Mini-DVD Review: Heroes - Season 2 (Aug. 26)

Our regular weekly ratings report will return next week.

Welcome to a special Sunday edition of mini-DVD reviews! Today we look at Universal Studios Home Entertainment's Heroes - Season 2. Watch the Emmy nominated show and experience all the new and exciting twists of the astonishing series in this 4-disc set that includes every gripping season two episode. Rejoin the epic phenomenon as Heroes - Season 2 arrives on DVD and Blu-ray on August 26, 2008. See my mini-DVD review of Heroes - Season 2:



Heroes: Season 2 (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, $39.98)

This 4-disc set includes all 11 episodes from the second season which ran from September-December 2007. The second season premiered on NBC on September 24, 2007. New characters this season included Dania Ramirez as Maya Herrera, Shalim Ortiz as Alejandro Herrera, David Anders as Adam Monroe/Takezo Kensei, Kristen Bell as Elle Bishop and Dana Davis as Monica Dawson. Joining the main cast this season were Zachary Quinto as Sylar and James Kyson Lee as Ando Masahashi.

The packaging of this set is, once again, very stylish. The outer slip cover has a black background and an embossed Heroes title logo. The holofoil cover art has a photo of 10 cast members (none of the new characters) and the city in the background. On the back of the slip cover, there is a synopsis of the set and a listing of the special features. The main digipak packaging slides out from the left of the outer slip cover. The Heroes logo is on the front of the digipak. Opening the digipak, the episodes and special features for discs one and two are listed. There are two of the comic-style drawings at the bottom. Discs three and four information are listed on the back of the packaging. Inside the digipak, there are blue-tinted photos of the cast members. The discs have a blue background and the Heroes logo on them.

The anamorphic menus are attractive and easy to navigate. They open with a series of video clips in 3 different circles/bubbles. Some instrumental score from the series is played in the background for about a minute before it loops. At the bottom of the screen, there are options for "Play All," "Chapter Index," "Bonus Material" and "Languages." When you select Chapter Index, it takes you to a sub-menu where there is a still image from the episode in a circle. A partial Heroes logo is in the background. Discs 1-3 have 3 episodes, while disc 4 has 2. You can play the episodes by themselves, view the deleted scenes or listen to the commentary from this menu. On the Languages menu, there are different invividual photos of the cast members. You can turn on the English SDH, French or Spanish subitles in this section. More photos of the cast members can be found on the Bonus Material menus. Chapter stops are available within the episodes but no separate scene selection menus are offered. When you first insert disc 1, there are Previews which you can play or skip directly to the main menu.

Moving on to the video and audio quality, the excellence is continued. The set is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. Colors are vibrant and clean. The picture is very sharp and detailed. Some of the night time scenes can look a little grainy, but that can be expected. Overall, the lighting is excellent and the outdoor scenes are beautifully shot. These episodes look even better than how they were originally broadcast. All of the episodes appear to be unedited, running around 41-43 minutes in length. They have the "Previously On" Heroes openings as originally broadcast. The first episode of the second season was a bit extended and ran 52 minutes, 33 seconds. There is nothing on the packaging to indicate that any of the original music had to be replaced. The audio is an English Dolby Digital 5.1 track. I didn't notice any major problems on the episodes I've watched so far. The dialogue is at a good volume and easy to understand. I love the music score by Wendy Melvoin & Lisa Coleman and other sound effects that are used in the episodes. Subtitles are available in English, French and spanish. The bonus features are not rated and not all are subtitled.

There is a nice mixture of special features spread out over the 4 discs. The best extras are the audio commentaries by the cast and crew on all 11 episodes. I haven't had a chance to listen to all of them yet, but they offer a lot of interesting trivia and behind the scenes details. Other special features include 17deleted scenes, Heroes Season 2 "A New Beginning" featurette, Takezo Kensei: Sword Saint featurette, The Drucker Files featurette, Genetics of a Scene featurette, season 3 sneak peek, Generations alternate ending, Inside the Alternate ending of Generations, Untold Stories that never aired, NBC.com featurettes and a gallery of Tim Sale's screen art.

Here is a breakdown of the special features by disc:

Disc 1
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1. Four Months Later...
Deleted Scenes - I Too Have a Special Ability (2:20); Petrellis Don't Deserve to be Saved (2:26)
Audio Commentary with Creator/Executive Producer Tim Kring, Co-Executive Producer Jeph Loeb and Series Star Coleman

2. Lizards
Audio Commentary with Executive Producer Allan Arkush, Series Star Greg Grunberg and Co-Executive Producer Michael Green

3. Kindred
Audio Commentary with Episode Director Paul Edwards, Co-Executive Producer JJ Phillbin and Series Star Zachary Quinto

Heroes Season 2 "A New Beginning" (14:40) - Tim Kring introduces us to the theme of "extraordinary people trying to live normal lives." Go behind the scenes with the cast and crew to see what it's like coming back to a hit show and also meet new Heroes as they share anecdotes about filming the second season. Interviews include Masi Oka, Hayden Panettiere, Jack Coleman, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Ali Larter, Sendil Ramamurthy, Zacharay Quinto, Milo Ventimiglia, David Anders, Dania Ramirez, Shalim Ortiz, Kristen Bell, Nicholas D'Agosto, Dana Davis, Noah Gray-Cabey and Executive Producer/Director Allan Arkush. This is sort of a preview of the second season and doesn't really detail what happened later in the season. There probably won't be anything new for die-hard fans, but it will provide a good overview for new watchers.

Disc 2
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4. The Kindness of Strangers
Audio Commentary with Creator/Executive Producer Tim Kring and Series Stars Dana Davis & Adrian Pasdar

5. Fight or Flight
Deleted Scenes - Look, Yako - He Had It All Along (1:39); And She Hit Me Hard (1:28); I'm the Only Normal Person in this Family (:38); You Think I Don't Know You Hiro (2:06), Don't Thank Me Yet (:58)
Audio Commentary with Series Star Greg Grunberg and Executive Producer Greg Beeman

6. The Line
Deleted Scenes - So It Does Run in the Family (1:54); To Fight Alongside the Great Takezo Kensei (1:40); No More Tazer Kidnapping (1:33)
Audio Commentary with Co-Executive Producers Adam Armus & Kay Foster and Series Star Jack Coleman

Takezo Kensei: Sword Saint (23:48) - This featurette is divided into 5 chapters: The Battle of 12 Swords, The Trial of the Fire Scroll, The Trial of the Hidden Fortress, Kensei and the Dragon (Parts 1 and 2)) and The Mystery of Kensei. This is a History channel-style documentary on the character. It is pretty elaborate with a narrator, experts being interviewed, background music and a lot of drawings.

The Drucker Files (8:32) - This is a news report by Global News Interactive on Richard Drucker, the Godfather of the internet.

Disc 3
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7. Out of Time
Deleted Scenes - Get Down From There (1:40); She Can Find Peter (1:03)
Audio Commentary with Episode Director Daniel Attias and Series Star Masi Oka

8. Four Months Ago...
Deleted Scenes - Happy Birthday, Micah (:50); There Is No Need to Cry, Child (1:11); I'm Not O.K. Do I Look O.K.? (1:43)
Audio Commentary with Series Star Milo Ventimiglia and Executive Producer Greg Beeman

9. Cautionary Tales
Deleted Scenes - I Will Bring Him to Justice (:20); I Laughed So Hard Chocolate Milk Came Out of My Nose (1:07)
Audio Commentary with Episdoe Director Greg Yaitanes and Series Stars Kristen Bell & Ashley Crow

Genetics of a Scene (23:14)
2. Lizards - Executive Producer/Director Allan Allan Arkush discusses the shooting of 17th century Japan and how they made it look rural. He talks about the cherry blossoms and the sword fight scenes with Eriko Tamura (Yaeko).
1. Four Months Later... - Executive Producer/Director Greg Beeman talks about how they shot the introduction of Maya and Alejandro. They shot it with a handheld camera and made it documentary style. Dania Ramirez is also interviewed.
8. Four Months Ago... - Executive Producer/Director Greg Beeman talks about the scene of Peter and Nathan flying out of New York and Peter exploding. He talks about the storyboards, how they shot it with green screen and how they did the digital burns.
11. Powerless - Executive Producer/Director Allan Arkush discusses the set of Isaac's loft which was turned into a lab. Zachary Quinto is also interviewed.

Disc 4
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10. Truth & Consequences
Audio Commentary with Episode Director Adam Kane and Series Star Stephen Tobolowsky

11. Powerless
Audio Commentary with Executive Producer Allan Arkush and Composers Lisa Coleman & Wendy Melvoin

Season 3 Sneak Peek (8:37) - A behind-the-scenes look at the making of the third season premiere episode. Interviews include Dania Ramirez, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Ali Larter, Greg Grunberg and Jack Coleman.

Generations Alternate Ending - (17:59) This is from what turned out to be the final episode of the season. Because of the strike, they had to alter the ending and this shows what happens if Peter didn't catch the virus. This includes some temporary vfx. The alternate ending is called lost footage and they weren't able to repurpose it, as they are going with a different storyline at the start of season 3.

Inside the Alternate Ending of Generations (10:57) - Creator/Executive Producer Tim Kring, Executive Producer Jeph Loeb and Co-Executive Producer/Writer Jesse Alexander discuss the alternate ending and detail episodes 11-13. They talk a little about what they were planning for the next 6-8 episodes. Episodes 11-13 had been shot. They talk about the viral outbreak idea and Maya's ability.

Untold Stories (12:13) - This is some footage of scenes that never aired. Like the alternate ending, there is some temporary sfx and scenes that were not finished. It is divided into 6 sections: Teaser (4:28), Act 1 (1:08), Act 2 (:32), Act 3 (2:08), Act 4 (:218), Act 5 (from episode 213) (1:41)

NBC.com Featurettes
Hotel Gurintihain Explosion (:43)
Maya y Alejandro Viral Video (2:31)
Nathan and Peter Brooklyn Cam (:34)

Tim Sale Gallery of Screen Art (2:02) - Screen art is shown with music being played in the background.

Previews (6:42)
Battle Star Galactica, Coach, Eureka, The Incredible Hulk, Murder She Wrote, Northern Exposure, Quantum Leap, The Rockford Files, The A-Team/Knight Rider/Magnum P.I.

Final Comments: This is a pretty nicely produced set, although it can't match the season 1 release. The highlights of this set are the audio commentaries on every episode by the cast and crew. Even if you've already seen all of the episodes, they will add some new insights into the making of the episodes. I also enjoyed the Genetics of a Scene featurette which went into some detail on how they made scenes from four different episodes.

I was a huge fan of the first season, but the show went into a bit of a sophomore slump in season two. A lot of this was because of the writer's strike. No other show as probably more affected. They were only able to produce 11 episodes. I also think they added a few too many new characters and the pace was too slow at the start of the season. It would have been very interesting to see how the second half of the season would have played out with the viral outbreak idea. We will never know now, since they are going into a different direction at the start of season three. Hopefully they can get some of the magic and excitement back of the first season. If you gave up on season two, maybe you will want to give season three another try. The promos have looked very good. Watch the season three premiere on NBC on September 22, 2008. Chime in!

-- Reviewed by Todd
(4/5 stars)

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A Blu-ray version is also being released on the same day. Purchase it here.

Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Heroes Official Site
Heroes TV.com Page
Heroes Internet Movie Database Page
Heroes Wikipedia Page

Mini-DVD Review: Perry Mason Season 3, Volume 1

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for the mini-DVD review! Today we take a look at CBS DVD's Perry Mason: The Third Season, Volume 1. Perry Mason of course is the very popular law series. The series stars the great Raymond Burr. See skees53's mini-DVD review of Perry Mason: The Third Season, Volume 1:

Perry Mason: The Third Season, Volume 1 (CBS DVD, $49.99) brings order back to the courtroom with the first 12 episodes of the 3rd season of the courtroom drama of the 50s. The three-disc set contains even more of the attorney defending the most impossible of cases, with the defendant knowing that the judge is going to lower the boom on them and find them guilty as charged, except by some miracle, Perry finds that despite all evidence supporting the other side, his client is always innocent and he is able to prove that in a court of law.
There are many great episodes in this set, beginning with the first one, "The Case of the Spurious Sister," where a man's wife turns up dead after she tells him she is going to divorce him. So where do all fingers get pointed? A jeweler turns up dead after accusing a young woman of theft in "The Case of the Blushing Pearls." Perry has to defend, of all people, Paul Drake, in "The Case of Paul Drake's Dilemma." In "The Case of the Golden Fraud," a golden coin in a parking meter may play a part in one of Perry's cases. In "The Case of the Artful Dodger," a man is about to inherit a large sum of money, except a bunch of people turn up dead that he just so happens to be avoiding. Perry can't get a break from his cases, not even while on a hunting trip, as shown in "The Case of the Violent Village."
The video and audio quality on the episodes is, as usual, excellent. This has never been an issue on these sets, and isn't this time either. Closed-captioning can also be found on all of the episodes. A nice little feature, though probably unintentional, is the fact that many episodes have their original sponsorships on the closing credits, from Colgate. And CBS DVD has actually left the original CBS logo intact this time, although the CBS Television Distribution logo plays immediately after it. But there is bad news about the case. Unlike the previous sets that included the double slimcases, we now have the standard Amaray style case that CBS DVD seems to use for everything. It is simple packaging, but just seems so cheap to be using, particularly on a show as expensive as this one is on DVD.
Unfortunately, as has been the case with the previous sets, there are no special features, which is outright disappointing. Apparently they were able to find some nice special features for the 50th Anniversary release, so why couldn't they come up with more for the season sets? Commentaries, interviews, and other special features would have been nice. I find it ridiculous that CBS DVD continues to release this in half season sets. Although the first season had many episodes, there aren't as many in these later seasons, and it would be more practical to put them out as full season releases. Instead, CBS DVD chooses to continue releasing half seasons and putting full season prices on the sets. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with the quality of the episodes on the set, but is the set really worth as much as fans are paying to buy the series on DVD? Not really. But don't be fooled—this is a great show that fans of classic TV and courtroom drama are sure to enjoy.
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Perry Mason TV.com Page

Mini-DVD Review: NCIS - The Fifth Season (Aug. 26)

Welcome to a special edition of mini-DVD reviews! Today we we take a look at CBS DVD's Fifth Season of Navy NCIS. See Seth Thrasher's mini-DVD review of NCIS - The Fifth Season and:

NCIS - The Fifth Season (CBS, $55.98) is now on DVD. This season is marked by mysterious secrets among the team, an explosive showdown with an elusive arms dealer, and a shocking final episode that shouldn't be missed. The series starts Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Pauley Perrette, David McCallum, Sean Murray, Cote de Pablo, and Lauren Holly. This set contains the 18 episodes of the 2008 Writers' Strike-shortened 5th season.
One thing I hope I'm made absolutely clear over the years is simply that I *love* this show. Judging by the ratings many others do to. What amazes me though is very rarely does a week go by where I don't hear someone throwing it under the bus and trying to group it in with shows like CSI, Law & Order, etc. Yes, there are elements of that to this series. But with NCIS especially there's so much more going on. This series is significantly more character driven, and seems far more willing to use recurring plot themes than many of those other shows. With the other series, you could insert just about any actor into the carefully crafted niches in the series framework, and tell the same stories. But in NCIS' first five series, this largely hasn't been true. Ziva is largely different from Kate, for example, in the show's one main cast replacement. Similarly, replacing any other character would have strong effects on the series. This makes me concerned about the plot twist at the end of this fifth season -- and I really hope they don't screw this up, as honestly anything more than a temporary tweak for story purposes might very well send me packing from the series.
What could be so big that it would even threaten to send me running--the 5th season finale. One cast member (Lauren Holly) made a permanent exit from the show, while three others (Michael Weatherly, Sean Murray, Cote de Pablo) all were "reassigned" as part of the ending of the episode. Whether this is a temporary change or a permanent one will be resolved in season six -- I think I've made clear my hope of the outcome (no, I haven't bothered to check for spoilers). Before that, though, you have a great season of episodes, including a great Gibbs-centric episode in "Requiem" that's kicked off when Gibbs is sought for help by the childhood friend of his deceased daughter.
In terms of the technical side of the set, the packaging is as always a box containing slimcases -- three cases holding five discs this season. The discs have taken on the silver standard look of Paramount/CBS releases. Menus are well-designed but static, with no music in the background. In regards to audio and video, a great thing about working with newer series is that the video quality and audio quality are great almost by default. This set is no exception -- the video looks flawless in its presentation. Color balance is nice and even, there are no compression artifacts, there are no problems in the transfer -- nothing. Audio is a crisp and clear 5.1 audio track. The usual CBS/Paramount disclaimer about edits appears on the bottom of the box, but the only missing footage I can find in the one episode I have for comparison, "About Face," is the Stay Tuned for Scenes from the Next NCIS tag at the end. In fact, excluding *it* the DVD version actually appears to have a longer runtime by a few seconds. More than likely, in an era of pre-negotiated DVD rights, that disclaimer is just for legal purposes. I highly doubt anything substantive is cut.
And since NCIS is a popular series currently airing on TV, that means more effort goes into the bonuses on a release. There are SIX special features, including cast and crew commentaries, a revisiting of the aforementioned episode Requiem, a featurette talking about NCIS Season 5 itself, a feature on the costumes and wardrobe for the series, plus a feature on what all goes into transforming Pauley Perrette into the Abby character, including all the wardrobe, makeup, hair, false tattoos, etc. All great stuff to sit through and watch/listen to. The commentaries in particular are a great addition to see. I always love seeing DVD releases with large numbers of special features.
I didn't want to devote too much time to it, but another positive of this DVD release is the lower MSRP. Whether due to an overall business strategy or the fact that this season has a couple fewer episodes, the MSRP is noticeably lower than with past releases. I've been a big opponent of overpricing DVD sets, so I applaud this change wholeheartedly.
For those of you reading this who are trying to decide whether to buy the set or not, I wholeheartedly encourage it. NCIS is a great character driven drama -- with comedic elements -- and would make a welcome addition to your TV on DVD library. And for fans of the series, while the presence of the Disclaimer of Doom is always troubling, I sincerely doubt you have anything to worry about. As such, this set is STRONGLY recommended.
-- Reviewed by Seth Thrasher
(4.5/5 stars)

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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Navy NCIS TV.com Page

Mini-DVD Review: Entourage Season 4 (Aug. 26)

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for the mini-DVD review. This week we take a look at HBO's Entourage - The Complete Fourth Season. Entourage of course is the popular HBO series that is about a guy named Vince (played by Adrian Grenier) that is about to make it big in showbiz and moves to Hollywood in hopes that he will make it to the top. See skees53's mini-DVD review of Entourage: The Complete Fourth Season:

Entourage: The Complete Fourth Season (HBO, $39.98) continues the ongoing story of Vince Chase "chasing" his dreams to make it big in Hollywood, thanks to (but most often in spite of) his faithful group of friends, his entourage, Eric, Drama, and Turtle.
We start the season with "Welcome to the Jungle," where we go behind-the-scenes (not from our perspective, but the perspective of the characters of the show) of the Vince’s movie for this season, Medellin. In "Sorry, Harvey," Ari gets into some trouble and lands in jail for what he does with a top-secret script... oops! The series addresses the modern issue of things that shouldn’t be on YouTube ending up on there in "The Dream Team" and "The WeHo Ho." Finally, he guys learn a lesson in reality in the film business in "The Cannes Kids." There are many well-known guest stars this season, including Gary Busey, Snoop Dogg, Sydney Pollack, Kanye West, and more.
The audio and video on the set is superb, with the video being presented in the 16:9 aspect ratio and audio in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. But there are also Spanish and French audio tracks, as well as English, Spanish, and French subtitles. The episodes are spanned over three discs, but the outside packaging is slightly different this time. While it looks similar, the big change is that the sturdier hard cardboard packaging has been replaced with a less expensive standard box. It isn't a big deal, though.
The set is loaded with special features, beginning with commentaries. The commentaries are by Doug Ellin, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon, Jerry Ferrara, and Adrian Grenier. These can be found on "Welcome to the Jungle," "The Day Fu*kers," and "The Cannes Kids." "The Making of Medellin" goes behind-the-scenes into the making of the very movie that Vince is starring in this season. "Medellin Trailer," of course, is a trailer for the fictitious movie. "U.S. Comedy Arts Festival Panel" is a nice and long conversation with the cast members at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. This lasts a whole fifty minutes, and is very insightful and entertaining. Finally, although the packaging doesn't mention it, there are recaps and previews for every episode on the set, which are basically like short promos. I like to watch them before I watch any episode.
As always, we have a pretty good DVD set here, and fans are sure to be happy with what is here. We have another great season of episodes with great special features. I'm usually not a fan of these premium cable series, although this is one of the few that I find enjoyable and far better than many other series on television today. It is surprising that this series isn't also being released on Blu-Ray Disc as well, although I'm sure that will come at some point in the future.
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4.5/5 stars)

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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Entourage TV.com Page

Remembering Bernie Mac; Mini-DVD Review: Route 66 - The Complete First Season

Bernie Mac, the actor and comedian who teamed up in the casino heist caper Ocean's Eleven and gained a prestigious Peabody Award for his sitcom The Bernie Mac Show, died Saturday at age 50.

"Actor/comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital," his publicist, Danica Smith, said in a statement from Los Angeles.

Mac's film career started with a small role as a club doorman in the Damon Wayans comedy Mo' Money in 1992. His other film credits include Get on the Bus, Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, Ocean's Eleven and its two sequels, Guess Who, Bad Santa, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle and Transformers. His professional career began in Chicago as a stand-up comedian in 1977, at the age of 19. He was a featured comedian in the 2000 documentary, The Original Kings of Comedy, with Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley and Cedric the Entertainer.

Starting in 2001, Mac was the star of The Bernie Mac Show on the Fox nexwork, which earned two Emmy Award nominations before the show was cancelled in 2006. In addition, the show won the prestigious Peabody award in 2002, the Humanitas Prize, and three NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series. The sitcom was somewhat based on is life and stand-up comedy acts and ran for 5 seasons and 104 episodes. His character was ranked #47 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time." His other sitcom credits include an appearance on The Wayans Bros. and multiple episodes of Moesha as Uncle Bernie.

Bernie Mac is survived by his wife Rhonda McCullough, daughter Je'Niece and granddaughter Jasmine. Bernie and the laughter he brought to millions of people around the world will be greatly missed. Share your memories and condolences here.

As we reported on Monday, The Bernie Mac Show is joining FX's line-up. The four-year deal starts Monday, September 8, 2008 with a launch marathon from 12:30pm-8pm ET. Bernie Mac will then join the weekday line-up on Tuesday, September 9 airing weekdays at 8:00am & 8:30am ET and 4:00pm & 4:30pm ET (although sometimes it will be 4:30pm ET & 5:00pm ET depending on the FX movies).

Releated Links:
Internet Movie Database entry for Bernie Mac
Wikipedia entry for Bernie Mac
The Bernie Mac Show Message Board
The Bernie Mac Show Photo Gallery

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It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for the mini-DVD review! Today we take a look at Roxbury Entertainment's Route 66 - The Complete First Season. Route 66 ran from 1960-1964 and starred Martin Milner, George Maharis (1960-1963) and Glenn Corbett (1963-1964). See skees53's mini-DVD review of Route 66 -The Complete First Season:



Route 66 - The Complete First Season (Roxbury Entertainment, $49.98) -- takes you on a road trip through America to encounter problems all throughout America and to solve them—within 50 minutes. Traveling America by road was all the rage in the 60s. and Route 66, which once spanned from Illinois all the way out to California, was the ultimate path to travel the country. In this series, two young men, played by Martin Milner and George Maharis, travel the country in a Corvette to see what they find along the way.

The series begins with "Black November," where the guys come across a town in Mississippi that seems to have some deep secret—but what is it? The boys are hired to work on a shrimp boat in "The Lance of Straw." In "Ten Drops of Water," the guys encounter a family ranch that is dying due to drought, but does the family want their assistance? A woman is released from prison in "Sheba," but her parole officer happens to be the same guy that put her in prison to begin with. A blind woman wants Buz and Tod to buy her a pistol for self-protection in "An Absence of Tears." The guys get framed after they try to bust somebody for hunting deer in "A Skill for Hunting." The series focused on guest stars, and among those in this season are Suzanne Pleshette, Leslie Nielsen, Lee Marvin, Harvey Korman, Walter Matthau, Robert Duvall, Ed Asner, and more.

This season was originally released as two separate volumes, and this set is essentially just both volumes placed in one larger box. So, the first fifteen episodes of the season are placed in the four disc Volume 1 set and the last fifteen episodes of the season are placed in the four disc Volume 2 set. It would have been nice to see a more integrated set, but that isn't what we have here.

The set claims to be remastered from the original source films, but you'll find that isn't quite accurate for a few episodes in the Volume 1 set. Some of the episodes are taken from 80s prints, and this is made obvious from the fact that a few such episodes are missing their original Screen Gems and CBS logos and have them replaced with logos from the 1980s including Colex and Columbia. It may not sound like a huge deal, but you'll notice that these episodes have poorer video and audio quality than the rest, though for the most part, are still viewable. The episodes that truly were remastered are pretty clear and don't have much grain, but the picture appears to be jumpy at places. It does appear, however, that on the Volume 2 episodes, everything is left intact and unedited. Almost every episode runs around 51 minutes, but on Volume 1, it appears that a syndicated episode may have sneaked in, as the episode "A Fury Slinging Flame" runs at 46 minutes. Again, this is an episode that not taken from the original source prints.

The set isn't loaded with special features, but Disc 4 of each volume contains original commercials from the episodes, which are VERY nice to see. Many of these are either from Chevrolet (after all, they did provide the Corvette) or Bayer. You'll even find one commercial featuring the cast of the series My Three Sons. Volume 1 contains some historical information about Corvettes from the 50s and 60s. Fans of the car may enjoy this, but an average fan of the show probably won't care too much about this information. Finally, the set contains filmographies of each and every guest star from the season, which helps anybody that ever asks themselves "where have I seen that person before?"

This was my first experience of watching this series, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed watching these episodes. I always thought that this would be a decent series, but I'm even more impressed than I thought. Roxbury Entertainment has put together a nice DVD set here, although it does contain the few minor flaws mentioned. But fans and those that have never seen the series are sure to appreciate this DVD set in any event!

Reviewed by skees53
(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Route 66 TV.com Page

Mini-DVD Review: Tiny Toon Adventures - Season 1, Volume 1

Welcome to a special Friday edition of mini-DVD reviews! Today we look at Warner Home Video's Tiny Toon Adventures - Season 1, Volume 1. Tiny Toon Adventures was created and produced as a collaborative effort between Steven Spielberg's company Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. It premiered in as a syndicated cartoon in 1990. See Seth's mini-DVD review of Tiny Toon Adventures - Season 1, Volume 1:



Tiny Toon Adventures - Season 1, Volume 1 (Warner Home Video, $44.98) is finally on DVD. I love this show. I really do. I watched this show when I was young and absolutely loved it. Loved it in reruns as I got older. It’s a great show that’s enjoyable no matter what your age. It’s time to finally join Babs and Buster Bunny (no relation), Plucky Duck, Hamton Pig, and all of the other residents of Acme Acres on DVD. Contained on this set are the first *35* episodes of the first season. I know many of you may have cringed when you saw “Volume 1”, but for a cartoon who had 65 episodes it’s first season splitting it was a must. There are some absolutely great cartoons in here, and some fairly good ones. Sometimes one cartoon in an episode may be weaker than the others, but this is to be expected.

This DVD set contains the first 35 episodes, which means the episodes included start at the series premiere, “A Looney Beginning” and run through “A Ditch in Time”. A full episode list is (at least as of the time of this writing) available on Wikipedia for your reference. Because of the number of episodes in the release, Warner was faced with a tough choice – either deal with a large number of discs, use double-sided discs entirely, or place quite a few episodes per disc. The end result is 4 discs, the first three of which are single-sided, the final disc being double-sided. The first three discs and the first side of the fourth all contain 8 episodes each, while the reverse side of the final disc contains the last three episodes and the disc’s special feature. I’m not sure if this was the ideal or optimal layout, but it works well enough. Packaging is a clear-plastic case with two swinging plastic panels in the center containing the discs. The discs themselves feature a variation on the orange colors used on the cover art, with a central cast member on each of the first three discs.

I really wanted to just launch into an overly positive stream of consciousness, as I got to do with Freakazoid’s DVD set, but that’s not entirely possible here. Placing 8 episodes per disc *has* led to some compression issues, which are particularly evident against solid colors. The colors themselves appear duller and less vivid than they should be, though it could just be a result of the age of the episodes. The audio, however, IS spectacular – 5.1 is available! This is great considering the orchestral bits used as background music, scene transitions, everything. It’s great. Chapter stops are placed at the end of each individual cartoon. Runtime for the pilot is just over 23 minutes; average for the rest is around 21:45 – for a cartoon series from the early 90s this IS normal.

There IS a great special feature in the set: Looney Tunes to Tiny Toons, a Wacky Evolution: Features an outright plethora – yes, a plethora – of interviews, clips, etc. that detail the origin of the series and how the show launched off the shoulders of the classic Looney Tunes franchise. Runs a bit over 23 minutes, and is a great extra feature. It’s great to see well-done sets like these for shows I enjoy.

