Ricky Gervais Meets Garry Shandling (pt. 5 of 5) 

The utter disdain that Garry Shandling has for Gervais is a fountain of eternal youth.

"The second you think you've got it .... you've lost it". I like that.

It's ironic that Twitter Gervais = second-night Hank.

From a GQ interview with Shandling: "While completing the DVD extras for Sanders, Shandling had been struck by the idea that Gervais would be a great addition. Though he'd never appeared on the show, Gervais had spoken openly about how Sanders inspired him. So Garry called Gervais and asked if he'd do it. The answer was yes, but Gervais also had a request. While he was in Garry's home, could they also shoot his Channel 4 show? Shandling agreed, and all was well until the day of the dueling interviews, when wires got crossed. Garry says he assumed they would shoot the "visit" for the DVD extra first, because "that laid-back, not-on tone is good preparation for saying, 'Let's turn it on'" later, for Gervais's special. But when Shandling walked into his kitchen, he realized instantly that Gervais thought the Channel 4 special was being shot first. Gervais was on-extremely so-and so were several cameras. Garry could have said something but wanted to see what would happen if he played it out. What if he stayed in the same low-affect head space he was in to do his DVD extras? Could he reach Gervais without explicitly identifying the problem? Could he bring Gervais's energy level down?"

Wow, you can hear Shandling even say at the end "now you're gonna do the Larry Sanders DVD?" and Gervais says no. Then Garry looks slightly puzzled and says "that was the deal that we struck". Which coincides with Shandling's recent explanation of this whole ordeal. What happened is, Shandling called Gervais originally to get him for the Sanders DVD, and Ricky asked he do this in return... but Shandling was caught off guard when Gervais turned up already filming.

I think the interview started out in either mock or real awkwardness. (or some mix) but ended fairly open and 'real'. As far as professional actors / comedians can be.

This was great. I had no idea who Garry Shandling was before this. I wish all interviews were like this.

Gervais' laugh is the most annoying fucking cackle in the universe.

@9:33 Shandling: Let's get what we need from you. Gervais: Yeah, absolutely. Shandling: Now you're going to do the Larry Sanders DVD. Gervais: No, I'm going to go now, see ya later. Shandling: That was the deal that we struck.

some people like bland lying pleasantries, some people prefer real interactions, this is one of the most real pieces of TV I've ever seen, pure gold. They talk about awkwardness and putting on a face, they are both clearly aware of the dynamic here but don't try to drown it in bland lies. Brilliant. Shandling nails it " if you feel comfortable, you aren't funny anymore"

this interview is classic and will be revered

I thought this interview was amazing. The whole way through. It was truly two clashing personalities struggling to get through, while retaining their respective comedic talents. I keep watching this.

"That's the one goat I knew" , hilarious

It's precisely the awkwardness which makes this interview so great. I wonder why people seem to operate under the assumption that this means the interview doesn't work or is "bad."

Watching the Larry Sanders Show last year after seeing it high on some all time list, was up there with Seinfeld and Curb. Really good.

I thought it was hilarious that Ricky and Garry discussed the retrospect humor in disastrously awkward interactions while they were experiencing a disastrously awkward interaction. so meta.

For like two years, every single episode of the Larry Sanders show was on youtube, somebody uploaded each one, like 80 episodes in three parts and they were up for a long time and I watched every one. It was great. I think I'll buy the DVDs, i miss that show.

I'm a bit intimidated by that fine mind of Gary's, maybe because I've spent the last week watching his first show on youtube, and other interviews. Plus, he has this gaze, that's patented. I think it's a good idea to watch his later interview with Charlie Rose. He's a very serious guy about life and relationships, and he knows his own mind. His comment about thinking you've arrived, and now you know what to do cause your "comfortable" in upper strata social scenes is dead on. Even Cocteau talks about work, and it's management. The management, or smoozing, or producing, selling, arbitrating your art needs to be done by people who want to do it, or are paid to do it. It's always the work that's important. As soon as you get into selling it or yourself, you are no longer dealing with the present. And that's the same mentality it takes to be able to drop a bomb on Hiroshima.

