Yes, yes, yes. Finally, the 1996 NBC cult-classic sitcom, Men Behaving Badly: The Complete Series has been released on DVD. Never, ever in the Nielsen Top Thirty (while pallid, "safe" crap like Suddenly Susan, The Naked Truth, Fired Up, The Single Guy, and Ellen sat comfortably up there for 1996), Men Behaving Badly was one of those series that the few people who watched it, loved. It was like our little secret. And while we were dismayed that fewer people didn't tune in (all the while knowing its low ratings doomed the show), we felt kind of proud of that fact. After all, isn't that the innate appeal of cult TV? Its exclusiveness? That feeling that you've discovered something that other people (draw a box in the air and mouth the word, "squares") just don't get? And when the series started to generate bad publicity from the start, concerning not only its gross-out humor and risque material, but also the endless backstage problems that plagued the show's production, why, that made it all the more appealing. We weren't just watching a show we loved; we were watching a show that people actively hated. And as with all good things, knowing the series couldn't last made the experience that much more enjoyable. When two of the principle players of Men Behaving Badly left the show/were canned (take your pick), the show really ended for most fans. The fact that Men Behaving Badly came back with new characters for a second, aborted half-season didn't matter; the experience was over. Warming over the corpse couldn't bring it back.

Men Behaving Badly, starring Ron Eldard (who had left megahit E.R. to star here), Rob Schneider (known best at this time as a former Saturday Night Live alumnus), and Justine Bateman (Mallory from Family Ties), was another in a long line of British sitcoms adapted for American audiences. The original same-named series ran in England from 1992 to 1998, and was noted at the time for its unflinching commitment to grossing out and offending its initially complacent TV audience. Epitomizing what became known as the "lad culture" in England (young men who drank to excess, chased women, watched sports and enjoyed all the "toys" that went with being a young man: cars, stereos, dirty magazines), the British series had to be toned down considerably for the more politically correct American TV networks. Much of what was shown in the original British series had to be alluded to in the American version -- or left out entirely (instances of explicit sexual humor were of course verboten on American network TV in 1996).

In Men Behaving Badly Kevin (Eldard) and Jamie (Schneider) were roommates living in Indianapolis. Kevin was the more responsible of the two; he actually kept a job as a manager at an office supply company, and had a steady girlfriend, Sarah (Bateman). But "more responsible" was just a relative term; Kevin was still fighting Sarah's efforts to make him a more mature, grown-up boyfriend. Sarah was a laid-back but sexy nurse who obviously loved Kevin enough to put up with his shenanigans for several years, evidently hoping that one day he'd grow out of his immature ways. Having Jamie as Kevin's roommate didn't help her cause. Jamie was the epitome of the gross, Peter Pan/pervert "best friend" that every girlfriend tries to eliminate from her boyfriend's life. Often seen in a robe (which conveniently flaps open all the time), Jamie holds no steady job (he sometimes works as a freelance photographer), but often, he does literally nothing but lay around the apartment eating and drinking, as well as chasing the various girls that move in across the hall. Financially supported by Kevin, Jamie is free to indulge his favorite past times: watching TV, trying to have sex with women who don't want him, and drinking. After several attempts by the series' producers and writers to find a suitable across-the-hall woman worthy of Jamie's unwanted attention, they settled on Brenda (Dina Spybey), a sweet, good natured nurse whose tolerance of her neighbor's not entirely unwelcome advances (as well as her little girl voice and sexy/innocent allure) was driving Jamie absolutely insane with lust.

With comedy, it's always next-to-impossible to get across to a reader what's funny about a particular show. Comedy has to be experienced first-hand, so trying to describe what makes Men Behaving Badly so hilarious can seem flat without the benefit of prior experience watching it. I can try and describe the hilarity of perhaps the show's best episode (or at least my favorite), where Kevin tries to take care of Sarah after she's had an emergency appendectomy, but you really have to see it to believe it. Fighting boredom and selfishness almost from the moment he wheels her into his apartment (Sarah: "Thank God we're here. I can't wait to lie down. Kevin: "I hear you. What a day. Who'd have thought having your appendix out would be such an ordeal. Do you have any idea how far away I had to park?"), Kevin proceeds to keep himself amused with Sarah's illness (one of his novel ideas is the "Appendix Activity Center" - a string across her bed with a bell, grapes, and a mirror "to check for any unsightly bleeding" hanging from it). Offering Sarah continuous sponge baths (Sarah: "No more sponge baths. My breasts are clean." Kevin: "They could always be cleaner."), Kevin tries to stay focused on her condition by making of game of her taking her medication (he makes her open her mouth while he pelts her with pills from across the room), before he succumbs to his inevitable immature distractions (screaming a song to his toy Godzilla while she tries to sleep, making an unconscious Sarah's mouth move with his fingers, imitating her saying what a god he is, and finally, actually tasting her appendix that he saved in a jar). Jamie completes the picture of incompetence and selfishness by convincing Kevin to not only go out and have a beer, but to spend the day at the fair - leaving Sarah to fend for herself when the apartment building catches on fire.

