Amazon.com

In Dress to Kill, Eddie Izzard spins free-flowing jokes about San Francisco (where the comedy concert was filmed), transvestitism, squirrels, American optimism, Hitler, the British royal family, mass murder, and Stonehenge--and that's only the first 30 minutes. It's as if this ingenious comedian says whatever comes off the top of his head, but giving that impression demands cunning and skill; Izzard romps through human history and transforms surprisingly complex ideas into biting satire--as well as knockout bits of sublime frivolity, like describing the movie Speed entirely in French. His mercurial patter is sprinkled with four-letter words, but his twinkling glances make this more mischievous than crude. Izzard has delivered some excellent performances in movies (like Velvet Goldmine and The Cat's Meow), but it's on stage that he really explodes with daffy wit and charisma. Simply brilliant and completely addictive; you will want to watch this over and over. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (236)

And so the hilarity ensues...
A few years back, I caught the second half of Eddie's routine on HBO, and was instantly in love with this British transvestite comedic genius. I was on a mission to get a copy of it for my own collection to have his seamless wit and stream-of-consciousness humor available at my whim, and I can almost garauntee just such an addiction to anyone who decides to take the leap and see what all the fuss is about. It's an undertaking I wholeheartedly recommend.

I've seen a good amount of stand up in my time, but Mr. Izzard puts a unique spin on the whole genre. His flawless humor is laced with what can only be described as incredible intelligence as he makes hilarious comments about Europe's ex-empires and past tyrannical leaders. In his set, James Mason plays both God and President Kennedy, Sean Connery is featured as King Henry, even Shaggy and Scooby Doo have a delightful cameo appearance. Not to mention when Prime Minister Englebert Slapteyback decided to put a man on the face of the earth in the space race...

Izzard has a lot to say, and it's all worth hearing. His humor is funny but not foamy and meaningless as some comics seem to be able to come up with. And one can only wonder what he's ad-libbing, because it all seems so spur-of-the-moment sidesplitting. Did this guy really sit down and actually write out all of this strangely sensible absurdity?

All in all, I'm in love. Eddie, will you marry me?

Comic genius
I stumbled over this strange transvestite comedian several years ago, I believe during a Comic Relief program. I didn't really remember him, but slowly he started popping up everywhere on cable, including a (staged) crashing of Monty Python's induction at the Apsen Comdey Festival.

Then one night, I caught his HBO special, "Dressed to Kill," and laughed so hard it hurt. Eddie has an amazing skill of blending history, religion and his own personal experiences into a hillarious two-hour stream-of-consciousness. I have watched the special several times (I got smart enough to tape it) and each time I catch a new joke or bit that I missed last time. He is one of the funniest stand up comics I've ever seen and his observations are always dead on. I especially liked his observations on Hitler, and how we'll tolerate dictators who kill their own people; it's only after they start killing people in other countries that we object.

If you haven't seen the phenomenon that is Eddie Izzard, then get either a copy of this special or "Glorious," the only other Eddie Izzard special on video. And be prepared to laugh. A lot.

A true genius!
Having spent 11 years in England, I can dig english humor very well. But, being born in France, I can also respect that Eddie Izzard having done his show in France, in french has got some bottle. His sense of humor is just incredible: he is a true intellectual and I can tell you that he is pure quality. You cannot be disapointed...This man is more than full of talent and you will cry of laughter!

Hilarious History Lesson
For over 2 hours, Eddie Izzard will keep you informed and, more importantly, in stitches.

I've seen several Eddie Izzard tapes and DVDs. I've even seen him live in Dublin, Ireland for his "Sexie" tour. And "Dress to Kill" is by far his best. He rarely falters in his comedy or ad-libbed genius. And whenever he does, he makes it into a joke that'll keep the momentum of the performance going strong.

It's hard to review a stand-up routine. Let's just say that his is one of the better ones. You get an unique perspective on the American Dream, landing on the moon, transvestites in the military, squirrels in make-up, Easter, Stonehenge, President Clinton, first sexual experiences and so on. This is truly a keeper, one you can watch over and over again. It's also highly quotable; you may find yourself repeating random lines from the performance, only to be effronted by a non-viewer.

"You haven't seen 'Dress to Kill' yet?" you say incredulously, right before bringing them to your house for an immediate viewing. Convert all of your friends. "Dress to Kill" is pure comedic murder.

Executive Transvestite Extraordinaire!
Man, this man is brilliant - and has a makeup routine that any woman would envy! What an entertaining show! I have watched it hundreds of times and recommended it to everyone I know. I have even converted (corrupted) my very conservative mother! This show has something for everyone - very cerebral, too! LOVE IT! ... Read more

Amazon.com

It had to happen: A national tour of redneck comedians culminating in this frequently funny concert film, shot in Phoenix. Ron White's scotch-and-tobacco-fueled, fatalistic world view gets things off to a good start. ("That last engine had just enough power to get us to our crash site.") Larry the Cable Guy's creepy-silly persona helps deliver a set long on gross-out humor. ("I've been seein' a good-lookin' girl. But now I lost my binoculars.") Bill Engvall balances the tone with his family-man shtick. ("There needs to be a teenage driver's lane lined with tires and mattresses.") Main event champ Jeff Foxworthy offers fresh material about the act of ice-fishing as an out-of-body experience for fish, describes the bizarre sight of a leaf blower among items confiscated by airport security and, of course, renders his trademark re-re-re-definitions of what constitutes a redneck ("a glorious absence of sophistication"). Lots to enjoy here. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (138)

A MUST-HAVE!!!
GET THIS MOVIE! This is the funniest movie you'll ever see! It tops even "Rat Race!" Jeff, Bill, Ron and Larry are hilarious even when they're not on stage! "He just made enough money to buy anything he wants in the store, and he gets the remote-controlled fart machine." LOL!!! Even if you're not a Jeff Foxworthy or Bill Engvall fan, you will absolutely LOVE this movie!! And Ron and Larry are HYSTERICAL!!! Ron's "Yesterday I was sitting in a beanbag chair naked eating cheetos" is an AWESOME opener and Larry's line, "I was seeing this girl for six weeks, then somebody took my binoculars out of my truck" is classic! Bill's cool when he talks about his family. "I was helping my wife fold clothes, I pick up this pair of skimpy underwear and I go, 'Hey, Hey! When are you going to wear these for me?' 'I can't, they're your daughter's.' I'm like, 'OOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW!!' No No No!" HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! And Jeff's redneck words are very, very funny, too! "'Wijadija.' Hey, you didn't bring your truck wijadija?" 106 minutes of pure hilarity! Where else can you not only get more Bill Engvall "Here's Your Sign" gags, but also get Jeff, Ron and Larry telling one, too? And Bill telling a redneck joke? After seeing this movie and seeing that Jeff. Bill, Ron and Larry are all rednecks, I'm proud of the fact that I'm a redneck!

Everyone can find this filled with laughs
The Blue Collar Comedy Tour isn't just for rednecks or blue collar workers- this is fun and laughter for everyone. There are no cusswords or adult content to cut out so even teenagers can watch this. Funny comedian Ron White is like a 21st century country-style Dean Martin. The other 3 comedians ( Ron White included ) along with Jeff Foxworthy also serve up their fair share of comic lines and laughs. Most people have only heard of Jeff Foxworthy due to his name & longetivity( including me until this ) but once you've seen & heard this you will want to enjoy it over & over.Great that these four comedians decided to tour together,film it & release it on video & dvd for us to enjoy.
Even you are alone you may be laughing out loud.The Blue Collar Comedy Tour was recommended to me by an African-American so it wasn't offensive to him either as he thought it funny-This is definitely not just for rednecks but for everyone.This is not just southern humor-the comedy is universally appealing. Buy it,rent it,don't miss out.You don't have to have a job with a nametag on it to enjoy this one.It doesn't matter who you are- this one's funny.It't not covered in moles.No one will literally throw you out of a place.There's your sign-You might be a redneck but you don't have to be one to laugh at this comedy.

