TV on DVD

PBS Dream Machine series takes jab at '70s pop culture

The Great American Dream Machine
The Great American Dream Machine

What is it? The Great American Dream Machine, nearly 13 hours on four discs from S'more Entertainment

When? Now

How much? $39.98

What is The Great American Dream Machine? Oh, it's a lot of things. A lot of very different, very funny things.

The series, which ran on PBS in the early 1970s, was, like America itself, a hodgepodge of elements linked by a common thread: in this case, satire.

It's a collection of skits, commentary and musical performances. Some of it is absurd. Some is subtle. Some is downright scathing. But all of it is smart, aiming its barbs at politics, pop culture, consumerism and just about anything else you can think of. When it comes to content, there's a kitchen sink approach at work.

Andy Rooney shows up to give his opinions on random topics, like the moral fiber of today's youth, in a style not dissimilar from his 60 Minutes spiel, while Dick Cavett makes the occasional appearance to recite from E.E Cummings and Mark Twain.

There are also Great American Hero films "honoring" people like daredevil driver Evel Knievel -- complete with extensive crash footage and an interview with his surgeon that basically highlights the idiocy of the whole situation.

Every now and then, there's a "man on the street" bit, asking people in restaurants, the supermarket, school, karate dojos, just what they think the American dream is. Answers can be profound, funny or flat-out disturbing.

In what was maybe the most popular feature at the time, "general essayist" Marshall Efron gives his own commentary on consumer culture and marketing. When it comes to olives, is super supreme bigger than giant? What about mammoth? And how has the Department of Transportation failed us when it comes to tires? And are children's toys inherently sexist?

And then there are the random sketches:

• A pair of mimes (one of whom is Chevy Chase) mouth along to instrumental classical music.

• A tragicomic story depicts the travails of an opera-singing pig.

• The story of Abraham and Isaac, with a different take, is told through animation and song.

• Several highly educated economics experts launch into complicated theories and analyses while (very noisily) sharing coffee and pastries.

• Several children participate in a news conference with God, who's in the form of an ordinary little girl.

• Films take viewers on tours of McDonald's University (yes, that McDonald's) and Lebanon, Ind.

• There are also musical performances by Blood, Sweat and Tears and Elaine Stritch (not together, though that might have been awesome in a super-surreal way).

What's it like? It bears some resemblance to Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show, with the irreverent way it pokes fun at everything. Or an early years Sesame Street, with the assortment of short segments. And yet, it's darker, more twisted and less overtly silly than SNL, far more grown-up than Sesame Street. It manages to be absurd and profound.

It's dated, but not as dated as one might think for something made in 1971-73. After all, a lot of what it's poking at, like consumerism, politicians and the attention we give to celebrities, is still very much relevant.

And it's definitely funny. It's pretty much presented straight, which shines a light on the ridiculousness of its subjects in a more sophisticated way than bashing the audience over the head.

It was controversial during its day, so keep that in mind, and while there's little that's objectionable, it's definitely aimed at an adult audience.

Extras? Nope.

New this week: Cristela, Season 1; McHale's Navy, Complete Series; The Rebel, Season 2; Sgt. Bilko: The Phil Silvers Show, Season 4.

Next week: Doctor Who, Christmas Specials; Inside Amy Schumer, Season 3.

Style on 11/15/2015

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