Confessions of a Late Night Talk Show Host: The Autobiography of Larry Sanders

In its six seasons on HBO (until May 1998), the Larry Sanders Show served as a savage satire of the ego-obsessed world of Hollywood. Walking a thin line between fantasy and reality (real celebrities appeared as some version of themselves), host Sanders (played by comedian Shandling) and his dysfunctional ""staff"" laid bare the peculiar institution of the late-night talk show. While this brief book contains numerous one-liners (""I had to wait until my first marriage to experience sexual abuse""; ""If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself,"" said O.J. Simpson), it does not lay down pure patter in the Seinlanguage vein. Rather, it presents a faux autobiography, with the self-deprecating and self-obsessed host recounting episodes from his youth, inventorying his sex life, commenting on his staff and even signing off with an imaginary interview with God. Captions for some 50 photos recount Larry's recollections of guests like David Duchovny and Jennifer Aniston (who refused to ""tongue kiss"" him). Fans should appreciate this extension of Sanders's edgy lunacy. B&w photo insert. Major ad/promo; simultaneous S&S audio; author tour. (Nov.)