Larry accepts a script from Chris Elliott for a new sitcom to be produced under Larry's deal with the network, then gives it to Phil for some ""fine tuning."" Hank honors his oldest fan.
WAR
80.4
Wins Above Replacement
“Larry's Sitcom” ranks #70 of 90 The Larry Sanders Show episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 84.6 — Elite. The episode packs 67 scored jokes at 2.3 per minute, averaging 7.3 on craft and 7.1 on impact, with Larry Sanders landing the most laughs. Every joke is ranked below with its individual craft and impact scores.
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Top Jokes
Harlan Wilcox: Harlan, asked if he ever thought he'd live to 100: 'Eh, if I did, I would've killed myself when I was 90.'
Chris Elliott: Actually, I had auditioned for ape number 2, but that was the ape that had to cry because of its... its baby. The ape was actually deeper than me.
Chris Elliott Character Comedy Escalation Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Larry Sanders: Larry: 'Is he... are they still fucking jockeys in this?'
Kevin Nealon: Kevin Nealon's bit about stress: 'Moving is one of the 3 most stressful things in life... the death of a spouse... and moving your dead spouse is number 3.'
Artie · Hank Kingsley: Artie reveals Harlan fell down the stairs and broke his hip. Hank: 'What was he doing on the stairs, Artie?' Artie: 'Falling, apparently.'
All Jokes — 67 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Larry: It's only a little bit higher than the fucking page number, stevie.
Stevie: You just find some hip, funny guy and make him do all the work and you slap your name on it!
Chris Elliott: I was, uh, ape number 3... in congo. I was the ape that fell out of the tree.
Chris Elliott: Actually, I had auditioned for ape number 2, but that was the ape that had to cry because of its... its baby. The ape was actually deeper than me.
Chris Elliott Character Comedy Escalation Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Chris Elliott: Your audience doesn't realize it, but they're actually being treated to the new me. This is the first talk show that I've done post-hair transplant.
Larry: Did I say good show? Yes.
Larry: Or we can try somalia, jupiter, or up my ass.
Artie: May I tell you how much I love your tostito commercials?
Chris Elliott: Or in my lovely teenage colon.
Artie Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement Larry: What, uh, exactly is a teenage colon?
Chris Elliott: It is, uh, a young, healthy colon, I guess.
Hank: He was a paper boy. Right. That didn't last very long, did it?
Artie: Well, you know, it was on fox.
Artie Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement Artie: I don't want to hear about your fucking fan club. Now get out of here. I'm misting.
Artie Irony/Sarcasm Character Comedy Callback Hank: I hope I look that good when I'm 100.
Artie: Looks like he's rotting from the inside.
Hank: How come I'm never invited to those?
Artie: Because, Hank, the circle is just so big, and you and I ain't in it.
Larry: Do they have to be friends or could they just know each other really well?
Beverly: Oh, then he's definitely gay. I mean, honey, please, check out your track record.
Beverly: The black security guard? Gay. Fat grip? Gay. He's married. Yeah, to a big lesbian.
Chris Elliott: I am a jockey.
Larry: Funny. That is... that's a funny idea. Jockey's a funny word, funny underpants, funny... funny way to take a position.
Chris Elliott: And that part of it is kind of like taxi, right. Which was one of my favorites. You know why I think that show was so successful? Because they were all, uh, friends.
Artie Beverly Character Comedy Escalation Deadpan/Understatement Larry: The key to producing is getting out of the way of the creative process.
Artie: Oh, let me write that down. 'Get in the way of...'
Larry: out. Get out of the way.
Artie Character Comedy Reaction Beat Callback Larry: 'Ello. 'ello, old chap. 'ello.
Artie: That is funny! London it is!
Larry: These are mashed potatoes. And they need a little salt.
Phil: Amazing, great psychic!
Larry: How does someone your size... become a jockey?
Chris Elliott: Well, that's what's funny about it. I mean, these are 5 guys that are terrible jockeys.
Chris Elliott: I guess in your perfect world, everybody would be holding hands and jumping into fountains.
Artie Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Beverly: Don't look at me. I have carpal tunnel from forging Larry's signature.
Beverly: Oh, so, either he's gay or he was really, really thirsty. How could he be thirsty? He's the water man.
Beverly: Gaydar never lies.
Hank: Well, use the fan club dues.
Beverly: Well, there's no money in that account. You used most of it up on that trip to acapulco.
Hank: OK, repeat after me: I used that money to pay for the Hank Kingsley fan club newsletter.
Larry: honestly, I've strayed into some awkward territory.
Larry: You know, I'm straight from way back. Yeah!
Larry: my... I... I come from a very meaty family. But I don't eat meat.
Larry: My dad is 64, and, um, he has been a vegetarian for a week now. Proving that it's never too late.
Larry: It's 90210, Hank. Please? We just hate Brenda.
