Miller, Paul

Lewis Black - Red, White and Screwed

"Apoplectic" is the word to describe Lewis Black's 2006 engagement at Washington DC's Warner Theater. There's eye-crossing, teeth-gnashing, raspy-voiced yelling, and liberal use of the f-word. (As Black reveals, the Kennedy Center refused their facilities on the grounds that he used the word 42 times in his first hour-long HBO special.) Then again, George W. Bush's second term has given the comedian much to be apoplectic about--Dick Cheney's hunting mishap, airport (in)security, the president's support of creationism, and the inanity of 24-hour cable news. At one point, he admits, "I just can't keep up with all the...stuff," although that isn't his exact phrase. Lest potential viewers think Black (The Daily Show, Black on Broadway) is nothing but a blue state apologist, he makes his distaste for John Kerry clear, i.e. "The fact of the matter is for the Democrats not to be able to find somebody who could've defeated George Bush is beyond belief--it's stunning." Black also explores misconceptions about Judaism, the media obsession with Terry Schiavo, and myths about the "homosexual agenda," which is to say: there isn't one. A few too many excretory jokes aside, Black otherwise makes good points and produces hearty laughs--some from his proud parents, who are part of the audience. As for the extras, they're brief, but amusing, and English is the only audio option. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Comedian/author/playwright/pundit Lewis Black stars in his second HBO solo special, an all-new hour of frenetic, take-no-prisoners stand-up comedy, taped before a live audience at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC. Lewis Black: Red, White & Screwed features Black?s opinions and insights into such issues as the State of the Union, abortion, frozen embryos, defecation habits, fossils, bad language, FEMA and, of course, Dick Cheney?s aim.

DVD Features:
Extended takes:Extended Version, include 15 additional minutes
Featurette:Lewis Black Sounds off, Ride the Short Bus with Lewis Black, Lewis Black Buck Naked in D.C.
Outtakes:"Why Lewis Black Shouldn't be a Doctor" - Outtakes from the filming of the on air promotional spot
TV Spot:"Lewis Black Probes Uncle Sam" - promotional spot made for television

Lewis Black - Black on Broadway

Lewis Black stars in his first-ever HBO solo special an hour of frenetic take-no-prisoners stand-up comedy taped before a live audience at the Brooks Atkinson Theater in New York City. Featuring new material included in the comic's current "Rules of Enragement" tour and CD of the same name Lewis Black: Black on Broadway will feature Black's dead-on insights into such disparate issues as homeland security tax-cut benefits international travel Martha Stewart cold weather health myths in America "who's fucking who" and of course WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction).Running Time: 58 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 026359244124 Manufacturer No: 92441

Lewis Black's performance in the HBO special Lewis Black: Black on Broadway is exactly like his "Back in Black" spots on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. If you love his sputtering, furious rants on the fake news, there's no reason you won't enjoy an hour's worth on DVD, during which Black spits out his grievances against typical stand-up comedy fodder--corporate scandals, air travel, etc.--in his usual, direct style. (Good line: "If you're in coach, kill yourself.") The only caveat: you'll get nothing extra here. The disc contains the show, brief shots of his entering/exiting the theater, and that's it. No interviews, no commentary track, not even a set of Spanish subtitles. But since Black's routine is stripped-down anger, perhaps it's fitting for the DVD to be stripped-down Black. --Leah Weathersby

George Lopez - Why You Crying?

In GEORGE LOPEZ: WHY YOU CRYING?, George will take you on a liberating, comedic journey hysterically dissecting his life growing up in a Hispanic family in Los Angeles. You will be swept along for the ride when Lopez reminisces about quirks in the Mexican culture, tackling such taboo topics as family relationships, insecurities, and unique language

Saturday Night Live - The Best of Will Ferrell - Volumes 1& 2

The Best of Will Ferrell - Vol. 1
The latest in the line of Saturday Night Live's great character players (including Dan Aykroyd and Phil Hartman), Will Ferrell showcases his fearlessness in this 72-minute collection. Whether exposing skin or taking a pause beyond the normal limits, Ferrell induces hard laughs like with the cowbell rocker in the first sketch. The selection includes Ferrell's spot-on impressions of Cub announcer Harry Caray, game-show icon Alex Trebek, President Bush, and Inside the Actor's Studio host James Lipton. As with other SNL Best of... retrospectives, there are short snippets to go along with the full-length sketches that include excellent selections of Ferrell's returning characters Craig the Cheerleader and the swinging Culp brothers. A must for fans, and the DVD includes an intriguing audition footage in which Ferrell leaps from character and character.

