The Larry Sanders Show Taught Steve Levitan How To Make Reboot Feel 'Real'

What does it mean to be "real" in entertainment anymore? Reality television has been massively popular for some time now, but it follows a script or is heavily edited to tell a specific story. Many are quick to point out that professional wrestling is "fake," but you wouldn't go to the theater and call a production of a Shakespeare play or "Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway "fake." Even movies that are presented as "true crime" or "biopics" end up only being inspired by true events.

Or does "real" refer to the emotions that the audience feels as a result of watching a story unfold? Is there realness in various forms of art because those that consume it take something away from the experience that makes them feel seen or that they can then apply to their own lives?

These are pretty deep questions and concepts to explore in an article about an original Hulu sitcom, but "Reboot" creator Steve Levitan has a knack for connecting with his audience through his work because his projects come with a certain level of authenticity. The veteran TV producer is known for stints on "Frasier" and "Wings," as well as for creating "Modern Family" and "Just Shoot Me!", but it was his time on "The Larry Sanders Show" under the guidance of Garry Shandling that really inspired his approach to his latest series starring Keegan-Michael Key, Judy Greer, Johnny Knoxville, Rachel Bloom, and Paul Reiser. 

Probably remembered as one of the most prolific Hollywood satires created, "The Larry Sanders Show" ran from 1992 to 1998 on HBO. The series was influential in solidifying the network's reputation for presenting quality programming and it inspired subsequent shows like "30 Rock," "Extras," "The Office," "Episodes," "Arrested Development," and "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Beyond his comedic influence, the cinematic technique known as the "walk and talk" became popular thanks to Larry Sanders and went on to become a staple of "The West Wing" and "ER."

In an interview with Consequence, Levitan revealed that the seminal cable sitcom about the production of a late-night talk show became the backbone of his outlook on "Reboot," which included presenting aspects of his everyday work accurately onscreen. If TV writers couldn't authentically describe what a writers' room is like, after all, then who could? He explained:

"Garry [Shandling]'s big thing [was] 'This should feel real. How would this be in real life?' And that's what I was trying to do here. I would say to our writers and our set designers and everybody, that this is what we do for a living, so we should be able to get it exactly right. There's no reason that we got that wrong other than we were being lazy. So let's not be lazy. Let's try to show things how they are.

And I think people will feel it, especially the people who work in the business. I care very much about what fellow writers and actors think about this show, directors, the crew — I want anybody who works in this business to recognize this and say, 'Oh yeah, they got that right.' Even the executives. [Laughs] I think authenticity is a really good backstop."

Around this time of the year, there are a ton of great lists about the best episodes or the defining moments of television. For me personally, "Reboot" ranks up there as one of the best new comedies of 2022. In addition to the attention to detail from Levitan and his team to create an authentic portrayal of show business, the sitcom features a number of great characters that are brought to life by amazing performers. Obviously, Key and Greer knock it out of the park, Reiser shows that he hasn't missed a beat in his long career, and Bloom proves that she can hang with the best of them. But I don't think I've ever seen "Jackass" star Knoxville exhibit such a wide range of acting ability before this. From practically all aspects of the production, "Reboot" is firing on all cylinders.

Unfortunately, Hulu still hasn't announced a second season renewal for the freshman comedy, but hopefully that green light is still in the cards for the acclaimed series.