This company of comic is larger than most that have made it on television with eleven regular members; Kevin Allison, Michael Ian Black, Robert Ben Garant, Todd Holobek, Michael Patrick Jann, Kerri Kenney, Thomas Lennon, Joe Lo Truglio, Ken Marino, Michael Showalter and David Wain. Frequent viewers of Comedy central and other basic cable comedy series will certain recognize many of these names. They have frequently been cast on their own shows and typical male guest appearances with each other. During the late eighties Todd Holoubek was a student at New York University when he became interested in ensemble comedy. Culling other students from the drama and theater departments the group slowly began to gel and transform into its ultimate form. The format was to be a true collective with no formal leadership. This may seem like a recipe for mayhem and to a very real extent it was but it also must be noted that it worked. Some may find this brand of comedy somewhat of an acquired taste. I admit that I had not seen them before reviewing this disc and first I thought it was just another silly comedy troupe but after just a couple of episodes I discovered another level of humor to appreciate. In the midst of chaos there is the germ of genius.

A typical skit for this group is difficult to accurately define. Many of them come across as extremely silly during the initial viewing but closer inspection and consideration disclose this is well written, sharply directed social satire. For example infatuation with game shows and deceased celebrities collide when Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen (Ben Garant and Kerri Kenney) appear on the $7,000 Pyramid. Sid can’t remember lyrics to his own songs but the out of it pair seem to do a lot better with ‘things you do on heroin; which for them is absolutely everything. Even though Kenney is the only woman in the group she doesn’t have a monopoly on female roles. In another skit Kerri Kenney and Michael Showalter play sub urban housewives with a rather unusual pest problem. Their home is infested with metal rock legends Slash from Guns N' Roses. After luring him into a trap with a bottle of whiskey they find out they now have Fleas (Red Hot Chili Peppers.) one of stand devices used by comedy groups like this is to develop various recurring characters often with their own distinctive catch phase. This team takes the idea to a higher level populating a full, strange universe. One on the most popular regulars is Doug (Michael Showalter); the perennial rebel without a clue. Much to his chagrin the adults in his life are overly liberal and permissive leaving Doug nowhere to vent hid pent up angst. Catch phrases are taken to an extreme with Louie (Ken Marino ) who repeats ‘I wanna dip my balls in it’ only to final reveal a pair of golf balls.

For all the fans out here waiting for this official release easy; Paramount did this edition up right. All three seasons are present in full screen video and a more than reasonable Dolby stereo. In addition there is a bonus disc with 90 minutes of previously unaired skits plus the group provides commentary during the episodes. This holds up far better than most series of this type and is much funnier to boot.