Little People, Big World: Season 1

In a genre—reality-based TV—not particularly known for family values, the Roloffs (mother Amy, dad Matt, and offspring Jacob, Zach, Molly, and Jeremy) come across as a genuine and compelling bunch. Now in its third season on cable's TLC network, Little People, Big World bows on DVD with all 20 episodes from the 2005-06 first season (as well as two reconfigured “lost” installments) on three discs. Viewers follow the Roloffs (Amy and Matt are little persons, as is son Zach), who live on a 34-acre Oregon farm, as they argue over Matt's continuing dream of becoming a gentleman farmer, and experience emergencies both minor (constant money worries, remodeling the kitchen) and major (Zach's life-threatening surgery for fluid on the brain). While the three average height children receive significantly less screen time, it's still clear that the clan is bound by close familial ties. Highly recommended. (B. Gibron)