This is probably the funniest interview I have ever seen.

Garry and Ricky killed this interview. They clearly enjoyed each other's wit and company. Hilarious. I'm stunned it's taken me 13 years to stumble upon this.

Ricky ran so fast when he thought it was over

What a Gem for eternity, it must have been a horrible afternoon but it made mine

I honestly thought this whole thing was great. People can call Gary a dick all they want but the moments when they are being 100 percent real and not taking the piss out of each other and talking about their experiences was absolutely priceless. I really thought Gary(even if having trouble trying to balance being real and having dry humor and having an off day) was trying the best he could. As he said in the end "I tried the best I could" and then later apologized to Ricky about it was kind of heart breaking. This was great to hear stories about one of Ricky's biggest influences and it was even greater to hear that Gary had been a fan of Ricky as well. I'm sure that meant the world to him.

I believe Shandling was acting and Gervais was deeply uncomfortable... the last scene says it all, Shandling stops the act, and asks for the Larry Sander's interview to start, Gervais refuses, and Shandling realises he failed to connect.

Awesome interview! So much information.

Amazingly, beautifully awkward, and painful. It is unlike anything I've ever seen. How wonderful to witness something "new". I don't even have the words to describe what exactly this was? I love Ricky Gervais and his ability to create an awkward moment; and, to take the viewer into an uncomfortable place inside them-self, but this interview reaches such a depth of discomfort for the viewer, it actually made me squirm, and I so badly wanted it to stop. It also, really made me think; what is real? What is actually happening? And, why wasn't it more laughable? Is it actually possible to make the "master" of the awkward moment , genuinely, feel awkward? Was it the ego? What if you meet one of your idols and he/she turns out to be a disappointment? How do you laugh at yourself when something so unexpected happens? It is such an opportunity to go inward and ask yourself "what do I believe?"

Gervais hasn’t taken the advice in the first 30 seconds of this video.

"When you've think you've got it as a person............................you've lost it" Unreal incisiveness

Everyone says this is a disaster; personally I loved it, not every interview has to be cushy, Gary was hilarious.

Beautiful I like that Gary is genuine and shall I say? Spiritual. As a visual artist, I learned a few things about art being a process for the artist and not becoming attached to the outcome. Wow good stuff thanks for posting this

Went poorly? I thought this was fantastic! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This. Is. Amazing.

This is art. It’s like a live “the office”. Best interview ever.

With all the fuss that's been made of this, in the light of hindsight it's very clear what Gary is doing, and Ricky picks up on it early, if he wasn't already in on it.

Ricky just walks off with Shandling's coat :D

@DerfRellim11 I spent the first four parts of this trying to decide if it was genuinely awkward or a very well played part.. just reading a few interviews they both did afterwards and apparently it was genuine. Shandling said he was doing another set of interviews in a totally different style, and walked in to an atmosphere that threw him. Gervais spent most of it either salvaging or doing what he does when he's nervous i.e. laugh and make it worse. Was as it appears, by the looks.

This did not go as bad as mentioned. The awkwardness was part of their demeanor. Most of the interview was fine... normal. Miss you Garry. I have stolen so much from you. Thanks.

Aww a comedy great gone. RIP Garry Shandling. You were superb & very funny. 👍

that last 20 seconds or so...oh my god, i'd want to run out of the room!

A source claimed, "The Shandling experience put him off for good". Ricky stopped doing 'Meet Gervais..' shows after this.

People who are really good at being passive aggressive will make it appear as if they are just messing about. But the body language is very very clear, and considering the fact that Ricky canceled this entire series after this interview you have to face the somewhat sad fact that this was not a clever banter interview.

I think ricky didn't like looking vulnerable. I think he got schooled by shandling.

how can people not see this is really awkward

Wow, this was entertaining. So many of these commenters totally don't get Garry Shandling.

