Watchmen arrive in July already

Warner Home Video has just unveiled first details about the upcoming release of the superhero blockbuster movie Watchmen to arrive on DVD and Blu-Ray Disc in July.

Someone’s killing our super heroes. The year is 1985 and super heroes have banded together to respond to the murder of one of their own. They soon uncover a sinister plot that puts all of humanity in grave danger. The super heroes fight to stop the impending doom only to find themselves a target for annihilation. But, if our super heroes are gone, who will save us?

The film will arrive on two DVD versions, one featuring only the movie itself in a fullframe presentation, while the Special Edition will offer up a Director’s Cut of the movie in an anamorphic widescreen version with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. As extras the 2-disc release will also contain the Featurette ”The Phenomenon: The Comic that Changed Comics” as well as Watchmen: Video Journals and the Desolation Row Music Video ”My Chemical Romance”. A Digital Copy of the film’s theatrical cut will also be part of the release.

The Blu-Ray version of the movie will arrive in 108p high definition with high definition audio and also offer up the Director’s Cut of the film. Extras of this release will include a Warner Bros. Maximum Movie Mode as well a Featurette called ”Watchmen: Focus Points” and BD Live connectivity. Also inlcuded is the Featurette ”The Phenomenon: The Comic that Changed Comics” from the DVD version as well as the Desolation Row Music Video ”My Chemical Romance”. In addition you will find Real Super Heroes, Real Vigilantes on the release as well as Mechanics: Technologies of a Fantastic World. A Digital Copy of the theatrical version of the film rounds out this release.

“Watchmen” will make it to home video on July 28 .

WHO WOODEN WANT TO SEE IT?

Only an ogre doesn't love Jiminy Cricket, the wisecracking conscience of Hollywood's most famous wooden boy. He's cute and even sings the classic "When You Wish Upon A Star."

But if Walt Disney had stuck to the original plot of the "Pinocchio" story - first created as an Italian newspaper serial in 1883 - our beloved Jiminy would have been smashed with a hammer early on, his erstwhile puppet pal tired of being told what to do.

In the bonus features of the 70th anniversary DVD and Blu-ray editions of the classic film, out Tuesday, we learn that Jiminy and Pinocchio both went through major transformations before Walt Disney considered them charismatic enough to anchor a film.

"[Pinocchio] was brash, he was cocky and kind of unlikable - he was a troublemaker," says veteran animator Frank Thomas in an interview from 1983. "Walt didn't like that as he was shaping up."

And whereas author Carlo Collodi only gave the talking cricket - il grillo parlante - a handful of scenes in his original story, Disney decided to give him nearly as much screen time as the piney hero himself.

"Walt had felt there was not enough warmth, not enough friendship, no love in the story, really," Thomas recalls. "So that's where he used Jiminy Cricket. He ended up being the heart of the story instead of being squashed with a mallet."

With Disney animators riding high on the blockbuster success of 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," the iconic pairing of Pinocchio and Jiminy opened the door for the studio to create what many consider its animation masterwork. The production set a standard for traditional cel-based animation.

Chief among the breakthroughs - which included sophisticated motion-capture techniques and an unusual multi-plane camera - was the film's depiction of water, both in windswept waves crashing around Monstro the whale and in the funhouse-mirror effects created during Pinocchio's time in the water. One animator spent an entire year focusing only on those effects and we get to see his multi-layered sketches, which have all the detail and complexity that CG animators use today.

"The effects at that time were so beautifully done," animation director Eric Larsen said in 1983. "We still look back at it as one of the most perfect, technically, pictures we ever made."

But technical dexterity without great characters doesn't mean much. And the animators excelled with this cast. Just as they gave all seven dwarfs in "Snow White" distinct personalities, every player in "Pinochio," from huffy housecat Figaro to leering fox Honest John, is memorable.

That's partly due to Disney's "sweatbox" manner of brainstorming ideas. In a small screening room, the boss and his animators would watch reels of the movie as it progressed from storyboards to line drawings to finished product. Along the way, Disney would offer his notes and prompt the animators for feedback. All the comments were taken down by a stenographer and distributed later to keep everyone working to improve the project.

The sweatbox, we can assume, is where Disney jettisoned the storyboard of an alternate ending. In the film, Pinocchio drowns after escaping Monstro's belly, only to be revived and turned into a real boy by the blue fairy in Geppetto's workshop. The other conclusion had Geppetto drown and Pinocchio mourn over his body on the beach before the blue fairy intervenes, bringing the woodcarver back to life and transforming Pinocchio at the same time.

While "Pinocchio" represented the pinnacle of the Disney animation team's work, it was also the only time legendary cartoon voice actor Mel Blanc (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck) worked on a Disney film. He played Gideon, Honest John's nefarious feline accomplice, but after he'd recorded his part, filmmakers decided to make Gideon mute.

The only remnants of Blanc's performance are a few spirited hiccups, a reminder that during his best years, Walt Disney's editorial instincts were ruthless but unparalleled, spurring his team to create the finest canon of traditionally animated films in history.

Paul Gross hopes for 'Passchendaele' big-screen release in China

TORONTO - Writer-director Paul Gross won over Canadian audiences with his multimillion-dollar war epic "Passchendaele," and now he's got his sights set on movie fans internationally.

As Gross releases the First World War film on DVD this week in Canada, he says he's trying to get the picture on to big screens in Britain, China and the United States.

"What I'm most excited about is China," Gross says in an interview.

"I would just love it if it went into China . . . They take about 20 foreign films a year, and you know there are 500 million middle-class Chinese - we could actually make some money."

Recouping funds is understandably top of mind for the Canadian filmmaker. At a cost of $20 million, "Passchendaele" is among the most expensive Canadian films ever made.

The gritty drama ended up raking in roughly $4.5 million at the box office since its release in October - a hefty sum for an independent Canadian film but still far short of its original cost.

When "Passchendaele" debuted last year it was bolstered by massive publicity. It had an opening-night slot at the Toronto International Film Festival, followed by a cross-Canada tour in which the film's cast appeared at movie houses and took questions from audiences.

Now it's ready for its small-screen debut, but Gross notes the stakes are anything but small.

"I think it accounts for like two-thirds of what a film can do financially," he says of DVD releases in general.

"Increasingly, I think people start to look upon the theatrical release as a way of satisfying those who really need to see it on a huge screen, but also making sure that people are aware of it when it comes out for people to take home to their own television sets and their own home theatres."

Of course, it doesn't help that Gross is seeking distribution during the current tough economic climate. By and large, independent films are not selling well these days, he says.

"It's ironic, because if I were trying to raise the financing for it right now it would be hopeless to go to private individuals and say 'Can you part with money that you no longer have and give it to me?' That wouldn't have happened," says Gross, who also found support from government sources, including $5.5 million from the Alberta government.

"On the other hand, it might have been better if we had done it five years earlier and had it out when the market was a bit better."

The sprawling historical drama centres on the battle-weary Sgt. Michael Dunne, played by Gross, who falls in love with a troubled nurse, played by Caroline Dhavernas, when he's brought to a Calgary hospital. Their tender relationship forms the main story arc, leading up to the climactic battle of Passchendaele and a stark account of the relentless German assault that devastated Allied forces.

Gross says he began envisioning the project more than a decade ago, and after finally recreating the battle's stunning bleak landscape for the large screen he expresses misgivings now that it is being shrunk for the small one.

"You do sort of cringe because we made something that's capable of being blown up into a huge picture, and reducing it like that seems a little bit crazy. On the other hand, the world is what it is," he says, noting today's medium of choice is even smaller than TV, with many pop culture junkies favouring portable media players.

"I don't like watching a film on a screen that small but I know lots of people who do, including my own kids. They seem fine with it. I'll say, 'How can you get enough out of this? And they'll say, 'Oh no, I see it big."'

Meanwhile, Gross is hopeful that "Passchendaele" could find another life in movie theatres in China.

"I gather we still have quite a profile there. Because of Bethune, there's this funny sense they have of us," he says, referring to Canadian doctor Norman Bethune, considered a hero in China for joining the resistance in that country against the Japanese invasion in 1938.

"Passchendaele" comes out on DVD on Tuesday.

U.S. Wal-Marts want 'Zack and Miri' DVD cover without word 'porno': Kevin Smith

TORONTO - There's new controversy over the title of filmmaker Kevin Smith's saucy comedy, "Zack and Miri Make a Porno."

Last fall, some ads for the film were rejected south of the border because of the word "porno." Now, Smith says Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. have asked that the cover of the DVD, set to hit shelves Tuesday, omit the word too.

"I'm just so shocked that the word 'porno' meant that much to people in terms of, like, they found it insanely offensive and don't want to see it on display," the outspoken writer-director said Thursday in an interview from Los Angeles.

Smith said Weinstein Co., which released the film Oct. 31, has complied with Wal-Mart's request and created new DVD covers for the retailer, but the director worries that some unsuspecting customers will be fooled when they see the shortened title.

"Some Wal-Mart-er could buy it and think: 'Oh, Zack and Miri, looks lovely,' and pop it in and there's ... some pretty graphic stuff," said the indie icon, known for such slacker hits as "Clerks," "Chasing Amy," "Dogma" and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back."

"I mean, at least with the word 'porno' in the title, you can kind of give people a warning about what they're in for."

Wal-Mart did not immediately respond to calls for comment Thursday.

As for the DVD release in Canada, Smith said retailers here will sell the cover with the full title.

"Zack and Miri Make a Porno" stars Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks as roommates who shoot an adult flick to make quick cash. While the film does include nudity, vulgar content and colourful language, it is not a porno but rather a romantic comedy, said Smith.

Before the film hit the big screen, the Motion Picture Association of America gave it its most restrictive rating - NC-17, which means no one under that age is admitted. After several appeals from Smith, the organization lowered the rating to "R," which allows under-17 viewers in if they're accompanied by a parent or adult over 21.

In Canada, most provinces gave it an 18A rating, in which viewers under that age can only see the film if accompanied by an adult.

The MPAA also rejected some "Zack and Miri" ads, deeming them "highly sexually suggestive," so Weinstein Co. created new posters that had stick figures representing the actors.

Smith said he was initially "flabbergasted" about the uproar over the word "porno" but now: "I've thrown up my hands at the whole thing."

He also said he's not worried that the continuing controversy will bring down his DVD sales, noting the film has actually led to new opportunities for him.

"'Zack and Miri' did some weird things for my career in as much as I guess lots of folks at different studios finally considered it a like, movie-enough movie, where they could be like, 'Hey, would you like to direct movies for us?"' said Smith, who made his first film, "Clerks," for just US$27,575 in his home state of New Jersey.

With new opportunities at his door, Smith said he's largely abandoned what he calls the "Askewniverse" - a comical world with recurring characters including misfits Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Smith).

"I just can't imagine bringing Jay and Silent Bob back, man," said Smith, whose character was a mute who always wore a baseball cap, black trench coat and long hair.

"I'm 38 now, I'll be 39 in August. I cannot imagine spinning a backwards baseball cap and leaning against a convenience store wall. Those characters would just stop being cute - they'd become depressing, you know? Old, fat (guy) leaning outside a convenience store with another dude and they're selling drugs to teenagers?

"The charm would be gone, I think. But Dante and Randal (from 'Clerks II') I think could still be viable ... but beyond that it just feels like the Askewniverse is kind of done. 'Clerks II' was a really nice way to close it up."

Smith will be in Toronto next week for two speaking engagements at Roy Thomson Hall, and for Q&A sessions at the Kevin Smith Film Festival.

Previous posthumous Oscar nominees

Peter "I'm mad as hell" Finch's death didn't stop him from collecting an Oscar for his turn in Network in 1977.

Based on merit, sentiment and even hype, the late Heath Ledger will be Oscar-nominated as best supporting actor for his unsettling but dazzling performance as The Joker.

There is no guarantee that the expected nom, due Thursday, will lead to an Oscar win for Ledger, who died Jan. 22 when director Christopher Nolan was still editing The Dark Knight. In the past, six performers were posthumously nominated in an acting category.

Only one -- Peter Finch for Network (1976) -- won. We often accuse Academy members of overwrought sentimentality, but their record in this unique category suggests otherwise. They can be cold-blooded. Ledger's saga must play out.

However, it is ridiculously easy for audiences and voters to see how good Ledger is in complementing and completing Christian Bale's Batman. The Dark Knight is widely available on DVD. Delving into the past is more challenging. One of the six is still missing on DVD and most of the DVDs that do exist are older releases, so you might have to scrounge.

Jeanne Eagels in The Letter (1929)

Somewhat paralleling Ledger, the tragic Eagels was a highstrung insomniac, sublimely talented and died in 1929, aged 35, of a probable accidental overdose of sedatives.

However, she was also an alcoholic and heroin abuser. Cause of death was controversial. In life, despite notorious diva behaviour, she gave electrifying performances on stage and in this film. Her Oscar nom as best actress was never announced.

For the 1930 Oscars -- honouring films of 1929 -- only winners were made public. But the nomination list was later revealed. Eagels lost to Canadian Mary Pickford, who seduced the voting committee with a high tea and won for Coquette. Voting rules then changed. Sadly, The Letter is not available on DVD, although the film survives.

James Dean in East of Eden (1955) and Giant (1956)

The legendary Hollywood rebel and cult icon starred in only three films. He was nominated best actor for two, both posthumously. He famously died in a car accident in 1955, aged 24.

East of Eden last came to DVD in 2005 as a two-disc special edition. It is also in the 2005 box set, The Complete James Dean Collection. Giant also returned to DVD in 2005 and, obviously, is part of the same collection.

Spencer Tracy in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

The beloved star died of a heart attack in 1967, aged 67. He was nominated best actor nine times, winning twice. His longtime lover and co-star, Katharine Hepburn, won best actress for this film but Tracy lost this time. The film most recently came to DVD last February as a splendid 40th anniversary edition. It is also in the Stanley Kramer Film Collection.

Peter Finch in Network (1976)

The hell-raising Finch died of a heart attack in 1977, aged 64. As a posthumous best actor winner, he left behind his still potent "I'm mad as hell ..." speech. Network was last seen on DVD in a two-disc special edition from 2006.

Ralph Richardson in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)

Richardson, a knighted legend of British stage and screen, died of a stroke in 1983, aged 80. The delightful eccentric played the sixth earl of Greystoke in this Tarzan, earning only his second Oscar nom, both as best supporting actor, 35 years after his first. This Tarzan, no classic but worth a look, last came to DVD in 2004.

Massimo Troisi in Il Postino/The Postman (1994)

Troisi, an Italian, died of a heart attack in 1994, aged 41. In addition to his best actor nom, he was nominated as co-writer of Michael Radford's enchanting film. Il Postino was last seen alone on DVD in 2000. It is also in two different Miramax box sets released later.

Andy Richter Controls the Universe - Incredible News for Andy Richter Fans: The Complete Series is Coming to DVD!

ANDY RICHTER CONTROLS THE UNIVERSE was touted as "the funniest new sitcom of the spring" (2002) by TIME magazine and declared by US Magazine to have "scaled new heights." Set in Chicago, the half hour comedy chronicles the day to day happenings of Andy Richter, an aspiring short story writer working for a large corporation writing "how to" manuals. Andy is constantly thinking about possibilities and how every moment in life could just as easily go another way. Stars: Andy Richter, Paget Brewster, Irene Molloy, Jonathan Slavin, James Patrick Stuart

After more than seven years writing and co-hosting Late Night with Conan O'Brien, sidekick Andy Richter moved to the forefront in 2002 with the first television series he starred in, Fox Network's Andy Richter Controls the Universe. It ran over the course of two seasons, and while the mass ratings weren't there for the broadcasts, the series has developed a very devoted following of fans who have passionately wanted a DVD release for the program. We've got great news for all of you this morning!

Paramount Home Entertainment has announced that Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series is coming out on March 24th. The 417-minute collection of 19 episodes will be presented in full screen video, with English - Stereo audio and closed captioning for the hearing impaired. Pricing and package art aren't available yet, but stay tuned.

Guest stars during the show's run include Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men), Erik Estrada (CHiPs), Molly Sims (Las Vegas), Conan O'Brien (Late Night with Conan O'Brien), Rose Marie (The Dick Van Dyke Show), Charles Robinson (Night Court) and June Lockhart (Lost in Space, Lassie, Petticoat Junction). Don't miss them!

Ghostbusters are coming to Blu-ray in June!!

One of the most anticipated catalog releases, the original Ghostbusters is celebrating it's 25th Anniversary and getting ready for the new video game from Atari.

The DVD and game will come the same day and the disc will include audio commentary with Ivan Reitman, Harold Ramis and Joe Medjuck, deleted scenes, storyboards, the featurettes The Making of Ghostbusters, Interviews with Cast and Crew and SFX Team.

These features come straight from the DVD release, but the Blu-ray will include Slimer Mode - whatever it is, it sounds awesome.

Other new features include the new featurette Ecto-1: Resurrecting the Classic Car, a car phoot gallery and a 32 page screpbook. BD-Live features are also included.

Stay-Puft in 1080p. What more can you ask for? The Blu-ray arrives on June 16th.

