TV on DVD Buzz

Here is this week’s edition for TV on DVD Releases in the drama category.

Army Wives: The Complete Season 2 - This release is a five disc set. The special features include a featurette called Active Duty about the cast of Army Wives at Fort Bragg, a featurette called Operational Intelligence about getting the Army’s support, a featurette called The Tribe (a behind the scenes with the cast), Army Wives’ gives back segments, deleted scenes, bloopers, and audio commentaries.

Cannon: Season Two Volume 1 - This release is a three disc set.

The Hunger: The Complete First Season - This release is a four disc set.

Prison Break: Season 4 - This release is a six disc set with the 22 episodes of the season that aired in the U.S. The final two episodes of the series appear to have only been shown in the UK, but are being released direct to DVD in the US on July 21, 2009. Perhaps there will also be a more complete Season 4 release at that time or at least with that release you can then own the complete season and for those in the US actually view the end of the series beyond the series finale aired in the US.

Quincy, M.E.: Season 3 - This release is a four disc set.

Raising the Bar: The Complete First Season - This release contains the show’s complete first season, which includes 10 episodes. Amazon lists it as being a one disc set, but I kind of doubt it is unless it is double side, but still that is a lot of episodes for just one disc.

This week’s TV on DVD Season I am going through and doing wrap ups of is the two disc Samantha Brown Passport to Great Weekends: Season 1 set. This wrap up is of disc 2. See wrap up of disc 1 here.

“Austin” - Friday night she visits a music club. Saturday morning she goes to a coffee shop that is also a musician hang out. After breakfast she gets a henna tattoo. After a swim in the cool springs she goes to have barbecue. She then watches bats fly out from under a bridge called the bat bridge. After dark she visits a honky tonk dance hall.

“Washington, D.C.” - Samantha kayaks on the Potomac. She then goes to U Street to go to Ben’s Chili Bowl. Saturday she visits the Eastern Market. She then goes to a bar to try and learn how to make special cocktails. For dinner she goes to an Ethiopian restaurant. She then goes to a poet reading. For Sunday brunch she goes to a restaurant with drag queen entertainment.

“Wyoming” - In Wyoming Samantha stays at a dude ranch. She helps round up cattle as her first horse ride at the ranch. She then visits a bar that was once a brothel. On Saturday morning she cleans out the stabbles. She then works with the blacksmith. She then goes rafting. She helps mash the potatoes for dinner. Sunday she learns roping. She then competes in barrel racing at the rodeo.

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Here is this week’s edition for TV on DVD Releases in the documentary and reality categories.

2008 MLS Cup Championship Game - This release includes the game (perhaps just highlights), behind the scenes footage, and a season highlights segment.

60 Minutes Amazon Crude - This release is of a 12 minute segment from the May 3, 2009 episode.

60 Minutes Reeducating Bin Laden’s Disciples - This release is of another 12 minute segment from the May 3, 2009 episode.

BBC History of World War II - This release is a 12 disc set including archive footage and eyewitness testimony.

American Originals - This release includes episodes of Ice Road Truckers, Dangerous Missions, Ax Men, and Tougher in Alaska.

Cities of the Underworld: The Complete Season Three - This release is a four disc set with the 13 episodes from the show’s third season. The bonus features include additional footage.

Military Combat - This release is a 14 disc set.

The New York Yankees: Essential Games of Yankee Stadium- Perfect Games and No Hitters - This releases is a six disc set featuring six games that were perfect and/or no hitter games at old Yankee Stadium.

Ice Road Truckers: The Most Dangerous Episodes - This release features what they think is the four most dangerous episodes in the series.

Prehistoric Collection: From Dinosaurs to the Dawn of Man - This is an 8 disc set. The bonus features include Jurassic Fight Club, Additional Footage, and an episode of Mega Disasters.

Stealing Lincoln’s Body - This is a special about the foiled attempt to steal Lincoln’s body in 1876.

UFO Hunters: The Complete Season Two - This release is a 4 disc set of the history channel show.

The Universe: The Complete Season Three - This release is a four disc set with the third season’s 12 episodes. The bonus features include additional footage.

The Universe: Our Solar System - This release is a two disc set.

World War II: Behind Closed Doors - This release is a two disc set.

Here is this week’s edition for TV on DVD Releases in the comedy category.

Designing Women: The Complete First Season - This release is a four disc set of the 21 episodes in the show’s first season. The bonus features include a featurette called “Designing Women: A Reunion.”

