The Second Season

Mind of Mencia is a sketch comedy television show on Comedy Central. The series is hosted by Carlos Mencia, a stand-up comic best known for his fierce, loud politically incorrect comic style and willingness to poke fun at anyone and everyone under the sun. The show's format is similar to Comedy Central's The Chappelle Show, although there are less sketches and more stand-up. For more details about this series, refer to DVD Talk's review of season one.

In the second season of Mind of Mencia, Carlos keeps the punches coming and does not hold back, pushing the envelope with politically incorrect jokes dwelling on racial slurs, stereotypes, sexism, obesity, religion, politics, pop culture, current events, and more. This second season has fourteen episodes and it was amongst Comedy Central's most popular shows for 2006.

Each season two episode follows a similar format, with both stand-up and sketch comedy. The former is the majority of a given episode. Carlos spends a fair amount of time knocking different subjects on his mind, which lead to the big topic (and sometimes topics) of the episode. The big topic is taken into sketch comedy and/or interviews; Carlos and friends act out a Mencia-interpretation of life, pop culture, etc.

One of my favorite sketches came from the early portions of the season. Carlos addresses whether men or women have it easier in life. He hits the streets of Los Angeles and interviews real life people, who all have different and very goofy perspectives. It's outrageous and simply funny how well Carlos turns the serious issue into laughs.

Some of the other fun sketches include several spoofs on popular movies/television shows like Brokeback Moutain, The Sopranos, and Pirates of the Caribbean, Carlos addressing the topic of immigration (a couple times), and what advertisements would look like with the truth. In addition to the general sketches, Carlos has several celebrity guest stars like Dave Attell, Mario Lopez, Peter Boyle, Jamie Kennedy, Tracy Morgan, Tony Hawk, and more.

Overall, Mind of Mencia season two offers some pretty strong (and somewhat offensive) comedy. What really makes this show work is Carlos's ability to turn something serious into comedy. And while he curses and uses racial slurs and other politically incorrect innuendos, his delivery is quite good and comical.

Episode Guide

1. Episode 201: Carlos takes a look at all the stupid stuff that people did while he was gone. He reveals his big secret in "Wetback Mountain," and he gives a piece of his mind to people who are trying to hang onto their youth in "Act Your Age."
2. Episode 202: Carlos takes on Kanye West and his huge ego. Then he hits the streets to see if it's harder out there for women or for men. He also introduces us to some lady dancers who are not only big on moves but big in many other ways, too.
3. Episode 203: Carlos and special guest Dave Attell argue about who has it harder out there: pimps, hos or "whorves." He also heads to East L.A. to teach some gangbangers the proper way to commit a drive-by.
4. Episode 204: Carlos discusses the hot topic of illegal immigration and gives Spring Break tips like only Carlos can. Peter Boyle pays Carlos a visit to help translate the real meanings of bumper stickers.
5. Episode 205: Carlos hits the streets to find out what the face of the future will look like. He also helps people with their problems through the use of cool R&B slow jams, as "Carlos Smoov."
6. Episode 206: Carlos sends a special message to baby "TomKitten." Then he gives us his answer to The Sopranos with his own version of the show featuring a Hispanic crime family (with special guest star Cheech Marin!). He also whips a group of whiny, stupid people into shape as Drill Sergeant Carlos.
7. Episode 207: Carlos hits the streets to ask the question "Is Gay the New Black?" He also investigates what it would have been like if Jesus were married in the first installment of "That's F#*king Historical."

8. Episode 209: Carlos takes us back in time and reveals the real reason the Founding Fathers signed the First Amendment. Also, Carlos introduces a new "music video" by the mega-rich "Sheik Rapper."
9. Episode 212: Carlos hits the streets to advise people how to make their dreams come true and talks with Tony Hawk about how to realize his own skateboarding dreams. Then we take a trip into the future to see what the news will be like in 2026.
10. Episode 215: Carlos makes his own version of Pirates of the Caribbean starring Jamie Kennedy and Tracy Morgan. Also, Carlos discovers if stereotypes are real by finding unwitting "athletes" to participate in the first-ever installment of "Stereotype Olympics."
11. Episode 211: Carlos hits the streets to ask people what America would be like without immigrants. Then, a return visit from Judge Carlos delivers verdicts that turn the justice system on its head with the help of Johnnie Cochran's ghost.
12. Episode 213: Carlos makes his famous "Dee Dee Dee" catch phrase into a music video. Also, Carlos hosts a wrestling tournament that pits religious icons against one another. Watch to find out who will rule the earth in a rumble with his co-host, WWE's The Edge.
13. Episode 214: Carlos takes on advertising and shows what ads would look like if he infused them with truth. Also, Carlos spies on his biggest fan's middle-class white neighbors win a segment Carlos calls "Watching Whitey."
14. Episode 210: Carlos treats a group of senior citizens to a sushi dinner to find out what they think about sex, politics, and immigration in "Dinner for 75 and Over." Carlos then takes a look at classic fairy tales and retells them with a Mencia spin.

The DVD

Video:
The video is given in 1.33:1 ratio full frame color. The picture quality for this transfer is pretty good. There are some evident compression artifacts, but nothing really bad.

Audio:
The audio track supplied with this release comes in English 2.0 stereo sound. It sounds good with dialogue easy to hear and no noticeable audio distortions.

Extras:
For extras, there are several items that include "Ask Carlos" (16:09), which is a special session with audience interaction; Carlos answer questions from the audience (some responses are serious and others are not); it is censored with many BLEEPS, "Outtakes" (9:21), seven alternatives takes, "Deleted Scenes" (12:58), twelve deleted scenes (a few of them are hilarious!), and "Bloopers" (3:30), a few minutes of goofs caught on tape.

Final Thoughts:
Prior to this review of Mind of Mencia's second season, I had never seen the show. I am familiar with its (for lack of better words) sister show The Chappelle Show, which I thoroughly enjoy. I found Carlos Mencia to be overly rude and outrageous, but very funny. I really enjoyed how well he carried all of his politically incorrect jokes. In the end, I think that Mind of Mencia: The Complete Second Season is worthy of a Recommended recommendation.