Simon Pegg and Robert Weide Ask Fans NOT to Buy Their Movie on DVD

It’s typical for movie stars and directors do interviews and press to promote the release of their latest movies on DVD, but actor Simon Pegg and director Robert B. Weide are asking fans NOT to buy the Region 1 DVD of How to Lose Friends & Alienate People. It’s not a marketing gimmick, reverse psychology or anything like that — Weide and Pegg made big compromises in the final cut of the film under the belief that cut material would eventually materialize on the DVD release.

“In any movie, there are a number of scenes that get cut in an effort to keep the film from running too long. Some are of little consequence, but others are important scenes that are very painful to lose. In this instance, there were a few scenes that I fought hard to keep, but eventually acquiesced with the knowledge that at least they’d be available on the DVD. Well, not so in the U.S,” says Weide in an official press release. “Simon and I worked very hard to make sure the DVD would be packed with bonus material. The British distributors (Paramount) solicited our input and included all of the extras. Sadly, the American distributors (MGM/Fox) locked us out of the process and managed to leave off most of the bonus material.”

The deleted scenes (with optional commentary), audio commentaries, a gag reel, and video diaries are included on the Region 2 release, but are completely missing from the Region 1 (US) release of the DVD. Weide explains that once he discovered the bonus material was omitted from the U.S. DVD, he was told by the American distributors that they wanted to include the special features, but had trouble clearing it. Weide’s response? “It boils down to sloppiness and apathy. All of the material was absolutely cleared for all territories. There were just too many cooks in the kitchen and the left hand failed to communicate with the right hand. The ball was gently placed in those hands, and they dropped it.”

Weide reports that he sent numerous e-mails to those charged with integrating the bonus material, offering to clear up any problems or questions they might run into along the way. “The responses I received were somewhat dismissive, until they finally wrote me saying ‘thank you’… they had all the material in hand. I later found out they never obtained it. If they had told me the truth, I would have had the tapes on their desk within 24 hours.” Weide says that by the time the truth was revealed, MGM told him that “The ship had sailed,” meaning the DVD replication had already taken place, and there was no going back.

Here Are 23 Great Movies That Are Not Available On DVD In North America (Region 1)

1. The Tarnished Angels (1958)

It should be so simple. The technology exists to distribute old movies, and there are people out there who want to see them. And yet every movie buff has had the experience of reading up on some great film or filmmaker, then hitting the video store and discovering that for one reason or another—rights issues, perhaps, or lack of broad public interest—the movies they want to see are unavailable on DVD. A few years back, when Todd Haynes’ Far From Heaven and François Ozon’s 8 Women were reigniting interest in ’50s ironist Douglas Sirk, those curious to learn more about the director were disappointed to discover that more than 75 percent of his films are locked away, out of general circulation. The most egregious absentee: The Tarnished Angels, a 1958 romance based on William Faulkner’s Pylon, about a barnstorming pilot, his neglected wife, and the reporter who exposes their dreary lives. Abandoning the bright colors of All That Heaven Allows and Written On The Wind for stark black-and-white and empty spaces, Sirk tells a story every bit as melodramatic as his earlier films, yet darker and graver. It’s arguably Sirk’s most sophisticated, powerful work—and damnably underseen.

2. The African Queen (1951)

There’s no excuse for John Huston’s classic The African Queen to still be lacking an American DVD release. Never mind the historical qualities of the film that won Humphrey Bogart his only Oscar; never mind that it’s an enduring classic. More to the point, it’s one of the most entertaining of Huston’s many crackerjack features, and it represents a winning chance to see Bogie playing against type as a bowing-and-scraping social underling to Katharine Hepburn, who herself plays directly to type as a stuffy, virginal, patrician missionary in Africa. Their obligatory romance is a little stiff, for reasons that become clear in Hepburn’s unintentionally revealing book The Making Of The African Queen, Or, How I Went To Africa With Bogart, Bacall, And Huston And Almost Lost My Mind—surely the much-needed DVD release would be an excellent reason to bring this book back into print—but it’s hard to beat the scene where Bogie finally realizes Hepburn isn’t kidding about her crazy scheme to fight a German battleship with his broken-down wreck of a steamship, and she isn’t going to back down, either.

3. Penn & Teller Get Killed (1989)

In olden times, before Penn Jillette and his silent partner Teller were readily available all over TV, fans had a choice of catching their magic act onstage or tuning into the goofy gem Penn & Teller Get Killed, a sort of mockumentary-adventure in which the partners play increasingly elaborate gags on each other, with fatal (hey, it’s right there in the title) results. It’s maybe a little visually dated (check out Penn’s hip ’80s combination Jheri-curl/pigtail ’do!) but it’s surprisingly random and funny. And it was the last feature helmed by Bonnie And Clyde director Arthur Penn. Criterion! Get on this!


4. Los Angeles Plays Itself

Technically speaking, you can watch Los Angeles Plays Itself on DVD—if you happen to be taking a class with director Thom Andersen, or you’re a personal friend of his, or you’re lucky enough to attend one of its rare academic screenings. Otherwise, you’re out of luck, and that’s nothing short of tragic. An epic, far-reaching treatise on how the capital of moviemaking has been depicted across a century of film, Los Angeles Plays Itself is nothing short of a work of genius. Its structure is perfect, its scope is definitive, it virtually invents a new language of documentary filmmaking, and it can be counted as one of the best movies about movies ever made. But because the legal clearances for so many L.A.-based movies proved impossible to get, Andersen is restrained from any kind of commercial release, and that isn’t likely to change any time soon.


5. Brewster McCloud (1970)

Pretty much the entire Robert Altman filmography has made its way to DVD by now—even much of his early TV work—but a few holes remain. No H.E.A.L.T.H. No Come Back To The Five And Dime, Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean. No That Cold Day In The Park. And no Brewster McCloud—the eccentric comedy Altman made between M*A*S*H and McCabe & Mrs. Miller, and easily the best as-yet-unavailable Altman. Riffing freely on The Wizard Of Oz and ’60s cop shows—with Bud Cort starring as a boy who lives in the Houston Astrodome and wants to fly—Brewster McCloud is hopelessly shaggy, but pure Altman.


6. Looking For Mr. Goodbar (1977)

Echoes of Looking For Mr. Goodbar, Robert Brooks’ adaptation of the Judith Rossner novel based on the real-life murder of a 27-year-old New York teacher, can be found in everything from Twin Peaks to Madonna’s “Bad Girl” music video—yet the movie has languished in VHS purgatory for years. Why? Either Richard Gere is personally blocking the release to prevent the world from seeing him do push-ups while wearing a jock strap in a high-quality video format (unlikely), or maybe Paramount doesn’t think there’s a market for a flawed movie that can be read as a dark, disturbing cautionary tale about the dangers of promiscuous sex (more likely). But Looking For Mr. Goodbar shouldn’t be kept off the DVD shelves because of its more sensational aspects—in fact, it should be seen in part for those aspects. As an artifact depicting the gritty, decadent days of singles bars, pickup scenes, and disco in run-down ’70s New York, the movie is invaluable. And Diane Keaton’s performance as a benign schoolteacher by day, “liberated” woman looking for no-strings sex by night, is worth the DVD treatment all on its own.


7. Island Of Lost Souls (1932)

An adaptation of H.G. Wells’ The Island Of Dr. Moreau, Island Of Lost Souls stars a never-creepier Charles Laughton as the mad scientist whose experiments with animal-human hybrids yield disturbing results. They also force viewers to question what makes us human in ways that have only grown more relevant since the rise of the animal-rights movement and the coming of science that mirrors the work in Moreau’s lab. The all-time-terrible sort-of remake Island Of Dr. Moreau, on the other hand, is widely available on DVD. (Bonus: It’s where Devo got the phrase “Are we not men?”)


8. The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988)

Over the course of three Decline Of Western Civilization documentaries—none of which are on DVD—Penelope Spheeris captured illuminating snapshots of the Los Angeles music scene at crucial, wildly divergent moments. While the first and third films centered on hardcore punk bands, the infamous second installment documented the city’s fame-hungry glam-metal groups. Twenty years later, The Decline Of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years remains the definitive film about one of the most excessive (and unintentionally hilarious) scenes in rock history. Which makes it doubly frustrating that the movie is so hard to actually see. VHS copies still pop up in thrift stores, bootleg DVDs are available online, and the movie occasionally plays on TV. But a film with so many memorable scenes—the most famous being Chris Holmes from W.A.S.P. pouring vodka over himself in a swimming pool while his mother looks on—deserves a legitimate release.


9. The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)

Warner Brothers owns the RKO catalog, thus owns the DVD rights to The Magnificent Ambersons, which is good news for Orson Welles fans, since Warner Home Video has consistently been among the best in the business at assembling archival material and other special features on their DVD releases of old movies. When Warner finally does release The Magnificent Ambersons—it’s only a matter of time, surely—expect Welles’ version of Booth Tarkington’s decade-spanning family tragicomedy to include all kinds of treats, like Welles’ Mercury Theater radio version, and perhaps the 1925 silent-movie version. But unless Warner can come through with the big get—Welles’ original 40-minute third act, which has long been missing since his studio bosses snipped it—no DVD release will feel completely satisfactory. If anything, the fact that Warner has dragged its feet so long on putting Ambersons out has raised hopes that they’re waiting for what would be the ultimate bonus feature.

10. Urgh! A Music War (1981)

Some movies not currently available on DVD never made it to VHS either, but there are a large number of cult films—many from the early ‘80s—that were home-video staples not so long ago, yet have gone largely unseen for the better part of a decade. Urgh! is a classic example: It’s a punk/new-wave concert film featuring dynamic performances by the likes of Wall Of Voodoo, The Go-Go’s, Dead Kennedys, The Police, The Fleshtones, Gang Of Four, X, and XTC, and it was a popular rental for music buffs two decades ago, as well as a staple of USA’s Night Flight and the early days of VH1. But disputes over music rights have kept the film—and its reported hours of outtakes—off DVD for now.

11. Drowning By Numbers (1988)

It isn’t just Drowning By Numbers—the work of controversial English formalist Peter Greenaway is only spottily available on DVD. His early experimental shorts and his first major feature, The Falls, came out recently, but a number of his later, better-known films, including Prospero’s Books; The Cook, the Thief, His Wife And Her Lover; and the notorious Baby Of Mâcon are either out of print or simply unavailable in the United States. But this 1988 film may be the greatest loss: It’s a formalist masterpiece, exploring Greenaway’s obsessions with mathematics, game-playing, and painting with incredible skill and subtlety. It’s also one of his most relatable films, with a delightfully nasty plot (three women all attempt to murder their husbands by drowning), clever dialogue, and tremendous performances, especially by Joan Plowright, Juliet Stevenson, and Bernard Hill.

12. Grindhouse (2007)

Yes, Planet Terror and Death Proof are available separately on DVD, in extended versions that frankly aren’t as good as the shortened versions that screened theatrically in the U.S. Also missing on the DVDs: the fake trailers that linked the two films, and the overall spirit of collaboration and experimentation that yokes Planet Terror and Death Proof together. In its original form, Grindhouse is both riotous and generous—one of the best movies of 2007. How is it that one of the best movies of 2007 is not yet available on DVD?


13. Mickey One (1965)

Two years before Bonnie And Clyde (and well before Penn & Teller Get Killed) director Arthur Penn teamed up with Warren Beatty for this absurdist noir exercise, which stars Beatty as a traveling stand-up comic who inadvertently pisses off the mafia and constantly worries that his success on stage will draw the mob’s attention. Nonsensical, existential, highly stylish, and frequently funny, Mickey One is one of the first and best American responses to the French New Wave. The film was revived in the mid-’90s for a few festival and repertory screenings, but no home-video release has followed.

14. Greed (1924)

Regularly, and deservedly, included on lists of the greatest films of all time, Eric Von Stroheim’s adaptation of Frank Norris’ novel McTeague began as a 10-hour epic, then got clipped to two and a half hours before dying at the box office. An incinerator took the cut footage decades ago, but at any length, Greed retains its power. Von Stroheim brings a painter’s eye for composition to the then-still-new language of movies, and he takes a devastating route toward an old conclusion about humanity’s willingness to be corrupted. In 1999, Turner Classic Movies aired a sort-of restoration that used stills to reconstruct about 90 minutes of the cut footage. What the approach lacked in grace, it compensated for with clarity. Of course, on DVD, viewers could choose to watch either version. And yet…

15. Bigger Than Life (1955)

Nicholas Ray’s melodrama Bigger Than Life has been hailed as a penetrating exploration of the American psyche and the calamitous ramifications of the winner-takes-all mindset. Alas, contemporary film buffs mostly have to take the reviews’ word for it, since Ray’s searing drama about a family man (James Mason) whose life steadily unravels once he begins taking personality-warping cortisone shots has inexplicably never been released on DVD. And speaking of Ray…


16. Johnny Guitar (1954)

How Nicholas Ray’s florid Western never made it onto DVD remains baffling for several reasons: Ray (Rebel Without A Cause) is beloved among auteurists, and this film specifically has both a cult and a camp following; the basic premise was lifted whole for Sergio Leone’s masterpiece Once Upon A Time In The West; and it offers the strange spectacle of Joan Crawford, in all her grotesque splendor, teaming up with Sterling Hayden. Crawford stars as a saloon owner who wants to expand her empire once a railroad is built through town, but she gets resistance from the citizenry, particularly a moral scold (Mercedes McCambridge) consumed by jealousy. Their rivalry gives the film a uniquely feminist twist, because the men look weak by comparison; even the towering Hayden becomes a pussycat in Crawford’s arms. Freud scholars will have a ball.


17. Let It Be (1970)

The 1970 documentary Let It Be, about the troubled sessions for the eponymous Beatles album, includes one of the most iconic sequences in the band’s history—the rooftop concert at the Apple Building where the Fab Four played together in public for the last time. If Let It Be consisted only of this performance, it would be essential viewing for Beatles fans. But the movie also shows, in often-painful detail, just how much John, Paul, George, and Ringo did not like being in the same room together by the end of the band’s career. Nearly 40 years have passed since, but the bitter acrimony depicted in Let It Be apparently still cuts close to the bone for the surviving principals; late Apple Corps. head Neil Aspinall said last year that the film is still “too controversial” to be released on DVD.


18. The Landlord (1970)

Few directors have enjoyed the kind of run that director Hal Ashby had in the ’70s. For many film fans, Ashby’s winning streak begins with 1971’s Harold And Maude, and continues through The Last Detail, Shampoo, Bound For Glory, Coming Home, and Being There. But Ashby’s 1970 directorial debut, The Landlord,is just as great as the other movies he made during the decade, and it’s the only one not available on DVD. The movie stars Beau Bridges as a rich kid who takes over an inner-city building to turn it into a splashy bachelor pad, and ends up romantically involved with two black tenants. Like Ashby’s other work, The Landlord concerns issues of class and transcending rigid authority, and it exhibits the massively influential indie-quirk style made famous by Harold And Maude. It’s time the movie was released on DVD so cinephiles can finally get a complete picture of Ashby’s golden era.

19. Park Row (1952)

There’s been a welcome tide of Samuel Fuller films arriving on DVD over the past several years—including the scandalous White Dog, newly available from the Criterion Collection—but the movie Fuller considered his personal favorite isn’t currently on the market. Set during the New York newspaper wars of the mid-1880s—and informed by Fuller’s own experiences as a teenage copyboy and cub reporter—Park Row gives the seat-of-the-pants world of yellow journalism the two-fisted action of a gangster film. It’s both enormously entertaining and informative; Park Row may be the only action-packed, tough-talking period picture that also explains how to sort type.

20. Homicide (1991)

David Mamet’s films have often fallen through the cracks for one reason or another—too stylized for the mainstream, too unironically pulpy for the arthouse crowd—but the lack of attention paid to the twisty crime drama Homicide is especially unfortunate, since it’s the kind of masterfully plotted, carefully controlled think-piece that Mamet has largely abandoned over the past decade, in favor of mild sensationalism. Joe Mantegna stars as a sweet-talking cop whose investigation of a low-profile murder leads him to confront his Jewish identity. Deliberately paced and frequently surprising, Homicide promises to plunge the audience into a typically Mamet-esque underworld, but instead it sticks us into Mantegna’s shut-out, insecure point of view.

21. The Phenix City Story (1955)

Sure, Phil Karlson’s indie crime saga The Phenix City Story was daring stuff for 1955, with its indictment of the real-life corruption in a small Alabama town. And the movie’s fairly unflinching depictions of racism, prostitution, and authoritarian power grabs are still provocative today. But not so daring and provocative that Phenix City Story shouldn’t be on DVD.


