Larry seriously considers either quitting the biz or moving his show to New York after the network's new owner begins to meddle with the format.
WAR
70.8
Wins Above Replacement
“N.Y. or L.A.” ranks #58 of 90 The Larry Sanders Show episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 85.6 — Elite. The episode packs 60 scored jokes at 2.3 per minute, averaging 7.3 on craft and 7.0 on impact, with Larry landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Fisherman · Larry: The fisherman does a Larry Sanders-style announcer intro over the river: 'And now, because he made a big mistake... Larry Sanders.' Frogs croak. Larry: 'Fucking frogs.'
Larry: Larry, unprompted, starts humming his own theme song to the fisherman: 'Da da, da-da, da da... Mmm-hmm, mm-mm, mm-hmm.'
Larry Character Comedy Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Chris Farley: Chris Farley's motivational speaker character description/performance: '...you're gonna end up eating a steady diet of government cheese and living in a van down by the river!'
Hank: and now, because he desperately needs your approval, Larry Sanders!
Hank Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Dick: We can't make enough Of that shit.
Artie Setup/Punchline Character Comedy ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 60 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Hank: That sign says, 'applesauce.' No. No. No, I'm kidding. It says, 'applause.'
Hank Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Hank: and now, because he desperately needs your approval, Larry Sanders!
Hank Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Larry: The buyer came in During the evening And, uh, found only $20 in the register And passed.
Larry Deadpan/Understatement Observational Larry: Her husband maury Has more credibility As far as I'm concerned.
Larry Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Artie: Welcome to the monkey house. Pass the penis, please. Am I right?
Hank Absurdist Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Larry: Later i'll pass out Some transcripts So we can all Try to figure out What Hank meant At our leisure.
Larry Deadpan/Understatement Reaction Beat ★ Rewatch Callback Artie: When people lie, They tend to cover their mouths. I learned that From jack webb when I was on dragnet, 1970.
Artie Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Beverly: What are you listed under, Hank or Kingsley? Or hey, now?
Larry Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Callback Hank: It was during The mid-eighties, And I was carrying Some excess weight. And I had a persistent Skin rash, And it was hard for me To get dates.
Artie Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Dick: A late-night news magazine Wrap-up of the day's events, But with a hip, Mtv sensibility.
Hank Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Dick: We can't make enough Of that shit.
Artie Setup/Punchline Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Larry: I see what's wrong. You're drunk.
Hank Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Stevie: Yes! Fuck that beer farm! We are out of here!
Artie Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Stevie: I-- I live For this shit. It gets me all Hot and bothered.
Larry: You didn't see us. You saw nothing. You heard nothing. It's not what It looks like.
Dick Character Comedy Observational the new Larry Sanders show, afternightline. Unfortunately, That's the actual title They wanna use.
Larry Deadpan/Understatement Setup/Punchline Stevie: Great idea for a sitcom.
Artie: You ever see A scorsese film?
Larry: Yeah.
Artie: You know, Like goodfellas?
Larry: Yeah.
Larry: What if we shoot In new jersey?
Artie: Even worse. They live there.
Artie: Hey, butt-bongo. Bravo!
Howard: You're a big fan? Hey, take your top off.
Larry Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Larry: The door that's marked 'can.'
Howard: It's like she's Got something Shoved up her ass All the time. It's like she's On the perpetual rag.
Jancis: And I really think You should move The show to new york.
Jancis: I think It'd be really good for us To have some time apart.
Howard: well, I can reveal, for the first time, ladies and gentlemen... Larry Sanders will be taking his show to new york
Phil: He's taking us To new york.
Darlene: What if he's not Taking all of us?
Beverly: For making me Look like a liar In front of The entire staff. It was A real pleasure.
Artie: You got a huge ass. It's a huge, huge ass. That's why we sent for That new lens from sony, So we could Cover that huge ass.
Larry: I have nightmares Of someone like you Coming through My window.
Larry Sid Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort ★ Rewatch Chris Farley: You're not going to amount To jack squat! You're gonna end up Eatin' a steady diet Of government cheese And livin' in a van Down by the river!
Larry Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Chris Farley: I flew all the way in From new york for this. You know?
Phil: I knew it! It's new york!
Larry: this is the final Larry Sanders show That you've watched tonight
Darlene: The name's darlene, You fucking idiot.
Darlene: The name's darlene, You fucking idiot.
