TV on DVD Buzz

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:

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:

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

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

Thunderbirds was a British mid-1960s television show which featured a form of puppetry called “Supermarionation.” It was the work of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and followed the adventures of International Rescue. Jeff Tracy, and his five sons who piloted the “Thunderbird” machines were the main focus of the show. It has become a cult classic.

The 40th Anniversary Megaset of Thunderbirds was released this week and includes all 32 episodes on 12 DVDs. It also includes a special new bonus disc containing two rare pop-up episodes, an exciting quiz, and a never-before-seen interview with the series creator Anderson.

Here’s a video featuring all 32 teasers:

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.

I love Smallville! DVD brought me to Smallville and I’ve been hooked ever since. I can’t wait to get the Season 6 DVD on September 18. I think I’ll watch that scene where Lana blew up over and over again. (No, I’m not psycho, just not a Lana fan.) Here’s a clip from Warner Bros. Online featuring Clark Kent and the Martian Manhunter (played by Phil Morris).

TV on DVD, Smallville Season 6, Clark Kent, Tom Welling, Martian Manhunter, Phil Morris, You Tube

Supernatural season 2 is on the way. Here’s a clip from Warner Bros. Online.

Mystery. Demons. Nightmares. Supernatural Season 2, on DVD September 11th, has it all. Sam and Dean Winchester have spent the last year cruising the highways of the United States in their 1967 Chevy Impala, searching for their lost father and encountering creatures that most people believe exist only in folklore, superstition and nightmares. Along the way, they have battled the various supernatural threats–and each other as well, for their sibling rivalries and conflicts were never far from the surface. Finally, they found their father, just as he was closing in on the Demon who claimed their mother.

TV on DVD, Supernatural Season 2, Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles

This is a show I haven’t watched but would love to get into so maybe I’ll rent the DVDs and get started. Season 4 is out next Tuesday. Check out this weird but intriguing clip:

Sex. Seduction. Liposuction. Find them all in the fearless Nip/Tuck, the award-winning series that’s the scalpel’s edge of entertainment…and the spark for debate about what cosmetic surgery can or cannot bring to a patient’s life. Get Nip/Tuck Season 4 on SD and Hi-Def, September 4th.

Here’s a deleted scene from the series premiere of Heroes. The scene features Matt Parkman (Greg Grunberg). This scene, along with many others, will be featured on the DVD which releases next Tuesday, August 28.

TV on DVD, Heroes, Season 1, Greg Grunburg, Matt Parkman, Fun Friday

Hey everyone! I’ve been away for a few days on a family emergency. I’ve updated about that on my other blog - we could use some thoughts and prayers. I apologize that I haven’t updated. I wanted to quickly pop in and give you a “Fun Friday” video.

Here is the opening title sequence from The Fugitive. Season 1 released this past Tuesday, so you can now own this classic 60’s show:

TV on DVD, The Fugitive, The Fugitive Season 1 DVD, You Tube, Fun Friday

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

The Reunion features Joe Straczynski, Bruce Boxleitner, Tracy Scoggins, & Peter Woodward talking about working together again. (more…)

Tales from the Crypt Season 6 just released this week. I used to love this show!! Here’s a clip from the ending of an episode with the Cryptkeeper himself.

The Cryptkeeper is back with the bloodcurdling Tales from The Crypt: The Complete Sixth Season from Warner Home Video on DVD July 24, 2007. Keep entertained this summer with 15 fright-fully fun episodes on three discs including a Virtual Comic Book that will leave you dying…for more. Join the Cryptkeeper on a death-defying ride of terrorizing stories that will give you goose bumps, including Jake Busey in a case of history repeating itself; Rita Rudner as a comic book artist trapped in a hellish world; and Sherilyn Fenn, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini in a murder-gone- afoul mystery featuring Alfred Hitchcock and Humphrey Bogart. The three disc set also features guest stars such as Catherine O’Hara, Issac Hayes, Benicio Del Toro, Wayne Newton, Corey Feldman, Hank Azaria and Kimberly Williams.

TV on DVD, Tales from the Crypt, Cryptkeeper, Season 6, DVD