New Water Guy: You're not American, but you speak American. That's pretty wild.
Phil Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Harlan: Eh, if I did, I would've killed myself when I was 90.
Harlan: So you got the coloreds working here, huh?
Beverly Setup/Punchline Wordplay/Pun Callback Harlan: So you got the coloreds working here, huh?
Artie Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Callback Network Executive: I'm sorry. Who's Meg?
Network Executive: Your wife!
Chris Elliott: Well, I don't have a wife in this. This is the, uh... this is the second draft.
Chris Elliott: Is he... are they still fucking jockeys in this?
Kevin Nealon: Moving is one. Um... the death of a spouse is another one. And moving your dead spouse is number 3.
Larry: I don't know. He fell down the stairs and broke his hip, and he's on his way back to arkansas.
Larry: Well, what was he doing on the stairs, Artie?
Artie: Falling, apparently.
Kevin Nealon: OK, well, basically, I play this doctor in an emergency room who heals people with his hands just by touching them.
Larry Sanders: Larry's 'meaty family' confession: 'My brother-in-law is a meat cutter. So... my... I come from a very meaty family. But I don't eat meat.'
Jennie Garth · Larry Sanders: Larry's father has been a vegetarian 'for a week now' — presented as a touching revelation.
Artie: Artie summarizes the New York trip logistics including 'mayor Giuliani's son said that he will do the Pied Piper sketch as long as we don't use real rats.'
Artie Absurdist Deadpan/Understatement ★ Rewatch Artie: Artie's threat: 'Fine. We'll stay in Burbank, and the entire staff will commit suicide.'
Artie Dark/Subversive Deadpan/Understatement New Water Man · Paula: New water man to Paula: 'You're not American, but you speak American. That's pretty wild.'
Hank Kingsley: Hank briefing the lighting team: 'No matter how you light him, he's probably gonna look dead. But make sure you light me very well.'
Harlan Wilcox · Hank Kingsley: The reveal that harlan from Hank's fan club is 100 years old and his plane ride was 'Bad and bumpy. They gave us peanuts and I can't eat peanuts. Give me gas.'
Harlan Wilcox: Harlan, asked if he ever thought he'd live to 100: 'Eh, if I did, I would've killed myself when I was 90.'
Hank Kingsley · Artie's Assistant: Hank tells Harlan he's going to be on the show today. The assistant then delivers: 'Hank, Artie wanted me to let you know you have to be off the set in 15 minutes 'cause they wanna mop the floor.'
Hank Kingsley · Harlan Wilcox: Hank announces Harlan will be on the show today — Harlan: 'No kiddin'.' Hank: 'That's right.'
Harlan Wilcox · Beverly: Harlan looks at Beverly (a Black woman) and says: 'So you got the coloreds working here, huh?'
Hank Kingsley · Beverly · Harlan Wilcox: Beverly's/Hank's reaction beat after Harlan's racist comment — a full beat of horrified silence before Harlan cheerfully asks 'So, when do we go on TV?'
Phil · Larry Sanders: Phil confesses he got 'psychotic' on the rewrite — and keeps asking Larry to confirm he liked it.
Larry Sanders · Chris Elliott · Network Executive: Larry sent Phil's rewrite to the network instead of Chris's original — and network executives are raving about 'Meg and the funky lampshades.' Chris doesn't know anyone named Meg.
Chris Elliott · Network Executive · Larry Sanders: Chris: 'How can he be married? That gets in the way of his relationship with his horse.' / Network exec: 'We all agreed it would be better if it was a human being, frankly.'
Larry Sanders: Larry: 'Is he... are they still fucking jockeys in this?'
Network Executive · Larry Sanders · Chris Elliott: Reaction beat: the room goes silent and the network exec offers: 'Do you guys need a moment alone?'
Network Executive · Larry Sanders: Network exec pivots seamlessly to: 'We have Kevin Nealon under contract... since you have him under contract... for this.' — suggesting Kevin Nealon replace Chris Elliott in his own show.
Kevin Nealon: Kevin Nealon's bit about stress: 'Moving is one of the 3 most stressful things in life... the death of a spouse... and moving your dead spouse is number 3.'
Artie: Artie: 'They say comedy is hard... unless you're Kevin Nealon.' Then: Hank's oldest fan club member fell down the stairs and broke his hip.
Artie Irony/Sarcasm Deadpan/Understatement Artie · Hank Kingsley: Artie reveals Harlan fell down the stairs and broke his hip. Hank: 'What was he doing on the stairs, Artie?' Artie: 'Falling, apparently.'
Hank Kingsley · Artie: 'What was he doing on the stairs, Artie?' / 'Falling, apparently.'
Kevin Nealon · Larry Sanders: Kevin Nealon pitches his new show idea: a doctor who heals people 'with his hands just by touching them.' Larry has just said he made a deal with the network for a situation comedy.
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