I Pity the Fool: Season 1

Considering that this TV Land reality series was built around larger-than-life tough guy Mr. T, it's actually a lot better than anyone has a right to expect. Here the T-Man—still trading on his self-deprecating, tough-as-nails persona—motivates an assortment of underachieving slackers (a car dealership, a realty company's sales team, restaurant owners, a quartet of unruly teenage sons, etc.) in this clever spin on the “extreme makeover” type of show. There isn't a nickel's worth of difference between any of the six 2006 episodes collected here, but Mr. T pulls off the neat trick of seeming absolutely sincere in his desire to help the show's participants, while simultaneously shaking them up (and, of course, playing to the camera). And you've got to like a guy who's willing to be the butt of jokes while he's helping people. What's more, both his advice and his motivational techniques are sound—a lot more so, in fact, than much of the gobbledy-gook dispensed by Dr. Phil and his ilk. A strong optional purchase. (E. Hulse)