Hmmmm… I generally enjoy watching cable channels like Arts & Entertainment because I can count on them providing quality entertainment. Here is where I can find superlative shows and movie events like "The Prisoner" and "Horatio Hornblower", or intellectual comedy like Monty Python. But for some reason, a couple of years ago, A&E hoped aboard the 'Reality TV' train and started producing shows like "Dog, the Bounty Hunter" and "Rollergirls." While I realize there is an audience for shows like these, admittedly I'm not in it. I've tried to watch the occasional 'reality TV' show and have found most of them to be rather insipid. I've tried "Survivor", both "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette", "The Apprentice" and even "American Idol." None of them offered the slightest bit of entertainment value beyond seeing self-absorbed be… well… self-absorbed. Even the absurdity of "The Littlest Groom" failed to capture my interest.

From there, 'reality TV' took a turn for the worse (as if that were possible) and shows that followed the lives of 'supposedly' interesting people. Shows like "Growing up Gotti" and "The Simple Life" started springing up everywhere, the only difference is that now we were able to watch STUPID self-absorbed people be… well… STUPIDLY self-absorbed.

I imagine the reason A&E started adding a handful of these series to its lineup was simply a matter of drawing in viewers, and for that I really can’t blame them. When you are trying to sell a channel full of quality programming to the lowest common demographic (ie; the American TV Viewing Audience), you have to sometimes lower yourself to their level. I'm sure the hope was that some of those cud-chewers could be lured in by the 'violently sexy' charms of "Rollergirls" and by virtue of their remote's battery dying, stay tuned in to catch some "Horatio Hornblower." God knows these people could use some culture in their lives.

Speaking of "Rollergirls", A&E did indeed dangle a strong lure to those unfortunate souls. The series followed the off-track lives of some of the girls who made up the TXRD as they valiantly tried to bring back the excitement of Roller Derby to the masses. On the off-chance you might not be familiar with Roller Derby, just think Professional Wrestling on roller skates. These… ahem… 'athletes' spend their evenings skating around a circular track and take turns beating the snot out of each other. (Yes folks, another fine quality reality show about a fine quality 'sport.') The members of these teams spend the rest of their lives being as loud and obnoxious as they can possibly be, or at least that is what this series would lead you to believe.

The problem (or at least one of them) with a show like this is that you really have to suspend your belief on order to fall for it. The only thing 'real' about most of these girls is that they are strong-willed, brash A-type personalities that you wouldn’t ever want to meet in a dark alley. Oh, and that they happen to compete in Roller Derby competitions. Anything else that you that you perceive as being real is no more than the clever editing of all of the footage that is shot. And where there is no apparent clever editing, you can bet that most of the events are staged.

Their lives, according to this series are akin to a soap opera, with relationships growing or separating. Aspirations of greater things in their lives abound. Now, considering the fact that this mirrors the average person's life, the difference is that everything these girls go through is exaggerated almost to the point of parody. They dress the way they 'live', loud and obnoxiously. The funny thing is, most of what these girls wear is as much an act as the rest of their lives. The idea isn't really to make people believe that they are so tough, but more their attempt to scream, "LOOK AT ME!!." They want to be noticed, but don’t realize there are far more intelligent way to do it.

In saying al of this, you would probably guess that "Rollergirls" is not really a show for me, and you'd be right. I'm not as voyeuristic as the average American when it comes to other people's lives, real or imagined. However, as I mentioned there is an audience for this kind of TV, and a rather large one at that. That being the case, A&E's new DVD release of the entire 1st season is one that will probably be met with large sales. This is good for A&E, even if it is not so great for the rest of us.

What I'm sure will make this DVD release even more sought after is that it (and the girls) is based in Austin, Texas. And as we all know, Texas is second in the nation for illiteracy (though they are shooting hard for #1), so just about everyone there will want to support their home girls. Remembering that this is the same audience that believes that Wrestling is real, there' no doubt they will feel the same about Roller Derby.

By the way, before the handful if literate Texans start dropping me nasty emails or comments (most of which will be undoubtedly written with the help of a Northern born friend or neighbor), I do happen to live in Texas and know of what I speak. People may be stupid everywhere, but Texas really raises the bar. I'm originally from Chicago and now live outside of Dallas in a neighborhood where my family is looked down upon because we blow the curve. Every time I see my illiterate redneck neighbor riding his lawn tractor… baseball cap, beer can and cigarette firmly in place… I remember how badly I want to win the lottery so I can eventually move back to be amongst my intellectual peers.

Extras: "Confessions of a Rollergirl" Bonus Episode, Anatomy of a Bout Featurette, Hellcats, Rhinestone Cowgirls, and Holy Rollers Team Profile Featurettes, Venis Envy, Punky Bruiser, Miss Conduct, Cha Cha, Lux and Sister Mary Jane Player Profile Featurettes, Casting Tapes, "Learn the Lingo" Glossary, Rollergirls biographies
Specifications:
Studio: A&E Home Entertainment
Release Date: 5/30/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Rollergirls: Season 1 a C.