Run's House: Complete Seasons 1 & 2

Rap music meets reality TV in this contrived but likeable MTV series starring Run DMC's “Reverend Run,” a.k.a. Joseph Simmons, a preacher, husband, father, and businessman. The 16 episodes from 2005-06 collected on this three-disc set depend for their effectiveness on the juxtaposition of hip-hop culture with traditional (well, maybe not exactly traditional) family values. As the series opens, Run is attempting to juggle the demands of home life with the recording of his first solo album. Wife Justine leaves him in charge of the house while she tends to business in the city, but with five kids flitting around, Run finds out it's not easy to get a whole lot done. Like all reality shows, Run's House abounds in situations that are magnified for the cameras, but the Reverend turns out to be a surprisingly amiable fellow, and darned if he doesn't find himself dealing with the same problems that sitcom dads have been coping with for years. In addition to presenting the complete first and second seasons, this set's DVD extras include interviews, extended scenes, music videos, and room tours. A strong optional purchase. (E. Hulse)