Larry, worried about the implications of a permanent guest host, sabotages temporary host Jon Stewart at every turn. Hank buys a less-than-perfect used car from Elvis Costello. David Duchovny's friendliness makes Larry wonder about his sexual orientation.
WAR
108.8
Wins Above Replacement
“Everybody Loves Larry” ranks #6 of 90 The Larry Sanders Show episodes on the Humor Index, scoring 91.8 — Elite. The episode packs 75 scored jokes at 2.8 per minute, averaging 7.6 on craft and 7.3 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
David Duchovny · Larry: Duchovny describes his heterosexual feelings for Larry: 'It's the kind of feeling I normally have with a woman I like. It's like a warmth or a buzz. It's definitely a heterosexual feeling, but it's directed at you. It's very confusing to me.'
David Duchovny · Larry: After Duchovny pretends to be upset that he's being moved to Jon Stewart's show (due to Artie's secret machinations), he breaks: 'God, you really care about me, don't you?'
Larry: Yeah, look at me. I'm gorgeous. I'm just fucking gorgeous.
Artie Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy ★ Rewatch What are you doing?
Hank: I'm mocking him Because he's an asshole.
Hank Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Hank: Hank's muffler mechanic confrontation: '$300 for a water pump? Hank! But I still smell gas. Hank! Yes! I do realize that the water pump is not connected to the fuel system, but I just had the mistaken impression that you had a nose. Tally ho, fuck face!'
Hank Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch All Jokes — 75 analyzed
Show all ↓ Hide ↑ Network Executive: Really? Which one?
Arthur: George Mcatee. He's a wonderful Character actor. He played the janitor With the shaky leg On episode 14.
Artie Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy ★ Rewatch How, may you ask? Well, they're all The same man-- john tesh.
Artie Setup/Punchline Observational Network Executive: Well, Of course not. No. That would be The news.
Arthur: A permanent guest host Is a backup quarterback. Ooh, I'm so sorry, Melanie. I don't follow sports. I love those earrings.
Artie Character Comedy Reaction Beat Hank: My god, if this car gets me Just one third the pussy That man got, I die a happy man.
Brian: Don't put yourself down. I bet you get half.
Larry Character Comedy Observational ★ Rewatch Elvis Costello: I don't wanna be One of those sad Male menopause guys, You know, drivin' around In their sports car, You know, looking for pussy. Nothing sadder.
Hank: That's why they sold Alaska to us for-- For nothing.
Larry: by louis farrakhan's Account We have 750,000 here tonight.
this is The first time in a long time That someone Was actually trying To get out of madonna.
Calling her, Uh, mom 'mama.' Calling her dad 'Sperm donor.'
David Duchovny: It's like the shining up here. This damn show.
Larry Setup/Punchline Observational Hank: ¡hola, jefe! ¡gracias, senoritas and caballeros!
Hank: 2 more shows, And it's a week Of fun in the sun.
Brian: These language tapes Are really Paying off for you.
Larry Setup/Punchline Wordplay/Pun Artie: I hope you don't ask Everyone you meet Which way My peter teeters.
Larry Setup/Punchline Dark/Subversive Larry: Do you know what I'm talking about? Huh?
Hank: I spent last night Out at hollywood park, Begging for jump-starts From race-track scum. This morning I had a delightful hour On the side of the 405, Rehanging the muffler With my goddamn necktie.
Hank: But I spent twice Your annual salary On this car. It blows out smoke That smells like A dead horse. When I touch the cd player And the steering wheel At the same time I get a shock. And the engine stalls out If I cut a fart.
Hank: What you're smelling Is pure driving power.
Hank Character Comedy Physical/Slapstick Hank: Of course there's Something wrong. Get a fucking mop And meet me in the garage.
Brian Deadpan/Understatement Irony/Sarcasm Jon Stewart: Then we have This other thing, Which reminds me A lot of my old show, Which was not as popular, And, in fact, They stopped making.
Artie: The incomparable Charles nelson reilly.
Jon Stewart: Again?
Artie Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Larry: 'The truth Is out there.' What does that mean?
Beverly: It's from the show.
Artie Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Larry: Yeah, look at me. I'm gorgeous. I'm just fucking gorgeous.
Artie Wordplay/Pun Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Brian: I don't think They think about sex When they watch you.
Larry: Really?
Brian: Really, but I haven't Exactly taken a survey.