For those of you completely unable to read mannerisms and tone and facial expression, here is some proof that no, this was not a joke, and Garry *is* actually this type of person: What happened when Ricky Gervais interviewed you for one of his TV shows? You didn’t seem to get on? We were doing interviews for my Larry Sanders DVD at the same time as Ricky interviewed me for his show. My DVD included very low-key visits with my friends, including Alec Baldwin and Sharon Stone. We agreed we’d shoot my interview first then Ricky’s. When I walked into the kitchen, his cameras were on which created a completely different sensibility. I came in to say ‘hello’ with my guard down but there he was shooting his show. I thought: ‘Let’s see if I can signal to him to bring it down because we’re doing this other interview.’ We were doing two shows at the same time. He doesn’t seem to have got the message… No. It becomes a boxing match. Either of us could have stopped for a minute and said: ‘Are we on the same page?’ but neither of us did. We were two people doing two different shows. I kept thinking: ‘Maybe this will be interesting’ I was trying to do something not comedian-to-comedian but man-to-man. He was trying to make an entertaining show, which I’m capable of; I just wasn’t doing it in that moment. We all needed to stop.

Gervais is a narcissist. Garry saying to his crew "See, he's in his head.." when he walked out nailed Gervais's personality for me. We all know people like that, they aren't aware of other people's mood as it's not naturally all that important to them. Gervais is more interested in his questions than he is in the answers. He's chomping at the bit to interrupt all the time as what's in his own head is of much more importance to him than anything else. RIP, Garry Shandling. So glad he got to shoot Comedians In Cars before he passed. comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/garry-shandling-its-great-that-garry-shandling-is-still-alive

Not only was Garry a comedic giant, but one sussed out individual to boot

The way he looks down at Ricky's hand when they shake at the end XD

They say you should never meet your hero's. Perfect example!

@freekjoy i agree it was a very interesting interview, with a lot of great reflection, ideas on comedy, and comedic orgins/general information. the viewing was unpleasant tho b/c shandling couldn't get over his ego. larry didn't consider ricky an equal, and it was a stellar interview. this was a good one scraped by, by two comedic geniuses. i was just disappointed that it didn't go better in the very beginning it could have been completely different and really good like the larry interview.

The line is blurred between comedy and reality in this entire interview. What is supposed to be funny? Who is insulted? Who is being an egotistical jerk? It's a strange interview, but hardly a waste of my time watching it. As the viewer I am left not completely understanding what transpired, and with the questions left over about what transpired, keeps me interested. This interview is fascinating and very interesting to watch. Such a contrast to the Larry David interview.

Maybe I missed something, but I thought the interview was candid, direct, probing, attentive, respectful, and refreshing compared to one person fawning over another or both people dishing out deceptions and false modesty. Neither Gervais nor Shandling were afraid of revealing inadequacies, doubts, difficulties, or personal truths. It was mature and truthful, and I got the clear sense they both learned something from each other through allowing reality to exert itself freely. I have no idea what the introductory statement of the posting party means. Perhaps this wasn't the interview he thought he was sharing. At any rate, thanks for posting. It was one of the better interviews I've ever seen.

"I am not into that. Not interested." This guy is so good.

"Now you're gonna do the Larry Sanders DVD, that was the deal that we struck..." Jesus Christ. That wasn't a blow off, that was genuine contempt for Ricky, and the state of the business. Well-deserved, Ricky. (You hack.)

I just watched this entire series of videos. It's not awkward at all. It comes off as very natural and very funny. Both comedians are displaying their own trademark sense of humor. It's exactly the type of conversation I'd expect from these two guys. I think that a lot of people just don't get that these guys are constantly joking with each other. This is how comedians talk with one another. The description is very misleading.

Thanks for posting these!

"Sorry I did the best I could" to subtly teach Gervais. Sadly, 13 years later he's still not learned the lesson.

the bit about the dog is really weird.....

Ricky: 'that's your straight look?' I literally couldn't stop laughing

5:43 The bulk of Ricky's shows were born. You CAN get caught up in who you are.

this was freaking awesome

6:20 - This made me think about Joe Rogan. All comedians now use podcasts as ways of promoting their shows and specials and it's extremely effective. They're all buddy-buddy and I find it cringe worthy. Garry spitting bars here.

