Rob & Big: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (Uncensored) DVD Review

As I’ve said before, we live in a world where television has essentially gone down the proverbial tubes with its excessive focus on “reality” TV. MTV has been one of the worst influences on television in this current age and stolen the minds of our youth, and even a large demographic of adults, with shows like I Love New York, A Shot of Love with Tila Tequila, The Hills, and other such garbage. Because of that distinct fact, it boggles the mind how they were able to come out of the trenches and produce one of the funniest, simplest, and honestly enjoyable reality shows with Rob & Big.

Rob & Big: Complete Season 1 & 2 (Uncensored) is a poignant DVD collection that is enjoyable on a multitude of levels. Obviously however, young males will be drawn to its playful candor. But still, more mature viewers will find some laughs as well as the female gender. It’s a fun breath of relief in such an overdone television genre.

Rob & Big revolves around two men: Rob Dyrdek (professional skater, designer, and entrepreneur) and Christopher “Big Black” Boykin (huge, funny, black security guard). Dyrdek hired Big Black to be his security guard in defense of security guards that constantly hassle Rob while he skates the streets. They are so much more than that though. They are best friends and parents to Meatbag (or “Meaty”) the dog and Mini Horse. Rob, being the wealthy ambivalent man that he is, supports his friends and even his ridiculous, meant-to-be picked on, cousin, “Drama.” Whether it’s at Rob and Big’s house in Hollywood Hills, on the streets, at skate parks, in the clubs, or anywhere else, the gang is always having a good old-fashioned time with the help of deep pockets. Although sometimes there are those moments where the money is flaunted, like when Rob buys some new gold jewelry, Rob is able to show that he is smart with money and hasn’t become a slave to it like some characters from other MTV reality shows I don’t care to mention. Yes, sometimes the show is a little sophomoric with its fecal jokes and boyish pranks but that’s the fun and purity that makes the show so genuine and enjoyable.

In Season 1, Rob and Big lead us on a wild ride. They purchase Meaty the lovable bulldog, get pulled over for “Ridin’ Dirty,” travel to Rob’s hometown of Kettering, Ohio, attempt to help Big Black lose some weight, throw Rob a massive birthday party, deal with Meaty’s anal glandular problem and other dog related incidents, go out on a double blind date, and brush up on security skills after Rob has a nightmare about dying. It’s a beautiful debut season with nonstop laughs and an overall good feel.

In Season 2, Rob and Big up the ante. They purchase Mini Horse as a companion for Meaty, purchase a “Hyper-Dimensional Resonator” and attempt to travel through time, travel down to the “Dirty South” where we first encounter Big Back’s crazy Uncle Jerry, hire an executive assistant after becoming fed up with Drama’s laziness, put Big Black on a strip stage as “Black Lavender,” travel to Tampa Bay for the Tampa Pro, make the sensational Bobby Light “Dirty Girl” music video, and find Rob on the “C-List” according to the cover of the Wall Street Journal. It’s a riotous season that ends in true Rob & Big style.

The Special Features on the set are on two discs (2 and 4, which end each season) and on par with the actual show. There’s more Deleted Scenes than I’ve ever seen and the majority of them are gold. You can’t help but laugh when Rob tries to teach Big Black to swim, Big Black raps his “Overweight Gigolo,” Rob dissects Meaty’s feces to find some tape and a rock, Drama gets hung on the wall and left there, Drama drives Rob’s Porsche and gets in an accident, the whole house tries to figure out who defecated on the bathroom floor after accusing Meaty, Rob suffers from Meaty’s projectile snot, and a whole host of other cherished moments that were forced to be cut. There is also Special Meaty Puppy Footage and Special Mini Footage but the Meaty footage far outweighs that of the horse and will please any lover of dogs. Rob & Big: “The Real Deal” is a great interview mixed with footage that goes over the base of the show, reflection on past moments, and general comments on life. What I was really shocked to find was the Skate Tutorials. I’ve never seen something with that kind of special feature so it gives this DVD set a little something extra. Still, there’s no ignoring the comic genius of the infamous Bobby Light “Dirty Girl” Music Video or the Bonus Uncle Jerry Footage. Not as amazing but still entertaining are The Best of Season 2 and the MTV Cribs Appearance. Also, there is the option to watch all of the episodes with Commentary by Rob, Big Black, Jeff Tremaine, and Ruben Fleischer and to watch each episode with censored audio. My only gripe is with the Interviews special feature. It’s a redundant recut of The Real Deal and offers no new material. But that is minor. Obviously there is a whole host of Special Features that will have you laughing for hours after you’re done with the episodes.

This is a classic set where the short eight episode seasons are tight and laugh provoking while the perfectly complimentary special features are equally hilarious and extensive. MTV has finally churned out something worthwhile with Rob & Big: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 (Uncensored).