If the ever-smirking Garry Shandling is to be believed, then this season will be the last go-round in the host's seat for his neurotic alter ego, Larry Sanders.
Shandling drops the bomb in the January 10 issue of TV Guide. He says his departure from The Larry Sanders Show will be mirrored by plot developments on the award-winning HBO sitcom.
"There are episodes dealing with Larry's leaving," says Shandling. The scenario, which kicks off with the March 15 episode, features a paranoid Sanders fretting that sometime guest host Jon Stewart (playing himself) will usurp the desk duty.
Of course, the irony is that Shandling got the idea for his talk-show spoof from his time subbing for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. And, again blurring that line between fiction and fact, The Larry Sanders Show could go on--without Sanders/Shandling.
In a page out of the late-night Letterman-Leno wars, Shandling claims "it's possible" the cable series will proceed with Stewart as the real-life fictional show host, although other candidates are also being considered.
No word yet on the fate of Sander's supporting staff, producer Arthur (Rip Torn), sidekick Hank (Jeffrey Tambor), talent booker Paula (Janeane Garofalo) and assistants Beverly (Penny Johnson) and Brian (Scott Thompson).
Since its inception in 1992, Larry Sanders has been a genuine cable phenomenon, scoring HBO good ratings, attracting A-list guests, racking up Emmy nominations and perennially dominating the CableACE awards.