GARRYSHAilDLIilG SHANDLING IS fifi*nt$*#ff* package deal with in his Studio City, THE CourtTVto somehow Calif., office, squirm- USI]ITERVIETU )) BYT|lM O']IEI[[ ensure that he could ing. He has just been makemoneyfrom{it}." askedaquestion about Nothing. He waits a his recently filed $roo beat, then sinks even = milton lawsuit against lower into the folds of former manager, best his leather chair. friend and executive I7hat should have producer ofTle Larry been a glorious send- - Sanders Sbow Brad off to one of the most GreyThe suit, critically acclaimed "ll"gttg that Grey stolewriters television series in (for his other shows) years, the final season from Shandling and of The Larry Sanders i used Shandling's rep- Slos (whichendsMay ! utation to build his 3r) has been tarnished - production empire by this ugly lawsuit, (Brillstein-Grey En- which has everyone in terprises), stunned the = Hollywood bluzzing. entertainment = com- \7hile many deem munity and made Shandlingt a[egations headlines in everyma- against Grey outra- jor il newspaper, from geous, there iue some E' Variety to The Vhll points inthe suit (most StreetJournal.ThesujLt 6 notably, concerning : also resulted in a $ro I personal managers act- million countersuit by ing as producers for Grey, claiming that, among other things, mostlyfriendlylaugh-filledintervierqsensi- their clients) thar raise prickly conflict-of- !i Shandling's erratic behavior drove staffers tive areasof his highlyunexamined life have interest issues.But what's more fascinating is ftom The Larry SandcrsSboza. been dealt vrith in that patented comic's way the uncannyparallel track that Shandling's life t With no Artie (Shandling'scharacter's pit of providing little nuggets of truth and then seemsto have taken to his shorg in which du- bull-like protecto! played to grizzled per- undermining them with a punch line. (Are plicitous behavior and public humiliation = I fection by Rip Torn on the HBO series) in you seeinga therapist? "Yes," he says,"I go to have been elevated to a new art form. (In re- sight, Shandling looks away pained, and couplestherapyAlone.Therearetwothera- centweeks,forinstance,shandlingreportedly o sinkslowerintohischair.Upuntilnor4ina pists, and they argue about what's wrong hadGrqy'sandproducingpartnerBernieBrill- = THECIIMEI|IATI HASCUIJIVATEI| HISl|IilT BRA]III |IF SUBVERSIVE HUMI|B WITH : .THE IARRYSAIII|ERS SHOW.' BUTAS THE SERIES llRAWS TllAN Eill|. HIS SHIICKING il LATTSUITAGAIIIST HISIO]ICTIME MA]IAGER Al{DREPORTS OFERRATIG BEHAVIOR o HAVEIEFT MAI{Y WII]IBERITO IFSHAI{DIIIIG'S ACTHAS HIT Tt|l| GT|ISE Tl|HI|ME,

us JUNEr99A tO! stein's chairs removed from the set and Grey's cally Incorrect'sBill Mahea a longtime friend sorting out."At the ageof zr, while a junior at title put on a separate card in the credits se- of Shandling's and also a Brillstein-Grey the University of Arizona, Shandling aban- quence). So, while the neighbors across the client. "Brad's reputation is completely spot- doned his long-term plan of becoming an Studio City lot - Jerry George, Elaine and less,and I knowhe's torn up about this." electrical engineer and eventually journeyed * Kramer enjoy a farewell of almost un- Many entertainment executives seem of- to California with the dream of pursuing precedented media fanfare and public adora- fended by Shandling's claim in the suit that comedy writing. He was immediately put to tion, it is perhaps fitting that the darkest and Greywouldnthave become the giant he is now work after impressing the producers of both 'W'elcome leastcompromising show on television go out if it weren't for Shandling'sadvice, influence Back, Kotter and Sanfordand Son.In in a blaze of bitterne ss. and ability to dra\ / other artists into the fold. 1978,five yearsinto his stint asa successfulsit- For those without cable boxes, a briefhis- "Itt nonsense,"says David Geffen, the for- com writer, he decided to take a stab at the tory In 1992,Shandling was approachedby mer record mogul and now Dream\)7orks SKG newly evolving stand-up comedy scene. (Jackson HBO to create a half-hour parody of a talk executive. Browne introduced me to Shandling met Grey at the Westwood show featuring - and here was the genius - Linda Ronstadt, {EaglesJGlenn Freyand Don Comedy Store in 1979.A fledgling personal real-life celebrities playing themselves. The Henley{all ofwhom Geffen later signedto his manager whose only other client was Bob paranoid, self-absorbedhost, Larry Sanders record label,Asyluml. It would be likeJackson Saget,Grey helped guide Shandling's career (co-created with writer suingme now and saying,'1 from hole-in-the-wall clubs to concert halls Dennis Klein), andhis staff introduced you to those to, finally, the coveted guest-hosr spot on of beautifully written mis- people,now where'smine?