TV Show Info:
Director: Troy Miller
Cast: John Oliver
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Comedy Central/Paramount

Release Info:
DVD Box Set Release Date: August 19, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon
Episodes: Terrifying Times

It may sound funny to say, but Comedy Central tends to be hit or miss when it comes to stand up comedy. Sure, the majority of comedians on the network are pretty good, but it seems like there are a few that just aren’t worth any laughs. Luckily for me, John Oliver is a pretty funny guy. Now he claims to be shocking, but that’s all going to depend on your political affiliation and how far in the sand you prefer to bury your head. If you’re an ornery old coot like me, he will surely make you laugh, but I doubt you’ll find him too shocking.

I don’t typically watch The Daily Show, but watching this DVD helped me to discover that is what John Oliver is probably best known for, at this point. Oliver was, at one time, a correspondent on the show. However, if he keeps his comedy as fresh and interesting as it is here, he is bound for better things in the future.

The John Oliver: Terrifying Times Plot
From the minute you put the DVD in the player, Oliver begins his rant. On the DVD’s main menu Oliver appears to yell at you, just in case you might be stealing the DVD you are about to watch. This goes on for quite a few minute, but it can be bypassed if you really don’t want to hear it. Of course, if that’s the case then you probably did rip it off, and if that’s the case, then shame on you!

The actual show takes place at New York City’s Symphony Space. This was Oliver’s first US special and all in all, he handled it well. Based on this performance, it is safe to say it will be the first of many performances. Considering that this is Oliver’s first special here, I had expected him to fumble at least once. It’s common in new settings or so I had thought. Well, I guess I was wrong because all Oliver manages to do it keep people laughing for the entire 60 minutes of his special. I had to pause at least twice for fear that I would laugh myself into peeing my pants. Luckily, I made it to the bathroom and my drawers were saved. People with bad bladders better watch out though.

Oliver spends a lot of time focusing on politics, economics, and current events. Of course, offering true comedic wit, he is not above a good story that is incredibly embarrassing from his youth. Making fun of American spending habits is amusing, too. A personal favorite is when he points out the patriotic value of an Oreo pizza. If you are Republican or overly uptight you might mistake Oliver for a bit of a British snob, but if you are up for a laugh and willing to realize that comedians have a tendency to make fun of all things, then you should have a good time when you watch this.

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Audio/Visual:
The audio and visual quality of John Oliver: Terrifying Times looks good throughout. Granted the quality doesn’t need to be stellar considering it is a stand up comedy routine, but still Comedy Central gave it the star treatment. The images look great and the 1.85:1 transfer works excellently. The color palette is pleasing and at first glance I did not notice any grain or compression errors.

Audio is available in Dolby Digital 2.0 or 5.1. Obviously the 5.1 offers a richer sound, but that is to be expected. The dialogue, which is mainly all there is, comes through loud and clear. The surround sound is alive and kicking, causing the laughter and audience reaction to sweep over you while you’re listening.

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Bonus Features:
There are quite a few small special features here. Things get going with some trailers from such Comedy Central shows as, South Park: The Complete Eleventh Season, Kenny vs. Spenny: Volume One and Comedy Central Funhouse. Some two minute clips of The Daily Show, Reno 911!, and The Colbert Report are also included.

Otherwise, more Oliver related, there are some clips of various appearances of Oliver on The Daily Show, an appearance at the UCB Theater in NYC, and Oliver and his friend/sidekick Andy Zaltzman discussing a number of humorous topics. All in all, these are some pretty funny special features and they are all well worth watching.

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Bottom Line:
If you haven’t had a chance to see John Oliver in action just yet, you need to check this out. Oliver is hilarious and despite his love for picking on Americans, which some stuck up people won’t like, he’s a pretty funny guy. If you feel like he’s picking on you, then you’ll just need to get over it. He’s hilarious and well worth watching. I am sure most people will see this, too. I highly recommend people in need of a laugh check this out!

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