Where is part 3?!?

this was a perfect blend of both of their humor with a heaping dose of apathy mixed in. very entertaining, although i doubt they realized it at the time.

I think this interview has been blown out of proportion. They could have clicked better, perhaps, but there was no bitterness from either of them. Shandling acted as I expected. It's his schtick.

I wonder if RG was party to the "deal" struck or, arrogantly, ploughed on with his show first irrespective.

great, thank you for uploading

Sorry, I did the best I could.

This is brilliant!

@werewoofer i agree. It took a couple of views and some thinking about because what they both did and how they did it was very clever but the tension in this interview is mostly part of the act. I think there may have been one or two genuinely tense moments but the whole thing is so well done that its hard to say if any of it was genuine or if the whole thing was just comedy.

It's a fascinating watch, awkward, uncomfortable and hilarious at times, RG "Listen I'm a fat little pug nosed F&%k" GS "well leave me something to say about you". Two very funny comedians, but both very different personalities. At one point GS was about to tell RG about Roy London (who had recently passed away) his acting teacher GS had a lot of respect for him, RG just interrupted him mid sentence which may have annoyed GS. The apprentice met the Zen Master, it's hardly a surprise RG didn't want this broadcasted.

I don't understand why Ricky would cancel the series because of this. He seems to thrive on awkward moments. I guess this time it was a different kind of awkward.

Gotta love Rip Torn. The guy is perfect for Arty, but he is bizarre with a capital B. There was a story about how he was arrested passed out drunk after he broke into a bank with a gun. Apparently Rip Torn had his demons ... but now he and Garry are both gone, rest in peace. Both really great.

When I first saw this interview a few years ago I cringed, but this time I didn't in the least. I was looking at it from the wrong angle the first time. Now I can see what a clever, thoroughly enjoyable interview it truly is.

I don't know what people are complaining about. I watched all 4 parts and thought they were all great. I laughed out loud a bunch of times.

This was never meant to be a series, it was a one off for Channel 4 in England

RIP

4:07 is a great awkward pause.

You will be missed.

According to Ricky, Gary called and apologized and said he was trying to do like a character during the interview. He said it when he was on Opie and Anthony with Louis CK.

That zebra lion joke, earlier... HAHAHA

@equalitykills Unless you were there, how do you know? Ricky cancelled the rest of the series after this particular interview because it had gone so badly. Best buds they ain't - and I do think he was offended (a bit) by the coffee thing. Not massively, of course - but Shandling was rude and RG responded as anyone else would. But having said that, I don't think Shandling was being deliberately offensive, just trying some Brit humour and failing :)

interesting to see how many people make it to the end. Deep Shandling and two dudes riffin. brilliant.

Bingo mellowed out eventually.

People over exaggerate this interview so much. No one's really at fault.

I've been a fan of Garry since"IGSS" and am a big fan of Ricky.If you watch this without realising the degree of self awareness that Shandling has shown in his work (especially TLSS) then you might think he's being a dick.To imagine that Garry is offended by slights against his appearance vastly underestimates this(I even have memories of him mocking early photos of his appearance as a kid in eps of IGSS and his own vanity was a running joke in the show).I think they "riff" quite well.

I don't know why there is such a mass opposition against this interview. I just watched all of it and the raw awkwardness; watching Garry call out Ricky's "face" is refreshing. Sucked for Ricky, but new and intimate for the rest of us. After you get comfortable with the uncomfortableness you see what you rarely get to see from Hollywood.

lmao, so good

@GRJones92hk A few words from our Messiah, Ricky Gervais - "Gary Shandling is the perfect comedian, with a perfect career, he's a brilliant stand-up, with a particular voice, he's a brilliant writer ... Larry Sanders ... the classiest sit-com of all-time" . I've changed sides - I know, I just can't stick to one side - I'm with Ricky!

This was fascinating.

I though that was pretty funny "really ....that's your straight look."

There is perhaps less awkwardness in this segment, than the earlier ones but one example is right at the end when Shandling says to the producer, "sorry, I did the best I could" it comes off as though he really means it. It seems ill-spirited, especially when Gervais is trying to build rapport (ie. by laughing like a dolphin at Shandling's jokes).