Just Buy It!!
My personal gaurantee--YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP LAUGHING ONCE THIS MOVIE STARTS! Now, go buy it and quit wasting anymore of your time reading these reviews. P.S. I dont know where Ron(tater salad)White has been all these years but he is a super performer and in my opinion stole the show even though he was on the stage a much shorter time than the others. The cable guy is funny too! Git er Done!

White Trash Humor
If you like redneck, working-man humor, you'll get a kick out of this. Personally, my favorite performer is Ron White, and I thought Larry the Cable Guy's solo performance was irritating. Between the different performances, they have clips from a visit they did to a shopping mall, which are okay.

Not THAT good, but...
Call me a tough critic, but I can't bring myself to rave about this film in the way everyone else has.

My friends (who have no taste in comedy what-so-ever) love this film, so they watch all the time around me. I did find it to be funny and I found myself laughing at most of the "You might be a redneck if..." jokes, though I thought Larry the Cable Guy's nonsensical ramblings interspersed with shoutings of the expression "Git-R-Done" were terrifically unfunny.

If you're looking for a good time with friends and making you laugh is not a difficult task, this film is for you and you should order your copy immediately. This film is also perfect for anyone with a hickish background or roots in a redneck-dominated area.

If you appreciate more insightfulhumor and making you laugh is quite a challenge, I suggest you check out the brilliance of Ellen DeGeneres in 'Here and Now', her hilarious HBO special.

Other than that, this film was not so bad. It's definately worth at least one viewing, but you may want to get it at Blockbuster before you buy your copy here. ... Read more

Reviews (57)

Priceless!
Bill Cosby is wonderfully funny. His humor is timeless, and this show is a sparkling example of a brilliant stand-up comedian at work. I've watched this on tape MANY times over the years, and, like wine, it just gets better with age -- I've realized that the more life experiences I gain, the more I laugh when I see "Himself". I loved the performance when I was in my 20s,and 30s, and now my 40s. My husband I have commented that while all the routines have always been very funny, they take on an entirely new dimension for us now that we're parents (literally making us laugh until we cry in parts). Mr. Bill Cosby is a comic genius and a national treasure. Here's hoping the studio will put this out on DVD soon!! If you haven't seen this show, or haven't watched it in a while, by all means treat yourself and WATCH IT! Bill Cosby "Himself" will make your day.

Hilarious!
I finally broke down and purchsed this tape after a lull of 20 years since I heard it last. Bill Cosby is hilarious and CLEAN (99% of the time), somewhat of an oddity in today's stand-up world. The content of the tape will have you rolling for days, as Bill creates excellent archetypes to which we can all relate. His "I don't know!" portion is especially entertaining!

The only complaint I have is the tape quality. Perhaps someone at 20th Century Fox could step up to the plate and get this presentation cleaned up and digitized onto DVD to help out. My copy is brand new, but the sound and video still suffers somewhat (original recording in 1981 I think). Other than that, this is tape is a GREAT gift idea; highly recommended.

Unintentionally Funny
While the main goal is making the viewer laugh, some parts are eerily funny and cryptic. The film starts out with an hilariously bad song called "It Was A Good Idea At The Time" then the comedy gets underway. At one point Bill jokes on his now-dead son, Ennis. Ennis was being naughty so Bill jokes that Camille wants Bill to "kill the boy...hehehe, kill the boy." Then Bill adds, "...so I go upstairs to kill my son." Morbid, given what would occur nearly 20 years later.

Cool Cos
A classic. While I'm very conservative about buying VHS/DVD's, this one is worth it. If you like Bill Cosby, this is a performance you can watch again and again.

His humor regarding raising his children is especially entertaining.

Bill Cosby, Himself
I saw this tape years ago, when I rented it to show to my sister, who was visiting. She is rather prim, but laughed until she cried.
This is a request to the powers-that-be to get this brilliant comedian on DVD before the tapes degenerate into oblivion. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

More down to earth than I thought
Jerry Seinfeld is as comfortable on stage as any comic I've seen. He comes out casually and just starts into his routine and he's got quite a lot of fresh material for this show.
What struck me the most was how humble the guy appears, despite his success with his show. He seems genuinely touched when the audience gives him a standing ovation both at the beginning of his set and at the end.
The DVD itself is really great. You get a very nicely-shot show and on top of this you get a q&a with Jerry that happened post-show. Jerry is quick with witty comments as the audience asks him to do "Hello Newman" and offers other various comments. Jerry Seinfeld is definitely one of the best comedians out there, both on TV and on the stage.
Definitely worth the asking price.

Interesting, but it's been done before
I have to say, I was very remotely disappointed with this DVD. I do think that it was an amazingly gutsy thing for Jerry Seinfeld to do. If I were a stand-up comedian (and thank goodness I'm not) I would never be able to bring myself to throw out all my material and start from scratch.

The thing which is disappointing about this HBO special, is that you probably have heard it all before. Or most of it anyway. A fair half of the material is used either in the Seinfeld TV series, or SeinLanguage. However, there is enough new and hilarious material to keep true fans happy and to convince them to buy this DVD.

Oh, but don't get me wrong. I had a lot of fun watching this special. I thought it was quite funny, and I liked it enough to buy the VHS when I saw it on sale at a local bookstore.

A good follow-up to this DVD would be "Comedian" which you could describe as a sequel to "I'm Telling You For The Last Time." This is the documentary of how Jerry Seinfeld rebuilds his act and assembles an entirely new repetoire of jokes. Very interesting and very enlightening.

HILARIOUS!!!!
Jerry Seinfeld's comedy is very subtle, not like Robin Willaims or Adam Sandler (both good, but no Seinfelds) which are loud and obnouix. He's very funny. He talks about every subject you can think of, and I don't understand reveiws saying his heart wasn't into it, because being comfortable on stage is a GOOD thing!!!!

Something of a letdown
The 75-minute stand-up routine has its funny moments, but Jerry's heart just doesn't seem in it after the several times I've watched this DVD. I don't regret the purchase, but it's not as good as I expected. The bits, of course, are trademark Seinfield stuff, throwaway conversation that Jerry makes funny with his classic delivery. There's an odd, somewhat amusing would-be funeral for Jerry's material before the actual performance, and it features Ed McMahon, Alan King, Garry Shandling and many other comedians. Cute, but not terribly memorable. But the Q&A session after the performance is very interesting, and it displays Jerry's comedic genius admirably--you realize immediately how fast on his feet he is with his snappy comebacks to questions from audience members. Recommended for anyone who loves Jerry Seinfeld, but it might not be the laugh riot you're expecting.

IS THIS SUPOSSED TO BE CALLED "COMEDY"?
Jerry Seinfeld has to be the lamest stand-up comedian that I've ever heard. The guy seems to find things like airplane peanuts, computer dust, and socks in a laundry basket funny.