Of course, *my* favorite episode of the series isn’t on the DVD set as it’s the 51st episode of the season – Tiny Toons Music Television. It features re-done videos for several songs using the Tiny Toons cast, including TWO songs by They Might Be Giants, a take on Respect by Aretha Franklin, and more. It’s great stuff, and I can’t wait for the next volume for this very reason. Ultimately, though, future sales depend on the success of the initial release. It’s a great cartoon, and recommended not just for cartoon fans but fans of comedy as well. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

-- Reviewed by Seth Thrasher
(4.5/5 stars)

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Mini-DVD Review: South Park Season 11 (Aug. 12)

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for the mini-DVD review! Today we take a look at Comedy Central/Paramount's South Park: The Complete 11th Season . South Park of course is the popular cable animated series that is full of laughs for all ages. See skees53's mini-DVD review of South Park: The Complete 11th Season:

South Park- The Complete Eleventh Season (Comedy Central DVD, $49.99) brings all fourteen episodes from the 2007 season of the Comedy Central hit to a three-disc DVD set. Like most animated series, the kids don't really grow up, but somehow, in each and every season, they do grow even more hilarious than in the past. The 2007 season contains perhaps some of the best South Park episodes produced to date, with many hilarious moments that will have you asking "did they REALLY just do that on TV?" And, to sweeten the pot, all fourteen episodes are presented uncensored, although many South Park fans won't notice that much of a difference--it is a rude and crude show to begin with.
Every single one of the episodes from this season can be viewed as memorable in one way or another, beginning with "With Apologies to Jessie Jackson," where Stan's dad uses the "N-word" on live TV, and somehow becomes the victim. Cartman pulls a prank on Butters that ultimately only serves to make a fool of Cartman (and ends up putting Butters into a special camp that is designed to "pray the gay away") in "Cartman Sucks." Kyle and Stan are out to determine the meaning behind Easter bunnies and eggs in "Fantastic Easter Special." Mrs. Garrison realizes that in her new life as a woman, she just so happens to be a lesbian (to clarify, Mrs. Garrison was originally a gay man, then got a sex-change operation to become a woman that liked men, now is a women that has decided she is a lesbian, and anybody watching season twelve knows that there is an even further twist to this bizarre story) in "D-Yikes." Cartman realizes that he can say anything he wants by pretending to have Tourette's Syndrome "Le Petit Tourette." Butters takes a scary trip into Imaginationland, where only he can save the world, in the three-part episode "Imaginationland." The boys want to become rock stars, or at least Guitar Hero champions, in "Guitar Queer-O."
The set is once again like all of the previous sets, in the standard digipak with the episode information on the two side panels. The episodes all look and sound great, as one would expect. And, it is worth noting that this DVD set, while from Paramount, is a Comedy Central DVD product, NOT a CBS DVD product, so there aren't any obnoxious disclaimers about things being edited or music being changed. In fact, as far as I could tell, any applicable music was intact (removing the Melissa Etheridge song "Come to My Window," for example, would have killed a great scene in the "D-Yikes" episode, so it was good to see all music intact).
Each episode has the mini-commentaries from Matt Stone and Trey Parker, which have always been slightly disappointing, as I'd like more than just mini-commentaries. There are a few Comedy Central Quickies on Disc 1, from 'Lil Bush, The Daily Show, Reno 911!, and The Colbert Report. Basically, these are just funny clips from these shows. I wish that these South Park DVD sets could be more impressive on the special features end, as many other animated series are on DVD.
This is a great set to own with some hilarious episodes, and any fan of South Park must own this one, even the casual fan. I can't think of any other season of the series that has had better episodes (including the current season), and some of the situations in this season are just outright hilarious, so much so that even those that don't watch the series on a regular basis will find them to be hilarious. It took me a long time to warm up to this series (I used to find it a little too out there and over the top for my sense of humor), but eventually it just got to me that this is a hilarious series that anybody that loves comedy and can accept rude and crude entertainment will love it.
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4.5/5 stars)

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Mini-DVD Review: Freakazoid! Season 1 (July 29)

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews! Today we have we take a look at Warner Home Video's animated series Freakazoid! The Complete 1st Season. Freakazoid! was an animated series on Kids' WB. See Seth Thrasher's mini-DVD review of Freakazoid! - The Complete 1st Season:

Freakazoid - The Complete 1st Season (Warner, $26.98) is finally on DVD. Featuring the craziest hero in all of cartoons, Freakazoid ran for a year and a half on Kids WB in the mid 90s -- right smack dab in the middle of the huge wave of great cartoons of the mid 90s. In 1995 -- the year of Freakazoid's debut, you had on the air dozens of cartoon series all of whom were equally good, if not vastly different series on the air. Lost in the shuffle was this crazy cartoon. Freakazoid starts out as mild-mannered geek Dexter Douglas. After a string of nonsense gets typed into his keyboard while surfing around in cyberspace he gets zapped into the internet where he gains every last bit of information on the internet. Stop and really think about just about every superhero origin story. They ultimately make about as much sense as this one does. Come on, aliens from an exploding planet send their kid here, and he happens to react *really* well to our sun, giving him super-strength, flying, and other powers? Doesn't make much sense either when you think about it THAT way. Anyway, one of the effects of this is that the superhero that results, while very fast, strong, and blue -- is that when he's in Freakazoid form he's pretty much completely insane. It's this insanity that drives much of the show.
Presented here are the first 14 episodes of the series. Considering I was under the assumption that there were only 13 actual episodes in season one, I checked. Included in the set is not only all 13 regular episodes from season one, but one of the compilation episodes (with two acts from previous episodes thrown together) from Summer 1996 as well. This compilation episode is the sixth on the DVD, and features The Cloud (from the later 11th episode), and Candle Jack (from the previous 2nd episode). Redundancy -- neat! Freakazoid used a lot of pop culture references -- and as a result led to guest stars appearing. In addition, a couple of names you might recognize played recurring characters. See if you can spot who voices what – it's incredibly easy! Special guests include Mark Hamill, Ricardo Montalban, Ben Stein, Rose Marie, Bebe Neuwirth, and of course, TV's Craig Ferguson, whose Late Late Show I'm a huge fan of.
I think you can tell when I love a show when I spend so much of a mini review talking about the show. I really wish I could've given this show the full review treatment -- but due to space concerns we now move ahead in the review to the technical side.
This is probably a good time to mention that while disc 1 is one-sided disc 2 is dual-sided. Warner wasn't willing to put more than 6 episodes per disc/side, and so as a result the final two episodes and the features spill over to the next side. The video quality is just fine -- perhaps a bit soft, but that's really not out of the ordinary for animation from the mid 90s. Audio is just fine – And by just fine I mean Dolby 5.1! Yes, for a cartoon from the mid 90s that isn't as remembered as its counterparts, Warner still gave it 5.1 audio. Says so right on the box. In fact, this cartoon got a lot of extra little things put into the release -- there are even several special features! There’s commentary! on three of the fourteen episodes with senior producer Tom Ruegger, writer John McCann, and the voice of Freakazoid Paul Rugg. But wait, there's more! We also have Freakazoid-less Freakazoid promos. The network wanted footage, and they didn't have anything to give them. So, inspired in part by Carnival Cruise Lines, they created some crazy promos for the show. There’s about a minute introduction by the staff to explain just how these incredibly oddball promos came to be, and then the 4 minutes of promos. There's also a feature detailing how Freakazoid went from a super-legitimate hero to the comedy series it became. One day, you wake up and you're in the middle of a colonoscopy...
As if what may be the longest "mini" review in history didn't already tell you, I love this show. Even if the technical side were crap, I’d still tell you to buy it because the show's good. But the technical side is really *really* good too! I was going to give it a solid 4.5, but after having seen what I've given 4's to around here, it deserves the half-point for the full five. 5.1 Audio! Commentary! Promos! Freakazoid! Buy it!

-- Reviewed by Seth Thrasher
(5/5 stars)

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Mini-DVD Review: The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas; Summer 2008 TCA Press Tour: CBS/The CW, Day 2

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for the mini-DVD review. We also have The CW's portion of the TCA press tour below, so don't miss that either. But first it is the mini-DVD review. It's Christmas in July, as we take a look today at Universal Home Video's The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas. The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas is the 1996 TV-movie featuring the scary family during the holiday season. See skees53's mini-DVD review of The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas:

The Munsters' Scary Little Christmas (Universal Home Video, $14.98) tells the classic story of a child living in a new environment feeling homesick at Christmastime. The 1996 made-for-TV movie, based upon the classic TV series, begins with Eddie being bullied and picked on, because he is different. After all, he is a werewolf living among mortal children in Los Angeles. But the pain that Eddie feels becomes a bigger deal when it happens during the "most wonderful time of the year," so it is up to his family to do whatever it takes to cheer him up and get him in to the Christmas spirit. Everybody has their own ideas, from Lily's idea of getting Eddie involved in a Christmas decorating contest to Grandpa Munster's crazy experiments to Marilyn's plan to have a huge Munster family reunion just in time for Christmas. And to support it all, Herman is doing whatever he can do to make a buck, including nude modeling! In the end, it all comes together to create an old-fashioned Christmas that only a family from Transylvania could envision.
The video quality of the movie is fine for the most part, but the audio is very problematic. It is presented in full-screen, which is how it was presented when it originally aired. For some reason, the audio is out of sync with the video, so you see lips moving out of sync with the video. I don't know why this problem occurred on this DVD, as it is not a common problem wit h DVDs in my experience. It is somewhat obnoxious to see. The disc is lacking any special features, which isn't surprising, as this wasn't a big budget cinematic film or anything along those lines.
All in all, I think most observers wouldn't think of this is a great movie or anything like that, but rather just a mediocre movie based upon a great TV classic. It won't take too much of watching this movie to realize why it was a made-for-TV movie for Fox, as opposed to being a theatrical release or even one of the larger networks. There are some moments in the film that will SOMEWHAT remind fans of the hilarity of the original sitcom, but the overall plot of the movie is one of those plots that fans will find difficult to drag themselves into and fully enjoy. Still, if the DVD can be found cheap, fans may want to pick it up, just to check it out.
-- Reviewed by skees53
(3/5 stars)

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The CW is up at the summer 2008 TCA press tour today as well as CBS's syndication division, CBS Television Distribution. Up at the panel for The CW this morning will be 90210, Privileged and Stylista, followed by the executive session. In the afternoon, we have the CBS Television Distribution series, starting off Inside Edition which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and new series The Doctors, and Judge Jeanine Pirro. Then tonight there is a WGA reception followed by the TCA Awards! We will give you the winners either tonight or tomorrow.
From The CW side, we learned that Shannen Doherty will return to the zip code that made her famous when she guest stars in multiple episodes of The CW's spin-off, 90210, premiering Tuesday, September 2. Doherty will reprise her role as Brenda Walsh, who was last seen headed to London to study acting. As previously announced, Jennie Garth returns as Kelly Taylor, now a West Beverly guidance counselor; Tori Spelling returns as Donna Martin, now owner of an upscale boutique, and Joe E. Tata returns as Nat, owner of The Peach Pit.
The CW announced premiere dates for their Mon-Fri schedule (and MRC Sunday block, below):

Monday, September 1
8:00-9:00 p.m. Gossip Girl
9:00-10:00 p.m. One Tree Hill

Tuesday, September 2
8:00-10:00 p.m. 90210 (Two-Hour Premiere)

Wednesday, September 3
8:00-10:00 p.m. America's Next Top Model (Two-Hour Premiere)

Tuesday, September 9
9:00-10:00 p.m. Privileged

Thursday, September 18
8:00-9:00 p.m. Smallville
9:00-10:00 p.m. Supernatural

Friday, October 3
8:00-8:30 p.m. Everybody Hates Chris
8:30-9:00 p.m. The Game
9:00-10:00 p.m. America's Next Top Model (Encore Presentation)

Wednesday, October 29
9:00-10:00 p.m. Stylista

Couple of notes on these premiere dates: Wednesdays at 9pm until Stylista premieres on Oct. 29 will be encores of 90210. Mid-season premiere dates and times for The CW's returning drama Reaper and new reality series 13 - Fear Is Real will be announced at a later time.

As for Sundays, the MRC (Media Rights Capital) programming block will launch on September 21. The block will begin at 7pm and end at 10pm. Then starting November 2, the block will start at 6:30pm.
Laurie Metcalf (Easy Money), Judge Reinhold (Easy Money), Bob Saget (Surviving Suburbia), Jaime Murray (Valentine), Autumn Reeser (Valentine), Kristopher Polaha (Valentine) and Jeff Hephner (Easy Money) will star in this Sunday Night Block.
In the sitcom Surviving Suburbia, MRC is proud to announce the casting of Bob Saget. It follows Keith (Saget) and Anne Stevers, a seemingly normal couple who has been married for 20 years, have two children and a cookie cutter house in the idyllic suburbs. Full casting will be announced in the next several weeks.
Here are the premiere dates for this MRC (Media Rights Capital) block on The CW Sundays:

Effective Sunday, September 21
7:00-8:00 p.m. In Harm's Way (reality)
8:00-9:00 p.m. Valentine (romantic comedy/drama)
9:00-10:00 p.m. Easy Money (family crime drama)

Effective Sunday, November 2
(changes listed only)
6:30-7:30 p.m. In Harm's Way (New Timeslot)
7:30-8:00 p.m. Surviving Suburbia (sitcom)

Programming for the 5:00-6:30 p.m. time slots will be announced soon.

More coming ...check back keep and refreshing.

Mini-DVD Review: Futurama - Beast With a Billon Backs (June 24)

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for the mini-DVD review. Today we take a look at 20th Century Fox's Futurama - Beast With a Billion Backs. Futurama - Beast With a Billion Backs is the second movie featuring the hit animated series. See skees53's mini-DVD review of Futurama - Beast With a Billion Backs:

Futurama - Beast With a Billion Backs (20th Century Fox, $29.98) is the second installment in Fox's series of movies based upon the Sunday night animated sitcom from the past. The feature film picks up where the previous feature, Bender's Big Score, leaves off, when they try to find a way to keep peace and joy in the galaxy. But all doesn't go so well when a beast... a beast with a billion backs... takes over the society and makes Fry the Pope! How will they get out of this mess? Or will we have to wait until one of the next two installments to find out?
The movie looks and sounds great on DVD, with Dolby Digital Surround Sound audio. Of course, you can't compare this to how it looks on TV, as this has yet to be shown on TV, but to put it simply, it looks great.
Of course, the DVD also contains a plethora of special features, which honestly are much better than the movie itself. For starters, there is a commentary track that includes commentary from all of the important people involved with the movie. The "Futurama: The Lost Adventure" featurette is actually a lost full-length episode of the original series—kind of. This was produced for a Futurama video game that never quite made it, but now we get that "episode" on this DVD... with commentary, of course! "Meet Yiyo!" gives you a look at Yiyo, the title character of the movie. "Blooperama: The Futurama Cast at Work" lets you get a behind the scenes look at the screw ups made along the way in the production of this movie. And of course, there are animatics and deleted scenes--what would a Fox animated series be without those on DVD? Finally, there is a short preview of the next movie in the Futurama movie series, Bender's Game.
Any true fan of Futurama is going to want to see this simply because it is another chapter in a series that they are a fan of, but even these true fans should prepare themselves to be disappointed. It seems that the idea of the series has changed quite a bit with these movies, and it has become less of a good animated sitcom and has gotten more into the realm of science fiction, which would be fine except it is still being written by comedy writers. I can't really think of any time where my real disappointment with a DVD has been about the content of what is on it as opposed to a bad DVD compilation. The compilation in this case is excellent, and fans will certainly appreciate that, and it is worth watching the movie anyway if you are a fan.
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4/5 stars)

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Mini-DVD Review: Dynasty - The Third Season, Volume One (June 17)

Welcome to another edition of mini-DVD reviews. This week we take a look at CBS DVD's Dynasty - The Third Season, Volume One. Dynasty is of course the primetime soap that was a bit hit for many years and it was so addictive! The tale of the Carrington family is so rich and interesting. We previously did full reviews of the first two seasons of Dynasty and are now moving further Dynasty reviews to our blog reviews on Saturdays...so it won't be as detailed, but we'll still cover everything Dynasty fans. See my mini-DVD review of Dynasty - The Third Season, Volume One:

Dynasty - The Third Season, Volume One (CBS DVD, $39.99) brings us the first 12 episodes of the third season of the mega-hit series Dynasty on a 3-disc set! John Forsythe, Linda Evans and Joan Collins continue to heat up the show as Jack Coleman (replacing Al Corley) and Gordon Thomson join the cast for season three. This is the season where it moved from the top 20 to the top 5 in the ratings. Seasons 3-6 all were in the time of the height of the popularity. The series lasted 9 seasons on ABC, from 1981-89. In this third season, CBS DVD is only giving us half the episodes on this set. The second half of the season will be released at a later date on the volume two set of the third season. I don't understand why they are doing this. The show only had 24 episodes for season three...it's not like it was over 30 or 35. I think they should split up a season if it is over like 34 or 35 episodes. Now we have to wait more just to finish a season. Shame on you CBS DVD! The second season was a nice 6-disc set for 22 episodes, so they are splitting them up into two volumes just because this season has two extra episodes? Seasons 4-7 have a lot of episodes though: 27, 29, 31, 28...I guess that is the reason they started this? But why not wait until season 4 or 5? The last two seasons have 22 each.
Each episode on this set is between 47-48 minutes (no higher or lower), with most in the 47:30 range. Nearly every CBS DVD has a disclaimer on the back of the box saying, "Some episodes maybe be edited from their original network versions." So there is a chance something could be edited, but I didn't see anything, as the runtimes were fairly consistent. There are 6 chapter stops each for every episode, counting the opening and closing credits stops. The video is on par with the previous season and it looks great. Just some debris here and there on the opening credits, like flashing black dots, but it is still good quality. The audio is decent, a nice sounding mono...that is crisp and clear.
Packaging is a snap case holding three discs inside, sort of similar to the second season DVD. No, the discs don't overlap each other. Each disc has its own little holder. The cover art of the case has a nice shot of Krystle, Blake and Alexis. The back of the case has synopsis of the show, the set, and technical information. A nice shot of the supporting cast and some screen shots are also present. Back inside, there is a disc by disc breakdown on the left and right panel. We get episode title, original airdate, and a long synopsis of each episode. Don't be reading it before watching the episode! Artwork on the discs is not that good. It is plain silver for each one. Dynasty logo and whatever disc number it is, is on the disc, similar to the second season DVD again. Each disc holds four episodes.
CBS DVD is terrible in menus, as you all know. Each menu has different artwork but it is so plain. The episodes are listed right on the main menu once again, as with the second season DVD. Set Up option is also available. In Set Up, we can have English or Espanol languages and subtitles. Main menu artwork has three shots of the same image. Disc 1 has the same photo from the cover art; disc 2 has another photo of Krystle, Blake and Alexis; and disc 3 has Krystle and Blake only. No theme music or anything in the background.
We get no special features at all! Even the second season had a little family tree thing. Nothing here. First season was done by 20th Century Fox, and they did a decent job with some featurettes and commentaries. CBS DVD is doing nothing.
Despite just the first 12 episodes of the third season and no extras, I still highly do recommend any fan of the show to pick-up this set. If you have the first two seasons, then you have to get this to continue your collection. If you haven't gotten those yet, what are you waiting for? One thing is that CBS DVD works pretty fast with most of their releases, so you better hurry. I'm just mad we have to wait a few more months or so probably to just see the next half of the season. It is even worse that this show is very serialized so it makes people not want to wait. I've made it obvious I don't like the change in splitting up the seasons into volumes, but CBS DVD seems to do that with a lot of their hour shows like The Love Boat, Perry Mason and so on. It is too bad, because it should only really be done if it is like over 35 episodes. I think they are just trying to get more money, come on $39.99 for 12 episodes and NO extras? Still, I urge fans to buy it so we keep getting more sets. But complain to CBS DVD for the lack of extras and splitting the seasons in half. Anyway, betrayal and revenge are some of the things you'll see in this first half of season three!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

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See our Full DVD Reviews of Seasons 1 and 2:
Season 1
Season 2

Mini-DVD Review: Popeye The Sailor - 1938-40, Volume 2 (June 17)

Welcome to another edition of mini-DVD reviews. This week we take a look at Warner Home Video's Popeye The Sailor: 1938-40, Volume 2. Popeye is of course the classic TV sailor who eats his spinach and gets energy to save Olive Oyl from Bluto! See my mini-DVD review of Popeye The Sailor: 1938-40, Volume 2:

Popeye The Sailor: 1938-40, Volume 2 (Warner, $34.98) brings 31 more classic unedited Popeye cartoons along with more bonus features to DVD on a classic 2-disc set! The first 60 theatrical shorts (1933-38) were on the volume one set on four-discs, now we get the next 31 Fleischer Popeye cartoons (1938-1940) on a two-disc set. It is strange why they didn't just do a four-disc set with 1938-1942 and finish off the Fleischer cartoons. Oh well...at least we get some anyway. After the Fleischer cartoons, Popeye continued on with more cartoons from Famous Studios (1942-1957), so we should start getting those soon, too.
Each short on this set is in black & white and runs anywhere between 5-8 minutes. Most are in the 6-7 minute range. However, one episodes is in full color and runs 21:15. This is the Technicolor Two-Reeler episode, titled "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp." This is the third two-reeler ever, as the first two were on the first volume DVD. There are no chapter stops again, which is acceptable here because the episodes are very short. The video is remastered once again and it looks great! No editing of the episodes because of ethic reasons either...it is from the original masters. Well, blow me down! The audio is decent, nothing too bad about it.
Packaging has a nice brown-tan outer box this time with Popeye and Olive Oyl turning a wheel on the front cover...the back cover has information on the set and has some screen shots of the shorts along with a big photo of Popeye showing his muscle with a tank. There is also a section detailing the special features, but it is more detailed inside the case. Inside the box is a digipak case, as we had on the last set. The front of the digipak has Popeye with something that looks like a spear or something. Opening the case once, we get a very nice disc by disc breakdown for disc one on the left side, which has lots of screen shots and a photo of Popeye about to punch Bluto. We also get the episode number, title, if it has commentary and by who, and the list of special features per disc. The two discs are on the right side, overlapping each other unfortunately. The discs are all in that brown-tan color, matching the color scheme of the set. Disc one's artwork has Popeye with a kiss mark on his forehead and disc two has Olive Oyl holding a flower. When we take out both discs, you can see more photos in the packaging itself. The back of the digipak case has the disc two breakdown and a photo of 'lil Swee'pea and Eugene the Jeep the dog.
The menu screen has Play, Episodes, Special Features, and Languages. But before the main menu screen comes, we get auto trailers on both discs...hmm no ethic message saying that these shorts were never intended to stereo-type, blah blah, like we saw on the volume one DVD. The main menu has the theme playing in the background (and it loops), with the same color and artwork as the box cover. Languages section has us in English only and subtitles can be added for English only as well. Special Features are on both discs, and are listed in a list form on the menu. Episodes is where we can choose the classic shorts. If it has commentary or a Popeye Popumentary, we can also select that from here, but we can also do that in the special features section.
Moving on to those special features. As I mentioned, they are evenly placed on both discs. So, here we go, we have a lot once again: Disc one has a retrospective documentary titled, "Out of the Inkwell: The Fleischer Story" that runs 47:20. Then we have 3 Popeye Popumentaries: "Eugene the Jeep: A Breed of His Own" (3:16) talking about the puppy himself, "Poopdeck Pappy: The Masty Old Man and the Sea" (5:08) as this talks about the old Pappy, and "O-Re-Mi: Mae Questel and The Voices of Olive Oyl" (8:38) as this is a very interesting Olive Oyl featurette with lots of details on her voices. Finally 10 of the 15 episodes have audio commentaries on this disc, they include commentaries from Historians: Glenn Mitchell, Michael Barrier, and Jerry Beck; Writer: Paul Dini; Animators: Gordon Sheehan, Dave Tendlar, Mark Kausler, and Arnold Gillespie; Filmmaker: Greg Ford; and Director: Eric Goldberg.
Moving on to disc two, it has items from the vault such as 2 Fleischer shorts: Paramount Presents Popular Science from 1938 (6:31) and The Mechanical Monsters from 1941 (11:01). The latter has Superman even in it. Then we have an Early Max Fleischer Art Gallery with 19 sketches that runs 3:05. Then we have a short pencil test, Females is Fickle that runs 30 seconds. We also have a storyboard reel titled Stealin Ain't Honest that runs 6:11. Finally, we get two audio clips from the vault: I'm Popeye the Sailor Man Vintage Recordings that runs 2:25 and Animator Michael Sporn Interviews Voice of Popeye, Jack Mercer that runs 6:10. Classic stuff! Then we have a Popeye Popumentary on this disc as well! Men of Spinach and Steel is the title and it runs 6:20. This popumentary debates who was America's first super hero...Fleischer's Popeye or Fleischer's Superman? Interesting! Then finally, 3 of the 16 episodes have audio commentaries on this disc, they include commentaries from Historian: Daniel Goldmark; Filmmaker: Greg Ford; Animator: Shaumus Culhane and Director: Bob Jaques.
I highly do recommend any fan of classic cartoons and Popeye to pick-up this set. If you have the first volume, then you have to get this to continue the classic collection. If you haven't gotten that, get that and this volume. It is well worth it! Let's hope we get a volume three very soon and it is packed with special features just like these last two sets. We should be done with the Fleischer cartoons soon, and then we will move on the Famous Studios cartoons that lasted 15 years. Warner Home Video is also releasing The All-New Popeye Hour on DVD on the same day titled Popeye & Friends: Volume 1. That series was from 1978 on CBS's Saturday morning block. Warner will release eight shorts on a one-disc set. They should release more since that show lasted 1978-1981..various other incarnations were done through 1988. We should have a review on that set soon, as soon as we get the set...so stay tuned! Warner did a very nice job once again with the Fleischer cartoons and let's hope they continue to do so! Oh, boy! As Popeye and Olive Oyl are on a quest for hidden gold, you should be on a quest to buy this set! So toot-toot your way in buying it!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(5/5 stars)

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Mini-DVD Review: Boondocks: The Complete Second Season (June 3)

It is is Saturday so that must mean it is time for a mini-DVD review! Today's review is from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's The Boondocks: The Complete Second Season. If you all recall, this is the first mini-DVD review we ever did a few years ago. The series is an animated comedy that airs on The Adult Swim block on Cartoon Network. See skees53's mini-DVD review of The Boondocks: The Complete Second Season:

The Boondocks: The Complete Second Season (Sony, $49.95) brings fans another season of the television version of Aaron McGruder's former newspaper comic strip. Much like the comic strip, the Adult Swim TV series takes on many controversial issues and handles them in a humorous manner. Except, of course, the TV series takes on the issues in an outlandish, crude, sometimes offensive, and always extremely controversial manner. The second season is no exception to this rule, and is in fact even more crude and offensive than the first season--but that is what makes the show so great.
In this season, we get to see what true jealousy is like when Sarah gets to meet Usher in "Tom, Sarah and Usher." We learn how Granddad reacts when a rapper moves in to the neighborhood in "The Story of Thugnificent." Granddad meets a hot woman that is a little bit (or a lot) crazy in "Attack of the Killer Kung-Fu Wolf-Bitch." The house becomes full of some of Granddad's relatives after Hurricane Katrina in "Invasion of the Katrinians." In "The S-Word," Riley gets called the n-word by a teacher and chaos ensues. Additionally, we even get two episodes that were so outrageous and controversial that they couldn't even be aired on cable television. In "The Hunger Strike," Huey takes a stand against BET based upon how he views the network as causing destruction to black people. In "The Uncle Ruckus Reality Show," Uncle Ruckus discovers that he really is black after all, and BET decides to make a reality show about it. Obviously Aaron McGruder has a point to make about BET... and it doesn't look like Adult Swim will air that point of view! Additionally, the season contains many guest stars, including Snoop Dogg, Tichina Arnold, Lil' Wayne, Cedric the Entertainer, Fred Williard, Busta Rhymes, and Tavis Smiley.
The episodes are all presented in widescreen and they look and sound great, as one would expect. The episodes are totally uncensored, so don't be surprised to see the unexpected. As if the episodes aren't good enough, there are plenty of bonus features on the set too. There aren't quite as many as there were for the first season, but still plenty. The set contains audio commentaries on four of the episodes, and video introductions on the two banned episodes. There is a "Behind the Boondocks" featurette, which, as it sounds, goes behind the scenes of the series to show what it is like creating the series. In "Trouble in Woodcrest?," we get to see some "behind-the-scenes" trash-talking between cast members. Another special feature--one that I won't even mention the name of--talks about the n-word and the use of it on the show. Actually, it doesn't even talk about it, it is just a bunch of clips of the voice actors saying it while recording the script. You'll hear the n-word in it, a lot, as you do on the TV show. Next, there is a series of special features for the cast members, where we learn more about who they are. They have these for John Witherspoon, Cedric Yarbrough, Regina King, Gary Anthony Williams, Gabby Soleil, and Jill Talley. And what Sony DVD set would be complete without Minisodes? We have two, from Married... with Children and Spiderman.
Overall, this is a great set and fans are sure to enjoy it, as will those that just enjoy humorous and controversial TV. Sony seems to do a great job on this series in regards to quality and bonus features, and the DVDs are much more enjoyable to watch than the episodes as aired on TV.

-- Reviewed by skees53
(4.5/5 stars)

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Mini-DVD Review: CHiPs - The Complete Second Season (June 3); Warner Bros. Photo Collection Shop

Welcome to another edition of mini-DVD reviews. Frank "Ponch" Poncherello and Jon Baker are back with their aviator goggles and polyester beige uniforms when Warner Home Video releases CHiPs - The Complete Second Season on June 3, 2008. The comedic crime drama asks you to dig out your license and registration as Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox return as Ponch and Jon to patrol the street of Los Angeles. CHiPs - The Complete Second Season includes all 22 episodes from the second season plus all-new bonus features in a 4-disc collection. See my mini-DVD review of CHiPs - The Complete Second Season:



CHiPs - The Complete Second Season (Warner Home Video, $39.98)

Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox return as Ponch and Jon, and the action and fun are ready to roll in 22 road-ripping episodes. Also returning: Robert Pine as amiable Sgt. Getraer. Strap on helmets and goggles for a deadly chain-reaction crash, the appearance of a pesky TV-news crew, Ponch's disco dancing, Halloween patrol and a caped biker daredevil. Remember: safety first. And always signal before turning.

CHiPs, an acronym for California Highway Patrol, premiered on September 15, 1977 on NBC. A total of 139 episodes were produced over the show's six seasons. Other season two cast members included Lew Saunders as Officer Gene Fritz, Brodie Greer as Officer Barry Baricza and Paul Linke as Officer Arthur Grossman. Joining the cast in season two were Brianne Leary as Officer Sindy Cahill and Lou Wagner as police mechanic Harlan Arliss. CHiPs finished in 25th place in ratings with a 20.3 rating for the second season. Notable second season guest stars included Christopher Knight, Danny Bonaduce (making the first of two appearances), Marvin Kaplan, Regis Philbin, Lauri Hendler, Robbie Rist, Tony O'Dell, Jenilee Harrison, Ike Eisenmann, Ken Kercheval, Randi Oakes (who would join the cast in season 3 as Officer Bonnie Clark), Ned Glass, Jenny O'Hara, Markie Post, Michael Conrad, Tom Poston and Robert Donner.

The cover art features a publicity photo of Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox. The "CHiPs" logo is in light blue near the center. The Complete Second Season is in a badge in the upper left corner. On the back of the box, there is another publicity still of Wilcox and Estrada and a small screenshot of Estrada, Wilcox, Pine, Linke and Leary. There is a synopsis of the set, listing of the special features and the DVD specs listed. They have arrows like the season 1 packaging, which I wasn't a big fan of last time. Instead of 3 slim cases like season 1, there are only 2 this time so the packaging is a bit thinner. Each slim case holds two discs in embedded plastic holders. Since discs 1-3 are double-sided, there are no photos on them. Disc 4, with the special features, has the "CHiPs" logo in light blue and a lime green background. Episode titles, writing and directing credits, original airdates and short summaries are provided on the front and back of the slim cases.

The main menus feature the same photo and the CHiPs logo as the cover art, although part of Erik Estrada is cropped out. The updated CHiPs season two theme song with a disco beat plays in the background for 1:09 and then loops. There are options to Play All of the episodes and a Languages section. Unlike season 1, there are no separate episodes menu. The episode titles are listed vertically in green text. A yellow badge is next to the episode or option you highlight. It turns lime green upon your selection. Erik Estrada is featured on the Languages menu. Chapter stops are available within the episodes, but there are no separate menus for scene selections.

With these episodes being around 30 years old, the video and audio quality is about what you would expect given the show's age. I would say the quality is on par or slightly improved from the season one set. These episodes look a little better than what I remember seeing on TNT and TBS during the 1990's. Since the show was shot on film, there is a lot of dirt, debris and other digital artifacts. While all the episodes are certainly watchable and enjoyable, I think they probably could have been cleaned up a bit more with some digital remastering. Nearly all of the episodes have running times of around 48 and 1/2 minutes in length. Only "Trick or Treak" runs a minute shorter at 47:34. Hopefully there is nothing edited out of the episode. The total running time of all the episodes is 1,066 minutes. On the Languages menu, you can choose from English, Español and Português. Subtitles are available in English (for the hearing impaired), Français, Español and Português. The bonus material is not rated and may not be subtitled. For the closing logo enthusiasts, there is the Rosner Television logo embedded on the credits followed by the M-G-M lion. The audio is your basic 1970's mono track. I didn't notice any major problems. Composer Alan Silvestri wrote the music for most of the second season episodes.

Special features are found on disc four. There is really only one new special feature with new interviews with Erik Estrada and members of the real CHP (California Highway Patrol). They list "The Greatest Adventures of CHiPs" as a special feature, although this was just a regular feature-length special episode. It is basically just a flashbacks episode.

The Real CHiPS (15:26) - This new featurette has interviews with Erik Estrada and members of the CHP. Lieutenant Greg Hammond, Officer Aaron Braahsma, Officer Adriana McNurlin, Public Affairs Officer Alex Delgadillo, Sergeant Shawn Holloway and Officer Kris Ulibarri are interviewed. They talk about the history of the CHP, the high failure rate and the difficulty in becoming a member of the CHP, the dangers and stresses of the job, making traffic stops and the difficulty in riding a motorcycle. Erik Estrada visits the CHP Central Station where they shot the show (although it is a new structure and the offices have since been demolished) and gives a tour. They show the reporting writing room, the keys rack, Sergeants room, training room and briefing room. They discuss the differences between the BMW motorcycles that they currently use with the Kawasaki 100's they used on the show. Ponch and Jon made it look so easy on the show but watching this featurette will give you a new appreciation of all the hard work they do on the job.

