Blue Collar TV is essentially a perfect balance between Hee Haw and The Man Show. As with all sketch comedy shows, some of the skits are very funny, and some of them never really go anywhere. The Blue Collar team of Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall have hedged their bets, however, by adding in some stand-up bits, and the occasional musical guest. This means that the average half-hour show might only have two or three skits in it, so the odds of those skits being funny are pretty good.
The show is actually quite entertaining. Much more than I was expecting. Of course, it will probably appeal to those living in the Southern Unites States much more than those in other regions, with recurring segments like “the Redneck Yard of the Week” and “White Trash Days of Our Lives”. Some of the segments are just too redneck, such as the NASCAR sponsored baby delivery segment, but for the most part, you are guaranteed one or two big laugh in every show.
Unfortunately for fans of the show, it looks like the Second Season is going to be the show’s last. It has become a victim of the merger between The WB and UPN. Luckily, this disc includes every episode in one package, unlike the two volume split that carried the show’s premiere season. This is a god natured show tat features some truly funny and likable comedians. Were it not for the network merger, this show might have had the time to grow into a pretty decent hit series. Unfortunately, when it comes to cable TV, job #1 is making as much money as possible, and leaving room for artistic growth is not always the best way to do that.
Audio
Viewers just have one option for audio here, in the form of the original Dolby Digital 2.0 track that accompanied the show on its broadcast. On the one hand, this format is perfectly acceptable for the dialog and minimal sound effects used on the program. The show was shot on a set, so audio was captured cleanly and in a controlled environment. Unfortunately, the audio isn’t quite as good for the musical guests’ live performances. Stereo is fine, but it just doesn’t capture the nuances of a live performance like a full 5.1 track.
I was also surprised that the audio spectrum was so compressed. Highs and lows are pushed out of the mix, especially the lows. There is little to no work for the subwoofer to do here, except for maybe a very minor bit of support during the show’s theme song. Then again, you don’t watch a show like this one for its excellent audio performance.
Video
This is a clean and perfectly respectable transfer for a half-hour television program. There are no problems with grain, and color looks nice as well. As the show is so new, there are no aging problems, either. In fact, my only real “complaint” is that the show is in full screen. Now, obviously this is not a program that need to be in High Definition, so I understand the why behind the full screen decision, I’m just saying that it wold have been nice to have had it available in a big, professional widescreen format. Fans of the show will most certainly not be disappointed by what they are provided with, however.
Special Features
Each disc of this set has its own special feature. Disc one has a collection of one-liners called Banned From the Booth. The “booth” in question is a photo booth that has been converted into a confessional, where celebrities and regular citizens like can go in and say what really “burns” them (makes them angry).
The extra on the second disc contains a collection of unaired skits of all kinds. It is clear to me that the vast majority of these skits were cut for time reasons instead of quality concerns. They are every bit as funny as the skits that appeared in the actual program. There are not a ton of extras on this disc, but the ones that are here are certainly of great quality.
Conclusion
This is a surprisingly entertaining show, packed onto only two discs. There are thirteen episodes here, many featuring celebrity cameos and the occasional musical guest. For my money, the funniest bits are when the three stars appear together, but it is all pretty entertaining. Considering the low price point for this season, I would be happy to recommend this release as a fun and laid back way to spend a weekend. The technical quality is up to par with the television broadcast, and the extras just bring more fun to the party.
