Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist: Season Two DVD

Dr. Katz is the penultimate comedic soother, if I’ve ever seen one. His couch is always open, and so are the entendres, as he takes on his own deficiencies as well as those of his patients. As found in the first season, the diatribes of the stand-up comedians are parts of their routines, but made to fit in the parameters of the therapeutic visit and give relevancy. Joined by an all-star comedic support group, and Katz’s nucleic friends and family, he manages to muddle though till "times up."

In this day and age of animated comedy we want our yucks right away. Let us not forget that before now there exited thinking-men cartoons that paved the way for these venerable laugh fests. Dr. Katz was the kind of show you could watch, and if your friends didn't, you could look straight down your schnozzle and know that you were too cool for them.

Every session of Dr. Katz included a dilemma each for him and his patient.

This particular series had some top notch comedians from the 90’s taking the couch: Rita Rudner, Barry Sobel and Judy Tenuta (who does bring her accordion). Ray Romano makes an appearance. (Although I can’t see why he would need a shrink when we all know everybody loves Ray. That should make him perfectly adjusted right?) Steven Wright does a stint on the couch. (I mean, really, didn't Lilly Pharmaceuticals use him as the model for Prozac?) And we can't forget Garry Shandling. He’s there in all his neurotic glory, which is kinda weird 'cause I’ve never seen someone so funny, yet so depressed.

For the most part, Dr. Katz bumbles his way through the day and we realize we all need help, not just celebrity comedians, and that we should all look a little deeper and tell someone what’s on our minds. I’ll admit sitting down to a heaping helping of Dr. Katz all in one shot was anti-therapeutic, but in the right doses it might just be what I need when Dr. Rosenbaum doesn’t have an opening.