I don't watch much TV on a regular basis, but there are a few shows that have caught my eye over the last year. One example is Chappelle's Show, the aptly-named product of comedian Dave Chappelle. He's appeared in several movies over the past decade, including the MTV flop Joe's Apartment and even You've Got Mail (what the…?!). However, he's probably most well-known for his starring role in Half Baked, the infamous 1998 comedy about the world's second most popular green plant (succeeded only by tea, I believe).

This new show airs regularly on Comedy Central, and fits right in with the rest of the lineup. Overall, it's a funny, entertaining show that pulls no punches, and doesn't seem interested in apologizing to PC-groups and the like. Consider a few of the most infamous sketches that aired during this first season: A blind white supremacist (who doesn't realize he's really black) delivers a speech at a Klan rally. 'Blackzilla' terrorizes Japan, and kills time by urinating on the people below and having sex with an active volcano. Chappelle even visits a terminally ill boy, and doesn't go easy on him while playing video games. It's moments like these that cause two initial reactions: "Where does he come up with this stuff?" and "Boy, a lot of people are going to make some nasty phone calls." Overall, I found Chappelle's Show to be packed with refreshingly sharp black comedy.

Still, the show is not without fault. While no episode can truly be considered a 'clunker', there are several moments where the jokes aren't that funny, and may cause the overall viewing experience to feel a bit uneven. Additionally, shows feel a little thin on the whole, mostly due to very frequent commercial breaks…although the magic of DVD has erased that distraction, it's still not a good sign for a show that only runs for half an hour.

I'm glad that a wide variety of subjects are tackled, but I felt that Chappelle occasionally went for the easy laugh with an extremely high amount of skits focusing on race relations. I realize that this is a hot topic for any culture, but I felt some of the chief offenders were extremely broad in execution, and weakened a few otherwise intelligent ideas and observations. However, it must be said that there are some truly great moments in this first season, and hopefully this show will last a few years. I've got a sneaking suspicion that Dave Chappelle has plenty more tricks up his sleeve, and he's a very capable host and comedian.

While some of the skits may sound mean-spirited on paper, the show has an undeniable tongue-in-cheek attitude that only the most prudish of comedy fans might find genuinely offensive. Sure, you're bound to cringe at a few of the lines crossed, but it's all part of the fun. No one is safe---regardless of race, creed, or religion---and Chappelle wouldn't have it any other way.

Obviously, it should be noted that this show is not for children, as if the title wasn't proof enough. The first season is presented in a completely uncut and uncensored format, paving the way for heavier doses of profanity and other such things not widely accepted on TV. Paramount has seen fit to present this show with a very good effort in the technical department, and has even thrown in a few bonus features to sweeten the pot. Before we move on, though, I'd like to give a very brief rundown of the included episodes:

Episode 1: The premiere episode features the infamous 'blind white supremacist' skit, and is also highlighted by controversial 'footage' of a racy performance by Nat King Cole. Not a bad effort overall, and a good indication of what's to come.

Episode 2: A crack addict delivers the worst anti-drug speech in history at an elementary school. Also featured: Dave psychically predicts your future by using racial stereotypes.

Episode 3: Highlights of this episode include lost outtakes from 'Roots', as well as scenes from Dave's first (and last) reality show, 'Zapped'.

Episode 4: Spoofs of the infamous 'Truth' anti-smoking ad campaign, and Dave predicts ensuing chaos from slavery reparations.

Episode 5: The real highlight of this show is the brief 'Ask a Black Dude With Paul Mooney' (who was a comedy writer for Richard Pryor), although there was also a memorable airline sequence involving a string of racial intolerance.

Episode 6: Dave spoofs MTV's 'The Real World', and uses an all-black group (with the exception of one 'super white guy'). Viewers are also treated to a look 'Inside the Studio' of the show.

Episode 7: One of the funniest skits of the first season involves the 'Wu-Tang Clan's Financial Consulting Firm'. Also featured: slightly more realistic looks at popular Hollywood movies.

Episode 8: Tyrone Biggums (the crack addict) returns when his friends hold an intervention. Dave also takes a look at racism among Hollywood's top animal stars.

Episode 9: Dave stars in a real-life version of a Grand Theft Auto-style video game, and terrorizes the streets of Tokyo as 'Blackzilla'.

Episode 10: One of the best episodes of the season, this features a look at The History Channel's coverage of 'Great Inner City Gang Wars of the 1980s'.

Episode 11: Dave is blessed with a magic video camera that can reveal people's innermost thoughts and desires, and features guest appearances by Carson Daly and Beck. Also featured: the infamous video game challenge with a terminally ill young boy.

Episode 12: The season ends with a look at a more 'family-friendly' version of marijuana, as well as what happens when couples try 'Trading Spouses'.

Also, it should be noted that a few of the episodes features musical guests, although they perform in a slightly different manner than your typical show. Instead of a live concert setting, the artists are featured in a short music video, which usually guest stars Chappelle himself. Performers included Mos Def, the incomparable De La Soul, and many more!

With that said, let's move on to the main attraction:

Presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, the video for Chappelle's Show looks mighty good. The colors, contrast, and overall image detail are a step up from the original broadcast presentation, so no complaints here. There are a few scenes where the quality suffers slightly, but this is mainly due to the low-budget source material. Once again, everything looks better than the original broadcast, and that's what really counts. Long story short: fans have nothing to worry about.

While it wasn't always the style of comedy I'm usually drawn towards, I found Chappelle's Show to be highly entertaining and a great pick for hanging out with friends. The humor is sharp, and Chappelle really holds nothing back…if you're a fan of irreverent comedy, then this show is right up your alley. A few of the skits fall flat, but the same could be said for virtually any sketch comedy show…thankfully, the high points are very high. Paramount's DVD presentation is a satisfying effort in all departments, and features plenty of laughs for a very reasonable price. Overall, I found this to be a great release...so you can easily consider this one Recommended.