"The Greatest Adventures of CHiPS" (1:37:04) - A Sustained Superior Achievement Award for the guys has fellow CHPers remembering Ponch and Jon's exploits, as flashbacks recount the coolest cases of Seasons One and Two. This episode aired on May 12, 1979. This is certainly the most least rerun episode of the series. TNT and TBS never aired it for a number of years. It is basically just a flashbacks episode, but it is fun to watch.

Final Comments: Everything was better about the second season of CHiPs. There was more action and stunts, better storylines, an updated theme song with a disco beat and better music, and more notable guest stars. They had the right mix of action, drama and comedy. It is too bad that Brianne Leary was only on the show for one season. She was cute and charming.

This is another pretty good release that is priced affordably. I'm not a fan of the double-sided discs that can scratch easily, but at least they are releasing full seasons and not those half season sets. This would be a better set with 3 slimcases and 6 single-sided discs. It is great that Erik Estrada has participated in the special features on both seasons, but where is the rest of the cast? Hopefully with a new feature film starring Wilmer Valderrama as Ponch expected to be released in early 2009, we will see the third season available at that time with the involvement of other cast members.

-- Reviewed by Todd
(4/5 stars)

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CHiPs Online
CHiPs TV.com Page
CHiPs Internet Movie Database Page
CHiPs Wikipedia Page

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If you are a fan of the second season music, you might want to check out Film Score Monthly's CD release by composer Alan Silvestri.

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Please also check out http://www.wbphotocollection.com/ to see how you can purchase great images from CHiPs and other TV series and movies.

Mini-DVD Review: MonsterQuest - The Complete Season One (May 27)

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for another mini-DVD review! This week we take a look at A&E Home Video's MonsterQuest. MonsterQuest is an original History (formerly The History Channel) documentary series that premiered on October 31, 2007. The program deals with the search for various cryptozoological creatures reportedly seen around the world. Cryptozoology is the study of, and search for, animals which fall outside of contemporary zoological catalogs. See my mini-DVD review of MonsterQuest - The Complete Season One:



MonsterQuest - The Complete Season One (A&E Home Video, $39.95)

The search is on for earth's most elusive and mysterious monsters! Each episode of MonsterQuest launches an expedition to uncover a famous mystery creature. Scientists use modern technologies like DNA testing and digital photo analysis to evaluate decades of physical and photographic evidence, while field researchers search for the beast itself. Bigfoot, aquatic dinosaurs, giant squid, mutant canines, man-eating catfish, and more will be investigated like never before.

MonsterQuest: The Complete Season One includes all 13 original episodes on 4 DVDs. The set comes in steelbook packaging. The cover art features the MonsterQuest logo with the eyes of a mysterious beast in the background. In the top right corner, there is the History logo. On the back of the case, there is a short synopsis of the series, a listing of the episodes and the DVD specs. The four discs are held in two embedded plastic holders. Discs 1-2 and 3-4 overlap each other.

Unfortunately, there are no episode summaries listed anywhere on the packaging. It would have been nice if they included a sheet or booklet. Here are the episodes you are getting. Episode summaries are courtesy of the official site. Running times are noted in the parentheses.

America's Loch Ness Monster (44:44) - Does a giant prehistoric creature lurk in Lake Champlain? Locals call it Champ. Generations of eyewitnesses rumor to have seen the creature, a dinosaur like animal, 15-25 feet long most resembling the extinct plesiosaur. Examine the mystery surrounding Lake Champlain as specially designed cameras search for the monster. Existing photographic evidence will also be put to the test.

Sasquatch Attack? (44:49) - Does Canada have its own Bigfoot? Owners of a fly-in fishing cabin report attacks by an unknown creature. Can DNA tests on blood and tissue from the alleged beast reveal its true identity? The test results will surprise you. One-part history, one-part science and one part monster, discover the truth behind these beasts and take a scientific look at legendary creatures around the world. The best evidence available will be examined, from pictures and video, to hair and bones. Scientists will be brought in to tell viewers what the evidence reveals. Ultimately the evidence will reveal the truth....or in some cases continue the mystery.

Giant Squid Found? (44:50) - Is the legend of the Kraken, a tentacled beast as large as a whale, based on myth or a real creature? Take an expedition to the Sea of Cortez, Mexico where fishermen regularly claim to encounter large schools of giant squid. Watch as squid expert Scott Cassel uses lures with built-in cameras in an attempt to video a Kraken-sized squid 1,000 feet below the ocean. What Cassel and his team discover will make history. One-part history, one-part science and one part monster, discover the truth behind legendary creatures.

Birdzilla (44:50) - Native Americans have long revered huge birds called Thunderbirds. There was a rash of giant bird sightings in Illinois, Texas and Alaska back in the 1970's. A giant bird with a 15-foot wingspan allegedly attacked a small child in Illinois. Could there really be a giant bird or is it mass hysteria? Take a scientific journey and follow the many eyewitnesses' accounts across the country and examine the most compelling evidence.

Bigfoot (45:20) - Bigfoot has been sighted in Washington State more than any other place on earth. Join an all-female expedition as they try to lure a Bigfoot within range of their cameras. The 1967 Patterson footage will be reexamined using digital microscopes that could reveal details that might prove if the beast is real or a hoax.

Mutant Canines (44:49) - Something strange is killing Fido. In 2006, a number of pets were killed in Maine and Minnesota by a beast locals describe as a mutant--one of these creatures was hit by a car. The body of this strange looking creature will be DNA tested to see what it really is. Two expeditions will be launched to trap other dog killers still at large.

Lions in the Backyard (45:19) - Mountain lions do occasionally attack humans, and when they do it makes headlines across the country. However, it has been reported that people are seeing something else--attacks by large black cats. Pictures and law enforcement encounters prove a big black cat is out there, while it resembles a mountain lion, there is no such thing as a black mountain lion. From Texas to Minnesota to West Virginia, follow the eyewitness accounts and physical evidence of these demon cats. Bones from a carcass that eyewitnesses claim was a huge black cat will be put to the DNA test.

Gigantic Killer Fish (45:18) - Are monster fish lurking in freshwater lakes and rivers? From the Arctic Circle to the Amazon, follow an expedition to find the biggest and nastiest giant fresh water fish, from catfish large enough to swallow children whole to trout as large as a boat. Scientists will deploy giant lures and underwater cameras in a search for monster fish.

Swamp Beast (44:52) - Are the vast swamps of Louisiana and Florida hiding a beast? The locals believe so and call it, "The Swamp Creature." It is said to be 7-feet tall with red hair and a rotten egg smell. The beast even has a nickname--The Skunk Ape. For the first time, bloodhounds will be used to track the elusive creature, and sexual ape pheromone chips will be used to guide the bloodhounds to their prey. Scientists will be brought in to tell viewers what the evidence reveals.

Russia's Killer Apemen (44:54) - In 2006, The New York Times revealed a sinister plan by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin to create monsters by crossing humans with apes. Travel to Russia to find out if this was true and if so how far did he get? Take a look at the many efforts, both by man and Mother Nature, to combine the strength of apes with the intelligence of man. This real Frankenstein story involves everything from head transplants in the U.S. to cases of ape on human attacks.

Unidentified Flying Creatures (45:18) - For decades, cameras have been capturing images of a flying, torpedo-like creature so fast it cannot be seen with the naked eye. Some think it is a military weapon; others believe it may be a creature from another dimension known as "Rods." Super high-speed photography, physics and even a wind tunnel experiment will be used to shed light on what these images are.

The Real Hobbit (45:17) - MonsterQuest travels to the interior of Sumatra, in Indonesia, looking for what locals call the Orang Pendak, translated as: Man of the Woods. Could this strange mystery ape, with its human face, be a surviving ancestor to the Flores Man, dubbed the Real Hobbit in 2004, when skeletal remains were found on the neighboring island of Flores? An expedition is launched deep within the rain forest, where locals claim to see the creature with regularity...and they find footprints of an unknown upright walking beast. Will camera traps reveal its identity?

American Werewolf (44:48) - The werewolf is a centuries-old legend based on myth, not a real animal. However, local eyewitnesses in Wisconsin and Michigan report seeing a dogman--a tall hairy man-beast. Professional hunters and trackers armed with tranquilizer guns will be deployed in an area of recent sightings to find this creature. For the first time polygraphs and hypnosis will be used on eyewitnesses with astonishing results.

When you first insert a disc, they show about 15 seconds of the opening credits with the instrumental theme and no narration. This leads to the main menu where they have the mysterious beast's yellow eyes and the show logo. The episode titles are listed vertically in white at the bottom. The highlighted episode you choose is in yellow and turns gray upon your selection. This takes you to another sub-menu where there is a drawing of the creature that is featured in the episode and a listing of the scene selections. You can choose a scene individually or use the "Play All" button to view the entire episode.

As you would expect for a series that just aired in recent months, the video and audio quality is outstanding. The episodes are presented in widescreen. Most of the on location shooting and interviews look excellent. Some of the submitted video varies depending on the source. The audio is a Dolby Digital 2.0 track. Closed captioning is available on all of the episodes. The total running time is approximately 10 hours, 11 minutes.

The bonus Behind the Scenes featurette runs nearly 16 minutes and can be found on Disc 4. This extra includes deleted/expanded scenes and some behind the scenes/making of footage. I would have to loved to see some more in-depth featurettes and audio commentaries, but this was interesting to see. One of my major complaints about the show is that do a lot of recapping after coming back from commercial breaks. They could have included some of this footage originally.

Behind the Scenes (15:54) is broken up by episode:

Sasquatch Attack (2:30) - A young crew member recounts a story about a Bigfoot attack in Canada. I remember seeing this footage as a promo on the official site, but it didn't make the final broadcast.

The Swamp Creature (1:58) - Research/Historian Christopher L. Murphy answers the question of where are the Bigfoot bones.

Bigfoot (2:26) - A film crew is attacked while shooting an interview. Pretty spooky.

Giant Squid Found (2:37) - The full version of the footage captured with the Humboldt squid cam.

Birdzilla (1:49) - Producer Doug Hajicek discusses the making of a bird attack.

American Loch Ness (2:52) - Stormboarding's James Lyne and Rachael Miller are on Lake Champlain near Thompson's Point.

Mutant Canines (1:40) - An extended version of a 911 phone call in Washington state in 1996. This call was used at the start of the Bigfoot episode.

Final Comments: I've had an interest in cryptozoology since I saw some segments on Unsolved Mysteries many years ago. These MonsterQuest episodes go into a lot more detail. I like how they mixed the history, science and evidence to make an entertaining hour of television. In my opinion, the most interesting episodes on this set are the Bigfoot related programs. There seems to be the most evidence that Bigfoot could be out there.

Overall, this a pretty decent release. If you missed the episodes the first time around, you can catch up with them on DVD. This set could have benefited from more bonus material and audio commentaries for the die-hard fans. Watch the second season premiere on "Hogzilla" on Wednesday, May 28 at 9pm/8c on History!

-- Reviewed by Todd
(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
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MonsterQuest Official Site
MonsterQuest TV.com Page
Cryptomundo.com - for Bigfoot, Loch Ness, and More

Upfront Rumblings; Mini-DVD Review: JAG Season 6 (May 20)

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Saturday blog for an update on the network upfronts. This is probably the busiest TV weekend of the year--the weekend before the network upfronts start. Latest buzz on scripted series:

ABC:
Close to Being Picked-Up Dramas: Life on Mars.
Close to Being Picked-Up Sitcoms: Bad Mother's Handbook, The Goode Family.
Still Could Be Picked Up Dramas: Good Behavior, Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas, The Prince of Motor City, Castle, The Unusuals
Still Could Be Picked Up Sitcoms: This Might Hurt, My Brother's Hot (And Other Dilemmas)
No Shot: The More Things Change, Cedric
Possible On the Bubble Current Series Renewals: Eli Stone, Boston Legal, Scrubs (from NBC)
Possible Current Series Canceled That Had a Chance: MEN IN TREES (confirmed), Women's Murder Club, October Road
Comments: ABC will probably add just 1-2 new shows in the fall and load up in mid-season, because of the strike causing pilots not to shoot a pilot. The only pilot to shoot so far was Life on Mars, and word is ABC will re-shoot it but it will be picked-up. They have a lot of buzz on more dramas, but they haven't been shot yet. The scripts sound very good on most of those, like Good Behavior, Extraordinary Atlas and Prince of Motor City. Sitcom wise, ABC is very high on Bad Mother's Handbook, but other than that it is very quiet on what could make it. The Goode Family, an animated comedy, has a 13 episode commitment for 2009, so that will likely air. Mix reviews so far for Alyssa Milano's comedy My Brother's Hot (or is it known as Nuclear Family), but I bet it will be picked-up. No word on Cupid yet, the remake of the short lived comedy...ABC would be wise to pick it up...it could be Love Boat style as it will be an hour this time. Word is ABC has passed on Cedric's comedy, so there goes a chance of multicamera comedies returning to ABC. As for current series, ABC has officially axed MEN IN TREES (remaining episodes will air starting May 28) and the word is Women's Murder Club will also get the ax. Meanwhile Eli Stone fans will be happy that the word is it will indeed return. Boston Legal's chances are better to return than to be axed. No news on October Road, but ABC is shopping it. Maybe MRC can get it for that Sunday block on The CW? Scrubs will likely come to ABC in the fall it seems, and According to Jim is taping at least 6 episodes this month and in June, so maybe that will be available earlier this year than the previous two seasons.

CBS:
Close to Being Picked-Up Dramas: Eleventh Hour, Mentalist.
Close to Being Picked-Up Sitcoms: My Secret Public Journal, My Best Friend's Girl
Still Could Be Picked Up Dramas: Mythological Ex, Exit 19, Tower
Still Could Be Picked Up Sitcoms: Single White Millionaire, Worst Week
No Shot: NY-LON
Possible On the Bubble Current Series Renewals: The Unit, Old Christine, Moonlight, Rules of Engagement
Possible Current Series Canceled That Had a Chance: Jericho, Shark
Comments: CBS is very high on Eleventh Hour and The Mentalist, so expect them to be picked-up for sure. CBS also is eying Mythological Ex, Exit 19, Tower and possibly Harper's Island. Sitcom wise, the picture is not that clear, but CBS seems to have liked quite a few like My Secret Public Journal, My Best Friend's Girl, and Single White Millionaire. Worst Week seems to have picked up steam and is also in the running with another sitcom or two also possible.
Current series wise, The Unit seems to have gained traction and could return now. Moonlight and Rules of Engagement has a better shot to return, while Shark could be on its way out. Old Christine is tough to figure. It'll be back next season...either on CBS or if CBS cancels it, ABC could pick it up. So maybe CBS will pick it up so ABC can't.

FOX:
Close to Being Picked-Up Dramas: Fringe (confirmed), Dollhouse
Close to Being Picked-Up Sitcoms: The Inn (confirmed), Sit Down Shutup (confirmed), Cleveland
Still Could Be Picked Up Dramas: Courtroom K
Still Could Be Picked Up Sitcoms: Spaced, Starting Under, The Pitts
No Shot: The Oaks
On the Bubble Current Series Renewals: 'Til Death (confirmed)
Possible Current Series Canceled That Had a Chance: Back to You (confirmed)
Comments: Fox is very high on Fringe and Dollhouse. Fringe will be their main show to push as it has been picked-up for the fall, while Dollhouse could come mid-season. Courtroom K is another Fox drama that could be picked-up. Fox has passed on drama The Oaks, and they are shopping it to other studios. Sitcom wise, they have officially picked up The Inn, and a mid-season pickup for animated sitcom Cleveland (Family Guy spinoff) is almost certain. Sitdown Shut Up has been picked up for sure for mid-season. So maybe The Pitts will be passed on now. And another sitcom or two like Spaced or Bernie Mac's Starting Under. Boldly Going Nowhere is also picking up steam. Because of the pick-up of The Inn, the sitcom Back to You is canceled! After a bad performance this past week, it really sealed that deal. The cost of the show is also high as it has two sitcom veterans and the producers/director are also costly. Meanwhile, 'Til Death survives once again for the second straight year for a third season. So Back to You is canceled and 'Til Death is renewed. No word when or if the four unaired episodes of Back to You will air or not. Series finale is this coming week.

The CW:
Close to Being Picked-Up Dramas: 90210, Filthy Rich Girls
Close to Being Picked-Up Sitcoms: None
Still Could Be Picked Up Dramas: Austin Golden Hour
Still Could Be Picked Up Sitcoms: None.
No Shot: N/A
On the Bubble Current Series Renewals: Reaper, The Game
Possible Current Series Canceled That Had a Chance: Aliens in America, Girlfriends (both confirmed)
Comments: 90210 is almost certain to be picked up now that Jennie Garth will indeed reprise her role as a recurring character. Filthy Rich Girls is another drama that will be picked-up for the fall, while Austin Golden Hour could be for mid-season. No new sitcoms at all, but they have canned Aliens in America and we already knew Girlfriends was ending. So it looks like Chris and The Game will be the only sitcoms on The CW, possibly Fridays 8-9pm. The CW has given up on Sundays, and will let MRC program from 7-11pm: The CW is aligning with Media Rights Capital to program its Sunday night primetime programming block for the 2008-09 broadcast television season. The strategic alliance between the two companies will take effect in Fall 2008 and feature four new programs--two comedies and two dramas--from top producers and creative talent.
As for returning shows, Reaper will be back most likely. Gossip Girl could be paired with 90210.

Check back periodically as we get more updates all-weekend long! I don't sleep during upfronts week!

Join us all next week (May 12-15) bright and early for the fall schedules. I assure you we will be among the first ones to post the fall line-ups for each network. NBC will be first on Monday, but they have already announced their schedule...so nothing new. No changes are expected either on Monday for NBC's schedule.


And now back to our regularly scheduled blog programming:

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews! Today we have we take a look at CBS DVD's 6th Season of JAG. JAG was a huge hit for CBS. If you are a fan of Navy NCIS, you know that NCIS is a spin-off of JAG. See Seth Thrasher's mini-DVD review of JAG - The Complete 6th Season:

JAG - The Complete 6th Season (CBS, $55.98) is coming to DVD for the first time on May 20! Enjoy this long running Donald Bellisario classic on DVD -- and I've got great news. If you didn't notice already, the MSRP for this season set has dropped by $9, from $65 to $56. In addition, the SRP for seasons one through four (as of this writing) have dropped significantly. Seasons 1 and 2 are now $30, Seasons 3 and 4 are now $39. Those of you who've read these reviews know that the SRP was EASILY my biggest gripe against the JAG sets, and now the first four sets are available for under $40 -- the first two for just under $30, with the price of the sixth season starting at a lower base. This is great for fans of the show who might have hesitated at the price point.
I'll be completely honest here -- this is around the point in the original run of the show that I lost interest -- about 2/3 of the way through the season to be specific. It wasn't the show itself so much as I just found other things to watch, and sort of drifted away. I didn't begin watching again until the final season. So this IS the first time I've seen a good third of the season. The season starts off with the great two-parter, "Legacy," which once again involves Harm's family life -- this time taking place in Russia. The fifth episode of the season, "JAG TV," is an interesting one. The JAG office has its first televised court martial -- resulting in a circus, not surprisingly. The episode features Lawyer Celebrities Gloria Allred and Johnnie Cochran, plus Mary Hart and then-host of the Late Late Show, Craig Kilborn. The season finale is, of course, a cliffhanger. The episode is titled "Adrift," and I won't reveal much of the plot...but it's a surprisingly good episode. Can't believe I missed it first time through.
Moving to the technical side, packaging is, thankfully, a mere outer box plus slim cases. Many CBS DVD titles are moving to those horrible translucent plastic cases with the fragile disc holders in the center. The number of discs involved with a drama such as JAG makes this a bit prohibitive, a fact of which I'm thankful. Video is presented nice and clear in anamorphic widescreen. The video, being shot in HD, has no defects that I can detect. Audio is great, and I once again have to just say I LOVE the show's theme and how good it sounds here. . The “disclaimer of doom” does appear on the back of the box, indicating possible edits, but honestly I think this is standard operating procedure for CBS DVD. There weren't any glaring edits that I could find, but I don't have original broadcast OR syndication copies to compare to -- and like I said, I stopped watching midseason. The episodes generally run 43:30-44:30, probably on par with the normal 2000-01 shows. There are, unfortunately, no special features that I could find.
I wish I’d kept on watching back then, as there's still quality story for the series left to tell -- the episodes I missed, and the season as a whole, is quite good, and I wholeheartedly recommend the set -- and go back and pick up the earlier seasons now that the prices have gone down.

-- Reviewed by Seth Thrasher
(4/5 stars)

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Mini-DVD Review: Perry Mason 50th Anniversary Edition; Solomon's Final Rant: Good Times Not a Spin-Off of Maude

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for the mini-DVD review and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, is the mini-DVD review. Today we take a look at CBS DVD's Perry Mason - 50th Anniversary Edition. Perry Mason of course is the very popular law series. The series stars the great Raymond Burr. See skees53's mini-DVD review of Perry Mason - 50th Anniversary Edition:

Perry Mason - 50th Anniversary Edition (CBS DVD, $49.98) brings you some of the best episodes of one of the most popular courtroom dramas on television along with plenty of special features on a four-disc set. The series premiered in 1957 on CBS and ran through 1966, making it one of the most successful series of its time. The "meat of the set" so to speak would be the episodes, and on this set, we have the twelve "best" episodes of the series (as chosen by the producers of the DVDs), beginning with the 1960 episode "The Case of The Wary Wildcater," where a woman accuses an oil entrepreneur of killer her sister, and then she is in turn accused of killing him when he is murdered. A clump of fake hair could solve the mystery in "The Case of the Treacherous Toupee," where Robert Redford guest stars. Before he was Batman, Adam West guest stars in "The Case of the Barefaced Witness."
A man may have gone crazy in "The Case of the Counterfeit Crank," but is he crazy enough to commit murder? Leonard Nimoy guest stars in "The Case of the Shoplifter's Shoe." Can Perry prove that a woman that has already been convicted is actually innocent? Find out in "The Case of the Deadly Verdict."
Did you know that Perry Mason was in color? Well it was... but only for one episode... in "The Case of the Twice Told Twist." In "The Case of the Dead Ringer," Raymond Burr plays the bad guy AND Perry Mason in the same episode. The set ends with the final episode, "The Case of the Final Fadeout," where Dick Clark guest stars.
The set comes in a very nice package with two double slimcases, with four discs. As has been the case on previous Perry Mason releases, the video and audio are preserved nearly to perfection, with virtually no flaws to be found... even the one color episode looks amazing! Closed-captioning is also available.
While there aren't any episode commentaries, there ARE video introductions from Barbara Hale on each and every episode... and much, much more. In fact, Disc 4 is nothing BUT special features. It begins with the 1985 movie Perry Mason Returns, which was the first (in a long line of MANY) Perry Mason TV movies of the week. Did you ever want to see what the cast was like when trying out for their roles? Find out in the Talent Tests. In fact, you even get to see actors from the show try out for parts they didn't even get. In "The Case of Erle Stanley Gardner," we get to find out about the history behind the creator of the series.
There are two interviews of Raymond Burr by Charlie Rose from the 1980s, as well a much older "Person to Person" interview. There are brand new interviews on the set from Barbara Hale, Arthur Marks, and Anne Nelson. You can see the entire cast play n the game show "Stump the Stars" on one of the special features. William Talman, while dying of lung cancer, gives a special anti-smoking message (that was taped just before he died) on another feature. And finally, there are some syndication promos and a photo gallery. Oh, and did I mention that except for the last two, all of these special features have an introduction by Barbara Hale?
I think that the verdict is very clear on this set... you'll want it. Normally I'm not a big fan of "best of" sets, but normally such sets don't include this many (and such great) special features. Now CBS DVD needs to get moving on more season sets... and perhaps give us some special features like these on one of those! This is better than those!
-- Reviewed by skees53
(5/5 stars)

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After launching June 2, 2007, Solomon's Weekly Rant is coming to an end after today's column. No, the rant is not canceled, but Solomon wants to go out on top. We enjoyed the rant each Saturday for the last 10 months and he is welcome to come back to do special features for us on the blog whenever we have some time. He of course will still remain an active members on our message boards, so you can still speak to him there. He will leave us today with his final rant that will feature some great thoughts and insight on why Good Times was not a spin-off of Maude. He has constantly said this on our message boards but this will be the first time he has actually written up something officially on this. You'll want to read this...because dare I say it, he could be right!

Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, April 19, 2008
"Why Good Times is NOT a Spin-Off of Maude"
By Solomon Davis

I have said this many times but now I'm actually writing it up for the whole world to see. Good Times is not a spin-off of Maude, damnit. You may think I'm crazy but I have some hard facts to prove this. First, isn't it obvious that the name of Florida's husband is different on both shows? On Maude his name is Henry and on Good Times it changed to James. So if Good Times was a spin-off why wouldn't they have kept the same name for the husband? And it was also obvious that the wife's name was supposed to be changed on Good Times since her husband had a different name on the show. So someone screwed up the naming the characters for Good Times and that's one reason that it can't be a spinoff... all about the names.

Fine you may think the producers might have messed up on the first argument I mentioned. But secondly, the location of Good Times along with the situation of the family lets you know it's not a spinoff. On Maude, the husband had a stable job as a fireman in upstate New York and on Good Times he was working at a car wash and living in the projects section of Chicago. On the last episode ("Florida's Goodbye") they appeared on Maude, they said Henry got a job promotion...so from a fireman to working at a car wash is a promotion? And the last time I checked Chicago is no where near upstate New York which means that Good Times is its own show and not a spinoff. Plus how could a family have moved from upstate New York and then be living in the projects in Chicago? Not a spinoff of Maude, that's why.

Third, the executive producer of Good Times, Allan Manings, stated in a 1974 issue of Ebony Magazine that it's not really a spin-off because Florida Evans was one character on Maude and that character was changed & re-developed for the NEW SHOW called Good Times. If anyone would know, it would be the executive producer of the show that knows whether it was a spinoff or not. The early scripts from Good Times are not connected at all to the final scripts of Maude. Once again, no spinoff.

And my last point, which will really show that Good Times was not a spinoff, is the airdate for the debut of Good Times in 1974. In some markets, CBS aired Good Times on February 1, 1974 and the last episode with the characters on Maude was aired on February 5, 1974. Did they move to Chicago and go back to upstate New York in a week? So if Good Times was supposed to be connected to the last episode of Maude then why would some CBS affiliates air the debut episode of Good Times before the last episode of Maude? And I know some CBS stations aired the launch of Good Times on February 8, 1974 but for the ones that didn't, made it obvious for the last time, that Good Times was never ever a spinoff of the show Maude. The characters were BASED on Maude but not the same exact ones! I hope everyone hears that lound and clear! I don't want to hear that on TV anymore that Good Times was a spin-off of Maude! You hear that E! True Hollywood Story, Entertainment Tonight, Biography, TV Land, and most of all Norman Lear? I hope you all see this!


Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: Woody Woodpecker and Friends: Classic Cartoon Collection Volume 2 (April 15); Solomon's Weekly Rant

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for the mini-DVD review and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD review. This week we take a look at Universal Home Video's The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection - Volume 2. Woody Woodpecker is of course the classic TV woodpecker that made his mark in the 40s-70s in feature films! Not only do we get Woody cartoons, we also get classic theatrical cartoons of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Andy Panda, Chilly Willy, some Cartune Classics, and some Music Favorites. See my mini-DVD review of The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection - Volume 2:

The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection - Volume 2 (Universal, $39.98) brings 45 more classic unedited Woody Woodpecker cartoons and 30 other unedited classic cartoons from the legendary Walter Lantz to DVD on another classic 3-disc set! This time three of these shorts were nominated for Academy Awards. The set also goes again to the vault for classic behind-the-scenes with Walter Lantz and some rare Lantz pilots.
On this set we not only get 45 Woody Woodpecker cartoons, but also 5 each of the following: Oswald the Luck Rabbit, Andy Panda, Chilly Willy, Cartune Classics, Cartune Co-Stars and Musical Favorites. The Woody Woodpecker cartoons generally are between 6-7 minutes. Chilly Willy is about the same as well, and the others are a bit higher, more like 7-8 minutes each. There are no chapter stops once again, which is acceptable here because the episodes are very short. There are 75 total shorts.
The video is digitally remastered and uncut and it looks great! You see some dust and debris here and there, but a bit better than the last set, as that set had more older shorts...but some shorts like Oswald the Lucky Rabbit are still from the '30s. Woody is from 1952-58 on this set. The audio is decent, nothing too bad about it. It is in mono, but very good for its age.
Packaging has a nice brown outer box (like a tree again) with Woody coming out of the whole on the tree holding a sling shot. His nephew and niece, Knothead and Splinter are also on the cover. The back cover has information on the set and has some screenshots of the shorts along with a big photo of Woody pumping up dynamites or something. A box titled Rare Vintage Bonus Features is also listed on the back of the box. Inside the box is a digipak. The front of the digipak has Woody again coming out of a whole on a tree with a sling shot surrounded by more hole on the three with are screenshots from the show like Smedly and Chilly Willy. Woody's "Ha-Ha-Ha-HAAA-Ha!" is also mentioned on the front of the digipak. The back of the digipak has a nice list of characters from Walter Lantz's shows, with details on each such as Woody, Chilly Willy and Space Mouse. Below that are nice photos of each all together! Opening the case once, we get a very nice disc by disc breakdown as we got on the last set, which is very colorful and has lots of pictures. Opening the case one last time, we get to the discs. We have four panels. The first panel, all the way to the far left, has a a nice paragraph each on each disc and what is inside it. The next three panels hold each disc. The artwork has a tree wooden background with niece Splinter on disc one, Woody himself on disc two and nephew Knothead on disc three. Nice classic images from the shorts are in the background on the case itself.
The menu screen has Play All, Cartoon Selection, Bonus, and Languages...exactly the same as the last set. The main menu has Woody pecking to start and then we hear Woody's famous laugh....again exactly the same as the last set, but that is good! Languages section has us in English only, but subtitles can be added for English, Espanol, and Francais. Bonus Features are on each disc, so they are spread out evenly. Cartoon Selection is where we can choose the classic shorts...we get a list of titles in a tree hole.
Moving on to the extras. As I mentioned, they are evenly placed on each disc. The extras are all from the vaults and are not new material once again, which is indeed classic and great. Since this is a classic collection, might as well dig stuff up from the archives. Disc one has more of those "Behind the Scenes with Walter Lantz" episodes. We get six short segments running between 3-5 minutes or so. We have Creating Woody Woodpecker (Episode 2), Timing a Cartoon (Episode 11), Character Movement (Episode 12), Photography Animation Cels (Episode 13), Animator's Job (Episode 14), and Using Backgrounds (Episode 15). These are all so interesting and it was great of Mr. Lantz to do these...we should have all of these finished by the time we get all Woody episodes finished on DVD. On disc two we have six more "Behind the Scenes with Walter Lantz" episodes! We have Inking Department (Episode 17), Painting Department (Episode 18), Drawing with Walter Lantz (Episode 20), Sound Effects in Cartoons (Episode 22), Storyboarding Woody Woodpecker (Episode 24), and Creating New Characters (Episode 26). So we get a dozen of these on this set...we got six last time, so 18 of them are done! Then we have Rare TV Pilot Episodes of other Lantz characters. We get the pilot episode of The Secret Weapon, with Space Mouse that runs 6:04 and Jungle Medias, with Sam 'n Simian that runs 6:01...rare stuff! On the last disc we have a full episode of The Woody Woodpecker Show. It is episode 47 and runs 26:59. It is from 1957-58 when it aired on ABC...we get four classic shorts packaged together: Ballyhooey/Rough and Tumbleweed/Franken-Stymied/Mother's Little Helper. As I said in the last set, it was later revived in 1970 by NBC with more episodes. And in the '80s it was packed together for syndication we saw different themes and stuff in syndication. I love this the best as I stated last time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5zwBBFJ63c (I hope we get that on a future set as an extra and all the theme songs used in syndication).
I highly do recommend any fan of classic cartoons and Woody Woodpecker to pick-up this set...especially if you have Volume 1. If you remember the show from local syndication in the late 80s/early 90s, you'll be fascinated by this because these shorts were made for theatrical cartoons and not television, which I never knew obviously then. This set covers Woody from 1952-1958...so we have still have 12 years or so left. Volume 1 covered 1940-52. Maybe we will need about 4-5 volumes to finish it up. Let's hope we do and we get all of the Woody shorts released and the other Lantz shorts. I want all of the Chilly Willy shorts too...I loved him and Smedly. So start 'guessing who' is coming to DVD once again? Yes Woody Woodpecker and Friends once again!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(5/5 stars)

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Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, April 12, 2008
"BET Doing Stuff Wrong Now; Enough Spitzer, Leno; Complaining of High Gas Prices"
By Solomon Davis

BET was almost the cable channel of 2008 with its new acquisitions but now the network is just doing stuff wrong. First, the editing STINKS on Diff'rent Strokes and it is actually worse than ION's editing probably because I never seen a network cut from a scene while two characters are dancing and talking. That's called pre-school editing at its best and it is unacceptable. Second they added more airings of Diff'rent Strokes, which is great, but the additional slots are still during the day. So how is airing Diff'rent Strokes at 3pm any different from 9am? Most people are still at work or school at 3pm. No one at BET has enough sense to air additional airings in the evening or regular airings during weekends? And last, why would BET have two marathons of the same show in one month? We just watched an eight hour marathon of Diff'rent Strokes last Sunday and now they have a five hour marathon coming on Sunday, April 20? It is good they are having marathons at least, but I guess no one at BET ever heard of the month of May where the Strokes marathons can be more spread out.

