets up. Danny Dayton, who made a career out of unforgettable guest spots (plus a recurring role on ALL IN THE FAMILY) is Mr. Peck. Rob Reiner, Steve Allen, Chevy Chase, Martin Mull, Carl Reiner, Father Guido Sarducci, Dabney Coleman, Paula Poundstone, Tony Orlando and Dawn, and Charlie Callas are all on hand to spoof (or just be) themselves. The most memorable turn of all is given by Michael Davis(?), who does a juggling routine with ping pong and bowling balls that is not to be believed. And ah, those lost days when date rape jokes were funny.
-Garry Goes Golfing (3)
Not the sharpest effort, but not far off, with perhaps the most iconic moment of the show, when Garry hits the charity orphan poster boy in the head with a golf shot. Guest Martin Mull hits all the right notes, too.
-The Wedding Show (4)
When the hall burns down, Garry and Pheobe's wedding gets moved to on-air (whether they like it or not). Too many guest stars (Charles Nelson Reilly, Bert Convy, Connie Stevens, Ned Beatty) hit the right notes for this'n to be denied.
-The Talent Show (4)
Garry is off doing the hot tub comedy circuit, so the cast puts on a talent show...which gets sabotaged by the Phantom of the Studio (Mark Blankfield - ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS, JEKYLL AND HYDE...TOGETHER AGAIN), who kidnaps Phoebe (Jessica Harper) and forces her to do an hysterical ballad version of "Y.M.C.A". Nancy (Molly Cheek) does a torch number that will make you rue the fact that she remained ever the "platonic friend". It falls just shy of transcendence by not having an end-of-show hot tub appearance by one of the Golden Girls.