If you really want to hear a truly funny and intelligent stand-up comedian, check Chris Rock. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Redneck comedian Larry the Cable Guy (co-star of Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie) kicks off his live performance on Git-R-Done with one of the great questions of the modern age: "Ever have an orgasm so strong you hit your head on the back of the tub?" (He expresses gratitude that the VCR didn't fall into the water.) A string of gay-bashing and other intemperate quips quickly follows, but Larry's gross jokes are a part of an intentionally foolish persona. When he cracks wise about lesbian rocker Melissa Etheridge's genitals, the crowd gasps, and Larry's oversized rube becomes the punch line. Larry's no less hard on his family, commenting on an obese sister who claims to have a thyroid problem: "It's not a thyroid problem, it's a 7-11 problem." On his brief career as an evangelist: "I was $150 short of bringing a stripper to the Lord." This is hick humor that sometimes gets under one's skin. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Not a Guilty Liberal Review
Amazon editorial reviewer Tom Keogh uses a typical liberal trick to justify his enjoyment of Larry's humor. He claims that Larry is just a "character" and a "rube" (aka "dumb") at that. You see, a liberal cannot admit that he has in any way enjoyed or laughed at politically incorrect humor, so he or she must somehow justify their enjoyment to themselves. Above, Tom Keogh claims that Larry's "rube" character is the "real" punchline to Larry's un-PC zingers (Somehow implying that Larry the Cable Guy is in reality and liberal New Englander or something just making fun of rednecks). WELL BS!!!! Larry's un-PC punchlines ARE the REAL punchlines here, and too bad if you can't deal with that, my guilt ridden, hypersensitive friends.Sheesh!
It reminds me of Norman Lear, creator of "All in the Family", or Seth McFarland, creator of "Family Guy". These two liberals would write some of the most racist jokes ever aired on TV (laughing it up in the writer's room, no doubt), and then deflect any criticism by claiming that it is not racist because their main character, (the one mouthing the words they gleefully wrote,) is portrayed as being less than bright. Well what liberal hypocracy! You wrote the words and you got off on them, and I know you laughed at Larry the cable guy as well. Do not justify your enjoyment of Larry's humor by claiming you were really just enjoying his "portrayal" of a redneck rube. Larry's humor is what it is, and not what you want it to be or wish it was. He may be playing a character, but not for the purpose of social commentary.
"Intentionally foolish persona" my foot. As Larry would say, "I don't care who you are, that's funny right there. Well, except for guilty PC types who feel the need to convince themselves that everyone else is just like them. Larry rocks, and is the funniest comic going right now. Git 'er Done!

Blue Collar's True Redneck Stands on HIs Own
Look, if you don't know who Larry the Cable is, or what his brand of redneck humor is all about, don't write stupid politically correct reviews. Larry insults just about everyone and makes no apologies for it. If you are easily offended or just a prude, this DVD won't become a classic in your DVD collection. But if you like the charm and down home observations of country-folk this DVD is a great example of Larry's work. If you've seen the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and heard Larry's "Lord I Apologize" CD you've heard much of this before. Not much new stuff and only slight variations on old favorites. The DVD extras aren't worth the effort. But the sound is excellent and the picture bright and clear so it's really Larry at his best. Sure, it's rude, crude and generally offensive but it's hysterical at the same time. If you love Larry, don't miss this DVD!

Hilarious!
I bought this after seeing Larry the Cable Guy's act on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. It is even more hilarious. We were laughing so hard we were crying, and often had to rewind because we could not hear what Larry was saying over the guffaws.

Git-R-Done
We bought Git-R-Done after seeing Larry on the Blue Collar Comedy tour. I think he's one of the funniest comedians I've ever seen. An hour and a half of laughing so hard I cried. My husband, my son and our friends all felt the same way. We definitely recommend Larry to anyone in need of a good laugh. Hope to see him live soon.

Yankees? It was filmed in Kalamazoo Michigan
Come on folks, quit with the yankee bull. It was filmed in Michigan. Not his best, but he is still damn good. If you are uptight then just don't watch it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Chris Rock: Never Scared is the hot comic's fourth HBO special and proves as disciplined and trenchant as his previous cable concerts. Announcing he's a recent father, Rock proclaims his biggest job is keeping his daughter "off the pole," i.e., steering her away from the life of a stripper. Warming to the theme, Rock asks why so many strippers earn money to pay for expensive tuitions yet he's never received "a smart lap dance." Things turn topical as Rock argues that his government won't solve the murders of rappers. ("More people saw Tupac get shot than watched the last episode of Seinfeld.") After taking broadsides at Michael Jackson ("Ed Bradley tried his best to make Michael look like a mammal!") and David Blaine ("Are we so desperate we fall for a trickless magician?"), Rock builds to a near-lecture (funny, though) on why white America won't let people of color acquire real wealth. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Not Rock's best work
"Never Scared" is the latest Chris Rock comedy special from HBO. I have long considered Rock to be one of the funniest comics in America (in my limited experience) and was expecting great things from "Never Scared". My high expectation from Chris Rock may have led to my slight disappointment. In a sense, it was classic Chris Rock, but that was also the problem.

Rock's comedy focuses on relationships, politics, government, race relations, and now parenthood (since Rock is now a parent). There is plenty of material for Chris to draw upon, but the problem I had was just that he wasn't as funny as he has been in the past. This was a new comedy special, but it felt like the same old material, only not quite as funny. Don't get me wrong, Chris Rock is still a very funny man, but this performance was not at the level that I have come to expect from Chris Rock. It was good, but it wasn't as good as he has been and is capabale of. Rock has good points in his comedy, but this isn't his best work.

-Joe Sherry

as funny as early Richard Pryor!
In many ways, this concert is very similar to mid-70's Richard Pryor - outrageous, profane, and side-splitting funny. I never thought I'd say this about Chris Rock. Sure, lots of profanity here...so if this offends you, this is not for you. To the 2-star reviewer who commented this is "anti-white"...lighten up! I got news for you - it's 2004. Making fun of white people is OK. Especially when you do it well. The humor here is not just racial - it's about men/women relationships, sex, social commentary and politics too. And lots of profanity. But really no different than most live comedians these days. As a big Richard Pryor fan, and Robin Williams too, this is right up there. From someone who was not a big fan of Chris Rock...until now!

Chris Rock : Never Scared
this is chris rock's best work yet. it's very political which is good (unless you're a conservative) especially in the times which we are living in. he's very angry also, but no different than a george carlin kind of rage. someone has written that it's an anti-white politcal rally which is absurd! he's just as racial as he's always been (and there's a difference between racial and racist). anyone offended by this is most definetly a racist. if you're not outraged like every american should be, then you're not gonna relate anyways. if he strikes a nerve then he is probably talking about you! it would be racism if chris rock had no basis to form these opinions from, but we all know the bloody history of our country and he just reminds us who the real terrorists are and have been since they landed on plymouth rock. it's the same chris, just fueled by a new post 9/11 ignorance only found in america which equals great humor. david cross, george carlin, bill hicks, doug stanhope all say the same things as chris but somehow it's offensive when a black comedian says it. if a white comedian sees the same flaws in white society then maybe there's something wrong with society... i agree with everything he says and if you like his previous material then you will too.

maybe two or three laughs max
I watched this Chris Rock special on television recently. I used to like Chris Rock. He was one of the funniest comedians on the planet. After watching this noise I no longer think so. It's 90 minutes of angry yelling. Parts of it degraded from stand-up to what seemed like a anti-white politcal rally. I mean at some points he wasn't even making jokes or trying to be funny, instead just shouting insults. Now, if all comedians had the same freedom of speech Chris Rock does here, then I wouldn't complain.

In all, it was interesting and even worth watching, just not funny.

how funny is the truth?
this guy has so much truth behind his words that it actually is funny....