While not all of the episodes in Men Behaving Badly: The Complete Series reach this kind of inspired, immature genius, many do (the Yoda-like presence of James Greene's Harry character, in Getting Rid of Harry, and the birthday party-from-Hell of The Party Favor are also classic gems), and in large part, the success of the show can be laid squarely on the shoulders of the fantastic cast, and their amazing chemistry together. Schneider has the most obvious role, and he's quite adroit at portraying the weasely, lecherous troll Jamie. While he can sometimes be a bit much in a full-length feature film (depending on the material), the 22 minute time limit of a network show suits him perfectly: he comes on stage, wows the audience with his grotesque, expert mugging, and gets off. It really is a testament to his comedic skills that he can take an essentially psychotic character like Jamie, and make him almost totally sympathetic to the audience. Eldard has the more difficult role of Kevin, who's torn between genuine love for his girlfriend Sarah, and his frequently short-circuited brain that simply won't allow him to do the right thing and grow up. There's always a sense with Eldard that he's going to go wildly out of control (as with the appendix tasting scene), and he uses that inner conflict well in fleshing out Kevin's character. And most importantly, he obviously works well together with Schneider and Bateman. You can't manufacture or decree on-screen chemistry; it just happens, and when it does, the results are really powerful. Chemistry is also evident with Spybey's interactions with Schneider. Using her cupie-doll voice and good looks, it's understandable why Schneider would lust after her, but it's in no way a cheap or obvious performance. Spybey gets the tone exactly right, managing to be simultaneously beckoning and wary at the same time to Jamie. As for Bateman, I can't say enough about her performance here as Sarah. I was never a fan of Family Ties, and I'm not familiar enough with her other work to judge it, but here, she proves to be an strikingly adept straight man for the two idiots. There's a serene, laid back quality to her performance here, an almost smart-ass (but not in any way aggressive or grating), sexy sense of fun to her deadpan line readings that's really appealing. Bateman always has the beginnings of a smile on her face whenever she's interacting with Eldard, and it's this indulgence on Sarah's part that helps the audience know that despite all the antics he and Jamie get up to, it's all relatively innocent, and that she can't help but be charmed by them. My understanding is that she was unhappy during the making of the show (more about that later), but you can't tell it from her performance. Justine Bateman is the surprise of the show, and the real audience anchor that's necessary for Men Behaving Badly to succeed.

But unfortunately, it didn't succeed. While it's almost certain that any network show in 1997 that celebrated the joys of tasting internal organs would ultimately fail, it didn't help that NBC monkeyed with the show from the start (they even changed the last names of Kevin and Sarah for no apparent reason). Showing the episodes out of production order isn't an uncommon network practice by any means, but I remember this causing a great deal of confusion with the show's continuity when it originally aired. Various across-the-hall girls would come and go, only to reappear again. Those kinds of continuity problems can throw an audience. But most damaging to the show's chances was the apparent friction between Eldard and Bateman towards the show's producers. I remember the articles in the trades that discussed the ongoing feud, but time has faded specific details for me. I remember reading that actors were unhappy with scripts, and therefore refusing to show up for shooting, as well as reading about producers and writers who wouldn't listen to actors who knew the characters well, and who felt they weren't given their proper due. Unfortunately, there are no commentary tracks on this Men Behaving Badly: The Complete Series disc set, so the real reasons for the behind-the-scenes troubles may not be known (the stories in the trades can be misleading, anyway, with principles who may not want to offend anyone in print).

Whatever the reasons, Eldard and Bateman were "fired"/"quit" by the end of season one, and the series was doomed from that point on. A particularly depressing opening episode to Season Two (which the DVD box mistakenly attributes to Season One), had Eldard wrapping up his stay with Schneider by announcing his intention to marry Sarah and move to Chicago. Eldard, wearing a new haircut and looking extremely uncomfortable, delivers a lecture to Schneider about his need to face life and grow up - exactly the kind of message that no fan of the show wanted to hear. Filmed on a ridiculously cheap-looking church set, Eldard finished off this ignominious farewell by pairing off with a veiled body-double for Bateman, who (to her credit) was either not invited or refused to participate, in this sign-off. NBC, not wanting to give up on the show (which may not have delivered the Nielsen ratings, but did deliver the demographics that NBC wanted), tried to bring in new characters for Schneider to interact with, but it was a lost cause. Jamie's new roommate Steve (ingratiating Ken Marino) was a nice enough guy (perhaps too nice to be a believable partner-in-crime to Schneider's depravities), and was played well by Marino, but the spark that Eldard had with Schneider just wasn't there (as with Jenica Bergere, the replacement for Sarah's character). The scripts were still funny, and Schneider and the rest of the cast tried hard to keep it all afloat, but a new killer time slot (against The Simpsons) crushed the show. It was canceled at midseason, and seven episodes went unaired (they're included in this DVD set). But fans of the show never forgot Men Behaving Badly, and its return on DVD is a welcome moment to relive one of the best sitcoms of the 1990s.

DISC ONE:

Babies Having Babies
Sarah wants to have a baby, or at least Kevin thinks so, and Jamie blows a job interview.