|"' Tbe TbnightSbou), ajob that Shandling per- - fits most notabfr the ir- Jim NTiatt,president of formed with characteristic aplomb while repressibleproducer Artie ICM, one of L.A.'slargest claimingprivatelyto despiseit. (He told one (Torn) and buffoonish side- talent agencies,says the interviewer inrggz, "IThywould I wanr a kick Hank (feffreyTambor) suit "stinks.I mean,under job where I'm forced to talk to people thar - became an instant hit in that theory, all of Brad I would neverwant to talk to in real life?") So NewYork and , Grey's clients, from Brad when the opportunity to create his own sit- but nowhere else. Never- Pitt toJon Lovitz, should com for Showtime presented itselfl Shand- theless,savoring the legiti- be paying ling jumped at the chance. macy of parenting a show 50 percent of their com- At Showtime, Shandlingwas free of net- that Tbe Los Angeles Tirnes missions. It's absurd." work constraints and, with Saturday Night called "an instant classic," In attempting to locate a Lit,e veteran writer Alan Zweibel, created the network sank millions motivation behind the suit, the biting and often hilarious ItI Gany into it and gave Shandling Geffen seesone thing, and Sbandling'sShots,. In the tradition ofhis idols freerein to do ashe pleased. it isn't necessarilymoney: Jack Benny and George Burns, Shandling By deconstructing tele- "Clearly [Grey and Shand- played, a loose rendition of himself and vision dynamicswith his trademark acidwit - ling] started off at the same time, and there broke down the fourthwall, commenting on and in so doing, revealingthe underbellyofan is a certain amount of enly in all this. I think the show's edgy story lines by talking to the industry ruled by fear and loathitg - Tbe Garry Shandling is upset that his career isn't camera. However, the series was never able L arry Sande rs Sh out blew away the conventions Jim Carrey's orWill Smith's." to expand its cult-size following, and after of the late-night talk show As Thmbor puts it, But some who have worked closely with four years on the air (two of them on Fox) 'rilfhat "This show answers the question is Shandlingviewhis actions asa byproduct of the plugwas pulled. David Letterman saying behind that hand?' a more deep-rootedneurosis. But the title lr't Garry Sbandlingi Sbow ap- And it's made voyeursof an entire nation." "There seemsto be a pattern of behavior parently became prophetic. According to But asShandling's star has risen, so too has that Garry has, which is to force people out sources,during that series'run, Shandling's Grey's. His company (formed in 1985with of his life and then complain that they be- dark, mercurial side began to emerge.The partner Brillstein) represents more than roo trayed him, deceived him and mistreated comedian instigated a number of firings and clients (includingBrad Pitt, Nicolas Cageand him," sayswriter Paul Simms, the creator of resignations and reportedly turned on Christian Slater), has eight television shows NezasRadio,whoquitThe Larry SandersSbou Zweibel, often failing to credit himwhen re- on the air (among thern,Just ShootMe and after three seasons(Simms was alsocited in ceiving awards for the show NerusRadio)and produces feature films (Tbe Shandling'ssuit asone ofthe "diverted"writ* "Garry has big problems with anybody else Cable Guy, Tb e lVedding Singer). Not surpris- ers * a charge he refutes). "That's why this {sharing credit} with him," saysone former ingly Shandling'ssuit against one of the most lawsuit isn't surprising to me. It was bound writer. "He was always enraged aboutAlan powerful figures in Hollywood (not to men- to happen to Brad Grey" Zweibel. Any time {Zweibel} got mentioned, tion, his best friend of 18years) has left many Shandling's early life was not without its [Shandling] went out of his mind." people questioning the comedian's motiva- own trauma. The second of two sons born This pattern