"Men can not argue with women because men have a handicap......they have a need to make sense...women do not" ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Texas comic and co-star of Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie ponders the absurdity of fashionable eyewear ("Why do sunglasses cost more than a 25-inch TV?") and much else in the live performance Ron White: They Call Me Tater Salad. Looking as if he just woke up from a nap (or is on his third beer), White contemplates eros with the inarguable "You see one woman nekkid... you want to see them all nekkid." A veteran of hurricane country, he contemplates those idiots who insist they're strong enough to sit out big storms: "If you're hit by a Volvo, it doesn't matter how many sit-ups you did that morning." On wedding anniversaries: "Diamonds--that'll shut her up." Some of White's material is unnecessarily crude for such a clever guy, but the best stuff, including a funny monologue about his half-mad, deer-hunting cousin, makes up for it. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (11)

More of the same...
Let me preface this review by saying that Ron White is one of my favorite comics, and if you've not seen him this DVD will have you rolling. However, if you've seen the Blue Collar Comedy Tour and heard his CD Drunk in Public, this performance is a big disappointment. There is very little new material on this DVD and his timing seems to be a little rushed, almost as if he's tired of hearing the same jokes as well. I love his style, but I would really hate to see himm fall into the Jeff Foxworthy trap of rehashing the same old jokes on every release

A real must see!!!
I saw Ron White's show on the Comedy channel last night and I busted a gut. He is hilarious. While the main review accurately reflects some of his work it doesn't come close to doing him justice. The facial expressions, the smile, the accent (Texas drawl, but not overpowering), the timing, etc. Even though I've already seen the show I will certainly buy the DVD. His routine about his ex-wife and her family will leave you rolling on the floor!

Don't forget to buy your coupins!
While I'm not usually one for foul mouthed humor there is something just too damn smart, sarcastic and just plain hysterical in Mr. White's comedy. My BF and I just lost it and had tears streaming down our faces during his pet bulldog story!
I saw him first on the Blue Collar Comedy tour on Comedy Central and I think I will be enjoying Mr. White's humor for a long time.
Be warned he does swear a lot and can get a bit graphic but it doesn't bother as much as some of the more infamous foul comedians like Andrew Dice Clay and Sam Kinison etc..
Don't forget to buy your coupins!!!

But I didn't have the ABILITY
The funniest comedian I've seen in years!! Maybe ever!! I laughed so hard I could hardly breathe. Whether it's on DVD, VHS, audio, comedy channel, or in person, you have GOT to see this guy!! Well worth your money and your time.

Little new but still hilarious
This DVD is defiantely worth the price. While those that have seen Blue Collar and listened to Drunk in Public will hear many of the same jokes, the new material and the body language of the old Drunk in Public bits makes this great.

However, the picture on my DVD at times was messed up but very rarely. It never took away from the experience of seeing Ron.

That's it. Short and sweet. That's my policy. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Sharper and deeper than Robin Williams's previous road material, Live on Broadway is a mature comedian's view of all things to do with power, prejudice, and paranoia in the 21st century. On the anthrax scare of 2001: "The Senate cleared out of their building but told the rest of us, 'Get on with your normal lives!'" On his solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over Jerusalem: "Time share!" On the pitfalls of America's deepening alliance with Britain: "The House of Commons is like Congress with a two-drink minimum." A viewer may have to slog through Williams's tedious breast fetishism, but patience is quickly rewarded with bitchy takes on Martha Stewart facing prison, solid satire about French existentialist judges at the Olympics, and subversive op-eds about the Bush administration's inability to clarify terrorist threats to the public ("Has the CIA become the Central Intuitive Agency?"). --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (96)

Fun for liberals and conservatives
Whether he's poking fun at George Bush (we're gonna catch these terrorists, ooh look at the kitty), French ( I make a baby smoke, you like?) or even rednecks (71 Virgils, "you gotta perty mouth, Whoooeee!). WARNING: This is Robin Williams, on HBO, and not family friendly. Also, if you have no sense of humor regardless of political affiliation, not friendly to you either. Many though Robin was gone and dead, due to such serious fare as Good Will Hunting, Insomnia and One Hour Photo, but he is alive and well. Robin runs the gammit from Luge Lessons (kagles), Utah Olympics, Bush, Cheney, Tony Blair, Brits, Scots, Golf, India, Jamaica, back to Male Enhancement Humor, Gorillas, the Crocodile Hunter, and Keeping the Misses Happy (you've got to be joking, I'm Goo-boy). If you have a thick skin, above high school intellect, and don't care how bad Williams drills The President, The Pope, or even Protestants, you'll be fine. If not, God help you all!!! Just kidding.

Absolutely Amazing
Excellent, excellent, excellent!

Many of us associate Robin Williams with funny didactic movies that always end with a moral value. Well, in this live on Broadway standup routine (recorded for HBO from the Broadway Theater in New York City) Robin Williams throws whatever morallity he has out the window and enjoys an open mic.

Watching this made me laugh until I was crying and suffering abdominal pain. For those of you expecting "Flubber" or "Hook" you will be quite suprised that Mr. Williams is extremely dirty and political as he throws controversial jokes straight at the camera.

To explain the topics he covers is impossible because he is so fast and is capable of changing subjects so fast that to try to explain what it is about is far beyond my ability. In fact, he goes so fast, he finishes an entire CASE of water, which is probably about 20 bottles.

More specifically, Williams takes advantage of his large talent of character acting and astounds his audiences. As he jumps back between is French "Look, I give a cigarette to a baby" to George Dubya saying "Our economy is--oh, look at the kitty!" He is not afraid to offend anyone as he examines religeons like Episcipals, Jews, Christianity, Puritanism, Calvanism, Buddism, Hinduism, and Islam.

Because of the fact that this is a DVD, it comes with a few extra features. First is an interview which is very charming with several chuckles allthe way through. Also included is a track of noises, which are all of Robin's wacky sound effects that he creates throughout the stand up routine. For those of you who are always excited to find a secret easter egg, there is also a track called "Parental Advisory" that is 2 minutes of all the curses (which are EXTREMELY plentiful) that Robin uses. The feature is in PCM stereo as well as Dolby Digital 5.1.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound I thought seemed a little weird since at random times you will hear applause behind you and it sounds unnnatural most likely due to bad mixing/editing.

I would not, however, recommend any of this DVD for children under the age of 13, depending on how mature your children are. This probably deserves to be rated R or possibly even NC-17 because of it's extremely naughty language, vulgar topics and sexual content.

All-in-all, Robin Williams is absoluletly hilarious, I think this is probably the best stand up routine I've ever seen and is definately worth the price.

Smart, sharp, hilarious, but overlong
This was my first exposure to Robin Williams as a standup comic, and this "Live on Broadway" act certainly makes up for all those mushy sentimental movies that he had starred in before this special. He lets loose here in a sustained comic bout of Williams-style voice impressions and sharp observations and adult jokes that I've never had the pleasure of witnessing in any of his movies (except, maybe, in small spurts). As a standup comic, he might not as smooth a performer as George Carlin (my personal favorite) is onstage, but Williams' energy makes up for a lot, and even makes otherwise stupid jokes make you laugh hysterically. (You know how you can tell he is expending as much energy as humanly possible in this show? By the huge amount of water bottles he has on stage.) His material is not as focused as some of the best standup comics, but I rather liked his improvisatory style---he goes from one thing to another in record time, giving his performance a nicely chaotic feel. (A lot of his best bits, mostly dealing with politics, are delivered quickly and randomly and then dispensed with.) And yet all of it flows together nicely (even if some bits are inevitably better than others).

