Official Synopsis:
30 Days features a diverse group of participants each given the opportunity to experience first-hand a world antithetical to their own comfortable existence. Each episode examines a very different subject and is hosted by Morgan Spurlock. In the final episode Spurlock is also a participant as he turns the camera on himself. Episodes Include: "Immigration" "Outsourcing" "New Age" "Pro-Choice/Pro-Life" "Atheist/Christian" and "Jail".

  
Our Take:
There are all kinds of reality shows. There are dating shows, pirate shows, sex shows, racing shows, quiz shows… you name it, and it’s pretty much been done. Farmer Wants a Wife? Been there, done that. And with all those different styles of programming, it’s hard to decide which are the best ones and which are the worst ones. So can I really claim that 30 Days is the best reality show on television?

Absolutely.

In fact, I’m going to go one farther and declare that not only is it the best reality show on TV, but it’s also, hands down, one of the single best shows of any genre on TV. The premise is simple. producer (and sometime subject) Morgan Spurlock, who brought the world Super Size Me, takes a person of one mindset and plants them firmly in a world opposite their life-view. So in season two, we get to see an anti-immigration fanatic live with a family of illegal immigrants; a man whose job was outsourced to India live with a family in India working those jobs; an atheist live among a Christian family, and so on. It’s absolutely fascinating and compelling television, and if you haven’t watched the show yet, you really have no idea how much you’re missing out on.

Part of what makes the show work so well is the balance Spurlock strikes between both sides of an issue. I’m not going to say that he’s completely fair and balanced on all sides, but I think you have to look pretty hard in most episodes to find any kind of support for one viewpoint or the other. For the most part, Spurlock puts the events in motion and lets things unfold from there, allowing us to hear thoughts and comments from people on both side of the issue at hand. The show is filled out with informative facts (usually brought to life via humorous animated vignettes) that allow you to leave each episode not only completely entertained, but also feeling like you learned something.

Where are the extra features, Arts Alliance America? Not on 30 Days: The Complete Second Season, which comes with none. Sigh.

30 Days: Best. Reality. Show. Ever. How much simpler can I make it?

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Overall Picture:
Show: A+
DVD: C+

- Mike Spring

Editor