of untimely staff departures tions and mental state. to Irving Shandling, a prosperous Arizona carried over to The Larry SandersSbou. In "It's insane," saysMiramax co-chairman entrepreneur, and his pet-shop-owner wife, the past sixyears,Shandlinghas either fired, . HarveyWeinstein, who once employed Grey Muriel, Garry Shandling was an outgoing, not asked back or received resignations and asked him to leave Shandlingyears ago funny kid who lived in the shadow of his older from at least r7 writers and producers, while to join his company "I've seen Brad build brother, Barry lfhen Barry died at 13ofcys- co-creator Dennis Klein left before the first Garry's entire career and never waver. He tic fibrosis, ro-year-old Garrywas suddenly episodeeven aired. used every connection he could to further thrust into the position of being the only "He'll start to belittle you in certain ways, ! Garry's career when Garry meant nothing." child, and heir apparent, of two grief-stricken or he'll dismissyou entirely" one formerpro- - "I'm completely shocked by i t," saysPoliti- parents a stress,he says,that he is "still ducer saysofShandling. "I think what he 6 hates more than anything is confidence. As Lany SandcrsSbout,"lShandlingl turned to soonasyoushowabit of confidence,he'lltry me and said,'Richard, of all the people that to destroyyou." have had your job, you've come the closest.' 'W'hichwas Shandling's behavior became even more perfect Garry, because he's not baffling in December 1996.On the final dayof exactly complimentingyou, he's just saying, shooting the last episode of the ry96-97 sea- of all the people who've failed, you've failed son, he walked off the set midsholq hopped the least spectacularly Tro weeks later he into his car and drove away The shov/s pro- had {another producer} and me up to his ducerswere left scrambling to shoot and edit house to tell us that we didn't get the show, the final episode around their star.The next we couldrt't write it, we could never write it, day Shandling took off for what would be- and ifwe had any honor, we would resign. come a two-month soiourn in the South Seas, "He has this presumption that onlyhe can leaving everyone at the show wondering write the show," Day continues, "and he en- whether or not there would be a sixth season. suresitbecomes aself-fulfillingprophecyby After Shandling returned from his trip, Grey rejecting the most talented stable ofwriters who had decided he'd had enough ofthe star's inHollywood. I mean, SteveLevitan{creator unpredictable behavior, resigned. of fust Sboot Me\, Pa,,i Simms [creator of "It's an intense kind ofpsychologicalworld THERETS NewsRadio\,AdamResnickITleLateSbout - lShandling] lives in," saysGrey "I just had to lY/itb Daoid Letternan\ if they c art't write walk away from it. the show who can?" "This may sound corny," he continues, "[Shandling] is very aware that he's cruel "but I'm veryproud of the businessthat we and that he's mindf--ing somebody" saysone built, and I love the people I work with, and producer. "He likes to think ofhimself astor- to go from that environment to dealingwith IMYHUMORI.tured, but the fact is he tortures others." 'Which, himwas too disturbing. I finallyhad to let it BEUEYE[UlE, I'YE TRlEll, in the end, sounds eerily like the go. And that was a really hard thing for me subtle psychological abuse so delectably de- to do, becauseI don't let go ofold relation- II TEASTPE||PI.EAT H||TIIE GAII picted on TlteLarry SandcrsSbout.If nothing ships easily" GHAIIGEIHEGHAII]IEI. else, Shandling has left a lot of people won- In March, sixweeks aftei Shandling's suit, dering just how closelyhis art imitates his life. Grey filed a countersuit claiming the co- "Do I know Garry Shandling really?" says median had little to do with his company's Bill Maher, who has been friends with fortunes, outside ofhis HBO shor,gand seek- I'MSTUGKShandling for more than ro years and plays ing $ro millionin damagesforlosses incurred basketball with him every Saturday "No. I becauseof Shandling's"abusive" and "erratic" could name rz other people - no, 3o, maybe behavior toward the show's staff.'W'hile 5o - I knowbetter. But I don't thinkanyone Grey'sactionwas not unexpected and, in fact, TTITHMEknows Garrybetter than that. He disappears was technically required as an answer to forlongperiods oftime to placeslike