How much longer is Jay Leno going to make fun of former governor of New York Elliot Spitzer? The jokes are no longer funny because the story is now OLD and it is time to move on and joke about something else. No need to keep bringing up an old news story when there is new stuff to make fun of about everyday. Time for Jay to get some FRESH jokes and start leaving the STALE jokes alone.

I get so annoyed when I hear people who have nice salaries talk about high gas prices like they can't afford to pay the increase. I have heard radio talk show hosts, late night TV hosts, and news anchors mention how ridiculous it is that gas is so high in 2008 and we all know they are not affected. The "average working person" definitely doesn't want to hear someone with a six figure salary complain about high gas prices. It's really amazing that these high paid people don't have a clue on how stupid they sound. I guess news anchors have to report it, though...but they shouldn't be complaining.

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 6 (April 8); Solomon's Weekly Rant

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for the mini-DVD review and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD review. Today we take a look at Lionsgate's Season 6 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (actually the ninth DVD release). Ninja Turtles is of course the hit animated series that caused kids and teens to go crazy for in the late '80s and early '90s. See my mini-DVD review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Season 6:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Season 6 (Lionsgate, $19.98) brings all 16 episodes from the series' sixth season on this wonderful two-disc DVD set. Leonardo, Donatello, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Splinter, April are all back to battle Shredder, Krang and other villains! Cowabunga! Starting with season four we started getting season releases. Prior to that, we were getting volume releases. Volume 6 had the last 11 episodes from season three, plus the first episode of season four. The third season had a total of 47 episodes, so they decided to split up that season into volumes, so volumes 3, 4, 5, and 6 covered season three. Season one had only 5 episodes, so that was on Volume 1. For season 2 there were just 13 episodes, so Lionsgate released that for volume two...so yes, technically the first two volumes were season sets. Season 4 and Season 5 had their actual full seasons...season 4 had 39 episodes and season 5 had 18.
Season six has a total of 16 episodes, and we get ALL of those on this set, which is a bit cheaper in quality than the last two sets we got.
The packaging started getting very good starting with season four. The first six volumes the packaging was simple (as they were just one-disc sets)...and we are back to that on this set. This set is 2-discs, but the case is very similar to those volume releases. We get a very thin box holding the case, which I don't understand why it is even needed. Both the thin box cover and the case cover has the same cover art...the four turtles in the middle with their respective weapons. The artwork is very colorful, though. We get a shot of Splinter on the upper left and April on the bottom left. It is in comic book style, so it is nicely done. The back of both the thing box and case are also similar. We get a photo of Leonardo with his sword and some details on the set and series. Below that we get an episode listing of each episode for season six in a rectangular yellow box. When we open the case, it is also pretty simple...black backgrounds surrounding the case with two disc holders holding each disc. At least no overlapping occurs! Disc one holds the first 8 episodes of the season and is in blue with Michaelangelo. Disc two has the rest of the episodes from season six, the final eight, and is in reddish/orangeish color with Dontatello.
The menu screen is not as creative as the last set for sure. No pizza menu this time, but still it is decent. First, we get autotrailers before the main menu appears on disc one only. Then after that is done, we see rotating images of each Turtle before we come to the main menu screen. The theme song is playing in the background, and it does loop, and the photo is similar to the box art, but the weapons of each turtle is moving a bit. Nicely done. Also, the background seems to have video clips playing in the background, but it is in blue and looks transparent. The options are: Play All Episodes, Episode Selection, Trailers. Trailers is on both disc for some reason and is I believe the same as the auto-trailers that are on disc one. Episode Selection takes us to a submenu with episode #, title, and a screenshot from the episode.
The video is on par with the other volumes, with dust and debris here and there but I think it is much better than the previous releases...but probably on par with seasons 4 and 5. The audio is also on par with the previous releases, not bad...and listenable. The episodes run a around 23:35-23:40, with the highest being 23:41 and the lowest at 23:35. We get 5 chapter stops per episode...nice.
Seasons four and five had extras...and decent ones, too...but this time we get absolutely nothing! Why??? Was the reason we were getting extras was because of the new TMNT CGI-movie? I hope not. I hope we get more extras in future seasons.
I still urge fans to buy this set even though it is a bit of a letdown from the seasons 4 and 5 sets. I was afraid of the quality dipping by Lionsgate starting with season six...I expressed my worries on my season 5 review about that. Seasons 7, 8, 9, and 10 still remain to be released, so let's hope they come out soon and in good quality. Season seven had 27 episodes and seasons eight through ten had 8 episodes each. Four of the eight episodes on season ten was released on the Volume 1 DVD, the very first DVD, though.
Anyway, this set will be released this Tuesday, click on the link below to purchase all the thrilling season six episodes and you'll like the comic book style packaging! Eat some pizza while you watch this DVD! Cowabunga dudes!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

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Official Website


Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, April 5, 2008
"Nick at Nite Delaying Family Matters; TV One Going Downhill Still; ESPN Wrong Again"
By Solomon Davis

Thank you Nick at Nite for deciding at the last minute to launch Family Matters at a later date when the promos were stating it will be coming "next month" (April). And is this decision all because of Home Improvement improving in the ratings lately? Well that means the promos in March were false advertisement and it's unfair to fans when it was stated April was the month that it would launch (was slated to launch April 20 with airings 9-10pm each weekday, bumping Tim Allen and the gang to just 12-1am). So I guess if Home Improvement continues to "improve," Family Matters will probably start in September or NEVER if Home Improvement becomes a new Nick at Nite HIT! That show is no George Lopez!

TV One is going to air a 24-hour marathon of Martin in May (part of their May Friday marathons) and the show has been on the schedule forever? This makes no sense at all since it's not a new show which is another poor program decision by TV One. And on top of that Amen will resurface on the TV One evening schedule this coming week which should be very exciting since it was already on the schedule two years ago. Holding on to shows for years and adding shows that they already had on the schedule means that TV One is nothing but a LARGER version of the station called ION Television.

ESPN wanted to be the first to report a story this week but just ended up looking like a national joke. Now why would ESPN report that Brett Farve may want to come out of retirement? Was the news that slow that day that the network had to make up something that dumb? Thankfully SI.com reported today that Farve never said that he wanted to come back and I'm still annoyed I have to continue to pay money to watch a network that reports false information.


Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: Alvin and the Chipmunks Go To the Movies: Funny, We Shrunk the Adults (April 1); Solomon's Weekly Rant

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for the mini-DVD review and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD review. This week we take a look at Paramount Home Entertainment's second set of The Chipmunks Go to the Movies. The Chipmunks Go to the Movies is a continuation of Alvin and the Chipmunks from 1990 where the Chipmunks re-enact your favorite classic movies like Big, Back to the Future and Honey I Shrunk the Kids! See my mini-DVD review of The Chipmunks Go to the Movies:

Alvin & the Chipmunks Go To the Movies: Funny, We Shrunk the Adults (Paramount, $16.99) brings three episodes from the short-lived 13 episode series where the Chipmunks spoofed major Hollywood films. This is the fifth set from Paramount featuring the Chipmunks series. The last set was the first Chipmunks Go To The Movies set (which featured "Star Wreck," "Batmunk," and "Funny...We Shrunk the Adults"). Previous sets were the Valentine's, Halloween and Christmas specials releases. Paramount has also released the Chipmunk Adventure feature film from 1987 on a separate set...so six sets really. Well maybe seven because they will also re-release this movie on April 1 as well with a bonus soundtrack disc inside (more on that below).
This set has three episodes from the 1990 series featuring spoofs on Back to the Future, Big & Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Yes, the spoof on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids was on the last Chipmunks Go To The Movies set and for some reason is on this one, too. The episode titles for this set are "Back to Alvin's Future," "Bigger," and "Funny...We Shrunk the Adults." As I said in the previous review, why not just bring all 13 on two-discs or something? It doesn't make sense to me why just three episodes and one of them was already released on the last set. On the last set, each episode ran 21:30 or so, with NO closing credits or chapter stops. On this set two of the three have closing credits, but one doesn't. The two that do, have runtimes of 23:06 and the one that doesn't has a runtime of 22:33 (but that one has the original NBC In Stereo logo during the opening credits). Each episode has 3 chapter stops.
Packaging is simple and in the same line as the previous sets--a nice simple case with the disc inside with an insert for Chipmunks.com. Cover art has Alvin and the Chipmunks Go To The Movies logo with a reel strip and the mention of "Funny, We Shrunk The Adults." Picture of Theodore, Alvin and Simon are on the cover as Alvin holds a shrunken Dave and Ms. Miller. Disc art is the same as the cover art, but with just Alvin's shot from the cover. The last set's packaging featured Star Trek on the cover and Batman on the back, while this set is all about Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
The menu screen has Play All and all the episodes listed on the main menu, with a screenshot and episode title. The main menu is in blue/pink background.
The video and audio are decent and very watchable and in line with other releases.
I highly do recommend any fan to pick up this set. New fans might also want to see this hilarious take on popular films (such as Tom Hanks in Big and Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future), but I am hoping Paramount (or any other studio) releases the series on DVD in order with the classic episodes, and not just select episodes from The Chipmunks years (1988-1990). I like the old style animation the series had on NBC from 1983-87...why aren't they coming to DVD first? I think those might be from Warner and Ruby-Spears, while these are from DiC. But for now get shrunk (again) but this time we get 'bigger' and go to the 'future' with the Chipmunks. Alvinnnnnnnnnn!

Now I'll just comment a bit on the new release of The Chipmunk Adventure feature film movie from 1987 that runs 76 minutes. The packaging is different and the disc artwork is different, but everything else is the same. We get the same menus, video/audio, scene selections, special feature (original artwork). However, this new release has The Chipmunk Adventure soundtrack with all 11 tracks. So if you want to spend the money just for the soundtrack, because basically everything is the same except for the things I mentioned above, then buy this set. If you haven't bought the movie on DVD, then go for this set instead of the older one. The movie is really fun!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars) for both sets

To purchase the DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
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Also purchase the new release of The Chipmunk Adventure with the soundtrack CD:
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Related links:
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Alvin & the Chipmunks TV.com Page
Chipmunks.com


Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, March 29, 2008
"Price DVD Disappointing; Local News Breaks Into Programming, ION Strikes Again"
By Solomon Davis

I thought the Best of Price is Right DVD would be a great buy for fans of the show but when I heard that there are episodes from the 2007 season included, I was no longer in a rush to buy the DVD. Why in the world would FIVE episodes from 2007 be on a best of the Price is Right DVD? The very last episode with Bob Barker I can understand a little but what are the other 4 episodes on the DVD for? Who cares if they are from Bob's last week on the show, this DVD should be all about the HISTORY of the Price is Right and not episodes from this decade at all. I don't even think it should be episodes from 1997, so to hear that 2007 episodes are on the DVD just sounds really stupid. This release proved that BCI Eclipse doesn't have no clue as to what should be on a Best of the Price is Right DVD. I hope they are planning on a second release because besides the 2007 episodes the newest episode is from the mid-70s...they skipped the entire '80s??

I know that someone has experienced watching a show on one of their local stations and the news cuts in to go to a press conference or a breaking news story when they can just tell viewers about it when the news comes on. I lost count at the number of times I was recording something only to have my local news station cut in and stop me from getting an entire show on tape. Which was what happened to me this week on my Fox station when the news station cut in on The Tyra Banks Show at the 40 minute mark to go to a Hilary Clinton press conference in Philadelphia leaving me with an incomplete episode. I just wish local news would leave regularly scheduled programming ALONE if it's not a MAJOR NATIONAL NEWS story...they could wait for the regular local news timeslot to report it. If Charlie Gibson, Brian Williams or Katie Couric are not breaking in, no one else should.

Can't say I'm surprised by the recent programming by ION Television this past week with its new April schedule. ION for some reason feels the need to add shows that have already been played on other cable networks which is not an intriguing pick-up for TV fans. Who hasn't seen The Wayans Bros., Family Feud, and The Steve Harvey Show in syndication before? Plus ION decides to do this ODD mix of primetime scheduling and will now have a drama (Quantum Leap) leading into sitcoms which is just bizarre. OK, Quantum Leap hasn't been played much in syndication, but it is out of place on ION (Mama's Family airs before it and Drew Carey Show plays after it...what???) So it's the same 'ole story with ION each month, which is adding TV shows that are in the "Brand New Old" syndication category.

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: Day Break - The Complete Series (March 25)

Happy Easter everyone! We don't have final ratings for Thursday and also no averages for the first four nights because of the Good Friday/Easter holiday, thus I have decided not to do a ratings report this week. As always you can always get daily final ratings on our General Sitcoms Questions & Discussions message board. So today, I decided to give you all another mini-DVD review! It is an Easter mini-DVD review weekend it seems. I am stunned we got all our planned March 25 mini reviews (Pebbles & Bamm-Bamm, Dennis the Menace, Price is Right and now Day Break today)out of the way before March 25. Today week we take a look at BCI's Day Break: The Complete Series. Day Break was an excellent action-packed drama that was gone too soon. It was the show that was replacing Lost as it went on its hiatus last season in November (2006). Unfortunately, viewers didn't flock in and they missed a wonderful thriller starring Taye Diggs. The show's final episode, which never aired on ABC, even has a conclusion to this story, so fans who gave up or didn't watch, missed out (the show's final 7 episodes aired on abc.com). See my mini-DVD review of Day Break: The Complete Series:

Day Break: The Complete Series (BCI, $39.98) brings us all 13 episodes of the thrilling action-packed Taye Diggs series that relives the same day over and over again. Detective Brett Hopper (Diggs) wakes up in the morning at 6:17am with his girlfriend Rita (Moon Bloodgood) and is later accused of the murder of state attorney Alberto Garza. He will realize that he's been framed. He will run. Then he will wake up and start the day over again. Different things happen each day and Brett has to figure out clues on who killed Garza. It's not your ordinary crime drama, as this is heavily serialized, but very thrilling and exciting. This is one of the shows from 2006-07 season I wish was still around. Anyway, Hopper remember the different things he did on that same day over and over again, but of course no one else does. If someone dies, they are not dead when the day restarts...but if he gets hurt or dies, it will remain. So if he dies, it is all over. What will happen? You'll have to see yourself, if you haven't already.
Let's now move on to the packaging. BCI has done a very good job. The box holds three slim cases inside. The box's cover art features Taye Diggs followed by the Day Break logo, the Complete Series mention, followed by a cast photo on the bottom. Surrounding the big picture of Taye are nice little images in the background. The color sceheme is like yellowish, similar to a sunrise. The back of the box is also great. We get a quote from The Hollywood Reporter on top, followed by a nice synopsis of the series. Nice photos of Rita, Andrea (Victoria Pratt), Chad (Adam Baldwin), and Spivak (Mitch Pileggi) surround the synopsis. Below that we have more photos...Jennifer (Meta Golding), Choi (Ian Anthony Dale), Brett, Damien (Ramon Rodriguez), Fencik (Joe Nieves) and Buchalter (michael McGrady)...wow they got the entire cast on this on the back...very cool. I advise you to view this website to find out details on all the characters, because there is a lot! Below that is the list of the special features. And below that we are told that this set includes 7 episodes never aired on network television. Inside the box are the three slim cases and a nice episode booklet. The booklet is four pages, counting the cover and back. The front cover has the cast and is similar in style to the cover art. Pages 2 and 3 gives us a disc-by-disc breakdown of what episodes are on each disc. We also are given the audio commentaries list for each episode. Every episode has commentary...very good job by BCI. The back of the booklet has another cast photo and credits for the production of the commentaries. Moving on to the slim cases. Get it slim? As in Danny "Slim" Yan. Anyway, each slim case features a character on the front and back of the case. Case 1 has Brett/Rita. Case 2 has Andrea/Spivak. Case 3 has Chad/Jennifer. The episodes for each slim case are listed on the back below the character image. When we open the case, nice promotional images from the show are in the background Disc artwork is very nice as well. Slim case one has disc one and the artwork on the disc is Brett and Jennifer. Slim case two has disc two and the artwork on the disc is Rita and Brett. Slim case three holds discs three and four. Disc three's disc artwork has Chad and Brett. Disc four's artwork has Andrea and Chad.
The menu screen is also very nice. It starts off with the famous sunrise. Then we get a yellow background, similar to the box art. We have a picture of Brett Hopper with a video on the bottom left of the first 15 seconds or so of the first scene from the pilot. The audio of that is also playing. Excellent scene. The menu options are easy to navigate. The episodes are listed on the main menu, with the episode # and title. We also have an option for Audio Set-Up. When we choose that option we have the option for 5.1 Dolby Digital or 2.0 Stereo. When we choose an episode, we get to the episode menu. Options are Play, Chapters, or Play with Commentary. When we select chapters, we see the scene titles and a video screen grab from the episode. Theme music is playing in the background. You can also use your remote to skip chapters if you don't want to use this option. There are 7 chapter stops.
The video and audio is excellent, as it should be. The show is presented to us in widescreen and it looks great. The audio is also excellent, as you have the option for 5.1 or 2.0 stereo. Each episode runs about 42 minutes or so each. Highest is 43:06 and lowest is 41:08. Don't worry, I can assure nothing is edited.
We get a lot of special features! I was so surprised to hear we have audio commentaries for EACH episode and some have multiple tracks! We have other extras as well, but I'll start with the commentaries. Here is a break-down:
1. Pilot - #1: Paul Zbyszewski (Creator), Jeffrey Bell (Showrunner), Rob Bowman (Director), and Matthew Gross (Executive Producer); #2: Rob Bowman (Director) and Marta Evry (Film Editor)
2. What If they Run? - #1: Taye Diggs, Paul Zbyszewski (Creator), and Rob Bowman (Director); #2: Rob Bowman (Director) and Marta Evry (Film Editor)
3. What If He Lets Her Go? - Paul Zbyszewski (Creator), Rob Bowman (Director), and Steven Maeda (Writer)
4. What If He Can Change The Day? - Victoria Pratt and Henry Alonso Myers (Writer)
5. What If They're Stuck? - Paul Zbyszewski (Creator), Taye Diggs, and Adam Baldwin.
6. What If They Find Him? - Ramon Rodriguez and Rob Bowman (Director)
7. What If He's Not Alone? - Jeffrey Bell (Showrunner) and Steven Maeda (Writer)
8. What If She's Lying? - Victoria Pratt, Meta Golding, and Henry Alonso Myers (Writer); Single Scene Commentary (5:26) by Marta Evry (Film Editor)
9. What If They're Connected? - Rob Bowman (Director), Mitch Pileggi, and Ian Anthony Dale
10. What If He's Free? - Paul Zbyszewski (Creator), and Steven Maeda (Writer)
11. What If He Walks Away? - Paul Zbyszewski (Creator), Taye Diggs, and Moon Bloodgood
12. What If She's The Key? - Mitch Pileggi, Jeffrey Bell (Showrunner), and Paul Zbyszewski (Creator)
13. What If It's Him? - Paul Zbyszewski (Creator), Taye Diggs, Jeffrey Bell (Showrunner), Matthew Gross (Executive Producer), and Rob Bowman (Director).
Wow a lot of commentaries indeed! I urge you all to watch the episodes first, especially if you've never seen the show...then rewatch it with the commentaries and you'll learn a lot!
We also have Cast Interviews that runs 12:28...Taye Diggs, Moon Bloodgood, Meta Golding, Victoria Pratt, Ramon Rodriguez, Adam Baldwin and Mitch Pileggi are interviewed. These are from when the show was first coming on the air, so it is neat to see this. Then we have Producer Interviews, and this runs 5 minutes or so and has Paul Zbyszewski, Matthew Gross, Jeffrey Bell, and Rob Bowman...and like the cast one, this is also from when the show was set to premiere on ABC. Then we have a 3:44 segment on Behind the Scenes. We see how the set looks and how a scene is filmed...pretty cool. Finally we have a 2:30 video clip of promotional images. Nice to see.
I highly do recommend this set for any Day Break fan for sure. If you have never watched the series, then I urge you to watch this because it is thrilling and it DOES have a conclusion at the end. So you're not watching for nothing. We find out why this was happening to Brett. Maybe you can guess it before you see it. BCI has done a wonderful job for this set and fans will be extremely pleased. The show is now airing on cable network TV One in reruns Sunday nights at 10pm, so you might want to sample that if you are still cautious in buying this series on DVD. Remember, for every decision there is a consequence. Although the only consequence for buying this set is that you'll have a great time and you'll be glued!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(5/5 stars)

To purchase the DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Day Break TV.com Page

Stay tuned tomorrow as we head back to our regular news. We have a great week ahead of us as we expect the following: BET April, ION April, Nick at Nite April and TV One May. Will ION expand to more hours? Will BET have another nice sitcom marathon for us? And what times will Urkel and the gang air on Nick at Nite? We hope to answer all that and more this week on the blog! You won't want to miss this!

Mini-DVD Review: The Best of The Price is Right (March 25); Solomon's Weekly Rant

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for the mini-DVD review and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD review. Today we take a look at BCI's The Best of The Price is Right. The Price is Right of course is the long-running daytime game show hosted by Bob Barker where you guess the prices of various products via different pricing games. See skees53's mini-DVD review of The Best of The Price is Right:

The Best of The Price is Right (BCI, $39.98) gives you a chance to come on down and enjoy 26 episodes of one of the greatest game shows in American history! The four-disc set features four episodes from the 1960s, 17 episodes from the 1970s, and all five episodes from Bob Barker's final week as the host from 2007.
The set begins with Disc 1, which features the "beginnings" so to speak of the series. On here, we have four episodes of the version of the show that was hosted by Bill Cullen in the 1960s. Despite the fact that the version we all know aired (and still does) on CBS, these aired on NBC originally, and later on ABC. But don't expect the flashy colors or a few rounds of Plinko on these episodes. These are all in black and white and basically it is a much different game. On this version, the only thing contestants do is bid on items, and the one that comes closest to the actual retail price without going over wins... this part is only the first step in winning on the current version! Watching these episodes will seem boring to some fans, as that version didn't have the pricing games and excitement as the version we all know does, but if you imagine it as a different series, it really isn't all that bad.
The other three episodes on Disc 1 are episodes from the first week of the show as we know it that was hosted by Bob Barker, and you'll see that the games Bullseye and Grocery Game were VERY popular in the early days. This Bullseye game is NOT the one that we currently have on the series, and in watching these episodes and hearing the rules, you'll discover why this game was retired VERY quickly... it was virtually impossible to win! You almost have to feel sorry for the few unfortunate people that were invited to "come on down" and got stuck playing that game. You'll notice on these episodes that the contestants and audience are nothing like what we see on the show today. They are all calm and subdued, it seems very weird!
On Discs 2 and 3, we have 14 episodes from 1972-1975, and on these episodes, we find all of our classic games that we know and love from the series, like Clock Game, Any Number, and Plinko, as well as some that we have since forgotten, such as Give or Keep and Double Bullseye (a new version of that flawed original Bullseye game, this one featured two players). Throughout these episodes, we start to see a change in the series, and it starts to evolve into how we know it today... the contestants and audience are finally starting to get excited, all the time. Up to this point, all of the episodes are half hour episodes, but on Disc 3, we get to see the first hour long episode (which was part of an experimental week of hour long episodes) as well as the first regular hour long episode of the series. We get introduced to the Showcase Showdown for the very first time, and the Big Wheel... except on the experimental one hour episode, the Big Wheel looks NOTHING like the one we have today! But the rules are still the same.
Finally, Disc 4 contains Bob Barker's final five episodes as the host of the show. Most of these episodes are somewhat uneventful, but we do get to see contestants play the games one last time with Bob Barker as the host. We also get to see the most expensive prize ever offered on the series, valued at over $100,000... and to think, on the first week of the series, contestants were bidding $30 on items while in contestants row!
The video and audio quality on the set can tend to be a little rough, but it is understandable, as game shows were really not intended to be preserved when they originally aired. Besides, this show doesn't exactly need the greatest quality in the first place... I think if it had been preserved too well, it would remove the nostalgia factor from the older episodes. The Cullen episodes look very rough, but again, like the 70s episodes were never really intended to be seen again 30 years later, these Cullen episodes DEFINITELY were not intended to be seen again. The episodes have varying runtimes, with the Cullen episodes running around 26 minutes, the 70s half hour episodes running around 22:30, 70s hour long episodes running around 45 minutes, and the 2007 episodes running around 35 minutes. I have no clue if these runtimes are what the series should be, but daytime shows often tend to be shorter anyway. It appears that many of the sponsorship elements and ticket plugs are in place.
One thing that is annoying about the set, though, is the lack of VARIETY of episodes. The set neglects over 30 years worth of episodes! Where are the late 70s? All of the 80s and 90s? And the early 2000s? There are many great episodes in those years, and many great pricing games within those episodes... some that had a lasting impact, some which were quickly retired. And how can you have a Price is Right DVD set without that infamous incident of Yolanda Bowsley coming on down and having her, err, wardrobe malfunction? That isn't to say that the episodes on here aren't fun to watch, because they are, but a wider variety would have been nicer. We don't even get to hear Rod Roddy announce on a single episode on this set, yet he was the announcer for a majority of the years that the show was on. I seriously hope that there are more sets on the way that might include some of these other episodes!
Another thing that is annoying is the total lack of bonus features on the set. The box mentions Bob Barker's last week as a bonus feature, but how is that a bonus feature? Those episodes are already included in the episode count! It is great that these were included, because they are an important part of the history of the show, but I'd hardly call it a bonus feature. I don't understand why they couldn't get some bonus footage or interviews together. There have been plenty of people involved with the show over the years, and somebody would HAVE to be willing to be interviewed for the set, even if it was just a contestant talking about their experience on the show. It may be a little boring if it was just a contestant, but it would still be better than nothing! The BCI release of Match Game was great as far as special features were concerned, and it is disappointing that a series that is several times more popular than Match Game would be left in the dark on special features.
Still, even though many fans would probably like a more "diverse" selection of episodes than what is on here, as well as more bonus features, this is a great set and it is fun to see the older episodes of the series. I think any fan is certain to appreciate this set, and will want to get it as soon as possible. Personally, I haven't been watching the series that often since Drew Carey has taken over, and it is refreshing to see Bob Barker back in action, if only for a few episodes. It would be nice to see more releases, perhaps with episodes from the 80s and 90s!
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Official CBS Website
The Price is Right TV.com Page


Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, March 22, 2008
"TV Guide Changes; Abdul Needs To Leave Idol; Why More Dancing?"
By Solomon Davis

I noticed in the new issue of TV Guide that the print is smaller in the TV Highlight section for what's coming on TV. Up until now the print was bigger and easier to read but now you need a magnifying glass to read what's coming on TV. And instead of all the days of the week having its own TV Highlight section, all the TV highlights of the week are now jammed together into one section. What is TV Guide trying to accomplish with this sudden change? They should just give up and stick to online listings.

It's just amazing how stupid Paula Abdul sounds everytime she opens her mouth on American Idol. Seriously what in the world is wrong with this woman? Is she on something? I mean every time she critiques someone's performance s just suddenly stops talking in mid-sentence like she forgot what she was going to say. And this is someone's opinion that American Idol contestants should take it seriously? Not only that but she is always afraid to tell someone the truth who had a bad performance and just compliments their outfit instead. This isn't Top Model or a fashion show. I know there is another woman that can replace her since she is nothing but a buffoon who Simon and Randy makes fun of every week.

I'm so sick of seeing the promos for Dancing with the Stars which I'm surprised hasn't been played out yet. Exactly how many more new dances can someone do on that show that viewers haven't seen yet? Hasn't everything been done that can be seen on a dance floor? So I guess the intrigue for this show is the NEW faces each season instead of the new dance moves. Maybe they will plan another collapse this season by one of the dancers to keep it fresh?

