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The only negative to getting this particular set is the packaging, which is flimsy and has the DVD's stored in those horrible cardboard slots you can't help but scrape the disc on every time you take it in or out of the holder. Also, it's evident that this didn't get the "fully restored" treatment, but because this is a relevantly recent series to begin with, it hardly needed it, and the picture quality is fine. So if you can deal with that, I would highly recommend this.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Great series, but - although watchable - this particular disk set has poor quality video, audio, and packaging. Still probably an ok value for those not too particular.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I was a Garry Shandling and Rip Torn fan from way back but did not get HBO. So I bought this because they both died and would not be doing any new material soon. Torn was underemployed here and could not show his great talent in such a limited role. Shandling seemed to be attempting to transition into a comedy drama actor as well as a screenwriter. He was a very funny stand up comedian is all I can say about that.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Original series from the Clinton years gives a behind the scenes view of the actors, writers and big personality guests of a late night comedy show. The casting is brilliant and many of the younger people went on to have successful careers of their own. Some of the great people include, Gary Shandling as the beleaguered host who means well but never is far from furthering his own agenda or bringing a large amount of his own drama to put on everyone's shoulders. He is absolutely a riot in this role and becomes the perfect counterpoint to his producer-director-handler-jack of all trades-fixer in Rip Torn. Torn is perfect as a personality that is every bit as large as Shandling's. His propensity to go over the top works well here and his character hits many original ideas that somehow always work very well. The 3rd piece of the main triad is Jeffery Tambor who is absolutely brilliant as the totally insecure Hank Kingsley "Hey Now!!" Tambor is the announcer / Ed McMahon character who is an interesting and complex man who borders on pathetic. He tries to balance this out with chasing skirt, pestering Shandling for companionship, drinking, a very busy voice over schedule, and curious schemes - such as starting a restaurant that has a revolving dining room floor. Other contributors include Jeremy Piven as a writer who obviously thinks less of his others and Jeneane Garafalo who helps prepare the guests for their moment in the light with Shandling. Everyone is funny in their roles but there is a poignant second aspect showing the strange world these big personalities inhabit. Even the older cute man who handles the cue cards is sweet, funny, yet sad at how he is ignored until someone needs something from him. The show was clearly ahead of its time and is spot on showing the workings of late night television world and the gigantic egos that populate that world. Every episode is guaranteed to bring a large belly laugh, plenty of good hard yuks and more than the usual meaningful nods. The ideas that were created first on this series were often used later by many shows. Much copied but rarely matched in my opinion. The only drawback to this DVD set is there is no closed captioning. This is complicated by less than optimal sound reproduction. We had to turn the volume louder on this than any other show we've ever watched. We sometimes have to go back and replay a part to catch the dialog. This isn't terribly bad by any means but it certainly could have been better. I give the series an excellent rating and feel it has much to offer in comedy as an intelligent and often revealing look at late night television. 9.5 out of 10 for the show and 6 out of 10 for the DVD production. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
The best of what the 90s had to offer in comedy. Garry Shandling, like his friend and fellow comic, Jerry Seinfeld, understood that sometimes to get the biggest laugh, put it in the hands of the capable. Then just stand back. Rip Torn is the best example of this--he is at his diplomat-brawler best in this show. Every moment he's on screen is a special one. And the cameos alone are worth watching the show [for]!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
