TV on DVD Buzz

I warned you that I was going to devote this week to Twin Peaks. In keeping with that theme, I wanted to take a look at the only thing that’s really missing from the Gold Box set that released yesterday - the big screen release Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

This movie is quite darker and, believe it or not, even stranger than the television series. It served as both a “prequel” and an epilogue to the series and answered some of the questions about Laura Palmer that many fans had. The film centers around the murder of Teresa Banks and the last seven days in the life of Laura Palmer, but you really need to be familiar with the series to “get” everything that goes on in the movie. Most of the original cast returned for the film, with the exceptions of Lara Flynn Boyle (who was replaced by Moira Kelly, late of One Tree Hill) and Sherilyn Fenn. Many fans of the television series were not happy with the film because of it’s darker tone, disturbing images and lack of humor. The film was panned by critics and booed at the Cannes Film Festival.

I recommend it for true Twin Peaks fans, because it does make a nice companion to the television series and because it completes the collection.

The current DVD is lacking in special features but does include an original documentary, Reflections on the Phenomenon of Twin Peaks, featuring the cast and crew. There is some buzz that a future release may contain deleted scenes from the over 5 hours of footage shot by David Lynch for the theatrical release. Many Twin Peaks fanatics would love to see that happen.

I’m a little disappointed that they didn’t include it in the Gold Box set, but apparently the rights are owned by different entities making it next to impossible.

I’m so disappointed in TVs performance on this week’s charts.  Only one, single, solitary TV release remains. Heroes continues to dominate TV on DVD sales and hangs in at #19 this week. Surely some of the TV releases will make their way on to the charts next week! We shall see I guess.

1. Transformers
2. Planet Terror
3. Evan Almighty
4. The Reaping
5. The Jungle Book
6. Surf’s Up
7. Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer
8. Knocked Up
9. The Invisible
10. 1408
11. Return To House On Haunted Hill
12. 28 Weeks Later
13. Reign Over Me
14. Fantastic Four: 2 Pack
15. Wild Hogs
16. Wrong Turn: 2 Pack
17. Death Proof
18. 300
19. Heroes: Season 1
20. Wrong Turn 2

OK, I know Twin Peaks was technically on for more than one season, but just barely. 29 episodes plus a pilot doesn’t really qualify for two seasons, so I’m using editor’s discretion and featuring it today anyway. So there.

Twin Peaks was created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. It premiered on April 8, 1990 and was like nothing we had ever experienced on American TV. It ran for a season and a half, ending on June 10, 1991. A “prequel” movie, Fire Walk With Me, followed in 1992.

In its first season, Twin Peaks was honored with 14 Emmy nominations, 2 Emmy awards, and the Peabody award. They also took home 4 Golden Globes out of 5 nominations.

The show was set in the fictional town of Twin Peaks in northeastern Washington state. The story centered around coffee-loving FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) and his investigation of the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). Palmer was a high school student and homecoming queen. Her body was found on the river bank, wrapped in plastic - a very memorable and iconic scene. We soon find out that Laura Palmer was not the wholesome girl she appeared to be and Agent Cooper begins the daunting task of untangling the sordid web of characters she was involved with. (more…)

This is the week I’ve been waiting for! Twin Peaks Gold Box edition comes out tomorrow. I love this quirky, odd show. It’s one of my all-time favorites. I may just devote the whole week to Twin Peaks. I can’t wait to get the box set and I’m glad I waited for it. Other great picks for Halloween week: Angel, Dark Shadows, Mystery Science Theater 3000, The Outer Limits, Suspense, and you can’t have Halloween without a little Scooby-Doo. Happy trick or treating!

