Entertainment
The Raunchy, Out-Of-Control 90s Comedy Series Cancelled After One Gloriously Offensive Season
By Robert Scucci
| Published
The Dana Carvey Show is a fascinating watch because it was fearlessly ahead of its time, but it’s also so topical that it can really only function as a relic of the past. When it debuted in 1996, it was considered so unhinged and unwholesome that it couldn’t even finish its one-season run before getting pulled from ABC, airing only eight of its planned 10 episodes. Looking back at it today, it plays like pretty standard fare. It’s offensive and edgy, but in that “I can’t believe they got away with this in the 90s” kind of way.
Let me explain. The Dana Carvey Show aired on Thursday nights at 9:30 pm, right after one of the greatest family sitcoms of all time, Home Improvement. Sponsors weren’t comfortable kicking things off with a Mature Audiences disclaimer because they worried it would alienate viewers.
What they didn’t anticipate was that the first sketch of the premiere episode, depicting Bill Clinton breastfeeding a baby doll and several barnyard animals with a chest full of prosthetic nipples, would do all the heavy lifting in scaring away potential audiences and sponsors. Mission accomplished.
Edgy 90s Liberal Boomer Funny, Not Haha Funny
Like most sketch shows that lean hard into topical humor, The Dana Carvey Show lives and dies by the news cycle. Carvey delivers his takes on Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, Jay Leno, H. Ross Perot, and a long list of political and celebrity figures. It’s funny in the moment if you’re actively living through the news cycle it’s roasting, but it’s also the kind of humor that doesn’t have much staying power. Tuning into The Dana Carvey Show in 2026 specifically for those sketches can feel underwhelming because topical humor rarely transcends generations the way more evergreen material does.
South Park’s most recent seasons fell into this trap as well, pulling in huge viewership numbers for headline-driven episodes that are met with mixed reviews later. It’s not that the jokes aren’t funny, they just don’t always age gracefully because the context of its humor evaporates over time.
The Dana Carvey Show truly shines when it leans into its more absurd and surreal instincts. Sketches like “Grandma the Clown,” “Waiters Who Are Nauseated by Food,” “Skinheads from Maine,” and “11 O’Clock News That’s Easy to Take” still work because they stand on their own. There’s no need to lampoon whatever dominated the headlines that week in these bits, which is why the comedy still lands decades later. There’s material coming out today with similar sensibilities, and these sketches feel right at home alongside it.
My personal favorite recurring sketch involves two painfully stupid pranksters, portrayed by Dana Carvey and Steve Carell. The pranksters roll up to a drive-thru or a movie ticket counter, pay for a good or service while trying not to laugh, then sprint away giggling like lunatics as if they just pulled off the heist of the century.
As the episodes progress, the bits escalate, culminating in the duo paying a prostitute $300 for a threesome, only to bolt from the room cackling and congratulating themselves for being comedy geniuses. It’s juvenile and ridiculous, but that’s what makes it so funny. It’s two grown men playing a modified version of ding dong ditch and having the time of their lives, and that’s all it ever needs to be.
Sponsors And Time Slot Were The Show’s Undoing
Had The Dana Carvey Show aired at 11:00 pm on a Friday night instead of closing out ABC’s Thursday primetime lineup, its fate might have been very different. Each episode blatantly named its corporate sponsor, as in The Mountain Dew Dana Carvey Show, which made advertisers understandably nervous given the show’s willingness to push buttons. PepsiCo, Inc. sponsored the first five episodes, but its restaurant affiliates, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, were immediately turned off by the series premiere’s opening sketch, reportedly pulling out of a deal that would have brought in roughly $600,000 per episode.
The Dana Carvey Show felt doomed from day one, but I’m glad it still exists on streaming. It helped put Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert on the map, and it introduced Robert Smigel’s Ambiguously Gay Duo, which would later find a permanent home on SNL as a recurring animated segment. For a show that barely survived eight episodes, its comedy tree has surprisingly deep roots.
While I’m usually turned off by hyper-topical humor, I’d still recommend The Dana Carvey Show to any sketch comedy fan with the patience to wait for the truly timeless bits sprinkled throughout its run. And if you’re curious about the chaos behind the scenes, 2017’s Too Funny to Fail is essential viewing. Everybody involved with The Dana Carvey Show speaks fondly about what went into its production, how the sponsors reacted, and how ABC ended up airing The Diet Mug Root Beer Dana Carvey Show immediately after a heartwarming Home Improvement episode in which Randy faces a cancer scare. It’s one of those rare instances where the humor surrounding a series’ controversies is more memorable than the show itself.
