Cops is a true reality show. No gimmicks, no hidden cameras, no hosts, no actors masquerading as millionaires, no maggot eating contests...just a silent TV crew following police around as they patrol various cities. The concept is awesome in its simplicity and compulsively watchable, which is probably why it's been running nearly as long as FOX has been a network. Many folks may not want to admit it, but there's something luridly fascinating in watching just how dumb people can be, especially when we can witness them getting what they deserve. Cops has arguably done more to cement our definition of white trash since the invention of the mullet (which you'll see plenty of here). The show is perfect for DVD, and Fox has included some extras that will make the purchase of these discs worth it.

There are three discs, each containing about 50 minutes of highlights from the series. "Caught in the Act" features numerous folks whose crimes are caught right on camera, such a drunk driver who plows into the back of a police car while the officer is writing someone else a citation, and two geniuses who decide to drag race once the traffic signal turns green, even though a squad car is right behind them. "Shots Fired" features segments in which suspects end up being shot; one of them actually shoots himself during a struggle with police, while another is brought down by a tazer gun when he refuses to cooperate. "Bad Girls" contains footage of female suspects engaging in dubious behavior. And yes, as the title suggests, much of the behavior consists of women exposing themselves. One particularly pathetic scene shows an inebriated young woman humping the windshield of her boyfriend's car...without pants on. While the selection of footage chosen for this collection is entertaining to watch, my only complaint is that Fox could have either slapped all this stuff on a single disc, or included a lot more footage for each individual title.

Discussing the quality of the picture and sound of a show like this is probably pointless. It's all raw videotaped footage, filmed by a crew more intent on capturing the moment than setting up the perfect shot. Sometimes the grainy or murky picture is part of what makes the show work. The audio is pretty much the same as the broadcast, and the quality is subject to the proximity of the microphones during the action.

Each disc contains about 20 minutes of bonus footage entitled "Too Hot for TV," which is exactly what it sounds like...lots of drunken women flashing their breasts during Mardi Gras, strung-out trailer-trash spewing obscenities at the police, etc. But unlike the regular broadcasts, in which offending content is blurred or bleeped out, these idiots are shown in all their glory, including the aforementioned car humper.. Yuk.

A guilty pleasure if there ever was one, this set of Cops highlights offers a lot of voyeuristic fun for those inclined. Unlike a lot of current programs passing themselves off as reality TV, this one really is; there's an irresistible allure in watching people make complete asses of themselves without the promise of a pay-off. Fans of that kind of entertainment will love these discs.