Description

Everyone's favorite middle-aged high school student has finally come to DVD. Jerri Blank (Amy Sedaris), a self-described "user, boozer and loser," takes on the perils and pratfalls of high school in these ten classic episodes. A critic and cult hit, Comedy Central(r)'s Strangers with Candy twists the conventions of the classic after-school special to create a completely original comedy series. ... Read more

Reviews (79)

Extremely Funny, Raunchy Show
I really loved "Strangers with Candy" and was sad when it was cancelled prematurely. The series ran for 30 some episodes, and the first 10 episodes (season 1) are included on this 2 DVD set. "Strangers" stars Amy Sedaris (sister of auther David Sedaris), Steven Colbert (seen on the "Daily Show"), and Paul Dinello. These three worked together for years (e.g., "Exit 57") before creating this series.

Amy Sedaris plays Jerri Blank, a 46-year-old loser who returns to high school after being a teenaged runaway for 32 years. Her father is immobile, and her step-mother and half-brother hate her. The series is patterned after an after-school episode, and each one ends in Jerri learning a "lesson" (as well as participating in funky dance sequences!). The humor is sometimes bizzare, often raunchy, and always politically incorrect!

Episode 1: Old Habits, New Beginnings. Jerri tries to fit in by mixing up some drugs (glint) for a popular cheerleader (Poppy), with tragic results. Jerri loses the first in a long series of pets and does her first "I got something to say!" bit.

Episode 2: A Burden's Burden. Jerri is given a 10-pound baby (whom she dubs "Dizzy") by her health teacher. She fails miserably and is paired up with Tammi Littlenut to complete the assignment. Teacher Noblet and Jellineck begin their unusual "relationship." This episode is hilarious and presents a new, more demented side of Jerri.

Episode 3: Dreams on the Rocks. Jerri get a leading role in the school production of "A Raisin in the Sun," beating out several African-American students! This acting success leads Jerri's step-mother on a "hilarious" alcolohic bender.

Episode 4: Who wants cake? Jerri is asked to determine whether her lockermate, Kimberly, is "[mentally challenged]." If she doesn't cooperate, she'll miss the school trip to Good Time Island.

Episode 5: Bogie Nights. Jerri falls for the new kid in school (Ricky, played by Chip from "Kate & Ally"), much to the consternation of her fellow students.

Episode 6: Jerri Is Only Skin Deep. Jerri runs for Homecoming Queen. She tries to increase her "inner beauty" by doing volunteer work, with tragic results for a chicken.

Episode 7: Let Freedom Ring. Jerri is suspected of writing a racial slur on a school wall, and she tries to seduce a student who supposedly witnessed the event. Jerri famously asserts that she likes the "pole and the hole."

Episode 8: Feather in the Storm: Jerri wants to try out for the debate team, but everyone tells her that she's too fat, leading her to develop an eating disorder.

Episode 9: To Be Young, Gifted and Blank. Mr. Noblet tries to turn Jerri into a violin prodigy, driving a wedge between himself and Mr. Jellineck.

Episode 10: The Trip Back. Jerri becomes attracted to a young female stoner and begins doing pot.

Extras: Sedaris, Colbert, and Dinello do audio commentary for four episodes. They are hilarious together, and the commentaries help shed some light on their bizarre senses of humor.

The original, unaired pilot is also included. The plot is similar to the "Who Wants Cake?" episode, but there are quite a few differences. Notably, Jerri has a volunteer job at a genertonology rehab center and Dinello and Colbert have dual roles. The pilot is not as good as the later episodes, but it's interesting to see how the series evolved.

Blank YOU!!!
Comedy Central's cult classic has finally made its way to dvd, something I pictured never happening. After being cancelled, with only three seasons to its credit, I was afraid that "Strangers With Candy" might fade into obscurity. Luckily, there were lots of fans out there who, like me, found it's dark, insane humor riotously funny. This dvd offering gives us the first 10 episodes, introducing us to Jerri Blank, a 46 yr old ex con, ex prostitute, ex drug user---ex you-name-it! as she struggles while returning to high school where she left off after running away 32 years ago. As a freshman, Jerri must deal with trying to fit in, wanting to make friends, be popular---all the things a typical freshman wants in school. Told in the format of the old afterschool specials that warned us of drugs, unwanted pregnancy, etc., this series worked brilliantly. Thanks mostly, of course, to Amy Sedaris who plays Jerri Blank to perfection. Add in Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello as teachers (and closeted lovers) and an array of other characters and the show always hits the mark. I love the relationship between Jerri and her step mother played by Deborah Rush, who plays this role to a tee. The dvd offers a few extras such as running commentary during episodes and a bonus unaired pilot. It was interesting watching this pilot, seeing how that changed Jerri and some of the situations she was in for the actual series. If you are a fan of this show, this dvd is a MUST!!! I've read that if this dvd sells well, the other two seasons will be released as well. I hope that is true because there were so many classic moments in seasons 2 and 3. Go out and buy this dvd now---run, don't walk! You won't regret it.