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: Dennis the Menace: Trouble, Trouble Everywhere! (March 25)

Today is Good Friday and the news seems to be very slow today. So, I decided to give you all a mini-DVD review today instead! Not to fret, we still have one tomorrow on its regular day...and it will be The Price is Right! Today week we take a look at 20th Century Fox and DiC's Dennis the Menace: Trouble, Trouble Everywhere. Dennis the Menace was one of my favorite '80s animated series. It is based on the comic strip and I think everyone knows what it is about...a little boy named Dennis is a menace, but in an innocent way. Mr. Wilson seems to be the one always suffering. Join the Mitchell family and the rest of the gang for some holiday fun, as they travel all sort of places on this best of set! See my mini-DVD review of Dennis the Menace: Trouble, Trouble Everywhere:

Dennis the Menace: Trouble, Trouble Everywhere (Fox, $14.98) brings us seven classic mini episodes from the '80s animated series. The series is based on the comic strip and is not to be confused with the '50s sitcom starring Jay North. Although I like both. On this set, entire nations can't run and hide from Dennis. The Mitchells (Henry, Alice, and Dennis) love taking vacations (usually with their neighbors the Wilsons, George & Martha) and we get seven of them on this set. Wherever they head, young Dennis seems to wind up in the center of numerous catastrophes...whether he's chasing crooks in Venice, kangaroos in Sydney, outrunning Mayans in South America, bulls in Spain, or even proving that erupting volcanoes in Hawaii wreak less havoc than he does...Dennis is always drawn to finding trouble wherever he is! The Queen of England would agree!
Let's now move on to the packaging. It is a very nice colorful design. We get a snap case that holds the single disc inside. The cover art features Dennis on an airplane with the world in the background. The show logo is above him along with the Trouble, Trouble Everywhere mention. The back of the case features a nice shot of Dennis surfing in Hawaii with a volcano erupting. Two screenshots also are found (Dennis, Mr. Wilson, Margaret; and Dennis and Petey). We also have a nice synopsis of the set and technical information. When we open the case, we see a nice episode listing insert on the left side, with the seven episodes on this set listed in the black of the red guards at Buckingham Palace. Dennis' frog, Willy, is also on the guard as Dennis is below the guard. On the back of that insert there is a mention that Inspector Gadget: Big Little Problems is coming to DVD June 17, but it was just announced that is delayed now. We also have another insert, this time a booklet of other DVDs from Fox and DiC. On the right side we see the disc. It is similar to the cover art, with Dennis and the world and Dennis on a skateboard now, but this time we see the torch on the Statue of Liberty falling off along with the time on Big Ben falling off. Dennnnnnis! No artwork are on the inside background of the case, just a red background.
The menu screen is very nice. But before that we get auto trailers of other DVDs such as Care Bears, Garfield Gets Real, and Bob the Builder. The design of the main menu is nice. We get the logo of the show with Dennis and Ruff smiling, in a post-card style design. Two other postcards seem to be behind that, as I can see a stamp of Henry and a stamp of Mr. Wilson. No theme in the background, though. The options for the main menu are Play All, Episode Selection, and Language Selection. For the latter, we can have English or Spanish stereo audio or subtitles in English or Spanish. In episode selection, we get a list of episodes with a screenshot in a post-card form. The post-card thing is very nice since this is a vacation/traveling themed set.
The video and audio is good. The sound is very good since it is in stereo. The video seems to be just OK. Nothing bad and nothing great, but very watchable. The best episode it seems in video quality is the New York one. Each episode runs 11:47, except one runs 7:01 ("Dennis Plasters Pamplona"). The show was a half-hour show, but had three mini episodes (approx. 5, 10, 5 minutes not counting the opening/closing credits) in each half-hour...so that is what I meant by seven mini episodes on this set. Since Fox/DiC chose seven vacation episodes from the entire run, these episodes are not in their full 22-23 minute episode format, but we do get the opening/closing themes on each episode. I wish Fox/DiC would release every episode in its full half-hour format and in order. Maybe if this set does well, they will. For you closing logo fans, we get two closing logos after the closing credits on this set. The blue DiC logo with DiC in yellow and flashing in and the DFS Program Exchange logo with the scary sound. Why a Program Exchange logo? Since that was for syndication. Are these prints from The Program Exchange?
Unfortunately, we get no special features at all. Here's hoping if they release the series in order, we get some in those.
I highly do recommend this set for any Dennis the Menace fan, fan of the comic strip, the sitcom, or '80s animation in general. I have always had a soft spot for this series. I grew up watching it in the '80s and early 90s and even watched reruns on cable on Fox Family and Cartoon Network over the last decade. I just hope we get all 78 half-hours on DVD, and not just seven mini-episodes. If you want this to happen, you'll have to buy this DVD. It is pretty cheap on Amazon, you can find a link to that below. This series has never hit DVD, so this is a major release, I just wish it was in order instead of a best-of set. It is a start, though! This set is right in time for the traveling season as families are planning where they want to go this summer. Maybe the Mitchells will persuade you to where to go? So, head on back to your childhood and buy this set because I'm sure we all had a Dennis in us as a child! Dennnnnnis!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

To purchase the DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
Amazon.com

Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
My Dennis the Menace Episode Guide
Dennis the Menace TV.com Page

Stay tuned tomorrow for our regular mini-DVD review on our regular day...Saturday. We take a look at BCI's The Price is Right. Also tomorrow of course is Solomon's Weekly Rant.

Mini-DVD Review: The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show (March 25); Solomon's Weekly Rant

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD review and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today week we take a look at Warner Home Video's The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show: The Complete Series. The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show was about Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm of The Flintstones in their teenage years. The whole gang is still there, though...Fred, Barney, Wilma and Betty. Sitcom stars Sally Struthers and Jay North provide the voices for Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm.. See my mini-DVD review of The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show: The Complete Series:

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show: The Complete Series (Warner, $26.98) brings us those two lovable toddlers from The Flintstones back in a series when they are teenagers in high school. Sitcom stars Sally Struthers (All in the Family) and Jay North (Dennis the Menace) provide the voices for these two teenagers in this series, with the classic voices of Fred (Alan Reed), Barney (Mel Blanc), and Wilma (Jean Vander Pyl) all back from the original series! Gay Hartwig provides the voice of Betty in this series. She also would do the voice of Betty throughout the '70s in various Flintstones incarnations. In this series though Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm are the stars and you see them with their teenage friends Moonrock, Penny, and Wiggy. Cindy and Fabian play their rivals. The show ran for 16 half-hour episodes in the 1971-72 season. The show returned for 4 more episodes as part of The Flintstone Comedy Show in 1972-73.
Let's now move on to the packaging. We have a thin outer box that holds a very thin digipak case, similar to the recent Smurfs release. The front cover of both the box and case are the same, we see Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm in a car with their friends Moonrock, Penny and Wiggy. Hanna-Barbera Classic Collection is on the top in a green background. The title of the show is below that in a little rock-style billboard, with a mention below that that this is The Complete Series! On the bottom it says 2 discs...16 episodes. To the back of the box we go, we get a nice synopsis of the series in a brown billboard type with Fred coming out of it (Pebbles is right by it, too), along with a list of the special features in a little rock. We also see Bamm-Bamm lying down below the billboard. When we open the case, on the left we have a disc-by-disc breakdown of what we can expect episode title wise and extras wise. The left also has a nice purplish background with Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm playing instruments. On the right side, we see both discs...overlapping each other, ugh...I hate that. Both discs are colorful and feature a Bedrock setting...Pebbles is on disc one and Bam-Bamm on disc two. When you remove both discs from the case, you see their friends playing instruments. The back of the case has another nice Bedrock setting with other characters such as the Grusomes even.
The menu screens are very nice. But first, auto trailers for Dr. Seuss, Smurfs starts off disc one before the main menu comes. Options for the main menu are: Play, Episodes, Trailers (disc 1 only), Languages, Bonus Episodes (disc 2 only). We also have the theme song playing in the background. Trailers has more shows to preview from the Warner library, including Flintstones seasons 2, 3 and 4 DVD trailers. Languages has an option to turn on English subtitles. Episodes have a list of episodes obviously.
The video and audio is very good. I'm not sure if these are remastered, like Smurfs were, but it sure looks good! The show ran for 16 episodes as its own series. Those episodes run 20 minutes. Highest is 20:03 and lowest is 19:44, but most are 19:59/20:00. There are no chapter stops for these. I hate when we don't get chapter stops. Also, we get the orange H-B Taft logo after the end of the credits along with the swirling H-B logo. The bonus episodes are on disc two under Bonus Episodes (as stated above). These four episodes ran during segments on The Flintstone Comedy Show (AKA The Flintstone Comedy Hour). The first bonus episode runs 21:30, and features two mini-episodes, so we get 2 chapter stops. These feature Pebbles & Bamm Show opening and closing credits. The final two bonus episodes run 11:59 and 11:44 and feature opening and closing credits that says The Flintstone Comedy Show. Nice to see that!
I highly do recommend this set for any Flintstones fan, fan of Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm and classic animation in general. I'm sure many of us grew up with The Flintstones, but have never seen this series. It comes on from time to time on Boomerang and has been played on Cartoon Network as well. I've seen a few episodes only but am glad I have the complete series on DVD!. The set is good and it probably is as good as it could get. I'm glad they included those 4 episodes from The Flintstone Comedy Show, so we have every single episode of this incarnation. So we have The Flintstones complete on DVD and now The Pebbles & Bamm Show. So if the pattern continues, I bet we get The Flintstone Comedy Hour/Show on DVD next! There were so many TV series that followed (Fred Flintstone and Friends, The Flintstone Kids, etc), TV specials (The Flintstones: Little Big League, The Flintstones: Fred's Final Fling, etc) and TV movies (Jetsons Meet the Flintstones, A Flintstones Christmas Carol, etc) from this series, so I hope Warner realizes that and gives them all to us, because I'm sure any Flintstone fan would want them all. But for now, let's join in on the teenage fun of Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm on this series on DVD! Give it a chance and we might get every incarnation of the Flintstone family on DVD! Yabba Dabba Do!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

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The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show TV.com Page


Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, March 15, 2008
"Media Overboard on Spitzer Case; Page 6 a Joke; BET Screws Up"
By Solomon Davis

The media coverage of the girl who was with New York Governor Spitzer in February has just been crazy this week and I want to know when is it going to end? They have been digging into this girl's life all-week because she is good looking and I know most people don't care where she went to high school and where she grew up in New Jersey. She seems to be getting good with this story as her music has been played and she might be posing for magazines. And because of who she slept with she will probably become famous and get her own reality show in the fall of 2008 titled How To Get Politicians in Bed or something.

Page Six in the NY Post reported on Thursday that The Rachel Ray Show could be probably be canceled due to low ratings and it turns out that was a false report. A representative from King World stated that the show did very well during the February sweeps period and that the show is under contract until 2010, which means it's not going anywhere. So I can no longer read Page Six because not only did they get the Rachel Ray story wrong, they also were wrong about King World syndicating a show for Marie Osmond in 2010 which made the entire Page Six article on Thursday a waste of eyesight. Why post gossip crap on a newspaper? I can understand the Enquirer, but the Post?

BET has been the cable channel of the month with their recent pickups and has not done a good job presenting the shows to viewers. However, recently they used the wrong closing credits for part 2 of a Diff'rent Strokes crossover episode with Hello, Larry. TNN never did that when they aired Diff'rent Strokes in 2001 so why is BET doing it in 2008? Maybe Sony has something to do with it, I'm snot sure. And with the show Thea, BET aired the first episode two weekends in a row for some reason. They did air episode 2 last weekend in one of the four slots, but episode one aired three times last weekend, in addition to the two times it aired the previous weekend. On the listings it said we were supposed to get episodes 2 and 3, but instead we got episode 1 three times and episode 2 once. So I'm really interested in seeing what episode of Thea they air this weekend and hope it's not episode 2 three times like they did episode one the previous week.

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DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Reviews: South Park: Imaginationland and Lil' Bush Season 1 (March 11); Solomon's Weekly Rant

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today we take a look at Comedy Central/Paramount's South Park: Imaginationland and Lil' Bush: Season One. South Park of course is the popular cable animated series that is full of laughs for all ages. Join Cartman and the gang for all the holiday fun. Get your hats & coats on! And Lil' Bush is the hilarious Comedy Central animated series about George W. Bush when he was lil'. See skees53's mini-DVD review of Christmas Time in South Park and Lil' Bush: Season One:

South Park: Imaginationland (Comedy Central DVD, $19.99) tells us the story of how a few boys in South Park protected all of our imaginations from the hostile forces of terrorists--or something along those lines! The DVD contains the three-part episode of the Comedy Central hit series that aired last time, presented as one extended length episode.
The story of the episode begins with a bet between Cartman and Kyle about whether or not leprechauns are real...and just as we would expect from a series such as South Park, it turns out that, yes, they are indeed real. Well, at least they are in Imaginationland, where the boys all get taken away to by a very strange man. All is well in Imaginationland until terrorists take over, and of course, Butters is left behind as the other boys quickly flee the scene. How will it all end? Will Imaginationland be nuked? Will Butters be safe? Will Kyle actually follow through on his bet, where he promises Cartman that he would suck a certain body part of his if it turns out that leprechauns are real? The only way to find out is to watch!
The DVD offers a little bit more than just the Imaginationland trilogy, however. It does offer two storyboard featuettes, as well as two bonus episodes of the series that relate to the theme of the Imaginationland episode: "Woodland Critters Christmas" and "Manbearpig." Both of these revolve around characters that may very well be imaginary, or not. And, Matt Stone and Trey Parker provide a commentary for those that are interested in that. Their commentaries aren't all that exciting usually, but it is still interesting. And, as a bonus (or maybe warning for some) about the movie itself, it is worth noting that the DVD uses a slightly different audio track than what was on television, so don't be surprised to hear a few f-words here and there! Fans will definitely want to head on up to South Park and get this DVD set...imagine how much fun you'll have watching it!
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4/5 stars)

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Lil' Bush: Season One (Comedy Central DVD, $19.99) brings all six season one episodes of the Comedy Central series Lil' Bush to a single DVD release. You know about George W. Bush, but this series gives you a chance to meet him (in animated form, of course) when he was little, along with Lil' Condi, Lil' Cheney, Lil' Rummy, Lil' Jeb, and even Lil' Hillary and Lil' Obama... it is almost like The Flintstone Kids!
There are lots of great episodes in the first season. We get to see the gang take a little trip... to Iraq in "Iraq." The kids all go to a summer camp run by Al Qaeda in "Camp." Lil' Bush and Lil' Tony Blair become close--very close in "Gay Friend." The kids learn the beauty of using Mexican immigrants in "Mexicans." Lil' Bush has a problem with evolution in "Evolution." Lil' Bush ends up battling Michael Moore in "Hot Dog." And there is even a bonus unaired episode called "Walter Reed," which you'll understand why it didn't air when you see it on the DVD!
The DVD has more bonus features than just the bonus episode, though. We get to see Lil' Bush take us on the tour of the White House--or at least the one HE lives in on one of these. We have plenty of interviews with the cast members, which in my opinion aren't all that exciting, but still somewhat interesting. We even get to see a table read of a script in one of the bonus features. But forget all of that. The best part would be the commentaries that are included on the episode. We have relevant people giving commentaries on three different episodes. One from Jerry Springer, another from Ralph Nader, and another from Tucker Carlson! Who would have thought that such politically relevant figures would give commentaries on a DVD like this? It gives a very interesting insight onto the episodes that you almost wouldn't expect. All in all, this is a great DVD, and anybody that loves politics, whether you love Bush or hate him, should find this to be a very funny series.
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4.5/5 stars)

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Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, March 8, 2008
"Gene Simmons; Carsey-Werner DVDs; ESPN and LeBron James"
By Solomon Davis

Every Tuesday night I watch Parking Wars on A&E at 10pm but this past Tuesday the network played the program switch game. There was no new episode of Parking Wars at 10pm because of a new show called Gene Simmons? I guess A&E is just another cable network that likes to surprise viewers instead of mentioning program changes ahead of time. And I also would like to know what is so interesting about KISS star Gene Simmons? I don't even really know who he is!

Just recently I bought season 5 of Carsey-Werner's The Cosby Show on DVD and noticed the episode guide was incomplete on the set. It was just a list of all the episodes with no descriptions or airdates. How would people know what the episodes are about? Why would Carsey-Werner and FirstLook Home Entertainment not include a decent episode guide when the DVD sets are not for free? This is a lazy way to put a set together when fans are paying their money. At least Warner Brothers included a decent episode guide with airdates and episode descriptions for shows I have like George Lopez and Fresh Prince. Let's just say I won't be in the rush to buy seasons 7 and 8 of The Cosby Show in April.

On Wednesday night, NBA star LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers scored 50 points at Madison Square Garden against the hapless New York Knicks and ESPN showed a video clip of security guards aggressively removing a fan off the court who had gotten too close to LeBron James. ESPN's video had viewers thinking the fan was trying to ATTACK LeBron instead of congratulating him. I would have never known that if it weren't for other outlets who covered the story such as MSNBC because the people at that network were smart enough to notice that the fan was not trying to HARM LeBron especially since he was wearing a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey.

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DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: The Smurfs - Season 1, Volume 1 (Feb. 26); Solomon's Weekly Rant

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today week we take a look at Warner Home Video's The Smurfs: Season 1, Volume 1. The Smurfs of course is the classic Saturday morning animated series about those little blue people. Smurftastic!. See my mini-DVD review of The Smurfs: Season 1, Volume 1:

The Smurfs: Season 1, Volume 1 (Warner, $26.98) brings us the classic Saturday morning animated series that lasted nearly a decade, on DVD for the first time and the episodes are remastered. The long wait is over...The Smurfs are on DVD for the first time ever! They're finally here! Handy, Hefty, Grouchy, Brainy, Lazy, Dreamy, Smurfette, Papa Smurf and more of your favorite little blue people bring you the greatest show on Smurf. It's Season One, Vol. 1 of The Smurfs, the Emmy-winning animated series [Outstanding Children's Entertainment Series 1982-83] that delighted Saturday morning cartoon fans for nearly a decade. Of course, where Smurfs are, you'll also find evil wizard Gargamel and his cat Azrael - plus monsters, dragons and trolls - keeping the Smurfs on their tiny blue toes throughout 19 cartoon escapades. Ready for adventure, laughs and enchantment? Abso-Smurfly!
Let's now move on to the packaging. We have a thin outer box that holds a very thin digipak case. The front cover of both the box and case are the same, we see the land of Smurf in the background in a nice and blue sky with Papa Smurf and Smurfette featured, while the other Smurfs are at work. The cover is red and blue. The title of the show is on the top, with a mention below that that this is Season One, Volume One! To the back of the box we go, we get a nice synopsis of the series, along with a list of the special features in a mushroom. We see one of the Smurfs sleeping below a tree with the evil Gargamel watching. When we open the case, we get more colorful backgrounds. On the left we have a disc-by-disc breakdown of what we can expect episode title wise and extras wise. The left also has a nice blue sky background with Gargamel after two Smurfs in the grass. On the right side, we see both discs...overlapping each other, ugh...I hate that. Both discs are in a white background with four Smurfs characters on each disc. When you remove both discs from the case, you can see a nice background of the land of Smurf, with nearly all of the Smurfs. The back of the case has another nice background with a blue sky and Smurfette being romanced by a Smurf, Romeo & Juliet style.
The menu screens are very nice. We see the land of Smurf in the background with Gargamel approaching. It is very colorful. The catchy theme is playing in the background. Auto trailer for Looney Tunes starts off disc one before the main menu comes. Options for the main menu are: Play, Episodes, Trailers (disc 1 only), Languages , Special Features (disc 2 only). Trailers has five other things to preview from the Warner library. Languages has an option to turn on English subtitles. Episodes have a list of episodes obviously. Now the packaging listed disc two as being double-sided, but it is not. Very strange.
The video and audio is tremendous. The Smurfs never looked better. The packaging states that the episodes are remastered I am very impressed. Warner did a great job on this once again, but not as good as the Charlie Brown remastering, but still good. Originally season one was an hour long show on Saturdays with three mini episodes in the hour, however after about 2-3 episodes they started to repeat one of the mini episodes from the previous week the following week so they can cover the full hour. So it makes no sense on this DVD to have some repeats of a mini episode, so Warner has removed the repeats. The first two episodes on the set are 47:40 and 47:42 and have 3 chapter stops each, for each mini episode. After that, NBC started to repeat a mini episode. The episodes usually lasted approx. 12 min, 12 min, and 24 min or so for the full hour. Episode 3 on this set is 35:42 with 2 chapter stops, which means only 2 mini episodes are here...so no repeat from the previous week. The 4th episode is 23:37 and has one chapter stop, which means just one episode. On to disc two, episode 5 is 34:12 and has no opening or closing theme. The next episode is 24:30 and has no closing. The rest of the episodes run 35:42, 35:40, 25:32, and the bonus episode runs 24:22. I don't know how they could have handled this, but they are splitting season one in half (meaning in two volumes), so they could have just left the repeats in there so we could get the original NBC versions. I know that would be weird to have repeats, but why split them up in two volumes anyway? I would have rather have season 1 in full without the repeats on 4 or 5 discs...that would work the best and it would have fit. The show has like 9 seasons, splitting them up in two volumes per season would be too much.
As for special features, we get the bonus episode (The Smurfs' Springtime Special), as I mentioned earlier. We also get a Smurfs Music Video that runs 1:27. It is not really an extra. Warner could have done so much better than that. Their animation sets usually have great audio commentaries which is missing here.
I highly do recommend this set for any Smurfs fan and classic animation in general. I'm sure many of us grew up with this classic. I know I loved watching this in the 80s...and I still love it. The set is good, but it could have been so much better. The extras are lacking and the episode situation is a mixed bag...I don't know how I would have handled it, but one thing for sure is I would not have split the season in two volumes. Also, I didn't like inside the case it mentioned disc two is double-sided, which it isn't. Other than that, the episodes are great and look great, too. I can't wait until volume two so we can finish off the first season. Then let's hope the sales are very high (I think they already are as this set is very high in the rankings on Amazon) so we can get the remaining seasons each on one volume instead of two. So click below to order this DVD, if you haven't already. You better hurry before that Gargamel sees you and his lazy cat Azrael. Smurf to it!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

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The Smurfs TV.com Page
The Smurfs Official Page


Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, February 23, 2008
"Malcolm Airs More Than Strokes; Too Early for DTV Switch Notice; Amen Returns to TV One"
By Solomon Davis

I applauded BET this past week for adding Diff'rent Strokes to their program schedule but then I noticed something odd. I noticed that the sitcom Malcolm & Eddie, another show that BET just added, has six airings a day while Diff'rent Strokes only has 2 airings. So why does that show get all this great treatment and it was added at the same time as Diff'rent Strokes? I see no reason why Diff'rent Strokes can't have a repeat airing of the morning episodes which would still be less than six airings a day. I'm very confused as to why BET would treat one of its new acquisitions much better than the other. especially since I think Malcolm & Eddie is nothing but a UPN reject from the 1990's which is definitely not on the entertainment level as Diff'rent Strokes. I am happy they are adding Sanford and Thea to weekends, though!

The last time I checked February 17, 2009 was a year away and from the way the media has been talking about television switching to digital you would think today is January 23, 2009. Why all the hype about DTV now when the switch is 12 months away? It would make more sense to talk about DTV in the Fall 2008 but to see all those commercials about it in early 2008 is just crazy, not to mention the commercials were airing in Fall 2007 as well. Everyone understands that this will be a major move in television but can we just wait until the next TV season to remind everyone that the switch to digital is approaching? The strange thing about all of this is someone who doesn't have cable or a converter box on February 18, 2009 will still be able to get one of those things on February 19, 2009 to watch TV so what is the big deal?

TV One hasn't changed at all since it started and going by their recent TV show change they have no intention on ever changing. Why in the world would they bring back a TV show to their schedule next month that they already had? TV One is actually bringing back Amen next month from hiatus which is no where near a sexy TV show acquisition of what BET just did. TV One fans have seen Amen already and it's time for something new now since this network just completed 4 years as a cable channel. Yeah, The Hughleys are coming in April, but what about bringing on The Jeffersons or something? Thank goodness for the network called BET since that station has the ability now to make TV fans feel thankful for having cable service and not the "ripped off" feeling you get from watching that joke of a station called TV One. This channel is definitely qualified to be on the basic cable package since it doesn't have much to offer TV fans on a year by year basis.

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DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (Feb. 19); Solomon's Weekly Rant: Cavemen; Oprah and Cosby Show; Roger Clemens Coverage

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today week we take a look at Warner Home Video's It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown. It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown of course is the classic holiday special about Easter. This series always gave us classic holiday specials for just about every holiday. See my mini-DVD review of It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown:

It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown - Remastered Deluxe Edition (Warner, $19.98) brings us the classic 1974 Easter-themed episode on DVD once again, but this time digitally remastered...and it is really worth it! Plus in addition to Easter, we also get the Arbor Day special. Spring is certainly in the air.
If you have never seen this special, it is about Linus who tries to tell everyone that the Easter Beagle will take care of everything during Easter. Will he be right? You'll have to see yourself. We also get the classic 1976 special It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown. In that story we have baseball season starting and Arbor Day upon us. The gang goes eco-friendly and plant trees...but do they over do it?
Let's now move on to the packaging. We have a thin outer box that holds a very thin case, that is movie style. I never understood the reason for the thin box that holds a thin case...what's the point? Also, both the back and front of each is exactly the same, except the box is shinier. The cover is purple in color, and has Charlie Brown, Linus, and Snoopy with easter eggs. The title of the easter special is on the top, with a mention that this is a remastered deluxe edition! The bottom tells is we also get a bonus TV special...Arbor Day. To the back we go, we get a nice synopsis of the Easter special, along with a list of the special features. Easter eggs are flying all over as we see Lucy, Snoopy and the little yellow bird...Woodstock. When we open the case, we get black background all over, very plain, but of course the disc is inside. The disc is in purple and has Sally and Snoopy playing with yes, Easter eggs.
The menu screen has options of Features, Special Features, and Languages. We get a light blue background this time, not the purple we were used to already, with the theme song playing in the background. It is so catchy. Oh yes, before the main menu begins we get auto trailers for Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown and The Wiggles. Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown came out on DVD with a remastered version last month, but unfortunately we didn't get a copy for review. Anyway back to the menu, when we select something, we see an egg as a pointer. For Languages, we can have either English, Espanol, or Portugues. For subtitles we have those three again and also Chinese, Korean, and Thai...wow! The Features section has the two specials listed, we can also select Play All to play both back-to-back. Finally, Special Features lists the extra (more on that below) and Trailers.
The video and audio is tremendous. It has never looked better or sounded better ever. I am very impressed. Warner did a great job on this. Easter special runs 25:02 and has 5 chapter stops, which you an use via your DVD remote. The Arbor Day special runs 25:05 and has 4 chapter stops. Both specials look amazing...especially the Easter one. Kudos once again to Warner. Here is hoping they do more...I kind of wish I had gotten Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown.
As for special features, we get a nice featurette! It is titled "In Full Bloom: Peanuts at Easter" and runs 15:32. We find out lots of behind-the-scenes details and cool facts for the Easter special from members of the Schulz family and more. Interviewed are Lee Mendelson (Producer), Phil Cousineau (Author), Stephen Pastis (Cartoonist), Cathy Guisewhite (Cartoonist), Jean Schulz (Charles Schulz's wife), and Craig Schulz (Charles Schulz's son).
I highly do recommend this set for any Charlie Brown-Peanuts fan and classic animation in general. I have never seen a classic animated program look this good on DVD ever. Warner really needs to remaster every special for this wonderful franchise and put it on DVD. We got 3 specials on the Valentine's DVD and two more here on the Easter DVD. Let's hope Christmas, Thanksgiving is next, but I just wonder if Warner has the rights to all these now or does Paramount have some still? So I know it is still the middle of February, but it is never too early to think of the spring and Easter (but I am a fan of winter)...so I urge you to buy this DVD before little Woodstock beats you to it! And he can't even talk right!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

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Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, February 16, 2008
"Cavemen Didn't Get Enough Time; Oprah's Audience Get Cosby Show DVDs; Roger Clemens Story On All-Week"
By Solomon Davis

Why is the new sitcom Caveman not returning when the show wasn't really given a fair chance to grab viewers? The show only aired 4 times in October and twice in November and it's GONE? 7 unaired episodes remain. ABC knows that this wasn't a typical TV season with the strike going on and it is mind boggling that they still decide to not bring back the show this season. Lots of people need more than 6 episodes to determine whether or not they like a show and pulling a show after only 6 airings is a joke. The show was just starting to turn around and become interesting before it was pushed to the side for those classic Charlie Brown holiday specials. All I have to say is ABC gave this show the "red-headed step child" treatment and it's really a shame the show could be gone for good.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing at the end of Oprah this week when she had The Cosby Show kids reunion on earlier this week which falls into the "HUH?" category? The crowd was given both seasons 7 and 8 on DVD while everyone else in the country will have to wait until April 8 when it is officially out. She couldn't give the crowd anything else besides that? Now the rest of The Cosby Show fans have 7 more weeks until they we get those DVDs because we weren't apart of Oprah's audience. I mean this really sucks because season 6 on DVD was so unwatchable because of the Olivia focused episodes and knowing those people will be watching season 7 this month before me makes me want to puke. Oprah could have given away the single-disc "best of DVD" that is already out, not the DVD's that I can't see until April. This is what I get for even watching Oprah because if I hadn't, I would have not known about this unfair news.

I know it's real easy to just change the channel when you don't want to hear or watch a certain story on a particular network and that's exactly what I did this week. I made every effort to stay away from the Roger Clemens steroid story on ESPN but that still didn't work because it interrupted regular scheduled programming on ESPNews at 6:30pm. That's when the repeat of Pardon the Interruption comes on and because of this Roger Clemens mess all week I didn't get to see PTI on Wednesday night. I wish this story will just go away because even though it's a major sports story, ESPN acts like there are no other sports to discuss in the sports world and just made the 6pm SportsCenter, "ClemensCenter" all-week long and right now I don't know what hate I more, the story or ESPN.

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DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: Jackie Gleason: Genius at Work; Solomon's Weekly Rant: Nick at Nite Changes; Weird ION; Barkley Needs To Go from TNT

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today we take a look at MPI Home Video's Jackie Gleason: Genius at Work. Jackie Gleason: Genius at Work gives viewers a look back at one of the pioneers of television, Jackie Gleason, and his popular television series, The Jackie Gleason Show. See skees53's mini-DVD review of Jackie Gleason: Genius at Work:

Jackie Gleason: Genius at Work (MPI, $19.98) gives viewers a look back at one of the pioneers of television, Jackie Gleason, and his popular television series, The Jackie Gleason Show. The documentary is a 55 minute special that was produced for public television in 2005.
Many classic TV fans tend to remember Jackie Gleason's character of Ralph Kramden and the television series, The Honeymooners, but this retrospective tells much more about Jackie Gleason's television work, and how his show was much more than just The Honeymooners. Of course, that is an important part of his work, but there is much more. This documentary isn't like most other documentaries though. Instead of getting a bunch of interviews with a few clips in between, we mostly get a bunch of clips with a few interviews in between... which allows us to actually see first hand the work of Gleason without it being totally covered with views from people that are merely fans of his work. Who actually remembers Rudy the Repairman? What about Joe the Bartender? Or Fenwick Babbitt? In this documentary, you actually get a chance to see sketches from these characters, and not just brief clips either, but instead full length sketches as they were intended to air. Jeff Garlin hosts the documentary with Marilyn Taylor Gleason (Jackie Gleason's widow) also providing her own views on her husband's show... a show that she herself performed on at times.
The DVD isn't totally without special features either. We get excerpts (too bad it isn't the full thing, we actually only get about 15 minutes total) from the episode of The Jackie Gleason Show celebrating his 25th anniversary in show business. Honestly, it was a little boring to watch (an actual episode of the series that wasn't celebrating the anniversary would have been more interesting to watch), but we get more insight on Jackie Gleason's varying characters in the excerpts that we have from this episode.
This is a great DVD that fans of Jackie Gleason are sure to appreciate, and even if you aren't that big of a fan of "the great one," it still allows you to see a side of Jackie Gleason that gets omitted in these days where we all think Jackie Gleason was nothing more than Ralph Kramden. I would have liked to have seen more from these other characters, but what we have here gives a great "sampler platter" for all those that are even slightly interested.
Also out on DVD soon, The Color Honeymooners - Volume 2. See our review.
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
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The Jackie Gleason Show TV.com Page


Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, February 9, 2008
"Nick at Nite Changes; Weird ION; Barkley Needs To Go from TNT"
By Solomon Davis

What is with all these sudden changes on the channel called Nick at Nite?? It seems like the network is becoming unpredictable in a bad way with the way the program schedule suddenly switches up without warning. Earlier this week the programming manager changed the overnight schedule while he was driving home in his car and that's why the Tanner family was on my TV screen at 3am in the morning instead of Will Smith. No heads up or anything... just a new programming schedule so someone who may have wanted to record a show at 3am while they were sleeping would have recorded Full House instead. Not only that but the original plan by Nick at Nite to launch Family Matters in March has now been moved to June right at the start of the summer season. Maybe Nick at Nite's next sudden move can be to have a preschool theme marathon with The Cosby Show and Full House airing back to back all night hosted by Raven Symone and the Olsen twins so we can see episodes featuring Olivia and Michelle Tanner. It will be like Nick Jr. at night.

ION has decided to make a change on its schedule. They will replace a sitcom with a drama? Why can't the network have a separate day for dramas and keep the weekly primetime schedule the way it is with all sitcoms? No but ION decides to replace Who's the Boss with Baywatch at 10pm starting in March when they could have easily put another 80's sitcom in that slot or a sitcom from any other decade. Baywatch is more of a Saturday evening type of program... not something that you would watch during the week in primetime. This show will not last long in that slot and maybe then ION will not make a change like this in the future. Replacing Who's the Boss with Baywatch is like TV Land replacing Sanford and Son with Hawaii Five-0. I bet in the month of April ION's next acquisition will be Beverly Hills, 90210 and it will replace Alice in the 7pm hour.

