One of "Saturday Night Live"’s best impressionists, Dana Carvey launched a sketch comedy show in the wake of a 1995 HBO special. Like Ben Stiller’s short-lived show, however, his timing was off--and his humor too pointed for primetime. If Carvey’s reign on ABC was brief, he recognized talent when he saw it, and contributors include Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Robert Smigel, Louis C.K., Charlie Kaufman, Bob Odenkirk, and "30 Rock"'s Robert Carlock. Using counter-culture humor as their guide, Carvey and cast--notably, Bill Chott, Elon Gold, and Heather Morgan--combined topical skits, short films, and animated segments, like "The Ambiguously Gay Duo" (which Smigel took with him to SNL). Each episode starts with a sponsored title sequence, such as "The Pepsi Stuff Dana Carvey Show," followed by a song and dance routine and questions from the audience. If the primary-year digs at Bob Dole and Bill Clinton seem dated, that doesn't make them any less funny--especially Carvey's cackling Strom Thurmond impersonation--though the abstract bits tend to hold up best to repeat viewing.
Skit highlights include Carvey as a Johnny Cochrane-styled attorney, Carvey as a Regis Philbin who'll do anything for a spot on "The Late Show" (like socking Carol Channing in the kisser), Colbert providing a "gentle news" editorial while hugging a puppy, and Carvey and Carell as "Germans who say nice things" by yelling at the top of their lungs. Though Mike Myers never dropped by, Carvey elicited guest appearances from Philbin, Tony Randall, Isaac Hayes, and SNL alums Jan Hooks (as Kathie Lee Gifford) and Phil Hartman (as Larry King). This two-disc set adds over-the-top deleted scenes, an interview with Carvey and Smigel, and the unaired eighth episode, in which Abe Vigoda utters the last word: "Schmuck!" "--Kathleen C. Fennessy"