Hawaii, Shandling'sclaim, it surprisedmanyofShand- 24H|IURS AIIAY.'' and I dont knowwho he'swith orwhat he's ling's colleagues, most of them actors, who "The people who had problems with the doing. You neverget a straight answer out of quickly rallied to his defense. show either arert't connecting stylewisewith him. I mean, I don't know whether he's "I've never seenany evidenceof[erratic be- Garry or they're not astalented ashim," says killinglittle boys in the basement orworking havior]," saysJaneaneGarofalo, who played Judd Apatow, a former writer who now acts for MotherTeresa." Sanders'booker. Paula. for four seasons. as a consulting producer. "Garryis alonelyguyand alwayshas been," "Garly's one ofthe best bossesI've ever had." "Garcy is someone who is easily disap- saysJim Walters, Shandling's former friend "I tryvisualizingwhere lthese accusationsJ pointed," saysPeterTolan, also a consulting and accountant, who was let go after eight are coming frorn, because obviously it's not producer for Tl eLarry SandersShow. "He ex- years of service."He's searching for some- the same set I'm on," saysPennyJohnson, pects something ofyou. Norq ifyou don't de- thing, and I'm not sure rvhat it is." who plays Sanders'loyal assistant,Beverly liver, he's not going to yell and scream. He Sitting in his Studio Cityproduction office, Of the rumblings she has heard from people givesup on people becauseofhis disappoint- with tinted orange glasses perched on his who have left the show, Johnson philoso- ment. It's more passivethan aggressive." nose,the 48-year-oldShandlingwears an easy phizes: "It's like when you're at a parry and But other alumni of Tbe Larry Sanders expression that over the cdurse ofthe next your sister is describingyour father [as] hor- Sbou seeShandling's actions asmore calcu- few hours will run the gamut of emotions. ''Who rible, and you're going, is that?l' 1,:td, lating than that. "It's a very subtle terrorism More important, between the punch lines, he 'I then later in life, your sister says, made a he engagesin," says one writer. "He makes offers some insights into just where Garry mistake.' Through maturity you find out sure the writers are pre-humiliated before Shandling ends and Larry Sandersbegins. someone was making ltoughJ decisions be- they {can} work on the show: It's almost like Let's start witb tbe sbout, causetheywanted things to be right." a {survival of the fittest} thing. He tells them Anlthing you want. Vhy don't you start o XTriters at Tbe Larry SandersShow, even that he's capable of this kind of meanness withwhat you reallywant to ask me? those who defend Shandling, admit that their and ifthey don t understand that, then they \Yby did you decide to end tbe sbow tbis year? boss'sunusualapproach to the creative process don't have a place in the show:" I(ell, this is a very difficult show to produce 'At could have something to do rrith the shov/s the table read ofmy first episode," says without a team ofpeople that is consistent = constant tufnover ofwriters and producers. Richard,Day co-executive prodtcer of Tbe everyyear.Cre atively, IContinaedon page ilol

US JUNE I99A IO' Oh, I think I'll be very emotional. It's a pity causeI'm afraid that no woman would come GABRYSHAIIIItIlIG that this show has to end. I think the cast is forward to say she'shad sex with me. CONTINUEDFROM PAGE 107 superior.I'm inspired by them. I think I've heard you do tbatjoke before. the showwould haveno problem continuing, Hora do tbeyfeel about it? I admit I was slipping that one in, but it's but it does feel like it's time to get this behind I don't know. timely Ifby "significant other," do you mean me, for many reasons,and move on to other Tou baaen't talked to them about it? dog? Because I have a dog. Ifby "significant projects which IVe been trying to do. rWell,we jokingly talked about doing another other," do you mean car?Because I have a car. That seemsto be a patteru in your life. Tou season,just for amoment, but theyknowme. No, I mean an intimate relationship. Someone sn)itcbed majors in college, you quit sitcom Theyunderstand the complexities of doing you go hometo at night. oriting... this showweek after week for me. Ohhlh, that's...No. 