Previously released in 2006 and 2014, Mr. Show: The Complete Collection returns to DVD on a six-disc set, which is a repackaging of previously released season sets. Mr. Show was a sketch-comedy series that aired 30 episodes on HBO from 1995 to 1998. Starring and written by Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, who met while working on The Ben Stiller Show, main cast members also included John Ennis, Tom Kenny (who would go on to voice SpongeBob SparePants), and Jill Talley. Throughout the four seasons, they were joined to varying degrees by Scott Adsit, Jack Black, Karen Kilgariff, Jerry Minor, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Sarah Silverman. Doing double duty as performers and writers were Scott Aukerman, Brian Posehn, Jay Johnston, Dino Stamatopoulos, and Paul F. Tompkins.
Buy Mr. Show: The Complete Collection DVDMr. Show typically begins with Bob and David being introduced to an audience before segueing into that episode’s sketches. The series was reminiscent of Monty Python’s Flying Circus in that it featured sketches that were recorded and performed live. Also, they didn’t have traditional endings to their pieces, feeling the freedom to link to the next sketch, any time, any way.
Mr. Show didn’t focus on recurring characters like other sketch shows, although Ronnie Dobbs who appears in the first episode of Season 1, “The Cry of a Hungry Baby,” returns in Season 3, Episode 2, “Peanut Butter, Eggs, and Dice.” The material is both topical and timeless, from spoofing the O.J. murder trial in “Who Let You In?” to an actor auditioning with a confusing monologue in “Rudy Will Await Your Foundation,” and alternates between clever and crude.
The Bonus Features are:
- Commentary on all episodes by Bob and David and cast members
- Disc 1:
- “Fuzz” The Musical featuring Ronnie Dobbs (7 min)
- Before It Was a TV Show… (3 min)
- The Best of Mr. Show: “The Incredible, Fantastical News Report” (25 min) – Season 2 highlights
- Disc 3:
- Bob & David at the 1997 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival (5 min) where they perform a sketch. There are also two promos.
- “Druggachusettes,” The Instrumental Score by Eban Schletter (4 min) – the sketch plays with music and no dialogue
- Disc 4:
- The Best of Mr. Show: “ Fantastic Newness” (28 min) – Season 3 highlights
- Bob and David – Where Are They Now? – a graphic with silly updates of the pair.
- Disc 6:
- Crack-Me-Ups! Blooper Reel for first three seasons (16 min)
- “The Naked Improv”1998 Comic Relief appearance (5 min)
- “The Grand Reunion” (5 min) – Reuniting to record audio commentaries for Season 4 opens up old wounds.
- Mr. Show Jukebox – Either play all or select one of the 24 songs from the series.
Mr. Show: The Complete Collection provides a lot of laughs, especially for those with a dark sense of humor who aren’t offended by language and subject matter.
