by The shocking sudden death of Garry Shandling shook up the comedy community, with many comedians owing more than debts of gratitude to the 66-year-old.
Conan O’Brien devoted much of his monologue and early program of Thursday’s Conan to talking about Shandling. A GQ profile of Shandling in 2010 opens with an anecdote about when Shandling and O’Brien shared a flight back to Los Angeles from Hawaii. O’Brien went on to explain how he ended up hanging out with Shandling in Hawaii right after he left NBC and The Tonight Show, and how much Shandling’s counsel meant to him. Plus a great moment years earlier they shared when O’Brien hosted the Emmys.
Seth Meyers talked on Late Night last night about how much The Larry Sanders Show stays with him.
Jimmy Kimmel ended his monologue last night by saying “No Flipping!,” and online posted links to Shandling’s essays and late-night sets, plus this:
Garry Shandling was as kind and generous as he was funny and that is saying a lot.
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) March 24, 2016
From Kevin Nealon:
From Jeffrey Tambor, his co-star on Larry Sanders:
“I am so sad. Garry was my dear friend and was and always will be my teacher. Garry redesigned the wheel of comedy and he was the kindest and funniest of Geniuses. I will miss him so much.”
From Kathy Griffin:
Sunday, my longtime friend Garry Shandling was here, making every1 laugh. I loved him. I'll miss our talks the most. pic.twitter.com/Ud8AQXNBXN
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) March 24, 2016
From Jerry Seinfeld:
From Judd Apatow, who received an early big break from Shandling by writing jokes for him:
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) March 24, 2016
From Alan Zweibel, who co-created It’s Garry Shandling’s Show:
Today I lost a friend and comedy partner. R.I.P. .@GarryShandling Make God laugh the way you did all who knew and loved you.
— Alan Zweibel (@AlanZweibel) March 25, 2016
And from Shandling himself, in a 2007 piece for Esquire:
“I had a car accident when I was twenty-seven in which I was nearly killed. I had a vivid near-death experience that involved a voice asking, “Do you want to continue leading Garry Shandling’s life?” Without thinking, I said, “Yes.” Since then, I’ve been stuck living in the physical world while knowing, without a doubt, that there’s something much more meaningful within it all. That realization is what drives my life and work.”
“I remember when I was a struggling comic appearing for the first time in Las Vegas. Don Rickles came in to watch the new guy. Afterward, he came backstage, and I asked him if he thought I was funny. He said, “You know when you’re funny. You don’t have to ask.” And he was right.”