I can no longer stomach the speech of Charles Barkley on the TNT halftime show. Barkley has become a total bore when watching that show because he takes forever to get to the point when he is analyzing a game. He speaks very slow and sometimes stutters andeven the host Ernie Johnson gets impatient and wants Barkley to hurry up and get to the point he is trying to make. It's clear that Barkely just like to hear himself talk and he doesn't realize he is slowing the show down and putting the viewers to sleep. I just wish he would stop talking like he is home on the phone instead of on live TV because he is destroying the watchability of the halftime show. However, he is at least better than Emmitt Smith on ESPN. He doesn't know how to use words at all. Time to go back to speech class for him.

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: Pioneers of Television (Jan. 29); Solomon's Weekly Rant: Sick of Seacrest, VH1 Obsessed with Flavor Flav, Sony TV DVDs

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today week we take a look at PBS Home Video's Pioneers of Television. Pioneers of Television is a recent four-part PBS series that took a look back at the pioneers of late night, sitcom, game shows and variety. See both my and Todd's mini-DVD review of Pioneers of Television:



Pioneers of Television (PBS, $24.99) brings us the wonderful four-part documentary series that focuses on the pioneers of television in four different genres...late night, game shows, sitcoms and variety shows.
On the late night portion it features many of the most important figures to emerge on the late-night scene. Merv Griffin gives his last interview before passing away, and Regis Philbin offers revelations about his years as a late night sidekick to Joey Bishop. Dick Cavett and Arsenio Hall provide insight into how their shows broadened the late-night audience. For the first time, Sigourney Weaver offers personal details about her father, Pat, inventor of The Tonight Show and one of the most visionary TV executives ever.
For the sitcom portion, it focuses on the five key sitcoms that shaped the genre: I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, Make Room for Daddy, The Andy Griffith Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Then we have game shows and it traces one of broadcasting's strongest genres, from its nascent beginnings in radio through its heyday in the late 60s. Bob Barker talks about his earliest work, and Merv Griffin details the "eureka" moments that led to the creation of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.
Finally for variety, it begins with Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town and Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater, and progresses through The Carol Burnett Show, Smothers Brothers and Laugh-In, among others.

Let's start this review off with the packaging. It is a simple movie style case that holds a disc inside. We have two buttons to pull to do that. The cover has some of our pioneers on the cover in black & white such as Johnny Carson, Dick Van Dyke, Bob Barker, and Lucy & Desi. PBS Home Video logo is on the top followed below by the title of the DVD (Pioneers of Television), along with the four segment titles. The back of the case has details on the set, along with break-downs of each segment, special features list, and some of the stars that are interviewed on this set. When we open the case we get the disc...it is in blue with the logo of the documentary.

The main menu screen has the same montage of black & white photos as the cover art. The Pioneers of Television logo is in red and the four specials are in yellow. There are options for Play Programs, Scene Selections, Special Features and PBS. org . On the Play Programs sub-menu, there is a photo of Johnny Carson waving in front of NBC Studios. For Scene Selections, there are a number of options for each special. Johnny Carson and Steve Allen are on Late Night. Lucy and Desi are featured on Sitcoms. Flip Wilson is on Vareity. A young Bob Barker is featured on Game Shows. The Special Feature sub-menu offers a photo of Phyllis Diller and Johnny Carson.

The video and audio are of course good since this special was just aired. Some of the archive clips might not look as good, but that is to be expected. There are chapter stops within each genre, but it depends on the genre. It is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 2.0 Stereo. Closed captioning is available. The total running time is approximately 220 minutes.

We will rundown a bit about each special and who you will find on it.

Late Night (55:36) is broken up into the following sections (in order and how it is listed in the menu): Introduction; Steve Allen; Jack Paar; Johnny Carson; Merv, Joey, & Dick; Credits. We get comments from Tim Conway, Jay Leno, Johnathan Winters, Phyllis Diller, Dick Cavett, Betty White, Andy Williams, Merv Griffin, Regis Philbin, Tommy Smothers, Doc Servinsen, Ed McMahon, Arsenio Hall, Steve Allen, Hugh Downs, Sigourney Weaver, Pat Harrington, Florence Henderson, Barbara Eden, Bob Uecker, and Jack Narz.

Sitcoms (55:35) is broken up into the following sections (in order and how it is listed in the menu): Introduction; Jackie Gleason; Lucy and Desi; Danny Thomas; Andy Griffith; Dick, Mary and Carl; Credits. We get comments from Mary Tyler Moore, Joyce Randolph, Jim Nabors, Andy Griffith, Marlo Thomas, Dick Van Dyke, Art Linkletter, Florence Henderson, Tony Orlando, Barbara Eden, Pat Harrington, Tim Conway, and Rose Marie.

Game Shows (55:35) is broken up into the following sections (in order and how it is listed in the menu): Mark Goodson, Ralph Edwards, Groucho Marx, The Scandals, Password, Let's Make a Deal, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Hollywood Squares, Chuck Barris, Emcee job, Women as emcees, Bill Cullen, Credits. We get comments from Bob Barker, Dick Van Dyke, Merv Griffin, Tom Kennedy, Betty White, Monty Hall, Bob Eubanks, Peter Marshall, Phyllis Diller, Chuck Woolery, Wink Martindale, Jack Narz, Bob Stewart, Dick Cavett, Hugh Downs, Florence Henderson, and Vicki Lawrence.

Variety (55:37) is broken up into the following sections (in order and how it is listed in the menu): Introduction, Ed Sullivan, Milton Berle, Red Seklton, Arthur Godfrey, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Pat Boone, Sid and Imogene, Carol Burnett, Smothers Brothers, Laugh-In, Flip Wilson, Tony Orlando, and Credits. We get comments from Phyllis Diller, Florence Henderson, Tim Conway, Tony Orlando, Sid Caesar, Tommy Somothers, George Schlatter, Art Linkletter, Pat Boone, Pat Harrington, Peter Marshall, Andy Griffith, Jerry Stiller, Milton Berle, Red Skelton, Dick Cavett, Dick Van Dyke, Andy Williams, Jonathan Winters, Jim Nabors, Vicki Lawrence, Betty White, and Arsenio Hall.

As for special features, we get about 15 minutes worth of expanded interviews. Betty White talks about her first sitcom: Life with Elizabeth. Phyllis Diller discusses the final Ed Sullivan Show. Dick Cavett tells a story about meeting Johnny Carson, who was performing as a magician in Nebraska. Florence Henderson recounts a painful experience that happened to her on a live TV show. Merv Griffin talks about his big break and meeting Jack Paar by accident. Jonathan Winters tells how he and Orville Wright lived in the same Ohio town at the same time. Tim Conway explains how pie-in-the-face-humor isn't all that much fun.

We recommend this set for any fan of television, especially television history. There are brand new, compelling interviews from nearly 100 classic stars. It has something for everyone...either late night TV, sitcoms, game shows, or variety shows. These are the people and shows that launched a TV industry. Recite your favorite lines "Heeeeeere's Johnny!," "Come on Down!," or "Lucyyyy," and learn more about these pioneers by ordering this DVD!

-- Reviewed by Pavan and Todd
(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
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Pioneers of Television PBS Page


Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, January 26, 2008
"Sick of Seacrest; VH1 Obsessed with Flavor Flav; Sony TV DVDs"
By Solomon Davis

Seems like everywhere you turn these days when watching TV there is Mr. Ryan Seacrest looking right back at you. He has hosted the Emmys, co-hosting Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on ABC, award show's red carpet shows and now has been selected to appear on Fox during Super Bowl Sunday to host the pregame show and red carpet. This man knows nothing about football and probably has never watched football a day in his life but we still get to see him on the biggest sports day of the year just because he hosts that American Idol. It's a good thing Fox doesn't air the NBA Finals because we would definitely see his face again in the month of June. What's next for him? The World Series on Fox? Seacrest Out!

You mean to tell me that VH1 is going to air another series of Flavor of Love in February so we can see Flavor Flav search for love for a THIRD time? I mean how many times is Flav going to do a Flavor of Love series in this decade? It looks like VH1 won't stop airing this show until Flav finds that special someone which will probably mean Flavor of Love 10 before I'm 40. I always thought that a new year for a cable network meant NEW PROGRAMMING for viewers but I guess I'm just that stupid.

Sony actually released the season two DVD of Barney Miller to start a new year when so many of its other shows are close to completion? Barney Miller's last DVD release was in 2004 and all of a sudden there is a season two release before seasons 7 of All in the Family and The Jeffersons, season 3 of Diff'rent Strokes, and season 2 What's Happening Now!!? What in the hell is going to make season 2 of Barney Miller sell so much better in 2008 when it didn't sell well in 2004? They had better release 227 and Who's the Boss' second seasons then since they haven't gotten a season two set yet either. I guess this means season 2 of Maude will hit the shelves in 2011 since season 1 was released last year. Slow Sony!

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: JAG Season 5 (Jan. 29); Solomon's Weekly Rant: Early 80s Sitcoms Missing, Lopez Marathon Not Fresh-Like, Drew Not Chopped on ION

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today we have we take a look at CBS DVD's Fifth Season of JAG. JAG was a huge hit for CBS. If you are a fan of Navy NCIS, you know that NCIS is a spin-off of JAG. See Seth Thrasher's mini-DVD review of JAG - The Complete Fifth Season:

JAG - The Complete Fifth Season (CBS, $64.99) is now available! Enjoy this long running Donald Bellisario classic on DVD from CBS DVD (Formerly known as Paramount)! Well, you'll enjoy it if you buy it from discount retailers, such as SitcomsOnline.com partner Amazon.com (see link at end of review). If you actually pay full sticker for any of these JAG sets, you've paid too much. Come on, it's a great show, but there are a LOT of things I'd spend 65 dollars on before I would this set. The show itself is great, it's just not sixty-five-dollar-great. Incidentally, for a set that a lot of folks were once worried about not getting released at all, we're now half way through the show's entire run with this set!
The episodes on this set are great -- the show was still at a high point. I love the two-parter "Boomerang," as well as the episode immediately preceding it, "Cabin Pressure." Also be on the look out for some guest stars, including Trisha Yearwood, Corbin Bernsen and Montel Williams. The actual set itself...well...it's pretty much the de facto standard for TV DVDs now that the industry seems to be shunning the Digipak. The packaging is the now standard-issue outer box with inner slim cases, like the other previous sets. The cover art is again similar in style to previous sets -- this time the main primary cast are all at the top, with a dark blue background behind them, with the gavel and US flag on the bottom half. The menu is yet another static menu, but is fairly nice looking. The background is extremely similar to the dark blue/flag portion of the cover art, with a file folder and gavel at the bottom. The show logo is center-left, while the menu options are center-right. There IS once again a special feature -- a gag reel running 3:04. Video quality is VERY good -- CBS was an early adopter of HDTV programming, and as a result the show's video shines, especially compared to non-HD shows the same age. No flaws that I can find -- with perfect color balance, no noticeable compression issues. Audio is great with no defect, and sounds great. And I've always loved this show's theme, which sounds wonderful here. We're now into the HDTV era of the show with this season -- yes, the set is presented in anamorphic widescreen. Closed Captioning is available once again. Chapter Stops appear at each commercial break plus before and after the opening titles. Runtimes are in the mid-40 minute area, give or take depending on how long or short the episode ran -- which is right for the show's age. The box has the usual warning about edits, but that's standard operating procedure for CBS DVD sets. My only gripes about the set are the MSRP, boring menus, and still lack of special features other than the gag reel. Work on those, and I'll be a very happy man. Nonetheless, what's here is great, and I strongly recommend it.

-- Reviewed by Seth Thrasher
(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
JAG TV.com Page


Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, January 19, 2008
"Early 80s Sitcoms Missing; Lopez Marathon Not Fresh-Like; Drew Not Chopped on ION"
By Solomon Davis

When will one of these cable channels ever give some life to the family sitcoms from the early '80s or are these shows just gone forever in syndication? I swear between Nick at Nite, TBS, TV One, and ABC Family there are NO shows airing on those networks from that era of TV sitcoms. Family sitcoms like Silver Spoons, Diff'rent Strokes, Family Ties, Gimme a Break!, Head of the Class, and Webster seems like they would be on one of these cable channels but instead we get all the sitcoms from the '90s and the decade of the 2000's. Even the shows that are out on DVD have only a couple of seasons released and is no where near completion and I just wish shows from that era of television would get more exposure instead of shows from the from 1985 to 1989...but even those shows are not seen much, Hogan Family got pulled on ABC Family within seconds as did Perfect Strangers on ION, while shows like Cosby Show and Full House still air everywhere. It's time for these cable networks to treat the sitcoms of the early '80s like they do for the ENTIRE decade of the '90s!!

I'm happy to see that Nick at Nite is giving George Lopez a marathon tomorrow night but the only thing I can't understand is why can't it be a week long marathon like it was for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air? This will be a great opportunity for the show to gain even more viewers and maybe even possibly another huge hit for the network but all they give Lopez is one night of continuous episodes. The show has done well so far on the network. You would think that since the show is still kind of new that there would be the same type of marathon but I guess that's only for shows that been on Nick at Nite for more than 3 years and not less than 3 months. Once again Nick at Nite's program plan is acceptable but how they present it to viewers is a whole another story.

I wanted to see for myself if ION had a different editing style when it came to The Drew Carey Show and let me just say I was not surprise at all to see that it's not cut like Alice at 7pm and other older sitcoms they have aired like Perfect Strangers. ION has cut the episodes of Alice in so many ways that you can't remember who said what and where they said in it. But when I watched The Drew Carey Show I noticed that there were only TWO commercial breaks from the start of the show to the end of the show...and no abrupt cut to commercials, like on Alice when someone is in a middle of a line. Also, not 5 commercials breaks like it is during the Alice on ION and I can't seem to figure out why that is the case? I mean what makes one show more special than the other? Is it because Alice is older and has more time to edit? Now since I'm not a fan of Drew Carey, I don't know how bad they edit the show but from my eyes I only saw two commercial breaks when I watched the show and since I have 20/20 vision I know for a fact I have never seen an Alice episode with only two breaks. Either that or I may need to make an appointment for an eye surgeon immediately to fix my vision.


Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: All-Star Family Feud (Jan. 8); Solomon's Weekly Rant: The Jeffersons Snubbed, Annoying ION, 32 Bowl Games?

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today week we take a look at BCI Eclipse's All-Star Family Feud. Family Feud of course is the popular game show that is still going strong today! Basically the game show puts two families (5 members each) together and they battle each other via questions and try to get the most correct answers from a survey. On this DVD, we get the All-Star specials from the '70s and '80s hosted by Richard Dawson, which featured TV series going up against each other for charity. See my mini-DVD review of All-Star Family Feud:

All-Star Family Feud (BCI, $29.98) brings us the all-star specials from the '70s and '80s that featured TV series of that time, classic TV stars, and more to DVD for the first time!
It's time to play the feud as your favorite stars battle for charity. These all-star specials started in 1978 on ABC in primetime. They were very popular. The show back then aired on ABC daytime and also in first-run syndication. There were specials that were created for daytime and syndication as well, such as classic TV weeks. I think everyone has seen at least one episode of Family Feud before...whether it was with Richard Dawson, Ray Combs, Louie Anderson, Richard Karn or the current host John O'Hurley, everyone has seen one episode, so no need for a description on the show.
Let's start with the packaging. We have a nice cover art for the box. We have the All-Star Family Feud logo in the famous yellow, blue, and red circles with white dots. We also have a photo of Richard Dawson! The cover art also lists some of the series that will be playing on this set, such as Eight is Enough and Love Boat. The back of the box has some info on the set (I notice some grammar problems though, such as "during it's run..." come on, no apostrophe s there!) and more details on what shows you will see. We have three screen shots as well, such as Richard kissing Florence Henderson. In the background we see Richard with the survey board in the background. Inside the box we get a digipak case and also a little insert booklet that has a nice history of the show...it is pretty cool and has nice photos inside, such as a screen shot of Richard with two of the stars of Soap. Anyway, to the case we go. The front of the case says, "Featuring such stars as," then it names some stars like Heather Locklear, Norman Fell and more. They missed some big stars they could have named here, like John Ritter, Betty White, Meredith Baxter, Susan Lucci, but not a big deal. Some more screen shots are on the bottom, such as one with Maureen McCormick. The back of the case we have the logo in red and a nice yellow background. Opening the digipak case, we get to the discs. It seems there are only two panels (disc one on the left, disc two on the right), but if you snap open the little part in the middle on each side, you open the panel and will see disc three on the left and disc four on the right. Very neat, but some people might get confused and think there are only two discs. The left side has a nice blue/white scheme and the right side has a nice yellow/white scheme. Each disc has the logo in red with a yellow background, and underneath that we have artwork in a blue shade. Disc one has a shot of Richard in a tux. Disc two has Richard with Lou Ferrigno and Bernie Kopell. Disc three has Richard with the cast of the first All-Star Family Feud special from 1978, like Diana Canova and Richard Kline. Disc four has a nice head shot of Richard.
The menu screen has Play All and Episodes. Disc four also has a Photo Gallery option. The main menu starts with the famous music of the show...then it zooms to the set in 3-D. It looks so cool. We have the survey board, the two sides where the families stand, and the face-off stand. When you select an option we get the famous red X in a box with the sound effect. But we were not wrong when we selected it! Cool anyway. When we choose Episodes, we get the episodes on the survey board, with the sound effects!
The video depends on the episode really. Remember this ranges from 1978 to 1984. I noticed some of the episodes look much better than others. The same goes for the audio. We also get bumpers saying we will return in a moment or back to the show. We also have production codes on some episodes in the beginning...very cool. Glad they kept that in there. The All-Star specials are around 45-50 minutes, but they are separated into three segments on the menu...for example the 6th All-Star special had Love Boat, WKRP, Soap and Real People. They are broken up into three parts: Love Boat vs. WKRP, Soap vs. Real People and Real People vs. WKRP in the finals. I wish they would have just listed them all into one and placed three chapter stops instead. It kind of ruins who goes to the finals. The daytime and first-run syndicated episodes run about 21-22 minutes each, as they were week-long events.
I will list all the episodes on this set, so you know what is on it. I have labeled it better than they do on the menu. On the menu all they list are the shows. The episodes are in no order at all, which is weird. Here is the rundown:

Disc 1 -
1. Adventure Stars Special: Adventure Heroines vs. Adventure Heroes (This was a week-long stunt in ABC daytime or syndication and only the first 2 of the 5 episodes from this week are on this set for some reason...the first one runs 24:17 and the second one runs 22:22)
2. TV's All-Time Favorites: Petticoat Junction, The Brady Bunch, Your Hit Parade and Leave it to Beaver (This was a week-long stunt in ABC daytime, and we get all 5 days here, runtimes are 22:22, 21:42, 22:23, 22:22, and 22:22...just a note the second day says it is an "encore" presentation)
3. 6th All-Star Special: Love Boat, WKRP in Cincinnati, Soap, Real People (This was a primetime special on ABC and is separated into three parts: 20:34, 18:02, and 10:57)

Disc 2 -
4. Hollywood Walk of Fame Special: The Men vs. The Ladies (This was a week-long stunt in ABC daytime or syndication and only 2 of the 5 episodes from this week are on this set for some reason...the first one runs 21:01 and the second one is actually the fourth one from the week and runs 20:55)
5. 3rd All-Star Special: Love Boat, Eight is Enough, Family, What's Happening!! (This was a primetime special on ABC and is separated into three parts: 21:18, 18:20, and 9:54)
6. Heroes vs. Villains All-Star Special: Two sets of Heroes vs. Villains teams face-off (This was a primetime special on ABC and is separated into three parts: 21:11, 20:33, and 7:39)
7. 5th All-Star Special: One Day at a Time, Benson, Dallas, Eight is Enough (This was a primetime special on ABC and is separated into three parts: 18:30, 21:30, and 9:24)

Disc 3 -
8. Nighttime vs. Daytime All-Star Special: Soap, All My Children, Eight is Enough, General Hospital (This was a primetime special on ABC and is separated into three parts: 18:24, 21:34, and 9:56)
9. City vs. Country All-Star Special: Dallas, It's a Living, The Jeffersons, The Dukes of Hazzard (This was a primetime special on ABC and is separated into three parts: 18:08, 20:19, and 10:43)
10. 7th All-Star Special: The Ropers, Angie, The Dukes of Hazard, The Waltons (This was a primetime special on ABC and is separated into three parts: 22:15, 16:22, and 10:38)
11. 1st All-Star Special: Love Boat, Eight is Enough, Soap, Three's Company (This was a primetime special on ABC and is separated into three parts: 21:44, 17:26, and 10:01...this entire special is a repeat telecast it says, so it isn't from the original airing, but probably nothing is edited out.)

Disc 4 -
12. 2nd All-Star Special: Barney Miller, Eight is Enough, Welcome Back Kotter, Soap (This was a primetime special on ABC and is separated into three parts: 20:57, 17:00, and 11:33)
13. All-Star Championship Special: Eight is Enough, Family, Welcome Back Kotter, The Love Boat (This was a primetime special on ABC and is separated into three parts: 19:20, 21:04, and 8:55)
14. TV's All-Time Favorites: Batman, Lost in Space, Hawaiian Eye, Gilligan's Island (This was a week-long stunt in ABC daytime, and we get only 1 of the 5 days here, and that is day 2 with Hawaiian Eye vs. Gilligan's Island, runtime is 21:45 and it says it is an "encore" presentation.)
15. Battle of the Perfect 10's All-Star Special: Wilt's Wows, Debbie's Dudes, Richard's Rosebuds, and Phyllis' Fighters (This was a primetime special on ABC and is separated into three parts: 20:40, 19:09, and 9:22)

As for special features, we have a Photo Gallery. Basically we have 40 pictures to go through in a slideshow form. You select the next option on your remote and it will go to the next picture. These images consist of TV Guide ads and promotional images. Very cool, wish I had some!
I highly do recommend this set for any game show fan and any fan of '70s and '80s TV. Maybe one of your favorite shows are featured on an episode playing for charity? There are some mishaps here, such as they mentioned Batman on the front cover, but yet that episode is not on this set. In fact, they have 4 of the daytime weeks here, where we had the stars on for 5 days, and only one of those weeks has all five episodes. I don't understand why we didn't get the full weeks of those. Maybe licensing was a problem, since Batman and Lost in Space was missing from one of the TV's All-Time Favorites weeks. It makes no sense to just have 2 episodes of the 5 of Adventure Stars Special: Adventure Heroines vs. Adventure Heroes and Hollywood Walk of Fame Special: The Men vs. The Ladies since they were the same teams all week long. All the primetime one-hour specials are good to go at least. I hope we get another set with more all-star specials and themed weeks with celebrities. I wish they had these in more of an order, like by airdate. Anyway, click on the link below and order this set because some of these are now rare to find and you'll love your favorite TV stars battling for charity. Let's Play the Feud!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

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Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, January 5, 2008
"The Jeffersons Snubbed; Annoying ION; 32 Bowl Games?"
By Solomon Davis

Once again TV Land is pushing The Jeffersons to the side so that other shows can have a mini-thon during the week. Like always the two shows Good Times and Sanford & Son defintely was given a mini-thon on Wednesdays and Thursdays nights while The Jeffersons gets NOTHING. And to make things worst, Designing Women will have a mini-thon on Mondays which starts next week and still NOTHING for The Jeffersons. It's bad enough the show is already airing at 2:30am AFTER Designing Women and now this happens? Makes more sense to just get rid of the show and then maybe Good Times and Sanford & Son can get more marathons.

I guess ION thinks all their viewers have amnesia because they constantly remind you during the airing of Alice that Mama's Family and The Drew Carey Show are coming up later which we already know. Especially since those two shows are on four days of the week you would think it would be impossible to forget. But ION wants to make the closing credits of Alice SMALLER so we can be reminded about those shows over and over. I mean how many reminders do we need each week when we have things like on-screen guides and TV Guides??? The Incredibly Odd Network strikes again.

Just exactly how many more bowl games are there going to be in college football? It seems like every 2 or 3 years new bowl games are created so that more teams can have a chance to feel about something when their season is over. There are 32 bowl games now. There was not this many games 15 years ago it seems and the titles of the bowl games got more ridiculous. Like tomorrow night there will be the GMAC Bowl followed by the National Championship on Monday. And we had a bowl game called the Papa John's Bowl?? They better have had handed out free pizza to the crowd. So just how many more Bowl games will be created in the next 15 years? That's the main reason why they spill over to the networks they have no business on like the NFL Network!!

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: The Bronx is Burning: World Championship Limited Edition; Solomon's Weekly Rant: Drew Carey Show, Celebrity Apprentice, Bryant Gumbel

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up of course is the mini-DVD review. This week we take a look at ESPN Home Entertainment's The Bronx is Burning. Yes, we did a review on this a few months ago, but now just in time for the holidays ESPN is releasing a World Championship Limited Edition set that has two extra discs filled with extras! The Bronx is Burning is the eight episode mini-series that aired on ESPN this summer focusing on the 1977 season of the Yankees and what was going on at that time that summer. This show is well acted and got better with each episode. See my mini-DVD review of The Bronx is Burning:

The Bronx is Burning: World Championship Limited Edition (ESPN, $59.95) brings the mini-series on DVD once again, but with more extras and cool stuff! Bronx is Burning in a nutshell...New York City was in a crisis that summer of '77, they were paralyzed by a blackout, political strife, and the Son of Sam killing spree, so the Big Apple was burning. Rising out of this, came the New York Yankees...they signed Reggie Jackson and the trouble and turmoil started, but in the end they won a world championship. This is a true story of how the New York Yankees single-handedly helped to raise the spirits of a city in a time of darkness and uncertainty. Based on the best-selling novel by Jonathan Mahler, this historic 8-part dramatic mini-series captures the summer of 1977 like never before. John Turturro stars as Yankees Manager Billy Martin, Oliver Platt as demanding owner of the Yankees George Steinbrenner, and Daniel Sanjata plays the slugger Reggie Jackson.
This set is nearly the same as original set that came out in September, except for the huge box, two discs worth of extras, 1977 championship photo, and a 1977 championship cap! So we won't cover anything that was covered before, so please refer to our past review for our review on the first three discs and the original packaging.
Packaging on this limited edition set has a huge outer box that holds the digipak case and the cap inside. In the original packaging we had an outer box but it was thin and similar to the case...and the case a snap case rather than digipak. The 1977 cap inside the box is very cool...it has the Yankee logo with 1977 Champions in red. Also the ESPN logo is on one of the sides. When we open the digipak, we see an insert for other ESPN products and also a very thin 1977 World Series Championship photo of the Yankee team. It isn't really anything major and it like a piece of paper, rather than a high quality photograph. Oh well, better than nothing. As for the digipak, it has three sections...the first section all the way on the left holds disc one, discs two & three are in the middle section, and discs four & five are on the right section. Same artwork for the first three discs are used from the original set...same contents of course, too. Discs four and five are new and both have artwork of pinstripes and a white color scheme.
I will only talk about discs four and five. The menu screen design and navigation is the same as the first three discs, which is very high class and cool. Now if you all remember, on the original set we already had a lot of extras...now we get two full discs more of them!
On disc four we have something sports fans will love...actual highlights and a game from the past. We get highlights for each game of the 1977 World Series. All 6 games feature long highlights from the original ABC broadcast featuring Keith Jackson, Howard Cossell, and Tom Seaver. In addition, we get to relive the entire original game 6 broadcast from ABC which the Yankees clinched the 1977 championship as Reggie Jackson hit 3 home runs! 2 great hours worth of a classic game!
Finally, on disc five we get more interviews and back stories. First up is "The Bronx is Burning Anecdotes," these are 38:47 worth of interviews from the actual people from that era. ESPN interviewed stars like Reggie Jackson, George Steinbrenner, Lou Piniella, Willie Randolph, Graig Nettles, Fran Healy and more! These are in like 33 short interview clips each last like 1-2 minutes each. Next up we have classic news features titled, "Archival News Features." The first one is about Reggie Jackson Signing with the Yankees...that runs 1:35. The next one is about the Reggie Jackson Handshake Controversy...that runs 2:56. The final one is a sad one, the Therman Munson Tragedy...that runs 10:42. The final piece of extras are under the "More Stories of '77" title. We had some of these on disc three, but now we get more! The stories features are: Mr. October (6:25), Son of Sam (15:37), The Mayoral Race (6:56), and The Blackout (6:12).
I highly recommend this mini-series and DVD. If you have the original set, then you might want to get this one, too...for the extras and cap. If you're a Yankee fan, then this is a must, otherwise you can just keep the original set. If you have not bought the original set, then try and get this one, as it has more goodies. The Yankees overcame a lot in '77 and so did the city of New York. While this is entertaining, it was also a true story. I urge you all to watch this, especially if you are a fan of sports. Reg-gie! Reg-gie! Reg-gie!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

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Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, December 29, 2007
"Special Treatment for Drew Carey on ION; Celebrity Apprentice?; Terrible Bryant Gumbel"
By Solomon Davis

The Drew Carey Show has been added to ION Television for 2008 and for some reason it will get very special treatment on December 31. It will get treatment that other shows like Alice and Who's the Boss? never received which is confusing because I thought all shows added to the schedule would get the same treatment. Instead, ION will air a marathon of The Drew Carey Show on New Year's Eve and they never did this in 2007 for Alice or Who's the Boss. So I guess those programmers at ION are HUGE fans of The Drew Carey Show. But it is really not surprising at all that the "Incredibly Odd Network" would end the year of 2007 on such an "odd note."

NBC has completely destroyed The Apprentice this season with this new celebrity crap. Why change it into a Celebrity Apprentice when the appeal of the show was seeing young professionals working hard to get hired by Mr. Trump? So what will be the fun part of The Apprentice now since it's all celebrities? If Trump fires a celebrity it won't be the same because that person will still be famous. So what is NBC trying to accomplish with this stupid idea? I will tell you that the one thing they accomplished was losing me as a fan because I no longer have the desire to watch this new garbage NBC has thrown together. NBC has put the nail on the coffin for this series. The show would have just been better off in the same pile with the other 2007 TV show failures.

Bryant Gumbel's style of play-by-play announcing on the NFL Network sounds like he is reading from a script. He is extra dry, dull, and doesn't have a excitable bone in his body. He should only be allowed to do play by play if PBS started airing NFL games next season. I am going to barf tonight when he announces the Patriots/Giants game, in which the Pats will go for the 16-0 record. Please Gumbel go back to morning TV shows like The Early Show and leave sports announcing to the real professionals...even your brother Greg Gumbel is better.

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation - The Seventh Season; Solomon's Weekly Rant: Flavor of Love, Christmas Story, Bowl Games

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today we head out west to Las Vegas for C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation: - The Seventh Season. C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation stars William Petersen, Marg Helgenberger, Gary Dourdan, George Eads, Jorja Fox, Paul Guilfoyle, Eric Szmanda and Robert David Hall.



C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation - The Seventh Season (Paramount Home Video/CBS DVD, $89.99)

Follow the evidence... again and again. Winner of the People's Choice Award for "Favorite Television Drama" three years in a row. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation comes to DVD in this special collection that contains all 24 episodes from Season Seven - including Grissom's hunt for the notorious Miniature Killer.

This 7-disc set contains all 24 episodes from the seventh (2006-07) season and a number of audio commentaries and special features. The episodes are presented in Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) enhanced for 16:9 tvs with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio. It has a total running time of 17 hours, 25 minutes. The attractive packaging features parts of William Petersen's and Marg Helgenberger's faces. At the top of the box, there is an embossed CSI logo. Las Vegas' skyline is in the center in a hologram type effect. The inside case is in a book fromat that you can flip through to get to the discs. There is a photo of Helgenberger, Szmanda, Guilfoyle and Doyle on the cover and Eads, Fox, Petersen and Hall on the back. I'm not sure why William Petersen is barefoot. They are walking across a street. A content locator lists the episodes by disc and the special features. Each disc features a different photo of one of the cast members and the show logo.

The menus are very slick looking and easy to navigate. They have a montage of video clips, with some instrumental music playing in the background. Options are available for Episode Selection, Set Up, Previews (only on Disc 1), and Special Features (only on Disc 7). On the Set Up menu, you can choose either Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround or Spanish 2.0 Surround. Closed captioning is available for all of the episodes. As you would expect from such a recent show, the video and audio quality is outstanding. The show looks stunning. This is the first time that the show has lacked "Complete" in the title. The episodes have running times of 41-44 minutes in length. There is nothing on the packaging to indicate that any of the music has been changed. While the episodes are numbered by their production order, they are presented in the order of their original airdates.