Angel - The Collector’s Set
Arrest and Trial - The Best Of
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Book 3: Fire, Volume 1
The Benny Hill Show - The Thames Years 1969-1989: The Complete Megaset
Biography - Saturday Night Live
Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes Comedy Hour - The Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 5
C.S.I.: Miami - The Complete 5th Season
Checkmate - The Best of Season 1
Cimarron City - The Best Of
Dark Shadows - The Beginning, Vol. 2: Episodes 36 - 70
Everybody Loves Raymond - The Complete Series
Family Affair - Season 4
Family Guy - Freakin’ Party Pack
Laredo - The Best of Season 1
Magnum, P.I. - The Complete 7th Season
Miami Ink - Season 1
The Mickey Rooney Show - Hey Mulligan
My So-Called Life - The Complete Series
Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Collection: Volume 12
October Road - The Complete 1st Season
The Outer Limits - Volume 3
The Real McCoys - The Complete Season 2
The Restless Gun - The Best Of
Riptide - The Complete 2nd Season
Riverboat - The Best Of
Scrubs - The Complete 6th Season
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon - The Complete Collection
Shaggy & Scooby-Doo: Get a Clue! - Volume 1
Suspense - The Lost Episodes, Collection 2
The Tall Man - The Best Of
Tate - The Complete Series
Twin Peaks - Definitive Gold Box Edition

The Greatest American Hero was a childhood favorite of mine and since it’s nominated for a TV on DVD Award, I though it would be a great time to feature it in Fun Friday.

The Greatest American Hero aired for three seasons from 1981 to 1983 on ABC. It starred William Katt as teacher Ralph Hinkley, Robert Culp as FBI Agent Bill Maxwell, and Connie Sellecca as lawyer Pam Davidson and featured Michael Pare (before Eddie and the Cruisers) as one of Hinkley’s students. It was created and produced by Stephen J. Cannell.

The theme song, “Believe It or Not,” was composed by Mike Post and Stephen Geyer and sung by Joey Scarbury. It became a hit during the show’s run and is easily recognizable and frequently parodied (Remember George’s answering machine on Seinfeld?).

The story followed mild-mannered high school teacher Ralph Hinkley who, after a close encounter with aliens, receives a red super-power suit that only he can control. The only problem - he has lost the instructions and doesn’t quite know how to operate the red suit. Hilarity ensues as he tries to figure it out, and doesn’t quite get it right most of the time. He’s aided by girlfriend Pam and FBI agent Bill Maxwell. Guest stars included Joe Mantegna, Markie Post, Bob Saget, Rick Dees, June Lockhart, David Paymer, Barbara Hale, André The Giant, Dixie Carter, and Don Drysdale.

The deluxe Complete Series DVD set includes all 44 episodes, interviews with Stephen J. Cannell, Mike Post, William Katt, Robert Culp, Connie Sellecca, and Michael Pare; the unaired spinoff series pilot The Greatest American Heroine; a Japanese dubbed version of “The Two-Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Fastball”; a photo gallery; and an episode script as a DVD-ROM extra. It comes packaged in a black tin case and comes with the long lost red suit instruction manual (complete with working lights); a full-sized cape; and an iron-on logo transfer so you, yourself, can become The Greatest American Hero.

Enjoy this montage of clips set to the “Believe It or Not” theme song:

Home Media Magazine is presenting the fourth annual TV DVD Awards. The awards honor the best TV DVD releases of the past year and are presented at a gala dinner and cocktail party to be held November 12.

A panel of judges narrowed down the 160 entries down to four nominees in each of the 16 categories. Now it’s your turn to to help select the winners! Here are the nominees:

Best Bonus Materials
 Lost: Season 2
 Masters of Horror: Season 1
 Rome: Season 2
 Seinfeld: Season 8

Best 2000s Series
 24: Season 5
 Deadwood: Season 3
 Heroes: Season 1
 Lost: Season 2

Best 1990s Series
 The Larry Sanders Show: Not Just the Best of
 Picket Fences: Season 1
 The Practice: Volume 1
 Seinfeld: Season 8

Best 1980s Series
 Cagney & Lacey: Season 1
 Fraggle Rock: Season 3
 The Greatest American Hero: The Complete Series
 St. Elsewhere: Season 1