FUNNY!
I loved this comedy series. They should make as many seasons as possible. The actress that plays the main character is so funny, she should do stand up. LOVE THIS. ACTING AND WRITING ARE TOP NOTCH!

Forget Chappelle's Show, this beats it any day.
Strangers With Candy: one of the most offensive shows I've ever seen...and I love every bit of it. From "pin the tail on the retard" to the school's principal: Mr. Blackman (who just happens to be black), there wasn't a minute that I wasn't laughing while watching this set of episodes. I'm sure you know what the show's about by now: Jerri Blank, a 46 year old high school freshman. Her dad is stuck in one position every time he's shown, and seemingly never talks. Her mom couldn't care less about her, and her brother is a total frumpy jock loser. This family is hilarious, and it's a shame the show's ended after just 3 seasons. They're even more messed up than the Bundy's in Married With Children.

In the first episode, Jerri makes drugs for a girl just to gain popularity after nobody is interested in coming to her party. She ends up overdosing, and trying to cram herself head-first through a key hole. During her funeral at the school, when Principal Blackman is going on about how the culprit that gave her the drugs must be feeling horrible, Jerri stands up and screams, "I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SAY". Her message...is that she's throwing a party at her house for the girl. So Jerri finally gains temporary popularity in the end. In another episode, the drama class gets to do a play of Raisin in the Sun, which is a book/play about black people. Well, the first two people that get parts are Susan Cream and Craig Snow. Then, beating out someone perfect for the lead role, is Jerri. All the other students (and again, they're all black) get to play trees. I swear, I laughed at that one bit for at least 10 minutes. And it only took about 2 minutes to do that scene.

As you can see, the producers show no mercy, and everything is a target. Even "violent kids" are thrown in, left in padded rooms (the commentary about that episode is very strange). And yes, even babies show up. Jerri has to take care of a 10 pound baby for health class in order to learn a lesson. She ends up getting sick of him, and leaving it in the park in order to go "throw rocks at the Indian". It'll make sense once you watch the show. If you've seen the movie Bubble Boy, take that and make it 1.5 times worse as far as offending things go and that's what you get here with Strangers With Candy.

The only reason I'm not giving this dvd 5 stars (though it deserves it for how great the show is) is because of the lack of special features. We get 4 commentary tracks and then 2 Comedy Central shorts of South Park and Crank Yankers. That's it. The commentary tracks are ok, but there are too many long periods of silence. And the stars (Amy, Stephen and Paul) more or less just watch the show with you and laugh at things as it goes along. They had fun though, which was cool. They mention how the school the show was shot in was a real school that was going to be torn down, and they could do whatever they want with it. One room had padding on the walls, and nothing else, which was very strange. I would've loved to have seen some interviews with the cast (especially the dad) and what they thought when they first read the scripts. The audio quality isn't that great either...it's just barely better than how it was shown on tv.

I'm still glad I picked this up though. After seeing these 10 episodes, I can only imagine what they make fun of in the second and third seasons. If you like South Park's sense of humor, this is perfect for you. And at this price, you have no reason not to buy this.

BLANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!
I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! Can't wait for season three to get here. Tell those bone heads at Comedy Central to bring back the damn show!!! ... Read more

Reviews (31)

arguably the best season of this short-lived series
this is black comedy at its greatest. the first disc of this second season DVD collection houses, quite possibly, the most creative, hysterical episodes of the entire series. "yes you can't", "the blank page", "the goodbye guy", and "the virgin jerri" are my personal favorites. the only weak episode on in this collection is "a price higher than riches," although that episode still manages to be ruthlessly hilarious (as a shoe salesman, jerry asks a man in a wheel-chair "how he wore the last pair out")

in an age where the vast majority of non-sitcom comedy shows are parody humor (i.e. SNL, MadTV) it's a breathe of fresh air to see something so inventive, creative, and politically incorrect; the central theme to this show is the satiring of the "after-school special" mentality; where in the end, the protagonist discovers some new enlightening, cathartic revelation about life and everything is okay again, but it's much more complex than that. the writers toss in some of the most bizarre dialogue, often laced with double negatives and contradictions (such as "must be great to hope for the things you wish you wanted", etc ...)

all in all, this show is certainly not for everyone. as amy sedaris (jerri blank) said herself in an interview: "I'm glad everyone doesn't like it, that would mean i was doing something wrong." amen.

