Rating: 
Summary: Blank YOU!!!
Review: Comedy Central's cult classic has finally made its way to dvd, something I pictured never happening. After being cancelled, with only three seasons to its credit, I was afraid that "Strangers With Candy" might fade into obscurity. Luckily, there were lots of fans out there who, like me, found it's dark, insane humor riotously funny. This dvd offering gives us the first 10 episodes, introducing us to Jerri Blank, a 46 yr old ex con, ex prostitute, ex drug user---ex you-name-it! as she struggles while returning to high school where she left off after running away 32 years ago. As a freshman, Jerri must deal with trying to fit in, wanting to make friends, be popular---all the things a typical freshman wants in school. Told in the format of the old afterschool specials that warned us of drugs, unwanted pregnancy, etc., this series worked brilliantly. Thanks mostly, of course, to Amy Sedaris who plays Jerri Blank to perfection. Add in Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello as teachers (and closeted lovers) and an array of other characters and the show always hits the mark. I love the relationship between Jerri and her step mother played by Deborah Rush, who plays this role to a tee. The dvd offers a few extras such as running commentary during episodes and a bonus unaired pilot. It was interesting watching this pilot, seeing how that changed Jerri and some of the situations she was in for the actual series. If you are a fan of this show, this dvd is a MUST!!! I've read that if this dvd sells well, the other two seasons will be released as well. I hope that is true because there were so many classic moments in seasons 2 and 3. Go out and buy this dvd now---run, don't walk! You won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely Funny, Raunchy Show
Review: I really loved "Strangers with Candy" and was sad when it was cancelled prematurely. The series ran for 30 some episodes, and the first 10 episodes (season 1) are included on this 2 DVD set. "Strangers" stars Amy Sedaris (sister of auther David Sedaris), Steven Colbert (seen on the "Daily Show"), and Paul Dinello. These three worked together for years (e.g., "Exit 57") before creating this series. Amy Sedaris plays Jerri Blank, a 46-year-old loser who returns to high school after being a teenaged runaway for 32 years. Her father is immobile, and her step-mother and half-brother hate her. The series is patterned after an after-school episode, and each one ends in Jerri learning a "lesson" (as well as participating in funky dance sequences!). The humor is sometimes bizzare, often raunchy, and always politically incorrect! Episode 1: Old Habits, New Beginnings. Jerri tries to fit in by mixing up some drugs (glint) for a popular cheerleader (Poppy), with tragic results. Jerri loses the first in a long series of pets and does her first "I got something to say!" bit. Episode 2: A Burden's Burden. Jerri is given a 10-pound baby (whom she dubs "Dizzy") by her health teacher. She fails miserably and is paired up with Tammi Littlenut to complete the assignment. Teacher Noblet and Jellineck begin their unusual "relationship." This episode is hilarious and presents a new, more demented side of Jerri. Episode 3: Dreams on the Rocks. Jerri get a leading role in the school production of "A Raisin in the Sun," beating out several African-American students! This acting success leads Jerri's step-mother on a "hilarious" alcolohic bender. Episode 4: Who wants cake? Jerri is asked to determine whether her lockermate, Kimberly, is "[mentally challenged]." If she doesn't cooperate, she'll miss the school trip to Good Time Island. Episode 5: Bogie Nights. Jerri falls for the new kid in school (Ricky, played by Chip from "Kate & Ally"), much to the consternation of her fellow students. Episode 6: Jerri Is Only Skin Deep. Jerri runs for Homecoming Queen. She tries to increase her "inner beauty" by doing volunteer work, with tragic results for a chicken. Episode 7: Let Freedom Ring. Jerri is suspected of writing a racial slur on a school wall, and she tries to seduce a student who supposedly witnessed the event. Jerri famously asserts that she likes the "pole and the hole." Episode 8: Feather in the Storm: Jerri wants to try out for the debate team, but everyone tells her that she's too fat, leading her to develop an eating disorder. Episode 9: To Be Young, Gifted and Blank. Mr. Noblet tries to turn Jerri into a violin prodigy, driving a wedge between himself and Mr. Jellineck. Episode 10: The Trip Back. Jerri becomes attracted to a young female stoner and begins doing pot. Extras: Sedaris, Colbert, and Dinello do audio commentary for four episodes. They are hilarious together, and the commentaries help shed some light on their bizarre senses of humor. The original, unaired pilot is also included. The plot is similar to the "Who Wants Cake?" episode, but there are quite a few differences. Notably, Jerri has a volunteer job at a genertonology rehab center and Dinello and Colbert have dual roles. The pilot is not as good as the later episodes, but it's interesting to see how the series evolved.
Rating:
Summary: BLANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!
Review: I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! Can't wait for season three to get here. Tell those bone heads at Comedy Central to bring back the damn show!!!
Rating:
Summary: I'm so jazzed!
Review: There has never been a character quite like Jerri Blank (unless you're familiar with the REAL woman she was based on - Florrie Fisher), and there's never been a show like Strangers With Candy (unless you've seen... nope, there's never been a show like Strangers With Candy). SWC is impossible to do justice to in a review, but I like a challenge. The basis of the program is a very dark take on "after-school" TV specials, the ones that teach you a valuable lesson about being nice to people and doing the chores, that sort of thing. This idea mutates into some very blackly comic situations as Jerri Blank (the anti-hero who remains strangely sympathetic despite being completely devoid of morals and quite replulsive really) learns a lesson, albeit the wrong lesson usually, each week about topics such as buying friends with drugs, parenthood, racism and more. It's hilarious (sorry "hil-LAR-ious), throroughly quotable and something that will probably be discovered in 15 years time for the incredible work that it is. The DVD brings extras such as the pilot episode and 3 episode commentary from the main cast. Get this or be the laughing stock of Flatpoint High!
