Garry Shandling Zen Diaries

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Anybody seen it? Judd Apatow put it together from documents and recollections he had, or that is my understanding. Looks like it will be good.

DanielDudley · 03-30-2018, 11:05 AM

It's a solid piece of documentary work, with a lot of film footage. There are enough one liners there to make you realize just how brilliant he was, but also how sad.

Seahawk · 03-30-2018, 11:22 AM

Shandling was brilliant at what he did.

Stern (yes, I listen to his show and find him the best interviewer extant) spent a segment on the documentary and was effusive in his praise. Recording now.

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_zen_diaries_of_garry_shandling

astrochex · 03-30-2018, 02:01 PM

I’m not a big Shandling fan but it was an interesting piece.

The man sure had demons.

sammyg2 · 03-31-2018, 12:58 PM

Saw the 2nd half of it this morning. What a self-involved, self-centered mess he was.
His entire existence was all about me me me, using others, always obsessed with wanting more for himself and what others could do for him or what he could get from them.
Never once did he consider giving to others, doing for others.

Entertainers are generally a pretty messed up bunch and comedians have a rep of being the worst, and seeing inside this guy's messed up head proved it.

I wished I hadn't watched that show as I liked Sandling's work before but knowing more about him has tainted it.

Seahawk · 04-02-2018, 06:08 AM

I watched both segments yesterday.

Interesting for a while but waayy too long.

The old clips where the best part of both segments.

mreid · 04-02-2018, 06:25 AM

The wife and I binged watch both parts yesterday while nursing hangovers. It was simply outstanding!

We were left with the belief that he was an insecure, conflicted and depressed individual with internal demons that increased as he could not resolve his issues resulting in immense stress that eventually resulted in a fatal heart attack. Earlier, his stress caused stomach ulcers, pancreatitis and the tumors on his pancreas that had to be removed surgically. He was a talented and gifted comedian who simply could not tame his demons. A sad story, but I loved how George Carlin helped him early in his career and it seems he passed it forward many times over. That said, it also sounds like he was a bear to work for.

DanielDudley · 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Saw the 2nd half of it this morning. What a self-involved, self-centered mess he was.
His entire existence was all about me me me, using others, always obsessed with wanting more for himself and what others could do for him or what he could get from them.
Never once did he consider giving to others, doing for others.

Entertainers are generally a pretty messed up bunch and comedians have a rep of being the worst, and seeing inside this guy's messed up head proved it.

I wished I hadn't watched that show as I liked Sandling's work before but knowing more about him has tainted it.

A very good summation. I was never as big a fan as I could have been, because I always had a sense of his reality in his comedy. I'm not sure they needed to go as deep as they did.

At least they did not gloss over anything. I saw part of a recent documentary about Whitney Houston, and they made it sound like a lack of self expression in her musical career made her turn to drugs as solace. I'm sorry, but an addict is an addict. Treat that addiction, and then deal with your emotions. Stars are real people, not demigods on pedestals.

DanielDudley · 04-03-2018, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mreid

The wife and I binged watch both parts yesterday while nursing hangovers. It was simply outstanding!

We were left with the belief that he was an insecure, conflicted and depressed individual with internal demons that increased as he could not resolve his issues resulting in immense stress that eventually resulted in a fatal heart attack. Earlier, his stress caused stomach ulcers, pancreatitis and the tumors on his pancreas that had to be removed surgically. He was a talented and gifted comedian who simply could not tame his demons. A sad story, but I loved how George Carlin helped him early in his career and it seems he passed it forward many times over. That said, it also sounds like he was a bear to work for.

He did the best he could with what he had and who he was. It may have been tough to live with him, but it was probably much tougher to be him.

KFC911 · 04-03-2018, 04:00 AM

I barely remember him, vaguely remember his show being on (with his name), so I'm clueless as to what the issues he had were. Is a brief, one sentence summary available?

sammyg2 · 04-03-2018, 07:09 AM

I'll give it a try:
a very ambitious comedian kept a diary of his ambitions, wants and needs:
Mostly it detailed how unhappy and unsatisfied he was because he was chasing all the wrong things and looking for happiness everywhere except where it can be found.

In essence he sold his soul thinking that fame and success would make him happy, while the thought of GIVING ANYTHING in a relationship instead of take-take-take gave him panic attacks. He had no love or real friends in his life because of the way he treated people.
And then the DB blamed his mother for making him a toxic narcissist.

that's four sentences. best I can do.

I call it the Elvis syndrome:
people think that things will make them happy, but it doesn't work that way.
Giving of yourself, dedicating your efforts in life to make someone else happy instead of always focusing on yourself is where happiness, contentment, and self-esteem come from.

KFC911 · 04-03-2018, 03:04 PM

Thanks Sammy...I figured you could've condensed it down to one sentence if'n ya tried though

. Dude just flew totally below my radar....