The Best of Will Ferrell - Vol. 2
There is no drop-off in laughs from the first to second volume of Will Ferrell's work on Saturday Night Live. Giggle along with his recurring characters, including James Lipton (interviewing Kate Hudson as a wonderfully ditzy Drew Barrymore), a wickedly clever George W. Bush, and one-half of the smarmy Lovers couple. This volume spotlights Ferrell's ability to go successfully over-the-top whether as an overbearing boss (check out how long he keeps stabbing a doomed coworker), a strict airplane pilot, an absent-minded doctor, or the world's oldest baby. There's plenty of unabashed (near) nudity and risky violence, which keeps the SNL tradition of "Not Ready for Prime Time"; check out what longtime hosts of the morning talk show resort to when the much-needed teleprompter fails. All that plus "Janet Reno's Dance Party" (with guest Rudy Giuliani) makes this the perfect pick-up for those who could not get enough of Ferrell with volume 1. --Doug Thomas

The Pest

Saturday Night Live - The Best of Phil Hartman

Phil Hartman was one of the most versatile comedians of his time: whether he was playing the voice of Troy McClure on The Simpsons or portraying the pompous Bill McNeal on NewsRadio, his comedy was always fresh and outrageous. His breakthrough was as a cast member of the late-night program Saturday Night Live, where he satirized everything from politics (Bill Clinton, Admiral Stockdale--Ross Perot's misguided running mate--and Barbara Bush) to entertainment (Frank Sinatra and Phil Donahue), creating unforgettable characters along the way. This "best of" video captures his funniest SNL moments and includes the TV special Saturday Night Live Remembers Phil Hartman plus more. Among the highlights are the commercial Compulsion; Bill Clinton jogging to a fast-food joint (which, filmed long before the Lewinsky incident, seems surprisingly prescient as Clinton comments, "There's gonna be a whole bunch of things we don't tell Mrs. Clinton. Fast food is the least of our worries."); Discover the World of Science, where Hartman portrays an annoyingly daft TV host to Jon Lovitz's scientist; Barbara Bush hosting Nancy Reagan at tea in the White House; Cooking with the Anal Retentive Chef; and Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer. Brief snippets of Hartman in a variety of his roles show some classic moments without slowing down the pace of the collection. This video also features SNL cast members Dana Carvey, Jan Hook, Chris Rock, Chris Farley, Victoria Jackson, and more. Of all the Saturday Night Live retrospectives, this is one of the most consistently funny compilations and truly showcases the best of Phil Hartman. --Jenny Brown

They called him "the glue" of Saturday Night Live the man who held it all together. Phil Hartman was one of the most respected performers ever in SNL history. See why in this hilarious look at his eight memorable years on the show. You'll see the best of Frank Sinatra Bill Clinton Anal Retentive Chef Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer and many more. Plus there's extra material including scenes that were cut after Dress Rehearsal and never seen until now.System Requirements: Running Time 84 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 031398115045 Manufacturer No: LG1150D

Saturday Night Live - The Best of Steve Martin

Zany comic Steve Martin is one of Saturday Night Live's wackiest hosts. Wanna see why? Check out his nutty antics in these classic sketches and you'll laugh yourself silly.Featuring:The Festrunk Brothers (aka "The Wild and Crazy Guys")Theodoric of York Medieval BarberSenor LopezKing TutSystem Requirements: Running Time 80 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 031398731825

No other person has been a guest on Saturday Night Live as many times as the inimitable Steve Martin, which is what makes SNL's Best of Steve Martin compilation the finest of the series. This collection gives us not only clips of some of the show's funniest moments, but also a sense of how the show has evolved from the 1970s. Earlier monologues were rougher, less staged, but absolutely out of control in the best way, as Martin is given free rein to unleash his "happy feet," play the banjo, and generally explore his zaniness. The earliest clip dates from 1976 and the latest from the mid-'90s, showcasing the program's greatest players throughout the seasons--Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Mike Meyers, Dana Carvey, Nora Dunn, David Spade, Jon Lovitz. The beloved classics are here, from "King Tut," with complete Egyptian regalia, to the arrow through the head to, of course, a "wild and crazy guy." Not enough for you? Well, "excuuuuuuse me." Also included are the Coneheads at home (with Martin playing a hapless IRS agent), "Jeopardy 1999," "Common Knowledge" (one of the wittiest SNL sketches ever), and ads for "Rise" and for "Steve Martin's Penis Cream." This collection will satisfy longtime SNL fans and is a great way to show newer fans what comedy is really about. --Jenny Brown

Saturday Night Live - The Best of Will Ferrell

The latest in the line of Saturday Night Live's great character players (including Dan Aykroyd and Phil Hartman), Will Ferrell showcases his fearlessness in this 72-minute collection. Whether exposing skin or taking a pause beyond the normal limits, Ferrell induces hard laughs like with the cowbell rocker in the first sketch. The selection includes Ferrell's spot-on impressions of Cub announcer Harry Caray, game-show icon Alex Trebek, President Bush, and Inside the Actor's Studio host James Lipton. As with other SNL Best of... retrospectives, there are short snippets to go along with the full-length sketches that include excellent selections of Ferrell's returning characters Craig the Cheerleader and the swinging Culp brothers. A must for fans, and the DVD includes an intriguing audition footage in which Ferrell leaps from character and character. --Doug Thomas