The Dana Carvey Show is currently streaming for free on Tubi.
Entertainment
Shop the best Presidents Day TV deals from TCL, Samsung, Hisense, and more
Table of Contents
The best Presidents’ Day TV deals at a glance:
If a TV is on your tech upgrade list, Presidents’ Day weekend is proving to be a great time to snag a deal. While it’s not traditionally the best time to upgrade, we’re seeing plenty of massive discounts on models from 2025 — including some of our favorites from TCL, Hisense, and more.
I did some digging into Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart‘s Presidents’ Day sales (which are all now live) to uncover all the best TV deals to shop this weekend. Recommendations are organized by retailer and size to make it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for. Whether you want a budget-friendly pick for your bedroom or a massive screen for your living room, there’s a deal waiting to be added to your cart.
Shop the best Presidents’ Day TV deals on top brands below. Oh, BTW, if you’re not sure what to do with your old TV, you can recycle it at most Best Buy stores at no cost.
Best Presidents’ Day 43-inch TV deal
$179.99
at Best Buy
$299.99
Save $120
Why we like it
Hisense is one of our favorite TV brands for its premium features at budget prices. For instance, this QLED 4K TV with built-in Alexa, Dolby Vision HDR and DTS Virtual X audio for less than $200. It may not wow you like more upscale models, but the 43-inch QD6 is a well-rounded budget TV that’s great for bedrooms, smaller living rooms, or apartments. Plus, if you’re used to a regular old LED TV, you’ll definitely notice a difference from the quantum dots.
Best Presidents’ Day 55-inch TV deal
$279.99
at Amazon
$459.99
Save $180
Why we like it
It’s not the most advanced TV in Amazon’s Fire TV lineup, but the 4-Series is the most popular. It was redesigned in 2025 with an extra slim bezel that brings your content front and center and a new quad-core processor that speeds up navigation and load times. It also features 4K UHD picture quality with support for HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Sound, Omnisense technology for ultra-personalized experiences, and the wildly smart Alexa+. At $279.99, it’s down to its lowest price ever by a long shot, beating its previous low by $80.
Mashable Deals
Best Presidents’ Day 65-inch TV deal
$529.99
at Best Buy
$999.99
Save $470
Why we like it
The TCL QM6K checks all the boxes you want in a new TV, from impressive picture quality to a smooth streaming interface to a killer price tag. Its mini LED backlight allows for a wide and accurate color spectrum with deep contrast — even in bright rooms. Our friends at CNET (also owned by Ziff Davis) dubbed it the “best TV under $1,000” last year and its current discount makes it an absolute steal. At $529.99, it’s just $32 away from its lowest price ever (from Black Friday). Mashable’s own TV expert says it’s “mind-blowing it doesn’t cost more than it does.”
Best Presidents’ Day 75-inch TV deal
$996.99
at Amazon
$1,999.99
Save $1,003
Why we like it
Combining mini LED backlighting with a 165Hz refresh rate and Dolby Atmos, the Hisense U7 is a force to be reckoned with. It also features an AGLR-Antiglare low-reflection panel, up to 3,000 nits of brightness, and HDR10, HDR10+ Adaptive, HLG, and Dolby Vision IQ. Translation: it looks brilliant, with deep contrast and shadows in any lighting scenario. It’s designed to be the “ultimate mid-premium” TV in Hisense’s 2025 lineup and this Presidents’ Day deal knocks it down almost into budget territory at under $1,000.
More Presidents’ Day TV deals at Amazon
43-inch TVs
50-to-55-inch TVs
65-inch TVs
75-inch TVs and up
More Presidents’ Day TV deals at Best Buy
43-inches and smaller
50-to-55-inch TVs
65-inch TVs
75-inch TVs and up
More Presidents’ Day TV deals at Walmart
43-to-50-inch TVs
65-inch TVs
75-inch TVs and up
Entertainment
Get more reading done with 20% off the like new Kindle Paperwhite
SAVE $29: As of Feb. 13, get the Like New Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) for $114.99, down from its usual price of $143.99. That’s a discount of 20%.