So what's the problem? I think perhaps 99 minutes or so of one man comically riffing about anything and everything is still perhaps a bit too long for its own good. I've watched this on more than one occasion, and by the hour mark I always feel myself getting rather exhausted by Williams' highly energetic schtick. It is not necessarily that his material starts to become significantly weaker or repetitive (although his French-bashing does get a little tiresome after a while), but while you still marvel at Williams' energy level...I dunno, I just kinda got tired of it on some level after a while. Williams' energy may not flag, but ours does...at least until he rebounds at the end with some good bits about American sports and then about sex, particularly Viagra. Believe me, when you see his take on Viagra, you will laugh hysterically in spite of yourself.

In short, for me, "Robin Williams: Live on Broadway" is a mostly brilliant but perhaps overlong standup comedy piece (a standup comedy "epic" if there ever was one). It would have gotten five stars as a more focused hourlong show; instead, this one sprawls until we in the audience start feeling a little exhausted by his endlessly energetic (and highly profane) style. And yet there is enough brilliant stuff here---his riffs about the war in Afghanistan and homeland security rival the best, and overall there are plenty of small but great bits here and there that will grab your attention---so that this is definitely worth seeing. Certainly you will be amazed that Robin Williams actually pulls the whole damned thing off at all. Recommended.

NOTE: I have seen "Robin Williams: Live on Broadway" as it first premiered on HBO, and for some reason it is slightly longer than the program that appears on this DVD. It is beyond me why CMV Home Video thought it necessary to make some small cuts to the program for this DVD edition. (For instance, it cuts out a lines during the parts where he cracks humorously about Michael Jackson and the Enron scandal.) At least, though, the program is not significantly cut (it's only missing about a few seconds worth of material from the initial broadcast), and overall it is very much intact. (Besides, HBO and its other channels have been showing this marginally-cut version of the program on its stations ever since, anyway.) Just thought people would like to know, though.

Funny as hell
Man Robin Williams funny as hell. I pissed my pants i was laughin so damn hard. This is a great dvd. It has an easter egg that shows every cuss word he says it is hilarious. He goes on about so many diffrent topics. Its crazy. Someone must have put something in that water, he went threw about 20 bottles of it. My favorite part was when he was doin the bit about drunk scots inventing golf. " i wanna hit a ball in a gopher hole" "OH you mean like pool?" "Fu*k off pool! Not with a straight stick! With a little fu*ked up stick." " OH you mean like croquet?" "Fu*k croquet! Well put the ball hundreds of yards away. And well put tall grass and bushes just to fu*k with your ball. And at the end well put a flat spot with a flag just to give you hope. Then well put sand and bushes just to fu*k with your ball again!"
In one word Id say this movie was Geniusly Awesome super terrificly pimped out. (OK i cheated a little)

A masterpiece by a genius
Talk about high-energy comedy. Wow!

This guy is incredible. What a sick puppy. But hilarious.

And, where the heck did all that water go? ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

The audacious concert film Eddie Murphy Raw rubbed some people the wrong way upon its release in 1987, but there's no denying that between Murphy's more insensitive bits about women and gay men is some of his most inspired material. While the young comedian indulges an unattractive homophobia and rants about the sexual manipulativeness of all females, he makes up for it with an amazing story about being chided by Bill Cosby for obscene humor and does a great impression of Mr. T falling under the spell of a Jedi mind trick. The best stuff comes deep into the show, particularly a long tale of being pressured into a fight at a club, resulting in a phone call to Murphy's drunk father, the latter in the middle of a verbal attack on his wife. The scene is genuinely horrifying and funny, testament to Murphy's early reputation as heir to Richard Pryor's mercilessly autobiographical brilliance. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Stand-Up Comedy At Its' Best
In the same tradition of raunchy stand up comedy kings such as Richard Pryor and Red Foxx, Eddie Murphy's comedy pokes fun at many groups and celebrities. Filmed at the height of Eddie's status as the world's biggest film star (while on contract with Paramount), "Raw" is an hour and a half of hysterical impersonations and skits.

Written by comedy star/director Keenan Ivory Wayans ("Scary Movie"; "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka"; television's "In Living Color") and directed by Robert Townsend ("Meteor Man"; "Hollywood Shuffle"), Raw's highlights include Eddie's trip to San Francisco (where he is greeted at the aiport by flamboyant gay men), his trouble with women, and celebrity put downs.

The most memorable skit in this film probably has to be Eddie's imaginary wedding to an African tribal woman who gets corrupted by American women upon her arrival to the U.S. "Unfoofoo" (his African wife's name) and Eddie's discussion of how he met her made me laugh out loud. Truly, only a comedy genius could have thought of such a funny skit.

Although not a film for young kids due to its' use of foul language and discussion of sexual situations, the film showcased Murphy at his best, long before his string of family oriented films ("Dr. Doolittle" "Nutty Professor"). While there is a new king when it comes to raunchy comedy nowadays (Chris Rock) Eddie still remains one of the best. "Raw" is a showcase of great comedic writing and performance.

Four -and-a-"HALF!" stars
The year was 1987 and after been widely known for his classic "Delirious" stand-up act and Beverly Hills Cop movies, Eddie Murphy comes to New York City to perform his latest act in this feature called "Raw". If you were laughing at the jokes from "Delirious", then chances are that you were rolling on floor in laughter when you watched this.

Before the performance is a Keenan Ivory Wayans-produced sketch where it shows Eddie as a kid (played by Deion Richmond [Kenny on "The Cosby Show"]) telling a nasty joke in front of his family, which sets the tone of what his act will be: funny but in bad taste. If you look closer, his family members consist of other people who weren't famous yet like Tatyana Ali ("The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air") and Samuel L. Jackson.

Now, on to the act (directed by Robert Townsend, I might add). Though he does less impressions of stars than he did in "Delirious", it is still hilarious to see him do a fed-up Michael Jackson, a scolding Bill Cosby, and a dead-on impression of Richard Pryor, his idol. The audience is noticeably having a good time and even catches Eddie cracking himself up when he talks about getting arrested by a certain type of police.

In this day and age when African-American comedians' whole routine is usually about how black folks are different from white folks, you wonder if they ever studied Eddie Murphy's monologues, because Murphy had a LOT more to speak on. See the discussion on prenuptial agreement: if you (the man) don't get one with your wife, when it's time for your divorce, she'll ask for "HALF!" of your money. Of course that comes off as misogynistic and derogatory, but it's just comedy, not necessarily commentary.

You'll bust a gut laughing at Oomfufu, Eddie's pretend wife; his mama's hamburger that's "better than McDonald's"; and his reenactment of a fight that happened in a club. His funniest jokes, however, revolve around how the audience members' reactions might be: for example, when he suggests that women would rather be alone with her man instead of seeing this show, a woman would say, "That's true! [Eddie's] funny, but he ain't that funny!"

I knocked off a half-a-star because the bit about his drunk father, first introduced in "Delirious", ran too long. But that doesn't make "Raw" any less of a classic. If you've been living under a rock up until now, see this film today.

