It's become much more common for a comedy talent to build a show around a slightly fictionalized version of himself or herself, but it was a revolutionary idea when Shandling tried it for Showtime in the mid-to-late 1980s.

Shandling often addresses the audience as his on-camera alter ego steps out of the series he's making within the context of this program ... in other words, there's a show within a show.

Guests range from singer Tom Petty to "Saturday Night Live" icon Gilda Radner. *** (Not rated: AS, P)

Buy 'It's Garry Shandling's Show' The Complete Series on DVD.