South Park: The Complete First Season

Exploding on the pop culture landscape like a dirty bomb in 1997, the 13 episodes comprising the groundbreaking first season of South Park have lost none of their subversively funny impact. If Seinfeld was a show about nothing, then South Park is a show about everything. Nothing is sacred and each episode proudly boasts something to offend, from "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride" (featuring George Clooney as the voice of Sparky, the homosexual dog), to the Halloween episode "Pink Eye," in which "big-boned" Cartman dresses up as Adolf Hitler. Don't get me started on Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo, or the season finale cliffhanger, "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut." Each episode is preceded by a faux introduction by creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who enthusiastically proclaim each episode to be their favorite. Other extras include the South Park boys' appearance on the Cable Ace awards, and "A South Park Thanksgiving," featuring Jay Leno, which aired exclusively on The Tonight Show. The slapdash liner notes, which mislabel the episodes' chronological order, are a minor drawback, but the big disappointment is Warner's decision to pull the plug on Stone and Parker's commentary track (available as a five-CD bonus, when ordered from the Comedy Central website, www.comedycentral.com). South Park is a rare series that has a distinctive voice and creates its own universe; overall, this is highly recommended to all but the faint of heart. (K. Lee Benson)