Temptation
Kevin decides to fight back when he learns that Sarah slept with other men during their breakup. But how will his double date with Jamie and a couple of tire models really go?

The Bed
When Sarah wants a new bed, Kevin freaks out, thinking she's trying to control him. Oh, and Jamie pretends his mother is dead (even making some ashes for an urn) to score with Cherie

Hot Parkas
While Jamie makes a career out of photographing dead bodies, Kevin tries to woo Sarah all over again with a romantic dinner on the apartment building roof.

Getting the Bugs Out
Sarah moves in while her apartment is fumagated, causing a rivalry between Jamie and Sarah for Kevin's affections.

Jamie's In Love
Jamie surprises himself by actually falling in love...with his Guatemalan cleaning woman.

Drunken Proposal
With neither one of them budging, Kevin and Sarah, both in an effort to make the other one admit defeat, make it all the way to the altar when Kevin drunkenly proposes marriage.

Sarah's Vestigial Organ
Sarah has her appendix out, and Jamie and Kevin go to the fair.

Road Trip
Jamie and Kevin go to Chicago on a photo shoot -- of a naked male model.

DISC TWO:

Christmas
Kevin's a big hit with Sarah's family on Christmas -- not. But guess who is? Surprise guest Jamie!

Wet Nurse
Jamie decides to go out with Sarah's mean-tempered -- and oversexed -- boss.

The Odds Couple
Kevin blows his and Sarah's vacation fund on a football game, while Jamie is convinced that Brenda's friend -- and maybe Brenda -- is a lesbian.

Jamie Needs a Kid
When he meets a single mom at the video store, Jamie needs to hustle up a kid fast for "family date night."

Playing Doctor
Sarah is fending off the unwanted advances of one of her superiors, and naturally, Kevin thinks she's having an affair.

Brenda is Moved
Having had enough of Jamie's insanity, Brenda plans on moving out.

I Am What I Am
Jamie wins a photography contest -- for women participants only

The Party Favor
Kevin gets the wrong list, and invites all of Sarah's most embarrassing acquaintances to her "surprise" birthday party.

Getting Rid of Harry
Harry, Kevin's all-seeing, all-knowing aging party animal co-worker, moves in and creates havoc for the boys.

DISC THREE:

After Midnight
The boys spend a Seinfeld sleepless night of robbery and satellite dish repair.

Testing, Testing
While Jamie listens to Brenda's date (he bugged her apartment), Kevin and Sarah take I.Q. tests.

It's Good to be Dead
When one of Kevin's clients dies, Jamie decides to step in and impersonate him.

The Box
Kevin is torn by his duty to suck up to his boss -- especially when a luxury box seat is involved.

No Retreat, No Surrender
Kevin marries Sarah, and says goodbye to Jamie.

Here We Go Again
Jamie gets a new roommate, Steve.

Got Milk?
Steve's a bad boy for Katie, and Jamie starts lactating from the experimental drugs he's taking.

The Sting
Jamie uses bees as weapons to destroy Brenda's date, and Steve pretends to be away to make Katie jealous..

Spoils of War
Jamie becomes Brenda's new gay confidant, and Steve invents a kindly, drunken uncle.

DISC FOUR:

Special Delivery
Jamie discovers that screaming at pregnant women makes them have their babies quicker, while Steve and Katie peep through their window, watching their neighbor having sex.

The Gift of Jami
Jamie sings karaoke to buy Brenda a Christmas gift.

Jamie's Got Next
Steve hates Katie's new hair color, and Jamie dates a basketball player.

The Tape
A tape of songs gets both Jamie and Steve in trouble, but helps out Bill Clinton.

The Truth About Cats & Ducks
Jamie kills a duck while Brenda watches, and Steve can't care for a computer baby.

The Fur Man Cometh
A stolen fur coat gets great sex for Steve and Katie, and keeps Jamie from getting beat up out on the streets.

Welcome to JamieCo
Steve makes the mistake of getting Jamie a job, and Katie and Brenda try to solve the mystery of their apartment building super..

Carpe Dino
Jamie pretends to be a drama teacher, and Steve must contend with a competitive college buddy.

The DVD:

The Video:
The full screen video image for Men Behaving Badly: The Complete Series is extremely clean and clear. Some of the earlier episodes look dark, but they looked that way when they were originally broadcast, too (turmoil behind the set also manifested itself with changes in the show's look -- including a hallway that's blocked off, then magically open).

The Audio:
The Dolby Digital English 2.0 stereo is a nice, loud mix for this funny show. There is no close captioning option.

The Extras:
Criminally, there are zero extras for this set -- a big disservice to the loyal fans of this show. Perhaps it's a legal matter, but Men Behaving Badly: The Complete Series cries out for at least one commentary track or a documentary.

Final Thoughts:
One of the funniest sitcoms of the 1990s is finally out on DVD, and Men Behaving Badly: The Complete Series plays even better than it did 11 years ago. With expert comedic acting by Rob Schneider, Ron Eldard, Justine Bateman and Dina Spybey, Men Behaving Badly: The Complete Series is a must-have for fans of the show, and a twisted, hilarious surprise for the uninitiated. I highly recommend Men Behaving Badly: The Complete Series.