DVD Release Date: April 4, 2006 (Anchor Bay Home Entertainment
Color
MSRP: $9.98
Number of Discs: 1
Number of Episodes: 4
Running Time: 88 Minutes
Languages: English
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French; Closed Captioned.
Special Features: None
Introduction:
When it debuted as a mid-season replacement in 1996,
The New York Daily News instantly called 3rd Rock from
the Sun “by a long shot, the funniest, most original,
best written, and best produced new comedy of the
season.” For the next five years, it remained the most
wildly inventive, critically acclaimed, and flat-out
hilarious show on TV. Join High Commander Dr. Dick
Solomon (three-time Emmy winner John Lithgow), his
Lieutenant trapped in a woman’s body Sally (two-time
Emmy winner Kristen Johnston), senior
office-turned-hormonal teen Tommy (Joseph
Gordon-Levitt), the supremely squinty Harry (French
Stewart), and Dick’s beloved Dr. Albright (Jane
Curtin) in these hilarious episodes on the Best
Episodes In The Universe, Really DVD set.
#1: “Brains and Eggs” (Season 1)
The first episode of the long-running television hit
3rd Rock from the Sun!
#16: ”Dick Like Me” (Season 1)
The Solomons discover that everyone on Earth has roots
but them. During a chat with Tommy's teacher Mr.
Randell, Dick learns that the teenager isn't "fitting
in" at school. "Of course I'm not fitting in," snaps
Tommy, "to fit in, you have to be something." The
question is, what to be? Dick grabs an anthropology
book for the answer. "It's loaded with every possible
genre of human," he marvels. "It's like a catalogue.
We can take our pick." Dick picks the Italians
because, according to a swooning Dr. Albright, they're
the sexiest people on the planet. Meanwhile, Sally's
swooning, too -- for Mr. Randell.
#85: ”Dick and Taxes (Season 4)
After three years on the planet, the Solomons finally
learn about an organization called the IRS. They also
learn that they owe it $9500. What to do? Dick's idea:
"We can lie." Dick's never paid taxes, and after
trying to fill out the forms himself, he enlists
Mary's help. When he sees how much he owes, he decides
to be the only American ever to think of the brilliant
idea of cheating on his taxes. When Dick gets an audit
notice, Tommy has to fudge an explanation for what
each family member has been doing for the past six
years. The auditor, however, doesn't buy any of it --
even the "we're aliens" defense, which he's heard
before. The Solomons agree to pay their hefty tax
bill, and thank their lucky stars their true
identities are still a secret. As part of the tax
deception, Sally pretends she had a failed home
business -- a hair salon -- but when she puts up the
sign, women start pouring in. Sally enjoys the
camaraderie and the gossip, but never quite gets the
hang of cutting hair, and with no repeat business, the
salon fails for real.
#100: ”The Fifth Solomon” (Season 5)
The Solomons don't realize how fond they are of their
car until Dick wrecks it while talking on his cell
phone. Meanwhile, Harry finds out about insurance.
Random Thought: I never realized how much I hate the
2nd theme until now--holy crap!
Packaging:
The packaging is an Amaray movie-style case. The
front cover features the 3rd Rock logo (with Best of
in the top left corner. The logo is above a picture
of the gang eating at “Galaxy Burger” (a drive-in)
with Sally in carhop uniform. The back cover is
similar to the normal season releases, in that there’s
text, and a photo below a planet “ring.” The photo
this time? Dr. Albright serving the Solomons green
Jell-O. AAAAAAAH. Normally, the cast would be
divided up per-disc, however, for this set; they’re
all on the one disc, in the rambler.
Menu Design and Navigation:
The main menu is similar to the normal season
releases, but stripped down. A 3-D earth spins in
the bottom left corner, in front of a space
background, while the 1st-4th season’s theme plays.
The rest of the menus are a direct, exact rip from the
season sets.
Video and Audio Quality:
Let’s get to the runtimes right away.
1) Brains and Eggs: 22:40
2) Dick Like Me: 22:41
3) Dick and Taxes: 22:18
4) The Fifth Solomon: 21:36
Pay attention to 1 and 2 closely. Now, compare to
season 1. That’s roughly 50 seconds more. And no,
the episode uses the short theme. 50 extra seconds
of footage on those episodes. That’s worth the price
of admission right there. Video looks quite good, as
does the audio as well. No chapter stops.
Special Features:
No special features on this set. Just the 4 episodes
are included.
Final Comments:
Nice item for a cheap, blind, discount purchase. If
you haven’t picked this up yet, I’d go and buy it, if
for no other reason than the two UNCUT season one
episodes with FIFTY extra seconds of content. That’s
worth the cheap price alone. The season five episode
is nice as well, but as I mention, I REALLY don’t like
the “Big Band”-style 2nd theme.
