vulnerability. >> i'm on my way to hawaii. >> that is seen throughout the documentary the zen diaries of gary shandling brilliant as anybody has ever been in comedy writing. >> writing with him is like trying to paint with picasso and he's like why are you using red? i don't know. i thought red worked here. >> how would you describe the type of humor you're doing? >> oh, man. >> he was just 16 when he scored an interview with the comedian for his high school radio station. >> i was obsessed with comedy. and my heroes, to get to meet them. gary was someone i really looked up to even then. >> the two were close friends up until his death in 2016, which came as a terrible surprise to everyone who knew him. >> my wife came up the stairs in shock. and i heard her say -- yelling oh, no, oh, no. and i didn't know who died. she told me. i was in shock. shock. >> he was complex. at times neurotic, per sncc etty, a perfectionist with the highest standards. he could be a handful. >> kneelon was asked to speak at the comedian's memorial. he got the idea for the documentary after creating material for the service,