Best 1970s Series
 The Muppet Show: Season 2
 The Odd Couple: Season 1
 Saturday Night Live: Season 1
 Welcome Back Kotter: Season 1

Best 1960s Series
 The Addams Family: Volume 1
 The Archie Show: The Complete Series
 Get Smart: The Complete Collection
 McHale’s Navy: Season 1

Best 1950s Series
 The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet: Best of
 Adventures of Superman: Seasons 5 & 6
 Gunsmoke: Season 1
 The Johnny Carson Show: Best of

Best Animated Series
 Dungeons & Dragons: The Complete Series
 Family Guy: Volume 5
 The Simpsons: Season 10
 South Park: Season 10

Best Children’s Series
 Clifford, the Big Red Dog: Best of
 Dinosaurs: Seasons 3 & 4
 The Muppet Show: Season 2
 That’s So Suite Life of Hannah Montana: Mixed Up, Mashed Up Edition

Best Reality Series
 The Girls Next Door: Season 2
 Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List — Season 1
 MXC: Most Extreme Elimination Challenge — Season 1
 Survivor: Vanuatu

Best Variety Series
 Chappelle’s Show: Best of
 The Dick Cavett Show: Hollywood Greats
 Hootenanny: Best of
 The Tomorrow Show: Tom Snyder’s Electric Kool-Aid Talk Show

Best One-Season Wonder
 Dane Cook: Tourgasm
 The Dresden Files: Season 1
 Kidnapped: The Complete Series
 That’s My Bush: The Definitive Collection

Best Miniseries/Made-for-TV Movie
 Broken Trail
 Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee
 The Lost Room
 Roots: 30th Anniversary Edition

Best Foreign TV Series
 Beck Mongolian Chop Squad Vol. 1
 Doctor Who: Series 2
 DragonBall Z: Season 1
 Hex

Best TV Documentary
 Diana: Last Days of a Princess
 The Journalist and the Jihadi
 Planet Earth
 When the Levees Broke

Best Complete-Series Set
 Get Smart
 M*A*S*H
 Six Feet Under

Remember to consider special features, menus, ease of navigation, packaging, sound and picture in addition to the show itself.

Voting ends Oct. 26 so go now to the TV on DVD Awards site and cast your ballot!

There are no new TV entries this week on the charts. In fact, TV shows have virtually dropped off the list. Only Heroes, Season 1, at number 15, and Family Guy, Vol. 5, at number 18, are hanging in there. Are there any recent releases that can change that? Maybe Hannah Montana or MacGuyver can? Or maybe Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip? I guess we’ll find out next week.

1. Evan Almighty
2. Surf’s Up
3. The Jungle Book
4. The Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer
5. 28 Weeks Later
6. Knocked Up
7. 1408
8. Reign Over Me
9. Wrong Turn 2
10. 28 Days Later: 2 Pack
11. The Fantastic Four: 2 Pack
12. Wild Hogs
13. Wrong Turn: 2 Pack
14. 300
15. Heroes: Season 1
16. We Are Marshall
17. The Condemned
18. Family Guy: Vol. 5
19. Barbie As The Island Princess
20. Next

Invasion was a show that I quite liked and was sorry to see cancelled. Created by former teen idol Shaun Cassidy, it debuted in the fall of 2005 in the plum slot following ABC’s big hit LOST. It told the story of an alien invastion in the aftermath of a hurricane in a Florida town, which was a little hard for ABC to promote after the devastation of Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita just prior to the opening of the television season. They had to rethink their marketing campaign and focused solely on the alien aspect of the show, rather than the hurricane.

Despite the changes made in promotion of the show, it opened big with 17 million viewers, but viewership quickly dropped off and ABC lost confidence in the show. They pulled the show twice during the season for extended hiatus which damaged viewership even more.

