From the beginning of HBO's appointment-TV revolution (which later spawned Sex and the City and The Sopranos), Dream On (1990-96) was one of the first shows to demonstrate that TV creativity was migrating to cable. The droll, sex-farce sitcom starred Brian Benben as Martin Tupper, a recently (and reluctantly) divorced book editor whose inner thoughts and copious fantasies are played out onscreen in the laugh-out-loud form of clips from cheesy old movies and TV shows he watched as a kid. An early project from the creators of Friends--unhampered by censors and with their wit at its sharpest--Dream On has a well-plotted story arc in which Martin gradually adjusts to life without his sweet-tempered but more mature ex-wife (Wendie Malick, Just Shoot Me), while getting incredibly lucky (R-rated style) with a weekly variety of Manhattan women. Granted, these frequently madcap short-term relationships briefly feed his battered ego, but they also always end up sending his psyche reeling into ironically out-of-context clips from Ronald Reagan flicks and Leave It to Beaver episodes. The 28 episodes from the Emmy-winning show's first two seasons are collected in this five-disc set and their sharp, original humor holds up beautifully (pity the same can't be said for the alto-sax scene-transition music). DVD extras include an introduction from executive producer and sometimes-director John Landis. Recommended. (R. Blackwelder)
Dream On: Seasons 1 & 2
Universal, 5 discs, 753 min., not rated, DVD: $59.98 Volume 20, Issue 1
Dream On: Seasons 1 & 2
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