Appreciating Garry Shandling

I recently binge watched Jerry Seinfeld's COMEDIANS IN CARS GETTING COFFEE. The show delves into the minds of comedians, examining what makes them tick and that never ending quest for a homerun in the humor department.

When the episode with Garry Shandling came on, it hit me how much of my writing education I owe to being a part of It's Garry Shandling's Show. For the better part of seasons two-four, I had the honor to be the show's assistant art director. Occasionally, I can even be found in the background (gold sweater).

The opportunity to watch the writing process was golden not unlike my sweater in the above photo. The show aimed for a combination of heart and hilarity, which in my opinion it did with brilliance. It was fascinating to watch the revision process of each script as the journey to find the perfect jokes, emotion of the human condition, and infusion of intelligent wit was undertaken in every episode. It was beyond a blast to be a part of the show.

I was hooked from that groundbreaking first episode in season one when Garry destroyed the fourth wall and brought the audience into his character's living room. It was a dream come true when I joined the show and its wildly creative environment in its second season.

Garry's passing was very sad for me as I reminisced and reappreciated everything I learned from my time with the show. I will always be grateful for the experience and to the writing mentors who never knew the inspiration they bestowed on this writer's heart and mind. Special thanks to Garry Shandling, Alan Zweibel, Ed Solomon, Tom Gammill, and Max Pross who showed me process, perseverance, and the creative joy of being a writer.  

I recently came across this interview with Garry about the writing process of Its Garry Shandling's Show.

Enjoy.

U is for UCLA

Twenty-Six Days of Creative Inspiration

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I am a Bruin. You might call me an Uber-Bruin. I earned a BA in theater arts and an MFA in theater design/technology from UCLA as well as serving on the design faculty of UCLA's Department of Theater for over a decade.

There was no better place for a creative soul to be nurtured than UCLA's Department of Theater. I entered as an actress and left as a lighting designer. Along the way I had two plays produced. Talent and artistic risk taking was always encouraged at UCLA.

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It was not only my teachers/mentors that inspired me, but the amazing peers I was surrounded by. Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson who wrote Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure were in my playwriting class. Ed went on to pen Men in Black. I was fortunate to work with Ed again on "It's Garry Shandling's Show. He was a writer and I was the assistant art director. I designed lighting and sound for shows that starred Tim Robbins. I could name drop for days, but I will spare you.The joke in my family is that everyone who I went to school with at UCLA is famous except for me. 

You couldn't turn around at UCLA without bumping into talent and inspiration.

If you have college bound kids in your life who crave a creative playground make sure they give UCLA a peek.

How did your college days inspire your future? Any fellow Bruins out there in Bloglandia?

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G is for Garry Shandling

Twenty-Six Days of Creative Inspiration

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I was the assistant art director on "It's Garry Shandling's Show" for nearly three seasons. It was my first time working in television, and I had the time of my life. The show was a constant challenge to the art department as it ordered up environments such as: Shandlingland, a Garry Shandling Themed Amusement Park, A Time Machine, a ping-pong version of the movie,"The Natural," and yes, even Heaven.

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Not only did the show teach me how to design "outside the box" and in a hurry, but it was a goldmine for learning about writing. Every week I watched the script go through four, five, or more incarnations as each episode was polished to a gut-busting level of hilarity. Working on the show was a master class in the way comedy has to mesh with story development. 

I love to make people laugh with my writing. Garry Shandling, I salute you, for all the lessons about humor I learned from working on your show.

Click on the Blogging From A to Z Challenge logo in the sidebar to access the links to all the superheroes participating in this blog hop.