9:23 Gary says "ok now I will interview you" (paraphrased) and Ricky replies "yeah", while he is turning around, and with his back facing camera says, "actually, I m going to go now" AND I THINK HE DID, DIDN'T HE??? ... which broke the deal they had made to share time and interview each other. If you freeze that moment, you see Garry saddened and shocked to hear that, realizing that Ricky took this whole interview "seriously" and wasn't playing along, didn't get the joke of the premise... ok... so, this is my opinion, and I do not, by any means, declare I am right.... but look at that, and watch this interview a couple times and I think perspective grows deeper with each viewing. I am a huge Ricky Gervais fan, but I view him a little differently than most people, I think. I sense he wasn't actually ready to interview Garry Shandling, in this first meeting...really... why do performers put such pressure on themselves? Interviewing a complete stranger? Seems crazy, unnatural... I have a close friend who plays guitar in a major musician's band, he told me that he was very "let down" to meet some of his major role models on the same stage, over the years...they weren't who he had envisioned them to be... I never forgot that story...but it makes sense... The premise that one famous person would be instant friends with another famous person, that they could meet anyone just by calling each other up... and be instant friends because they are both comedians, both famous...what???? it's a faulty premise... Let's face it...Ricky did not know Garry... Garry had never met Ricky...this was their FIRST meeting...wtf??? Just my perspective... I do not claim to be right... ...I cannot say why... but I can speculate. Maybe it was the fact they were in fact complete strangers, had never met before? At the risk of beating a dead horse.. I will include the following... Just rest assured, I DO NOT KNOW and I only speculate... My bottom line is that I am not an expert in anything, and I like to be wrong...I make no claims regarding my point of view. I do not know Rocky, I never met Garry... Partly what I think informs the discomfort we witness in this first meeting of a stranger, at least for Garry, is that he ultimately is a very shy person... WAS...RIP...but anyway... Shandling needed to know a person, to feel "at ease" in anyone's company... probably to extreme...it's amazing he found a way to relate to audience from the stage...but then again many performers use the stage as a shield for more intimate relationship with others... or so many of them say...Anyway, Garry seems more extreme in this protective shielded way, couldn't just break his protective shell and pretend to be at ease, and learned about that part of himself a long time ago and spent many years trying to understand that part of himself... Perhaps some of this approach to life was a direct result of early loss??? Shandling lost a brother at a very young age... this shaded his whole perception of the world, and in various interviews over the years, Garry explains how this perception of the world informed his comedic viewpoint of life's absurdity , and in fact informed his choice of adopting the path of "comedy" as a life path. ... anyway, this last segment of an obscure highly debated "Ricky meets Garry" interview was the route I took to finally discover more about Garry...he refers to it in a set of interviews that can be found here on youtube (Television academy???? ) I was amazed to discover that this Ricky Gervais interview exists..., I wasn't firstly looking to view Ricky... but over the years I have watched just about everything Gervais and I consider him brilliant in many ways, but I did trip into this interview while doing a deep dive on Garry...in retrospect after viewing Garry's filmed visit with Tome Petty...I like Garry's humanity.... always have... But anyway...that drew me in...and then hearing Garry describe his experience in the Television Academy interview, caused me to search this out... have now watched it twice... But...anyway...I am a huge Ricky fan... let that be said, yet at the same time I have often noticed he has a "mean streak style of comedy" from time to time... or that he can fall into... which informs his comedy and that often perplexes me, since at the same time Ricky can do some very insightful tender comedy that will change your world view, using himself as the butt of his own joke.... it's a little hard to track...the surprise of it can be disconcerting...I can understand that Garry would not be completely at ease with Ricky's style...And I am certain I would take many of the jokes wrongly as well... I learned a lot about myself watching this interview ince I noticed that Garry managed not to take much of it too personally, and it seems Ricky took it all personally...That was imply my own opinion... I can understand others reading this interview completely the opposite... that makes sense too... Which is why it is just a masterpiece... goes far beyond comedy...or just a simple interview... I am still trying to figure out why I would "react" were I to have been in Garry's shoes... I am not sure I will ever