Search - Head Case: Season 1, Vol. 1 on DVD

Craig S. (InnerMacro) from WAUSAU, WI
Reviewed on 9/4/2022...

The idea of combining Hollywood stars with psychotherapy seems like it should be an effortless way to make a funny show, so I think Wentworth had a good idea for a series. Unfortunately, the series seems to follow a formula that makes the episodes somewhat predictable. The formula consists of having a star or two of the week show up, then interrupt their session with a side-plot involving Wentworth . . . sometimes do this multiple times in an episode. I didn't watch season 2 or 3, so perhaps the addition of those seasons could improve this series as a whole. I was getting worn thin on the overall plot and episode design, so I tapped out after completing this one.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Karen D.
Reviewed on 1/21/2010...

I heard great things about this show, So I figured I will watch it and see this was one of the worst series it was boring and I couldn't even get through a whole episode.

1 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

I am a Makeup Lady Except the Makeup Is for Your Head

Scooter McGavin | Ohio | 04/23/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"We all know most of Hollywood have major mental problems so Head Case seems like a natural show. If you never have heard of Head Case it is probably because it is on Starz. The show features Alexandra Wentworth (In Living Color) as a psychologist to the stars that features actual celebrities, and legitimate ones too, not the kind ABC and VH1 trot out for their unwatchable reality shows.

Being semi-scripted, most episodes hinge on how well the stars can think on their feet, and while some can (Andy Dick, Jonathan Silverman) others fall flat (Good Charlotte's Joel Madden). And there is a special category for Greg Grumberg that makes me happy I stopped watching Heroes because I never want to see him in anything again after this. And I thought his super-hearing face was disturbing.

The show isn't all about the celebrities as we also follow Wentworth outside her practice to show just how she is the last person to give anyone advise as she has bad relationships with her family and boyfriend (Ron Benedict, Threshold). But the scene stealer is Steve Landesberg (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) whom Wentworth shares an office with despite not actually having any patients so he tries to land some of her clients and psychoanalyze the repair guy while he works.

One big problem with the DVD packaging is that is out of order. There is two hours worth of shorts that are on the second disk that actually aired before what the set calls the first season which is on the first disk. If you watch the first disk first like I did, there is a sense that you are missing something while watching the first episode. So if you check out the first season of Head Case on DVD, be sure to pop in the second disk first to watch it the way the show aired chronologically. The second disk also features a featurette and a blooper reel."

Ali was born to play this role...

The Amazonian King | Amazon.com, Amazonia | 06/25/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"(PLEASE NOTE: Like "Head Case" itself, this review is brief)

At long last, a role that Ali Wentworth-Stephanopolous ;) was born to play. She's a fantastic comedic talent, yet was lost in the TV wilderness for years following her breakout role on "In Living Color".
Well, motherhood played a big role in her career path as well.

And speaking of those who were lost-and-now-found, Steve Landesberg is a true scene-stealer... where has he been in the **almost 3 decades** since Barney Miller???

Like many other reviewers, I agree both the show and DVD box set itself has problems (albeit slight) and huge potential. A five-year old must have been in charge of producing the discs, as the episodes are completely out-of-order... Disk 2 should be Disk 1, etc.

BOTTOMLINE, Buy or No-Buy: Buy. This title is reasonably-priced and the show is often quite hilarious. The David Allen-Grier (again, In Living Color) episode alone is worth it.

Ok, let the "0 of 100 Reviewers Find This Review Helpful" onslaught begin!!"

Cool show; questionable presentation

Aaron Silverman | Boynton Beach, FL, United States | 04/22/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a pretty funny show. I wouldn't say it's up to the level of the classic HBO programs like Curb Your Enthusiasm, but it's worth watching if you enjoy a twisted sense of humor. And it is very twisted -- they get into some rather freaky subject matter, along with a fair amount of swearing and occasional nudity. It's not for the squeamish.

That said, I have some issues with the DVD presentation. The picture and sound are fine for the most part; it's the way the set is organized that's a little strange. The show began as a series of 12-minute shorts, which were followed by eight 25-minute episodes. The eight longer episodes are on disc 1 as "Season One," while the shorts are on disc 2 as "Bonus Shorts." The material on disc 1 chronologically follows the "bonus" episodes on disc 2, so there are storylines that pick up in the middle if you watch disc 1 first. This is not a huge issue, but it is a little disconcerting, and it ruins some of the gags in the shorts since they get referenced "later" in the disc 1 episodes. The other strange and annoying thing about the short episodes is that they are encoded in non-anamorphic widescreen and without subtitles. The episodes on disc 1 are enhanced for widescreen TVs and include subtitles. This is inexplicable and indefensible.

Disc 2 also includes a short making-of featurette and a blooper reel, both also in non-anamorphic widescreen and sans subtitles. They're OK but nothing special.

So I do recommend the show -- just be sure to watch disc 2 first. I might award 4 stars for the content, but I'm docking one for the bizarre presentation that actually reduces the entertainment value by partially spoiling the material on disc 2.
"