After releasing several scattershot compilation DVDs featuring various Hannah Montana episodes, Disney has finally gathered together Hannah Montana - The Complete First Season, a four-disc collection of all 26 episodes from The Disney Channel's tween smash-hit sitcom's opening 2006-2007 season. Although surprisingly skimpy on the bonuses (which is a strange move for such an important component of the Disney brand), I would assume that most young fans of the show (and their parents, including myself) will be happy enough with the chance to finally put a disc in and watch Hannah Montana for hours on end, without all those commercials and unending Disney promotions.

I've written several times before about Hannah Montana, and I've always found the show quite amusing and well-performed, but I didn't catch the show right from the beginning of its run. My six-year-old daughter, on the other hand, is obsessed with Hannah Montana, to the point where she now sports an official Hannah Montana book bag, lunchbox, various other Hannah Montana-emblazoned school supplies, as well as countless show-related toys. For lack of a better word, she's a "super-fan," and any product with Miley Cyrus' face slapped on it gets her immediate attention - which is precisely what Disney wants. And I don't begrudge them that brand recognition for a moment. Although I don't know where Miley Cyrus as "Hannah Montana" is right now on the music charts (I understand her concerts still sell-out), I really couldn't care less about any of that, nor about the never-ending debate that seems to go on anytime one of these merchandising-oriented shows becomes a hit. Who cares if Disney crafted Hannah Montana out of whole cloth to sell records, toys and a hundred other items? That argument was already ancient with The Monkees forty years ago. If a "product," regardless of its origins, is entertaining, that's all I care about. The Sopranos was "art," but it was commissioned with one purpose in mind, ultimately: to boost HBO's subscription rate - which it did spectacularly. I don't hear anybody complaining about that.

And Hannah Montana is consistently entertaining. If you're not familiar with the show's set-up, Hannah Montana tells the story of 14-year-old Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus), the precocious daughter of former singer/songwriter star - and widower - Robbie Stewart (Billy Ray Cyrus, the real-life father of Miley). Living in a sweet Malibu beachfront home, Miley has a secret she jealously guards to maintain a relatively normal teenage life: donning a blonde wig, Miley becomes "Hannah Montana," a famous tween pop singing idol adored by millions of American boys and girls. Of course, complications arise as Miley tries to negotiate her real-life and fantasy personas, while her father has double-duty keeping "Hannah's" career on track, while making sure that Miley's career doesn't get in the way of her learning the difficult lessons all teenagers, unfortunately, have to learn.

Naturally, as with all sitcoms, Miley/Hannah has some wacky relatives and friends to provide plenty of comedy relief. Her older brother, Jackson Stewart (Jason Earles, who probably gets the biggest laughs here), is a fast-talking slickster who works down at Rico's Surf Shop, run by egomaniacal little troll, Rico (Moises Arias, who makes a great foil for the Jackson character). Miley's best friend, Lilly Truscott (Emily Osment, in a fun, quirky, deadpan performance) plays "Ethel" to Miley's "Lucy," becoming the first person to discover Miley's secret. She's a true friend, though, and she goes out of her way to stay loyal to Miley, not "Hannah," going so far as to don her own fantasy persona, "Lola Luftnagle," so she can hang out with Miley/Hannah at concerts and star-related events. Oliver (Mitchel Musso), is the slightly dorky next-door neighbor who initially has a crush on "Hannah," but when he, too, learns of Miley's secret, he works with his best friends Lilly and Miley to keep the secret. Helping out occasionally at the Cyrus home is Roxy (Frances Callier), the brash, abrasive bodyguard who also subs as a nanny from time to time. Episodes frequently revolve around Miley's complicated school and love life, and her equally complicated maneuverings between being an average American kid and a huge pop idol. At school, she has frequent run-ins with popular, evil teens Amber and Ashley (Shanica Knowles and Anna Maria Perez de Tagle), who regard Miley and Lilly as unpopular nerds, while the mid-season addition of TV action hero, Jake Ryan (Cody Linley), who also attends Miley's Seaview Middle School, provides the material for Miley/Hannah's necessarily compromised love life.