Brian: A third think he's gay, A third think he's bi, And the rest don't care. They just want to Kiss him anyways, Which would be me.
Hank Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Callback Hank: Tally ho, fuck face!
Hank Character Comedy Escalation Staff Member: Your car's on fire.
Hank: God damn it! God damn it! When were you Gonna tell me?!
Jon Stewart: I'm gonna talk To brent musberger About abc, And then talk To zsa zsa gabor About brent musberger, And then just Ride that crest Right into Charles nelson reilly. Then I'm gonna hang myself With my own shoelaces.
Hank Escalation Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Larry: Friends? Uh, well, The blowfish are. Hootie-- hootie Seems aloof.
Hank Escalation Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Callback Staff Member: Jon, was your car Parked next to Hank's?
Jon Stewart: Yeah, thank you. That's a great spot.
Hank Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Larry: You're just trying To get in good With Jon Stewart So that when He pushes me out You'll have a job.
Hank Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Artie: Oh, Larry, Your girlfriend's On the phone. You better hurry. He's in a good mood Today.
What are you doing?
Hank: I'm mocking him Because he's an asshole.
Hank Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Hank: Man, I should've Learned my lesson When I bought That moped from sting.
Elvis Costello: There's your problem. You don't buy Anything from sting.
Larry: I am flattered That you are attracted To me and everything, But I don't think I can really respond, Because, clearly, you-- And I support it Completely-- are gay, And I'm straight. That's, um, I'm-- That's ok.
David Duchovny: I'm not-- I'm not gay. I'm-- I'm also straight.
David Duchovny: It's the kind of feeling That I normally have With a woman I like. It's like a warmth Or a buzz. It's definitely A heterosexual feeling, But it's directed At you. It's very Confusing to me.
Elvis Costello: With what you pay me, You're lucky You got the guitar.
Larry: Oh, he's got a little Mad cow disease.
Elvis Costello: Ah, we'll keep him Out of england.
Larry Character Comedy Deadpan/Understatement Network Executive: I have seen that Three times.
David Duchovny: God, you really care About me, don't you?
David Duchovny: Are you uncomfortable?
Larry: A little bit.
Brian Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Artie: You know, you talk To people on television, Next thing, They think that you're Their new best friend.
Larry Brian Setup/Punchline Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Brian: Brian on Duchovny: 'A third think he's gay, a third think he's bi, and the rest don't care. They just want to kiss him anyways, which would be me.'
Brian Character Comedy Setup/Punchline Brian: Brian, upon hearing the security guard is looking for him: 'The gorgeous security guard? Get over here! I'm in trouble, and I love it.'
Brian Character Comedy Running Gag Callback Hank: Hank's muffler mechanic confrontation: '$300 for a water pump? Hank! But I still smell gas. Hank! Yes! I do realize that the water pump is not connected to the fuel system, but I just had the mistaken impression that you had a nose. Tally ho, fuck face!'
Hank Character Comedy Escalation ★ Rewatch Hank · Staff Member: The car fire: 'Your car's on fire.' Hank explodes — 'God damn it! When were you gonna tell me?!'
Phil/Writer: Writers' room: 'We can still call it Welcome to the White House. Not that Hank in a wig isn't funny. Just it's a little mean.'
Phil/Writer Meta/Self-Referential Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Jon Stewart: Jon's guest week summary: 'I'm gonna talk to Brent Musburger about ABC, then talk to Zsa Zsa Gabor about Brent Musburger, then just ride that crest right into Charles Nelson Reilly. Then I'm gonna hang myself with my own shoelaces.'
Jon Stewart: Jon about Hootie: 'Hootie seems aloof.'
Jon Stewart: Jon to Larry: 'You wouldn't happen to be friends with Sally Struthers, would you?'
Jon Stewart: Jon: 'Normally, I would do this behind your back, but, you know, you're a good guy.'
Larry · Artie: The Duchovny guest-stealing argument: 'Why'd you steal Duchovny from me?' 'Get off it. You stole Duchovny. I just took him back.' 'Well, I had to throw Jon a bone.'
Artie · Larry: Artie: 'Besides, you said Duchovny's making goo-goo eyes at you. I thought I was doing you a favor.' Larry: 'Why don't you just let me worry about his little goo-goo eyes?'
Artie Larry Character Comedy Cringe/Discomfort Callback Larry: Larry's accusation: 'You're just trying to get in good with Jon Stewart so that when he pushes me out, you'll have a job.'