22. Housekeeping (1987)

Always making a great foil to the commercial comedies of the ’80s, Glaswegian director Bill Forsyth put out a series of gentle, magical romantic comedies like Gregory’s Girl and Local Hero. But his reputation didn’t survive the VHS era, and even if it had, his 1987 gem Housekeeping was always just a minor critic’s favorite, appearing as part of the National Society Of Film Critics’ great book, Produced And Abandoned. Roger Ebert revived the film for his Ebertfest 2008 in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, so perhaps Housekeeping will finally get another chance to disarm audiences with its daffy humor and gorgeous evocation of the Pacific Northwest in the late ’50s. Based on the Marilynne Robinson novel, the film stars a superb Christine Lahti as an eccentric spinster who takes in two sisters after their mother goes for a “Sunday drive” and never comes back. Housekeeping was promoted as a comedy—and granted, Lahti’s habits are definitely funny—but it’s also a bittersweet look at how a family reconstitutes itself out of tragedy.

23. Phantasm II (1988)

Available on DVD in the U.S.: Phantasm, Phantasm III: Lord Of The Dead, Phantasm IV: Oblivion. Not available: Phantasm II. No, it doesn't make any sense to us either.

South Park season 12 is around the corner

The 12th season is coming to DVD and - for the first time - to Blu-ray early next year from Warner.

All fourteen uncensored episodes from South Park's twelfth season are now available in this exclusive three-disc set. In this collection, South Park follows the new President-elect from his acceptance speech to his first official day of duty as Commander in Chief. The boys keep busy helping a pop-princess who's down on her luck, negotiating a truce for striking Canadians, and preventing giant rodents from destroying the world. For them, it's all part of growing up in South Park.

The set will contain all the episodes as well as a behind the scenes look at the making of an episode from start to finish and a special featurette on the making of Major Boobage.

Arriving on March 10th, the four boys who started as pieces of construction paper will go 1080p.

10 questions about Blu-ray you'll want the answers for

This was to be the season Blu-ray won our hearts — and it still may. But the economic downturn has thrown a tough new hurdle at the high-def disc. Blu-ray faces strapped consumers worried about investing in a new format, a new library and still-pricey players. But it's the best video source around, and if you have or plan to get a new HDTV, you may be considering Blu-ray, too. USA TODAY tech writer Mike Snider offers an FAQ.

Demystifying Blu-ray

Q: Why do they call it Blu-ray?

A: Because Blu-ray Disc players and PC drives, as well as Sony's PlayStation 3, use a blue laser beam to read data from discs, rather than the older red lasers used for DVDs. A blue laser can be focused more tightly, so disc makers can pack more data on a disc the same size as a DVD. Blu-ray Discs can hold up to 50 gigabytes, compared to a DVD, which holds less than 10 GB. That added capacity can hold video up to six times the resolution of DVD, plus more bonus features and improved surround soundtracks.

Q: Can you really see the difference between Blu-ray and DVD?

A: Side-by-side, most people can easily see Blu-ray's improvement in picture quality. The video resolution, called "1080p" because it constantly (or progressively, hence the p) redraws 1,080 lines across the screen (each line containing 1,920 pixels), surpasses the best HDTV broadcast or cable signals. "Once you start seeing high-definition (video) on a 1080p monitor, DVD cannot compare," says Peter Bracke, editor of HighDefDigest.com. "Even my mom is impressed with it."

And filmmakers are doing their bit as well to make Blu-ray stand out. "We spent more time on (the Blu-ray image) than on the theatrical release, making sure every single color and shade is there for a reason," says Hellboy II: The Golden Army director Guillermo Del Toro. "The movie has never looked and sounded better."

Q. What do I need to watch Blu-ray?

A: Other than a BD player, you'll probably want an HDTV, to get the full quality and widescreen effect. (When watched on a older, standard-shaped tube set, the image is severely letterboxed with dark bands above and below.) Before buying a Blu-ray player to connect to an older TV, check the player's back panel: Not all have the kinds of outputs needed to connect to older sets. Most players send audio and video to newer TVs and displays via a single cable called HDMI. And don't get caught up in the various flavors of HDTV — 720p, 1080i and 1080p — because Blu-ray players can send an HD signal to any of them. As for screen size, most viewers won't get much benefit, Bracke says, unless it's at least 40 inches (diagonally).

Q: Are all Blu-ray players the same?

A: No. But most important, all Blu-ray players will play standard DVDs — and most "up-convert" those DVDs so they look closer to HD quality. Most players handle music CDs as well. If you are particularly interested in checking out picture-in-picture commentary tracks and online bonus features on discs, look for players that include Profile 1.1 (picture-in-picture capability) and BD-Live or Profile 2.0 (online connections) among the specifications.

Initially, the only player that was fully equipped was Sony's PS3 game system, but many current Blu-ray players in the $250 range have both sets of features. "It's bad for early adopters, but for mainstream consumers it won't matter because by the time they jump in, it will all be settled," Bracke says.

Two recent entries, the LG BD300 ($350) and the Samsung BD-P2550 ($370) also let Netflix subscribers stream movies.

Q: Should I buy now or wait for prices to drop?

A: That depends. Earlier this year, players sold for at least $400, but special holiday deals have resulted in entry-level models "for as low as $149, and $249 for really good, fully featured models," says Bill Hunt, editor of TheDigitalBits.com. "And if you don't already have an HDTV, some manufacturers are going to be offering combo deals, where you'll get a player free or nearly so when you buy an HDTV. With the economy the way it is, major retailers are all offering terrific bargains, too." As newer, more expensive models continue to hit stores, older ones will be reduced in price. "If you love movies, buy now," says TVPredictions.com's Phil Swann. "If you don't, wait. Prices will (continue to) fall."

Players "have gotten to where they are more in the consumers' sweet spot," says NPD Entertainment analyst Russ Crupnick, but price resistance has shifted to the software side as many Blu-ray Discs cost $25, he says. "Consumers have become increasingly price-sensitive, thanks to DVD."

Q: Do I need to replace all my DVDs with Blu-ray Discs?

A: No. Remember, Blu-ray players will play DVDs and most will boost the video resolution (or "up-rez" them), so "there is no reason for the consumer to think that all of their video library is going to be antiquated," says Panasonic's Rich Simone. Adds Swann, "I would recommend getting new releases in Blu-ray, either by rental or purchase, and watch your old ones using the up-converting feature."

Studios will try to entice movie lovers to repurchase films they may have already on DVD (and perhaps videocassette) by remastering the video and adding new extra features. "They can see them in the way the director originally intended them to be seen," says Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's Rich Marty. "DVD is a huge market, and those will continue to look great, but now they have a choice. We think once they see them in high-def, it's going to be a no-brainer."

Q: What features do Blu-ray movies have that DVDs don't?

A: Most bonus features such as commentaries, documentaries and deleted scenes are "the same kind of thing DVD has, except that it tends to be more interactive and complex on Blu-ray," says Hunt. Some discs have interactive games, such as the Casino RoyaleCollector's Edition's multiplayer Bond trivia game. A few of the newest releases take advantage of bonus features delivered via the Internet: Last month, Del Toro conducted an online chat with owners of the Hellboy II Blu-ray Disc.

"It is my hope when we are proposing, planning and designing the interactive instruments for The Hobbit (Part 1 is scheduled for 2011), we can take full advantage of it," Del Toro says. "We are trying to make people very aware that there are features locked in the Blu-ray Disc that allow them to go interactive with the Net." And The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan will have a Dec. 18 screening of the Blu-ray Disc (9 p.m. ET/6 PT), during which those who own it can watch and chat online with him during the film. (More details at thedarkknight.warnerbros.com/dvdsite/event.) Another online feature lets viewers post their own feature-length commentary to share with friends.

But overall, while Hollywood may tout next-generation interactive features, Swann says, "the real feature is the picture."

Q: Will my sound system work with Blu-ray?

A: The simple answer is Blu-ray will sound as good as DVDs do on your system. Many HDTVs and displays have built-in speakers, but surround-sound fanatics will want to make sure their receiver has digital audio inputs. And movie fans who want to get the most out of Blu-ray's improved soundtracks will want to look for higher-priced players that either decode or pass along ultra-high-resolution sound formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Discs such as Dark Knight (out Tuesday) can hold one or more soundtracks with up to seven speaker channels (plus a subwoofer) for those fortunate enough to have top sound equipment. The result sounds "as good as the studio masters in some cases," Hunt says.

Q: How large a selection is available on Blu-ray?

A: So far, about 1,000 Blu-ray Discs have been released, compared with more than 93,700 DVDs, according to The DVD Release Report. Releases have ramped up this fall, Hunt says. "There's an amazing lineup of both new and catalog movies coming out now, with an even more amazing slate on the way next year," from The Dark Knight and Iron Man to Sleeping Beauty and Casablanca.

Still, Bracke says, "It's going to be a long time until the volume of Blu-ray titles matches DVD. "

Q: Rather than buying Blu-ray, shouldn't I just wait for HD movie downloads?

A: Current movie downloads can take two hours or more to arrive, and even those labeled high definition do not match the quality of Blu-ray. "Blu-ray is going to give you to the best-looking high-definition video quality you'll see anywhere — better than video-on-demand or downloading, or HD cable, or even HD satellite," Hunt says. "Blu-ray simply offers the best video and audio quality available, with the most advanced bonus features." And discs also are more convenient, whereas, "HD downloads are years away from being a convenient alternative," Swann says.

Instrumental Interplay At Heart Of Rush DVD

For its new DVD, "Snakes & Arrows Live," Rush took a somewhat different approach than on its last two video releases, 2003's "Rush in Rio" and 2005's "R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour."

"With this one we wanted to focus on the playing," singer/bassist/keyboardist Geddy Lee tells Billboard.com. "So a lot of the camera work features the interaction between Neil (Peart), Alex (Lifeson) and myself, a lot of the details that you don't normally cover in a DVD performance. So for fans of the music who love to see what everybody's fingers are doing and how we interact back and forth with each other, that became the overriding focus on this one."

"Snakes & Arrows Live" was shot with 21 High Definition cameras during a two-night stand in October 2007 at the Ahoy Rotterdam Arena in the Netherlands -- the same shows that produced the "Snakes & Arrows Live" album that came out in April. The two releases were separated, Lee says, because Rush wanted to have something out for its 2008 North American tour and also because "we needed more time to spend on the DVD to make it more special."

Besides the 24-song concert, the "Snakes & Arrows Live" DVD also includes four "authorized bootleg" songs from Atlanta in 2008, alternate versions of the songs "Far Cry" and "The Way the Wind Blows," a performance of "Red Sector A" from the 2004 R30 Tour and the "What's That Smell?" filmed comedic skit that opened the second half of the Snakes & Arrows Tour shows.

Mostly, though, Lee says the DVD confirms to him that "we were playing really well and that everything in the show kind of revolves around that and there was great energy coming from us. That's what I was seeing on the screen."

Lee says "Snakes & Arrows Live" will have to hold Rush fans over for a while. The trio is currently "on a break" and "a little burnt out right now," though he has every confidence there will be another Rush album in the future.

"I think we're gonna stay quiet for awhile and then start writing -- when we're going to start writing I can't say just yet," Lee notes. "It may be in the fall, maybe the spring, maybe the following spring. But eventually we'll start writing some songs and recording them, and hopefully that will be followed up by another tour down the road a couple years from now."

Wall-E DVDs To Feature Advanced Definition

Pixar Animation Studios director Andrew Stanton says that the Richmond, CA-based company has gone to extraordinary lengths to preserve precise details in its Blu-ray version of Wall-E, due to be released on November 18.

The Video Business website quoted Stanton as saying, "This is the first time where a format exactly represents how good a film looks in the building here. ... It used to be that you'd only go downhill from here after [creating films in the studio]. We sweat over every pixel."

Pixar's general manager, Jim Morris, suggested that the extra work poured into the Blu-ray edition, was initially a matter of Pixar pride. "This is a filmmaker's dream. They didn't think that anyone cared about that level of technicality as much as they do, and now they are happy that people do."

ORSON’S 'EVIL’

On Dec. 5, 1957, filmmaker Orson Welles wrote a desperate and heartfelt 58-page memo to executives at Universal Studios, begging them to make specific changes to his film "Touch of Evil," which had been reshot and re-edited without his participation or consent.

This memo - included with the film's new 50th anniversary DVD release - is perhaps the ultimate document of a filmmaker pleading for the maintenance of his artistic vision. After Welles filmed "Touch of Evil," a film noir crime drama starring Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh, he left halfway through the post-production process to try to secure financing for his next film.

As Heston recalls on the DVD extra "Evil Lost and Found," which details the film's restoration process, this was "a big no-no," as studio executives found Welles' version too dark and confusing, and decided to drastically change the picture without his input.

Welles wrote the memo after viewing the end result, which he felt destroyed his intent for the film. The studio ignored his requests, and the episode sank his career. He never made another film in the US.

The DVD includes both the 96-minute version the studio released and a 111-minute restored version constructed in 1998 by editor Walter Murch based on Welles' memo. (There is also an early preview version included in the set.)

Of the 58 pages, Welles spent eight begging for more cross-cutting between Leigh's scenes and Heston's, to establish (as we see in the restored version) a more equal balance between the two characters. As Murch explains, "by trying to make the film simpler, [Universal] complicated things, because the audience was led to believe the film was about Heston," when the reality was more complex.

Comparing the versions is informative, but the memo itself illustrates both the depth of Welles' genius and how the stubbornness that accompanied it doomed his career.

The Godfather Collection: The Coppola Restoration

On Paramount Home Entertainment’s release of 'The Godfather: The CoppolaRestoration' DVDset, the studio has included some hidden features, ready for you to discover.

Insert the fourth disc of the DVD set, which contains all of the new 2008 bonus materials. On the Main Menu highlight the 'Set Up' menu option and then press the 'Up' arrow key on your remote control. This will highlight a Godfather icon on the right. If you press 'enter' now you will have the chance to see a clip of Francis Ford Coppola discussing his initial research into the mafia.

Now insert the fifth disc of the DVD set in your player, which ich chock full of hidden features. On the Main Menu, select 'Set Up' and once you are in that submenu, press the 'Right' arrow key on your remote control. This will highlight a globe in the background, giving you access to a collage of clips from various language version of the film, including Italian, German and English.

Another hilarious hidden feature can be found on the same disc. From the main menu, go to 'Galleries' and there select 'DVD Credits.' In this section, keep following the next arrow at the bottom of the screen all the way to the end and you will be treated to a great clip of the Sopranos trying to watch an 'advance bootleg' version of the Godfather DVD.

Another hidden feature can be found on this disc. Go to the 'Family Tree' section and select 'Sonny,' which takes you to the family tree of Santino Corleone. Here, select 'Sonny' again and you will be taken to his biography. Press the 'Left' arrow key on your remote control to highlight the image of James Caan and then press 'Enter.' This brings up Caan’s own biography. Now, press the 'Left' arrow key once again to highlight the portrait of him on the left side and if you press 'Enter' now, you will be treated to a screen test by James Caan for his part as Sonny Corleone.

And there's another one, which can be found in the 'Filmmakers' section on this fifth disc. Go there and select 'Mario Puzo's' biography. Once you get there, press the 'Left' arrow key on your remote control twice and a large dollar sign will appear. It gives you access to a short clip, in Coppola asks the writer, why he actually wrote 'The Godfather.' Puzo's answer to it is quite revealing...

Newman on DVD: A dozen picks from a superb career

In his five-decade evolution from hunk-ish Actors Studio rebel to the voice of Doc Hudson in Pixar's 2006 Cars, Paul Newman was initially admired for a forceful presence (one not exactly diminished by his looks). And, eventually, he came to be both admired and beloved on an extraordinary number of levels. He carried himself with classy reserve, becoming a celebrity role model for how to keep your private life private and for being that low-key face on the salad dressing bottle and at the track.

None of this discounts his trove of treasured movies. On his way to winning a best-actor Oscar, life achievement Oscar, a Jean Hersholt humanitarian Oscar and eight more acting nominations, Newman amassed a filmography with uncommon consistency, though like every superstar, he had to survive such clunkers as Lady L or When Time Ran Out.

Early on, he specialized in playing hustlers and heels and floundered when attempting comedy; his touch just wasn't light. Only later did Newman become one of the movies' best relaxed actors.

Though Newman's career did benefit from high-profile stage work in the early 1950s (Picnic, The Desperate Hours) and memorable contributions to TV's Golden Age (The Battler, the original Bang the Drum Slowly and several more), it was a sometimes sticky apprenticeship, as evidenced by his earliest appearance available on DVD. It's on Vol. 1 of ABC-TV's cheesy Tales of Tomorrow (Image, $25), a live sci-fi anthology series that anticipated The Twilight Zone. Cast as an Army sergeant on an Aug. 8, 1952, episode, Newman hysterically describes the fatality of one colleague after a woebegone rocket blast somehow leads to the freeze-over of a U.S. desert. At least the teleplay's title is nothing if not precise: "Ice From Space."

But in the end, the best of Newman's film career is an embarrassment of riches. Among his movies with robust fan bases are The Left-Handed Gun, The Long Hot Summer, Harper, The Towering Inferno, Blaze, Mr. & Mrs. Bridge, Empire Falls and Road to Perdition. But for a combination of must-viewing and full career perspective, start with the following dozen DVDs:

- Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956, Warner)

Newman became a star in his second feature with this slick adaptation of middleweight boxer Rocky Graziano's autobiography. Essentially, it's a story of rehabilitation: Despite years in reform schools and a dishonorable Army discharge, the Rock became a valued member of society.

- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958, Warner)

After the julep-heavy The Long Hot Summer, Newman solidified his career by going South again in this adaptation of Tennessee Williams' play. He stole enough attention from Elizabeth Taylor for them both to earn Oscar nominations. When they reunited as Oscar presenters in 1991, Newman responded to a Cat clip by saying, "I thought we were lookin' pretty good back then." Taylor replied, "Hey, I think we're still looking pretty good."

- The Hustler (1961, Fox)

The definitive movie about pool hustling pit Newman's callow "Fast Eddie" Felson against Jackie Gleason's wizened pro, Minnesota Fats. Newman, who had never held a cue, was coached by pool legend Willie Mosconi. The two swapped Newman's dining-room table for a pool table and practiced every night.

- Hud (1963, Paramount)

In a morality play about generational clashing on a Texas cattle ranch, Oscar-nominated Newman wrestled a greased pig and too many other men's wives. And even though James Wong Howe's spectacular cinematography is in black-and-white, you all but feel the pinkness of Newman's Cadillac.

- Cool Hand Luke (1967, Warner; also on Blu-ray)

After drunkenly vandalizing parking meters, Newman's Luke ends up on a Southern chain gang where the only things to do are watch a buxom blonde suds up a car or brazenly ingest 50 hard-boiled eggs on a bet. He also finds himself on the wrong side of Southern chain gang warden Strother Martin's "What we have here … is a failure to communicate" catchphrase.

- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969, Fox; also on Blu-ray)

Newman ended the decade as half of a casting coup for the ages. Playing off Robert Redford's breakout performance in William Goldman's jokey script, he gave a performance that at the time was his most loosened-up. An actor whose attempts at comedy once seemed overbearing suddenly seemed easygoing, beguilingly so.

- The Sting (1973, Universal)

A reunion with Redford and Butch director George Roy Hill, this critical/commercial bonanza so captivated the public that Scott Joplin's theme ended up sharing concurrent Billboard pop chart placement with Steely Dan and Stevie Wonder.

- Slap Shot (1977, Universal)

A key contender for Newman's best movie of the decade is this hockey comedy from director Hill, whose Nancy Dowd script may have set new standards for screen profanity at the time. It's probably Newman's funniest performance -- especially in scenes with the Hanson Brothers, a trio of violence-prone Neanderthals who bash opposing players and soft-drink machines with equal zeal.

- The Verdict (1982, Fox)

Newman's best outing of the '80s, besting 1981's Absence of Malice. As an alcoholic has-been attorney seeking redemption, Newman headlined one of the best courtroom nail-biters ever, with assists from screenwriter David Mamet and director Sidney Lumet.

- The Color of Money (1986, Touchstone)

A quarter-century later, The Hustler's Eddie Felson wasn't so "fast," yet it was an inspired idea to bring him back to the screen with some hard-earned middle-age maturity. It was also a good commercial move for Martin Scorsese, who needed a box-office hit. This time, Tom Cruise is the callow one, and Newman finally won his acting Oscar, just a year after he'd won a special one that paid tribute to his entire career.

- Nobody's Fool (1994, Paramount)

In the movie of Richard Russo's novel, Newman is a family-estranged laborer battling a scoundrel contractor (Bruce Willis). Though nominated Newman missed the Oscar, he found a productive partner in Russo. He would win a 2005 Emmy for HBO's movie of the Pulitzer-winning Empire Falls.

- Cars (2006, Pixar/Disney)

Newman's one live-action movie about auto racing (1969's Winning) was a stiff. But computer animation offered restitution, with the actor's final theatrical feature keenly casting him as a judge with substantial racing-car history. It was a smooth project to go out on and a no-lose chance to widen his fan base. You could almost hear someone saying to some oblivious tyke: "You know that old geezer who was the voice of Doc Hudson? The guy's been a superstar for 50 years."

'Godfather' films finally restored to glory

The Godfather is remembered as a dark picture. But over the years it has become less dark than intended.

The opening scene of the best-picture Oscar winner is the ultimate example. Emerging from shadow is the face of Bonasera (Salvatore Corsitto), the father who asks Don Corleone (Marlon Brando) for a favor on the day of the Don's daughter's wedding.

But when director Francis Ford Coppola saw the 1972 film on a screen for its 25th anniversary, he thought, "Gee, the picture doesn't look like I remember it looking. This very, very beautiful photography of (cinematographer) Gordon Willis over the years had faded."

The movie is back to its inky finest — thanks to an assist from Steven Spielberg — on The Godfather: The Coppola Restoration, available today on a new five-disc DVD collection with all three Godfather films and two discs of bonus features, as well as a four-disc Blu-ray set ($73 and $120, respectively; each film on individual DVDs, $20).

The Godfather was a victim of its own success. It earned $135 million in the USA, which in modern terms would make the film the No. 21 box-office earner of all time, according to boxofficemojo.com.

To meet demand, Paramount quickly made large numbers of copies to ship to theaters. As a result, "the negative was ultimately destroyed through the practice of printing it so much," Coppola says from Buenos Aires while editing the film Tetro.

A decade ago, Paramount stored all its Godfather film elements in a cold vault to help preserve them until a full digital makeover was possible. "No matter how seriously the studio wished to solve the problems at that time, it would not be possible until digital technology provided the tools," says Robert Harris of The Film Preserve, which eventually handled the restoration of both The Godfather and The Godfather: Part II (1974).

Fast-forward to 2005: Coppola, looking to renew the preservation effort, wrote to Spielberg when DreamWorks was acquired by Paramount. Could Spielberg, who had been involved in restoring Lawrence of Arabia, spur on the project? It was an offer Spielberg could not refuse. He took the request to studio chairman Brad Grey, who set into motion the two-year process, overseen by Paramount post-production executive Marty Cohen and done at Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging in Burbank, Calif.

No single usable Godfather negative remained that was suitable as a source. In the end, Harris and the preservation team gathered a bunch of backup film elements and an Italian-subtitled print used as a color reference.

Over months, the restoration technicians carefully scanned the material and then began cleaning up the footage in its digital form, 4K files (meaning the video is made up of 4,000 lines of horizontal resolution, more than four times the quality of HDTV).

In addition to digitally removing scratches and repairing damage — more than 1,000 man-hours of dirt removal was performed on The Godfather— the technicians were able to fix errors that were more than three decades old. The restaurant scene in which Michael (Al Pacino) shoots Sollozzo (Al Lettieri) and Capt. McCluskey (Sterling Hayden) had been filmed over two nights. But one night's footage had been incorrectly processed, resulting in less detail and a washed-out look — an error that has been corrected digitally.

"Without those innovations, we would not have been able to move forward with the same results," Cohen says. "This is about rebuilding to some degree and putting new paint on the house."

Coppola and Willis consulted on every step of the restoration, which is detailed in a documentary on the new collections. Thanks to the restoration, Willis has regained his title "Prince of Darkness," Coppola says.

"So much of his art was to have the blackness of the black be so vividly black that everything else stood out from it," he says. "The restoration achieved that again."

Blu-Ray is getting cheaper this Christmas

As we expected, in time for the holiday season, prices for technology and gadgets are plummeting. For all those who held out to see prices for Blu-Ray players to drop, the time is now. Memorex has just announced the MVBD-2510 Blu-Ray Disc player to hit retail shelves for only $269.50. The player is available immediately and should be available at various retail outlets.

The MVBD-2510 is a full-featured player that offers 1080p resolution at 24 and 60 frames per second as well as compatibility with pretty much all recorded optical media, such as DVD, DVD-R, DVD+R, CD, CD-R, video discs, etc.

The player also offers Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD decoding and bit stream output, as well as Master audio bit stream output. It supports both 5.1 and 7.1 audio signals through HDMI.

When Blu-Ray players were first introduced into the market they hovered around $1000. It is great to see prices for the hardware to come down so dramatically in such a short period of time, making this high definition format more affordable for everyone. After all, always keep in mind that Blu-Ray does not devalue your DVD collection. You can play back DVD on any Blu-Ray player and will get tremendous looking results. But in addition you can now add high definition titles as you go forward that will simply blow your mind.

'Sopranos' box set on sale in November

NEW YORK - A 30-disc box set with every episode of the HBO series "The Sopranos" goes on sale Nov. 11 with a list price of US$399.99, HBO Video said Monday.

Besides seven seasons worth of episodes, the set has two bonus DVDs that include an interview with creator David Chase by Alec Baldwin. The set will have two "Supper with the Sopranos" features, sit-down dinners (food not included) with Chase and various actors discussing their favourite scenes, auditions and other aspects of the show.

Chase also discusses how the show was cast and the evolution of the characters. He includes three music soundtrack CDs that he curated and were previously released, and 16 scenes that were filmed but never made it on the air. The set includes a recording of a New York seminar on cast members who were whacked and various spoofs on other TV outlets.

Four hundred dollars won't buy you Tony Soprano, however. James Gandolfini didn't participate in any of the "extras."

The Dude returns for his 10th Anniversary this fall

Universal Home Entertainment has just announced a 10th Anniversary Edition of the cult classic The Big Lebowski, arriving on DVD in September.

The Dude. One cool guy. Who one day comes home to find two thugs have broken in and ruined his favorite carpet-the one that made the room "hang together". Thing is, they did it because he's got the same name as one of the richest men in town. Lebowski. But, hey, no problem. He'll get even. At least he'll get someone to pay for the carpet.

No technical features or bonus materials have been announced yet but we will keep you posted of course as new information comes.

“The Big Lebowski” returns to DVD on September 9 for only $19.98.

Duckman - DVD Date Announced for Duckman - Seasons 1 and 2!!!

Get this classic animated series at last this September!!!

Early this past January we had great news for Duckman fans, passing along a report that CBS DVD's Executive VP and General Manager Ken Ross had gotten his group together to "wrap our brains around figuring a way" to begin releasing the classic adult-targeted animated series on DVD at long last, sometime in 2008.

A couple of days later we were able to bring you confirmation, direct from show creator Everett Peck, that "...it's true! My agent and I have been working closely with CBS to get this to happen. It looks like initial release will be seasons one and two. There will be some value added material but I'm not quite sure how that will shape up at this point."

The Duckman - Seasons 1 and 2 DVD set has been announced this morning for release on September 16th. This will be 22 episodes (13 for the first season, and another nine for the second) being presented on disc in full screen video, and with English Stereo Surround audio. Unfortunately, no other information was available with this morning's quick heads-up announcement. Stay tuned, though, and we'll hopefully be back in the not-too-distant future with more details, including extras and cover art!

So I Married An Ax Murderer returns in June

So I Married An Ax Murderer has made its way onto Sony Pictures Home Entertainment’s release schedule with a new Deluxe Edition DVD and a Blu-Ray Disc version in June.

Comedy sensation Mike Myers stars with Nancy Travis in this hatchet-driven romantic comedy about a wedlock-shy coffee house poet who finally meets the perfect woman. When it comes to love, Charlie Mackenzie has had his share of bad luck: Sherri was a klepto - Charlie still can't find his cat. Jill was unemployed - but Charlie knew she really worked for the Mafia. Pam smelled like soup - beef vegetable soup. Good thing for Charlie these shortcomings become apparent, if only to him. Good thing for Charlie he discovered the truth before things went too far - before he stumbled into MARRIAGE! Because to Charlie the "M" word is just one step away from the fate foretold in that chilling phrase: "Till death do us part." When Charlie meets Harriet Michaels everything changes. Harriet's not like the others. She's smart, sexy, and crazy about Charlie. This time Charlie is determined to overcome the fears that sabotaged his past relationships. This time, he's ready for some commitment. Sure, Harriet may have her shortcomings - but so what? After all those other women, what's the worst she could be? An axe murderer?

No exact details have been announced for this release but we will make sure to keep you posted as soon as exact specs and bonus materials come in.

“So I Married An Axe Murderer” will arrive in storeso n June 17 and will carry a $19.94 sticker price for the DVD version and a $28.95 price tag on the Blu-Ray version.

Sex Pistols concert DVD set for summer release

LONDON (Billboard) - The first-ever full-length in-concert Sex Pistols title to be authorized by the band is due to appear this summer.

"The Sex Pistols: There'll Always Be an England" features the pioneering punk outfit's original lineup of Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook and Glen Matlock performing at November 2007 reunion shows at London's Brixton Academy.

The project reunites the band with documentary filmmaker Julien Temple, who previously directed "The Great Rock 'N' Roll Swindle" and "The Filth and the Fury."

The DVD, recorded in HD/5.1 surround sound, will appear in the United Kingdom in June, to coincide with European festival dates. U.S. release details are not yet finalized, but it's expected to hit racks in August or September.

It is being distributed by FremantleMedia Enterprises, the U.K.-based commercial arm of "American Idol" producer FremantleMedia.

"All key international territories will have the DVD released by August," said Pete Kalhan, FremantleMedia Enterprises' senior VP of home entertainment & archive sales. "It'll be through our own label in the U.K. and a couple of other territories; elsewhere, we sub-license."

International marketing plans are at an early stage, but will be led by cinema screenings in selected cities. Kalhan hoped Temple and/or the band would participate in a Q&A session at the London launch.

In addition to the main concert footage, the DVD package will include an 80-minute Temple-directed feature called "The Knowledge," showing each band member revisiting his old London hunting grounds.

Milk That Cash Cow Lucas!!

Lucasfilm has just made the official announcement - all three existing Indiana Jones titles are due on DVD once again on 5/13.

This is the first time these three films have been made available on DVD individually (SRP $26.98 each), and they will have new bonus content.

You'll also be able to buy an Indiana Jones: The Adventure Collection box set of all three (SRP $59.98). No word yet on a Blu-ray Disc release (we suspect only the new film will arrive on Blu-ray this year, but you never know - we'll try to confirm).

Here are the details...

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark: Special Edition will feature anamorphic widescreen video, Dolby Digital 5.1 (English) and 2.0 (French, Spanish) audio, An Introduction by Steven Spielberg & George Lucas, 2 featurettes (Indiana Jones: An Appreciation and The Melting Face), a storyboard sequence for The Well of Souls scene, 4 image galleries (Illustrations & Props, Production Photographs & Portraits, Effects/ILM and Marketing) and the game trailer and demo for LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Special Edition will also feature anamorphic widescreen video, along with Dolby Digital 5.1 (English) and 2.0 (French, Spanish) audio, An Introduction by Steven Spielberg & George Lucas, 2 featurettes (Creepy Crawlies and Locations), a storyboard sequence for The Mine Cart Chase, 4 image galleries (Illustrations & Props, Production Photographs & Portraits, Effects/ILM and Marketing) and the game trailer and demo for LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures.

Finally, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Special Edition will also feature anamorphic widescreen video, as well as Dolby Digital 5.1 (English) and 2.0 (French, Spanish) audio, An Introduction by Steven Spielberg & George Lucas, 2 featurettes (The Women: The American Film Institute Tribute and Friends and Enemies), a storyboard sequence for The Opening Sequence, 4 image galleries (Illustrations & Props, Production Photographs & Portraits, Effects/ILM and Marketing) and the game trailer and demo for LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures.

That AFI thing was pretty cool. It featured a reunion and discussion with Karen Allen, Kate Capshaw and Alison Doody, and Harrison Ford himself showed up at the end IN COSTUME as Indy. This was done to promote the original box set DVD release of the films. It should be very cool to see again on disc.

Weinsteins start upscale DVD label

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Bob and Harvey Weinstein have already made their mark on Hollywood.

Now, the former Miramax Films chiefs are bent on leaving their imprint on the DVD business as well, with a premium label they hope will rival the prestigious Criterion Collection or Warner Home Video's extravagant collector's editions of such marquee films as "Gone With the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz."

The Miriam Collection, named after the brothers' mother, launched in late January with the release of one of the last great epics not previously available on DVD, Anthony Mann's "El Cid."

The second release is another Mann film, "The Fall of the Roman Empire," a lavish 1961 production starring Alec Guinness, Sophia Loren and Omar Sharif. The film earned its place in the record books for the largest outdoor set in Hollywood history: more than 55 acres, with a reconstructed Roman Forum.

The film comes to DVD on April 29 from Genius Products, the independent DVD distribution company majority owned by the Weinsteins.

"The Miriam Collection is a very personal selection of films," Harvey Weinstein said. "The brand is not only about remastering films for the best picture and sound but also to showcase the backstory of each film and develop compelling features that complement the title."

Weinstein said he and his brother plan to pick 12-15 films for branded release each year, ranging from such big productions as "El Cid," "Roman Empire," "Circus World" and "55 Days at Peking" to niche titles like "The Deal," a British TV movie from "The Queen" director Stephen Frears.

Weinstein clearly relishes being able to play kingmaker and give deserving films the true DVD VIP treatment a la the fabled Criterion Collection.

"'The Fall of the Roman Empire,' for example, is fully loaded," Weinstein said. "It looks and sounds astonishing, and the bonus materials fully explore the sheer magnitude and grandeur of making a film of this scale in a time long before the advent of CGI."

Indeed, the Weinsteins' DVD version of "Roman Empire" will come in an elegantly packaged three-disc edition. Extras include a commentary by Bill Bronston, son of producer Samuel Bronston, and film expert Mel Martin; a reproduction of the original 1964 souvenir program; a behind-the-scenes look at the fall of the real Roman Empire; a detailed "making of" documentary; five Encyclopedia Britannica featurettes on the Roman Empire; and a set of six color production stills.

Oscar noms awaiting DVD release

Only one of this year's best-picture nominees has debuted on DVD.

Michael Clayton, with seven nominations in total, arrived this week in a single-disc edition with modest-yet-effective bonus materials. The highlight is a revealing commentary by writer-director Tony Gilroy, who explains how star George Clooney empowered his project after years of "walking in the wilderness."

Up next is No Country for Old Men, the violent masterpiece from Joel and Ethan Coen and the nominations co-leader with eight. It debuts March 11 in a single-disc edition.

Predictably, the Coen Brothers won't say much. They often give mumbling answers in interviews. But the DVD extras may illuminate the challenges of the project, anyway. Hopefully, they will focus on the stellar work of Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin and Woody Harrelson, all overlooked in the Oscar noms as Javier Bardem burst into prominence.

Further out is P.T. Anderson's There Will be Blood, the other nominations co-leader with eight. It is due April 8 in a two-disc collector's edition, which obviously will include generous bonus materials on the second disc.

Following that is Juno, set for an April 15 release in single-disc format. Juno is doing very well in theatres, despite minor backlash over its pregnant-teen theme. The worldwide box office is up to $143 million, most of it in North America. It is the clear box-office winner among the best-picture noms.

As for the final best-picture nominee, Atonement (tied with Michael Clayton with seven noms), no DVD dates have been announced yet.

Other Oscar nominees are currently available on DVD.

Among them is Ratatouille (five noms); La Vie en Rose (three noms); The Bourne Ultimatum (three noms); Transformers (three noms); Away From Her (two noms); 3:10 to Yuma (two noms); Elizabeth: The Golden Age (two noms); American Gangster (two noms); Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (two noms); In The Valley of Elah (one nom); The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (one nom); Eastern Promises (one nom); Gone Baby Gone (one nom); Surf's Up (one nom); Once (one nom); Across the Universe (one nom); and the idiotic Norbit (one nom).

Nominees due soon include Into the Wild (two noms), which is due March 4, and Enchanted (three noms), due March 18.

If you want to delve into Oscar's past, however, Fox, MGM and United Artists have teamed on five new box sets, all keyed to historic Oscar winners.

Three boxes contain best- picture winners, organized by studio. MGM's four-disc Best Picture Collection has Rocky, Platoon, Dances With Wolves and The Silence of the Lambs. The five-disc Fox box has How Green Was My Valley, Gentleman's Agreement, All About Eve and The Sound of Music. The four-disc United Artists set has Marty, The Apartment, West Side Story and Tom Jones.

There are two other boxes, each devoted to the acting craft. The five-disc Best Actor Collection has In Old Arizona, The King and I, Patton, Harry and Tonto and Wall Street, featuring winners from Warner Baxter to Michael Douglas. The five-disc Best Actress Collection has Anastasia, The Three Faces of Eve, Norma Rae, Boy's Don't Cry and Walk the Line, featuring winners from Ingrid Bergman to Reese Witherspoon.

Three Oscar films set DVD dates

•Juno arrives on DVD ($29.98) and Blu-ray ($39.98) on April 15 from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Juno is nominated for four Academy Awards: picture, director, original screenplay and actress for up-and-coming star Ellen Page.

•The Savages, nominated for two Oscars (actress for Laura Linney and original screenplay for writer/director Tamara Jenkins), arrives on DVD ($27.98) April 22 from Fox Home Entertainment.

•Lars and the Real Girl arrives on DVD ($27.98) April 15 from MGM Home Entertainment. Starring Ryan Gosling, it's up for original screenplay.

No Country For Old Men Misses Pre-Oscar DVD Release

I’ve been rather surprised at the amount of Oscar nominated films that will be hitting DVD in the next few weeks, giving the mass public a chance to take in the movies before the Oscar ceremony. This kind of approach may not help movies win Oscars, but it will make the ceremony potentially more interesting to more people. After all, it’s hard to get excited about a ceremony for movies nobody has seen.

Unfortunately, one of the big contenders this year, nominated for eight awards, won’t be taking that approach. While No Country For Old Men will be coming to DVD and Blu-ray soon, its March 11th release date won’t give you the chance to see the movie before the Oscar ceremony. If I had to guess, that release date gives them the chance to replace that quote you see at the top of the artwork on the right with “Winner of X-Number of Oscars” should the movie perform well at the Academy Awards.

Right now the announced extras seem a little thin, particularly for a Blu-ray release (which appears to have the exact same bonus materials as the standard DVD). Here’s a look at what you can expect to find on this March 11th release:

- Working with the Coens: Reflections of Cast and Crew - Learn more about Joel and Ethan Coen from the perspective of their collaborators, cast and crew.

- The Making of No Country For Old Men - Take a journey through the Coen Brothers’ process and back to their roots as storytellers with a unique voice and vision.

- Diary of a Country Sheriff - Explore the relationship between the compassion of Sheriff Bell and the brutality of Anton Chigurh.

BLU-RAY SKIES ARE HERE

The fat lady hasn't sung yet, but for all intents and purposes, it looks like the next-generation DVD battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD is pretty much over.

The winner of the two-year battle - akin to the Betamax and VHS war of the '80s - seems to be Blu-ray, thanks largely to Warner Bros. Home Video's recent announcement that it'll be going all Blu-ray, all the time, after late May. (It had been the only movie studio that hadn't picked a side, releasing in both Blu-ray and HD DVD formats.)

Warner will be joining Blu-ray-only studios including Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, MGM and Lionsgate. This leaves Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks as the sole HD DVD supporters - although it's been reported that Paramount will be ditching its HD DVD support now that Warner Bros. has done it, thanks to a clause in Paramount's HD DVD-exclusivity contract.

What does this mean for you? Here are some answers to those burning questions you have about Blu-ray.

Q - Can you use a Blu-ray player if you don't have a high-def TV?

Yes, but unless you've got a TV producing 720p, 1080i or 1080p resolution, “there's no point in buying a Blu-ray player," says David Katzmaier, CNET.com senior editor. “You can hook it up with your S-video [connection], and you're going to see a darn good picture, but there's not going to be much difference between a [standard] DVD and a Blu-ray player. You really need a newer, preferably larger, HDTV to experience the difference."

Q - Does size matter when it comes to watching Blu-ray on an HDTV?

Yes. “The bigger the TV [40 inches and larger], the more it matters," says Consumer Reports senior project leader Maurice Wynn, especially when you're forced to sit closer to the TV than you'd like. “The closer you sit to your TV, the more you'd need to have high definition, like Blu-ray," he says.

Q - What do you need to get the most out of your Blu-ray?

Definitely an HDTV. Katzmaier also recommends HDMI cables, “if you're going to get a Blu-ray player, you might as well spend a little bit more and get a cable - we recommend monoprice.com." Meanwhile, Wynn says you won't go wrong with an audio system, because “Blu-ray discs can theoretically have better-quality sound since they have more [memory] capacity and studios can put higher data audio on the disc."

Q - Do you need to replace all your standard DVDs with Blu-rays?

No. All Blu-ray players will play standard DVDs, although some do a better job at it than others (check out sites like CNET.com's home video reviews for opinions on which ones do this the best).

Q - Should you rush out and buy a Blu-ray player now?

Probably not. They're still expensive - the cheapest one on the market is $300 - and there aren't that many Blu-ray discs out there yet. But if you're really desperate, Katzmaier suggests getting a PlayStation 3. “It's basically a Blu-ray player and a gaming console, without any compromises. There are no video or audio quality differences, and it does a great job playing [standard] DVDs. It's basically a little supercomputer [with built-in Web access], which allows you to do a lot of upgrades when Blu-ray requires it, making it the most future-ready Blu-ray player out there."

Duckman - Studio Exec VP Goes on Record: Duckman Coming to DVD! Date Not Yet Revealed, But It IS In The Works!

Our good friend Susanne Ault, of trade magazine Video Business, has put together a new story posted yesterday at VB's website, titled "CBS DVD to increase its release slate: Label plans to roll out 105 to 110 titles". In it, Susanne discusses how CBS DVD "now retains creative oversight over series from former sibling Paramount Television, including Beverly Hills 90210 and Twin Peaks, and Showtime, home of Dexter and The L Word...(and d)espite Viacom and CBS now being separate companies, Viacom's Paramount Home Entertainment and CBS DVD work together, with Paramount handling sales and distribution and the two companies sharing marketing duties." This, by the way, is essentially why we here at TVShowsOnDVD tend to refer to releases as being from "CBS/Paramount", due to the shared nature of the production and distribution.

Susanne's article goes over how CBS DVD intends to release 13-18% more TV-DVD titles in 2008 - roughly 105-110 planned releases - as compared to their 2007 slate. In it, she covers three major pieces of news for fans. Two of them concern HD DVD-format releases, and we've posted about those separately. The DVD-specific news in Susanne's story, though, will bowl over fans who have been waiting for a release for a looong time of...Duckman!

Klasky-Csupo (Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys) produced this 1994 animated series, with a cast that includes the voices of Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Gregg Berger ("Grimlock" from Transformers), singer Dweezil Zappa, Nancy Travis (Becker) and Tim Curry (The Rocky Horror Picture Show). It is currently the 83rd-most-wanted unreleased series among TVShowsOnDVD voters, and has massive support around the internet for a home video release. It looks like this is coming out at long last. Here is what Susanne's story says:

(CBS DVD Executive VP and General Manager Ken) Ross hopes to keep satisfying consumer demand through 2008 with the release of Duckman, a cult '90s animated program. An online petition for the series' DVD bow has garnered more than 7,000 signatures.

"There has been a level of fan demand for this show for a long time," said Ross, who declined to specify exact reasons for the DVD release hold-up. "We really had to wrap our brain around figuring a way to do it."

Exact street date or pricing has not yet been set for Duckman, but it's possible that multiple seasons will be released within one package next year.

"Our philosophy is that we are TV, so we are going to work harder than anybody to try to find a way to put a series out if there is a demand for it," said Ross. "We bring that same mentality to any and everything we can do."

I suspect Duckman fans are dancing around the room in celebration of this terrific news, but as stated we do not have a release date yet. It's safe to assume we'll see it in 2008, and we hope to break that news to you just as soon as we can. So stay tuned!

DVD unit sales dropped 4.5 pct in '07, says data firm

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. DVD unit sales fell 4.5 percent in 2007, marking the first big year-over-year decline for the category since the disc format debuted in 1997, according to preliminary estimates released on Thursday.

After essentially flat trends for 2005 and 2006, sales of films and TV shows on DVDs fell from 1.144 billion units in 2006, to 1.092 billion units in 2007, said Tom Adams, president of Adams Media Research, a California-based entertainment data firm. The figures include next-generation DVD sales.

Unit sales in 2005 were down 0.3 percent from 2004, and inched up 0.2 percent in 2006 from 2005, Adams said.

According to Adams Media tallies, consumer spending on DVDs fell 4.8 percent to $15.7 billion in 2007 from $16.5 billion in 2006.

Adams noted that while unit sales were flat in 2005, spending also declined that year by about 1.5 percent.

Major studios had hoped for substantial sales gains in the fourth quarter of 2007 with the release of such hits as "Fantastic Four," "Ratatouille," and "Transformers."

But Adams said fourth quarter DVD sales essentially matched the fourth quarter of 2006.

"The main culprit has been the decaying sales of new releases," Adams said. "The average performance on new releases per box office dollar has been declining since 2003. And this year, sales of TV shows on DVD fell for the first time ever. Catalog sales also declined," he said.

Catalog sales are the sales of films that have been out on the market previously.

The DVD format was launched in 1997, when sales totaled about $6.2 billion.

The industry registered double digit sales growth each year for much of this decade, until sales hit about $16.6 billion in 2004.

Adams believes a combination of factors have contributed to the slowdown, including the fact that most households have slowed building their DVD collections after extremely aggressive pricing on catalog products drove huge gains over the past few years.

Adams believes the industry will likely suffer continued slowness in 2008 and 2009 as a format war for next-generation DVDs plays out and before next-generation DVD players become widespread. The industry will be back on a healthy growth track in 2010, as high-definition DVDs take off, according to Adams.

"High-definition is the ray of hope for the industry," he said.

DVD gets Zapped!

Zapped!, the '80s paranormal sex romp starring Scott Baio will go digital with a new DVD release in February.

The disc carries an anamorphic widescreen transfer and the original stereo sound mix. No extras have been announced, but with a tagline like They're getting a little behind in their classwork, what more could you possibly ask for.

Arriving February 12th from MGM Home Entertainment, the disc retails for $14.98.

Mounties bust fake DVD scam in Montreal

The RCMP have seized thousands of counterfeit DVDs of popular American TV shows and arrested eight people suspected of masterminding a black-market scam to sell the videos.

Mountie investigators raided an undisclosed Montreal location Tuesday where they found thousands of illegal DVD copies of shows like The Six Million Dollar Man and Ally McBeal, as well as 200 DVD burners.

Eight people were arrested and face several fraud charges under the Canadian Criminal Code and Copyright Law.

The RCMP believe the DVDs were burned in Montreal and sold widely across North America through several internet sites.

The counterfeit DVDs were sold at market prices which led buyers to believe they were purchasing original copies.

Canada's national police force warned consumers to be vigilant when buying DVDs online. Counterfeit versions are typically of poorer quality, the RCMP said at a press conference Wednesday.

People who believe they've bought counterfeit versions can contact the RCMP at 1-514-939-8307, or the Canadian Association of Film Distributors at 1-800-363-9166.

Director Scott favours this 'Blade Runner'

This holiday season, director Ridley Scott and science-fiction-film fans both get to cross a long-hoped-for item off of their wish lists: an ultimate home video version of his 1982 hit Blade Runner.

In making the futuristic noir classic, which starred Harrison Ford, Scott was coerced to add a happier ending and Ford's voice-over to the complex film about "replicants," or androids, who wanted to become human.

Studio executives, Scott says, found the film "too oppressive or even non-specific, and wanted to see did (Ford's character Deckard and Sean Young's Rachael) have a life after the movie."

Scott, 70, who has already earned best-director and best-picture Golden Globe nominations for his latest film, American Gangster, concedes that at the time, "I was not as experienced as I am now and kind of went along with the process of readjustments." But after the fact, he realized that the ending with Deckard and Rachael headed into the beautiful mountain range "was always a problem for me. It was too sweet."

For this 25th anniversary Blade Runner: The Final Cut, Scott oversaw an exacting digital restoration. He left off the original voice-over and happy ending, digitally tweaked some effects and restored a few extra bits of violence. Scott also reshot the death of Zhora (Joanna Cassidy), which was originally done by a stuntwoman with a bad wig, a fact that over the years grated on Scott and viewers alike.

This version, which played in some theaters and at film festivals, is just out in multiple editions, including a five-DVD "limited ultimate collector's set" in a numbered plastic briefcase ($79). That set includes the final cut and four other versions of the film — the original theatrical and international versions, the 1992 director's cut and a "work print" — plus a piece of film from the original movie, unicorn figurine, miniature car and photos.

Also available: five-disc HD DVD and Blu-ray ultimate limited editions ($100), a two-DVD final cut special edition ($21) and a four-DVD collector's edition ($35).

All editions include a new documentary, Dangerous Days: Making Blade Runner, and a movie-length audio commentary by Scott, who considers this final cut his favorite version. After its digital makeover, Scott says the film looks as if "it could have been made this week. This isn't some old walnut I'm dragging out of the sock drawer. It could have been released now."

Q&A: McCartney channels inspiration into "Full" slate

DETROIT (Billboard) - As far as Paul McCartney is concerned, words like "take it easy" are reserved for the Eagles.

During the past three years alone the ex-Beatle has released a pair of pop albums -- the Grammy-nominated "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" in 2005 and this year's "Memory Almost Full" -- as well as the 2006 classical piece "Ecce Cor Meum." Sir Paul also collaborated on albums by Tony Bennett, George Benson and Al Jarreau, and George Michael.

This fall McCartney released an expanded edition of "Memory Almost Full," adding three bonus tracks and a second disc of videos and live footage, along with a three-DVD retrospective of his solo career, "The McCartney Years," that's loaded with rare and unreleased material. And he had a piece in the DVD rollout of the Beatles' "Help."

There are musicians a third his age (65) who aren't working at nearly the same level, and we can rest assured that the days of "doing the garden, digging the weeds" are still a long way off for this knighted former mop top.

Q: What accounts for the creative spurt you seem to be on the past few years?

Paul McCartney: "It's simple: I really enjoy what I do. And every so often I just get sort of inspired. I never know why or how, but I think one of the great things is that music is a great healer and it's a great sort of therapy. Often if you're going through something difficult -- as you can imagine without me laying too much of a point on it, this last year's been pretty difficult -- to get into your music is a great thing. So I think the last couple years I've been very glad to have my music and I've been putting stuff into it that seems to have added up to something."

Q: Do you feel like you're getting inspiration as well as healing from these hard times?

McCartney: "I think that's true. You look at the lives of the great composers and they were not a lot of fun, some of them. Great painters, too; I was looking at a fantastic painting by Rembrandt the other day in a museum, and I was reminded by the blurb next to it that he died penniless and had a terribly bloody time, but he was one hell of a painter. So that's why I say therapy; you're feeling bad, you skulk off to a corner with your guitar and you write something, and somehow you seem to take yourself through it and you work through it with your music. I thank heaven for that. I feel very, very blessed. People always used to call it a gift, the gift of music, and I think that's very much, more and more, how I see it."

Q: That being said, "Memory Almost Full" isn't exactly "Blood on the Tracks," is it?

McCartney: "That's funny, isn't it? I still seem to come out positive and optimistic. I think that's my character. But (the divorce from Heather Mills) is something I don't want to talk about, and really for one reason. I have a baby daughter ... a 4-year-old, and I do not want to excite the envelope in any direction whatsoever. I'm just sort of keeping the dignified silence."

Q: So, how did "The McCartney Years" come about?

McCartney: "For a long time people have been saying to me, 'When can we get a hold of that video?' or 'Is that video available? Is that released?' And I just sort of thought, 'No ...' I was always a little bit like, 'One day, yeah, I'll do it. Don't worry.' But then a couple of guys got in touch with me and said, 'Look, we think it's time. We want to work on it. Let us put forward a proposal of what we would do for you to look at.'

"It took a long time to put together. They started cleaning it all up, and then they cleaned the sound mixes up and then they started showing me, and that was like, 'Jeez, I've never heard it like this. I've never seen it like this.' So I started to get excited and I fell for the whole idea. I just said, 'Go to it boys, let's do it."'

Q: What did you encounter in doing the project that really blew you away?

McCartney: "I think the short answer is, 'everything.' Obviously, everything with Linda in it was particularly heartwarming, realizing her major contribution to everything once you see it all en masse. I hadn't seen 'Tug of War' in a while, which was lovely. It was good to see things like 'Say Say Say' with Michael Jackson, and of course Linda and our daughter Heather make an appearance in that, so that was really cool."

Q: You used Ringo (Starr) pretty liberally as a guest star in your videos.

McCartney: "Yeah, that was very good. 'Take It Away' and 'Beautiful Night,' he kindly agreed to be the drummer in those, especially as he'd (played on) 'Take It Away.' It was just fabulous. (Beatles producer) George Martin even appears in one of them."

Q: You must have had an interesting perspective on videos in the '80s and beyond because it was no stranger to you. You did videos -- you even did movies -- with the Beatles, so it wasn't quite as revolutionary of a concept as it was in the U.S.

McCartney: "The difference was you suddenly had to be a short filmmaker as well, and not all of us liked it. The process was quite wearing. You'd sort of farm it out to three or four directors who you thought were hot and (one) would come back with -- it was a bit like a comedy sketch -- 'I see you on a mountaintop in Tibet wearing nothing but a loincloth. The Sun God shines down ...' and you're going 'Oh no.' Then the next one was, 'I see you in a scene from the Keystone Cops. You're hanging off the back of a wagon, it's all shot in fast-motion black-and-white.' Or it was, 'I see you as a scene from "Casablanca" ... I see you as the Terminator.' You're just desperate to get something where you can go, 'This looks alright.' Occasionally there would be a good idea ... and the rest of the time there was an element of embarrassment 'cause you thought of yourself as a singer, not a film star."

Q: Was it different when you were doing it in the '60s?

McCartney: "Yeah, it wasn't quite so important, so we would say, 'Oh, look, just get a camera and we'll get girls with grass skirts and we'll just stand there in our Sgt. Pepper's costumes and sing "Hello Goodbye."' There wasn't that much thought that went into it, which made it a little bit more innocent and less precious."

Q: Of the live material on "The McCartney Years," it's kind of brave to include your Live Aid performance in the set.

McCartney: "Oh my God, the Live Aid was just one of those things I'd sooner forget. I came in from the country and sort of drove in and every window in Britain was open with televisions on and Live Aid blaring out. It was a national event and I knew I was gonna be on it, but I didn't take anyone with me. I didn't have a roadie. I didn't even have anyone to make sure my mic or speakers were working. And Bob Geldof just said, 'Well, your piano's behind that curtain. You're on.' There I was in front of the world ... and I heard in my monitor very ominous sounds of roadies talking: 'Is this the plug?' I figured, 'I'll just keep plugging on,' but I couldn't hear myself. I couldn't hear anything. And then it suddenly became clear my mic wasn't on, but the dear old audience helped me out, God bless 'em. They all sang it. So I escaped by the skin of my teeth. It was sort of a nightmare. If you asked me for three nervous moments, I think that'd be top."

Q: Is there any news about the Beatles' catalog going online?

McCartney: "I think it's all happening soon. There are contractual things, and you'll find that someone in the loop maybe doesn't want to give what they should give, so it's negotiating. But I think we're kinda set. I think that Apple is set to do their bit. The whole thing is primed, ready to go. There's just maybe sort of one little sticking point left, and I think that's being cleared up as we speak, so it shouldn't be too long. But, you know, you've got to get these things right. ... So it's down to the fine-tuning, but I'm pretty sure it'll be happening next year, 2008."

Q: What's next for you, musically?

McCartney: "I'm actually doing some recording with my son (James). We're just looking at the idea of him making an album. He's doing it all. He's writing it all ... It's sensational. But there's nothing set yet. ... The plan is for me to just do some recording with him, and it's really exciting. I'm really loving it."

BIG BOX STORIES

Chances are you know somebody who still quotes “Seinfeld." Maybe even a pal who offers Vulcan salutes without irony. Yes, these people can be annoying, but they'll also be easy to shop for this holiday season. On Tuesday, their gifts arrive in stores - as long as you're willing to drop nearly $300. After all, what better to give a TV-show fan than more episodes and extras of that show than they could ever possibly watch.

Case in point: “Seinfeld: The Complete Series" (Sony, $283.99). It comes with 32 discs, all 180 episodes and 104 hours of extras. The truly fanatic will want to hunt down one of the limited-edition faux refrigerators - just like Jerry's! - to store the box in. Inside are all kind of “Seinfeld"-themed edibles, such as muffin tops, Junior Mints and a bottle of Bosco.

“Star Trek: The Next Generation: Complete Series" (Paramount, $455.95) is even more galactically massive, with 178 episodes on 49 discs. It comes in a nifty box that looks like a space station. And that price is liable to make your head explode like a supernova, but it's already been discounted to $297.99 on Amazon.

“Seinfeld" and “Star Trek" join “Everybody Loves Raymond: The Complete Series" (HBO, $279.98), which hit stores last week. Incredibly, it has even more episodes, boasting 210 on 44 discs. Even more amazing, it comes it a nice little suburban house - just like Ray's Long Island digs!

When it comes to ginormous sets, these three are just the beginning.
On Nov. 13, we'll see the arrival of “The Addams Family: The Complete Series" (MGM, $69.98) in a velvet-touch box. Always creepier and slightly funnier than “The Munsters," it's a relatively cheap way to delve insides the minds of Morticia and Cousin Itt.

The same week, a blast of arctic dramedy arrives with “Northern Exposure: The Complete Series" (Universal, $199.98), packaged in a handsomel suede adventure bag.

Teens who love fantasizing about kids much richer than themselves will be thankful for the Nov. 27 release of “The O.C.: The Complete Series Collection" (Warner, $179.98). They can pore over every romantic fling, hissy fit and jail sentence, since the discs come in an illustrated book.

Finally, on Dec. 11, Kelsey Grammer fans will rejoice in “Frasier: Complete Series" (Paramount, $343.99), 44 discs worth of frothy lattes and witty banter.
These are hardly the only “completes" out this season. There's also: “Full House" (Warner, $169.68) and “The King of Queens" (Sony, $232.95), out Tuesday; “The Gilmore Girls" (Warner, $258.82) on Nov. 13; and “Queer as Folk" (Paramount, $249.99) and “Dr. Katz Professional Therapist" (Paramount, $139.99) on Nov. 20.

Krist Novoselic speaks ahead of 'Nirvana Unplugged' DVD

Nirvana's legendary 'MTV Unplugged In New York' performance is finally set to be released on DVD, nearly 14 years to the day from when it was performed.

The DVD will contain both the original broadcast of the show and the complete unedited version of the set with 5.1 Surround Sound.

Speaking to NME.COM, Nirvana's bass player Krist Novoselic said he was looking forward to the release, particularly in its new audio format.

"The new 5.1 sound really opens it up and it gave me a new appreciation for the songs," he explained. "You can hear what each instrument is doing. It really invites you in and I'm sure everyone will enjoy it in a new way. I'd really like to re-release 'In Utero' in that way at some point."

In between songs on the unedited 66-minute version, the band are seen affably chatting with each other, debating what songs to play and even taking requests from the audience.

At one point, they even break into a jokey version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's classic 'Sweet Home Alabama' with guest performers The Meat Puppets.

Also featured on the DVD are previously unseen rehearsal takes of 'Plateau', 'About A Girl', 'Polly', 'Come As You Are', 'All Apologies' and their cover of David Bowie's 'The Man Who Sold The World'.

A rehearsal version of 'Pennyroyal Tea' which features guitarist Pat Smear also playing in the track is included. This was originally the way the band planned to perform the song until Kurt Cobain decided at the last minute to play it solo during the show.

Additionally, a 20 minute documentary featuring interviews with the band and members of the crew are also included.

The DVD is set for release on November 20th.

FULL DVD PACKET

10-DISC SET CAPTURES THE SPIRIT AND GENIUS OF STANLEY KUBRICK

October 21, 2007 -- To perfectly capture the quality of French soil, Stanley Kubrick brought actual samples of earth home with him for screen tests. But that level of obsessive preparation is what you would expect from a great director prepping "Napoleon," a biopic starring Jack Nicholson in the title role.

Unfortunately, that movie never got made. But you'll hear about it in the many hours of extras included in "Warner Director's Series: Stanley Kubrick."

The 10-DVD set features remastered and mostly widescreen versions of "2001: A Space Odyssey," "A Clockwork Orange," "The Shining," "Full Metal Jacket" and "Eyes Wide Shut," as well as a documentary called "Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures." "Full Metal Jacket" is the only film without a complete second disc of extras.

The treasures to be found here are both trivial and grand, including lots of from-the-set tidbits. While filming "A Clockwork Orange," for example, star Malcolm McDowell tells how, when preparing to shoot the horrific "Singing in the Rain" attack scene, Adrienne Corri - the actress he would soon brutalize on camera - approached him and said, "Well, Malcolm, now you're gonna find out that I'm a real redhead."

On "The Shining" disc, we get a behind-the-scenes doc that shows Nicholson getting into character by bouncing around the set swinging an ax, mumbling, "Ax murderer, kill!"

We learn that the grand opening of "2001" was actually crafted from still photographs, and that Kubrick directed the photographers by phone using the coordinates on a map because of his paralyzing fear of flying.

We also get an in-depth glimpse of the man himself, with a gallery of pictures he took for Look magazine while still in high school.

Directors who worked with, and were inspired by, Kubrick - Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Sydney Pollack and others - extoll his achievements, as if confirming that film may never gotten where it is today without the vision of this very private man from The Bronx.

The Zodiac: Director's Cut is closing in on you

From Paramount Home Entertainment finally comes full information on the release of the Zodiac: Director’s Cut scheduled for release in January on DVD and HD-DVD.

Based on the actual case files of one of the most intriguing unsolved crimes in the nation’s history, “Zodiac” is a thriller from David Fincher, director of “Se7en” and “Panic Room.” As a serial killer terrifies the San Francisco Bay Area and taunts police with his ciphers and letters, investigators in four jurisdictions search for the murderer. The case will become an obsession for four men as their lives and careers are built and destroyed by the endless trail of clues.

The Director’s Cut of David Fincher’s thriller will comes as a 2-Disc set featuring the movie in anamorphic widescreen with 5 minutes of additional footage inserted back into the film. As extras the release will contain a Commentary Track by director David Fincher, as well as another Commentary Track featuring the cast and crew, including Jake Gyllenhall, Robert Downey Jr., Producer Brad Fischer, James Vanderbilt and James Ellroy.

A long string of Featurettes and Documentaries is included on the release, such as the multi-part documentary ”Zodiac Deciphered” covering aspects such as “The San Francisco Chronicle,” “Hall of Justice,” “Obsession,” “Blue Rock Springs,” “Presidio Heights,” and “Lake Berryessa.”

”The Visual Effects of Zodiac” is another multi-part documentary showing the “Digital Workflow,” and Sequence Breakdowns for “Blue Rock Springs,” “”Lake Berryessa” and “San Francisco.”

”This is the Zodiac Speaking” is a look at the facts behind the movie, covering “Lake Herman Road,” “Blue Rock Springs,” “Lake Berryessa” and “San Francisco.” Then in Prime Suspect we get to take a look at “His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen” and the “Linguistic Analysis.”

The release will also offer up Jeopardy Surface: Geographic Profiling a 6:30 minute video, the 5-minute video The Psychology of Aggression: Behavioral Profiling and the movie’s Theatrical Trailer

The HD-DVD version will feature a 1080p widescreen transfer complemented by a Dolby Digital Plus audio track. Also coming as a 2-Disc set, it will contain the same bonus materials, though all of them presented in full 1080p high definition, plus two additional text-based features, “Dr. Kim Rossmo's Geographic Profile of the Zodiac” and “Special Agent Sharon Pagaling-Hagan's Behavioral Profile of the Zodiac”.

The “Zodiac: Director’s Cut” will be in stores on January 8 and carries a $39.99 price tag.

Third 'Kissology' Due In Time For Christmas

The third release in Kiss' archival "Kissology" DVD series will arrive in time for Christmas. "Volume Three: 1992-2000" is due Dec. 18 via VH1 Classic and will feature four DVDs comprising nearly 10 hours of footage.

The first disc begins with a complete performance recorded at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit from November 1992. It also features the complete August 1995 "MTV Unplugged" set which found the original Kiss lineup of Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss perform together on stage for the first time in nearly 16 years.

The second disc chronicles the original lineup's subsequent successful reunion tours of the late '90s, including the Detroit kickoff of the 1996 outing. Five tracks recorded near the Brooklyn Bridge in New York for the same year's MTV Video Music Awards round out the DVD.

Disc three boasts a performance from the August 1999 film premiere party for "Detroit Rock City" and a June 2000 concert at New Jersey's Continental Airlines Arena. The fourth disc eschews the chronological structure to offer a December 1973 set from New York, when Kiss performed the majority of its self-titled debut two months before its release.

Certain versions of "Kissology" will also include a fifth disc, which features the group's June 1996 performance at L.A. radio station KROQ's Weenie Roast.

In 2005, Stanley explained that the Kissology series was inspired by classic film by another renowned rock artist. "That Scorsese/Dylan piece ['No Direction Home: Bob Dylan'] was eye opening, at least to me, in terms of how you can be immersed in a time capsule, and not only see the music and be part of the crowd, but also get a sense of who Dylan was then," he said. "That set a really high bar, and I think that is more likely our approach at this point."

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers get ready for their close-up

The story behind Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will be told in a four-disc DVD/CD collection that is set to hit shelves next month and debut on big screens in select cities.

"Runnin' Down A Dream: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers" will be sold exclusively at Best Buy retail outlets beginning Oct. 16. Two days before, the film will close the 2007 New York Film Festival at the Walter Reade Theatre, and will then premiere Oct. 15 for one night only in 21 cities across the country (listed below). The Sundance Channel is also scheduled to run the film commercial-free on Oct. 29

"Runnin' Down A Dream," directed by Peter Bogdanovich, takes viewers from Petty and the Heartbreakers' humble beginnings in Gainesville, FL, to last year's 30th anniversary celebration. It also follows Petty's solo career and his time as a Traveling Wilbury alongside George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison. The film features in-depth interviews with Petty and the band, as well as their circle of musicians, friends and collaborators, according to a press release.

Petty toured last year to support "Highway Companion," his third solo release and 18th overall career album. The set debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200, making it the singer/songwriter's highest-ever chart debut. At the time of the outing, Petty told Rolling Stone the trek could be his last.

Petty continues to stay busy hosting the XM Satellite Radio show "Tom Petty's Hidden Treasures," which recently began its third season. He and his band can also be heard on the just-released tribute CD "Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino," on which they do a rendition of "I'm Walkin."

Over the past three decades, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers have sold more than 50 million records. Between his work with the band and his solo efforts, Petty has picked up 18 Grammy nominations. He and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, which was the first year they were eligible for the honor.

Oct. 15 screenings in the following cities:
Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Berkeley, CA
Santa Rosa, CA
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL
Detroit, MI
Evansville, IN
Lansing, MI
Grand Rapids, MI
San Luis Obispo, CA
Livermore, CA
Fairfax, CA
Martinez, CA
Petaluma, CA
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Washington, DC

Erik the Viking is recut

The Terry Jones' satire Erik the Viking is making its way to DVD in a special Director's Son's Cut. Yes, the son of Terry Jones - with Jones' blessing - has recut the film for DVD and it is coming your way from MGM Home Entertainment.

An unusually principled young Viking becomes increasing uncomfortable with all the killing and plundering that goes with the job, and sets out on a magical journey in order to bring about world peace.

The new cut is nearly thirty minutes shorter than the original cut with rearranged and shortened scenes and a remixed soundtrack. No release for the theatrical cut is planned. In addition to the film, the disc contains a Commentary Track with Terry Jones, a Behind the scenes featurette on the new cut as well as a vintage Featurette from 1989, a Trailer and a Photo Gallery.

The new DVD is priced at $19.98 when it arrives on November 7th.

DVD-sniffing dogs visit Canada

TORONTO (CP) - A pair of canine crimefighters who have sniffed out nearly two million illegal DVDs overseas showcased their noseworthy skills Wednesday, as an industry watchdog executive reiterated the need to remain vigilant in the fight against piracy.

Lucky and Flo, who are sponsored by the Motion Picture Association of America, are the world's first dogs specially trained to identify discs by the scent of their chemicals.

One by one, the black Labradors were unleashed to sniff among a suitcase and seven brown boxes scattered in close proximity in search of the one holding the DVDs, before flipping off the lid to unveil its contents.

Piracy cost the worldwide film industry US$18.2 billion in 2005, including US$225 million to the Canadian industry, said John Malcolm, the MPAA's executive vice-president and director of worldwide anti-piracy.

"That represents huge lost opportunities for creative artists here in Canada to get their films made and their stories told and represents a huge lost opportunity in terms of being able to showcase the talents of Canadian filmmakers," he said.

The dogs' Canadian visit comes one week after the canines sniffed out a large inventory of knock-off DVDs in the New York City borough of Queens. Three people were arrested and officials seized between 10,000 and 12,000 discs. The dogs were also recently honoured in Malaysia for helping unearth nearly two million bootleg DVDs.

In recent months, Ottawa has moved swiftly to get an anti-camcording law on the books. Bill C-59, which gained royal assent June 22, amends the Criminal Code to make recording a movie without permission a crime, punishable by two years in jail. Taping a film for future sale or rental carries a maximum five-year jail term.

The bill was introduced just two days after Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that Canada would crack down on piracy.

While Malcolm applauds the government's efforts to stem bootlegging, Canadian camcording remains a problem, accounting for about 25 per cent of the illegal recordings available worldwide, he said.

"Let's be clear: when we talk about piracy, there's nothing swashbuckling about this. It is stealing, pure and simple, no different than any other kind of theft. This is a serious criminal activity."

Neil Powell, a search and rescue dog handler based in northern Ireland, has worked with Flo and Lucky for 2 1/2 years. He was approached by a representative of the Motion Picture Association in the U.K. who asked if he was able to train dogs to find DVDs and CDs.

The training process took 12 weeks and was divided into three segments: determining whether there was a detectable odour on DVDs, teaching the dogs to find the discs and environmental training exposing the duo to different types of search areas.

Despite their ability to detect discs, they can't distinguish between the legitimate and pirated ones.

"Any searching we have to do is done where we know there are no genuine discs so they cannot tell the difference between the two," Powell said.

"So you would get them to search consignments of clothing or furniture, that sort of thing, and if the discs are then hidden away in that the dogs will most certainly find them."

The dogs were honoured in Malaysia last month following a six-month assignment dubbed "Operation Double Trouble" where they participated in 35 raids in the country and the Philippines resulting in 26 arrests.

The operations were so successful that Malaysian movie pirates reportedly placed a bounty on the dogs.

"When we started off, this was cutting-edge because it had never been done before anywhere in the world, so when I did it at first I thought, 'Well, how can this be used? Where can we actually use these dogs?' But it would seem the amount of interest around the world now is growing steadily," Powell said. "I am amazed by the impact they've made."

After a four-week break in Ireland, Lucky and Flo will be back on the road, heading to eastern Europe.

Beatles' 'Help!' Expanded For New DVD

The Beatles' second film, 1965's "Help!," will be released in a double-DVD edition Oct. 30 via Apple Corps Ltd and EMI Music. The movie was released in DVD in 1997 and again in 2000, but has been off the market ever since due to rights issues.

In "Help!," drummer Ringo Starr comes into possession of a cursed ring, which he cannot remove, prompting adventures in London, the Austrian Alps and the Bahamas.

The first disc of "Help!" boasts a digitally restored version of the film plus a new 5.1 audio soundtrack, with songs like "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away," "Ticket To Ride," "The Night Before," "Another Girl" and "You're Going To Lose That Girl."

Disc two offers a 30-minute documentary about the making of the movie, a missing scene, a featurette on the restoration process, interviews with cast and crew, three theatrical trailers and vintage radio advertisements.

"Help!" will also be available in a boxed set with a reproduction of director Richard Lester's original script and a 60-page book with rare photos and production notes.

Fall music DVD preview

Not all the best discs this fall go in your CD player. Here are the key music DVDs destined for your home theatre.

Johnny Cash -- Best of the Johnny Cash

TV Show What could be better than two DVDs of vintage Cash? How about guests like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Ray Charles, CCR, Neil Diamond, Derek and the Dominos and more? Sept. 18

Otis Redding -- Dreams to Remember: The Legacy

More than a dozen performances by the late soul giant -- including a TV appearance taped less than 24 hours before his death. Sept. 18

The Ramones -- It's Alive 1974 - 1996

Hey, ho, let's go watch four hours of classic and previously unseen live footage from the Noo Yawk punk bruddas. Oct. 2

AC/DC -- Plug Me In

If you want blood, you'll get in on this three-disc set with more than seven hours of clips from the Aussie rockers' entire career. Oct. 16

Bob Dylan -- The Other Side of the Mirror: Live at Newport

Zimmy and his acoustic guitar get their folk on at the 1963 edition of the long-running U.S. music fest. Oct. 30

Paul McCartney -- The McCartney Years

Big Mac empties the vault for this this three-disc set of live cuts and videos from his post-Beatles era. Nov. 13

Led Zeppelin -- The Song Remains the Same

Maybe it does ... but this version of the ultimate '70s rock movie comes with four previously unseen tunes. Nov. 20

McCartney Unearths Live Clips, Videos For DVD

Four decades' worth of rare footage, live performance and music videos have been rounded up for "The McCartney Years," a three-DVD set due Nov. 13 via MPL/Rhino Entertainment. McCartney has also recorded new commentary for the 40-plus videos, which can be viewed in chronological order or via his own custom playlists.

The first two discs comprise the videos, beginning with 1970's "Maybe I'm Amazed" and running through 2005's "Fine Line." Bonus features on these discs include a "Band on the Run" promo film and a documentary on the making of McCartney's 2005 album "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard."

The third disc features snippets from "Rockshow," filmed on the 1976 Wings tour, a new edit of McCartney's 1991 appearance on MTV's "Unplugged" and 11 songs from his 2004 headlining set at the U.K.'s Glastonbury Festival. The live footage also boasts new commentary from McCartney.

Here is the track list for "The McCartney Years":

Disc one:

"Tug Of War"
"Say Say Say"
"Silly Love Songs"
"Band On The Run"
"Maybe I'm Amazed"
"Heart Of The Country"
"Mamunia"
"With A Little Luck"
"Goodnight Tonight"
"Waterfalls"
"My Love"
"C-Moon"
"Baby's Request"
"Hi Hi Hi"
"Ebony And Ivory"
"Take It Away"
"Mull Of Kintyre"
"Helen Wheels"
"I've Had Enough"
"Coming Up"
"Wonderful Christmastime"

Disc two:

"Pipes Of Peace"
"My Brave Face"
"Beautiful Night"
"Fine Line"
"No More Lonely Nights"
"This One"
"Little Willow"
"Pretty Little Head"
"Birthday"
"Hope Of Deliverance"
"Once Upon A Long Ago"
"All My Trials"
"Brown-Eyed Handsome Man"
"Press"
"No Other Baby"
"Off The Ground"
"Biker Like An Icon"
"Spies Like Us"
"Put It There"
"Figure Of Eight"
"C'Mon People"

Disc three:

From "Rockshow":
"Venus And Mars"
"Rock Show"
"Jet"
"Maybe I'm Amazed"
"Lady Madonna"
"Listen To What The Man Said"
"Bluebird"

From "MTV Unplugged":
"I Lost My Little Girl"
"Every Night"
"And I Love Her"
"That Would Be Somethin"

From Glastonbury 2004:
"Jet"
"Flaming Pie"
"Let Me Roll It"
"Blackbird"
"Band On The Run"
"Back In The USSR"
"Live And Let Die"
"Hey Jude"
"Yesterday"
"Helter Skelter"
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

'Seinfeld'-In-A-Box

Just in time for Festivus — the "Seinfeld"-centric holiday "for the rest of us — comes the ultimate "Seinfeld" DVD collection, all nine season in one box.

Nearly 10 years after the beloved sitcom left the air, "Seinfeld" releases its complete-season run on DVD, Nov. 6 - a four disc seat with all 24 episodes of the final season. But the real treat that day is an elaborate boxed set with all nine seasons. "Seinfeld: The Complete Series" features 32 discs and will sell for around $283.95.

That includes not only all 180 episodes, but also a bonanza of bonus materials including a 226-page coffee-table book filled with photos, quotes, trivia and personal reflections from star Jerry Seinfeld himself.

"When the show wrapped, the book, which had taken years to assemble, was privately shared with only the cast and crew," Marc Rashba, VP marketing at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment told Reuters.

"When we were launching the TV-DVD series sets five years ago, we loved it so much, but we took a look, and it was ridiculously expensive to put it out. Now, we reshaped and redesigned it, and we were able to make it happen. It's the first time the public will get to see it."

Other special materials in the big-boxed set are documentaries on all nine seasons, bloopers, deleted scenes, commentaries and more. "We talked about this from the beginning, when we launched this," Rashba said. "We always knew we wanted to wrap up with something special."

Shrek the Third Comes To Disc

Paramount Home Entertainment will cover the distribution of the latest Shrek DVD which will be arriving later this fall. Shrek the Third is coming.

The new DVD will include several deleted scenes, a behind the scenes featurettes as well as the featurette Tech of Shrek, a Donkey Dance video, a gag reel, kid's games, and two interactive features Worcestershire Academy Yearbook and Shrek's Guide to Parenthood.

The DVD is on the way on November 13th for $29.99.

The Grindhouse is broken

It looks like there will be no DVD release for Grindhouse in the immediate future.

Death Proof and Planet Terror are getting seperate releases this fall.

Death Proof will come as a 2 DVD set with 30 additional minutes of footage, four featurettes a Double Dare trailer and an art gallery. Likewise Planet Terror will come on 2 discs with deleted scenes, featurettes and trailers.

Both titles will be available seperately for $29.95.

Death Proof arrives on September 18th and Planet Terror follows on October 16th. Let's hope the full versions of Grindhouse is on the way as well.

'Blade Runner' gets DVD makeover

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – How does Harrison Ford remember the making of Blade Runner?

“It was a bitch.”

That’s one of the observations fans can expect when Blade Runner: The Final Cut – including an exhaustive three-hour-plus documentary - arrives in December on DVD. Details of the project were revealed at this weekend’s Comic-Con entertainment expo.

Although it was a flop upon its release in 1982, the thriller, starring Ford as an executioner of next-gen androids called replicants, is now regarded as a pre-cyberpunk classic.

It’s also been revisited before.

In 1991, Scott issued a director’s cut that dropped the tacked-on voiceover narration and added a dream sequence that implies Ford’s hunter is himself a replicant.

By comparison, The Final Cut’s most significant changes are minor touch-ups – such as Joanna Cassidy re-shooting a few seconds of her death sequence because Scott felt it was too obviously a stunt double in the original version.

Did Scott ever consider going further, refurbishing his science-fiction masterpiece – much as George Lucas did with Star Wars - with digital effects?

“I don’t have that much money,” he laughs.

“But I wouldn’t dream of that.”

In geekspeak that means, yes, Deckard still shoots first.

The Final Cut will be available in three editions, including a five-disc set that comes in a futuristic briefcase and includes five different cuts of the movie (including a “work print” that’s become an online favourite of fans). There is also, as mentioned above, the documentary Dangerous Days, which recalls the film’s notoriously tumultuous production.

Given Blade Runner’s enduring popularity, though – and the fact Scott’s seemingly definitive cut is receiving a brief theatrical run in October in New York and Los Angeles - one assumes someone, somewhere, might be interested in revisiting the realm of the replicants.

Scott, surprisingly, says he’s not opposed to a Blade Runner 2, although he stresses nothing is planned.

“There could be a sequel, but I’m not going to say I’d do it.”

But if he did, how would it begin? Scott references one of the final lines in the movie, uttered by Edward James Olmos about the beautiful replicant (Sean Young) Ford has fallen for: “She won’t live, but who does?”

Furthermore, there is Scott’s conviction – although it’s not one shared by Ford – that Deckard is a replicant.

“So that’s a good place to start.”

'Colbert Report' to get best-of DVD

NEW YORK - Stephen Colbert's legacy has been preserved in self-portraits, a Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor and an Ontario Hockey League mascot named Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle. Now, the satirist is getting a DVD.

Highlights from the first two years of "The Colbert Report" will be compiled for a single-disc DVD to be released Nov. 6, Comedy Central told The Associated Press. An official announcement of the DVD will be made Monday.

"The Best of 'The Colbert Report'" will include sketches from segments such as "The Word," "Better Know a District," "Tip of the Hat, Wag of the Finger" and "Threat Down." Celebrity interviews will also be featured.

"The Colbert Report," a spin-off of "The Daily Show," first aired in Oct. 2005. It was recently nominated for four Emmy Awards, including variety, music or comedy series, and individual performance in a variety or music program.

Looney Tunes adds 60 more shorts!!

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment is planning on releasing another volume of their top tier Looney Tunes Golden Collection. Volume 5 will add 60 more shorts, bringing the total on the sets to 296. That leaves about 150 still out there to be released in future sets.

Like previous sets, each disc will take some theme. In this case disc 1 celebrates team-ups with Bugs and Daffy. Disc 2 is Looney Fairy Tales. Disc 3 is Robert Clampett cartoons and disc 4 features more Porky Pig.

The discs will come with many features, but all that is known to be included now is the 2000 PBS documentary.

The set is set for an October 30th release with a suggested retail price of $64.92.

Jim Henson’s masterpieces return to DVD

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just unveiled details about DVD re-releases of Jim Henson’s feature film master pieces The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, scheduled for August as Special Editions.

In another time, the Dark Crystal was the Balance and Truth in the Universe, but it was destroyed and the world split into two factions led by the wicked Skeksis and the peaceful Mystics. Now as the convergence of the three suns approaches, the Crystal must be healed or darkness will reign forever. It is up to Jen, the last of his race, to carry out the prophecy that a Gelfing will return the missing chard of crystal and destroy the Skeksis’ evil Empire. But will Jen be up to the challenge of battling the unknown?

The 2-disc 25th Anniversary Special Edition DVD will feature a brand new transfer of the film with 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio. As extras the release will also include Rediscovered Footage from Jim Henson’s home in England as well as the Multi-part Featurette “Reflections on The Dark Crystal” featuring including all-new interviews with the writers and performers behind the magic including David O’Dell, Dave Goelz and Katheryn Mullen, Brian Froud, Brian Henson, Jane Gootnick, and Mira Velimorivic.

“Labyrinth” tells the story of Sarah (Jennifer Connolly), a young teenager with an active imagination, who, when frustrated with babysitting her baby brother, summons the goblins to take him away. Be careful what you wish for, because when little Toby disappears, Sarah must follow him into a puzzling fantasy world to rescue him from the Goblin King (David Bowie). Guarding the castle is the Labyrith itself: a complex and twisted maze of trickery, including outrageous characters and inexplicable dangers that Sarah must get through in time to save Toby.

The Special Edition features a brand new transfer of the film also, combined with a 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio track. It will also include newly Rediscovered Footage recovered from Jim Henson’s home in England as well as 60 minutes worth of featurettes with new interviews of the writers and performers behind the magic including, executive producer George Lucas, Brian Henson, Brian Froud, Karen Prell, Dave Goelz, Mira Velimorivic, Gates McFadden, Toby Froud and Jane Gootnick.

Both releases will be in stores on August 14 with a $24.96 suggested retail price. While not yet announced we believe Blu-Ray versions of these films are also on their way some time in the foreseeable future, which would make these films even more spectacular, no doubt.

Ed McMahon wants DVD gifts for troops

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. - Former longtime "Tonight Show" sidekick Ed McMahon is urging people to donate DVDs for U.S. troops in Iraq, saying movies offer a safe and comforting escape from wartime realities.

