HBO continues its exclusive rights to the 90 episodes of the groundbreaking comedy series THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW from Columbia TriStar Television Distribution for an exclusive three-year period beginning in September 1999, it was announced today by Chris Albrecht, president, HBO Original Programming, and Barry Thurston, president, Columbia TriStar Television Distribution. Starring Garry Shandling, THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW wrapped its six-season run on the network this May.

"THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW is a signature series for HBO," noted Albrecht. "Garry Shandling and his gifted team produced an insightful, consistently hilarious comedy that couldn't have been seen anywhere else on TV, so I'm delighted that we'll continue to bring this brilliant series to our viewers."

"Columbia TriStar Television Distribution is very proud of the performance of THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW and the overwhelming critical acclaim it has received over the years," said Thurston. "THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW is in a class few programs can ever reach. It possesses many of the same unique qualities and well developed character relationships with its award-winning ensemble cast that have only been found in a select few shows like 'Seinfeld.' "Consistently named to critics' top-ten lists, THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW captures the politicking, sycophantic behavior and egotistical excesses of the cast and crew involved in mounting a hit late-night talk show. Shandling stars as talk show host Sanders, with Rip Torn (1996 Emmy(r) winner for best supporting actor in a comedy series) as his producer Artie, and Jeffrey Tambor as on-air sidekick Hank Kingsley. The executive producers of THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW are Brad Grey and Garry Shandling.

The New York Times has called the show "the smartest and funniest series on television," while People hailed it as "the funniest series on television" and the Chicago Sun-Times called the show "television's funniest adult comedy." The series finale prompted the Philadelphia Inquirer to remark, "This is virtuoso writing and acting, carrying 'The Larry Sanders Show' off into the sunset on a touching and memorable high"; the Los Angeles Times called it "a real smasheroo," adding that the series departs "as unforgettably as it arrived six years ago."

THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW is the most-honored comedy series in cable history. Nominated for 56 Emmy Awards(r), the show captured 20 CableACE Awards, including the best comedy series award for five years in a row, as well as winning a Peabody Award. Recently nominated for 10 Emmys,(r) including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Shandling) and two for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Tambor and Torn), it remains the only cable comedy series ever to be nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Blending fiction and reality, THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW features real-life celebrities playing themselves. Top talents who appeared as themselves on the series include Alec Baldwin, Warren Beatty, Drew Carey, Jim Carrey, Billy Crystal, Ellen DeGeneres, David Duchovny, Sally Field, Helen Hunt, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Rosie O'Donnell, Roseanne, Winona Ryder, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Ben Stiller, Sharon Stone and Robin Williams.

Columbia Tristar Television Distribution is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. Sony Pictures' global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home video acquisition and distribution, operation of studio facilities, development of new entertainment technologies and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at spe.sony.com.