One star shies from perfect.
Strangers With Candy is one of my favorite show on air. I have no idea why Comedy Central stopped the show regardless comments and requests posted by angry fans on the website.
Anyway, previous reviews already reveal how good the show is. No need to address on that issue. One thing that I couldn't agree more is the about the DVD distributor. Like one of the previous previews points out that the distributor did poor job on making of the DVD. No special features, no subtitles, no delete scenes and no add-in values. Compare to those bootlegs DVDs sell on eBay, the only difference is one is legal and the other is not.
The season one I just sold is because that. And those poor executions downgrade the marvelous title from a collection to a common DVD. Hate to give an outstanding product 4 star preview. But those who made the DVD really ruined the value of it.
Enjoy it!

FANDANGO?
This DVD had me in tears laughing! This is a hill-air-ee-us program!! If your a fan of subversive humor, you will not be able to stop watching this!!! Cant wait for season 3.

Television classic
Thats right,A CLASSIC!I just loved the Strangers with Candy tv show and I own both season 1 and 2 on DVD.All that's left to say is,BRING ON SEASON THREE ON DVD!!!!!!

Bring on Season Three
This show is brilliant. It is a delightful twist on the heavy-handed ABC After School Specials of the 70's. The writers and actors perfectly capture the essence of the old programs, while skewering the "very special" issues at the same time.

The concept of a 46 year-old high school freshman, on its own, is hillarious. The execution in this delightful program, is outstanding.

I'm waiting (not so patiently) for season three.

Coach Wolf: Jerri, what does V-I-C-T-O-R-Y spell?

Jerri: Fandango, . . . Hobo-Hobocamp? ... Read more

Description

STRANGERS WITH CANDY - SEASON 3 twists the conventions of the classic after-school special and follows the antics of 47-year old Jerri Blank.Back at home after 32 years as a teenage runaway, the well-intentioned Jerri picks up her life exactly where she left it: at home and flunking her freshman year in high school.Special guest stars include Will Ferrell, Andy Richter, among others. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

FI-NA-LEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!
GAWD!!! I've been anxiously waiting for season three to come out! I was getting really impatient! AND I can't believe they are coming out with a movie!!!!! I could soil myself with excitement... oh Dizzy!

it's about time
It's about time they put close-captioning on Strangers With Candy! Down with WEA Corp, Go Paramount! If only they could release the entire series on a box-set with captions.

My favorite all-around season
Better than good, it's gooder. Thats right, SWC Season 3 is probably the best season of this sadly short-lived cult classic show. Each character fully comes into his own. The episodes are:
1. Jerri's Burning Issue
2. Is Freedom Free?
3. Trail of Tears-Will Ferrell guest stars, Andy Richter
4. Invisible Love
5. Is My Daddy Crazy-Stu at his best
6. Steroid Relay-Andy Richter
7. Ask Jerri- My favorite from this season b/c of Noblet and Jellineck, but really all episodes are great
8. Sexual Harassment
9. Bully
10. The Last Temptation of Blank-Winona Ryder guest stars
Also I want to remind everyone that the MOVIE is coming, probably in 2005. ... Read more

Description

Teenager Johnny Dingle will do anything to keep his date with the hottest girl in school -- even come back from the grave! You see, Johnny had the perfect scheme to win the heart of Missy McCloud, the town beauty. Unfortunately, Johnny's scam goes sour and he winds up dead! Even so, Johnny's determined to keep his date -- unaware of the hilarity waiting for him upon his return! See for yourself why everyone's dying to see this outlandishly funny comedy! ... Read more

Reviews (22)