When I first briefly glanced at Hannah Montana back in 2006, walking through the family room as some point to find out what all the laughing was about, the actual format of the show didn't promise a lot to me. With that insanely happy laugh track and the cheap three-video camera look typical of other junkie tween sitcoms on cable, Hannah Montana looked like "business-as-usual" for these types of basic cable tween programs (such as that awful The Suite Life of Zach and Cody). But once I actually sat down and watched the show, and after getting into the rhythm of cast's performances, I was surprised at how much I was enjoying it. While the current conventions of the tween sitcom are painfully obvious and broad here (lots of mugging, lots of over-sold punchlines, moments of gross-out humor, and that god-awful laugh track), the self-reflexive nature of the show gives a nicely layered feel - which is complicated for the viewer even more by having Miley Stewart/"Hannah Montana" played by real-life Miley Cyrus...who has her real- life father Billy Ray playing her father, the ex-singing star (who's an ex-singing star himself). When you add to the fact that "Hannah Montana" is now in real life a big recording star (is it "Hannah Montana" as played by Miley as Hannah the "TV star," or vice versa?), you have a fun little game of pop culture semiotics you can endlessly ponder.

But all of that would be meaningless if the show and the stars weren't funny or entertaining. Prior to getting the Hannah Montana - The Complete First Season disc set, my biggest exposure to the show was the occasional chance to watch it with my daughter, or the compilation discs I had to review. Watching the series right from the beginning with this set, I was better able to appreciate the relatively smart writing (at least within the cable tween sitcom genre), as well as the rock-solid performances of the talented cast. When I first reviewed the show, I was particularly impressed with young Miley Cyrus. For a 14-year-old (I have no idea if she had previous show biz experience), she's a real trouper, with a marvelously open, free approach to the broad slapstick that I found quite striking. It's a cliché, but you're either funny or not; you can't learn it. And Miley Cyrus is funny. She has the same kind of instinctual fearlessness that Lucille Ball and Carole Burnett had. Despite the frequent silliness and forced mugging that seems to be de rigueur for tween cable sitcoms, Cyrus can put over a line with the best of them. Her goofy manner and appealing willingness to look foolish (as well as her quite adept vocalizing, with a funny low, guttural kind of growling that really sells a line) mark her as a comedienne to watch as she matures into her craft.

But as with any sitcom, the supporting cast is critical to the success of the comedy. And Hannah Montana's is uniformly excellent. Miley's real-life dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, may not be Noel Coward, but he's quite appealing, with his inexperience in front of the camera well-utilized in aid of a blunt, honest comedy style that suits his character perfectly. And watching all 26 episodes here, you can see him become more adept, more comfortable in the role as time goes on, consistently delivering big laughs along the way (in It's a Mannequin's World, Billy Ray unsuccessfully tries to limbo, exclaiming in pain, "My achy, breaky, back!" much to the obvious amusement of the other actors who "corpse"). I was also particularly impressed with Emily Osment as Lilly and Jason Earles as Jackson. Osment has a really tough role: being the sidekick to the charismatic lead (who gets all the songs and the love scenes, as well). But she pulls off her difficult duties well, with deadpan, askew line readings and an agreeable assortment of gorping facial expressions that make her Lilly delightfully kooky and fun. Earles, the heavy slapstick go-to guy in the cast, probably gets the biggest guffaws in the series, but you can tell he's theatre-trained, because it's controlled physical slapstick - he obviously knows just how far he can take a bit or gag before it's way over the top...which it usually is, anyway (and hilariously so). In one of my other reviews, I wasn't sure about Mitchel Musso's Oliver - not because of the performer, but because of the construction of the character. But seeing these episodes from the very beginning of the series, I understand better the purpose of his character (co-conspirator in the Miley/Hannah cover-up), and appreciate more the solid support Musso offers with his funny physical performance.

