The Bill Engvall Show :: The Complete First Season

How much do you pay attention to movie and TV critics?

In my experience, whenever a movie or television show gets great reviews from the professional critics, I come away disappointed. Likewise, the movies and shows that get poor reviews are often the ones that I enjoy the most.

This pattern holds true for The Bill Engvall Show - The Complete First Season.

After being bombarded with commercials for the debut of the 2nd season on TBS, which aired last night, I had to check out what this show was all about.

About The Bill Engvall Show

For those not familiar with The Bill Engvall Show, comedian Bill Engvall (Blue Collar Comedy Tour) plays the role of Bill Pearson, a Denver-based family counselor. By day he deals with a myriad of problems that his clients face; by night he is a husband and dad to three kids that doesn’t have all of the answers - even if he thinks he does.

A few of the scenarios that Bill encounters are struggling with his wife Susan’s (Nancy Travis) decision to return to the workforce, encouraging an older guy that he has no problem going back to prison if he messes with his teenage daughter Lauren (Jennifer Lawrence), becoming a burden to his teenage son Trent (Graham Patrick Martin) when he is named the starting quarterback, and overcoming his fear of snakes when youngest son Bryan (Skyler Gisondo) loses his pet.

In addition to the family encounters, we also get a look at Bill’s relationship with his two good friends: podiatrist Steve Hytner (Bob Spoonerman) and hair restoration specialist Paul DuFrayne (Tim Meadows).

What The Critics Say

Taking a look at what the critics have to say about The Bill Engvall Show might give you reason to pass right by this two-DVD set and continue shopping. Critics have labeled the eight episode first season as uninspired and mildly funny, with plots that have been played out on sitcoms from years ago.

A review from Rebecca Wright said, “Since this first season was only eight episodes long, I’m glad the suffering wasn’t too drawn out. The plots for The Bill Engvall Show are so flimsy, a show like Home Improvement looks like comic genius.”

Some feel that the show leans heavily on the talent of Tim Meadows, veteran of Saturday Night Live, and Bob Spoonerman, also known as Kenny Bania from Seinfeld, to provide the humor and funny moments.

Why The Critics Are Wrong

In a time where just about every television show is an, ahem, reality show, a comedy like The Bill Engvall Show is a refreshing change of pace - even if some of the messages have been seen before.

While you will not be laughing from beginning to end, there are plenty of scenes that mirror the every day lives that many of us lead to solicit a healthy dose of laughter. Given that I ride a Harley Davidson, I particularly enjoyed the episode where Bill wants a motorcycle for his birthday - and his wife buys him a scooter!

Another scene that my wife and I had a good laugh at was when Trent begins receiving quite a bit of attention from the girls after being named the starting quarterback. Wanting his son to be conscious of safe sex, Bill wants to teach Trent how to put on a condom with a variety of vegetables as visual aides - one of which is a small, skinny green bean.

Is this show ground-breaking comedic television?

No, but it is entertaining and will have many parents laughing at situations they have already faced with their own children or are worried that they will one day face.

Additional Information

The two-DVD set contains eight episodes and a healthy dose of special features, including interviews with the cast, a tour of the set, and a rap performance by Skyler Gisondo.

Another special feature is a segment titled Ask Bill: Answering Fan Letters. There are eight segments included, each featuring Bill answering three letters written by fans asking for advice on topics such as tattoos and whether your toilet paper roll should go over or under the top.

To get a flavor for the “Ask Bill” segment, here is a sample from the DVD:

Whether or not you will enjoy the show is largely dependent on your expectations. If you’re expecting a sitcom like you have never seen before, you’ll likely be disappointed. For those that are looking for some quality family entertainment and a humorous look at issues many families face, you should find that the show fits the bill nicely.

You can purchase the The Bill Engvall Show - The Complete First Season directly from Warner Bros. Online, as well as retailers such as Amazon.com.

Photo courtesy of Warner Home Video