MattH.

HTF DVD REVIEW: The Best of Comedy Central Presents Uncensored

The Program

Comedy Central has taken eight stand-up comedy specials from the six year period between 1999-2005 and packaged them into one DVD called The Best of Comedy Central Presents Uncensored. Running almost three hours if you choose to view all eight shows back-to-back, there’s not a loser in the group, and the styles of the comedians are so markedly different from each other that I didn’t find it tedious at all watching one act after another for an entire evening. The disc does allow the viewer to pick and choose which comics he wants to watch if there are some whose styles are not to his liking or if there aren't three available hours to kill all at once. As for the “uncensored” label, it’s not really raunchy comedy at all and aside from the “f-word” called out a couple of times and one repeated use of “the finger,” the acts are actually quite clean.

In order, the comics are Lewis Black, Dane Cook, Jeff Dunham, Jim Gaffigan, Mitch Hedberg, Demetri Martin, Carlos Mencia, and Brian Regan. The DVD puts the three strongest sets up first. Dunham is a comic ventriloquist which pretty much sets him apart from the other seven gentlemen. Black’s set and Mencia’s routine both sit on the loud and semi-angry side of the spectrum while Gaffigan’s set is the essence of calm, Hedberg’s delivery is measured and reserved (while still funny), and Martin’s act is precious to the point of saccharine (he even brings out his mother and grandmother to take a bow). Dane Cook is a more physical comedian than the others, and Brian Regan’s set focuses on physical fitness or the lack thereof.

I really enjoyed them all and wouldn’t hesitate to see any of them in person should the opportunity arise.

Video Quality

The eight programs were all videotaped in 4:3 aspect ratio, and the tapes appear to be in superb condition with only the slightest amount of line twitter marring the visual presentation. Color, sharpness, and contrast are all excellent. The program has been divided into 40 chapters with the “Play All“ function or 5 chapters for each comic.

Audio Quality

Obviously the focus of the specials is the dialog which is set firmly in the center channel. The fronts and rears are used for laughter and applause of which there is an abundant supply. So, it’s a very routine audio track, exactly what would be expected from a series of stand-up comedy specials.

Special Features

The DVD presents four Comedy Central Quickies. These are brief excerpts from four of Comedy Central’s most popular programs. The four programs are The Colbert Report (the briefest excerpt at 1½ minutes but also by far the funniest), Lil’ Bush (2½ minutes), The Sarah Silverman Program (2½ minutes), and South Park (the “Leprechaun” episode lasting 2½ minutes).

Previews of available Comedy Central DVDs for Demetri Martin, Carlos Mencia, and Brian Regan are on the DVD.

In Conclusion

These are eight extremely funny guys making up the comedy sets on this DVD. A rental is certainly recommended if you’re looking for an evening of some big laughs in a wonderful variety of comedy styles.


Matt Hough
Charlotte, NC