An impressive amount and variety of special features are included. There are 7 audio commentaries available on 5 of the discs. Producers, Writers, Directors and supporting cast members provide some behind the scenes details and trivia on the episodes. Executive Produer/Writer Naren Shankar and Co-Executive Producer/Director Ken Fink provide commentary on "Built To Kill, Part 1." It's a bit unusual there is no commentary on the second part of the episode. Director Richard Lewis and Writer Dustin Lee Abraham comment on "Fannysmackin." Director Martha Coolidge and Make-Up Effects Artist Matthew Mungle discuss "Living Legend." Executive Producer/Writer Naren Shankar and Co-Executive Producer/Writer do the commentary on "Sweet Jane." Director Richard Lewis, Writer/Techinical Advisor Richard Catalani and Producer Carol Mendeloshn provide their insights on "Law of Gravity." "Lab Rats (aka "While the Cat's Away") features Director Brad Tanenbaum, Writer Sarah Goldfinger, Wallace Langham (David Hodges), Jon Wellner (Henry Andrews), Liz Vassey (Wendy Simms), Sheri Rappaport (Mandy Webster) and Archie Kao (Archie Johnson). This was a fun one with so many people on it. Executive Producer/Writer Naren Shankar and Co-Executive Producer/Director Ken Fink do their third commentary on "Living Doll."

Disc 7 has the 6 featurettes. These add up to over 90 minutes of bonus material. There is a "Play All" button or you can watch these individually. Here is the breakdown:

Inside "Built To Kill" (9:02) - This featurette focuses on the Cirque du Soleil show that was featured in the season premiere. It includes interviews with Supervising Producer Ken Fink, "KA" Company Manager Calum Pearson. Writer David Rambo, "KA" Production Manager Ray Forton, "KA" Stage Performer Sarah Harding, "KA" Stage Manager Stacey A. Myers, Marg Helgenberger, "KA" Performer Daniel Power and Louise Lombard. They talk about how they got the idea for the episode and how the "KA" members didn't want to be portrayed as, the storyline and how it was shot. There is some behind the scenes footage and they show various parts of the stage. The Cirque du Soleil show looks very cool. I'd like to see one of their performances someday.

Miniature Murders (13:48) - This featurette focuses on the miniature serial killer, which was a story arc that stretched the entire season and even into the current season. Executive Producer Carol Mendelsohn, Co-Executive Producer Doug Petrie, Executive Producer Naren Shankar, Marg Helgenberger, William Petersen, Supervising Producer Sarah Goldfinger, Production Designer Daniel Novotny, Set Designer Rob Sissman, Miniature Supervisor Craig Currie, Prop Supervisor James Schexnaydre, Director Ken Fink, Co-Producer David Rambo, Graphic Artist Daphne San Jose, 2nd Unit Director Brad Tanenbaum and Director Jeffrey Hunt. They talk about the evolution of the idea and the history involved with a woman who created some, how this was the first time they had a season long story arc for the first time, how the miniatures were built and lit, why they made 2 versions of each miniature, how they used different camera angles and the casting of Natalie. The miniatures were so incredibly detailed. They did some amazing work.

Who Are You? Inside "Living Legend" (14:45) - This focuses on the episode of the same name. Interviews include Co-Executive Producer Doug Petrie, Executive Producer Naren Shankar, Executive Producer Carol Mendelsohn, Roger Daltrey, Director Martha Coolidge and Special F/X Make-up Artist Matthew Mungle. They talk about the original idea for the story, how twist after twist was written into the episode, guest star Roger Daltrey, the theme song by The Who and how they always wanted to get Daltrey as a guest star since the beginning of the series, and how they did the disguises and prosethic make-up for the 4-5 roles that Daltrey played.

Las Vegas: The Real Crime Solvers (18:25) - All of the recent C.S.I. DVD releases have had similar segments like this one. In this featurette, Robert David Hall (Dr. Robbins) visits the Clark County Crime Lab in Las Vegas. He interviews Captain David O'Leary, Kimberly Brockman, Mark P. Burry, Thomas Melville, Kellie McGauthier, Julie Marschner, Frances E. Beaudette, Dinnah Caluag, Alice Maceo and Dr. Gary Telgenhoff. Various topics are covered as he visits the different departments, including toxicology, controlled substances, DNA, firearms, latent finger prints and autopsy. The segment closes with Robert David Hall talking to some real crime scene investigators: Randy McLaughlin, Yolanda McCleary, Jeff Smink and Kristin Gammas. He asks some good questions throughout this segment. It is interesting to hear their opinions of the show. The coroner is a lot like the Dr. Robbins character. He has the same sense of humor.

The Evolution of C.S.I. Season 7 (25:47) - This is the longest and most in-depth featurette on the set. Interviews include Executive Producer Carol Mendelsohn, Executive Producer Naren Shankar, William Petersen, Paul Guilfoyle, Jorja Fox, Robert David Hall, Marg Helgenberger, George Eads, Liev Schreiber, Louise Lombard and Eric Szmanda. They talk about how the show has evolved, how they've tried new things every season, the look of the show, visual effects, William Petersen's sabbatical to do a play, Grissom and Sara's relationship, the casting of Liev Schreiber and the show's unpredictability. I found the Keppler storyline and his character very interesting. You would never know that Jorja Fox would be leaving the show early in the current season.

Smoke & Mirrors: Directing Feature Television (16:31) - This featurette looks at the direction on the show. Interviews are included with the following directors: Ken Fink, Richard Lewis, Jeffrey Hunt, Brad Tanenbaum, Alec Smight, Michael Slovi and Martha Coolidge. They talk about their directorial styles, how they try to challenge themselves, how they try to create the look of feature films, how the show has evolved over the years, the look of the show and the shooting schedules. A typical episode takes 8 1/2 to 9 days to film.

A playable demo for the CSI: Hard Evidence PC game is also included.

Final Comments: It was a season of firsts for C.S.I. They had never done a story arc that stretched across an entire season. It was a bit disappointing that the miniature killer storyline wasn't concluded until the current season, but the whole idea was unique and entertaining. I think part of the show's success is because they are continually evolving it and coming up with fresh ideas. While this set is a bit on a pricey side, there are 7 audio commentaries and over 90 minutes of special features. The original C.S.I. is definitely the most popular in the C.S.I. franchise, so I guess it makes sense that they get the best treatment on DVD.

-- Reviewed by Todd Fuller
(4.5/5 stars)

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Related links:
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C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation CBS.com Official Site
C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation TV.com Page



Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, December 22, 2007
"Yet Another Flavor of Love Marathon; Too Many Christmas Story Airings; Bowl Games on NFL Network?"
By Solomon Davis

Both seasons of Flavor of Love have been seen several times on VH1 and now another marathon is scheduled for Sunday, December 30? How much of Flavor Flav do we really need to see on VH1 in one year? I thought Flavor of Love was a thing of the past since the spin-off I Love NY has already completed 2 seasons. Why is VH1 going backward and airing Flavor of Love all over again? I can see airing a Flavor of Love 3 but to see more airings of the first two seasons again after the 30th will just make me wanna puke.

Why in the world is TBS airing the same Christmas movie back to back on Christmas Eve and on Christmas? A Christmas Story is airing at 8pm and 10pm on Christmas Eve (and all day on Christmas, which I won't rant about since who watches TV on Christmas Day?) and I just can't figure why they would not air a different movie at 10pm, since the same movie will air all day on Christmas Day anyway. They should premiere the movie on Christmas Eve at 8pm, then air other holiday movies the rest of the night and their Christmas Story marathon on Christmas Day from like 10am-8pm instead of this 24 hour airings thing. There are tons of Christmas Movies they can air on Christmas Eve but they want to show the same holiday movie all evening and all day on Christmas Day? This seems like something TV Land would do and I have to say I'm very surprised at such a stupid programming decision by TBS. TBS should get holiday programming tips from Hallmark since that channel is airing All I Want for Christmas at 8pm and A Grandpa for Christmas at 10pm on Christmas Eve.

Why is college football's Texas Bowl being aired on the NFL Network on Friday, December 28? It is not Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys, which is the real "Texas Bowl," so this does not belong on this network. When I purchased the NFL Network through Comcast I was told it is the 24-hour NFL Network. So why would a College Football Bowl Game be seen if it is supposed to be 24-hour NFL programming?? No wonder everyone is complaining about this channel. They make you buy it for an extra price and not many people have it and the stupid NFL schedules games on here on Thursday and Saturday nights late in the season. This Bowl Game is what you call misleading customers who they think are purchasing a NFL network and then realized they purchased the "All-Football Network" instead. Change your name already! Maybe they will air local high school football championship games next.

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: C.S.I.: Miami - The Fifth Season; Solomon's Weekly Rant: Sports Talk and Just Shoot TV Land

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today we travel south to sunny Miami for C.S.I.: Miami - The Fifth Season. C.S.I.: Miami stars David Caruso, Emily Procter, Adam Rodriguez, Khandi Alexander, Jonathan Tigo, Rex Linn and Eva La Rue.



C.S.I.: Miami - The Fifth Season (Paramount Home Video/CBS DVD, $64.99)

Lead Criminalist Horatio Caine (David Caruso) is targeted by adversaries old and new in the fifth season of CSI: Miami. As the danger grows for Caine, he and the rest of his team - Calleigh (Emily Procter), Eric (Adam Rodriguez), Alexx (Khandi Alexander), Ryan (Jonathan Togo), Frank (Rex Linn), and Natalia (Eva La Rue) - must go the limit to solve their biggest cases yet.

This 6-disc set contains all 24 episodes of the fifth (2006-07) season. The episodes are featured in Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio. It has a running time of 17 hours, 28 minutes. The attractive packaging features a holofoil photo of David Caruso wearing his trademark sunglasses on the cover. Some palm trees and the Miami skyline can be seen in the background. The inside case is in a book format that you can flip through to get to the discs. There is a photo of Procter, Alexander and Rodriguez on the front and Linn, Togo, La Rue and Caruso on the back. Each disc features a different photo of one of the cast members and the show logo. The menus are also very stylish and easy to navigate. They have a montage a video clips, with some instrumental music playing in the background. Options are available for Episode Selection, Set Up, Previews (only on Disc 1), and Special Features. On the Set Up menu, you can choose either Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround or Spanish 2.0 Surround. Closed captioning is availble for all of the episodes. As you would expect from such a recent show, the video and audio quality is outstanding. This is the first time that the show has lacked "Complete" in the title. The episodes have running times of 41-44 minutes in length. There is nothing on the packaging to indicate that any of the music has been changed.

There is an impressive amount and variety of special features included. There are 5 audio commentaries available on the first four discs. They all provide some interesting trivia and behind the scenes details on the making of the episodes. Director Sam Hill, Co-Executive Producer Sunil Nayar and Brian O'Neill (Locations Manager) provide commentary for the season premiere, "Rio." Director Sam Hill, Adam Rodriguez and Carey Meyer (Production Designer) do the commentary for the 100th episode, "Death Pool 100." Jonathan Togo, Writer Corey Miller and Larry Detwiler (Visual Effects) sit down for the commentary on "Death Eminent." Eva La Rue and Writer/Consultant John Haynes provide the commentary on "Darkroom." Director Karen Gaviola and Gonzalo Menendez (Clavo Cruz) do the commentary on "Man Down."

Five interesting and entertaining featurettes on the creating of the episodes add up to around one hour of bonus content. Here is the breakdown:

"Rio Grand: CSI: Miami Goes to Rio" (Disc 1 - 8:43) - This featurette includes interviews with Co-Executive Producer Sunil Nayar, Adam Rodriguez, Executive Producer Ann Donahue, Producer Sam Hill, Producer Don Tardino, David Caruso (archival footage), Producer/Director Joe Chappelle and Location Manager Brian O'Neill. They talk about the process and how they scouted locations, how they wrote the story, how they told the audience that they were in Rio, and whether or not they were allowed to bring guns into the country.

"If Looks Could Kill: Special F/X Makeup" (Disc 2 - 13:38) - This featurette includes interviews with Department Head Make-up Cheri Montesanto, Executive Producer Ann Donahue, Special Effects/Make-Up Matt Smith. They talk about how they create the beauty looks and dead wounds, various visual effects, how various scenes were shot (body blows up from gases, collapsing of lung, giant stomachs, guy gets his head severed, guy gets his legs blown off).

"Turning Up the Heat: The Look of CSI: Miami" (Disc 4 - 9:38) - This featurette includes interviews with Executive Producer Ann Donahue, Director of Photography Eagle Egilsson, Director of Photography Charles Mills, Production Designer Carey Meyer, Art Director Roland Rosenkranz and Colorist Mark Wilkins. They talk about how they try to distinguish the show from Vegas, the shooting at the lab and on location, how they use a lot of color (orange and greens) on the sets, and how they do the color correction. They are able to create a colorful, rich, sexy and wet look. CSI: Miami has always had the coolest look of the CSI series in my opinion.

"Dressing The Part" (Disc 5 - 5:57) - Costume Designer Andrea Federman is interviewed in this featurette. She talks about how they have to sell that the show is in Miami. Each character gets one outfit per episode. She talks about the various looks of the different characters this season and shows off some of the clothes in a closet.

"The Real MDPD with Jonathan Togo" (Disc 6 - 25:29) - This featurette includes interviews with Jonathan Togo, Capt. Bill Press - CSI Bureau, Criminalist 2/DNA Adriana Kristaly, Forensic Artist Samantha Steinberg, Criminalist Supervisor/Firearms CSI Adrian Nunez, CSI Bureau - Frederick Van Loan, CSI Kit and Van Special Patrol Bureau/Marine Patrol Sgt. Marvin Freels, Special Patrol Bureau/SRT Lt. James Tietz, and Special Patrol Bureau/SRT Sgt. Raymond Melcon. Jonathan Togo tours the SRT training center and lab. He goes to each area and the specialist in that area details their job. He asks some interesting questions and is very familiar with the terminology. This was a very interesting and informative segment.

A playable demo for the CSI: Hard Evidence PC game is also included.

Another excellent season and DVD release for CSI Miami. This is one series that may have started a little slow but has improved each season. They always keep it fresh with a variety of cases and storylines. Some memorable episodes this season were "Going Under," "Darkroom," "Throwing Heat," "No Man's Land" and "Just Murdered." With the writer's strike, now is a good time to catch up any episodes that you may have missed. If you've already seen the episodes, the commentaries and special features will give you new insights on the making of the show.

-- Reviewed by Todd Fuller
(4.5/5 stars)

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CSI: Miami CBS.com Official Site
CSI: Miami TV.com Page

Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, December 15, 2007
"Petrino: The Coward; The Mitchell Report: On 24/7; Just Shoot TV Land"
By Solomon Davis

How can Bobby Petrino call himself a professional the way he jumped ship on the Atlanta Falcons earlier this week to coach a college football team? He is a classless punk who should never be allowed to apply for a janitor position in the NFL because you just don't run out on a organization like that when you are the head coach. If he had a ounce of class, he would have never left a note for the organization to read he was not returning because real men don't do things like that. He is nothing but a coward since he wasn't man enough to resign face to face after signing a contract. There was only 3 games left in the Falcons horrible season and he runs away like a scared little girl. So I wonder how the the players for the Arkansas Razorbacks feel to know they will be coached by a classless punk like Petrino? This man is no doubt the weasel of the year and should not be coaching anywhere even if it's college football.

The Mitchell Report was the breaking sports news on Thursday during, and on the 6pm SportsCenter, do you believe it lasted the entire hour? It preempted the regularly scheduled shows like Around the Horn and PTI. I mean was it really necessary to talk about this story for 60 minutes and nothing else? You would think after 45 minutes it would be time to start talking about another sport but ESPN just was non-stop with this steroid story and it became the absolute worst hour of my sports watching life. Not only that but the 24/7 ESPNews Network was covering the story non-stop from the time it broke at 2pm and made me feel like baseball was the only sport in America. Why does ESPN have to go
overboard when it comes to major sports news? Man I wish FoxSports Net had a 24 hour sports network so I could ignore ESPN at times like this.

Well it's clear that TV Land is going FORWARD instead of in looking in the past when it comes to acquiring new shows each year. The shows just seem to keep getting newer each year and once 2008 starts TV fans will be treated to the show Just Shoot Me. The show launches in late January and will air every night at midnight for an hour. Just another TV show that has nothing to do with Classic TV and for some reason TV Land is starting off a New Year with Garbage. No one should be surprised if TV Land picks up Will and Grace in January of 2009 since shows close to this decade seem to be their main objective every year.

My Weird TV Moment of the Week:
Monday, December 10, 2007: During the Monday Night Football game, Atlanta Falcons owner was asked if would he take Michael Vick back after he gets out of Prison and his response was: "As long as Michael Vick keeps himself in shape and stay away from the "fried chicken and french fries." He should have said hot 'dogs.'

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: Futurama - Bender's Big Score!; Solomon's Weekly Rant: Same 'Ole Merrython; TV One Is So Selective; Same TNT NBA Promos

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today we take a look at 20th Century Fox's Futurama - Bender's Big Score!. Futurama - Bender's Big Score! is a direct to DVD movie featuring the hit Fox animated series. See skees53's mini-DVD review of Futurama - Bender's Big Score!:

Futurama - Bender's Big Score! (20th Century Fox, $29.99) proves once again that animated Fox sitcoms don't die, but instead they just take on a new life elsewhere. This direct-to-DVD movie doubles as what will be the first episode of the new season of the series (which has been "on hiatus" for the past four years) as new episodes return to the airwaves sometime next year, this time on Comedy Central. All of the old characters that we knew and loved from the original airing of the series are back for this DVD, proving that a little time off doesn't always mean that everything is going to change.
The movie itself brings back the typical and bizarre plots that we have all come to know and love about Futurama. The movie begins with the Planet Express Corporation is taken over by scammers, thanks to the entire crew falling for a bunch of e-mail scams that they receive. Bender even ends up opening a virus infected e-mail, which of course considering Bender himself is a computer, he can be infected by the virus--and is. In fact, the virus that the scammers gave him cause Bender to turn on his crew when the scammers decide to fully take advantage of the crew. Matters only get worse when it is discovered that Fry has a tattoo of Bender on his butt that has a time travel code, which the virus-infected Bender uses to essentially destroy the past. How will it all turn out? The only way to know is to watch the movie for yourself... I don't want to spoil the whole plot! Guest stars in the movie include Sarah Silverman, Mark Hamill, Coolio, and even Al Gore.
The movie itself is presented in widescreen and the audio is presented in Dolby Digital surround sound. This being released by 20th Century Fox means that special features were not neglected. In fact, there are some very nice special feature on the DVD, starting with a commentary from Matt Groening and the stars of the show. Next, we have Futurama Returns!, an animated comic book reading about the story of how Futurama returned--is is mostly meant to be humorous. And if you really want to see something that is supposed to be a joke, you have to see the next special feature, Everybody Loves Hypnotoad. Basically, this is billed on the set as the TV hit of the future. It features 23 minutes of Hypnotoad blinking his eyes. Nothing else, at all. We have some animated storyboards of deleted scenes included on the set. Next, we have an animated promo for the movie, "An Inconvenient Truth." It even has a video commentary on it from Al Gore and Matt Groening. All of those math geeks out there will love the special feature "Bite My Shiny Metal X," which features an actual professor of mathematics giving a lecture about the math references in Futurama. There is a copy of the original script of the movie that you can read along with on the screen. And finally, there are some character and design sketches. Wow! That is a lot of special features!
Any Futurama fan MUST own this DVD, it would be foolish not to. Even if you are just a casual fan, you will definitely want this DVD. It will air on Comedy Central eventually anyway, but it won't be as impressive as this DVD for certain. This shiny metal DVD is definitely worth buying!
-- Reviewed by skees53
(5/5 stars)

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Related links:
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Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, December 1, 2007
"Same 'Ole Merrython; TV One Is So Selective; Same TNT NBA Promos"
By Solomon Davis

Why does TV Land feel the need to start the Merrython today when it is the same type of Merrython that's been aired the last 7 years? It's not like it's nothing NEW and EXCITING just the SAME and PLAIN shows. I have no idea why TV Land was in a rush to show a full day of Christmas episodes from the TV shows already on their schedule. Do us all a favor TV Land and save this CRAP for the weekend before Christmas and stop pretending you are doing us TV fans a favor. TV Land has scheduled another Merrython Dec. 24, but yes same shows they always air.

Even though TV One is a cable channel geared toward African Americans, that doesn't mean that they have to be so SELECTIVE with the shows they put on their schedule. It's very strange that black sitcoms like The Jeffersons, Benson, Gimme a Break! and Diff'rent Strokes have not been added to TV One since day one of the network. And no that one day marathon of Gimme a Break! to promote the Season 1 DVD does not count! Why does it have to be only true black sitcoms like Good Times, 227, Roc, Eve, and Martin? I really hope this strange selection process of TV one shows changes in the future so TV fans can see sitcoms like Webster, CPO Sharkey, Getting By, and Anthony Anderson before he was in All About the Andersons in the sitcom Hang Time.

The new NBA season is in progress and when watching a NBA game on TNT you see the same commercials from last season. Why are NBA fans still watching all those Charles Barkley and Dwayne Wade commercials from last season? TNT has to know fans are sick of seeing Wade begging Barkley's to be in his T-Mobile Fave 5. Then you have that "3-2-1 and the crowd goes wild" commercial. That's the commercial with people pretending they are taking a last second shot before the buzzer sounds. Is it because Barkley is a TNT studio analyst that us fans have to continue seeing old cell phone commercials featuring Barkley? Seeing him in the studio at halftime and after the game is more than enough.

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: Christmas Time in South Park; Solomon's Weekly Rant: Cartoons on Thanksgiving on Nick at Nite; NFL Thanksgiving Games

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today we take a look at Comedy Central/Paramount's Christmas Time in South Park. South Park of course is the popular cable animated series that is full of laughs for all ages. Join Cartman and the gang for all the holiday fun. Get your hats & coats on! See skees53's mini-DVD review of Christmas Time in South Park:

Christmas Time in South Park (Comedy Central DVD, $19.99) lets us all celebrate the holidays with our favorite foul-mouthed children from South Park, Colorado. The single disc release brings seven Christmas themed episodes of the Comedy Central hit series together in one compilation. Some may be confused and think that this has already been released on DVD, but it hasn't--there was a 2000 release called Christmas in South Park which was released by Warner Brothers that contained only three episodes, only one of which carried over onto this DVD. Many great Christmas classics are included on this DVD. Kyle thinks he is going crazy when a piece of crap (literally) starts talking to him in "Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo." The kids all decide to spend Christmas with Cartman's family when a family friend--Charles Manson--decides to break out of prison with Cartman's uncle in "Merry Christmas Charlie Manson!" Mr. Hankey returns in "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics." Mr. Hankey is too busy with his wife and three... nuggets... in "A Very Crappy Christmas," so it is up to the boys to return the Christmas spirit to South Park. Cartman has been naughty so he decides to help the citizens of Iraq, with the help of Jesus and Mr. Hankey, in "Red Sleigh Down." Kyle's brother Ike is going back to Canada after his birth parents come to take him back, but how will the boys react when they find out that the town is spending money to bring Ike back instead of buying Christmas gifts? Find out in "It's Christmas in Canada." Finally, Stan helps the Woodland Critters build a manger in "Woodland Critter Christmas," but it all backfires in the typical South Park fashion.
The DVD doesn't come in the standard type case that you would expect for a single disc release, but instead comes in packaging that looks like one of those Little Golden Books that we all used to read as a child. It almost makes the set appear to be a nice thing that you can watch with the whole family, but don't be fooled. After all, it IS South Park. The packaging includes a description and the original airdate of each and every episode and also includes a memorable quote from each episode. The video and audio quality of the episodes tends to vary from episode to episode, mostly because these episodes are taken from all of the first eight seasons, but in general there are no real issues to be concerned with. The episodes all appear to be unedited, running at their original 22 minutes each.
The DVD has nothing to offer as far as special features are concerned, and every single one of these episodes can be found in one of the previous season releases of South Park. So, this DVD may not be particularly impressive to the average South Park fan, but for those that must own everything related to South Park or those that simply love Christmas episodes are certain to enjoy the DVD. This isn't a bad DVD at all, but it would have been nice if they could have thrown in some holiday related special features to spice up the set a little bit. A release like this really shouldn't be a plain episodes only release, especially when every episode on it has already been released on DVD at least once. But if you can pick this set up at a reasonable price (under $10 or so), then you'd probably be happy with the set and be glad to have it. Head on up to South Park and look for the bargains!
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
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Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, November 24, 2007
"Cartoons on Thanksgiving on Nick at Nite; NFL Thanksgiving Games Being Treated Like the Super Bowl"
By Solomon Davis

I came home around 11:10pm on Thanksgiving night to watch some sitcoms like George Lopez and Fresh Prince and found out that Nick at Nite decided to air Rugrats movies after 11pm?? How many children would be up watching cartoons after 11pm? And to make things worse, at midnight there was a filler airing of SpongeBob which made me think it was 9am in the morning. Do the people at Nick at Nite think parents let their kids stay up later at night because there is no school the day after Thanksgiving? There are no children up watching cartoons after midnight and Nick at Nite felt the need to remove all the regularly schedule sitcoms to entertain kids after 9pm to 12:30am which is the dumbest programming decision by Nick at Nite in 2007. Maybe Nick at Nite can air Christmas cartoon specials like Jimmy Neutron from 1am to 6am on Christmas Eve since there are no kids sleeping on Christmas Eve.

NFL games on Thanksgiving Day are still a regular season game so why do fans have to watch musical performances at halftime like it is Super Bowl Sunday? The guys in the studio can easily just talk about what happened during the first half of the game and preview the upcoming NFL games on Sunday. But to extend halftime just so someone can get on stage and sing is just plain stupid. It's bad enough we have to stomach these pointless musical performances like Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake during halftime of the Super Bowl, so can we at least have a regular halftime show on Thanksgiving day?


My Weird TV Moments of the Week:
Sunday, November 18, 2007: On Sunday Night Football, the Buffalo Bills kicked a field goal to cut the New England Patriots lead to 42-10 in the 4th quarter and the coach of the Bills started clapping? Think they were going to come back?
Monday, November 19, 2007: Good Morning America - On "Melody's Money Minute," her holiday shopping tips was, "use CASH instead of CREDIT." She gets paid to tell GMA viewers that OBVIOUS TIP? HA!

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: Captain N and the New Super Mario World; Solomon's Weekly Rant

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today week we take a look at Shout! Factory's Captain N and the New Super Mario World. Captain N and the New Super Mario World aired in 1991 where NBC amped up their Saturday mornings by combining two of their animated powerhouses into one half-hour time slot with Captain N & Super Mario World! See my mini-DVD review of Captain N and the New Super Mario World:

Captain N and the New Super Mario World (Shout!, $29.99) brings all 10 half-hours of two of the most popular animated powerhouses into one half-hour time slot with Captain N & Super Mario World!
Based on the hit video game of the same name, Super Mario World completes the animated adventures of Nintendo's iconic heroes, Super Mario Brothers, Princess Toadstool and their new dinosaur friend, Yoshi.
In this third and final season of Captain N: The Game Master, Mother Brain (Metroid) and her Forces of Chaos continue to threaten the freedom of Videoland. Only game master Kevin Keene and the N-Team-Princess Lana, Simon Belmont (Castlevania), Mega Man, Kid Icarus and Gameboy-can keep them from conquering the universe. Each episode runs approx. 22:30...combining both shows. There are 3 chapter stops, which is always handy...one chapter is the opening credits, then the Super Mario World segment, then the Captain N segment. There are 10 half-hours, but actually it is 20, since each half-hour has two mini-episodes. The video is decent but it looks dusty with debris...Super Mario Bros. 3 looked better. The audio is decent, nothing too bad about it. Packaging has a nice outer box with Captain N and the gang on the top, followed by the logos of both shows, then Mario and the gang on the bottom. The back cover has information on the series and a cast picture of both shows together. Inside the box is two slim cases. Each disc has its own slim case. The slim cases are colorful and have a character each from both shows on the covers with nice episode listings on the back of each slim case. First disc is in blue and the second disc is in yellow, and both discs have the same artwork with the entire cast of both shows.
The menu screen has Play All, Captain N Only, Super Mario World Only, Episode Selection, and whatever the extra is on the disc. The main menu starts with the opening theme of the show..then it comes to the options. Episode Selections lists the episodes where you can choose the scenes (the same as the chapter stops). What is cool is that when you highlight one, a preview plays on a screen on the right, but it lags the menu.
Moving on to the extras. Both discs have one each. Disc one has a Storyboard-to-Screen: Opening title Sequence that lasts about a minute. See how it was made! Disc two has Original Concept Art for Yoshi of Super Mario World that runs like 54 seconds.
I highly do recommend any fan of Super Mario or Captain N to pick up the set. Now, I'm not a fan of Captain N (I never watched it really), so I'm not familiar with the show much, but it seems a complete series set already came out. I remember there was a Captain N and the Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3...I wonder why the Super Mario Bros. 3 set didn't have Captain N, but this set does? I'm not an expert, so I can't really tell why they did it...but I think this marks the end of all the Mario series on DVD! I like the original better (Super Mario Bros. Super Show) of them all, but the last two were good, too! Pick it up!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(3/5 stars)

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Related links:
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Captain N and the New Super Mario World TV.com Page


Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, November 17, 2007
"Still No Fresh Prince DVD; Strange Combination of Marathons on TV Land Thanksgiving"
By Solomon Davis

Why was the last season of Full House released this month and still no Fresh Prince DVD releases no where to be found? What is the big holdup with the final two seasons of Fresh Prince? I mean Full House has had three DVD releases in 2007 and you mean to tell me that Fresh Prince couldn't at least get a season 5 release in 2007? It has been 14 months since the last Fresh Prince DVD release and us fans have been waiting and waiting to get more releases to complete the series on DVD and to see no releases at all in 2007 from Warner Brothers really STINKS.

Why does the marathon schedule on TV Land for Thanksgiving have to be a mixture of all types of TV programming? Why not have either a marathon of a sitcom, marathon of movies, or a reality show? No need to mix everything up and have viewers watch Sanford and Son, I Love Lucy, a movie, and then a reality show all in the same day. And even if TV Land wanted to slice the day in half and have one part with sitcoms and the other with movies and reality shows that would be better. Looks more like a "whatever-thon" which is not surprising coming from the network we call "The Land of All Types of TV."


My Weird TV Moments of the Week:
Tuesday, November 13, 2007: Today Show Hour 4 - Segment on whether you should have sex with your ex since the weather is getting colder. What the?
Tuesday, November 13, 2007: Today Show Hour 4 - Kathie Lee Gifford took questions from the crowd and a woman asks her, "I heard you mention you were going through menopause so how are you dealing with aging?" Kathie Lee's look was like HUH?

