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List Price: $24.99 | | Label: Shout Factory
Salesrank: 12438
Released: May 12, 2009 |
| Our Price: $14.48 |
| Used Price: $13.98 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Saturday Night Live veteran Dana Carvey takes a decidedly hilarious spin on politics and pop culture in this amazing, but short-lived sketch comedy series. The Dana Carvey Show debuted on ABC in 1996 and included the comedic talents of Steve Carell(The Office) and Stephen Colbert (The Colbert Report) before either were household names. Also includes Bill Chott, Elon Gold, Heather Morgan, Peggy Shay, and Robert Smigel. The Dana Carvey Show might have hit the airwaves a moment too soon. Only eight episodes were made and only seven of those were broadcast before it was cancelled, even though it enjoyed a loyal following. Available for the first time on DVD, all 8 episodes including one that was never aired!
Bonus Features:
* One unaired episode.
* Deleted scenes.
Description of The Dana Carvey Show:
One of Saturday Night Live’s best impressionists, Dana Carvey launched a sketch comedy show in the wake of a 1995 HBO special. Like Ben Stiller’s short-lived show, however, his timing was off--and his humor too pointed for primetime. If Carvey’s reign on ABC was brief, he recognized talent when he saw it, and contributors include Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Robert Smigel, Louis C.K., Charlie Kaufman, Bob Odenkirk, and 30 Rock's Robert Carlock. Using counter-culture humor as their guide, Carvey and cast--notably, Bill Chott, Elon Gold, and Heather Morgan--combined topical skits, short films, and animated segments, like "The Ambiguously Gay Duo" (which Smigel took with him to SNL). Each episode starts with a sponsored title sequence, such as "The Pepsi Stuff Dana Carvey Show," followed by a song and dance routine and questions from the audience. If the primary-year digs at Bob Dole and Bill Clinton seem dated, that doesn't make them any less funny--especially Carvey's cackling Strom Thurmond impersonation--though the abstract bits tend to hold up best to repeat viewing.
Skit highlights include Carvey as a Johnny Cochrane-styled attorney, Carvey as a Regis Philbin who'll do anything for a spot on The Late Show (like socking Carol Channing in the kisser), Colbert providing a "gentle news" editorial while hugging a puppy, and Carvey and Carell as "Germans who say nice things" by yelling at the top of their lungs. Though Mike Myers never dropped by, Carvey elicited guest appearances from Philbin, Tony Randall, Isaac Hayes, and SNL alums Jan Hooks (as Kathie Lee Gifford) and Phil Hartman (as Larry King). This two-disc set adds over-the-top deleted scenes, an interview with Carvey and Smigel, and the unaired eighth episode, in which Abe Vigoda utters the last word: "Schmuck!" --Kathleen C. Fennessy
The Dana Carvey Show Reviews:
I remembered it being funny, but it was hilarious! 
2009-12-12 - I watched a few of the episodes of The Dana Carvey show when it aired and was disappointed that it was taken off the air. That vague recollection of the show prompted me to rent it on netflix. I had not even remembered Steve Carrell or Steven Colbert. I laughed so much through these (very dated) comedy sketches that I could hardly breathe. This is some of the funniest and most "before its time" television I've ever seen short of Saturday Night Live and the best bits of Conan O'Brien. If you are fans of those or The Daily Show, then this is a must rent or buy. My favorite skits were the "Horny Clinton" where he says "I'm a horndog, but I'm a good president", Casey Kasem flipping out, Paul McCartney, the lost scene of Wizard of Oz, and the first ladies as dogs. But every scene had me rolling! They really do always cancel the good ones.
Check out the Deleted Scenes Reel
2009-09-11 - Great show. I especially like Nixons, the Casey Casum bit and the Pied Piper. And Carvey doing Brokaw taping an absurd series of lines is priceless. Some outrageously funny stuff in the deleted scenes. You'll laugh out loud like you did when you watched the show in '96.
Okay sketch comedy from some very talented people 
2009-08-10 - Noticeably watered-down sketch comedy (thanks ABC). The few times the show was controversial (e.g. the Bill Clinton breast-feeding sketch), it felt more like a gimmick than a statement. Some gems can be found throughout, though, and if you love Dana Carvey, then you'll love his show.
PACKED WITH PEANUTS!!!
2009-07-16 - Dana Carvey somehow managed to get a half hour sketch show in on prime time back in 1996. It only lasted for seven shows, but hey, getting that onto ABC is quite a feat. I thought this show was great, and I was dissapointed when it just dissapeared from TV, by the way of the ABC network, without a trace.
If you don't remember this show here are a few refreshers. While it was a prime time show, it didn't feel like it at all. Dana Carvey was hungry for late night comedy style, and he put it down regardless of its time slot. Robert Smigel started doing his cartoons here. The very first Ambiguosly Gay Duo cartoon debuted on the Dana Carvey show several months before it appeared on SNL. Steve Carrel and stephen Colbert got their starts here...not to mention early evidence of the surreal writing style from Charlie Kaufmann (later responsible for Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind)...
Some of these sketches have been forever enlodged in my brain, despite not seeing them in years... like skinheads from Maine, one I couldn't believe even made it on the air. "Whatch ya widdlin' thar?" ..."a beatin' stick for the spades..." No wonder they cancelled this thing? They really had some balls to run this stuff. How about the lost Wizard of Oz footage? "If I only had an A$$" or the forgotten Beatles moments... What a great show. The DVD contains bits that were cut from the original shows by the sponsors (Pepsi co.) I thought these shows were long a lost part of TV history, but now they are available on DVD! Well worth a viewing peeps! I really missed this show!
Classic, holds up over time 
2009-06-12 - Dana Carvey is a master showman. The contact for then was cutting edge, but so timely now. Very disappointed that Taco Bell wouldn't allow the jokes which we all remember. Who needs Taco Bell? A chain without a sense of humor? Feh. The world needs more Dana Carvey!