Eddie Murphay At His Best
This is one the all time greatest Stand up performances ever. The Title "Raw" says it all. This is Eddie Murphy at his best, raw and uncut. From his jokes about TV shows and its characters to childhood, cheating, divorce, Italians, and his belligerant father, you'll be laughing from start to finish. Its been 17 years and I still enjoy it as much as the first time I saw it. I could go on for days about this film, but it's far better than words can describe. Seeing is definately believing. From the Richard Pryors and Red Foxxes to The Chris Rock's, Bernie Mac's and Dave Chapelle's ... "Eddie Murphy Raw" is the undisputed King of Comedy!!!

he gets away with it!!!!
This has got to be the most unbearably crude, politically incorrect comedy routine ever - and he pulls it off, with real style!!! OK, it is somewhat dated, coming from the 80s, but this man has got to be one of the funniest comedians since Bill Cosby. They are both geniuses. But Murphy takes being black head on (head first?), as well as men-women, gays, you name. If you can stop laughing, there is something to offend EVERYONE. He is also a first rate actor/impersonator. Best I've seen in a long time = I am getting ready to return to the states, and this is the PERFECT preparation in the age of Bush II.

PAINFULLY FUNNY!!!!!
THIS IS ONE OF EDDIE'S BEST STAND UP MOVIES EVER I LOVE THIS I LOVE THE WHOLE VIDEO I LOVE IT. I LOVE EDDIE HE IS SO FUNNY IN THIS MOVIE HE WILL HAVE YOU CRYING HE IS SO FUNNY. EVERY SINGLE JOKE HE TELLS IN THIS MOVIE IS VERY FUNNY AND I LOVE IT THEREFORE, IF YOU ARE A FAN OF EDDIE MURPHY THEN YOU WOULD DEFINITELY ENJOY THIS MOVIE!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

With a loose, free-associative flow, Ellen DeGeneres glides through her2003 HBO special, Here and Now. In just the first 10 minutes shetouches on procrastination, new paint colors, television commercials, andmental disorders--topics that fit into the show's subtitle, Modern Lifeand Other Inconveniences. By the end, she's also spun out sneaky jokesabout cell phones, memory loss, elevators, vocal inflections, pickle jars,and social embarrassment. Her genius is that she never seems like agenius; on the contrary, DeGeneres seems like your next door neighborpointing out the obvious, yet somehow an hour whizzes by in completeenjoyment. It's peerless observational humor--nothing groundbreaking orpiercingly satirical, but simply fun. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Sure To Make You Procrastinate!!!
I went to see this BRILLIANT act by Ellen DeGeneres live Apirl 16, 2003 at GW's Lisner Auditorium in Washington D.C. And let me just say that it was the most hilarious thing. I had a blast! The rhythm, the timing, the pauses! EVERYTHING! Pure genius! How does she do it? Just how does she do it? I also watched this show on HBO and demanded that my aunt watch it too and she loved it! Ellen had us laughing until we were choking to death!!! I can not even wait until the release of this classic on DVD! I own it on tape now and it's just about ruined from me looking at it so much. I just about know everything that she says verbatim! I have a little bit of a problem.

This is a must have DVD!!!
I caught this special on HBO one night and could not stop laughing...usually when I watch something funny by myself, I don't laugh out loud...i was literally laughing so hard that there were tears in my eyes!!! This special has made me a huge fan of hers...i especially love how every joke kind of ties into the next...it gets annoying when comedians jump from one topic to another...her stuff flows...she is a genius!! you must get a copy of this for yourself and anybody that you know who loves to laugh...you won't be let down!!!

hahahahah
Ever since my friend and I saw this, we've been quoting it non-stop. If not quoting it, making references to it all the time. It's genius.

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
That's all that needs to be said about this! Don't miss it!

A great DVD
but amazon.com's information about this dvd is all wrong. It is not r rated. It Not rated at all. I saw this on hbo before I bought the dvd. It was rated TVPG. Now her other hbo special/dvd : Ellen DeGeneres - The Beginning, was rated TVMA. That is different. She mentions some things not appropiate for children like the joke she makes about people who film their sex (EXAMPLE : Pamela Anderson/Tommy Lee). It also has some cussing .That is understaning for a TVMA rating. But this dvd/special, is not innnapropiate. the only cuss word I've heard is bascially "Hell". My 5 year old nephew can watch this without it being a bad influence. This is a great dvd, a very funny comedy special and a must own ... Read more

Amazon.com

No one but madcap stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard can spin comic gold outof papal history, monkeys with guns, Jesus preaching to the dinosaurs, andcafeteria food on the Death Star. Circle, taken from his stand-uptour in 2000, doesn't have the astonishingly seamless free-associativeflow of Glorious or Dress to Kill, his previousspecials--which is to say, he's only intermittently brilliant,instead of supernaturally nonstop brilliant. We'll take what we can get,because Izzard can slip in surprisingly stinging commentary aboutinternational politics and religion, yet his impish smile suggests thathe's only pointing out the obvious. He tosses out an idea and then playswith it like a cat plays with a mouse, flipping it around, teasing it out,pouncing, and then letting it go, only to sneak back up on it just whenyou'd forgetten it was there. Cheeky, subversive, and very, very funny.--Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (27)

For the die hard fans.
Ok, if you've seen Eddie Izzard onstage or in D2K and are addicted to his style of stand-up, you will definitely enjoy this. If you are looking that will make you fall on the floor laughing, go buy Dress to Kill or Glorious first. However Eddie Izzard's material is more than just for laughs; he's one of the few enterainers that offers more. This DVD offers just as many segments of him pointing out things that will make you double take your favorite movie, religion, history, etc.

True, it is not nearly as funny as his other material, at least not this performance. And the bonus documentary on the disc explains why. In addition to being shouted at mid-show, the previous evening had the production team sweating over the sound blowing out with Eddie having to shout "from ze diaphragm," trying a cord mic, and having to apologize and take an intermission to fix the tech, keeping his cool the whole time. This one is still a brilliant and triumphant performance with gold material.

The documentary itself is also well worth it, including a drunk interview and the like.

So in the end, if you know Eddie Izzards style, get this. If not, introduce yourself to it with another of his shows, and pick this one up later.

More than reviews led me to believe!!! Classic Izzard!
Having seen most of Izzard's more recent releases (eg. Glorious, Dress To Kill) I was a little hesitant to purchase this DVD after reading earlier reviews. However, quickly becoming a die-hard Eddie Izzard fan, I simply had to bite the bullet and go for it...

I AM SOOOOOOO GLAD I DID!!

True, there are parts that hint at material used in his later acts, HOWEVER - it is only that, a HINT. He explores these ideas in areas that are completely different from Glorious and Dressed to Kill. So fear not that you will receive nothing but repeat material.

That laid to rest, I must say that the audience Does get much of what he says, and in true Izzard fashion - he comments on what "they are not going for..." and where "he lost them" in a way that serves to capture the humor and continue the energy/momentum of the act.

Delighted by his wit and intellectual humor (where very low brow things are described in a highbrow way & highbrow things are done so in a lowbrow way) Circle is a precursor to his later shows yet a success in it's own right.

I highly recommend this DVD, even AFTER seeing and owning Glorious and Dressed to Kill. Izzard is original all the time (he never writes out his act, but rather improvises on a roughly outlined idea). Thus, while some themes may be continuous throughout his different acts, there is always something different, unique, and oh so Eddie.

Yet another Masterpiece
First, let me say that the previous review by 'leahj10 from Beltsville, Maryland United States' was very funny. Apparently she is under the impression that the Circle Tour in 2000 was an EARLY Izzard tour and that D2K and Glorious came after that. Too funny, as most Izzard fans know that Circle was the most recent tour, as Glorious was in 1997, and Dressed to Kill 98/99, so in fact Circle was after those tours.

Also, I was fortunate enought to catch Eddie's 2003 Sexie tour in SF, and eagerly await the US DVD release for this tour.