Jeeves & Wooster: The Complete Series - This release is a 8 disc set of the British comedy series. The show stars Hugh Laurie (now famous in the U.S. for his lead role in House, M.D.) and Steve Fry. Steve Fry (Jeeves) plays the valet for Hugh Laurie’s character (Bertie Wooster).

T.V. Sets: Forever Funny - This release contains episodes from seven different comedy shows. It features Cheers, The Honeymooners, The Brady Bunch, Frasier, I Love Lucy, Taxi, and The Odd Couple.

Here is this week’s edition for TV on DVD Releases in the animated category.

Digimon Data Squad Collection One - This release is a three disc set with 13 episodes from the show.

Dora the Explorer: Super Babies’ Dream Adventure - This release features an episode about Dora telling a special Super Babies naptime story to her twin siblings.

Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s Volume 1 - This release is a two disc set featuring episodes from 14 different cartoon series from the 1960s. The shows include Top Cat, Peter Potamus, Porky Pig, Quick Draw McGraw, and more.

Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1970s Volume 1 - This release is a two disc set featuring episodes from 12 different cartoon series from the 1970s. The shows include Speed Buggy, Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan, Funky Phantom, and more.

This week’s TV on DVD Season I am going through and doing wrap ups of is the two disc Samantha Brown Passport to Great Weekends: Season 1 set. I will be posting about one disc today and the second disc tomorrow.

“Orlando” - Samantha bases herself in downtown Orlando for the weekend. She starts her weekend on Friday going to a wine bar. On Saturday morning she visits the City Arts Factory to learn how to make a beer pint glass with a glass artist. Next she visits the local Farmer’s market. After she scrounges for free samples there, which I personally find offensive because she never even suggests also buying stuff from the vendors, she goes to a shoe store. That evening she has drinks with the artists using her glass cup. On Sunday she visits a local soul food restaurant that most tourists do not even notice. Sunday afternoon she does wind tunnel sky diving.

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Here is this week’s edition for TV on DVD Releases in the drama category.

The Closer: The Complete Fourth Season - This release is a four disc set of the show’s fourth season. The special features probably include Police Files deleted scenes like the previous season releases.

Edward II - This release is a BBC release of the historical play by Christopher Marlowe.

Gunsmoke Season 3 Volume 2 - This release is a three disc set with 20 episodes from the show’s third season.

The Invisibles: Series 1 - This release is a two disc set of the British crime drama series. This release includes six episodes.

Land of the Lost: The Complete Series - This release is an 8 disc set. This release also comes in a limited edition lunch box set.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit The Ninth Year - This release is a five disc set with the shows 19 episodes.

The Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon - A Smithsonian expedition disappears looking for a rumored hidden city in the Grand Canyon. Susan, the expedition leader’s daughter and also an archeologist, leads a rescue mission and discover an ancient civilization of savage warriors.

The Mod Squad: Season 2 Volume 2 - This release is a three disc set.

Murder Most English - This release is a BBC television series based on the novels by Colin Watson. It includes 7 episodes.

T.V. Sets: Action Packed - This release is an interesting collection of four different action drama series. It includes one episode of each of the following shows: MacGyver, Walker, Texas Ranger, NCIS, and Mission: Impossible.

Here is this week’s edition for TV on DVD Releases in the documentary and reality categories.

60 Minutes Powered by Coal - This release is a 12 minute segment from the April 26, 2009, episode of 60 Minutes about coal power.

60 Minutes Vice President Biden - This is another 12 minute segment from the April 26, 2009 episode of 60 Minutes about the current U.S. Vice President.

Caught on Tape: Complete Series - This is a two disc set.

Desert Triumph Complete Story of Operation Desert Storm - This is a two disc release from CBS News.

Extreme Engineering: Collection Two - This release is a two disc set. The episodes include “Tokyo’s Sky City,” “Transatlantic Tunnel,” “Subways in America,” “Bridging the Bering Strait,” “Turning Torso,” “Millau Viaduct,” “Biggest Warship,” and “Big Easy Rebuild.”

The New Detectives Season 3 - This release is a three disc set of the Discovery Channel forensic science series. It includes 10 episodes.

Rat Attack! - This is a PBS NOVA documentary about rats attacking every 48 years when a special bamboo flowers.

The Summit - This is a reality show about a race of 20 to the summit. This is a two disc set.

World of Wonder: Season One - This release is a two disc set with 13 episodes.

Here is this week’s edition for TV on DVD Releases in the comedy category.