The story focused on park ranger Russell Varon and his family. His wife, Larkin, was a television reporter. Her brother, Dave, was a deadbeat conspiracy theorist living in their barn. Russell’s kids, Jesse and Rose, split their time between him and his ex-wife, Dr. Mariel Underlay and her husband, creepy Sheriff Tom Underlay. Tom’s daughter, Kira, was also a big part of the story. During the hurricane Rose had seen hundreds of lights entering the water. Mariel disappeared, only to later turn up naked in the swamp - but she was different. She had a strange affinity for water and didn’t seem quite herself. Tom shut down the city and placed them under quarantine and none of this seemed right to Russell. He and Dave begin investigating all the strange occurrences and find that they are dealing with much more than just the effects of a hurricane.

The cast included Eddie Cibrian (Third Watch) as Russell Varon, William Fichtner (Prison Break) as Sheriff Tom Underlay, Kari Matchett (24) as Dr. Mariel Underlay, Lisa Sheridan as Larkin Groves, Tyler Labine (Reaper) as Dave Groves, Alexis Dziena as Kira Underlay, Evan Peters as Jesse Varon, and Ariel Gade as Rose Varon.

I thought this show had some great character development and moved along at a nice pace. Many other fans loved it as well and started a Save Invasion campaign after it was cancelled. It was rumored that CW might pick it up, but that didn’t come to pass. Unfortunately, the show ended with a cliffhanger that we’ll never have reconciled making this DVD a bittersweet recommendation.

Included on the DVD release are all 22 episodes plus 50 minutes of extras including 12 deleted scenes, a gag reel and a documentary, Invading the Mind of Shaun Cassidy.

The real gem of this weeks releases is I Love Lucy - The Complete Series. Also this week, popular favorites Veronica Mars, The Sopranos, The L-Word and NCIS.

The Adventures of Aquaman - The Complete Collection
American Gangster - The Complete 1st Season
The Company (mini series also avail on Blu-ray)
Hamish Macbeth - Season 3
I Love Lucy - The Complete Series
Jupiter Moon - Set 1: New Frontier
The L Word - The Complete 4th Season
Mind of Mencia - The Complete 3rd Season Uncensored
Monarch of the Glen - Series 7
Monarch of the Glen - The Complete Collection
NCIS - The Complete 4th Season
Route 66 - Season 1, Volume 1
Ruth Rendell Mysteries - Set 2
The Sea Hunters - Set 1
The Sopranos - Season 6 - Part 2 (also on Blu-ray and HD-DVD)
The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians - The Complete Series
Tales from the Crypt - The Complete 7th Season
Veronica Mars - The Complete 3rd Season
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - Season 3, Vol 2
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles - Volume 1

What’s more fun for Fun Friday than MacGyver?! This show is the ultimate in 80’s cheese, but I loved it as a kid (and you know you did too!).

The series ran from 1985 to 1992 and was the story of Angus MacGyver (yes he had a first name), an operative for the Phoenix Foundation. MacGyver didn’t like to use guns and instead used his scientific knowledge and inventive use of common items to reach uncommon solutions. The creators tried to make sure whatever MacGyver did would be scientifically possible, although some would require some pretty ideal circumstances to work.

Richard Dean Anderson (lately of Stargate SG-1) starred as MacGyver. Also starring were Dana Elcar as Pete Thornton; and, in recurring roles, Bruce McGill as Jack Dalton; and Michael Des Barres as MacGyver’s nemesis, Murdoc. Guest stars included Teri Hatcher, Della Reese, and Cuba Gooding Jr.

MacGyver became a household name and the term “MacGyver” is now used as a verb to describe the creative use of an item to repair or engineer something. Now that’s the mark of a pop culture phenomenon!

The entire series released on DVD this week and it includes all 139 episodes from the 7 seasons and a bonus disc which is believed to include both of the 1994 made-for-TV movies “Lost Treasure of Atlantis” and “Trail to Doomsday” as well as some additional special features.