My Boyfriend's Back (jbordelon@kricket.net)
well first of all WAZZUP !!........i love this movie with a passion i`ve seen it at least 40 times. but last night i rented it for the 41st time......and noticed something i never noticed before......THE NAME OF THE SONG THEY DANCED TO AT THE END OF THE MOVIE........i had my closed-captioning running, and all of a sudden it pops up "hanging on for dear life" BY: MMC *now i was thinking that MMC stood for mickey mouse club, but i don`t think in this case it does. also......comment to other amazon reviwers......i know too much more than ANYBODY about movies and music......but if you want to know the name of a song or something you`ve got to leave your e-mail address in your review so people can write you back. well.....peace love and chicken grease !!!!! BYE BYE BYE BYE BYE

"And As You Can See, He's Got An Axe In His Head..."
This black comedy is not great art. It's silly, cheesy, and totally ridiculous....and I like it!!. I'm always a sucker for stupid B movie films like this. It's fun and funny in a really stupid way. Andrew Lowery stars as a kid who has the hots for a girl. In an attempt to show off to her, he gets killed by a store robber. He comes back as a zombie and begins to live life as if nothing ever happened. Of course, there are certain body parts that fall off and stuff, but that's to be expected from a rotting corpse. There are a few jokes and gags in here that are genuinely funny, in a sophmoric way. The best come from chacrter actor Austin Pendleton as a nutty doctor. The rest of the cast include : Paul Dooley, Edward Herrmann, Cloris Leachman, and Mary Beth Hurt. It's a juvenile comedy with a somewhat delightful and appealing presence. If your into that sort of thing, then you will probably enjoy this. Otherwise, stay far away.

Time enough for love
Johnny Dingo loved little Missy with a love that would not die. His only wish was to take her to the prom. His scheme to get here to go with him goes awry. Johnny finds himself six foot under ground. That night he RETURNS.

We find love, loyalty, and ground Chuck on the menu. This movie is right up there with the best zombie movies such as "Weekend at Bernie's II."

Notice how his parents are very supportive though out the story. And there is an appropriate lesson near the end.

An Enjoyable Fantasy Comedy.
Teenager Johnny Dingle (Andrew Lowery) always wanted to date his long time Crush on the Beautiful-Missy (Traci Lind) by taking her to the Prom. But when he saves her life from Gunpoint from a local General Store. After Johnny dies and then unexpectedly he comes back to life & still wants to take her to the Prom! but Johnny has to eat the living to stay alive!

Directed by Bob Balaban (Parents) made a wonderful, dumb, fantasy-comedy that was a Misfire on the Release in the Summer of 1993. Lowery gives a likeable performance in this film. This film has an terrific supporting cast, including:Edward Herrmann, Mary Beth Hurt, Austin Pendleton, Jay O. Sanders, Cloris Leachman, Matthew Fox & Philip Seymour Hoffman. This might be a forgetten gem & this could be a Camp Classic. DVD's has an terrific anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) and an good-Dolby Stereo 2.0 Surround Sound. Written by Dean Lorey (Jason Goes to Hell:The Final Friday) & Produced by Sean S. Cunningham (Friday the 13th, House, The Last House on the Left). Watch for Matthew McConaughey & Renee Zellweger as Extras. Grade:A-.

A Delight-The best
I couldn't believe when I first read that this wonderful, witty, funny movie is on DVD. I now finally own it on DVD and it's just fantastic. The picture quality is really good, the sound is beautiful-no complaints. I'm so happy with it. Now some people might think that this is a silly, maybe even cheesy movie, but it's quite the opposite.The casting is perfect, I wouldn't change a thing. I absolutly LOVE TRACI LIN or is credited as Traci Lind with a d. Every film I see her in I love, She is just spectacular. She really is one of the best actress' of her time. I hope and pray that Fright Night 2' gets a DVD release. The storyline in this film is just charming and one of a kind.Johnny Dingles love for Missy McCloud is sweet and believeable. The end sequence is the cream of the crop. This is one of those films where you just feel good. There's a good feeling about this film. And it delivers on all fronts. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The heartland of the American Midwest traditionally has been held up as everything from wholesome to stiflingly dull. This makes it a natural backdrop for this terrific, tongue-in-cheek juvenile fantasy, a place that looks like a squeaky-clean 1950s sitcom suburb but hides more secrets than Blue Velvet: Elvis lives down the street and Bigfoot roots through the neighborhood trash bins. Omri Katz (Matinee) and Justin Shenkarow (TV's Picket Fences) are a pair of adolescent Hardy Boys stuck in "America's capital of weird," a mix of The X-Files and Kolchak: The Night Stalker spun into a comic Twilight Zone. Creative consultant Joe Dante directed two of the episodes in this collection: "Forever Ware," about a demonic plastic container that keeps everything fresh and young forever--even people--and "The Retainer," where tinsel-teethed teens overhear the dreaded conspiracies cooked up by the neighborhood dogs. The third episode, "The ATM with a Heart of Gold," explores just how friendly the friendly neighborhood electronic teller can be. Clever, spirited, and directed with a tongue-in-cheek playfulness, this 1991-92 series looks more contemporary than ever in the wake of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Maybe it was just ahead of its time. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Description