Rating: 
Summary: Forget Chappelle's Show, this beats it any day.
Review: Strangers With Candy: one of the most offensive shows I've ever seen...and I love every bit of it. From "pin the tail on the retard" to the school's principal: Mr. Blackman (who just happens to be black), there wasn't a minute that I wasn't laughing while watching this set of episodes. I'm sure you know what the show's about by now: Jerri Blank, a 46 year old high school freshman. Her dad is stuck in one position every time he's shown, and seemingly never talks. Her mom couldn't care less about her, and her brother is a total frumpy jock loser. This family is hilarious, and it's a shame the show's ended after just 3 seasons. They're even more messed up than the Bundy's in Married With Children. In the first episode, Jerri makes drugs for a girl just to gain popularity after nobody is interested in coming to her party. She ends up overdosing, and trying to cram herself head-first through a key hole. During her funeral at the school, when Principal Blackman is going on about how the culprit that gave her the drugs must be feeling horrible, Jerri stands up and screams, "I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SAY". Her message...is that she's throwing a party at her house for the girl. So Jerri finally gains temporary popularity in the end. In another episode, the drama class gets to do a play of Raisin in the Sun, which is a book/play about black people. Well, the first two people that get parts are Susan Cream and Craig Snow. Then, beating out someone perfect for the lead role, is Jerri. All the other students (and again, they're all black) get to play trees. I swear, I laughed at that one bit for at least 10 minutes. And it only took about 2 minutes to do that scene. As you can see, the producers show no mercy, and everything is a target. Even "violent kids" are thrown in, left in padded rooms (the commentary about that episode is very strange). And yes, even babies show up. Jerri has to take care of a 10 pound baby for health class in order to learn a lesson. She ends up getting sick of him, and leaving it in the park in order to go "throw rocks at the Indian". It'll make sense once you watch the show. If you've seen the movie Bubble Boy, take that and make it 1.5 times worse as far as offending things go and that's what you get here with Strangers With Candy. The only reason I'm not giving this dvd 5 stars (though it deserves it for how great the show is) is because of the lack of special features. We get 4 commentary tracks and then 2 Comedy Central shorts of South Park and Crank Yankers. That's it. The commentary tracks are ok, but there are too many long periods of silence. And the stars (Amy, Stephen and Paul) more or less just watch the show with you and laugh at things as it goes along. They had fun though, which was cool. They mention how the school the show was shot in was a real school that was going to be torn down, and they could do whatever they want with it. One room had padding on the walls, and nothing else, which was very strange. I would've loved to have seen some interviews with the cast (especially the dad) and what they thought when they first read the scripts. The audio quality isn't that great either...it's just barely better than how it was shown on tv. I'm still glad I picked this up though. After seeing these 10 episodes, I can only imagine what they make fun of in the second and third seasons. If you like South Park's sense of humor, this is perfect for you. And at this price, you have no reason not to buy this.
Rating:
Summary: Required viewing
Review: While home sick one day, I watched nearly every episode back to back. I had seen only bits and pieces of the series when it was on TV. It never really grabbed me. The snippets I saw on TV struck me as too intellectual or too comedically sluggish. Still, after getting a strong recommendation, I figured 'what the heck,' so I bought the DVD. What can I say? I was wrong about the series. It's nearly perfect. Afer watching all the episodes, I can say that there's not a dull one in the bunch! I never get tired of looking at Jerri. Classic, classic stuff. Yeah, the DVD needs subtitles and more extras. But, based on the high-quality content of the episodes alone, I can overlook those things and give this 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Sinful pleasure
Review: Definitely something the kids won't get to see or to be viewed with my parents. However, it's the most out-of-the-box comedy to assault my senses. Edgy, raunchy and debaucherous, this show is not for everyone but those who aren't offended by everything will yearn for more. I desperately can't get enough Candy and want the final season 3 to quickly hit production.
Rating:
Summary: 46 years and still counting
Review: The first season DVD of Strangers with Candy finds Amy Sedaris and company starting to flesh out these self-involved characters who are interested in one thing: immediate gratification at any cost. One of the darkest and funniest shows ever to come to television, Strangers with Candy is actually an important show because it is fearless. These writers were not thinking about how they could make the most money off of their show; they were interested in creating art for the sake of art. No wonder it only lasted for three seasons. A wonderful series, although the first season has as many misses as hits. The second and third season were more consistent. The commentaries on this box are interesting though.
Rating:
Summary: WHO WANTS CAKE!
Review: CHRISTIAN HUNTER, you need not say anything else. You actually find South Park funny. Sadly, that explains your sense of humor and whether your review for this product has any merit. To everyone else, this is a much more savvy and less "preachy" comedy than others mentioned above. So glad to see it available on DVD. Buy this now!
Rating: 
Summary: Smarter than I am...
Review: I think I was looking for brainless humor, this insn't that. If you like more subtle, intelligent humor, this might be just the series for you...
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