Rob & Big Complete Seasons 1 & 2 Uncensored
Posted by Nick Wallander on 03.29.2008
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be rich as hell with your own tv show where you use your money to fund all kinds of crazy antics? Yep, me too.
I recently had the pleasure of viewing “Rob & Big: Complete Seasons 1 &2 Uncensored” on DVD for the sole purpose of reviewing the set for your reading enjoyment. Some of you are probably already asking yourself “What the hell is ‘Rob & Big’?” That is a great question. “Rob & Big” is a reality show that airs on MTV and is currently in its third season on the network. The show revolves around Rob Dyrdek, a professional skater and founder of DC Shoes, and his bodyguard, Christopher “Big Black” Boykin. The two are seemingly best friends and live together in a Hollywood Hills house with their personal assistant, “Drama”.
You are probably immediately writing this show off as garbage since the review is coming from the guy who reviewed “I Love New York” and “The Comebacks”. Don’t let my track record of reviews fool you, folks. “Rob & Big” is more than just another throw-away reality television show. It is a legitimately entertaining and often hilarious weekly show that you can catch up with on DVD. Conveniently for you, the first two seasons are packaged together in one box set for your viewing pleasure. You will be able to take a comedic journey as Rob and Big partake in tomfoolery and shenanigans during their everyday lives.
The Episodes
Season one contains eight episodes, some of which are by far more entertaining than the rest of the bunch. So, to give you an idea of what to expect, I will provide you with the best of the season one.
EPISODE 1 “Moving In”- This is considered the pilot episode of the series where we get a quick introduction to the stars and their cushy living situation. You will quickly come acquainted with just how much disposable income Rob must be bringing in because he and Big quickly hop a jet to Arizona where they visit a dog breeder. In Arizona, the duo finds themselves amused by a little bulldog that they decide to take home with them. They name the little guy “Meaty” and thus the first season is in motion.
EPISODE 2 “Go Skate Day”- The second episode finds our heroes making plans for National Skateboarding Day. Rob, being a boarding enthusiast is dead set on getting Big on a board. He succeeds in doing so, which leads to one of the funniest moments of the season. Almost as funny is seeing the dog, Meaty, using the skateboard with far more success than Big. You will notice in this episode that Rob and Big tend to use a lot of “street slang”, some of which might be made up on the spot. This is demonstrated while driving as Rob and Big are pulled over by the police due to the fact that they are, as Rob calls it, “riding dirty”. I’d explain what that means, but it would totally ruin just how funny this is.
EPISODE 4 “Let’s Get Physical”- Big decides to try to lose a little weight, which leads him and Rob to visit a nutritionalist and a hypnotist. Despite visiting the nutritionalist being his idea, Rob becomes a little skeptical towards some of the methods Big is now imploring. This is one of several times you start to wonder if Rob is sometimes a little bit of a douche bag.
EPISODE 5 “Happy Birthday”- Two issues are at hand in this episode revolving around Big’s birthday. One issue stems from a stench that seems to be coming from the rear end of Meaty. This is a problem that the titular duo put an odd amount of effort into solving. The other issue is that Big wants to win a chicken wing eating contest at a local bar and grill. Seeing the large man getting prepped for this should get at least a chuckle from the average viewer. Even better is the aftermath of the competition.
Season two also has eight episodes and gets a little more interesting…
EPISODE 1 “Meaty & Mini”- With Meaty acting a mess, the guys try to figure out what is the best method to calm their pet. When a dog expert suggests that they get Meaty a friend, Rob and Big get creative. In another example of Rob spending his money on ridiculous things, the duo buys up a miniature horse that they name Mini. They seem to think that it will be just like owning a large dog, but soon find out that a miniature horse is just like having a horse on a smaller scale. You will be humored to see Rob and Big come up with a solution to keep Mini without destroying their home.
EPISODE 3 “Mississippi”- This very well may be the very best episode of the season that finds Rob invited to attend the Boykin family reunion in the “Dirty South”. Big and Rob journey to Big’s hometown of Sylvarena, Mississippi where Rob is introduced to a whole new world he had never experienced before. Big’s family proves to be an entertaining bunch, especially his eccentric uncle Jerry, who takes a liking to Rob. Despite being a really funny episode, this is also one where you see both Rob and Big let their guard down a little bit, which makes the show seem that much more real.
EPISODE 5 “Black Lavender”- Big had carried with him a real dirty secret until the beginning of this episode. At one point he did a little male stripping under the pseudo name “Black Lavender”. Ron is initially skeptical and calls upon his friend to show him what he has got. This prompts Big to try to make a comeback, which leads to some hysterical training sequences. You haven’t seen hysterical until you have seen Big with a Rick James style wig atop his head. By the end of the episode Big is ready for a performance. Trust me folks when I say that it is one that you will never forget.
