Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee continues its eighth season with comedian director Judd Apatow in a 1968 Pontiac Firebird. The pair discuss Apotow’s comedy geekdom, childhood and return to stand-up, but spend most of the episode remembering the late Garry Shandling.
After setting off in a Solar Red Firebird, which Seinfeld describes as the perfect car for escaping Apatow’s childhood home in Syosset, Long Island, the two go for cheeseburgers and chocolate milkshakes for breakfast.
Continuing with the more-serious themes of last Thursday’s episode with Margaret Cho, Seinfeld and Apatow discuss their memories of friendship with the late comedian Garry Shandling.
Shandling is brought up early when Apatow gives Seinfeld a tour of his collection of Shandling’s comedy set lists, Rolodex and other belongings. Later, sipping on chocolate milkshakes while waiting for their burgers, the two reminisce their memories of the late comedian.
Apatow talked about the hilarious Albert Brooks’ interest in Shandling’s autopsy:
“When Garry died, they decided not to do an autopsy, because what was really the point?
And then I see Albert Brooks and he’s like, ‘Was there an autopsy?’
I’m like, ‘No they decided there was no reason.’
And he’s like, ‘Well there is a reason! So I can know what happened and try to avoid it.’”
And the memorial service:
“At the memorial, everybody who spoke all said things that Garry had said to them. And every person who spoke killed with it. Garry’s lawyer rips the roof off of the place quoting Garry.
There’s something about [Garry] that encompasses the human struggle. He was trying so hard to be happy, and to find peace and to let go of his ego. He touched people very deeply.
And Garry always said The Larry Sanders Show is about people who love each other, but show business gets in the way.”
Seinfeld responds in an unguarded moment by rubbing his eyes and saying, “You’re making me sad.”
On a lighter note, the greatest punchline from the episode comes when Apatow points to his Lexus LS, claiming it doesn’t let him down. Seinfeld responds with, “It doesn’t lift you up, either.”
Unlike the Lexus LS, if you’re a fan of Garry Shandling, watching Apatow and Seinfeld enjoy their memories of him in this episode should lift you up.
You can watch the episode over on Crackle’s site for the show.