The Garden Weasel
Encyclopedia
"The Garden Weasel" is the first episode of the television show The Larry Sanders Show
. In DVD releases the episode is titled "What Have You Done For Me Lately?"
spots, but the network feels he is overexposed after playing the Jolly Green Giant. Robert Hays appears on the show the night of the first ad, which Larry proceeds to turn into a comedy bit, mocking the product. Melanie is furious at his attitude and demands he sticks to the provided copy. At home, Larry and Jeannie discuss their dog with a trainer, who soon discovers that he is in fact a well trained performing dog, and refuses to do anything with him out of respect to the legendary original trainer. After the second spot goes like the first Melanie again confronts Larry who finally snaps at her, saying that he would hit her if she was a man, however Melanie hits Larry, who gets a huge black eye. The third time, Hank steps in and does the spot with Larry, and finally the network is happy, and all is well. Until next week.
The Larry Sanders Show
The Larry Sanders Show is a satirical television sitcom that aired from August 1992 to May 1998 on the HBO cable television network in the United States. It starred stand-up comedian Garry Shandling as vain, neurotic talk show host Larry Sanders, and centered on the running of his TV show, and the...
. In DVD releases the episode is titled "What Have You Done For Me Lately?"
Synopsis
The first episode introduces talk show host Larry Sanders, the staff of his late night show, taped at 6pm, and his second wife, Jeannie. The network is insisting that Larry do commercials on the air within the show, something unheard of since the early days of live television. Larry looks to Artie to get him out of doing it but they are forced to bow to the Network's will. At home, Larry shows his wife a tape of a commercial he made many years earlier for an airline to show why he dislikes doing commercials. Hank on the other hand, is dying to do the Garden WeaselGarden Weasel
The Garden Weasel is a garden implement with three sets of rotating tines for loosening soil. It has been sold by the Faultless Starch/Bon Ami Company beginning in 1976. It was one of the first products sold in North America using dealer-tagged TV marketing. The first pitchman was Jerry Baker, the...
spots, but the network feels he is overexposed after playing the Jolly Green Giant. Robert Hays appears on the show the night of the first ad, which Larry proceeds to turn into a comedy bit, mocking the product. Melanie is furious at his attitude and demands he sticks to the provided copy. At home, Larry and Jeannie discuss their dog with a trainer, who soon discovers that he is in fact a well trained performing dog, and refuses to do anything with him out of respect to the legendary original trainer. After the second spot goes like the first Melanie again confronts Larry who finally snaps at her, saying that he would hit her if she was a man, however Melanie hits Larry, who gets a huge black eye. The third time, Hank steps in and does the spot with Larry, and finally the network is happy, and all is well. Until next week.
Arc significance
- Introduction of Melanie Parrish (Deborah MayDeborah MayDeborah May is a television and film actress. She has appeared in such TV shows as ER, The Golden Girls, Days of our Lives, The Larry Sanders Show, Murder One, St...
), Larry's network nemesis for several seasons. - The dog introduced here later becomes a running joke in the Larry/Jeannie Divorce Arc.
Guest celebrities
- Robert HaysRobert HaysRobert Hays is an American actor and is arguably most well known for his role in the movie Airplane!-Life and career:...
plays himself. - Harrison FordHarrison FordHarrison Ford is an American film actor and producer. He is famous for his performances as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy and as the title character of the Indiana Jones film series. Ford is also known for his roles as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, John Book in Witness and Jack Ryan in...
is mentioned as a guest on the show in the episode, but he does not appear.
Miscellany
- The opening titles of the show within the show shows a clip of Larry hosting that looks like it's from the 70's, however later in the series it is remarked that "The Larry Sanders Show" has only been on the air for 6 years, which would put its debut in 1986. This clip was only seen in first season episodes, replaced by one of Carol BurnettCarol BurnettCarol Creighton Burnett is an American actress, comedian, singer, dancer and writer. Burnett started her career in New York. After becoming a hit on Broadway, she made her television debut...
jumping on Larry from "The Spider Episode".