DVD Review: Second Season of FOX Comedy ‘Mad TV’

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CHICAGO – Will “Mad TV” get a cultural comeback? Once positioned as the first show that could really compete with “Saturday Night Live,” it never quite fulfilled its potential but I think it’s the kind of thing that audiences could find and respect in the future. It’s too bad that none of the “Mad” players became huge stars — movie fame helped propel the respect for those early days of “SNL” — but there were some undeniably talented players here and the show holds up better than you might expect. There’s a part of me that wishes it was still on, especially during this truly horrendous season of “SNL.” Lorne Michaels could use some competition.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The second season of “Mad TV” was recently released by Shout Factory in a pretty standard DVD set with no special features. This was the first season with guest hosts/stars a la “SNL” and celebrities invited include Christina Applegate, Ice-T, Rodney Dangerfield, and many more. Watching “Mad TV,” it’s clear that the show, at least at this point in its history, wasn’t a great one but it was better than it was ever given credit for being. Even as his life was spiralling out of control personally, Artie Lange was damn funny. Orlando Jones had great comic timing. Nicole Sullivan & Debra Wilson were strong every time they appeared on screen. Like most sketch comedy shows, the writing was hit and miss but it hit more often than not. Certainly more than 2013 “SNL.” Bring back “Mad TV.”

Mad TV: The Complete Second Season was released on DVD on March 26, 2013
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Synopsis:
The hyperactive UBS Man, Antonia Timmens, the Vancome Lady, Dixie Wetsworth and Spy vs. Spy… All of your favorite characters and sketches from the second hilarious season of MADtv are here! From pop culture parodies to political satire, nothing is off limits for this outrageous cast!

Join special guest hosts Christina Applegate, Ice-T, Harry Connick, Jr., Rodney Dangerfield, Queen Latifah, LL Cool J and many more as they usher in some of the most entertaining sketches from fan-favorite cast members like Nicole Sullivan, Orlando Jones, Phil LaMarr, Brian Callen, Debra Wilson, Mary Scheer and Artie Lange!

Special Features:
o Sadly, none

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com