This engaging autobiographical sitcom, co-written and narrated by comedian Chris Rock—whose observations often manage to be both shrewd and funny—really hits its stride in the 2007-08 third season. While serving up the usual subplots about family squabbles and sibling rivalries, Everybody Hates Chris also dabbles in perceptive social satire as it divides its time between the youthful protagonist's home life in Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighborhood and his tumultuous career as an African-American student at predominantly white Corleone Junior High. Chris (Tyler James Williams) and his buddy Greg (Vincent Martella) engage in rather typical adolescent shenanigans, including scheming to get autographs from hockey great Wayne Gretzky and scoring Run-DMC concert tickets with money earmarked for other purposes. But many of the 22 episodes compiled here touch on relatively serious matters—such as the heat Chris takes when he invites a white girl to the school dance, or Greg's feelings of jealousy when erstwhile best friend Chris buddies up to a newly transferred black student. DVD extras include select cast and crew commentaries, cast interviews, deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, a music video, and a gag reel. Recommended. (E. Hulse)
Everybody Hates Chris: The Third Season
Paramount, 4 discs, 457 min., not rated, DVD: $39.99 Volume 23, Issue 6
Everybody Hates Chris: The Third Season
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