This was David Spade’s first HBO special from 1998. Following in the footsteps of giants like George Carlin and Rodney Dangerfield, he somewhat misses the mark here. For some reason Spade displays a serious lack of energy. The real hook for this show was his return to the Tempe Improv where he got his start in his home town. This is still your basic stand-up comedy concert. On Spade’s hit list are such topics as: Dating, Hotels, Parents, and Fast Food Workers. It’s not until about the last 12 minutes that some real…y funny material starts to come through. Even Spade admits that it takes him 40 minutes to warm up. That would be OK, but it’s only a 56 minute show..
Video
Your basic full frame broadcast format is on display here. The upside is that the picture is surprisingly sharp. Contrast is killer right on. Flesh tones are dang near reference. Black levels are about as good as I’ve seen for even a cable broadcast. This pre-HD presentation stands up to even a modern picture in overall quality, albeit without the widescreen image.
Audio
This is, after all, a comedy concert. A Dolby Digital 2.0 is more than adequate to deliver Spade’s dialogue. The mix is well done. Audience sounds come through enough to maintain the live quality of the show. Spade is often soft-spoken, but every word is captured.
Special Features
You were expecting deleted scenes? Nothing.
Final Thoughts
In case you hadn’t gotten enough of David Spade on Just Shoot Me for all those years, here’s your chance at just one more hour. There are some laughs to be found here, but honestly I find him far more entertaining as a situational comedic actor than a stand-up. He never looks completely comfortable here, and more than a few of the jokes fall flat enough for him to know it. The formula’s pretty simple. Give the man a small stage, a few spotlights, a hot mike, and let him ramble. “You know the drill.”
