 After leaving Newhart , Mirkin wrote freelance scripts for It 's Garry Shandling 's Show and The Tracey Ullman Show . Garry Shandling asked Mirkin to co @-@ create The Larry Sanders Show with him . Mirkin did not have time , but worked as writer and consultant on the show 's first season , and later returned to direct the 1998 final season episode " The Beginning of the End " . 
