Plot: What’s it about?
Who knew five guys from Canada could be this hilarious? The Kids in the Hall was sketch comedy like we had never seen before. Within the usual sketch comedy framework, these five men pushed the boundaries and in the process, created millions of laughs. Dave Foley would be seen on News Radio, Bruce McCollouch would step behind the camera as a director, Mark McKinney would become a Saturday Night Live regular, and Scott Thompson and Kevin McDonald would each have numerous memorable film roles. But before those successful runs, these five men comprised The Kids in the Hall. A simple enough concept, sketches to make people laugh, but this was innovation, not imitation. The five would become well known for their work in dresses of course, but also for the memorable characters, infinite quotable lines, and bold approach to the format. The absurd was explored in depth, but imagination and intelligence were also on showcase. So The Kids in the Hall offered the blend of random wackiness with brilliant strokes, with superb results. In this fourth season, the five would push further than ever and deliver even more laughs.
This is one of the funniest shows I’ve ever seen and since I don’t like much sketch comedy, that is a sincere compliment. The Kids in the Hall offered a brand of humor unavailable elsewhere, a unique style that surely inspired countless sketch troupes that followed. This fourth season is a great one too, with a lot of memorable moments and hilarious sketches. This season is home to the episode long skit with the Queen of England, which is a classic that has to be seen. A bold decision, but one that works and in spades, though the Canadian slant might exclude some folks from some of the jokes. As always, The Kids in the Hall introduce new characters, but also showcase some old favorites. This season is perfect for that approach, as there is ample new material, but just enough familiar stuff to balance it out. We revisit Chicken Lady and The Bearded Lady as visit Chicken Lady’s childhood home, while Gavin and everyone’s favorite two police officers are also seen. This season also pushes the envelope in terms of content, so the material is a little more raunchy, though still just as hilarious, so it all comes together. I loved this fourth season and of course, any fans of The Kids in the Hall will also, so I can give this release a high recommendation.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. The episodes look good, but not on par with more recent releases, of course. The image is clean aside from some minor debris at times and keep in mind, this wasn’t a big budget production. So you will see some minor damage here and there, but overall, the episodes look clean, much sharper than when shown on television. I found colors to be bright and natural, with only minor issues, none even worth pointing out. No worries as far as contrast is concerned, as black levels are smooth and detail is never lost in the shadows. All in all, I think these episodes look terrific and while there is room for improvement, most fans should be satisfied here.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a dialogue driven series, so the included stereo audio option is more than up to the task. Some sequence make better use of the channels than others, but on the whole, this material uses a conservative presence. When a little boost is needed however, it is supplied. Most of the show is fueled by dialogue though, which is well replicated here and no problems arise in the least. The vocals sound very crisp and clean at all times, I found nothing to complain about with this mix.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The fourth disc here is devoted to extras, including two highlight reels of the season’s most memorable moments. I’ve never been much on these “best of” compilations, but since the five troupe members provide optional audio comments, I can’t complain. This release also includes some never before seen live performance footage, as well as a slide show of production photos.
