TVSquad

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist is on my short list of shows that were good from start to finish. This consistency is due to the show's brilliant comedic cast and the fact that every episode followed the same simple, perfect structure. The show's weekly guest stars are among the most talented and successful stand-up comedians around. Many of them went on to star in popular TV shows and films--people like Dave Chappelle, Ray Romano, Richard Lewis, and Wanda Sykes. There were also noteworthy appearances from now-deceased comedians Rodney Dangerfield and Mitch Hedberg, actors like Winona Ryder and David Duchovny, and award-winning writer David Mamet.

If you're like me, and have trouble picking a favorite season of Dr. Katz, the Complete Series box set is an ideal choice. At a cost ranging from $88 (comedycentral.com, on backorder) to $112 (amazon.com), the set definitely belongs in the "splurge" category, but it's well worth it.

I had a very interesting week last week. The high point was an interview I did with Laura Silverman for my podcast. Most of you will know Laura from her role as Sarah's sister on The Sarah Silverman Program. However, she also had major roles on HBO's The Comeback and the comedy classic Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.

She had some funny things to say about working for HBO and Comedy Central but the best part of the interview was a story she told about Sarah's pooch, Duck, who plays Doug on the Comedy Central show.

Now that the second season of The Sarah Silverman Program has begun (see Brad T.'s review of last night's season premiere), anyone who wants to go back and review the first season can now do so on DVD.

Comedy Central usually puts together decent DVD packages for its shows, and this one is no exception. Well, it's decent if you're a fan of Silverman's goofy and self-absorbed songs, because this package features them quite a bit.

I was unaware of this until recently, but apparently some live stage versions of Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist were performed with the original cast and crew.

Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist was, if you don't know, an animated series that aired on Comedy Central in the late '90s. It starred comedian Johnathan Katz as a therapist to several comedians, who would essentially do their shtick while he would listen and respond. The episodes didn't all take place in Katz's office, it also expanded to his home and personal life to include his son Ben (played by Jon Benjamin) and his receptionist, Laura (played by Laura Silverman).

The Onion's A.V. Club is inviting readers to ask Sarah Silverman for sex advice. Post your question to the site, and the best questions will be forwarded to Ms. Silverman. Her answers will be included in an upcoming feature on the The Sarah Silverman Program, set for its Comedy Central debut on February 1st. Several clips from the show were recently posted online. It looks something like the non-stand-up portions of Jesus is Magic with lots of Mr. Show alums and Sarah's sister Laura in supporting roles.

I personally recommend that you seek Sarah's sex advice. She and boyfriend Jimmy Kimmel were recently featured in Esquire's "What I've Learned" issue, and they had plenty of useful relationship tips to share. For instance, pretend your parents are someone else's. This makes you more tolerant of their eccentricities. That's great advice, and when you're done gleaning all the knowledge you can from Sarah, you can send a letter to Amy Sedaris care of The Believer for further enlightenment.