For grins, watch this clip from the 4th episode of Season 4, “The Gauntlet,” where MacGyver tells us all about the importance of using a map:

I recommend you check out the British titles on sale right now at Amazon.com. If you haven’t seen some of these shows, you are really missing out. Some of my favorite shows come from across the pond! I told you last week how I love The Vicar of Dibley. Also on my list of favorites:

Sci-fi meets Sitcom in Red Dwarf, the story of the last human being alive and his not-quite human friends who are stranded on a mining ship millions of light years away.

The brilliant John Cleese in the equally brilliant Fawlty Towers is another don’t miss. Fawlty Towers is the story of Basil Fawlty and his wife Sybil and their hotel filled with unbelievably quirky characters. This show is double you over funny!

Coupling (which stars Jack Davenport from Pirates of the Caribbean), a four season show which is the ultimate in naughty hilarity. It is billed as a show about “nothing but sex” and that description fits it to a T.

Chef! starring Lenny Henry is another brilliant show. Lenny stars as Gareth Blackstock, the brilliant yet ill-tempered chef at Le Chateau Anglais. Though it may not sound like much, this show is outstanding and amazingly funny. Lenny Henry is unmatched (except maybe by his real-life wife, Dawn French)!

These are just a few of my favorites. Others you might enjoy are The Office (on which the American show is based), The Black Adder, the long-running Are You Being Served and As Time Goes By - just to name a few. Go ahead! Don’t be scared to try something new!

While we can still find a few TV titles on the charts for the week of October 7, big screen blockbusters are dominating right now.  Heroes, Grey’s Anatomy and Family Guy are hanging on, but have each dropped a few spots. Entourage joins the list as does the Ken Burns PBS documentary, The War.

1. Fantastic 4: Silver Surfer
2. The Jungle Book
3. Knocked Up
4. 1408
5. Fantastic Four: Silver Surfer Power Cosmic Ed.
6. Next
7. Barbie As The Island Princess
8. We Are Marshall
9. Wild Hogs
10. The Condemned
11. 300
12. Heroes: Season 1
13. Family Guy: Vol. 5
14. Death Proof
15. Bug
16. Entourage: Season 3-Part 2
17. Grey’s Anatomy: Season 3
18. Dora The Explorer: Dora Saves The Mermaids
19. Disney Princess: Follow Your Dreams
20. Ken Burns: The War

TV on DVD, Top Selling

This week we feature a show that just released on DVD today, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Studio 60 was created and written by Aaron Sorkin of The West Wing fame. The show followed the behind-the-scenes events of a fictional sketch comedy show similar to Saturday Night Live.

Studio 60 featured an all-star ensemble cast which included Matthew Perry (Friends), Bradley Whitford (The West Wing), Amanda Peet (Jack & Jill), Sarah Paulson (Jack & Jill), Nate Corddry (The Daily Show), D.L. Hughley (The Hughleys), Steven Weber (Wings) and Timothy Busfield (thirty-something).

This was one of the most anticipated shows of the Fall 2006 season and, based on the pilot, it was named “Best Overall New Program” by television critics. But ratings quickly fell off and later episodes weren’t as well-received. Rumors of its cancellation began as early as October of 2006, but NBC denied the rumors and ultimately ordered a full season of the show.

In February of 2007, NBC put the show on hiatus a week early and filled its timeslot with The Black Donnellys. On April 2, NBC announced that the show would not be coming back to its regular Monday night slot. The series did return in late April to finish out its run. The show’s final episode aired on June 26, 2007.

The show was nominated for several Emmy Awards including Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series, Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series, Outstanding Casting in Dramatic Series, Outstanding Guest Actor in Dramatic Series (Eli Wallach). John Goodman took home the award for Guest Actor in a Dramatic Series for his role as Judge Robert Bebe on the show.

