The WORST episodes of The Larry Sanders Show

Every episode of The Larry Sanders Show ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The Larry Sanders Show!

Comic Garry Shandling draws upon his own talk show experiences to create the character of Larry Sanders, a paranoid, insecure host of a late night talk show. Larry, along with his obsequious TV sidekick Hank Kingsley and his fiercely protective producer Artie, allows Garry Shandling and his talented writers to look behind the scenes and to show us a convincing slice of behind the camera life.

Last Updated: 4/23/2024Network: HBOStatus: Ended
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The Roast
star
6.69
62 votes

#1 - The Roast

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 2/19/1997

Artie works hard to make sure all of Larry's ""friends"" attend a celebrity roast in his honor while Hank tries to learn how to handle hecklers so he can be the roastmaster.

Directors: Michael Lehmann
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Another List
star
6.79
61 votes

#2 - Another List

Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/15/1998

Larry's ratings are slipping and the suits are looking to replace him with regular guest host Jon Stewart. Hank tries to trade for a fan's ""Hey Now"" license plates.

Directors: Thomas Schlamme
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Beginning of the End
star
7.05
62 votes

#3 - The Beginning of the End

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/22/1998

Kenny Mitchell joins the show as creative consultant and makes major changes to the format. Larry battles with the network and his agent over his contract.

Directors: David Mirkin
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hank's Sex Tape
star
7.11
93 votes

#4 - Hank's Sex Tape

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/30/1995

Hank fears for his career after Phil sets a scandalous sex tape circulating among the entertainment community.

Directors: Todd Holland
Writer: Jon Vitti
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Breakdown (2)
star
7.20
71 votes

#5 - The Breakdown (2)

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/2/1993

Directors: Todd Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Beverly's Secret
star
7.22
55 votes

#6 - Beverly's Secret

Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/26/1998

Hank does a remote from Wisconsin. The staff tries to guess the father of Beverly's baby.

Writer: Adam Resnick
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Conflict of Interest
star
7.24
62 votes

#7 - Conflict of Interest

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 9/27/1995

Paula's dating Larry's agent, but Larry fears he's just using her to book his clients on the show. The network objects to Larry's ethnic guest spots. Hank tries to stiff Phil on a $20 loan.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
As My Career Lay Dying
star
7.29
55 votes

#8 - As My Career Lay Dying

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/29/1998

Larry's staff prepares for the end by secretly looking for new jobs.

Directors: Garry Shandling
Writer: Peter Tolan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Matchmaker
star
7.33
60 votes

#9 - The Matchmaker

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 1/8/1997

Paula's new assistant, Marylou, manages to upset everyone, even the affable Tim Conway, with her ineffective pre-interview techniques and celebrity research. Hank's effort to cheer up a despondent Brian with a night on the town at several gay bars earns him a prominent mention in Army Archerd's column.

Directors: Todd Holland
Writer: John Riggi
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
0.409
star
7.33
60 votes

#10 - 0.409

Season 4 - Episode 15 - Aired 11/8/1995

Larry begins an affair with a much younger show intern which causes resentment among the staff and places him in the awkward position of meeting her parents. Hank insists on a buying a race horse for himself, Larry and Artie in honor of the show's eighth anniversary.

Directors: Alan Myerson
Writer: Peter Tolan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Nothing Personal
star
7.35
62 votes

#11 - Nothing Personal

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 9/13/1995

Paula has trouble booking guests for sweeps week, so she leans on Larry to ask his friend Jeff Goldblum, who in turn offers to help Larry get a date with a network publicist.

Directors: Todd Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Prank
star
7.38
60 votes

#12 - The Prank

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/29/1997

Larry becomes convinced that his new paramour Lori Loughlin has taken money from his wallet. Hank tries to impress a woman by putting her precocious son on the show as an expert in geography. Phil arranges for phony auditions so he can meet some beautiful actresses.

Directors: Michael Lange
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Everybody Loves Larry
star
7.39
66 votes

#13 - Everybody Loves Larry

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 11/13/1996

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.

Directors: Todd Holland
Writer: Peter Tolan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Breakdown (1)
star
7.40
89 votes

#14 - The Breakdown (1)

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/2/1993

Larry is a wreck as he faces sinking ratings, no Emmy nominations, and a divorce suit from Jeannie. So Hank and Artie try to fix him up with attractive women. But the only one he really connects with is Francine, his first wife.

Directors: Todd Holland
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Pilots and Pens Lost
star
7.42
59 votes

#15 - Pilots and Pens Lost

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/5/1998

Phil leaves the show to write a pilot. Larry gives Artie a special gift.

Directors: Alan Myerson
Writer: Peter Tolan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The New Writer
star
7.43
61 votes

#16 - The New Writer

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 12/18/1996

Hank suffers paranoid agonies when he fears that Kevin Nealon is hanging around trying to get his job. Phil has trouble adjusting to the woman Larry has hired as a new writer.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Hank's New Assistant
star
7.50
68 votes

#17 - Hank's New Assistant

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/26/1995

When Darlene quits while on vacation, Hank hires the temp who was filling in for her. Larry's reluctant to tell Dana Carvey he doesn't like Carvey's Larry Sanders impersonation.

Directors: Todd Holland
Writer: John Riggi
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Performance Artist
star
7.51
75 votes

#18 - The Performance Artist

Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 8/25/1993

In an effort to freshen up the guest list, Larry agrees to have a controversial performance on, then chickens out when he sees the guy's routine.

Directors: Ken Kwapis
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Larry Loses Interest
star
7.52
85 votes

#19 - Larry Loses Interest

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/21/1993

As the show's traditional anniversary show approaches, Larry finds it all boring and tedious, so he plays with the idea of writing a book while rumors spread about a film role.

Directors: Todd Holland
Writer: Judd Apatow
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Life Behind Larry
star
7.52
52 votes

#20 - Life Behind Larry

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/7/1993

Everybody has their own ideas about who should host the show being readied to follow Larry, while Larry worries over not winning a major award again.

Directors: Todd Holland
Writer: Peter Tolan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Flirt Episode
star
7.56
180 votes

#21 - The Flirt Episode

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/19/1992

Jeannie becomes very jealous and accuses Larry of flirting with a playful Mimi Rogers on the show.

Directors: Ken Kwapis
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Promise
star
7.57
211 votes

#22 - Promise

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/22/1992

Larry is annoyed that David Spade is booked on another show and Hank's fan club visits.

Directors: Ken Kwapis
Writer: Joe Toplyn
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Hey Now Episode
star
7.59
113 votes

#23 - The Hey Now Episode

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 11/7/1992

Hank falls asleep during the show, which is just the last straw for a fed-up Larry.

Directors: Ken Kwapis
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Larry's Partner
star
7.62
78 votes

#24 - Larry's Partner

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 7/28/1993

Larry reluctantly agrees to hire his former comedy partner as a show writer.

Directors: Todd Holland
Writer: Drake Sather
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Warmth Episode
star
7.66
142 votes

#25 - The Warmth Episode

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 10/24/1992

Worried about his ratings, Larry hires a focus group to help him tighten up the show.

Directors: Ken Kwapis
Writer: Paul Simms
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV