The Couch Potato Report - December 15th, 2007
This week The Couch Potato Report peels the DVD debut of a Canadian TV series, and the season two of an American, one created by a Canadian.
There are four new DVD Box Sets and a documentary about Darfur to cover this week, so here with go, with this week's Hot Potato - SEASON ONE of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES.
Now in it's 15th season, THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES can be seen in it's current incarnation on Tuesday nights at 8:30 pm, but it is the original quartet of Cathy Jones, Rick Mercer, Greg Thomey and Mary Walsh who are featured on this 3-DVD set.
Now, because the shows on this set first aired in 1993, some of the political humor is a little dated.
But others jokes will give you a laugh because of what happened in the interveneing years.
SEASON ONE of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES features many of the classic characters associated with the show, including Marg Delahunty, Gerry Boyle, Babe Bennett and Connie, plus there is the patented news parodies, sketchs and Rick Mercer's editorials.
I am not sure how often I will watch this DVD, but I did enjoy sitting through it again this week. If there is a fan of the show on your list...perhaps they would enjoy that opportunity as well!
Or, maybe Saturday Night Live is more up their alley!
If so, they are in luck too, because SEASON TWO of that show is also now available in a new 8-DVD Box Set!
SEASON ONE of SNL debuted a year ago on DVD, and even though I remain a fan of the show, that first year was a tough to watch as the Not Ready For Prime Time Players often took a back seat to the weekly Guest Host, and thus the actors and characters we know and have associated with the show for more than thirty years didn't get the chance to shine.
Happily, SEASON TWO of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE allows those characters, and the actors who created them - John Belushi, Canadian Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtain, and new cast member Bill Murray - to shine!!
Toronto's Lorne Michaels created the show, and as a result, he was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2004, becoming the first non-American to earn this honour.
As he still does to this day, he appears on the show in SEASON TWO, sometimes even with former Beatles.
As with the THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES Box Set, I am not sure how often I will watch THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE either,....but I like knowing that I can, and it is a worthy addition to my DVD library.
Another very worthy addition to my library is the 4-DVD set THE JASON BOURNE COLLECTION with THE BOURNE IDENTITY, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, and the new to DVD release THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM.
In addition to the three films in this set about the former assasin who is trying to get his memory back, there is also a bonus DVD with several interesting features, including an interview with the man who started this whole series off back in 1980, author Robert Ludlum.
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM is one of my favourite films of the year, and the BOURNE series has given me a great deal of enjoyment over the past five years, so I highly recommend this box set, and all three films.
THE JASON BOURNE COLLECTION is a straight on Hollywood action film at it's best.
HOT FUZZ is a straight on British parody of those same action films.
As I mentioned back in August when the film first came out on DVD, HOT FUZZ - from the makers of SHAUN OF THE DEAD - is another of my favourite films of 2007!
HOT FUZZ is an action film...and a mystery...but it is primarily a satire on the genre of loud and explosive Hollywood action films about a highly decorated London police officer who is so good at his job that he is shunted off to an assignment in the country where he finds himself right in the middle of a killing spree.
Yes, HOT FUZZ debuted on DVD in August and now there is a new 3-DVD version of it available, and if you love this film as I do, it too is a must have due to the wealth of bonus features, behind the scenes documentaries and interviews.
HOT FUZZ is incredibly well-written, kinetically edited, and very funny too, and the new 3 DISC COLLECTOR'S EDITION is just more of a good thing!
And yes, it is too bad they couldn't have released this 3-DVD set back in August to save people from having to buy it twice...but if you have been waiting to pick it up, the time is finally right!
Finally this week is a release that is not a box set. It is only a single DVD, but it too is worthy of you rtime.
It is the documentary THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK.
THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK is a first-person account of the genocide in Darfur as we witness the ongoing tragedy in Sudan through the eyes of one unsuspecting witness.
The situation in Darfur is too complex a situation for an 85 minute documentary to cover it all, but what THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK does accomplish is that it will open your eyes a little wider to what is going on in Sudan.
And should you decide to do so, you can also find out what you can do to help through this DVD.
The movie made me uncomfortable at times, but I was informed by it, and it is for that reason that I think you should see it.
THE DEVIL CAME ON HORSEBACK, the 3 DISC COLLECTOR'S EDITION of HOT FUZZ, THE 4-DVD JASON BOURNE COLLECTION, THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and Seasons One and Two of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES are all available now on DVD.
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
I will let you know about the spectacular 4-DVD Box Set CANADA BY RAIL, the 3-DVD Set for the Classic UNDERDOG CARTOONS and my favourite movie of the year, a small film that never even played in most theatres across Canada, a musical called ONCE.
I'm Dan Reynish. I'll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that's this week's COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next time on The Couch!
Canadian actor voices KITT for new Knight Rider
The studio behind an upcoming TV movie revamp of 1980s cult TV series Knight Rider unveiled some details about the project this week, including a new car and the casting of Canadian comic actor Will Arnett.
Arnett, best known for his role on the critically acclaimed but short-lived series Arrested Development, has signed on as the voice of the smooth-talking, artificially intelligent sports car KITT (short for Knight Industries Two Thousand) — voiced in the original series by veteran actor William Daniels.
The Toronto-born actor, whose recent credits include stints on TV's 30 Rock and a supporting role in the comedy Blades of Glory, has also developed a sideline as a voice actor recording for animated shows, network promotions, movie trailers and advertisements.
Producers have also changed KITT from the slickly modified Pontiac Trans Am of the original series to a suped-up Ford Mustang Shelby.
Actor Justin Bruening, whose short list of credits includes appearing on the soap All My Children, has been enlisted to star in the upcoming two-hour TV movie as the son of Michael Knight, the main character portrayed by David Hasselhoff in the original series.
Bruening's casting echoes that of Hasselhoff's, who had few credits other than daytime soap The Young and the Restless under his belt when he was originally cast as the Knight Rider lead.
Also appearing in the film will be Sydney Tamiia Poitier, the daughter of acclaimed actor Sidney Poitier, while Hasselhoff is slated to make a cameo.
The film, set to air on NBC in mid-February, holds the possibility of a series spin-off if it proves successful. The U.S. network recently revived another of a former TV hit with its darker remake of its 1970s show The Bionic Woman.
TV's Knight Rider, which ran from 1982 to 1986, starred Hasselhoff as crime-fighter Knight, who was assisted by his heroic sports car/sidekick KITT in foiling evildoers.
The car's amazing abilities included the ability to jump across rivers, rocket to speeds of 300 mph and eject flares, tear gas, smoke bombs or oil slicks all in the name of catching criminals.
ABC Moves 'Lost' to Thursdays
ABC unveiled a midseason slate on Friday (Dec. 14) that includes scheduling moves both thrilling ("Lost" moving to Thursdays!) and not-so-thrilling ("According to Jim" returns!).
Entering its fourth season with a pre-ordained end in sight, "Lost" will premiere on Thursday, Jan. 31, taking over the competitive Thursday 9 p.m. time slot from "Grey's Anatomy." Eight episodes of the Emmy-winning series were reportedly finished before the writers strike hit, which ought to be enough to at least temporarily placate a rabid fanbase that's been scratching its collective head since the show's third season finale included a shocking flash-forward.
"Lost" will lead into the midseason drama "Eli Stone," from producer Greg Berlanti. "Eli Stone" will replace "Big Shots," which should burn off its remaining original episodes in January.
"Eli Stone" is one of four new shows to premiere for ABC this spring.
"Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann" will kick off on Monday, Jan. 7 and will air in the 8 p.m. time period until a new edition of "Dancing with the Stars" is ready to go on Monday, March 17 (the same night as the premiere of the latest installment of "The Bachelor").
The soapy drama "Cashmere Mafia" will have a special Thursday premiere on Jan. 3 and will move into its regular Wednesday 10 p.m. slot on Jan. 9.
Finally, "Oprah's Big Give" will air Sunday nights at 9 p.m. starting on March 2, when "Desperate Housewives" will go down to the 10 p.m. hour, giving "Brothers & Sisters" a breather.
On the returning front, new seasons of "Just for Laughs" and "According to Jim" will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 1, while "Wife Swap" and "Supernanny" will be back on on Wednesday, Jan. 2.
A somewhat confusing run-down of ABC's spring:
MONDAY (JAN)
8:00 p.m. "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann"
9:30 p.m. "Notes from the Underbelly"
10:00 p.m. "October Road"
MONDAY (FEB)
8:00 p.m. "Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann"
9:00 p.m. "Samantha Who?"
9:30 p.m. "Notes from the Underbelly"
10:00 p.m. "October Road"
MONDAY (MAR)
8:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars"
9:30 p.m. "Samantha Who?"
10:00 p.m. "The Bachelor"
TUESDAY
8:00 p.m. "Just for Laughs"
8:30 p.m. "Just for Laughs"
9:00 p.m. "According to Jim"
9:30 p.m. "Carpoolers"
10:00 p.m. "Boston Legal"
TUESDAY (MAR)
8:00 p.m. "Just for Laughs"
8:30 p.m. "Just for Laughs"
9:00 p.m. "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show"
10:00 p.m. "Boston Legal"
WEDNESDAY
8:00 p.m. "Wife Swap"
9:00 p.m. "Supernanny"
10:00 p.m. "Cashmere Mafia" ("Men in Trees" beginning Feb. 27)
THURSDAY (JAN)
8:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty"
9:00 p.m. "Grey's Anatomy"
10:00 p.m. "Big Shots" (after special premiere of "Cashmere Mafia" on Jan 3)
THURSDAY (FEB)
8:00 p.m. "Ugly Betty"
9:00 p.m. "Lost"
10:00 p.m. "Eli Stone"
FRIDAY
8:00 p.m. Drama encores
9:00 p.m. Drama encores
10:00 p.m. "20/20"
SUNDAY (MAR)
7:00 p.m "America's Funniest Home Videos
8:00 p.m. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
9:00 p.m. "Oprah's Big Give"
10:00 p.m."Desperate Housewives"
TV talk-show hosts eye January return: report
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Idled television talk-show hosts Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien are likely to return to work in early January, even if the Hollywood writers strike is not settled by then, Daily Variety reported in its Friday edition.
Most of the late-night shows have been airing reruns since the Writers Guild of America went out on strike for the first time in almost two decades on Nov 5.
NBC stars Leno and O'Brien, along with CBS's David Letterman and Craig Ferguson, and ABC's Jimmy Kimmel refused to cross the picket lines in deference to their writers. But their ratings have suffered.
The networks laid off the shows' production staff, although most of them are still receiving pay checks thanks to the personal largess of O'Brien, Letterman and Kimmel.
Letterman's production company also produces Ferguson's show.
With no end in sight to the strike, several hosts are nearing the conclusion that it's time to return, Daily Variety said, citing unidentified sources close to the situation.
The trade paper said Leno, O'Brien, Letterman and Ferguson may all return around the same time, but that the NBC duo was "most likely to return in early January" no matter what Letterman decides. Some late-night observers believe Kimmel may also be preparing to go back soon, Daily Variety said.
On the other hand, with none of the hosts eager to be the first to return to work and risk the union's ire, Daily Variety said the hosts may yet still decide to stay home.
When the guild last went on strike, for 22 weeks in 1988, Leno's predecessor Johnny Carson returned to work about two months into the stoppage, and Letterman followed him more than a month later.
Officials from the networks were not immediately available for comment.