Little Michael has everything his ten-year-old heart could desire - including a great dinner every night. But soon he questions where all the "leftovers" come from and discovers that his dad is bringing home much more than the bacon. Yikes, his parents are cannibals! Special Features include: Cast and crew filmographies, trailer, film facts, and scene access. Randy Quaid, Mary Beth Hurt ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Brilliantly disturbing!
Parents is a film I had known about for quite a while before I finally decided to check it out. I was quite surprised by what I saw. Bob Baladan's cold, minimalistic style was just the touch this film needed. What could have been slapstick horror comedy (a la Dead-Alive or Evil Dead 2, both of which are great; that style just wouldn't work as well for this film) instead becomes a superbly filmed satire of 1950s family culture.

I never thought I could actually be afraid of Randy Quaid, but his performance is truly blood-curdling. (Strangely enough, due to the facial expressions he makes throughout the movie, this is the first time I've ever noticed a resemblance between him and his brother Dennis.) He plays the character with a understatement I didn't realize he was capable of.

I understand why some critics came down on the climax and resolution of the film, feeling it much too conventional in light of what had preceded it, but I feel that there weren't too many more possibilities they could have utilized. The film works fine the way it is, and I recommend it to fans of horror films and sharp-witted satire alike.

Parents: a future cult classic
Randy Quaid is what makes this film in my opinion. MaryBeth Hurt is good, but it's the bizarreness of Quaid which drew me in. It is the 1950's and it is a tale about a picture perfect family that turns out to have some very unusual customs. I will not tell you what seperates this family from others but I will tell you to give this movie a chance. This is Bob Balaban's directorial debut and it is a not a bad one. Buyer Beware: This is not typical Hollywood Cinema!

Parents (1988)
Bizarre film takes place in the 50's and is the story of a boy who wonders where his parents get all their leftover meat from and what it was before it was leftovers...and soon he discovers the terrible (but obvious) truth. "Parents" could have been a nice little horror/comedy like "House," but turned out to be more of a weirdo, bizarro, psycho film that is just too weird to be excepted as proper entertainment. The 50's was portrayed in the most horrific and lurid manner, and the way of life was just heartbreaking (ie. the little girl that Michael befriends). I was looking forward to a fun little horror/comedy, but was disappointed when I found it was a weirdo, bizarro, psycho film (hehe). It's alright, but I don't think it's really that special. Too weird for my tastes.

Duuuuuude...
This movie was really, really weird. I turned on the TV at 2 AM, and the first thing I saw was a kid drowning in a pool of blood. Needless to say, I had no choice but to watch the rest of the movie. The movie seemed to serve no real purpose, which is why I liked it. It was incredibly surreal. (Then again, part of that might have been because I was half-asleep.) In the morning, I actually convicned myself it had been a dream.

Anyway, through this whole thing I was expecting it to be deep, but it had a Goosebumps-type ending, which sort of ruined it for me. Well, anyway, I'm done now. I should never write reviews.

zero stars. terrible horrible no good very bad movie
People have compared this movie to David Lynch. David Lynch this is NOT. People have called it artistic because it has an ethereal dream-like quality to it. I think it's fine to have dream sequences, but to have absolutely nothing happen for 1.5 hours into the movie is unacceptable. The child's acting (if you can call it acting) was awful. It was as if his face had been injected with massive amounts of botox. no expressions. no emotion.

The storyline was predictible with little to offer in the way of ingenuity or thrill factor. The scariest part of the movie might have been when the child turned around and ran into a foot hanging on a meat hook in the cellar. Even then, his face (weighed down by the botox) registered nothing. The father's death scene in the end lasted about 10 minutes of him flopping about trying to lay his hands on the child.

And having his grandparents lay a meat sandwich on his nighttable in the end was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Do not rent this movie. Do not buy it. Exit this screen and never think about this movie ever again. ... Read more