The Larry Sanders Show in its use of celebrity guests, its lack of laugh track, and its comedy of embarrassment by "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "The Office" and "Arrested Development". Shandling's performance is a precursor to Larry David's in "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and Ricky Gervais ("The Office", "Extras") as David Brent. Gervais said in "Variety" that he was heavily influenced by the show and that "It taught me that flawed characters can be compulsive viewing — seeing them squirm and get their comeuppance." Armando Iannucci said that his political satire "The Thick of It" strove to mix comedy and authenticity in a similar manner to
The Karen Dunbar Show The Karen Dunbar Show The Karen Dunbar Show was a television comedy sketch show that aired on BBC One Scotland, starring the popular Scottish comedian Karen Dunbar (of "Chewin' the Fat" fame). It was produced by BBC Scotland.It also starred actor and musician Tom Urie. The original theme tune which was used on Series 3, has a similar sound to the David Essex classic Hold Me Close. There were many recurring characters, such as Shoeless Josie, a blonde drunkard, often seen carrying a bag of chips, and Almost Angelic, a Pub 'n' Club duo from Ayrshire, consisting of Angela Silvery