Standout episodes in the Hannah Montana - The Complete First Season include Miley Get Your Gum, which features a funny Freudian flashback sequence, showing the origin of Oliver's hatred of gum; It's My Party and I'll Lie if I Want To, where Osment gets to act like a star-struck dork as she acclimates herself to Miley's celebrity-side of life; Grandma Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Favorites, which has Miley's grandmother (Carol Burnett's Vicki Lawrence) engaging in a funny video dance-off with the Queen of England, Elizabeth II; Ooo, Ooo, Itchy Woman, which features a camping trip with Miley and Lilly that's in good company with a typical Lucy/Ethel outing; Torn Between Two Hannahs is a great Halloween episode, with Earles and Billy Ray Cyrus having some good moments scaring the crap out of a bunch of kids (occasional guest star Peter Allen Vogt, as rotund next-door-neighbor Mr. Dontzig, absolutely kills with his line-reading, "It's sick!"); Debt It Be, where Miley gets a big laugh when her father gives her a credit card ("My very first credit card...today I am a woman."); We Are Family - Now Get Me Some Water! has an hysterical moment with Moises Arias's Ricco, tangoing (that kid is a genius); and my favorite episode here: School Bully. While Hannah deals with a bully in school, Robbie Ray and Jackson, inexplicably, are snowed-in at a mountain cabin (which has been "modernized" for young lovers) with the cabin's bizarre owner, Gunther (the great Kenneth Mars - always brilliant), and his ventriloquist dummy, Franklin. The "snowed-in-at-a-mountain-cabin" is a never-fail sitcom standby (I recommend similar episodes in The Odd Couple and Bosom Buddies), and here, it works again, thanks to Earles' expert mugging and chemistry with solid Billy Ray Cyrus. A very funny show in a whole collection of bright, amusing episodes.

Here are the 26 episodes included on Hannah Montana - The Complete First Season:

DISC ONE

Lilly, Do You Want to Know a Secret?
In the series premiere, Miley decides it's time to tell her best friend, Lilly, that she's really "Hannah Montana," teen pop idol.

Miley Get Your Gum
Oliver is infatuated with Hannah Montana, and he'll do anything to get close to her. But will he feel the same way once he learns Hannah is really Miley, his longtime childhood friend? Meanwhile, Jackson doesn't quite understand why all the guys are honking at him and his new "chick" car.

She's a Supersneak
Miley and Jackson disobey their father's instructions to stay in the house and study...and discover him out on a secret date.

I Can't Make You Love Hannah Montana if You Don't
Jackson has a problem: he wants to date best friend Cooper's little sister, while Miley tries to convince a potential new boyfriend that Hannah Montana really rocks.

It's My Party and I'll Lie if I Want To
Hannah is having trouble with Lilly's "Lola" persona...particularly when Lola acts like such an obnoxious dork at all her Hannah Montana functions.

Grandma Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Favorites
Miley is going to perform for the Queen of England...while missing Jackson's important volleyball tournament.

DISC TWO

It's a Mannequin's World
Miley doesn't want another bogus birthday gift from Robbie Ray, so she gets Lilly to help her father pick out something nice...with typically disastrous results.

Mascot Love
Miley and Lilly aren't having enough "Miley and Lilly" time, due to "Hannah's" constant commitments, so they decide to try out for the cheerleading squad. The only problem? Miley doesn't make the squad.

Ooo, Ooo, Itchy Woman
Miley and Lilly go on a school camping trip with arch nemeses Amber and Ashley.

O Say, Can You Remember the Words
Oliver is Romeo to Miley's Juliet, but his stage-fright psyches "Hannah" right out of performing The Star-Spangled Banner on live TV.

Oops! I Meddled Again!
A girl at school emails Hannah for love advice...about Oliver! But Miley butts in and almost ruins the whole teen affair.

On the Road Again?
Miley and Jackson want Robbie Ray to be happy again, performing out on the road. But does Robbie Ray want that?

You're So Vain, You Probably Think This Zit is About You
Miley is horrified to discover that a billboard ad she agreed to will feature a big blemish on her face...while she expects Lilly to follow her advice about not worrying about her looks when Lilly has to wear some dorky glasses.

