TV on DVD Review: The League: The Complete First Season (2009)

I've heard about this show for awhile now, and it was about time I got around to watching it. I really had no reason to put it off. This show has a ton going for it. It stars several entertaining comedians including Paul Scheer, Nick Kroll, Steve Rannazzisi and YouTube sensation Jon Lajoie. The show is about a fantasy football league, which I often participate in. It's also on FX, which is really the place for balls out television. As it finally appeared on Netflix streaming, I decided to run the six episode season in a little marathon. I was happy I did.

Buy The League: The Complete First Season on DVD or Blu-ray

The show is about a group of thirty-somethings who went to high school together and live and die for their fantasy football season. Pete (Mark Duplass) and Kevin (Rannazzisi) are the heart of the group, and the rest of the group includes Kevin's wife Jenny (Katie Aselton), his stoner brother Taco (Lajoie), a lawyer named Ruxin (Kroll) and a plastic surgeon named Andre (Scheer), who is the heel of the group.



If you have ever played fantasy football, you know what Sunday turns into. It becomes a day long obsession with statistics and points, and it can be the most aggravating thing in the world. The show portrays this beautifully, and it also shows just how a group of guys act toward each other. The truth is, we really are assholes to each other, and I don't think any of us would have it any other way.

Kevin and Pete take their games against each other very seriously, even though Kevin is accused of letting his wife run his team. Scheer plays Andre amazingly well. He's the kind of guy that is part of the group because every group needs someone to kick around. Kroll is hilarious as the beleaguered new dad whose sex life just isn't happening. Considering the fact that his wife is played by Nadine Velazquez of My Name is Earl, you can understand his frustration. Taco is pretty much just there because of his brother, and though he starts out as a cliche character, Lajoie really takes him to new levels very quickly.

I highly recommend The League, and I look forward to season two. The first season features a few NFL stars and some great Chicago scenery. I say grab the DVD set, pop open a bottle of three penis wine and laugh your ass off.