figure this out... but, anyway... I find it amazing Garry didn't just cancel the interview when he found Ricky going through his refrigerator... I think I would have... Likewise, had I been in Ricky's shoes, and if the host had gotten up and made himself a cup of coffee and not offered me one, I would have just gotten up and left after saying f**k you" to emphasize my point...I have done this many a time in "real" life, in similar circumstances...I daresay I have lost friends over such behavior, and I understand why...in Ricky's world he gets easily granted a reprieve if he would walk out or throw a fit, we would all think it's part of his Schtick... so...I understand Ricky's reaction as a human, and I can't really tell if he is doing a role here or not... except at the end of the segment when he turns around and his voice tone changes and he says "actually I am leaving"...yep, I think he packed himself up and left... I believe it...I think he idd... but all this means is that he is a GREAT ACTOR...because, do we really know, was that an act???? Ha ha ha ha... I want' highlight right here, right now, that this would be brilliant long form marketing if it had been planned and an act that these guys both did with each other, scripted out and played so well... all they had to do to be super famous and viral would have been to release an interview the very same day that it was all planned, and perfect pr for each other...promote it as their schtick... really.... but for just a moment, pretend they scripted this loosely ad-libbed the rest and pledged secrecy, intentionally creating long form branding for each other??? It wouldn't be the first time in television/film history... This interview, in other words could be the best PR of all time, in a "guerrilla marketing grass roots" sort of way. Brilliant that it still plays out, ever slowly and ever so surely and gradually people/fans/students of human nature still find it and still debate it... probably still share it... funny... but let's say it is real and that this is "exactly What it is"... well then...this is why it's brilliant; I can see something about myself reflected/revealed in each of the roles they each played for each other that day...and I am really grateful this interview survives and can still be viewed in it's naked obscure glory.... wow. All that said, I just want to reference how this interview with Ricky came about... at least from what I remember from the Garry Shandling interview on Television Academy channel I recently viewed... supposedly, Garry's people called Ricky's people for an interview or vice/versa. The "deal" made long distance over the phone was verbal, but they agreed to trade interviews with each other...and that clearly Garry would interview Ricky FIRST, this was proposed and agreed....the deal was , that then Ricky could interview Garry right afterwards....would interview Garry second. Garry explains this back story in that other interview...find it...I believe it was the series "legends of television" or "Television Academy" parts one and two, about 2 hours total, the discussion about this interview occurs in part B... Garry describes this "Ricky meets Garry" interview... the controversy is loosely alluded to...how it came about and the speculation by fans about "what it means". Garry described the process, his take on fans reaction... what he said went wrong with the plan...that Rocky's people jumped the gun and took that first interview spot... breaking the flow for Garry's best premise as a greed to...but forgotten or just not carefully followed up on, by Ricky's crew... Anyway...this is basically what I remember about Garry's version of "what happened"...and "why it went wrong"... yet he doesn't describe it as having "gone wrong"... instead he sort of says, 'well, what happened, happened"... Garry's description of this alluded to some sort of controversy about this interview and so I sought it out, I wanted to know what they were talking about...

This was edited. Notice the 3 water bottles in the background...sometimes there is only 2 water bottles. Someone pointed that out before.

Garry was obviously playing with Ricky, emphasizing the awkwardness in social situations that they were discussing. Definitely awkward and not helped by Ricky's fawning laughter or ego. Am a huge fan of both comedians but never the twain shall meet in their case.

The way I would describe this interview is a gathering where Shandling is the proud successful father in the armchair where the other dads swarm to get a leg up with their own projects. While Gervais is the upbeat kid showing off to the other kids trying to make friends. These two circles normally stay seperate but this interview forced them together. The kid doesn't understand and the dad is too aloof.

Now that was $ awkward? Poor Ricky one of the few times he actually looked embarrassed for real

Such an awkward interview.

@MartinKoolhoven Yes, check out the interview he did with Time. Search RU-vid for "Gervais Time"... it is at 6:30

They're obviously just having fun with eachother, shame on you for thinking Garry is actually this insanely rude. Great interview.