Skateboarding Reviews - Videos & DVDs

Eight episodes just isn't enough and fortunately that message got through to the Mtv marketing wonks who have given us seasons 2 and 3 of Viva La Bam. The first season really grew on me as it was funny, moderately clever and worked in enough skateboarding to keep me interested. You have to like a guy who will build and indoor park in his house on a moment's notice.

Shows like this have to go farther each season. You can't repeat the same crap each season. Everything has to be bigger and better - which is really a facet of the viewer's miniscule attention span and their constant need for MORE. You'd think the average Mtv viewer would be happy with any old crap considering the shows they typically air. Does anyone over the age of 13 watch Real World?

Blowing up stuff in your front yard becomes sketchy when you don't have permits and the neighbors house is right there next to yours. Tolerances will diminish... quickly. Season 2 opened with the CKY crew seeking a new habitat. They found a large secluded place that was perfect for all of their antics and living accommodations. Oddly Bam and his family moved in and let the whole CKY wrecking crew move in as well. There's got to be an interesting back-story to how the money flows and what's real and what isn't.

The main theme to seasons 2 and 3 was destroying Vito's car and then replacing it. There was an unfortunate dearth of Jenn Rivell in both these seasons. Damn shame... she's hot!

The Episodes

Season 2

1. Castle Bam - The search begins for a new home (aka: a new place to destroy).
2. Dating Don Vito - Getting a date for Don Vito proved too difficult, but Bam was able to get Slayer to play a concert in his backyard. the band spent the night at Bams complete with a "Walton Family style" goodnight. If you can afford to have Slayer play your backyard, how much would it take to pay off a date for Vito?
3. Fatboy Faceoff - Arm wrestling between Phil and Vito turns into an olympic challenge for the two tubbies.
4. Mardi Gras part 1 - Tony Hawk, Jason Ellis and Donny Barley show up at Bam's house for a road-trip to New Orleans in 2 beat up RVs. Dunn gets left behind and has to catch up on a moped. Phil and family tag along. One RV has a trailer for the half-pipe they bring along. Each stop for gas involves a sk8 session. They make a massive detour to Skatopia in Ohio on route - awesome!
5. Mardi Gras part 2 - The detour screws up any hope of getting to Mardi Gras on time. They arrive for the last few hours and party.
6. Community Disservice - Bam - vs- April in doing good.
7. Tree Top Casino - Somehow building a tree fort to house a casino seemed like a good way to celebrate Arbor Day.
8. Demo Derby - The crew buys a few junked cars and has a demolition derby.

Season 3

1. Driveway Skate Park - While the family is in LA getting mementos for the new house, Bam has the driveway turned into a skate park. Bam runs into Dave Grohl and Tommy Lee while Vito seeks out a way to get into the Playboy mansion. To inaugurate the sk8 park, Bam flies in Danny Way, Kris Markovich, Colin McKay, Donny Barley, Tim O'Connor and Kerry Getz to ride his new driveway. Of course Vito's car is cemented into the center of the park.
2. Uncivil Award - Civil war re-enactment happens in Bams backyard with a few hundred civil war fanatics. they manage to shoot a cannon ball through the Tree Top Casino.
3. Fort Knoxville - Johnny Knoxville drops by to have a prank war with Bam. For some unknown reason Sean Penn shows up with his son.
4. Rock Stars - Phil and Vito take lessons on how to be rock stars. Didn't work out well.
5. Mutiny on the Bam - Family cruise on a pirate ship.
6. Angry Ape - Any woman named April who thinks "Ape" is a good name substitute, needs to re-think things. Bam challenges her to go 24 hours without complaining.
7. Mall of Bam - Bam and the family attend an Element sk8 demo at the Mall of America. Bam traps them in the mall for 24 hours and they sleep in a mattress store.
8. Bamiture Golf - Bam makes a miniature golf course and challenges Vito to a game. If Vito wins, Bam can't mess with his car anymore.