8 Simple Rules: The Complete Second Season - This release is a three disc set of the show, which deals with death and moving on after the father’s death due to the actor that played the father unexpectedly dying. This season has 24 episodes.

Invasion Iowa - This release is a two disc set of the comedic sci-fi show. It includes 10 episodes including 3 with audio commentaries.

Jo Koy: Don’t Make Him Angry - This DVD release is of the Comedy Central special done by Jo Koy.

Russell Brand in New York City - This release is of the British stand up comic that was shown on Comedy Central.

Sister, Sister: The Second Season - This release is a three disc set with the second season’s 18 episodes.

Here is this week’s edition for TV on DVD Releases in the animated and kids categories.

Barney : Let’s Go on Vacation - This release is about Barney and friends going on a musical adventure to a new place. This DVD sounds like a good release for Barney fans as it includes several bonus features. The features include a bonus episode of Roary the Racing Car called “Roary’s Day At the Seaside,” pack a suitcase with Barney activity, Barney’s Travel Checklist, and three Spanish Sing-Alongs (”Bombachio – Mr. Kickerbocker,” “Si Las Gotas de Lluvia – If All the Raindrops,” “Te Quiero Yo – I Love You”).

Clifford: Family Fun Pack - This release is a three disc set. I believe it includes three previously released Clifford DVDs.

Dragon Ball Z: Season Nine - This release is a six disc set with the series episodes from 254 to 291. It comes with a 24 page booklet with episode summaries and character descriptions.

Fireman Sam: Hero Next Door - This release has gotten bad reviews on UK Amazon, where is has already been released, because the show has changed from stop motion animation to poor computer animation.

Thomas & Friends: Team Up With Thomas - This release contains new content (i.e. new episodes) and the introduction of two new friends.

Viva Pinata: Lights, Camera, Action - This is the second set of Viva Pinata episodes. This release includes the series episodes 6 through 10. The episodes are “Franklin Can’t Dance/Les Saves the Day…Again,” “Sick Day/Lights, Camera, Action!,” “Mad Mongo/Hudson’s Biggest Fan,” “Mission Impiñatable/My Little Fergy,” and “The Great Gob Rush/Hero.”

Here is this week’s edition for TV on DVD Releases in the drama category.

24: Season Seven - This release is a quite a quick one coming out the day after the series final two episodes air. This release is a six disc set of the season’s 24 episodes. This release is coming out in Blu-Ray format, too.

Friday Night Lights: The Third Season - This release is a four disc set of the 13 episodes in the third season. The episodes are not in the full version shown on DirectTV Channel 101, but the deleted scenes integrated into those episodes might be on this release as special features.

Peyton Place: Part One - This release is a five disc set of the soap opera that aired twice weekly in prime time on ABC in the 1960s. I believe this had the first 31 half hour episodes of the show.

Taggart Hit Man Set - This release is a three disc set of the longest running police drama. It includes “Nest of Vipers,” “Double Exposure,” and “The Hit Man.”

Taggart Ring of Deceit Set - This release is another three disc set of the longest running police drama. It includes “Ring of Deceit,” “Fatal Inheritance,” and “Death Benefits.”

Taggart Violent Delights Sets - This release is yet another three disc set of the longest running police drama. It includes “Death Comes Softly,” “Rogues’ Gallery,” and “Violent Delights.”

True Blood: The Complete First Season - This release is a five disc set of the show’s 12 episodes from season 1. The releases special features include audio commentary, documentary, and more. This release is also coming out in Blu-Ray format.

This week’s TV on DVD Season I am going through and doing wrap ups of is the four disc The Closer Season 2 set. This wrap up is of disc 4, the final disc.

“No Good Deed” - A male high school junior is killed when shot several times while riding his bike. The boy’s priest leads them to search the kid’s room. The boy might have been killed because of testifying in a convenience store robbery and murder. The boy’s testimony does not match that of the person on trial. Brenda misplaces her purse. She has Flynn and Sanchez work on trying to find it. Brenda begins to think that the boy’s testimony was false related to the call for witnesses to try and prove the man on trial was innocent. Pope’s ex-wife, Estelle, comes to see Brenda at work and confronts her in front of everyone about her thinking that Brenda would take up the affair with Pope now that he is unmarried and warns her against it. They find a photo of a girl in the boy’s room and the cell of the man in prison. They bring in the girl for questioning since she appears to be connected to both. Fritz confronts Brenda about her past with Pope. They search the girl’s locker and finds letters written from the man in prison. They interview the prisoner about the letters he wrote to the girl and he admits that he was using her and pretending to like her while he actually had other more real girlfriends. It turns out the prisoner was trying to set up a friend named Stevie by having the girl find someone to lie for him using the description of his friend. Brenda finally finds out that she left her purse in Pope’s office.

