How to 'deal' with the suburbs

Where do I begin? Writer and creator Jenji Kohan (writer of "Tracey Takes On") has scored big time with this Showtime series that has become an instant hit. Both hilarious and delightfully entertaining, "Weeds" is like no other show out there.\nAfter unexpectedly becoming a widow, Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) is suddenly stricken with a series of financial woes as she struggles to support her two sons, Silas, the oldest, who is a teenager with raging hormones (Hunter Parrish) and the younger Shane (Alexander Gould), a misfit who doesn't quite fit in with his peers. Nancy finds herself desperate for money and is willing to do anything to keep up with the lush life she's used to living, even if that has her resorting to becoming the neighborhood pot dealer. \nNancy finds herself frequently making visits to both her strict supplier, Heylia (Tonye Patano) and her lazy nephew Conrad (Romany Malco) to stock up on ounces and ounces of marijuana. And it's only a matter of time before everyone, including city councilman Doug Wilson (Kevin Nealon), want in on the action. It seems as if the only one in the community oblivious to Nancy's drug-dealing habits is Celia Hodes (Elizabeth Perkins). Celia is an overbearing mother figure and friend to Nancy. And the reason Celia is so oblivious to Nancy's source of income is because she is too busy spying on her fifteen year-old daughter, harassing her younger daughter about her weight and dealing with her husband's affair with a tennis pro. \n"Weeds" is not your typical sitcom. It's well written with witty dialogue and a great cast. Mary-Louise Parker is superb as Nancy, a role for which she won a well-deserved Emmy last year, though she was snubbed in this year's nods. Elizabeth Perkins is great as Celia. She is hilarious, and is just another reason why you should watch this show. Kevin Nealon is also a pleasure to watch as he adds to the goofy characters of this show. \nThe DVD includes all ten episodes from the show's first season, and each episode is something new and funny. The extras that come with the DVD are something to see themselves. Six episodes are available with a commentary from the cast. Then there is "Smoke and Mirrors," an interesting marijuana mockumentary, as well as "Smokey Snippets" which are comical outtakes. And of course, the DVD features Agrestic Herbal Recipes. \nThe show's first season was a huge success, and definitely something worth seeing. However, because the show deals with marijuana, it is not something for a young audience. It may even be a bit much for young teens to take in. But adults would love it. It's fast- paced, enjoyable and hilarious. The DVD will make you go from episode to episode, unable to turn the show off and leaving you desperately awaiting the second season.