This Garry Shandling story is very funny and a great insight into a comedy legend
It’s been three years since the death of Garry Shandling and writer Ed Solomon, who worked on the brilliant It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, was moved to share this lovely story about the great man.
It’s very funny and also a wonderful insight into how his mind worked.
1.
I've never told this story about Garry Shandling because I felt like it would violate some weird vow I made to myself 25 years ago. But here, missing Garry on the 3rd anniversary of his death, I'd like to tell it. https://t.co/bbVQ9a5fkQ
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) March 25, 2019
2.
Several years after we worked together on his 1st TV show, I was outside at a cafe on Beverly Blvd( (I was working on the outline of Men in Black, so it’d have to be be early 93). And I happened to be wearing a crew gift t-shirt that said: “It’s Garry Shandling’s T-shirt.”
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) 25 March 2019
3.
I was there hours. At one point I got the sense I should look up. And what I saw was Garry, crossing the street kitty corner from me (while remaining on the opposite sidewalk). But here’s the thing: he was wearing a t-shirt. And that t-shirt said: “It’s Ed Solomon’s T-shirt.”
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) 25 March 2019
4.
I have no idea how long he’d been there – or if he’d passed several times (my head had been buried). And he never looked at me. Not once. He just kept walking.. turned a corner… and disappeared. And that was it. No 10-minute later smiling drive by… nothing.
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) 25 March 2019
5.
After work I went home and called. But when he picked up, I didn’t say anything. I just asked if he wanted to shoot hoops on the weekend. And when we played — nothing was said. Nor when we ate. So I said nothing. Nor did he. Ever.
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) 25 March 2019
6.
Some called Garry “The Comedian’s Comedian.” (I think one article even called him “The Comedian’s Comedian’s Comedian.”) But man.. It’s not just his going THAT FAR to build – then play – a visual gag in real space – for an audience of ONE – that gets me. It’s something more.
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) 25 March 2019
7.
Garry knew that by NOT showing up for the laugh, he could access something far deeper, far sweeter, far more rare and far more exquisite: that moment NOT when the audience explodes… but the moment BEFORE that moment. The moment of the ANTICIPATION of that moment.
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) 25 March 2019
8.
And he knew that by NOT going there.. by not coming in for the kill – or the credit – he could – truly – make that feeling last a lot longer. Maybe even forever.
I think about Garry a lot. My life would – literally – not have been the same without him. Rest in.. well, just rest.
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) 25 March 2019
Just wonderful.
A perfect anecdote. https://t.co/VXvDzQAPyY
— Joel Morris (@gralefrit) March 25, 2019
I am so grateful that you share your stores with us. You are a great story teller. There's always heart in your story. I know we've chatted about that before, but people like you should be thanked continually for bringing the message of heart and love to us. So thank you.
— Eric Mann (@MydogPony) 25 March 2019
Hey man. thank you so much for this
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) 25 March 2019
When I am sad and lonely, I play my Larry Sanders DVDs.
— DAllen (@LastFishEaten) 25 March 2019
So would Garry. 🙂
— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) 25 March 2019
This is a truly great story https://t.co/w4Fqt7PK0Q
— Diedrich Bader (@bader_diedrich) March 25, 2019
started watching the larry sanders show this weekend at long last and this story just made me cry in a cab? https://t.co/DoeAYVw9PM
— raina douris (@RahRahRaina) March 25, 2019
Wow now that is an exquisite story about Garry Shandling https://t.co/jxPP6alxKU
— Séamas It Ever Was (@shockproofbeats) March 25, 2019
Thank you. And I want an “Ed Solomon” T-shirt.
— Jim Uhls (@wohojak) 25 March 2019
— Hilary 😏wens (@Hil67) 25 March 2019
This is a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing it.
— Aric and the Voteasaurus (@HatKidSays) 25 March 2019
