I have an addiction and that addiction is The State.  I watched it every time it aired on MTV in the mid-1990s.  Nearly every funny thing that came out of my mouth for almost a decade was derived from gleaning morsels of wit from each episode.  When it went off the air, I was devastated.  The color drained from my world.  I was a junkie with no possible fix.  A friend had taped a tape of a tape of episodes in an act of desperation.  It was grainy.  It was almost indiscernible, but it kept my monkey fed for the time being.  There was a point that I was so starved for some hot The State action, that I downloaded the few available episodes off iTunes.  What’s so wrong with that?  Doesn’t that seem hip and cool to the modern way of the world like all the kids are doing?  I knew going in that the music had been replaced and let’s face it, it’s just not as cool to shop for pants without accompaniment from The Breeders track Cannonball.

My wait, and yours friendly reader, is nearly over.

The set, with its mid-July street date, will include all 24 episodes from the four seasons from its run (the first four DVDs) as well as an additional DVD dedicated to Bonus Material including the show’s pilot.  The only sad caveat – no mention of The State’s 43^rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special which aired on CBS; the only The State thing I ever missed…

What would you pay for this? 

It’s essentially priceless because with so many false starts and stops over the years that I (and every other fan) never believed the day would come.  Thankfully they won’t put it out for “infinite” dollars.

If you aren’t already a follower of this series, prepare to have your mind blown.  The fertile creative talent behind the series spilled out to create and inspire RENO 911!, STELLA, Viva Variety, and Wet Hot American Summer… and that’s just a taste.  I’ll be honest, if I see that a comedy doesn’t have Thomas Lennon in the cast, I’m apprehensive at best.

Do you like to laugh?

Do you enjoy “good times”?

Are you fond of porcupines?

Circle July 14^th on your calendar.  Then circle it on the calendar of someone you love.  (They’ll thank you later.)

Some of the sketches I’m excited to see again include: two men in velour suits, monkey torture, balls & The Last Supper, out of control hormones and a teen named Doug who doesn’t want to learn pinochle and be bland.

The real question is: after buying this, will I have enough money for two hundred… and forty dollars… worth of pudding?

The answer:  aw yeah!

Synopsis:

“The State” was simply one of the sharpest, funniest and most underrated shows to debut in the 1990’s.  Originally created as MTV’s first foray into the sketch comedy genre, “The State” was a comedic gem that rocked Generation X with slapstick, smarts and witty sarcasm.  The dynamic cast features 11 exceptional actors that have continued to collaborate on hit projects.  EW.com raved “[The State is] the hippest, most accessible, and most consistently funny of the sketch troupes."  MTV’s timeless sketch comedy show, “The State” is finally here!

THE STATE: THE COMPLETE SERIES DVD

The State: The Complete Series is a five-disc set jam-packed with the special features outlined below.  The collection has a suggested retail price of $69.99.