Rob & Big

Let’s face it, reality shows are here to stay. With another writer’s union strike going on television executives are looking for something to fill the hours of prime time. Some of these so-called reality shows are obviously scripted; some are so strange that they have to be real. Shows like this are easy to produce and much less expensive than the usual script driven series. One of the strangest and better of this mix bag genre is the MTV hit, ‘Rob and Big’. It follows the exploits of Rob Dyrdek, a professional skateboarder and his best friend slash body guard Christopher "Big Black" Boykin. Dyrdek was a teenage phenomenon in the world of extreme skateboarding. While still under twenty he was so successful in the sport that he became a designer of shoes, clothing and other accoutrements for the legion of fans enamored of his boarding skills. I’m still a little uncertain as to why he felt the need to hire a professional body guard. Perhaps the snow boarding cartel had a hit out on him. It does seem that no person that is even a quasi celebrity is without an entourage that includes a bodyguard. That is not to say that Mr. Drydek is not famous. In the world he inhabits he is a mogul. It does seem that Andy Warhol’s prediction that everybody will be famous for fifteen minutes is coming true. Apparently everybody is getting a reality series now. After watching the newly released DVD of the first two seasons of Rob & Big some people deserve such a platform. They are extreme, energetic and most of all truly funny.

It is amazing to watch the stunts that Dyrdek can pull off. I grew up when the closest thing we had to a skateboard was a broken roller skate nailed to a plank of wood with a milk-crate nailed on top. We called it a scooter, our parents called it stupid and dangerous. If they could only see what these guys do maybe they would have let us alone. In the opening Big Black offers an explanation as to why a bodyguard was needed. It seems that Rob still likes to skate in public places where he gets hassled by the security guards and police. It would have been less expensive to just skate somewhere else like in your only skate plaza but hey, that’s just me. Well, the theme here is Big Black is not just an employee he is Rob’s best friend. In case you aren’t sure about this the DVD menu plays the theme from the old TV series ‘Courtship of Eddie’s Father’ aptly named ‘My Best Friend’. Many of us have been friendly with our bosses but how many have actually been our best friend let alone your roommate.

The first episode finds Rob and Big Black at a local skate park. Rob is trying to teach Big Black some tricks but considering ‘Big’ lives up to his name coming in at 6’5" and 400 pounds the task is almost impossible. I could do without the shots of him in a bathing suit or worse yet on the toilet. They decide that their home needs an addition, a puppy. Off they go to a pet store to prepare for the adoption of a bull dog puppy. A local puppy isn’t good enough so they go off on their private jet to Arizona to meet with a breeder. The pair finally agrees upon one lucky pup, Meat-Bag better known as Meaty. In another episode Rob is in awe of Big’s 22" arms. He then buys his friend an old school board that he hopes will hold his massive frame. They also see something on the internet that gets them thinking. The now famous clip of the skateboarding bull dog, Tyson, convinces them that Meaty can learn to skate. Apparently the talent for skateboarding is rarer in the canine world that with humans.

The series is funny there is no doubt about that. One reason is the relationship between these most unlikely of friends. It doesn’t seem to be staged at all. In one episode Rob decides that Big’s room looks more like a hotel than a home and that it is time to redecorate. To this end Rob gets wallpaper for the room called ‘golden dawn’, not exactly something a huge body guard would choose for himself or any other person for that matter. Rob also buys Big a carved wooden tiger which Big calls a retarded tiger. The redecoration has to be placed on hold when Meaty gets a hold of a chicken bone which gets lodged in his stomach required an emergency trip to the vet. The second season starts off with Rob and Big once again planning to expand their little family. Meaty has been acting out including urinating on the floor. They feel that all he needs is a companion so off they go to get their pet a pet. Now getting another dog or even a cat would be too ordinary for this pair so they wind up getting a miniature horse aptly named Mini. This season does get more than a little silly with the next episode. Rob had purchased a ‘time machine’ a while back and is upset when it doesn’t work. He contacts the inventor, Steven Gibbs, to complain. He will not meet them in person since they might be aliens. Considering some of the other reality series on MTV this actually seems fairly normal. Things do get back to what passes as normal for the pair when a problem arises with another person in Rob’s entourage. His cousin and personal assistant, Drama, has been neglecting his job. Rob tries to scare Drama into better performance even going so far as to interview replacements. When that doesn’t work he forces his cousin to work at a fast food place to instill a work ethic in him.

In the third season things get a little stranger. It starts out with Rob convinced that a statue he owns is possessed by a demon. The pair has to call an exorcist to take care of matters. Rob also gets into a new sport, so to speak, turtle racing. Yes Rob and his faithful sidekick Big enter the less than face pace world of racing turtles. They wind up with a real loser that then rent in a bar. This sets them out to look for a feral turtle in the hood. This is indicative of this series. You never would have imaged the words 'turtle', 'racing' and 'hood' in the same context. Other exploits covered in this third season include Rob and Bug trying to get on a box of cereal and entering their long time pet miniature horse in a competition. 

When you look at the myriad of reality series on television now this one does manage to rise above the pact. One of the main reasons it does work is the genuine chemistry between the unlikely pair of Rob and Big. There is nothing to suggest that they are not what they seem, best friends. Some of the situations may appear contrived but the reactions look real. The purpose here is to entertain and they do. The series is funny. There are laughs that come about naturally. In many ways this is a modern interpretation of the comedy classic, the Odd Couple. Just take an unlike pair of friends and put a camera on them and wait fort the laughs. Since Rob loves his sport and vocation he naturally tries to share this passion with his friend. Just the sight of Rob taping pillows and padding on Big to help him do a half pipe is worth watching. When you add quirky pets to the mix the series remained consistently fun to view. This taps into something with the audience. There is a humanity here that carries the episodes.

Of late Paramount has been releasing a lot of classic television series to DVD. They go back through the decades to find the cult classics many of us grew up with. The release of the first two seasons of this series demonstrates that they have not forsaken the younger audience. Since each season consists of eight episodes Paramount decided to package this DVD with both season. They also provide more than the usual extras for a little added fun. There are commentary tracks with Rob, Big, series co-creator Ruben Fleischer and writer Ruben Fleischer. Yes, like many reality shows there are writers. There is a behind the scenes look at Rob and Big and some Meaty footage. Of course there is a little tutorial on skateboarding care of Rod. Also included are some deleted scenes. This is one of the better shows of its kind and well worth getting for the enjoyment of the whole family.

Posted 12/25/07        (Season 1 & 2)

Posted 08/04/08        (Season 3)