Garry Shandling Show Theme Song
Comedy Theme Song Archive

It’s Garry Shandling Show Theme Song And Lyrics

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Song TitleThis Is the Theme to Garry’s Show
Performed ByBill Lynch
ComposerJoey Carbone
Premiere DateSeptember 10, 1986 (USA) / July 5, 1987 (UK)
Final Episode DateMay 25, 1990
Total Episodes72 (4 Seasons)
Original NetworkShowtime / FOX
GenreSitcom / Meta-fiction

It’s Garry Shandling’s Show Theme Song Lyrics

This is the theme to Garry’s Show, The theme to Garry’s show. Garry called me up and asked if I would write his theme song. I’m almost halfway finished, How do you like it so far? How do you like the theme to Garry’s Show? This is the theme to Garry’s Show, The opening theme to Garry’s show. This is the music that you hear as you watch the credits. We’re almost to the part of where I start to whistle. Then we’ll watch “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show.” (Whistling) This was the theme to Garry Shandling’s show.

Behind the Music: Meaning & Story

The theme song for It’s Garry Shandling’s Show is widely considered one of the most clever and unique opening sequences in television history. Composed by Joey Carbone and performed by Bill Lynch, the lyrics are entirely “meta,” meaning they describe the act of writing and listening to the song while it is happening. Lines like “This is the music that you hear as you watch the credits” perfectly set the stage for a sitcom that was famous for breaking the “fourth wall.”

Created by Garry Shandling and Alan Zweibel, the show was revolutionary for its time. Garry played a version of himself who knew he was a character in a television show. He would often speak directly to the audience, walk off the set, or comment on the script’s plot points. The theme song reinforced this concept by having the singer talk about Garry calling him to request the song, making the viewer part of the production process.

Originally airing on Showtime (and later on FOX), the series paved the way for modern meta-comedies like The Larry Sanders Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Seinfeld. Its self-referential humor and catchy, literal theme song remain a beloved hallmark of 1980s television experimentalism.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “breaking the fourth wall” mean?
It is a performance convention where a character acknowledges that they are in a fictional work by speaking directly to the audience or the camera. Garry Shandling was a pioneer of using this technique in a sitcom format.
Who composed the theme song?
The music was composed by Joey Carbone, an American composer and producer who has worked extensively in both the US and Japanese music industries.
Was this Garry Shandling’s only show?
No. After this series ended in 1990, Garry Shandling went on to create and star in The Larry Sanders Show on HBO, which is often cited as one of the greatest comedies of all time.
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Editorial Note: Content for It’s Garry Shandling’s Show has been verified by the ThemeSong.info Editorial Team. The meta-lyrics and the performance by Bill Lynch have been cross-referenced with Showtime production archives and official television soundtrack credits.