TV on DVD Buzz

Wonderfalls is a show I have heard many good things about, but have never been fortunate enough to see. Created by Tim Minear (Firefly), the show was originally slated to premiere in the fall of 2003 but for some reason was delayed until March of 2004. It premiered to critical acclaim. Viewers were hard to come by though, at what should have been the end of the TV Season rather than the beginning. A timeslot change after the first episode wasn’t promoted and didn’t really help their plight either. After airing only 4 of the 13 episodes, the network pulled the show. Immediately after the show’s cancellation, its producers attempted to interest other networks, including The WB, in picking up the series but nobody was interested.

The show centered around Jaye Tyler, a recent Brown University graduate with a philosophy degree, who instead of going on to a job in her field, works as a sales clerk at a Niagara Falls gift shop. Her job is quite ordinary until one day when inanimate objects start talking to her, instructing her to help others in need. Jaye reluctantly agrees and ends up becoming the reluctant hero.

The cast included:

Caroline Dhavernas as Jaye Tyler
Tracie Thoms as Mahandra McGinty
Tyron Leitso as Eric Gotts
Lee Pace as Aaron Tyler
Katie Finneran as Sharon Tyler
William Sadler as Darrin Tyler
Diana Scarwid as Karen Tyler
Neil Grayston as Alec “Mouthbreather”
Jewel Staite as Heidi Gotts

I couldn’t help but note that Lee Pace starred in this show. You might know Lee from another off-the-beaten-path show, which I happen to love, Pushing Daisies.

As with most cancelled-before-their-time shows, Wonderfalls had developed a loyal fanbase. A fan-led campaign was launched to try and get the show released on DVD. They garnered support of many of the cast and crew. 

They got their wish on February 1, 2005 when 20th Century Fox released a DVD set including all 13 episodes. Also included is commentary by the producers and cast members, a behind-the-scenes documentary, an examination of the show’s visual effects, and one of the two music videos produced for the theme song, “I Wonder Why the Wonder Falls” by Andy Partridge. 

Tabitha was a spinoff of the beloved 1960’s series Bewitched. The series starred a pre-nose job Lisa Hartman (Knots Landing) as Tabitha Stephens, the daughter of Samantha and Darrin, who is all grown up and living in Los Angeles. The show follows her as she learns to use and control her witchcraft while working at a television station. Her younger brother, Adam (David Ankrum), in classic Darrin Stephens fashion, discourages her from using her witchcraft while Aunt Minerva (Karen Morrow) channels Endora and does just the opposite. Robert Urich stars as Tabitha’s love interest and television personality Paul Thurston and Mel Stewart plays her boss, Marvin Decker.

Although Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York (or Dick Sargent for that matter) didn’t ever show up on the series, a few actors from the original series did reprise their roles. Bernard Fox shows up as Dr. Bombay, and George Tobias and Sandra Gould  guest star as nosy neighbors Abner and Gladys Kravitz. Also guest starring are tv favorites Barry Van Dyke, Fred Willard and Werner “Col. Klink” Klemperer.

The pilot premiered on ABC on May 7, 1977 and the series debuted on September 10 of that same year. The second episode didn’t air until November 12, after which the series continued normally. It failed to perform in the ratings and was cancelled after only 12 episodes. The final episode was shown on January 14, 1978.

The DVD release includes all 12 episode plus the original, unaired pilot which starred Liberty Williams and Bruce Kimmel in the roles of Tabitha and Adam in a somewhat different setting.

OK, I bet you thought Fun Friday would feature Twin Peaks didn’t you? Well I fooled you. Instead I am featuring Seinfeld: The Complete Series which releases next Tuesday, November 6.

Fans everywhere are buzzing about this set.  The show, billed as the “show about nothing”, ran on NBC from July 5, 1989 to May 14, 1998 as part of the heralded “Must See TV” lineup. It’s catchphrases became part of pop culture and even now, nearly 10 years later, you will still hear people talk about the “soup nazi” or being “master of their domain.”

Seinfeld: The Complete Series set is packaged in a beautiful collectors case and includes all 180 episodes on 32 (or some sources say 33) DVDs. Special features include:

• More than 104 hours of amazing extras
• The Official Coffee Table Book: a 226-page bound anthology filled with photos, quotes, and trivia from every episode
• Bonus disc featuring the reunion of the cast plus Larry David on the ninth anniversary of the series finale
• Documentaries for all nine seasons
• Inside looks
• Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That (bloopers)
• In the vault (deleted scenes)
• Yada Yada Yada (commentaries)
• “Sein-Imation”
• Notes about nothing

Here’s a look at one of the hilarious blooper scenes featuring Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), George (Jason Alexander) and George’s dad, Frank (Jerry Stiller):

This set has a suggested retail price of about $280 but it is available for pre-order at Amazon right now for only $212.99.

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:

It’s no secret How I Met Your Mother is one of my favorite shows. Season 2 saw Lily and Marshal go from broken up to married, Ted and Robin evolve from new love to realizing they weren’t right for each other, and Barney visiting his “father,” Bob Barker on The Price is Right….legendary! The Season 2 DVD released this week and includes one of the most memorable moments from last season, the revelation that Robin was once a Candian teen pop star, Robin Sparkles. One thing I love about this show is all the time they put into the extra content and this Robin Sparkles “Let’s Go To The Mall” full music video is a perfect example.

How I Met Your Mother - Season Two is a 3-disc set which includes all 22 episodes plus loads of special features, including this Robin Sparkles video. Also included are the web exclusive “How it Really Happened” featurettes which are hilarious.