$114.99
at Amazon
$143.99
Save $29.00
Looking to get more reading done? Now’s the time to invest in something to help you do just that: a Kindle, which you can take anywhere to get a few pages in, anytime. And thanks to this Amazon deal, you can get one for a great low price, just in time for Stuff Your Kindle Day.
As of Feb. 13, get the Like New Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB) for $114.99, down from its usual price of $143.99. That’s $29 off and a discount of 20%. It’s in Like New condition, so you aren’t getting a completely new Kindle, but close to it, as it’s been tested by Amazon, tested and charged, with software updated during testing so it looks and feels new, with the added bonus of getting a discount.
Amazon bills this version as its “fastest Kindle ever”. It has a higher contrast ratio and 25% faster page turns than its predecessor, and a super thin design with a larger, glare-free screen so reading is even easier to enjoy no matter where you go.
It has an adjustable light so you can read comfortably in whatever ambiance you choose, going from white to amber to read in the sun or in the dark. Plus, it’s waterproof, so you can take your Kindle to the pool, the beach, or even the bath without worrying about some water ruining your fun.
Mashable Deals
If you’re looking to get your reading on without breaking the bank, now’s the time to do it. Grab your Kindle and save some serious cash by getting it in “Like New” condition.
Entertainment
The best Presidents Day streaming deals: Starz, YouTube TV, Hulu, and more
The best Presidents’ Day streaming deals at a glance:
Starz
$2.99 per month for 3 months
(save $24)
YouTube TV
free 10-day trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months $82.99/month
(save $46)
While we typically see the best streaming deals of the year around Black Friday, it’s not the only time streaming services offer discounts. Now that Presidents’ Day weekend has arrived, we’ve got our eyes locked on our favorite streaming platforms for any deals that pop up. Several have already landed.
These discounts aren’t technically labeled as Presidents’ Day streaming deals, but they’re live for a limited time around the holiday, so that’s what we’re calling them. While the prices won’t wow you quite like Black Friday, we could all use any savings we can get. If you’re looking to sign up for a streaming service this season, you might as well save some money, right?
There aren’t many, but we’ve rounded up all the best Presidents’ Day streaming deals live as we head into the weekend — as well as some evergreen deals we think are worth snagging. We’ve also included the best streaming device deals in case your TV isn’t as smart as you’d like.
Mashable Deals
Best Presidents’ Day streaming deal
$2.99/month for 3 months (save $8/month)
Why we like it
One of the most slept on streaming services, this Starz Presidents’ Day offer allows you to diversify your movie and TV lineup for only $2.99 per month for three months. It typically costs $10.99 per month, so you’ll save about $24. Not only does Starz have its own original series like Sweetpea and Three Women, but it’s also the first stop Lionsgate theatrical releases make in the streaming circuit. Recent additions include The Long Walk and The Strangers: Chapter 2, while upcoming films include The Housemaid and Greenland 2: Migration.
More Presidents’ Day streaming deals
-
DirecTV MySports — $59.99/month for 2 months
$69.99/month(save $10/month) -
Disney+ and Hulu bundle — $9.99/month for 1 month
$12.99/month(save $3/month) -
NFL Sunday Ticket — $16/month for 12 months
$31.50/month(save $186) -
Spotify Premium — Free for 2 months
$12.99/month(save $12.99/month) -
Sundance Now — $3.99/month for 3 months
$7.99/month(save $4/month with code SN50) -
YouTube TV — free 10-day trial, then $59.99/month for 2 months
$82.99/month(save $23/month)
Evergreen streaming deals
Streaming device deals
Latest Updates
10:41 am ET | February 17, 2025
FUBO TV DEAL: Save $25 on Fubo TV Essential plans and $20 off Pro and Elite plans.
9:35 am ET | February 17, 2025
MGM DEAL: Save over $20 per year on MGM+. Pay $58.99 per year this Presidents’ Day.
8:47 am ET | February 17, 2025
7:20 am ET | February 17, 2025
STARZ DEAL: Get Starz for $5 per month for three months ($10.99 per month thereafter).
6:15 am ET | February 17, 2025
YOUTUBE TV DEAL: Get a free 10-day trial of YouTube TV, then $69.99 per month for six months ($82.99 per month thereafter).
5:26 am ET | February 17, 2025
PEACOCK DEAL: Through Feb. 18, new and returning subscribers can sign up for an entire year of Peacock Premium (the tier with ads) for only $29.99 instead of $79.99 with the code WINTERSAVINGS.
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