Now, back to the DVD. While it is a bit more polished than the earlier releases, I believe this still warrants addition to all collections of comedy geniuses such as Sellers, Python and Carlin.

Not as good as "Dress To Kill"
"Circle" is OK, but I wish I rented it instead of buying it. Highly recommend "Dress To Kill".

Another Fantasic Performance by the Emperor Fabulous!
Got this the day it came out and loved it just as much as I did "Dressed to Kill". I like the trivia track that comes with the show, and I love the case for it.
If you like Eddie and you haven't gotten this yet; what are you waiting for?!?! Get it, watch it, love it.
Ciao! ... Read more

Description

COMPLETELY CARLIN George Carlin has been making audiences laugh uncontrollably for over 45 years.One of the great comedians of our time, his brand of provocative sociopolitical commentary and his scathing comic style have brought him four Grammy awards, most recently in 2002.He was the first-ever host of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, and has starred in twelve of his own HBO specials.He continues to perform to sold-out audiences at venues across the country.

COMPLETELY CARLIN is a collection of five HBO specials including:
Playing With Your Head
Live from the Beverly Theater in Los Angeles, CA
What Am I Doing In New Jersey?
Live from the Park Theater in Union City, NJ
Back In Town
Live from the Beacon Theater in New York, NY
George’s Best Stuff
A compilation of some of Carlin’s legendary routines
You Are All Diseased
A new collection of Carlin comedy
Bonus DVD:"George on George," a NEW one-hour interview with Carlin exclusive to this collection ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Completely Carlin is Completely Entertaining
First of all, I'm a Carlin fan. I attended two of his live shows when I was a college student, and I still listen to his older albums (such as "FM/AM") and twelve HBO comedy specials, most of which I've heard at least ten times. The most important thing is, Carlin's comedy has broad appeal: you don't have to be a fan of Carlin to enjoy this!

"Completely Carlin" is the third boxed set of Carlin material I've bought (the others are "The George Carlin Collection" and an audio CD boxed set). This collection is better than "Collection", because you get Carlin's latest material. Carlin really came into his own around 1990, and these performances offer the no-holds-barred approach that made him a latter-day Lenny Bruce.

Notably absent on this set is "Complaints & Grievances", Carlin's 2001 HBO special. However, you get Carlin's most recent HBO shows, including "Back in Town" and "You Are All Diseased", which are some of his funniest performances. Classic routines include the death penalty, there is no God, airport security, and more.

The best part of this set, besides offering four Carlin/HBO comedy shows that were previously available only on VHS (and not together in a boxed set), is the brand-new autobiographical interview titled "George on George". Carlin discusses his early years, growing up with his brother in New York, his efforts to join the counterculture, the Seven Words and the Supreme Court case, his marijuana/cocaine use and (most fun of all) his dealings with the IRS.

Watching this entire set, you'll learn what it is that Carlin has, that so many other comedians lack. You'll learn Carlin's approach to standup comedy, and why his routines are so painfully funny. He talks about his method in comparison to the "usual" method employed by other standup comics. He talks about his influences (The Three Stooges, Lenny Bruce). You'll see how he channels these elder comedians and how his career has flourished at the apex of comedy for forty years.

MPI didn't give this set the "complete" respect it deserves.
I have been a George Carlin fan since I was an early teen, even though I probably should not have been watching his shows at that age. I have just about all of his concerts throughout the 1980s and 1990s memorized. But up until this point I was restricted to VHS for watching his shows. I even recently converted a number of my George Carlin VHS tapes to two DVD-Rs just for permanence and convenience.

It was therefore with great joy when I purchased "Completely Carlin" from MPI Home Video. Obviously, his four concerts are what you would expect them to be, so there is no real need to explain what those DVDs are.

"George's Best Stuff" is a great DVD that runs about 1.5 hours, loaded with some of his skits from concerts that do not have their own DVD in this set. Having only been exposed to Carlin's concerts from the early 1980s onwards, it was really refreshing to see some of his skits from his 1970s concerts. The editors also did a good job of keeping the various jokes from the different concerts in theme with each other, making the various clips flow very smoothly.

"George on George" is a great, introspective DVD regarding his life in New York to his desire to be comedian to his partnership in the comedian team of Burns and Carlin to how his two decades of concerts on HBO changed his life as a comedian. For those who might be wondering, he also explains why he has such an avid hatred for golf and golfers.

Now to the DVDs themselves.

Video: 5 out of 5

The video is quite crisp, as would be expected. Each concert is relatively new, so the video is just about as good as can be expected. DVD shows once again how superior it is in video quality when compared to its VHS counterparts. The video is very crisp and very clean.

Audio: 2 out of 5

All of the DVDs tout Dolby Digital 2.0; however, do not be impressed by this statistic at all. In fact, when it comes to audio, this is where MPI severely dropped the ball. The audio quality of these DVDs, most notably the three newest concerts, is far below my expectations and is in fact not what is stated at the beginning of each show.

For the past several months, I have been listening to most of Carlin's acts through the albums that I downloaded (legally!) from eMusic, which contains his entire audio library. All of these MP3 albums are in crisp, clear, glorious stereo sound that sound like you're right there at the concert. Many of the VHS tapes that I have of George's various concerts, including some of those in this collection, are in Dolby Surround sound.

Unfortunately, all of these DVDs (except for Playin' With Your Head) are in Dolby Digital 2.0 MONAURAL audio! What's worse is that all of the concerts clearly state in the very beginning that they are being presented in DOLBY SURROUND! What even makes this even more bizarre is that "Playin' With Your Head" is the oldest of all of the concert DVDs in this set! So the oldest of the concerts is in stereo, but the three newest concerts are in mono! Can someone explain this?

Why MPI mixed the newer, "presented in Dolby Surround" DVDs to actually be Dolby Digital mono is beyond me. It does say to me, however, that these DVDs were not given the respect that they deserve. In fact, I have the one concert ("What Am I Doing In New Jersey") on VHS video, and I confirmed that the soundtrack to that VHS tape is definitely in stereo.

Before I get accused of being anal-retentive (which I am, by the way, but at least I admit it), I'm looking at this from a highly-experienced DVD authoring perspective as well as the perspective of a Carlin fanatic. To create DVDs that blatantly state in the beginning of each that they are "Presented in Dolby Surround" but are instead presented in monaural audio is mind-boggling. After all, it's not like any of these concerts are especially old and that the original stereo soundtracks are no longer available. For a VHS tape to have superior audio quality than its DVD counterpart is disgraceful as far as I'm concerned.

In my eyes, if you're going to make what appears to be a worthwhile collection of anything, you should make it be the best that it can be. It is clear to me that MPI Home Video did not bother to do this. As a long-time Carlin fan, I'm thrilled to have his concerts on a superior and more permanent format; however, I am incredibly disappointed that MPI clearly did not give this DVD set the time and quality mastering that it deserves.

If you're a Carlin fan, this still is a worthwhile purchase; however, I for one will never be able to really look at this set as any kind of a "collector's set" because of the high "what this set should have been" factor.

On the plus side, all of the DVDs are single-layer so I could always remaster them to keep the same video quality but add the Dolby Surround soundtracks from the videos or the albums. Since each disc is single-layer, each could easily have their own DVD-R. You know, I just might have to do that, but it's a shame that I should feel the need to do so. MPI Home Video should have done this already.

Finally!
I've been a fan of Carlin's ever since I saw Jammin' in New York. Since then I have seen almost all of his specials that were recorded. Up until now, I couldn't find some of my favorites(Back In Town, You Are All Diseased) on DVD. Now I get almost every DVD I was missing in a great collection. This is a great value and has some of Carlins funniest material.

