by Judd Apatow
First published 2019
Judd Apatow creates an intimate portrait of comedy legend Garry Shandling through personal journals, photographs, and contributions from fellow performers. Apatow worked under Shandling on The Larry Sanders Show and remained close until Shandling's death. The book expands on Apatow's Emmy-winning HBO documentary The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling. Shandling's private writings reveal his philosophical nature and spiritual inquiries alongside his comedy observations. The collection includes a heartbreaking letter Shandling wrote to his deceased brother as an adult, exploring how this childhood loss shaped his life and career. Fellow comedians and industry figures contribute essays about Shandling's influence on their work. Unpublished script fragments and unperformed stand-up material appear throughout. The book examines how Shandling's shows It's Garry Shandling's Show and The Larry Sanders Show influenced later series like 30 Rock and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Beyond his professional success, the journals expose Shandling's struggles with fame and the entertainment industry, revealing the personal costs of his artistic achievements.
Genres: non-fiction, biography-memoir, comedy
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, personal-journey
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
472 pages · Hardcover · Random House