Episodes:
1. Where Were We?
2. The Scorpion and the Toad
3. Brunch
4. Ted Mosby: Architect
5. World’s Greatest Couple
6. Aldrin Justice
7. Swarley
8. Atlantic City
9. Slap Bet
10. Single Stamina
11. How Lily Stole Christmas
12. First Time in New York
13. Columns
14. Monday Night Football
15. Lucky Penny
16. Stuff
17. Arrivederci, Fiero
18. Moving Day
19. Bachelor Party
20. Showdown
21. Something Borrowed
22. Something Blue

Special Features: 

• Audio Commentary on select episodes by cast & crew
• How We Make Your Mother featurette
• How It Really Happened: Moving Day featurette 
• How It Really Happened: Showdown featurette 
• How It Really Happened: Bachelor Party featurette 
• “Robin Sparkles” Video 
• “Hey Beautiful” Video 
• Gag Reel 
• Easter Egg

TV on DVD, How I Met Your Mother, Season 2 DVD, Robin Sparkles

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Leave It To Beaver, TV Land will be running a 24 hour marathon beginning on October 6th at 8:00PM ET/PT and concluding on Sunday, October 7th at 8:00PM ET/PT. The marathon includes the rarely-seen 1957 pilot entitled “It’s a Small World.” It features Jerry Mathers as the Beaver and Barbara Billingsley as his mom, June, but cast regulars Hugh Beaumont and Tony Dow are missing. Instead you have Max Showalter (remember Grandpa Fred in Sixteen Candles?) as Ward and Paul Sullivan as Wally. Veteran comedic actor Harry Shearer (Spinal Tap, A Mighty Wind, The Simpsons) is seen in one of his very first roles as Frankie, a neighborhood tough guy.

Leave it to Beaver premiered on October 4, 1957 and ran until September 12, 1963. It was one of the first sitcoms to feature a child as a major player. It has become a staple in American households, teaching lessons to generation after generation.

As part of the celebration, TVLand.com has put up a selection of special content including Leave It To Beaver clips, a special photo gallery, and a trivia game. The original 1957 pilot and four bonus episodes chosen by TV Land.com users will also be available to watch online. In addition,  TVLand.com is giving away 100 copies of the Leave it to Beaver, Season 1 DVD. The contest will run through October 17, with winners being announced by October 24. The Season 1 DVD includes all 39 episodes from the first season plus the rarely seen pilot. Visit http://www.tvland.com/sweepstakes/beaver/ for your chance to win.

Here’s a clip from the newly released Two and a Half Men, Season 1 DVD:

Get Two and a Half Men Season 1 on DVD September 11th. Charlie Harper is a bachelor in paradise, complete with Malibu beach house, overpaid job and a very active dating life. Then his uptight brother Alan, in the throes of a divorce, moves in - and brings his 10-year-old son Jake with him. Sorry, Charlie. It looks like paradise lost.

Desperate Housewives: The Complete Third Season, The Dirty Laundry Edition releases next Tuesday, September 4. It includes all 23 one-hour episodes on six-discs. Special features include: 

BONUS FEATURES:
• “Here Comes the Bride”  
A behind-the-scenes look at the season three finale
• “Amas de Casa Desesperadas”
Meet the lovely Latinas of Wisteria Lane
• “Cherry Picked”
Creator Marc Cherry’s favorite scenes
• Deleted Scenes
• Bloopers/Outtakes
• Spanish Audio Track

This show came on strong in the first season, but got a little off track in season 2. I quit watching after the disappointment of season 2, but as I understand it, season 3 saw the show get back to the humor and great stories that we saw when it was brand new. I’ll be renting this one to catch up for season 4. Let’s hope it’s a good one! 

TV on DVD, Desperate Housewives, Season 3

Season 9 of Seinfeld will release on November 6 and along with it a Complete Series set. Seinfeld, The Complete Series set will contain a new round-table discussion with stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards and creator Larry David, with Jerry Seinfeld as the moderator. Also included will be a 226-page Official Coffee Table Book, which was originally a gift to the cast and crew. It was recreated exclusively for the DVD release and is packed with photos and other materials about the show.

It’s no coincidence that the November 6 street date coincides with Jerry Seinfeld’s new animated feature, Bee Movie. 

Source

TV on DVD, Seinfeld, Complete Series, Bee Movie, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards

Full House. It’s sappy. It’s sweet. It’s funny. It’ll teach you some life lessons. Go ahead, admit it. It’s your guilty pleasure. When you hear that theme song and see Mary Kate (or is it Ashley?) smiling at you, you MUST sit down and watch. Maybe you’re a Full House junkie and can tell the season by Uncle Jesse’s hairdo or maybe you’re just a casual watcher. It’s hard to resist all the cuteness of this show. My kids love it today just as much as I did “back in the day”.

Now you can own season 7 for yourself and see all the touching moments like this one (when Papouli died - yes I know way too much about this show):

The zaniness of the Tanner household returns to delight viewers again when Warner Home Video releases the seventh season of the top-selling classic Full House on DVD August 7, 2007. Full House: The Complete Seventh Season will include 24 episodes from the show’s seventh season in a four-disc set, and will retail for $29.98 SRP.

TV on DVD, Full House, Mary Kate Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Season 7, You Tube

John Ritter. Just saying his name makes me a little sad. 

I was thrilled when he came back to TV with 8 Simple Rules… in 2002. That year, my best friend was going through a divorce and having a tough time. She and her daughter would come over every week and watch the show with us. We would cook tacos or some other “health food” and sit around the TV to watch. We called it “family night.” Great comedy and touching family moments were plentiful during that first season of 8 Simple Rules…. (more…)