It's tough being a professional athlete. Sure, there are big bucks. And big time glory. But there's also responsibility. Temptations. The media. Hangers on. More temptation. Diminishing skills. Lost endorsements. An uncert... more »ain future. Still more temptations. In the fast lane of pro sports, an athlete needs someone he can trust. He needs a friend. An adviser. A big brother. Todays sports superstar needs more than just an agent, he needs a super agent. He needs Arliss.« less
Interesting episodes but some common themes that drove it downward.
Movie Reviews
Great Show, Bad DVD...
Paul Lenkic | Melbourne, Australia | 07/26/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Arli$$ is a very funny, very clever show that deserves better treatment than that it was given on this DVD.
13 Episodes from it's 7 Seasons? Please!
Complete Season Sets only, thank you HBO, complete Season Sets only."
Its about time!
Jason Colucci | Granada Hills, CA USA | 10/31/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First of all, I don't know what took them so long to start putting this show on DVD. I have been looking and waiting for months now. Well, it's about time because this is one of those shows that you need to get and keep. It's a good thing they put this show on HBO because it would have never worked on network or cable TV.
Arliss is one of the funniest shows I have seen. Not sitcom family funny, but adult only almost X-rated funny at times. Believe me, this show is not for the kids, it is adult humor all the way. Arliss Michaels is a sports super agent and the show basically deals with his everyday life and the headaches and problems he has to go throw. Everything from making deals between players and teams to finding the next big plan to make more money! Arliss is an original show that is very smart and funny. There are a ton of cameos from actors and sports stars that are fun to watch! If the sports world or sports agents interest you at all then you will like this show. It's a good time, pick it up!"
DVD Collection Omits the Best Episodes
R. Lehrer | California | 09/11/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Who can forget the side-splitting, sometimes raunchy (but hysterical) humor or Arli$$? Answer: The producers of The Best of Arli$$, Vol. 1. The episodes that appear on this DVD are fine, but they are far from the "Best" that Arli$$ has to offer.
How can the producers of this DVD leave off the episode where Rita feeds romantic lines to Arli$$'s football player client to deliver to his er, girlfriend? How about the episode where Stanley has to deliver a special gift to the IRS agent to keep Kirby out of trouble? This is Arli$$ at it's funniest!
Let's hope that Best of Arli$$ Vol. 2 more accurately reflects the comedy that made this show so special."
Great Show, Great DVD Set
Michael Marriott | Las Vegas, NV USA | 06/23/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm waiting for more episodes from this smart and witty comedy series which is easily the best show from HBO in a while. Whilst The Sopranos and Sex In the City get all the critical attention and Today show fawning Arliss is the show that deserves all the accolades. It is all due to Robert Wuhl, the goofy reporter from Batman, who would have guessed? But the guy is a comic genius and this show is great. Every episode leaves you with a smile, even when they are serious, which some of them are. The sense of life in this series is very benevolent, which is what makes it so much better than the other two HBO series. The DVD is of great quality, only adding to the enjoyment."
Great Underrated Comedy-Drama
Max A. Collins | Muscatine, Iowa United States | 06/13/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"ARLI$$ was promoted in its first season as a sports-world LARRY SANDERS SHOW, and ever since, this fine series (which lasted an impressive seven seasons) has been kicked around and wrongly criticized. SANDERS is rightfully respected for its acid show biz comedy, but ARLI$$ takes a different approach, with a solid regular cast of selfish but not mean-spirited characters. Creator Robert Wuhl as sports agent Arliss Michaels is a standout -- a cynic with a heart of marshmellow. The tone swings wildly but from slapstick humor to genuine pathos, and yet consistently scores, as Wuhl and company explore serious topics unflinchingly in this satiric context. (As in the Wuhl-starring film COBB, a frequent topic is heroes with feet of clay.) This is a fine selection of first-rate episodes, but it's a pity this Hall of Fame-worthy comedy has been such a whipping boy so as to convince HBO only a "best of" is deserved, and not full season collections. I'm not a diehard sports fan, but the insider show biz stories, the quirky but appealing regulars and surprisingly sensitive treatment of contemporary problems has turned me into a stone ARLI$$ fan. You wuz robbed, Mr. Wuhl."