No Doubt, he is the greatest of all time
while I have not seen this DVD, I have seen these specials, and at times I was literally rolling on the floor in laughter. He is able to take any topic in the world and find some humor in it. I think anyone, even if you are not a fan of standup, will love this collection.

george carlin is the best!!!
george is the best comedian ever!!
i cant stop laughing when i hear him speaking.. ... Read more

Description

Raw, powerful, uncensored, out-of-control, over-the-top, and totally wild; and this was Sam when he was fast asleep!This never-before-released concert produced for HBO, was the mega television event that launched Sam on his way to superstardom.Within forty-eight hours from the airing of "Breaking the Rules", Sam had a record deal with Warner Brothers, a feature film role in Rodney Dangerfield's "Back to School", was booked for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and was on his way to the ultimate life of sex, drugs and rock n' roll.This digitally remastered Sam Kinison collectable concert is as timeless, funny, fresh, and in-your-face as any comedian.... Before, during or after.You'll laugh harder, longer and louder at Sam's absolutely hysterical observations on Sex, Love, Drugs, Gays, Famine, and more Sex.So, get ready to fasten your seat belts because it's going to be very bumpy Sam Kinison ride! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Both Funny and Sad
No comedian ever made me laugh as much as Sam Kinison did the first time I saw him perform on a Rodney Dangerfield special. The infamous Ethiopian UHaul rant is probably the funniest bit I have ever seen. His appearances on Rodney's other shows were generally pretty terrific as well as well as his turn in "Back to School".

He was so successful with Rodney's shows that that HBO gave him his own night, which is the main feature of this DVD. It's classic Kinison and no topic is taboo. It's pretty crass and if you are easily offended, it's not for you. His highlights include a very funny rant about being dead (and I'll go no farther, but trust me, it's a blast).

The main program, which was filmed in 1987, runs about 50 minutes is fun. However, also included are bonus clips of Sam doing standup what appears to be several years later (I couldn't find anything that stated the year it was done). Here you can see what the life of excess drugs and booze had done to Sam. He looks worn out, strung out and burned out. He's not funny. In fact, his rants are more filled with hate than humor, in particular one related to Jerry Lewis and his "Kids" with muscular dystrophy. And there aren't a whole lot of laughs from the crowd. It's a sad commentary on the man's life that I question why it was put on the disc.

But, if you liked Sam, you'll enjoy reliving a few minutes of the glory days of his humor.

Breaking The Rules - Sam Kinison 1987
This was my first ever video experience of Sam Kinison way back in 1987. Four friends and I were marking off the days looking forward to it's original airing on HBO.
We were not disappointed, nor was I disappointed upon just receiving a copy of the video today.
This was early in his popularity, just after "Back To School" and he is particularly raucous and loud in this video. He was still at his peak as a "Wild Man",
still doing drugs (oh...THEY SEE THROUGH ME! OH! OH! OH!)and obviously pretty fresh from his breakup (I WAS MARRIED FOR 2 YEARS! HELL WOULD BE LIKE CLUB MED! OH! OH!)
But there is utter brilliance behind the screaming. His treatment of religion is one("Think Jesus is coming back?" Jesus - "Yeah I'm coming back. As soon as I CAN PLAY THE PIANO AGAIN I'LL BE RIGHT BACK!").
Another is his skit about sending food to the homeless in the African Sahara ("Stop sending these people food. Send them U-Hauls! Nah! Send me. Everybody on board! We'll make one trip. See this stuff! (he is scooping up imaginary SAND) "Nothing grows in this S---! Nothing's gonna grow in this S---! Get your kids, get everyone aboard! I'll take you where the FOOD IS!!!! You live in a F------ Desert!")
This video could not possibly disappoint a Sam fan.

Don't Buy This...Here's Why
I bought this DVD and the "Sam Kinison - Why Did We Laugh" DVD and the "Why" DVD is much better (and cheaper). It includes interviews from other actors/comedians and all the best footage from the "Breaking Rules" DVD. Plus cuts out all the homophobe/AIDS material which crossed the line. You only need the "Why Did We Laugh" DVD -- it's an excellent tribute and very funny.

The Greatest Comedian Ever!!!
This is a MUST buy for all Sam Kinison fans. We miss you Sam, but thankfully your spirit will live on in the dvds provided for our entertainment. Every time I listen to Sam Kinison I can gurantee you I will be having respitory problems after the show is over, due to all the laughing you get out of this guy! This particular dvd is one of my favorites. So if you're a newbie to Sam's work or a fellow fan and you don't have this, BUY IT! IT'S 110% WORTH IT!GOD BLESS YOU SAM, WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!

A Very Funny Man Who is Missed by Many
Love him or hate him, Sam Kinison was a comic genius, and was extremley talented at what he did. Sure, he might've offended many and raised some eyebrows, but that's what he wanted to accomplish. Sam was one of a kind all right, and this DVD does him justice.

I have the tape, but I was glad that it came out on DVD. First off, the picture looks really good. It was a pretty old performance, too. And there's some cool extras. Like never before seen material, which is really hillarious. This is a must-have if you love Kinison.

This is a great performance. Through yelling and engergetic story-telling he talks about marriage, drugs, being arrested (thanks to his ex-wife), pleasing women (in a way I cannot describe on this site,) and much, much more. He's always able to make me laugh, even if I feel guity afterwards.

Sam was a true genius. It's too bad he's not around. So many talented people have died to quick and left us all too soon. Kinison was a one-of-a-kind, and no one will ever be able to duplicate him. That IS a fact.

We miss you, Sam! R.I.P. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Material 5 stars; Mastering no stars
One can't say enough about how really funny this concert is. This concert shows Richard Pryor at his very best. There are so many bits, including "The Heart Attack," "Shooting the car," "The Pet Monkey," that it's unfair to begin to list the laugh-so-hard-that-you're-crying material. Now, to the bad news. The mastering of this tape is the worst I've ever seen. Period, bar none. While the picture is acceptable (obviously no time or expense to improve on the VHS product), it is the sound that is really disconcerting. A good half of the DVD, the sound is out of sync with the picture (I know this because I returned my first copy as being defective and got a new one that was exactly the same). It is unforgivable to see the lack of care that was put into this product. No extra features of notable mention. It is trully a shockingly poor representation of one of the all-time great comedians at his comic best.

I Couldn't Stop Laughing!
This is by far Richard Pryor's best taped concert. I saw it with my college roommate for the first time. He had already seen it, and he was laughing at me because I was laughing so hard that it literally brought tears to my eyes!

Then I bought the tape a few years later and watched it with my wife. She was laughing so hard that she missed most of the dialogue the first time around. She had to watch it again to catch what she had missed.

It's Richard Pryor at his rudest, crudest best-talking about his squirrel monkeys, run-ins with the police, heart attacks, drug use, sex, hunting and being an amateur boxer.

If you want to laugh your ... off, get this tape! It's hilarious!

There has never been a better performance!
It's clear that NO other comedian in a live stand-up show can equal to "Richard Pryor Live in Concert". This was a rare magical night when everything went right. Amazingly, he put 100% plus into this comedy act and it shows!

Known for his observational humor, he takes on his family with respect, like the bit with his grandmother's funeral. In his act, he seems to show little more respect for women than some comedians do. Pryor pokes a lot of fun at himself, his wife and the law. While he has a huge stage to himself, he uses it for some very funny physical routines that warrant its use.

He brilliantly takes on the voices of many characters and furthermore, he interjects the voice and thought