When Garry Shandling moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s, he didn't plan on a career in comedy. In fact, his first job there was at an ad agency, but the legendary funny man was clearly destined to shake up the world of humor and entertainment with his clever writing skills. Shandling started out by selling a few scripts to sitcoms like Sanford and Son and Welcome Back, Kotter!, but he found the process far too formulaic and frustrating.
Near the end of the decade, Shandling was in an severe automobile accident that almost took his life. After spending two weeks in the hospital with a crushed spleen, he decided to use the miraculous recovery to embark on a new path: stand-up comedy. He spent the next few years traveling the country, working his way up the ranks and honing his persona as a constantly nervous, cautious, and tightly-wound individual sharing his perspective on the world. In 1981, he was scouted for his first TV appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Following this hilarious performance below, Shandling was asked to return several times and even acted as the permanent guest host until 1987 when he began working on his own show. Listening to him crack jokes in the clip below, it's easy to see just how this talented man made such a huge impression on so many generations of fellow comedians and fans alike.
Take a look and I guarantee you'll be cracking up before he even gets to his second punchline! It's moments like this that will be so missed, but also remain in our hearts forever.
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