Guest Author - Kathleen M. Tuggle
Great news for comedy fans! The first season of Mad TV is now on DVD! There are 19 episodes included in this set, not to mention the bonus DVD extras. For anyone who isn't familiar with Mad TV, it is a fantastic comedy sketch show with a great group of talented people. I try to watch it every Saturday night when I can. I remember when Mad TV first debuted in the Fall of 1995. It was a nice addition to the long-running Saturday Night Live show that had flip-flopped in its ratings over the years. Mad TV is hilarious! Not only can you enjoy funny sketches, but great commercial and music video parodies. As an added note, Amanda Bearse (Marcy - 'Married with Children') directed several episodes of this hilarious show.
Several of today's talented comedy movie actors debuted in the first season of Mad TV - Orlando Jones (Father of the Pride, Biker Boyz); Bryan Callen (Bad Santa, Old School); David Herman (Father of the Pride, Dude, Where's My Car?); Phil LaMarr (The Proud Family); Artie Lange (Old School, Elf); Mary Scheer (Hey Arnold!); Nicole Sullivan (King of Queens, Kim Possible); and Debra Wilson (BAPS, Rubbernecking).
"Mad TV: The Complete First Season" is awesome. The set includes 3 DVDs (A & B sides) that include 19 episodes and bonus material. The inside DVD sleeve lists the individual episodes for each DVD with the sketches that aired and the original air date. This is great because if you have a particular favorite you'll know which DVD the sketch is on.
I was laughing so hard when I watched these DVDs. The sketches and parodies are hilarious. It reminded me of when 'In Living Color' debuted in 1990. At that time, I had never seen anything like it. Mad TV gave me the same reaction. It was politically incorrect, but humorous. The first season of Mad TV was very reflective of the times. The subject matter touched on O.J. Simpson and his dream team, Heidi Fleiss and Kato Kaelin quite often. Guest stars also include Tony Orlando, RuPaul, Claudia Schiffer, Whoopi Goldberg, Kim Coles, Kato Kaelin and more.
Some of the more notable sketches portrayed on the show are "Gump Fiction" in which 'Forrest Gump' plays the part that John Travolta made famous in the movie "Pulp Fiction." This is a hilarious parody. The rude Vancome Makeup Counter Lady, played by Nicole Sullivan is also hilarious. Between these humorous sketches are equally humorous commercial parodies like the 'Vudweiser' frogs. They run into a few problems with the 'Vudweiser' delivery truck.
Included in this DVD are sketches that were unaired, as well as bloopers. There is also a preview of Season Two. Additional bonuses include episode 200, which aired 11/08/2003, featuring a reunion of Season One's cast. Also included in this DVD is 'the best of Mad TV' from the first nine years:
The Best Commercial Parodies - Madden Popcorn; Gap Tyson
The Best Movie Parodies - The Wizard of Oz lost footage; Lords of the Bling
The Best TV-Show Parodies - Sopranos; I Love Lucy
The Best Music Video Parodies - What's on TV?; Bomb Bomb Bomb
The Best Animation - Sex Toy Story; Clops IV
In all, I give this DVD a thumbs up! Lots of fun and great extras on this DVD!
Mad TV: The Complete First Season (1995) DVD