EPISODE 7 “Bobby Light” - This episode is the one that truly defines how much extra time and money Rob Dyrdek has at his disposal. On a whim, Rob decides that he wants to become a one hit wonder R&B star by the name of Bobby Light. Inspired by his experiences with women, Rob works with Big, Drama, and their friend Bam Bam to create a song by the name of “Dirty Girl”. What starts out as a fleeting joke soon turns into a legitimate project involving a recording of the song and the filming of a music video. The added bonus of this episode is the return of Big’s quirky uncle, Jerry. The best part of this episode is seeing the final video.
In summation, those are the high points of the first two seasons, however that does not mean that the rest of the episodes won’t provide you with something to watch. In the other episodes you will find Rob and Big embarking on adventures that include a blind date, security training, Meaty’s digestive problems, time travel, Canada, a skateboard contest, and buying new cars.
All together, the episodes run for 320 minutes.
VIDEO
The episodes are presented as they would on television. They are in the standard full screen mode, which should play on any television with no problem what so ever. To be honest, the quality on the DVD is far superior to what you would see while watching the show on MTV. Also included are the standard English subtitles.
AUDIO
All of the episodes and special features are presented in Dolby Digital English Stereo. What that means is that the audio is in stereo, but doesn’t have the full effects of a 5.1+ channel presentation. All of the episodes are presented with two main options for audio as well. One version is presented as you would see it on television. The other version is uncensored without all of those annoying bleeps. It is definitely an added bonus to be able to choose which one you want because some box sets come without the bleeps automatically. Selected episodes also include a commentary track with Rob, Big, and producers Jeff Tremaine and Ruben Fleischer.
EXTRAS
Deleted Scenes- The set includes several dozen deleted scenes, spread out from all 16 episodes. These are not throw-away scenes like many sets have, but are merely scenes that didn’t make the episodes due to time constraints. There are a few gems in there worth checking out, such as Big trying to do some stand-up comedy and rap performance by Big and his friend Bam Bam.
“Rob & Big: The Real Deal”- Consider this to be a 30 minute mini-documentary on both Rob and Big. You get an explanation of how they met, how they became roommates, and how they ended up in Log Angeles. There are some very revealing moments where Rob and Big give their take on the addition of Meaty, Big’s attempt at skateboarding, and Rob’s family. This is probably the most interesting feature because it gives you a sense of how much these guys play it up for the camera.
“Special Meaty Puppy Footage”- If you are a sucker for dogs, this is a short little video showing the infamous Meaty in his first moments with Rob and Big in L.A. This is kind of fun since the show seems to jump right to Meaty being a full grown poop machine.
Skate Tutorials- If you want to learn how to hurt yourself, Rob explains how to do 8 simple skate tricks.
“Bonus Mini Footage”- Just like Meaty got a few minutes on a special feature, the infamous miniature horse gets his time to shine as well. There isn’t much noteworthy about it, but we do see the horse getting a feisty with his owners.
“Dirty Girl” Music Video- The entire video does not appear on the episode at the end of season two. Here you get to see it in its entire glory. It might be the best feature related to the second season.
Bonus Uncle Jerry Footage- If you were like me, you enjoyed the episodes with appearances by Uncle Jerry. The man is so damn eccentric that you can’t help but be amused by him. In the four or so minutes in this feature, I would have to say that Jerry is drunk for nearly three and a half minutes of it.
The Best of Season 2- This is a generic clip show that aired on MTV. You’ve seen it all already.
MTV Cribs Appearance- This is pulled straight from an episode of “Cribs”, but still manages to offer some insight. It is kind of nice to get a formal tour of the house that you never get while watching the show. You’ll appreciate the explanation for the ATM that is always in the background.
This set really isn’t one that you go out and purchase for the special features. If you buy it, then it means you are most likely a fan of the show, or you want to catch up with episodes that you missed. This is a good thing in this case because the episodes alone merit a purchase. Sure, some of it seems a bit staged at times, but that doesn’t stop the show from being generally amusing. To be honest, Christopher “Big Black” Boykin steals the show in most episodes and will be the reason you switch over to the next one. There are plenty of reality shows out there that are not worth your time. This is not one of them.
The 411: As stated above, the episodes stand alone as the reason to buy this set. They are genuinely funny and appeal to the child inside us all that often wondered what it would be like to be rich and do stupid shit with your money. The special features add a few gems, especially if you are a skateboarding enthusiast. You’ll enjoy this set even more if you happen to be a big fan of the show because the several dozen deleted scenes seemingly add hours to your viewing pleasure. I’m not gonna lie, folks. You are either going to love it or hate it. Regardless, I suggest you give it a look.