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Reviews: DuckTales Vol. 3 and TaleSpin Vol. 2 (Nov.13); Solomon's Weekly Rant

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up, are the mini-DVD reviews. Today we take a look at Walt Disney Home Entertainment's DuckTales: Volume 3 and TaleSpin: Volume 2. Both series were very popular in the early '90s on Disney's very popular syndicated block called The Disney Afternoon. DuckTales was about a wealthy duck who takes care of his nephews while TaleSpin was about a bear working for a cargo company. As with all of the shows in the Disney Afternoon, they were action and adventure filled! See my mini-DVD reviews of both sets:

DuckTales: Volume 3 (Walt Disney, $34.99) brings the next 24 half hours of the very fun and interesting animated series on DVD on 3-discs. We return to Duckburg with zillionaire Scrooge McDuck and his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie. This season you'll see them go on a journey to an African jungle, stowed away on an secret aircraft carrier, and rocketing into space to search for a lost "Money Bin." Join Scrooge and the gang battle nemesis such as Ma Beagle and the Beagle Boys, Flintheart Glumgold, and Magica DeSpell.
The episodes are again in production order and leave off from where we last left off. On this set we start off with the episode "Duck to the Future" and end with two 5-part episodes, one introducing Bubba ("Time is Money"), and another introducing Gizmoduck ("Super DuckTales"). Now, the Gizmoduck 5-parter wasn't produced until a bit later, but Disney is giving them us this way, because the very next episode after the 5-part Bubba episode was an episode produced with both Bubba and Gizmoduck in them. They should have went with airdate order in the first place, so this mess wouldn't have happened. The episodes all run close to 22:50, all unedited I'm sure. There are two episodes that run like 22:32 and 22:35...they are parts two and three of the Bubba 5-parter. For some reason it is missing the "next time on DuckTales" preview. The other 5-part episodes have that along with the "previously on DuckTales" teaser. Each episode has 5 chapter stops.
The packaging has an outer box with three slim cases, holding each disc...it is designed very well once again and consistent with the previous two sets. Great photos and colors. My only gripe is, there is no show logo with a Volume 3 mention on the bottom or top of the cover. The side has it, but not the top or bottom...the first two sets had it, and even Talespin Vol. 2, which is out the same day as this set, does.
The menu screen has Play All, Episode Selection, Set Up, Sneak Peeks (disc one only) with the closing theme song playing in the background. Each disc has a different main menu. The first disc has the gang in a futuristic Duckburg, the second disc has the gang in the jungle, and the third has the gang with Gizmoduck! The Set Up option has options of Subtitles where we can turn on English or French subtitles, Return to Episode and Register Your DVD. Disc one has auto previews when we put the disc in, where see sneak peeks at other Disney movies/DVDs. When we go to episode selection, the episodes are listed with a screenshot from the episode. The menu is designed quite well and is easy to navigate.
The video and audio were both very good for the first two sets. No problems whatsoever. However, this set's video is not too good. You see flashing white dots/debris a lot, especially in the non-5-part episodes. Those two 5-part episodes look decent, but the rest is very disappointing. What happened, Disney? The audio is not that bad, maybe a little worse than the first two sets, though.
Anyhow, I still highly do recommend any fan to pick up this set. We are now just one more set away from finishing this series on DVD. If the pattern continues, it will be next November, but we hope it is sooner than that, so we don't have to wait for more of Scrooge and the gang! If you never saw the show, pick it up! It is great fun and probably the most interesting animated series of all-time! So, check your Junior Woodchuck Guidebook to find out where the series is on DVD for you to buy, or you can just click on the link below. Just don't sit in a time machine, or you'll be back in the stone age and you'll be stuck with Bubba!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
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DuckTales TV.com Page


TaleSpin: Volume 2 (Walt Disney, $34.99) brings the next 27 half hours of the high flying animated series to DVD. Everyones favorite furry cargo pilot Baloo returns with Kit Cloudkicker as they take the skies as couriers for their friend and boss, Rebecca Cunningham. Her daughter Molly and mechanic Wildcat are also in on the fun. Join the Hire for Hire gang as they face off against the evil Col. Spigot.
The episodes are in airdate order once again, unlike sets like DuckTales and Chip 'n Dale, both of those are in production order. The episodes all run just under 23 minutes, all unedited. Baloo's best friend King Louie would be so happy and corporate big shot Shere Khan would love a great business. Each episode has 5 chapter stops, so if you want to skip to your favorite scenes, anytime.
The packaging is very similar to the first set. We get an outer box with three slim cases holding three discs. As with the first set, the packaging is very colorful and has a lot of photos.
The menu screen has Play All, Episode Selection, Set Up, Sneak Peeks (disc one only) with the closing theme song playing in the background. Set Up option has where you can have subtitles in English or French. When we go to episode selection, the episodes are listed with a screenshot from the episode. The menu is designed quite well and is easy to navigate.
The video and audio are both very good once again. There are no problems whatsoever with it...very nice job!
I highly do recommend any fan to pick up this set, even more if you have the first set. If you don't, then still pick this up! If you never saw the show, pick it up. It is great fun! Vol. 3 will for sure be the final volume, so we just have one more set to go after this! This means DuckTales, Chip 'n Dale and TaleSpin will be finishing soon on DVD! Wow! Darkwing Duck has probably another two sets still to go. As for this set, hurry today and order the DVD before Don Karnage and his evil Air Pirates pick it up before you! Spin it!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

To purchase the DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
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Related links:
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TaleSpin TV.com Page


Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, November 10, 2007
"This Writers' Strike is Ruining All Parts of My TV Life; Why is a Guest in the MNF Booth for an Entire Quarter?"
By Solomon Davis

Why can't there be some kind of agreement so that this writers' strike can be over and everyone can get their TV life back to normal? This strike is putting a HUGE DENT in my TV watching life and I just don't know how long I can take this. Due to the strike I can't see Letterman or Leno like I'm used to doing every night. I have no idea when I will see a new episode of new series such as The Big Bang Theory. And not only that but this strike has also affected my on-screen Comcast cable guide because the information has been inaccurate for Leno or Letterman. This TV season is turning out to be a NIGHTMARE that has no end in sight.

Why does there have to be a guest in the Monday Night Football booth for the entire 3rd quarter taking away the excitement of the actual game? That is just too long for fans to listen to someone in the booth that's not talking about something related to the game. Wouldn't a halftime guest be a lot better than interfering with the game while it's in progress? Listen to this ESPN: I'm not interested in listening to guests, just the game you advertised all week long for NFL fans to watch!

My Weird TV Moments of the Week:
Wednesday, November 7, 2007: On Regis & Kelly, this conversation happened:
Kelly: I will be modeling a white chocolate dress today.
Regis: Is it edible?
Kelly: Yes, it's edible.
Regis: Can Regis have some?
Kelly: Sure, if Regis is a good boy he can have some.
Wow! They are too far away in age to have this kind of conversation.

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

TV Alert!; Mini-DVD Review: Perry Mason S2, Part 2 (Nov. 13); Solomon's Weekly Rant: Why No Jay in 2009?; Morning SportsCenter So Special?

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! But first we have a TV alert for this weekend that is worth breaking in for from our regular Saturday blog programming!

Starting this weekend, Entertainment Tonight Weekend will count down its top 20 TV stars of all time, accompanied by material from 27 years of interviews and other footage.
The list includes Don Knotts, Andy Griffith, Johnny Carson, Michael J. Fox, Carol Burnett, Annette Funiccello, Lucille Ball, Farrah Fawcett and John Ritter. The No. 1 star will be revealed by Donny Osmond on Nov. 10.
Tune in the weekend of Nov 3 and Nov. 10 on ET Weekend! Check www.etonline.com for weekend show times in your area. In NYC? This weekend it will air Sunday at 3PM and Monday morning at 2:35am on WCBS and next weekend Saturday at 7pm and Monday morning at 2:35am. Check for your area's listings on their website or TV listings sites, such as TitanTV.com. Discuss the special with other fans HERE.
Now back to our regularly scheduled Saturday blog programming.
Today we take a look at CBS DVD's Perry Mason: The Second Season, Volume 2. Perry Mason of course is the very popular law series. The series stars the great Raymond Burr. See skees53's mini-DVD review of Perry Mason: The Second Season, Volume 2:

Perry Mason: The Second Season, Volume 2 (CBS DVD, $39.98) brings Perry Mason back to defend those that don't have a chance in court... yet they win anyway because Perry is just that amazing! Volume 2 brings the second half of the second season (15 episodes) together in a four-disc DVD set. This means Perry has 15 new cases that he has to do the impossible with--prove that his client that everybody thinks is guilty is actually innocent. Fortunately, he is pretty much always up against Hamilton Burger, a man that isn't quite as powerful as, say, Nancy Grace. We see Perry have to defend a woman that is accused of murdering the woman that was blackmailing her new husband in "The Case of the Romantic Rogue." It's all fun and games... until a comedian's friend is a accused of killing the advertising man that cut the comedian out of a lucrative deal in "The Case of the Jaded Joker." A woman is accused of killing her grandfather that she has never even met in "The Case of the Stuttering Bishop." In "The Case of the Dangerous Dowager," a woman makes promises to her kids in her will... which her granddaughter counts on when she gives IOUs to a poker parlor boss that suddenly turns up dead. We find out why kids and guns don't exactly mix in "The Case of the Deadly Toy." Bruises and an injured foot on a bird may help Perry solve a murder in "The Case of the Deadly Toy."
The four-disc set is presented in packaging that is very similar to all of the previous sets, and once again, CBS DVD has for some reason chosen to continue with the double slimcases on this set (a good choice in my opinion) as opposed to the regular cases that they have been using on many other sets lately. As has been the case with the previous sets, the video and audio quality of each episode is almost perfectly flawless, which is amazing for a series as old as this one. Of course, there is the occasional grain and such, but there is VERY little of that, and the quality is generally perfect. The audio is presented in Dolby Digital Mono (hopefully nobody seriously expected stereo) with closed-captioning available for those that require it for each episode. The episodes all appear to be unedited, running around 50 minutes each, and there isn't even a disclaimer stating that some episodes may be changed from their original versions as there is on some CBS DVD sets, although in all fairness, this show never used popular music in the first place. The set is very disappointing on the special features front (as in there are no special features at all), but then again, this isn't the first time this show has gone without special features. It doesn't help that many of the people that were involved with the show have passed on already (after all, the show is fifty years old), but certainly there are fans out there that can help. There has to be a reason that this show is a top seller on DVD! The verdict on this set: buy it now!
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
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Perry Mason TV.com Page


Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, November 3, 2007
"Why No Jay in 2009?; Why Is The Morning SportsCenter So Special?"
By Solomon Davis

NBC president Jeff Zucker has confirmed this week that NBC is removing Jay Leno from The Tonight Show in 2009 to make room for unfunny man Conan O'Brien which will makes my blood boil because Jay has been the funniest man on late night TV since 1992. Also when Jay is making people laugh he is not jumping up and down like a fool, he is standing there in one spot delivering jokes which is how comedy is supposed to be done. But Conan O'Brien who is unable to make people laugh by standing in one spot has to jump up and down like a monkey and make crazy facial expressions every night for someone to laugh. I just want NBC to know that they are making the biggest mistake in the history of their network by getting rid of the "King of Late Night TV" from The Tonight Show just so everyone can watch Conan do his clown act an hour earlier. A new title of the show can be "Late Night Clown" since his act will still be the same when he takes over as the new host of The Tonight Show. I hope Jay is on late night TV in 2009, even if it is an hour later in Conan's slot?

ESPN's SportsCenter that comes on weekday mornings has a rundown of topics on the right side of the TV screen of all the sports stories that will be talked about during the entire show. But you don't see this rundown on the SportsCenter's that air at 6pm and 11pm. Why can't there be an outline of sports topics on all the SportsCenters since some people might not be interested in in the sports they are talking about on the main screen. Can't believe no one at ESPN has the thought process of making the rundown on all SportsCenter episodes. It doesn't make sense having it on just mornings and not the evenings and late night...what if I'm not a morning person or am at work in the mornings? If you have it one, you should have them on all of them, I say.

My Weird TV Moments of the Week:
Monday, October 29, 2007: On The View, at the start of the show the ladies noticed a fly on the table and all of them started running away from the table like it was a mouse or a rat. Ladies it wasn't that serious!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007: During the ESPN NBA telecast of Dallas Mavericks at Cleveland Cavaliers, for some reason play-by-play broadcaster Mike Tirico felt the need to bring up "Tony Kornheiser." Since Jimmy Kimmel got banned from the MNF booth for talking about him, should Tirico be banned now from NBA telecasts?

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: October Road S1 (Oct. 30); Week 5 Numbers (First Four Nights); How the Sitcoms Did

Welcome to a special Sunday edition of mini-DVD reviews! If you are looking for our weekly sitcom ratings, you'll still find that today, but it will be below this. Today we take a look at Buena Vista Home Entertainment's October Road: The Complete First Season. October Road is a drama about an author going back home after writing bad things in a book about his friends from that small town. See my mini-DVD review of October Road: The Complete First Season:

October Road: The Complete First Season (Buena Vista, $28.99) brings the first six episodes of the hit mid-season drama on DVD! Nick Garrett's revealing new best-selling book about his hometown of Knights Ridge, MA doesn't buy him many fans when he returns to his circle of friends after a decade on October Road. There are a lot of characters and plots. The show is very addictive. The show stars Bryan Greenberg as Nick Garrett, Laura Prepon as Hannah Daniels (Nick's girlfriend before he left), Geoff Stults as Eddie Lateka (Nick's best friend before he left), Brad William Henke as Owen Rowan (Nick's friend and band member), Evan Jones as Ikey (Nick's friend and band member), Jay Paulson as Physical Phil (Nick's friend and band member), Warren Christie as Ray "Big Cat" Cataldo (the bully), Odette Yustman as Aubrey (Nick's student and love interest), Slade Pearce as Sam Daniels (Hannah's son), Rebecca Field as Janet "The Planet" Meadows (Hannah's best friend), and Tom Berenger as Bob "The Commander" Garrett (Nick's dad). There are other recurring characters such as Nick's brother, Pizza Girl, Owen's wife, the principal, etc.
There are only six episodes for the first season, so it is a quick view and you will want to watch all six!
Packaging on this DVD is similar to Grey's Anatomy S1. We have an outer box (like usual) that holds a snap case. I really don't think the outer box is needed because it is the same art as the case. On both the box and case we have the show's logo, followed by the complete first season line, then we have a nice big photo of Nick & Hannah, followed by head shots of some of the other characters (The Commander, Sam, Aubrey, Big Cat, Eddie and Janet). Then on the bottom it says, "sometimes you've got to look back to see where you're going." The back of the box and the case has synopsis of the series and set, along with a list of bonus features and some nice small screenshots of characters that they didn't get to showcase in the front like Owen, Ikey, Phil, and Pizza Girl. To open the case, we have two little buttons to pull, like Grey's S1, and many movie cases. Inside that we have a spot for an insert on the left, which is an episode listing for both discs, with cool photos and details of the extras. The discs are on the right. Each disc has its own page, like a book. Both discs have blue and white art with the show title in a big size. Episodes 1-4 are on disc one and episodes 5-6 & the extras are on disc six.
This series is excellent. All six aired after Grey's Anatomy last spring on Thursdays and was well sampled. I think only 3 or 4 times though the show was on after new episodes of Grey's, but still it did well. It is so addictive and makes you want to keep watching. The episodes generally run close to 43 minutes. The lowest is 42:38 (episode 6). There are about 7-8 chapter stops for each episode. The video is in widescreen and looks very good! The audio is great and sounds very good, as it is in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The show never looked better or sounded better, unless you watched the series in HDTV on TV last spring. We hear the closing theme for the first time, since ABC doesn't show the ending theme, at least not on analog.
The menu screen starts by showing a car pass on a road...then we see a nice shot of the entire road...and you guessed it, it is October Road! The series is set in Knights Ridge, MA, a fake town. The series is shot in the Atlanta area, as you'll learn in the extras. Disc one has an auto trailer for series such as Lost S3, What About Brian DVD, and Grey's Anatomy Fall 2007 promo. Play All, Episode Selection, Bonus Features, Set up, Sneak Peaks are the options. Sneak Peaks is on disc one only and Bonus Features option is on disc two only. Each sub-menu has more background music from the show. The Episodes section has the episode number and title...and a cool screenshot. Set Up gives us the option to have Subtitles in English. We can also Register our DVD. Sneak Peeks has the same trailer as the auto trailers on disc one.
Moving on to the bonus features. All of them are on disc two. We get 6 deleted scenes that run: 1:07, 0:57, 1:28, 1:10, 0:38, 1:43. Very cool to see these. Then we get a look at some goofiness in the bloopers that run 1:10. The best extra on the set is a featurette titled "October Road: The Journey Begins." We go behind the scenes with the cast and crew to discover how the show was created, how it is made, and how friendships blossomed on and off the set. This runs 9:38 and is worth it. Then finally we have a Season 2 Preview that runs 2:26. Cast and crew preview what is to come. I can't wait!
I really hope you buy this DVD. This show must not go unnoticed. If you are a fan, you must buy this. If you never saw it, give it a try. You'll be hooked. All the characters are great. The young audience loves it. I really love Aubrey, played by Odette Yustman. She is very good and very attractive. I'm sure Laura Prepon fans also love her on this. The show returns with a second season on Thanksgiving night (Nov. 22) at 10pm, before moving to its new night of Mondays at 10 starting Nov. 26 on ABC! So can you ever really go home again? You'll find out when you watch the first six episodes of this great show!
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(4/5 stars)

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Week 5 numbers (first four nights, Mon-Thu):

Households: Fox: 8.9/13.0; ABC: 8.3/13.0; CBS: 8.0/12.5; NBC: 5.2/8.1; The CW: 2.1/3.2; MNT: 0.7/1.0.
Total Viewers: Fox: 14.13 million; CBS: 12.62 million; ABC: 12.45 million; NBC: 8.19 million; The CW: 3.23 million; MNT: 0.94 million.
Adults 18-49: Fox: 4.8/12.6; ABC: 4.0/10.2; CBS: 3.6/9.1; NBC: 3.4/8.7; The CW: 1.5/3.7; MNT: 0.4/0.9.

Analysis: Week 5 is nearly done...yes already, we're finishing week 5. Last week Fox won the top spot thanks to the ALCS, with ABC and CBS battling for second in HH and viewers, but CBS finished fourth in 18-49. NBC was fourth in all other categories. Through the first four days, Fox the lead in all categories again in week 5 thanks to baseball, with again a close race between ABC and CBS for second, and NBC in fourth.
Monday it was all ABC thanks to Dancing with the Stars. A 92 minute performance show did an impressive 21.32 million and a 5.5/13 in 18-49, up a lot from the previous week, that lead into week two of new sitcom Samantha Who at an impressive 13.68 million and a 4.5/10 18-49 rating...that was the same as the premiere. The Bachelor followed with 8.92 million, on par from the previous week. Next up was CBS with its comedies and CSI: Miami. The Big Bang Theory did 8.81 million, up nearly a million from the previous week and yet again it built on How I Met Your Mother's ratings of 8.5 million. Two and a Half Men and Rules of Engagement followed with decent numbers (13.94 and 10.82 million). Men was up a bit from the previous week, as was Rules. CSI: Miami followed with 15.66 million, on par really from previous week. NBC followed lead by Heroes at 10.81 million and a 4.9 18-49, below its usual average once again. Chuck opened the night with 7.22 million, down over a million from previous week, maybe because Prison Break was back on Fox? Journeyman closed the night with 6.06 million, down from previous week, cancelation clock is ticking. Fox was fourth this week with Prison Break at 7.44 million and K-Ville at 6.04 million...will the latter show last into sweeps? The CW aired their Monday sitcoms, with Aliens in America doing just 2.36 million, but actually up again from previous week, but The Game closed the night with 2.61 million, the highest of the CW comedies once again...but down again.
Tuesday, it was a three network race, with Fox on top. CBS and ABC were also right behind. Fox's huge hit House returned and did 18.11 million and a 7.6 18-49 rating and Bones also returned to start the night off with a solid 8.94 million. The always reliable NCIS opened the night off for CBS with 17.26 million, down slightly from previous week. The Unit followed with 10.84 million, down a lot from previous week, and Cane did 7.98 million, down from previous week ... will CBS bench it soon? ABC's sitcom hour of Cavemen/Carpoolers did OK at 6.21 and 6.94 million (on par from previous week, but slightly down again, but it hasn't gone way way down), Dancing with the Stars: The Results followed with 18.06 million saying goodbye to Mark Cuban. Boston Legal was preempted for a 20/20 Special on California Burning doing similar numbers to that show, doing 10.37 million. NBC was fourth with Singing Bee at just 6.73 million, The Biggest Loser from 8:30-10 did 7.12 million, followed by Law & Order: SVU at 12.31 million, down a bit from previous week. The CW got decent numbers with Beauty & the Geek and Reaper...3.25 and 2.61 million. Both were down though from previous week.
Wednesday it was the first night of the World Series for Fox. Fox is usually fourth with Back to You, 'Til Death and Kitchen Nightmares, butthe World Series Game 1 was on tonight and did 16.9 million. CBS saw Kid Nation go up a bit to 7.86 million for fourth place, but veteran dramas Criminal Minds and CSI: NY did well and were consistent doing 15.05 (up a tad from previous week) and 13.82 million (down a tad from previous week). ABC saw Pushing Daisies, doing 9.67 million, followed by Private Practice at 11.91 million and a solid 4.5/11 18-49 rating, up from previous week, Dirty Sexy Money followed with 8.26 million, down from previous week a bit. NBC opened the night with a new game show called Phenomenon doing 8.55 million, followed by Bionic Woman at a fourth place 7.81 million...continues to free-fall down each week. At 10pm NBC's Life did 6.87 million, down from previous week once again. The CW had its usual showing of Top Model at a decent 4.74 million, Gossip Girl did 2.54 million, both down on par really previous week.
Thursday again it was The World Series on top for Fox, on a night where they again are usually fourth. CBS and ABC were not far behind. Fox preempted 5th Grader and Don't Forget the Lyrics, again this week for the World Series, which did 16.95 million for game 2.. CBS opened with Survivor: China at 14.19 million, up a tad from the previous week. CSI followed with 14.96 million for third place, but it was a repeat. Without a Trace returned this week with 12.73 million, below normal. ABC opened the night with Ugly Betty doing a solid 9.98 million up from previous week. Grey's Anatomy followed with 18.17 million, up from previous week and it did win in 18-49 with a 7.4/18 18-49 rating. Big Shots followed with a last place finish of 7.38 million...down from previous week again...it needs to get back to 8-9 million. NBC was a distant fourth with its comedies My Name is Earl opened the night with 8.2 million, followed by 30 Rock doing 6.5 million, both up from previous week. The Office followed with 8.96 million, up a bit from previous week a bit. The season premiere of Scrubs followed with a so-so 6.95 million. ER closed the night with 9.25 million. Smallville on The CW did 4.65 million, followed by Supernatural at 3.18 million, the latter was up from previous week.
Now, final numbers for Friday and Saturday are not available, but NBC, CBS and ABC battled on Friday. NBC had a solid outing for Deal or No Deal at 8pm. CBS saw decent numbers for its dramas with NUMB3RS doing the best at 10, and ABC did solid business at 9pm with Women's Murder Club. Fox bombed again for The Next Great American Band. They will probably can it starting next week.
Saturday numbers are not available yet. But Game 3 of the World Series should do big for Fox.
Tonight Fox will have Game 4 of the World Series with Boston trying to go for the sweep, and it should do well. ABC Sunday should do well of course too with its all-star line-up. CBS will do decent as well, but NBC will be out of the picture with no NFL game.
As for the week, ABC and CBS will battle for second in HH and viewers, with Fox a clear first place thanks to baseball. ABC will be second probably in 18-49. NBC will have its worst week of the young season.

Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for week of October 15-21)

• Aliens in America (The CW) - The CW will air repeats now at 7:30 on Sundays, and the first airing did just 1.29 million, but better than Online Nation, the previous holder of the slot.
  

Monday Sitcoms

• How I Met Your Mother (CBS) - 8.5 million, up from the previous week by like 800k.
  
• The Big Bang Theory (CBS) - 8.81 million, up from previous week and it still is building on the lead-in, which is a very good sign.
  
• Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 13.94 million this week, up from previous week's 13.69 million.
• Rules of Engagement (CBS) - 10.82 million, on par from the previous week's 10.81..consistent.
• Samantha Who? (ABC) - 13.68 million for episode two, down just 800k from the premiere...and retained all of the 18-49 rating from the premiere, with a 4.5 rating.
  
• CW Monday Comedies: Chris, Aliens in America, Girlfriends, The Game. Not doing that well at all. Aliens did a terrible 2.36 million, the lowest of the block but up from previous week again, The Game continues to be the leader of this block now with 2.61 million, down slightly from previous week's 2.86 million.
  

Tuesday Sitcoms

• Cavemen (ABC) - 6.21 million, down from previous week...this week will be preempted for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
  
• Carpoolers (ABC) - Down a bit from previous week. 6.94 million this week...as with the lead-in, it will be preempted this week for Charlie Brown.
  

Wednesday Sitcoms

• Back to You (Fox) - preempted for World Series
  
• 'Til Death (Fox) - preempted for World Series
  

Thursday Sitcoms

• My Name is Earl (NBC) - 8.2 million tuned in, up almost a million from previous week. I think Alyssa Milano guest started, no wonder....
  
• 30 Rock (NBC) - 6.5 million, up from previous week's 6.22 million.
  
• The Office (NBC) - The first half-hour edition of the season did a solid 8.96 million, up from previous week's hour edition.
• Scrubs (NBC) - Season premiere did 6.95 million, OK not too good, but the 18-49 is solid with a 3.8.

Friday Sitcoms
None.

Saturday Sitcoms
None.

Airing tonight (Sunday) is a repeat of Aliens in America on The CW at 7:30, Fox's animated comedies will be off air tonight due to Game 4 of the World Series.

Summing it up. Two and a Half Men, Samantha Who?, The Office, My Name is Earl, Big Bang Theory, and Rules of Engagement were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother) or just plain old terrible (Cavemen, Aliens in America).

Mini-DVD Review: Tales from the Crypt Season 7; Solomon's Weekly Rant: Roseanne Spin-Off?; Why Does The World Series Only Affect Sunday Night Football

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up of course is the mini-DVD review. Today we take a look at Warner Home Video's Tales From The Crypt -- The Complete Seventh Season. Tales From The Crypt of course is the popular '90s HBO series...that was spooky but cool. See skees53's mini-DVD review of Tales From The Crypt -- The Complete Seventh Season, just in time for HALLOWEEN:

Tales From The Crypt -- The Complete Seventh Season (Warner, $39.98) brings the final lucky 13 episodes of the hit HBO series from the '90s together in a three-disc set right in time for Halloween. The Cryptkeeper is determined that he won't die without a fight though, as he brings more tales that are sure to make your spine tingle (and some that are just absurd) to your TV screen.
Among the episodes this season, we many great episodes. In "Last Respects," a cursed monkey paw is able to grant wishes--now who would really want those wishes? Ewan McGregor guest stars in "Cold War," where we discover who wins that ultimate fight between zombies and vampires (as if we ever wondered!). A man invents a way of reading memories of the deceased in "Report from the Grave," and it ends with "grave" results. What can a safecracker do when he can no longer hear? Find out in "Ear Today... Gone Tomorrow." And the series ends with "The Third Pig," which is an animated (and more humorous than scary) take on the story of "The Three Little Pigs." Brad Garrett even plays one of the pigs. Once again, the set features just one special feature, a tale from the comic book that the series was based upon, narrated by the Cryptkeeper himself. This time, the tale is "Fatal Caper."
The series began to tape episodes in England this season, meaning that we get lots of tales with British characters... but don't worry, it doesn't "kill" the horror. The only thing it really does to the series is dramatically reduces the number of well-known guest stars, but the series stays true to what it is supposed to be--horror stories. Sure, the earlier seasons were better and the show was ready to end by this time, but don't be mistaken, because there are still some jewels left in the tomb for this season. All of you boils and ghouls out there need to scare up enough money to treat yourself to this DVD set in time for Halloween!
-- Reviewed by skees53
(4/5 stars)

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Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, October 20, 2007
"Roseanne Spin-Off?; Why Does The World Series Only Affect Sunday Night Football?"
By Solomon Davis

The show The Big Bang Theory has been enjoyable until the actress Sara Gilbert showed up as a guest and her character was intimate with the Leonard character, played by fellow Roseanne alum John Galecki. I have not seen these two together for years since on Roseanne and have no interest in watching them together again on a new show in 2007. Sara Gilbert could have easily guest starred without hooking up with the Leonard character which seems like a Roseanne spin-off called "Revenge of David and Darlene." Laurie Metcalf was another Roseanne actress who appeared as Sheldon's mother and I just want CBS to know that Roseanne ended 10 years ago so what is up with the recycling of old Roseanne cast members? It is too funny because it is not really fresh.

Sunday Night Football is always affected when the World Series starts and I just can't understand why because Monday Football will be on Monday against Game 4 of the World Series. So why wasn't Monday Night Football preempted like Sunday Night football is all the time against the World Series? Every NFL fan doesn't watch the World Series so there really needs to be some kind of adjustment there so that SPORTS FANS can still have a option of watching the World Series or Sunday Night Football. I thought Bye weeks were only for NFL teams not the NFL Sunday Night Football schedule.

My Weird TV Moments of the Week:
Sunday, October 21, 2007: The ESPN Sunday Night Interview between Chad Johnson and Keyshawn Johnson
Monday, October 22, 2007: On Regis and Kelly, all-week guest host Jimmy Kimmel jokes to Kelly, "My goal this week is to get you pregnant."

Agree or disagree with Solomon? Discuss it here.

DISCLAIMER: Remember, Solomon is not the voice of SitcomsOnline. He is just stating his opinions and does not reflect what SitcomsOnline says or thinks. It is just his 'View' but it is always quite entertaining.

Mini-DVD Review: NCIS - Season 4 (Oct. 23); Solomon's Weekly Rant: The New Price is Right Is All Wrong

It is Saturday, so that must mean it is time for mini-DVD reviews and Solomon's Weekly Rant! First up of course is the mini-DVD review. Today we we take a look at CBS DVD's Fourth Season of Navy NCIS. See Seth Thrasher's mini-DVD review of NCIS - The Fourth Season and:

NCIS - The Fourth Season (CBS, $64.99) brings us the wonderful but overpriced 4th season onto DVD. NCIS follows the thrilling adventures of a cutting-edge crew of special agents who operate under the command of Letor Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), a former Marine whose skills as an investigator are unmatched. This highly trained, tight-knit team travels the world investigating murder, espionage, and terrorism. This 6-disc set includes all 24 action-packed episodes along with quite a few special features, from this one of a kind series.
I love this show; though not having access to a DVR did inhibit my ability to view the 4th season. As a result, some of these episodes are new to me. Most are familiar, however, and all are classic NCIS – a wonderful mix of drama, comedy, technology, puzzle-solving...it truly is one of the best shows on TV. The team starts the season without the help of Gibbs, whose retired in Mexico. And Ziva's the prime suspect in an assassination attempt. Not good. Gibbs would eventually return to the team, and Ziva is obviously cleared, and order is restored. Over the course of the season, the team has quite a few interesting adventures that you're sure to love.
Once again, the video and audio of the set is extremely well done. Yet another DVD release of a new show that benefits solely from the age of the series. All episodes are in anamorphic widescreen and feature 5.1 Surround Sound. Even with NCIS not really being a scenery-intensive show, programs presented like this really make me glad I recently invested in an HDTV system. CBS is known for their questionable attention to special features, but they really knock this set out of the park. Space constraints of the news blog prevent me from detailing each one in depth, but there are commentaries, cast round-tables, several featurettes (Ducky's World, Production Design of NCIS, Dressing the Sets of NCIS, Prop Master, The Looks of NCIS, and Season of Secrets)...incredibly well-done job on the part of the folks of Paramount/CBS DVD in an area where they're normally prone to dropping the ball. Keep up the good work.
Really, my ONLY complaint with this set is the price point. $65 is absurd. And every NCIS release that comes out at this price point I *WILL* complain about. It's too high. But apparently NCIS continues to sell extremely well. No doubt this is thanks in part to discounted retailers, such as Amazon, which frequently offer sets WELL below the MSRP. For example, as of this writing, you can pre-order through Amazon via the handy link at the end of this review – helping to support Sitcoms Online at the same time – and the set will only cost $39.99 – a nearly 40% saving. And at $39.99 – this set is well worth the money. RECOMMENDED.

-- Reviewed by Seth Thrasher
(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
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Navy NCIS TV.com Page


Solomon's Weekly Rant
Saturday, October 20, 2007
"The New Price is Right Is All Wrong"
By Solomon Davis

On October 15 Drew Carey took over as host of the popular game show, The Price