The DVD hits today and it includes all 22 episodes as well as a few special features. Here’s what you’ll find:

1. Pilot
2. The Cold Open
3. The Focus Group
4. The West Coast Delay
5. The Long Lead Story
6. The Wrap Party
7. Nevada Day (1)
8. Nevada Day (2)
9. The Option Period
10. B-12
11. The Christmas Show
12. Monday
13. The Harriet Dinner (1)
14. The Harriet Dinner (2)
15. The Friday Night Slaughter
16. 4 a.m. Miracle
17. The Disaster Show
18. Breaking News
19. K & R (1)
20. K & R (2)
21. K & R (3)
22. What Kind Of Day Has It Been

Special Features:

• Audio Commentary on the pilot episode with creator Aaron Sorkin and executive producer Thomas Schlamme
• In Depth: The Evolution of Studio 60: A behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

TV on DVD, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Matthew Perry, Bradley Whitford, Amanda Peet, John Goodman,  Aaron Sorkin, DVD

There are lots of titles to choose from this Tuesday, October 16. My recommendations are the MacGyver complete series set; one of my favorite shows, Mythbusters; hilarious British comedy, Absolutely Fabulous; and the Showtime classic, The Best of Bizarre. Fans of Studio 60 can also pick up the DVD of the short-lived series tomorrow and classic sitcom lovers can find Roseanne and That 70’s Show.

Absolutely Fabulous - White Box
The Best of Bizarre - 10-DVD Set
Charlie and Lola - Volume 6
Ironside - Season 2
Jonathan Creek - Season 2
MacGyver - The Complete Series
Masters of Horror - Season 1, Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
Masters of Horror - Season 1, Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
Masters of Horror - The Damned Thing
Medium - The Complete 3rd Season
MythBusters - Collection 2
Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares - Volume 1
Roseanne - The Complete 9th Season
Squidbillies - Volume 1
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - The Complete Series
That ’70s Show - Season 7
Waking the Dead - The Complete 2nd Season
Wanted: Dead or Alive - Season 3

COMING SOON:

I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (October 23)
My So-Called Life - The Complete Series (October 30)
The X-Files Ultimate Collection (November 6)
Northern Exposure - The Complete Series (November 13)
The Addams Family - The Complete Series (November 13)
Star Trek TOS - Season 1 combo HD & standard DVD (November 20)
Queer as Folk - The Complete Series (November 20)
Battlestar Galactica - Razor (December 4)

Check out the TV on DVD page at Amazon.com for a complete list of upcoming titles, or to purchase any of these favorites.

TV on DVD, New Releases, October 16

Finally! The complete collection of The Vicar of Dibley is available in one place. Released this week, The Vicar of Dibley, the Immaculate Collection has it all! Previously, you had to buy the specials and the finale episodes seperately from the regular series DVDs. This is one of my favorite British comedies and I never fail to laugh out loud, no matter how many times I have seen the episodes. I’ll defintely be adding this one to my collection.

Dawn French is hilarious as Geraldine Granger, the woman vicar who surprises the small village of Dibley. The quirky townspeople - Jim, Owen, Frank and Hugo - are unbelievably funny and a great contrast to the straight-laced David Horton, with whom they sit on the parish council. Also hilarious is the unbelievably disty parish verger, Alice Tinker.  The series began in 1994 and wrapped up in 2000. They also filmed several specials including the 2 part finale, “A Holy Wholly Happy Ending,” which aired on Christmas Day 2006 and New Years Day 2007 and wrapped up the series.

The Vicar of Dibley: Immaculate Collection DVD includes all 18 episodes, the three 10th anniversary specials and the 2 part series finale special. Special features include:

• Comic Relief Sketches from 1997, 1999, 2005 and 2007

• Documentary: The Real Vicars of Dibley

• Dibley Defrocked - Behind the scenes at the 10th Anniversary Specials

• The Vicar of Dibley Story - Cast and crew look back on 12 years of Dibley

Enjoy this clip of “It Shoulda Been Me” from the finale!

TV on DVD, Vicar of Dibley, Immaculate Collection, DVD, Dawn French