Will Ferrell may look like the guy next door but there's nothing ordinary about his comic creations. From 1995ito 2002 he dominated Saturday Night Live with characters as different as Craig the Cheerleader and President George W. Bush. See the best of Celebrity Jeopardy and Bobbi and Marty Culp along with plenty of yelling near-nudity and more cowbell. Plus there's extra material including Will's favorite scenes that were cut after Dress Rehearsal and never seen until now.System Requirements: Runnig Time 72 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 031398841920 Manufacturer No: 71092

Saturday Night Live - Best of Alec Baldwin

Whether he's playing a Scout Master seducing "Canteen Boy" a French teacher annoying his students a Tough Guy or just talking about his famous "Schwetty Balls" Alec Baldwin is undoubtedly one of the funniest SNL hosts of all time. He's become a regular playing in sketches throughout the years with some of the SNL greats including Phil Hartman Chris Farley Mike Meyers Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell. You're sure to enjoy some of Alec's hilarious celebrity impressions such as Tony Bennett and Charles Nelson Reilly.And if you've ever wondered what it s like to actually host SNL you'll want to check out the DVD extras and bonus features such as the audio commentary from Alec Baldwin himself as he comments on various sketches as well as never-before-seen footage from dress rehearsals that never made it to television!System Requirements:Running Time: 91 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: NR UPC: 025192974724 Manufacturer No: 29747

There's a reason Lorne Michaels keeps asking Alec Baldwin back to host Saturday Night Live: He's really good at it. Baldwin may have made his name in hard-hitting dramas like Glengarry Glen Ross and The Cooler, but SNL has long allowed him to flaunt his skills in stage acting and mimicry. In other words, he never gets flustered or seems at all concerned about making a complete ass of himself--the essence of good sketch comedy. As with such versatile performers as Christopher Walken and John Goodman (who appears in the boozy Bill Brasky skit), these qualities have made him one of the show's most popular hosts. Granted, some may fault the man for a few too many sketches built around the double entendre, like pastry chef Pete Schwetty and his tasty balls, but there's no doubt the guy can sell even the silliest of lines with the straightest of faces. As for his impressions, Baldwin's Tony Bennett--by way of John Travolta--doesn't just capture the legendary crooner's voice and mannerisms, but his unstoppable optimism, as well ("I love things that are great!" ). His squinty-eyed, stiff-necked Robert De Niro is another treat. (His fidgety Charles Nelson Reilly doesn't hit the same heights.) Aside from more than a decade's worth of Not Ready for Prime Time Players, including Mike Meyers, Adam Sandler, and Will Ferrell, The Best of Alec Baldwin includes two deleted dress rehearsal sketches and dishy, occasionally profane commentary from Baldwin and producer Marci Klein. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Saturday Night Live - The Best of Saturday TV Funhouse

Includes Cartoons in Their Original "Un-Cut" Theatrical Versions with Footage Not Shown on TV!Hosted by the Voices of Red-Hot Talent STEPHEN COLBERT & STEVE CARELLFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 025193207128 Manufacturer No: 32071

The envelope-pushing cartoons created by Robert Smigel for "Saturday TV Funhouse" on Saturday Night Live are tasteless, crass, borderline offensive, and almost universally hilarious. This disc collects two dozen of the best, and viewing them together makes for a deliciously warped vision of Smigel and a relentlessly silly prism through which to view American pop culture. Case in point: The action-adventure heroes Ace and Gary, "The Ambiguously Gay Duo" (voiced, with deadpan earnestness, by Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert), are actually pretty unambiguous, but the joke is played just straight enough--while fighting to save the earth, they always allocate time to accessorize--and to pat one another on the bum for a job well done. In "Bambi 2002," Disney is roasted for its policy of pulling choice children's titles from the marketplace and releasing instead direct-to-video sequels that may not be up to the level of the original. In the "sequel," Bambi's mom is OK ("it was just a head wound, son"), and Bambi and his forest posse are hip-hop kids fighting terrorists in their spare time. "Remember, kids," the TV announcer intones, "it's all the Bambi you'll get for 10 years." Other highlights include the cartoon beauty contest "Are You Hot?" (in which Strawberry Shortcake beats out Betty Boop for sex appeal), and the black-and-white industrial training film "Sexual Harassment and You," which advises employees on the three rules for trysting with a co-worker while avoiding a sexual harassment lawsuit: 1. Be Handsome. 2. Be Attractive. and 3. Don't be unattractive. Elsewhere, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are skewered by their own words, and Michael Jackson reappears as a Hanna-Barbera creation--and still manages to be creepy. Extras include commentaries by Smigel, Carell, Colbert, Al Franken, James Carville, and others, as well as extra cartoon snippets and original art and storyboards. --A.T. Hurley