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This week’s TV on DVD Season I am going through and doing wrap ups of is the four disc The Closer Season 2 set. I will be posting about one disc each day until this Thursday. This wrap up is of disc 3.

“Critical Missing” - Two bodies are found in the water. They appear to be of a Japanese woman and a little girl tied together. Taylor and Tao think it might be a murder/suicide like those of Japanese widows of WWII killing themselves and daughters because they thought the Americans would rape them. They found a boarding pass from Tokyo in the the girl’s backpack. They cannot find a missing person’s report in the US and begin to think there might be one in Japan. The woman, however, does have a home in the US, but her plane ticket was round trip from Tokyo and back to Tokyo. When they go to the woman’s house they find a man driving the woman’s car and they follow it. The man says his wife and believes his wife is in Japan. The husband says that she left him a note saying she left him and took their daughter to Japan. He tried to contact her parents and they say they do not know where his wife is, but he did not believe that. The husband’s story seems to check out. Brenda meets the husband’s new girlfriend and son. Brenda begins to suspect the woman and daughter came back to the husband’s house while only the girlfriend was there. Taylor finds that the husband’s first wife also disappeared (the one found is his second). They find footage of the woman and girl leaving the airport with a man. They find the woman’s shoes in the man’s car and the man was missing a sleeping bag that is connected to the woman’s body. The man had his car repaired at the woman’s husband’s auto repair. The husband ends up with a deal with the DA and Brenda tries to get him a harsher punishment by finding the body of the first wife. It seems she does find it, but the episodes ends there.

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This week’s TV on DVD Season I am going through and doing wrap ups of is the four disc The Closer Season 2 set. I will be posting about one disc each day until this Thursday. This wrap up is of disc 2.

“Aftertaste” - This episode begins with a body found at a restaurant. The body is of a woman, who owned LA’s newest 5 star restaurant where she is found. A large bouquet of flowers with a bottle of wine arrives for Brenda at the office. They find out that Duton ate at the restaurant the night the woman was murdered and he was believed to have killed his girlfriend with a golf club years before. Brenda interviews Duton and he gives an alibi story about being with a food critic. Brenda brings in the food critic and gives word for word the same alibi, which makes Brenda suspicious. The food critic explains that they do not have all the knifes from the kitchen because chefs take their personal ones home after their shift. Brenda goes to see the woman’s husband, who is a chef, and asks to see his knifes, which he reluctantly allows. They discover that one of the husband’s knives is the murder weapon, however it does not match forensically and just suggests that the murderer was another cook. When Brenda calls Fritz to cancel dinner plans it is revealed that it is her brithday, hence the flowers. Flynn and Provenza is tailing the woman’s husband when he goes into a restaurant and holds a knife to the neck of another chef, as Provenza is arresting the husband the other chef tries to escape and they end up arresting both. Pope brings Brenda take out dinner while she works late on her birthday. He also gives her a gift. Provenza reads the card in Brenda’s flowers and finds out it is her 40th birthday. Brenda interrogates the chef the woman’s husband attacked and learns that his knives match those supposedly given to the woman and her husband by Duton on the restaurant’s opening night. They find out that her husband is the multi million dollar life insurance and when she goes to talk to the husband he is unaware that his wife slept with the chef he attacked and Duton. This leads Brenda to suspect the food critic because the woman probably slept with him to get a good review. In the end Brend’as co-workers give her a birthday cake.

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Here is this week’s edition for TV on DVD Releases in the documentary and reality categories.

400 Years of the Telescope - This release follows the history of the telescope from the Galileo and the 17th century through to the recent findings from the Hubble Telescope.

60 Minutes 401K Recession - This release is a segment from the April 19, 2009 episode of 60 Minutes.

60 Minutes Cold Fusion is Hot Again - This release is also a segment from the April 19, 2009 episode of 60 Minutes.

A Haunting The Anguished - This is a two disc set of the show from the Discovery Channel. The included episodes are “The Awakening,” “The Calling,” “The Apartment,” and “The Ghost Hunter,”

A Haunting Spirits From The Past - This is a two disc set of the show from the Discovery Channel. The included episodes are “Spirits of the Dead,” “Spellbound,” “Echoes of the Past,” and “Monster in the Apartment.”

A Haunting Twilight of Evil - This is a two disc set of the show from the Discovery Channel.