If you spent any part of 2007 glued to a cathode-ray tube TV, you probably remember the theme song. Harry Nilsson’s "Best Friend" starts playing, and suddenly you’re back in a world of skateboards, oversized white tees, and a very confused bulldog named Meaty. Honestly, looking back at Rob & Big Season 2, it’s wild how much that specific slice of reality TV shaped the culture we live in now. It wasn't just a show about a pro skater and his bodyguard; it was the blueprint for the "lifestyle brand" era.
The Weird, Unscripted Soul of Season 2
Most reality shows feel like they’re trying too hard. You've got the manufactured drama, the fake tears, the "villain" edits. But Rob Dyrdek and Christopher "Big Black" Boykin? They just felt like two dudes who were getting away with something. Season 2, which originally aired between May and July of 2007, was when the show really found its legs. It moved past the "odd couple" premise of the first season and leaned into the absolute absurdity of having an MTV budget and zero adult supervision.
Think about the "Time Travel" episode. That's basically the peak of the series. They find a guy who claims he built a time machine, and instead of mocking him from a distance, they actually go and try to use the thing. It’s hilarious because it’s earnest. You’ve got Big Black, a 6'6" wall of a man, genuinely engaging with this "scientist" while Rob is just vibrating with chaotic energy.
Then you had the "Meaty & Mini" saga. Most people would just get a second dog. Not Rob. He decides his bulldog needs a companion, so he buys a miniature horse. It’s ridiculous. It's impractical. It probably broke a dozen homeowners association rules in the Hollywood Hills. But that was the charm. They weren't fighting over who cheated on whom; they were trying to figure out how to house-train a tiny horse.
👉 See also: Ivan the Terrible and Sergei Eisenstein: Why This Movie Almost Got the Director Killed
Why We Still Care About the 2007 Era
Basically, Rob & Big Season 2 captured a very specific moment in the "Wild West" of the internet. This was pre-Instagram. Pre-TikTok. Rob was finding these weird ideas on Craigslist and old message boards.
There’s a rawness there that’s hard to find now. When they decided to try and break Guinness World Records, it didn't feel like a corporate tie-in. It felt like a Saturday afternoon dare that escalated. Rob ended up setting records for things like the longest boardslide and the most heelflips in a minute. It was authentic to his life as a skater, but it was packaged in a way that your grandma could watch and actually enjoy.
✨ Don't miss: Sing For The Moment Lyrics: Why Eminem’s 2002 Anthem Still Hits Different
The Dynamics That Made It Work
- The Power Balance: Unlike later reality shows where the "lead" is clearly the boss, Big Black felt like an equal partner. His wit was the secret sauce.
- Drama (The Person, Not the Emotion): We got introduced to Rob’s cousin, Christopher "Drama" Pfaff. Watching him get tormented by Rob was a rite of passage for every younger cousin in America.
- The Lifestyle: It made "doing nothing" look like the most productive career path on earth.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Show
A lot of critics at the time dismissed it as "juvenile." And yeah, it was. But it was also incredibly smart. Rob Dyrdek wasn't just a skater; he was a marketing genius in a DC Shoes hat. He used Rob & Big Season 2 to build an ecosystem. The "Black Lavender" episode, where Big Black creates his own alter-ego, wasn't just a funny bit—it was a lesson in personal branding before that was even a buzzword.
There’s also this misconception that the friendship was purely for the cameras. While it’s true that the pressure of filming eventually caused a rift—something Rob has been pretty open about in later years—the chemistry in Season 2 was 100% real. You can't fake the way those two laughed at each other. When Big Black passed away in 2017, the outpouring of grief from fans showed just how much that "fake" reality show meant to people. It was about brotherhood, regardless of how many net guns were involved.
The Episodes You Need to Revisit
If you’re looking to go down a YouTube rabbit hole or find a stream, there are three episodes from this season that define the whole vibe:
- "Mississippi": The guys head to Big Black’s hometown. It’s a rare, grounded moment for the show. Seeing Big Black in his element, away from the Hollywood glitz, gave the show a heart that survived the transition to the more polished Fantasy Factory years later.
- "Bobby Light": This is where Rob’s "R&B singer" persona was born. It's cringe, it's catchy, and it perfectly encapsulates the "sure, why not?" attitude of the production.
- "New Assistant": This is the episode that really solidified Drama’s role in the Dyrdek empire. It’s basically a masterclass in how to hazing your relatives for national entertainment.
How to Capture the Rob & Big Energy Today
You can't really recreate what they had. The world is too polished now. Everyone is too worried about how they’ll look in a 15-second clip. But you can still take some "actionable" inspiration from the Season 2 philosophy:
- Commit to the Bit: If you have a stupid idea, see it through to the end. The funniest parts of the show happened because they didn't stop at the "thought" stage.
- Value the "In-Between" Moments: The best parts of the show weren't the stunts; they were the conversations in the truck on the way to the stunts.
- Diversify Your Passion: Rob showed that you can be a pro-athlete, a TV star, and a businessman all at once, as long as you're having fun doing it.
Honestly, Rob & Big Season 2 is a time capsule. It’s a reminder of a time when MTV was still the center of the universe and when "doing work" was a lifestyle, not just a job. If you haven't seen it in a decade, it’s worth a rewatch—mostly just to see if that time machine actually worked. (Spoiler: It didn't, but the journey was better anyway.)
✨ Don't miss: Whatever Happened to the Ski Patrol Movie Cast? A Deep Look at the 1990 Cult Classic
To get the most out of a rewatch today, start with the "Meaty & Mini" premiere and pay attention to the background details—the clothes, the cars, the tech. It's the ultimate 2007 nostalgia trip. After that, look for the "Best, Worst, and Unused" special that aired right after the season ended; it's got some of the best raw footage that didn't make the initial cut.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the "Best of Season 2" special (SP2) to see the top moments in one sitting.
- Look up the "Street Dreams" film mentioned in later episodes to see Rob's serious side of skating from that era.
- Follow Drama (Chris Pfaff) on social media to see how the "assistant" turned into a legitimate fashion mogul with Young & Reckless.