It's Garry Shandling's Show: It's Garry Shandling's Problem, But It's Jo-Jo's Show

It's Garry Shandling's Show: It's Garry Shandling's Problem, But It's Jo Jo's Show
Showtime
October 15, 1986
Sitcom
VHS
B

This sixth episode is the first of two written by Janis Hirsch, who did two for Square Pegs.  It features contest winner Jodi Jones from Texarkana.  At first, she's treated as a special guest, the credits (although not the theme song) giving her equal billing with Garry.  But then Nancy's sex-addict friend Morgan (Christine Kellogg, who would return in a different role) arrives and draws attention, especially from Garry.  There's more playing with form here than the last episode we looked at, and I laughed out loud at the "newspapers piling up" gag as well as Nancy's deadpan follow-up.  I was also surprised by the relatively sexually explicit plot, but then it did debut on cable.  Late '80s Fox would bleep Jo Jo's insult of Garry.  (IMDB says it's "asshole.")

Geoffrey Blake makes his last appearance as Lewis and doesn't have very much to do.  Lynette Mettey, who played four different nurses on M*A*S*H, is Dr. Brody here.  Paul Willson, who had a couple roles on Mork & Mindy, appears for the third time in the role of Garry's neighbor Leonard Smith (often referred to by his full name).  Kate Mulligan plays Bethany, her first of six roles on the series.  Production Manager Peter Barth appears as himself, as he occasionally would that season.  And, yes, comedian Norm Crosby appears as himself, complete with tux and mic, at the sex clinic.

This episode is the 400th show I've reviewed to receive a B.  The series would have a hiatus of about three months and then come back as strong as ever.