DISC THREE

The New Kid in School
Robbie ruins Jackson's car, while Miley crushes hard for TV action star Jake Ryan, who's the newest member of the Seaview Middle School class.

More Than a Zombie To Me
Robbie and Jackson increase their war of pranks on each other, while Miley discovers she really does like Jake. So why does she keep turning down his invitations to a school dance?

Good Golly, Miss Dolly
Dolly Parton guest-stars as Miley's godmother, turning the Cyrus Malibu beachhouse upside down in the process.

Torn Between Two Hannahs
Miley's evil identical cousin, Luann, arrives in Malibu, and plans on destroying Hannah's career.

People Who Use People
Miley and Jake decide the best way to get back at each other is to use other people to make each other jealous.

Money for Nothing, Guilt for Free
Miley wants to beat Amber and Ashley in a fund-raising contest, before she learns the real reason for the charity-sponsored event.

Debt It Be
Jackson and Miley get credit cards...and the nightmare begins.

DISC FOUR

My Boyfriend's Jackson and There's Gonna Be Trouble
Jackson is mistaken for "Hannah's" new boyfriend!

We Are Family -- Now Get Me Some Water!
Jackson wants a raise from Rico, so Miley decides to help...and gets Jackson fired.

School Bully
Cracker, the school bully, has her sights set on Miley, while Robbie and Jackson are snow-bound in a very strange mountain cabin.

The Idol Side of Me
Miley wants to humiliate rival Amber on her appearance on Singing with the Stars, but she soon learns that everyone deserves a second chance.

Smells Like Teen Sellout
"Hannah" is contracted to promote a perfume that she hates. But she's having a hard time giving back the cool Mustang the company gave her in their appreciation of her efforts.

Bad Moose Rising
Jackson, tired of hauling Miley around to functions, arranges for her to have a little hanger-on: Mr. Dontzig's niece-from-Hell.

The DVD:

The Video:
The full-screen, 1.33:1 video transfers for Hannah Montana - The Complete First Season are pretty typical of these kinds of cable tween shows. Shot in a relatively inexpensive three-camera video shoot, Hannah Montana - The Complete First Season doesn't look as sharp or as clean as prime-time video-shot series, with occasional hot-spots and a sometimes softer image, but it's certainly serviceable for the kids who are watching (who couldn't care less about the quality of the videography).

The Audio:
The Dolby Digital English 2.0 audio track isn't exactly the most expansive (particularly after I just watched the 5.1 Surround Sound Hannah Montana concert movie), but it, like the video transfer, is serviceable. There's a Spanish language 2.0 track included, as well, along with English subtitles and close-captions.

The Extras:
Extras are surprisingly light here, considering this show is the jewel in The Disney Channel crown. On each disc, there is a Hannah's Highlights, which is one of the disc's episodes with "pop-up" trivia tidbits added. It's a fun extra; the episodes include Grandmas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Play Favorites, You're So Vain, You Probably Think This Zit is About You, Torn Between Two Hannahs, and The Idol Side of Me. On disc four, there's a sweet featurette, Back Home Again with Miley, running 7:02, which has Miley and Billy Ray returning to the Cyrus family farm in Tennessee in November of 2007 (it's nice to see Miley acting liking a normal, sweet kid here). Disney Channel Games 2008, Episode 1, running 22:37, features Earles appearing in the games, as well as Miley giving a closing concert. There are no episode commentaries by any of the stars, and no behind-the-scenes featurettes showing the making of the series - two big misses here.

Final Thoughts:
Hannah Montana - The Complete First Season finally gathers together all 26 episodes of the first season of the smash Disney Channel tween sitcom hit, for a sensory-overload of all things Hannah for all those crazed fans out there. Featuring a bright, talented cast (that Miley kid is a real pro, while her supporting players are funny and smart), Hannah Montana is one basic cable tween sitcom that parents can watch along with their kids, and not feel like they're getting a root canal. A consistently funny laugh-getter, Hannah Montana is a surprisingly strong sitcom - regardless of its tween origins. That lack of extras seriously hurts this release, but the show itself is so good, I can't help but highly recommend Hannah Montana - The Complete First Season.