Daria: Disenfranchised [VHS]
Those new to MTV's animated seriesDariamay be surprised to discover that the show is actually a spinoff ofBeavis and Butt-Head. WhereasB&B;is about the crudeness and stupidity of adolescent boys,Dariarepresents alienated teenage youth at its most humorous and dead-on. Daria, whose bedroom sports padded walls, must bear the indignities of high school, her family, and her lack of popularity. A "brain," she reluctantly tolerates her sister Quinn, vice president of the fashion club; Kevin, the daft football star; Kevin's possessive girlfriend Brittany, the cheerleader from hell; a father who never listens; a busy mother who tries to rule the roost; plus an assortment of jaded teachers. Her best friend, Jane, who is equally sarcastic, is her only ally.Disenfranchisedcomprises four episodes from the first season of the show. The opener, "Cafe Disaffecto," has the English class raising money to open a coffeehouse, after the town's cybercafe, alt.lawndale.com, is burglarized. In "Malled," the economics class takes a field trip to the Mall of the Millennium, "the second or third largest mall in the world."  "This Year's Model" has modeling agents scouting at Lawndale High for the next big face. The final episode, "Lab Brat," pairs Daria with Kevin to perform a science experiment.Few shows treat teens with a modicum of intelligence.Dariahas cleverness and wit in abundance, and while you're laughing loudly at the antics of the characters, you may also realize that the show makes some valid points. A terrific watch for both adults and teens.--Jenny Brown