Larry Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Callback Artie · Larry: Artie: 'You don't know what the fuck you're talking about.' Larry: 'Fuck I don't.'
Artie · Assistant: Assistant interrupts the heated argument: 'Excuse me, Larry. David Duchovny's on line 2.' Artie: 'Oh, Larry, your girlfriend's on the phone. You better hurry. He's in a good mood today.'
Hank · Unknown Staff Member: During Elvis Costello's performance, someone is visibly mocking him: 'What are you doing?' 'I'm mocking him because he's an asshole.'
Elvis Costello · Hank: After the performance, backstage: Hank confronts Costello about the car. Costello: 'It's not a car. It's a driving machine.'
Hank · Elvis Costello: Hank: 'Man, I should've learned my lesson when I bought that moped from Sting. There's your problem. You don't buy anything from Sting.'
Hank: Hank: 'Oh, save it for your Limey bullshit love songs, will you, please? You owe me money, asshole.'
Hank Character Comedy Irony/Sarcasm Hank · Director: The director calls '5 seconds' and Hank has to immediately pivot from furious confrontation to a cheerful on-air persona — then sighs and walks out smiling.
Elvis Costello: Back on air, Costello says it's 'always nice to be back' — then backstage: 'With what you pay me, you're lucky you got the guitar.'
Larry: Larry's monologue sign-off guest list: 'I want to thank P.J. O'Rourke, comedian Kip Addotta, and of course Elvis Costello. And we'll see you all tomorrow night... Jon Stewart will be guest hosting. And uh, you may now flip.'
Larry Meta/Self-Referential Irony/Sarcasm ★ Rewatch Larry · David Duchovny: Larry confronts Duchovny about his apparent attraction: 'Clearly, you — and I support it completely — are gay, and I'm straight.' Duchovny: 'I'm not gay. I'm also straight.'
David Duchovny: Duchovny: 'That's OK. I'm not — I'm not gay. I'm — I'm also straight.'
David Duchovny · Larry: Duchovny describes his heterosexual feelings for Larry: 'It's the kind of feeling I normally have with a woman I like. It's like a warmth or a buzz. It's definitely a heterosexual feeling, but it's directed at you. It's very confusing to me.'
Larry · David Duchovny: Larry: 'I'm a little uncomfortable.' Duchovny: 'Oh god, 6:30. I gotta run.'
Roger (Network Exec) · Artie: Network exec Roger's lineup critique — runs through the terrible Jon Stewart guest list and then reveals: 'And Joan Embry. Well, Joan's bringing in a 20-foot snake and some wonderful footage of a cow giving birth to a rare albino calf. I have seen that three times.'
David Duchovny · Larry: Duchovny appears on the lot, introduces 'Carol' — a woman — and asks for 'just a minute' alone with Larry.
Network Executive · Artie: Network exec's Jon Stewart guest lineup critique — Sally Struthers ('funny'), Zsa Zsa Gabor ('she's hot'), Charles Nelson Reilly ('hilarious'), Jamie Farr, Joan Embry — then: 'I have seen that [albino calf birth footage] three times.'
David Duchovny · Artie: Duchovny introduces Carol: 'This is the friend who I was visiting on the lot yesterday.' Artie brings her in just as the exec says he's 'about to make you very happy.'
David Duchovny · Larry: After Duchovny pretends to be upset that he's being moved to Jon Stewart's show (due to Artie's secret machinations), he breaks: 'God, you really care about me, don't you?'
Larry · David Duchovny: Duchovny: 'Are you uncomfortable?' Larry: 'A little bit.' Duchovny: 'Okay, I'll see you.'
Artie: Artie's coda: 'Next time, kick him in the balls.'
Artie Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy Artie: Artie's summary advice after Duchovny leaves: 'It's my job to protect the host from people like that.'
Artie Deadpan/Understatement Character Comedy ★ Rewatch Artie · Larry: Artie's observation about television friendship: 'You know, you talk to people on television, next thing, they think you're their new best friend.' Larry: 'Well, he IS a friend of mine, you know.' Artie: 'Well, go with me on this.'
Charles Nelson Reilly · Artie: The closing scene: Charlie (Charles Nelson Reilly, apparently) arrives looking for Jon Stewart to 'have a drink and talk' — completely unaware of his place in the show's comedic hierarchy.
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