Dick Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Artie: You're a miserable fucker. A real miserable fucker.
Larry: * Da da, da-da, da da * And now, because He made a big mistake... Larry Sanders.
Howard Stern: The intercom crackles — it's Howard Stern's live radio show broadcasting from Larry's living room, where Stern reveals Larry is moving his show to New York and going on after Nightline.
Beverly · Phil · Staff: The staff hears the Stern broadcast. One staffer: 'He's taking us to New York.' Another: 'What if he's not taking all of us?' A third: 'That ass!'
Beverly · Hank Kingsley · Phil: The entire staff overhears Howard revealing the New York plan on the radio — Beverly insists 'that's pure speculation,' Hank says 'don't you think, if Larry's gonna take the show to New York, he'd tell me?'
Hank: Hank corners Larry backstage: 'As you know, it's a higher cost of living in New York, and, um, I think that should be reflected in my, uh, paycheck.'
Hank Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Agent/Stevie · Larry: Agent explains why the ABC deal is only for one year: 'These guys never last. He'll be out of the job within a year. We renegotiate.' Larry: 'That makes no sense at all.'
Darlene · Larry: Darlene asks if she'll still be able to go to New York if Larry and Hank go. Larry dismisses her with 'In a second, Darlene.' The moment he's gone, she mutters: 'The name's Darlene, you fucking idiot.'
Larry: The agent tells Larry: 'You know what your problem is, Stevie? You talk to me like you think I believe you.'
Larry Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Beverly: Beverly confronts Larry before the show: 'I just wanted to say thanks. For making me look like a liar in front of the entire staff. It was a real pleasure.'
Beverly Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Artie: Artie confronts Larry in the wings during the warm-up: 'You got a huge ass. It's a huge, huge ass. That's why we sent for that new lens from Sony, so we could cover that huge ass.'
Artie Character Comedy Dark/Subversive ★ Rewatch Larry · Chris Farley: Larry introduces Chris Farley (SNL) by listing his credits: 'I love everything you do on Saturday Night Live. I love the—' then pivots: 'I have nightmares of someone like you coming through my window.'
Chris Farley: Chris Farley's motivational speaker character description/performance: '...you're gonna end up eating a steady diet of government cheese and living in a van down by the river!'
Chris Farley · Larry: Farley, after Larry starts wrapping: 'I thought maybe it was gonna be longer. I thought— I've only been out here a couple minutes. Is that how it—Er, uh...' Larry: 'It is a little short.'
Chris Farley · Larry · Staff: Farley protests: 'I flew all the way in from New York for this.' Larry: 'You flew in from New York? How long is that flight?' Then staff immediately: 'I knew it! It's New York!'
Larry: Larry announces on air that 'this is the final Larry Sanders Show' and he's retiring to Montana 'to live the rest of my life as just an everyday guy.'
Larry Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Larry Sanders: Larry announces on air that this is the 'final Larry Sanders Show' — a fake retirement speech with a full staff thank-you — then reveals: 'If anyone needs me, I'll be in Montana.'
Larry Sanders Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Callback Larry · Chris Farley: During his tearful on-air goodbye, Larry spots Farley backstage and whispers: 'Hey, Chris. Listen, I have some sketch ideas. Could you take 'em down to SNL?'
Larry · Darlene: In the middle of his retirement tribute, Larry 'acknowledges' Darlene with 'the rest of the office staff' — not by name. Darlene, on camera: 'The name's Darlene, you fucking idiot.'
Artie: Artie, after the show, to Larry: 'You're a miserable fucker. A real miserable fucker.'
Artie Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Larry · Fisherman: Scene cut to Montana fishing. Larry is actually in Montana. He falls into the river ('Shit.'). A fisherman hushes him: 'You're scaring the fish.'
Larry Fisherman Physical/Slapstick Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Callback Fisherman · Larry: The fisherman asks Larry: 'You watch TV much?' Larry doesn't answer. Then: 'Stay up late?'
Larry: Larry, unprompted, starts humming his own theme song to the fisherman: 'Da da, da-da, da da... Mmm-hmm, mm-mm, mm-hmm.'
Larry Character Comedy Meta/Self-Referential ★ Rewatch Fisherman · Larry: The fisherman does a Larry Sanders-style announcer intro over the river: 'And now, because he made a big mistake... Larry Sanders.' Frogs croak. Larry: 'Fucking frogs.'
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