'Vbat That's right. I have a pattern that is very or- doyou think wh enpeop le drau compari- Is it sometbingyou raant?To get married, haae ganic: I work hard to do something right, and sonsbetzoeen you and Larry Sanders? kids, the whole deal? once I feel I've achievedit asbest I can, I have I think there are such drastic differences, in Xfell, I was never a manwho felt compelled a natural inclination to move on, much like a that Larry's a man who wants to be on TV to get married and have children. I hope that bear in winter. lt's sort ofan instinct. every night and is driven by getting the at some time in mylife I will do that. I think Kind of like Madonna reinaenting herself biggest audienceand being a celebriry The that I would make agood father, and myin- ezteryferoyears? rulnerable part of{Larryl is where I connect stinct is that that will happen; but I was al- Well, I have been compared to Madonna with him, which is him trying somehow, ways someonewhowas concerned about the many times, and I know that weVe dated within the context of all the showbusinesshe quality of the relationship. I would love to be some of the samepeople. has to dealwith, to do the right thing. I con- in a good relationship, but those are hard to Tbll me about thefilm project you're currently nect with that part. I think he'sagood man at find. Human interaction is very tricky, at writing. Is it a comedy? heart. [But] I think you should compare me best, although I thought the other day that Yes,it's about an alien from another planet more to PennyJohnson,my/Larry's assistant. I'll start feeling better when the universe that comes to earth to impregnate awoman. [I'm] more like that character in real life. stops expanding. I think that's what throws Do youplay the alien? That's ushatu;e're trying to get at bere. Wbat me - that constant senseof movement. 'lVouldyou Yeah, but I d play him much like I play my- are you lihe in real life? describeyourselfas a happy person? self,because I feel like an alien sometimes. Is that what you're trying to do? I don't have I would describemyself asa happier person He's a pretty coldhearted man {who} comes a problemwith that. I'm somewhatguarded than I was ayear ago.I think I wasprobably from an emotionless planet, and he's basi- about certain specificsofmy life, but asfar happier then than I was a year before that, callya sociopathpersonaliry. as revealing myself, I don't think I'm very and so forth, back to ry89.fLaughs]. rVait. Hout is "coldbearted, ernotionless and a guarded. You want me to reveal wh o I really Tou'reputting me on. sociopath" like yourself? am?Happy to try That's what life is about. I'm not! Not like me, I don't think. It's a character. Tiying to be who you are. Ifthere's anyone So,eacb year bas beenan improztementon the But you said you'd play him "much like you who in fact is exactly who they are, they onebefore? play yourself" should be embraced. Yeah,except prior to '89. I think there were I think just the alien part. I think it's more of a Do you knota anyone lihe that? three-year leaps.Now it seemsto be going man who's a metaphor for a certain cold- I know some. Very few more quickly I seem to be getting happier hearted,achievement-oriented, money-driven And hout do they get to be tbat way? exponentially as I get more mature. societythatwe are in. He's the ultimate exten- I think it takes years ofinner search and a Let's switcb to a subject that's not so bappy: sion ofthe kind ofpersonality that I think is goalofbeinghonest, andknowingandtrust- your $roo tnillion lausuit against Brad Grey. out ofcontrol in ourworld. But he realizesit. ing their own instinct. Then there are people A lot ofpeople in Hollyzaoodcan't seemtofig- Is it a messagemoztie? who are the opposite of that who become ure out uthere the lawsuit comesfrom or wby Hopefully it's a funny movie. I never think of corruptedand confused, and I amfascinated you'oefiled it. anything ashaving amessageor not. It doesnt byboth extremes. Ahhhhhhh. interest me to write [something] unless it's a Who areyou talking about: Could you explain it? story about [a part ofl human nature that fas, I'm not thinking of anyone specifically You understand that I can't discussthe case, cinates me, and I'm fascinated by the so- Wbo are you closestto inyour life? becauseit's my lawyer'sjob, but...I'm sure ciopath personalitybecause I've been fooled Uh, |ongpauselwell, I-I have...ahandful of people may not understand this lawsuit.They by it. I grew up in a sheltered environment in close friends. The only reason I wouldn't willwhen it's in court. I don't knowhowelse anormal, middle-classneighborhood. Myex- start to saytheir namesis it's not fair to them. to explain it. I certainly have no intention of posure to the world was somewhat abrupt, They may not want anyone to know that trying this casein [/S magazine. By the way and I wasn't very street-smart,so I'm fasci- they're friends with me. It may make them they're not saying that I'm not funny, right? nated by the duplicity ofpeople's agendas. feel bad about themselves. fLaugbs] No one is sayingtbat. 