TVSquad

If you grew up watching MTV in the '90s, then you probably remember The State. If you don't – and you're an American between the age of 30 and 35 – do a YouTube search for "I wanna dip my balls in it" and let the memories flood right on back.

I credit the irreverent MTV sketch comedy show with keeping me from slipping into a full-blown depression during my teenage years, aka the angsty, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains-drenched years. The State ran from 1993 to 1995 and helped launch the careers of some of my favorite comic actors, writers and filmmakers, including David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer, Role Models), Thomas Lennon (Reno 911, Balls of Fury) and Michael Ian Black (Stella, Ed). All 11 members of the comedy troupe reunited recently to perform new material at SF Sketchfest in January. The A.V. Club talked to State alums Wain, Lennon and Kerri Kenney-Silver this week about the reunion and about their future plans. Among the things that came up in the interview was the status of that promised complete-series DVD.

Members of the troupe have reportedly been working on the DVD since 2003, but nothing has been released. Why? First, we heard the delay was due to trouble getting music clearances. Then a trailer for the DVD hit the web in 2007, but the DVD itself never made it to stores. After that, State member Joe Lo Truglio said the DVD release was to coincide with a 2008 TV special that never materialized.

Now, Wain is telling it straight – it's MTV's fault.

"We put together these beautiful masters of our entire series, did commentary on every episode, threw in tons of extras, deleted sketches, never-before-seen material of all different types, in a beautiful package, mastered, everything all done. And for some reason, there's been this unwillingness to actually release it. The latest that I've heard is that they are planning on releasing it, probably in the first half of this next year, but I would be foolhardy to promise anything," he told The A.V. Club.

According to TVShowsOnDVD.com, the DVD rights for The State are owned and licensed by MTV. (So, the network is the "they" Wain is talking about.) What gives MTV? Are you really gonna put this thing out next year, or do I have to show up to one of David Wain's stand-up shows and beg for a bootleg copy? Because I don't think he'd give me one.

Fans can download season one of The State on iTunes and Amazon Unbox now, but those services don't offer the cool extras Wain is talking about. It sounds like the troupe did a lot of work on this package, with commentary on every episode, deleted sketches and more goodies.

Wain and Lennon also told The A.V. Club that The State is working on a new project that "evolved from a movie to possibly a special." So there's still hope. If that project materializes, the chances of the DVD coming out should be a lot better. Maybe they'll even add some of their new material to it. Anyone else want to see a sequel to 'Porcupine Racetrack?'