DVD Review: Funny ‘Suburgatory: The Complete First Season’

CHICAGO – NBC has long owned Thursday night comedy but ABC has staked claim to Wednesday nights in the last few years with a two-hour block of comedy anchored by the highly-acclaimed and beloved “Modern Family.” While that Emmy winner is an undeniably great show, the rest of last year’s line-up was underrated including the reliable “The Middle” and the increasingly funny “Suburgatory,” a show that started off with a few problems but ironed them out to become one of the funnier shows on TV this spring.

Rating: 3.0/5.0

Sadly, Warner Bros. clearly doesn’t think much of the program as they’re not releasing it on Blu-ray and have barely provided any bonus material for the lackluster DVD release. Deleted scenes and a gag reel are standard by now but a commentary track or multiple featurettes would have indicated support for a show that needs it. I suspect “Suburgatory” to really improve even more in season two and this to be just the beginning of a long run. Start your collection now.

Suburgatory: The Complete First Season was released on DVD on September 18, 2012
Photo credit: Warner Bros.

Synopsis:
New York City teenager Tessa (Jane Levy, Shameless) is perfectly at ease navigating her urban jungle hometown. So when her concerned dad, George (Jeremy Sisto, Law & Order, Six Feet Under), relocates her to greener pastures, Tessa goes into culture shock. While the suburbs may be heaven for many, for Tessa, they represent her unique version of hell. She and George wake up in a cookie-cutter world populated by colorful suburbanites, like well-meaning mom Dallas (Cheryl Hines, Curb Your Enthusiasm), who may or may not have her eye on George, and her miniskirt-clad daughter, Dalia (Carly Chaikin, The Last Song) - Tessa’s new frenemy. The resulting clash is fought with humor and wit in all 22 Season One episodes of this delightful, satirical comedy from Emily Kapnek (Parks and Recreation) as little by little, Tessa and her dad begin to find a way to survive on the clean streets of the ‘burbs.

Click here to buy “Suburgatory”

Special Features:
o Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell: Life In Suburgatory - Cast And Creators Discuss How George and Tessa Spice Up The Suburbs
o Unaired Scenes
o Gag Reel

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com