'W'hat lVeII, tbat duplicity is certainly somethingyou about your personal life? Is tbere a Good. That's all that matters to me. exploreon'Tbe Lar'ry SandersSbou.' significant other? Do you rniss Brad Grey? He ans a aery close Yeah,it is. I think that's a metaphor forwhat There's a joke I do that goeslike this: I'm cur- friend ofyours. goeson in life. That's why I thinkpeople who rently dating 20 women, but I don't like to Oh, I'm deeply hurt and disappointed in arerit in showbusinesscan relate to the sho\.!: talk about it becauseit will cheapenit. But what the truth is.IQgicklylBrt I couldn't be I think it goes on behind the scenesin every the truth is I've been very absorbed in my happier with the show this year. householdinAmerica. work, so I haven't had much time for any Do you seetbe implicit irory/ that tl)is is hap- Do you tbink you might get emotional @ben kindofBillClintonaction.lLaughslTheonly peningtoyou - theoery hindoftbingyou'oe you shootthe last episode? reason I wouldn't run for president is be- examinedonyourshovforsixyears? All of mywork reflects life. I mean, going all do something good and maintain consis- Matthews, "but the death of anybodythat's the way back to when I tell jokes about dat- tency, and hopefully I'll continue to grow: special leavesa hole you can't fill. People say 'Godhad ing. They're infused with some amount of IPauses\Did I tell you I read for a part in abetterplan for them,'and I'mglad truth and then exaggerated. That's how I Titanic andthey said, "Too real. It looks like some people have that faith. I dont have that write. So I don't seethe iron;5 I see the con- you're going down from the time you went faith. If there is a God, a caring God, thenwe sistencyofthat. on the boat." They said, "Ifthe passengers have to figure he's done an extraordinaryjob Could you talk a linle about some of tbe more seeyou relaxing in a deck chair, they'll know of making avery cruel world." peculiar er)entsthat bave happened - v,lhen they're doomed." For the first time all day Matthews grows you atalked offthe set during the taping of last I'nt not going to get straight ansu)ersanyn ore, quiet. "Death immediately makes me think season\final episode? am I? ofwho matters in my life, and who doesn't," Uh-huh. I7ell, you're basicallygetting straight answers. he says."'W'hen my sister died, that was the And you took offfor the South Seas. Withpuncb lines. first time it hit me that the guys in this band Uh-huh. With some punch lines, but that's what I'm loved me so much." He gets teary-eyed. When you came back, you ame said to be oery like. It's not dishonest for me to be funny in "They just rushed to me. [Playing] Madison dffirent. a conversation. I often am funny I write Square Garden isn't nearly as big as how Yes,well, I'll tell you, I was, in fact, very tan. many of my jokes by hearing them come out much I love the fourguys in the band." IPausesllwasscheduledto have avacation at of my mouth and then running over to a pad It's this familial bond that seems to have that time. I did come back a different man, of paper andwriting them down. Unfortu- brought Matthews a peace of mind he didn't in that I probably left before vacation not a nately, there's no stopping lmy humor]. Be- have when he was younger. "Life was pretty man and came back, actually a man. lieve me, I've tried. At least people at home intimidating for me when I was a kid," he Peopleclose to Brad Grey say that at tbat point can changethe channel. I'm stuckwith me admits. "I didn't go to college.'What was I your relationsbip aith him truly deteriorated z4hoursaday I going to do?" But now, he says,life at 3r is and tbat Brad resigned and there a)as eaen an easier- and happier. "Peoplewere not im- ananged