Crashing - The Complete First Season

It takes a special kind of person to really love standup comedy. Most of us just put up with it. And comedy series about comics are already too prevalent. So another series about a New York standup probably doesn't sound like the most enticing premise. But the first season of "Crashing" transcends its subject matter. It does this by being honest, sincere and vulnerable - the antithesis of "Seinfeld."

Pete Holmes stars as himself in this semi-autobiographic series about a faithful Christian from the suburbs pursuing a pipe dream in the filthy, cutthroat world of New York comedy clubs. When he catches his wife having an affair, he loses his home and his meal ticket, and it forces to make some life changes and evaluate the things that are most important to him - really just doing comedy. Luckily, he meets a series of generous people who let him crash with them, and he subsists in the city by couch surfing.

While Pete tries to get a slot in a comedy club by soliciting shows to tourists, which disingenuously feature big-time comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and Ray Romano, he still can't get over his wife's betrayal, and he can't admit to his parents that he's getting a divorce. And though life does its damnedest to get him down, he finds redemption in the most unusual places.

An energetic supporting cast of comics playing themselves - Artie Lange, T. J. Miller, Sarah Silverman, Hannibal Buress and Marina Franklin - are a counterpoint to Pete's sad and embarrassing reality.

Holmes wrote and developed the series with Judd Apatow, whose rude and bittersweet humor is all over the show. And Apatow, who also directed the pilot and final episodes, can also be credited with brilliantly casting the show and giving it a sense of spontaneity. He really seems to bring out Pete's generosity and vulnerability.

Included in this Blu-ray collection, is a handful of comedy extras, some extended scenes, an interview about the show with Holmes and Apatow and a featurette about what it takes to make it in the comedy business.

"Crashing: The Complete First Season"
Blu-ray
$24.98
www.hbo.com/crashing/