summit betueen you two in an effirt TbmO'Neill utrote aboutAntbony Hopkinsfor parting this information to me when I was 18 to ffict a reconciliation. theFebruary issue of'tls.' and burdened. But now I want to go up to I can help. That would be Epi sode5. fLaugh s] every r8-year-oldkidwith r5 piercingswho's Seriously? cursing me becauseI smile too much, and 'S-- Seriouslyand not seriously I mean, I find the say, is so easy.It'sso easy'" a stories you're telling me entertaining, and I IIAIIEMATTHEWS BA]III will hopefully be able to use them in my CONTINUEDFROM PAGE 103 work, and I appreciate the contribution that those guys are making to my show I hope eveq and kept the group on a grueling road KRISTI]ISGI|TTTH(|MIS they don't want writing credits. Here's the schedule. Concertgoers were encouraged CONTINUEDFROM PAGE 85 thing: I understand what you're asking me. to record shows and trade copies among I mean, it's a business issue. And I have themselves,and the buzz on the quintet "I find that so sad," she says,smiling with 'Washington lawyers in, and who grew quickly Nine hundred people would all her teeth. "The neglected husband, are representing me who I think, while I turn up at a club that could hold only 3oo, pickling away" can't completely explain to you for legal rea- and whoever managed to wrestle their way Back in the car,we discussScott Thomas' sons,nor does it seem like I can explain it to into the show would sing along with every hopes for her children. Only now do I hear Brillstein-Grey perhaps mylawyers can, and song."I7e were tripped," saysMatthews. "I faint echoes ofher unstorybooklike child- that's where that belongs. The reality of this would ask people,'How do you know the hood in rural Dorset, England (near a vil- ''We will be veryclear, very soon, and in the mean- songs?'They were like, have tapes!' " lage so tiny they'd remark if an unusual car time the spin that is being put on it is won- (All of this occurred before the Dave passed through). Her memories of romp- derful fodder fo r TheLarry SandersShozu,be- Matthews Band had even put out its inde- ing in fields with her four younger siblings causeit's fiction better than I can write. pendently releaseddebut, r993'sRemember are darkened by disaster: Her father, a Why donl you tell meyour side of the story? TuoThings,which has since gone gold.) British Royal Nary pilot, died in a plane ac- I think when you listen back, you'll hear By the time the band signed with RCA cident when shewas 5; her stepfather, also many many truths the way that...uh...uh...I Records in late t993, its enormous grass- apilot, died the samewaywhen shewas rr. think I have. roots following enabled it to call the shots. (Scott Thomas fends off questions about Excuseme? And it still does.The band controls all the li- personal matters with a crisp "I'm not go- The truth is in the fcomplaintJ. I have it ac- censing and merchandising for its T:shirts, ing to tell you.") tuallyreduced to size,and it's on mykey ring, hats, CD cases- you name it - through its "The thing I want most for my children so I'd be happy to go through it with you. I mail-order company, Bama Rags, a venture is to be self-confident enough to be inter- have a thumbnail-size copythat I have on my that brings in millions each year. "I7e never ested in things," she says."I think, to ex- key ring and carry around with me. As I will once tried to make this thing become what it press interest, and to develop an interest, with this article. is," Beauford says."It just happened." requires a lot of faith in yourself - which Let's mooe on, lVbat aill you do next? The band's initial successwasovershadowed I felt has been lacking in me and was cer- I am completely capable of being frightened by tragedy though, when Matthews' older tainlylacking in myupbringing.'What I try to death about the quality ofmynext project. sister and her husbandwere killed in a shoot- not to say to them is,.'Oh, you mustn't I was frightened to death of Larry Sanders, ing incident inJohannesburg in 1994,weeks worry' It's diminishing to be told you and I'll be frightened to death the next time before the releaseof Underthe Thbleand Drean- mustn't feel this or that." I walk onstage to do stand-up. It's difficult to ing. "I try to find humor in everything," says As we re-enter fContinuedonpagettz\

us JUNE 1994 ttt