"This program accomplishes two things: the troops are entertained and they know that citizens at home care and support them," McMahon, 84, said Wednesday during ceremonies at the Palm Springs Airport's USO facility.

Operation DVD collects new and used DVDs to distribute overseas to U.S. military personnel. The year-old program has already collected more than 250,000 DVDs.

"This war in Iraq is unusual because soldiers never know where the next attack will come from. They need a safe mode of recreation since they become potential targets playing soccer or softball outdoors," said McMahon, a retired Marine officer who flew artillery-spotting missions in the Korean War.

Operation DVD began when a soldier approached the Rev. Scott Dryden in Kansas last May requesting parishioners donate books and DVDs for fellow troops overseas. The group American Veterans — AMVETS — then signed on to the project.

Robert Boots, California spokesman for Operation DVD, said the goal is to eventually have 1 million DVDs distributed to U.S. troops with more than 200 titles in rotation at each base.

"The least we can offer them is some DVDs for entertainment so they can escape their realities for a while," Boots said.

Collection boxes are located nationwide at schools, retail stores, churches, and government offices.

Disney sets "Lost," "Desperate," "Anatomy" DVD releases

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Disney wants to breathe some excitement into the TV-DVD business, which after several years of explosive growth is beginning to lose some of its luster.

The studio is taking the unusual step of announcing all its upcoming marquee TV-DVD releases at once and packing into them a wealth of novel extras, from Spanish-language audio tracks to a virtual fashion show, extended and bonus episodes and unaired story lines.

The highlight: Season 3 sets of top-rated shows "Lost," "Desperate Housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy." Breaking tradition, each set gets a special name, similar to special editions of movies.

"Desperate Housewives: The Complete Third Season -- The Dirty Laundry Edition" will arrive in stores September 4. The six-disc set includes all 23 episodes along with such extras as a behind-the-scenes look at the season finale, a Spanish audio track, a conversation with series star Eva Longoria in which she shares stories from some of her favorite bloopers, a collection of creator Marc Cherry's favorite scenes and several unaired story lines, deleted scenes and outtakes.

A week later, on September 11, comes "Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Third Season -- Seriously Extended Edition," a seven-disc set with all 25 episodes, four of them extended exclusively for the DVD release. Other bonus features include a one-on-one with series star Ellen Pompeo, a visit to the race track with star (and race-car enthusiast) Patrick Dempsey, cast and crew members' favorite scenes and audio commentaries.

"Lost: The Complete Third Season -- The Unexplored Experience" follows December 11 on DVD and Blu-ray Disc. The 23-episode, seven-disc set comes with a one-on-one with star Matthew Fox, a featurette on "The Others," a documentary chronicling 24 hours in production and a selection of never-before-seen flashbacks. Also included are behind-the-scenes looks at 10 episodes, audio commentaries, deleted scenes and bloopers.

Also in the pipeline are three new series that never before have been available on DVD.

"Ugly Betty: The Complete First Season -- Bettyfied Edition" will be out August 21. The six-disc set contains all 23 episodes as well as an exhibit of some of the first season's best and worst fashions, a Spanish audio track, a discussion with the cast on the show's origins and a behind-the-scenes documentary with the show's production, costume and set designers.

"Brothers & Sisters: The Complete First Season," also a six-disc set, is scheduled for a September 18 release. On September 25 comes "What About Brian? -- Seasons 1 & 2," a five-disc set.

The Disney announcement comes at a time when the pace of TV-DVD releases is slowing. Just 158 multi-disc TV-DVD season sets came to market in the first four months of this year, according to the DVD Release Report, down 12.2% from the same period last year.

Extras goes to Series Two

It's sad that the BBC/HBO series Extras can't be brought up without a call to Ricky Gervais' work on The Office. D'oh, I just did it. But Extras can stand on its own, and its second and final season will hit DVD soon from HBO Home Video.

Andy Millman is a 40-something actor who gave up his day job to pursue movie fame – only to find he couldn't land the substantial parts. Undaunted by failure and convinced of his star potential, Andy’s success finally turns the corner when a comedy pilot he wrote gets picked up by a British TV network. Despite his many gaffs and foibles, Andy may well be on his way to fame and fortune...if only he can survive meddling network executives, questionable fans, and the gross ineptitude of his clueless agent, Darren Lamb. Throughout Andy's latest misadventures there is one reassuring constant: his ongoing friendship with Maggie Jacobs, the perky if none-too-bright actress who continues to slog away as an extra on various big-budget movie sets, all the while searching for a man with two even legs.

The DVD contains all the episodes and some featurettes including Art of Corpsing, Extras Backstage and Taping Nigel: The Gimpening plus outtakes and bloopers.

The set arrives on July 10th with a suggested retail price of $29.98. Hopefully one day we'll get the talked about final episode, but until then, this is all for Andy Millman.

Rolling Stones' 'Bang' tour to hit Best Buy shelves on DVD

Just a few months after finishing up the US leg of what their publicist claims is the best-selling tour of all time, The Rolling Stones return with a concert DVD documenting the band's "A Bigger Bang" tour.

The Stones will partner with electronics and entertainment retailer Best Buy for the four-DVD set, titled "The Biggest Bang." The seven-hour collection, which features two complete concerts along with two documentaries, will be available at all Best Buy stores starting June 12.

The package, which will retail in the US for $29.99, can be pre-ordered through Best Buy's website starting today (5/30). The set will also be available in Canada at Best Buy outlets as well as Future Shop stores, and an international release is planned later this summer.

"'The Biggest Bang' DVD set lets fans join us as we traveled around the world," the band said in a press release. "They will go behind the scenes at the Super Bowl, see us play an intimate club show in Toronto and for 2 million people on the beach in Rio, as well as gigs in Shanghai, Buenos Aires and Japan. It features classics but also rarities--songs we've never released before on DVD."

"The Biggest Bang" marks the second time that the legendary rockers have worked with retailing giant Best Buy on a concert DVD. In 2003, the band and the company teamed up on "Four Flicks," an exclusive, four-DVD concert set that became the highest-selling long form concert DVD in US history, according to the retailer.

"'Four Flicks' was great, but practice makes perfect and 'The Biggest Bang' is even better--it's got all the right stuff," said "A Bigger Bang" tour promoter Michael Cohl in a press statement. "It's great to be back with Best Buy, and we're pleased that they have decided to offer fans the same low price as they did with Four Flicks three years ago."

Approaching two years since the band launched its record-breaking outing, the Stones continue to tour behind their latest studio album, 2005's "A Bigger Bang." The group is currently gearing up for a fresh European leg, which kicks off June 5 in Werchter, Belgium. The full European itinerary is included below.

June 2007
5 - Werchter, Belgium - Werchter Park
8 - Nijmegen, Netherlands - Goffert Park
10 - Isle of Wight, United Kingdom - Isle of Wight Festival
13 - Frankfurt, Germany - Commerzbank
16 - Paris, France - Stade de France
18 - Lyon, France - Stade Gerland
21 - Barcelona, Spain - Olympic Stadium
23 - San Sebastian, Spain - Estadio de Anoeta
25 - Lisbon, Portugal - Alvalade Stadium
28 - Madrid, Spain - Estadio Vicente Calderon
30 - Almeria, Spain - Estadio Santo Domingo

July 2007
6 - Rome, Italy - Olimpico Stadium
9 - Budva, Montenegro - Jaze Beach
14 - Belgrade, Serbia - Hippodrome
17 - Bucharest, Romania - National Lia Manoliu
20 - Budapest, Hungary - Puskas Ferenc Stadium
22 - Brno, Czech Republic - Outdoor Exhibition Centre
25 - Kiev, Russia - Olympic Stadium
28 - Saint Petersburg, Russia - Palace Square

August 2007
1 - Helsinki, Finland - Olympic Stadium
3 - Goteborg, Sweden - Ullevi Stadium
5 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Parken Stadium
8 - Oslo, Norway - Vallehovin Stadium
11 - Lausanne, Switzerland - La Pontaise
13 - Düsseldorf, Germany - LTU Arena
15 - Hamburg, Germany - AOL Arena
18 - Dublin, Ireland - Slane Castle
21, 23, 26 - London, United Kingdom - O2 Arena

Rock is off the air in Cincinnati

The show they thought would never come to DVD actually comes to DVD next week.

And all the reasons they thought it would never arrive may actually be good reasons why it shouldn't be here now.

"WKRP in Cincinnati" was a late-1970s rock radio comedy filled with, shock of shocks, actual rock songs. Foreigner's "Hot Blooded" provided the punchline when bland newsman Les Nessman (Richard Sanders) donned a "hip" curly wig for a date with sexy station receptionist Jennifer (Loni Anderson). Pink Floyd's "Dogs" spun on the turntable as square boss Arthur Carlson (Gordon Jump) tried to discern what strange song zoned-out DJ Johnny Fever (Howard Hesseman) was playing. The show rocked with the sounds of Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock & Roll" and Elvis Costello's "Goon Squad."

Note the past tense.

None of those songs makes it onto the first-season DVD set coming Tuesday from Fox Home Entertainment. Every episode has had music replaced, and in places where a song was integral to a scene, footage has been trimmed out.

The blame for what "WKRP" diehards decry as a travesty lies with, your choice:

A. Music licensing costs, skyrocketing as composers/performers/any- body with a hand in the till tries to make a buck from the supposed pot o' gold in TV DVD sales.

B. Greedy corporations, unconcerned with preserving the integrity of a show, taking the easiest/cheapest path toward throwing product onto store shelves.

C.Consumers prizing low prices above all else, making even well-intentioned distributors figure it's not worth shelling out to license original music if it means the set costs more.

Any or all answers might be apt. "It's the kind of a situation that Fox couldn't really win with," says Gord Lacey, whose authoritative TV Shows on DVD Web site was recently incorporated into TV Guide's online domain. "They either release the show with music substitutions," Lacey says, "or they don't release it at all."

During "WKRP's" original 1978-82 CBS run, the rights to the rock songs it played would have been licensed for TV series broadcast (which often includes syndicated reruns). Remember that 30 years ago even the videocassette market didn't exist, much less DVD or online. Retaining the rights to those songs in new digital media means relicensing their use. And that means getting permission from everyone involved - composers and publishers of music and lyrics, song performers, record companies and down the line.

While fans like to blame DVD distributors' greed, "sometimes people simply won't license [the use of] their songs" at all, Lacey says. Or they demand fees exorbitant enough to drastically hike DVD costs. NBC's cult fave "Freaks and Geeks," for instance, was released with its many '80s pop songs intact - but the 18-episode set had a list price of $70, at least $10 more than most drama sets of 22-plus episodes. "With other shows," Lacey says, "they can't even clear the theme song." DVD seasons of "Married ... With Children" replaced its "Love and Marriage" theme, and the new "George Lopez" set comes without "Low Rider."

Are those crucial losses? Maybe not. Are the "WKRP" songs? Maybe. Even casual fans could wonder why they're hearing generic instrumental riffs instead of recognizable song vocals.

"WKRP" diehards are livid, filling online message boards with invective and vows to boycott what they consider a bastardized release.

They might note, however, that series creator Hugh Wilson acknowledges in the DVD's pilot commentary (alongside costars Anderson and Frank Bonner) that music was replaced because it cost so much. Wilson later says in commentary for the classic "Turkeys Away" episode that he finds the substitutions "pretty good. I don't mind those music replacements."

Well, sure. He's probably busy admiring the scripts he wrote and the actors he cast, both of which hold up remarkably well nearly 30 years later. (So, surprisingly, do the crisp videotape visuals.) Longtime fans will be assessing the episodes' overall impression - at least partially dependent on the hot hits that made "WKRP" cool. As Loni Anderson says in DVD commentary, "music was kind of the ninth star" of the show.

Could Fox have done it differently? If they had licensed even a couple of joke-essential songs, say "Hot Blooded" and "Dogs," fans might not have gotten quite so worked up. (Search "WKRP" at YouTube to view those sequences with original music intact.) Suppose Fox had spent so much to license music that it raised the season's list price from $40 to $50. Would that have cut hugely into DVD sales? The first seasons of "Scrubs" and "Home Improvement" came out listed at $50. But most sitcoms of the "WKRP" vintage list for less: "M*A*S*H" is $40, while "Three's Company" and "The Facts of Life" are $30.

At least the catchy "WKRP" theme song ("Baby, if you've ever wondered/Wondered whatever became of me") is there at the start of every episode.

Thank God Hugh Wilson wrote it.

Meatballs comes Back to Disc

Bill Murray enjoyed camp with Meatballs: Special Edition on DVD and Blu-Ray coming from Sony Home Entertainment.

The DVD will be in anamorphic widescreen and the Blu-ray is in 1080p. An audio commentary with Ivan Reitman and a documenatary are included on both.

On June 5th, the releases will arrive on $19.99 and $28.95 each.

Disney could unlock `Song of the South'

ORLANDO, Fla. - Walt Disney Co.'s 1946 film "Song of the South" was historic. It was Disney's first big live-action picture and produced one of the company's most famous songs — the Oscar-winning "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah." It also provided the inspiration for the Splash Mountain rides at Disney's theme parks.

But the movie remains hidden in the Disney archives — never released on video in the United States and criticized as racist for its depiction of Southern plantation blacks. The film's 60th anniversary passed last year without a whisper of official rerelease, which is unusual for Disney, but President and CEO Bob Iger recently said the company was reconsidering.

The film's reissue would surely spark debate, but it could also sell big. Nearly 115,000 people have signed an online petition urging Disney to make the movie available, and out-of-print international copies routinely sell online for $50 to $90, some even more than $100.

Iger was answering a shareholder's inquiry about the movie for the second straight year at Disney's annual meeting in New Orleans. This month the Disney chief made a rerelease sound more possible.

"The question of `Song of the South' comes up periodically, in fact it was raised at last year's annual meeting," Iger said. "And since that time, we've decided to take a look at it again because we've had numerous requests about bringing it out. Our concern was that a film that was made so many decades ago being brought out today perhaps could be either misinterpreted or that it would be somewhat challenging in terms of providing the appropriate context."

"Song of the South" was re-shown in theaters in 1956, 1972, 1980 and 1986. Both animated and live-action, it tells the story of a young white boy, Johnny, who goes to live on his grandparents' Georgia plantation when his parents split up. Johnny is charmed by Uncle Remus — a popular black servant — and his fables of Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear and Brer Fox, which are actual black folk tales. (An honorary Oscar to James Baskett for his portrayal of Uncle Remus.)

Remus' stories include "The Tar Baby," a phrase Republican presidential hopefuls John McCain (news, bio, voting record) and Mitt Romney have been criticized for using to describe difficult situations. In "Song of the South," it was a trick Brer Fox and Brer Bear used to catch the rabbit — dressing a lump of hot tar as a person to ensnare their prey. To some, it's now a derogatory term for blacks, regardless of context.

The movie doesn't reveal whether it takes place before or after the Civil War, and never refers to blacks on the plantation as slaves. It makes clear they work for the family, living down dirt roads in wood shacks while the white characters stay in a mansion. Remus and other black characters' dialogue is full of "ain't nevers," "ain't nobodys," "you tells," and "dem dayses."

"In today's environment, `Song of the South' probably doesn't have a lot of meaning, especially to the younger audiences," said James Pappas, associate professor of African-American Studies at the University of New York at Buffalo. "Older audiences probably would have more of a connection with the stereotypes, which were considered harmless at the time."

Pappas said it's not clear that the movie is intentionally racist, but it inappropriately projects Remus as a happy, laughing storyteller even though he's a plantation worker.

However, Pappas said he thinks the movie should be rereleased because of its historical significance. He said it should be prefaced, and closed, with present-day statements.

"I think it's important that these images are shown today so that especially young people can understand this historical context for some of the blatant stereotyping that's done today," Pappas said.

From a financial standpoint, Iger acknowledged last year that Disney stood to gain from rereleasing "Song." The company's movies are popular with collectors, and Disney has kept sales strong by tightly controlling when they're available.

Christian Willis, a 26-year-old IT administrator in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., started a "Song of the South" fan site in 1999 to showcase memorabilia. He soon expanded it into a clearinghouse for information on the movie that now averages more than 800 hits a day and manages the online petition.

Willis said he doesn't think the movie is racist, just from a different time.

"Stereotypes did exist on the screen," he said. "But if you look at other films of that time period, I think `Song of the South' was really quite tame in that regard. I think Disney did make an effort to show African-Americans in a more positive light."

Though Willis is hopeful, there's still no telling when — or if — the movie could come out (beyond its copyright lapsing decades from now).

In a statement to The Associated Press, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Disney's distribution arm, said: "`Song of the South' is one of a handful of titles that has not seen a home distribution window. To this point, we have not discounted nor committed to any distribution window concerning this title."

'Johnny Carson Show' out on DVD

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Last year, Joanne Carson reached into the climate-controlled wine cabinet stored in a corner of her Sunset Boulevard home and pulled out a rare vintage.

Carson had in hand 10 carefully maintained episodes of the 1955-56 "The Johnny Carson Show," starring her future husband in days before he made "The Tonight Show" his own.

The black-and-white films were a romantic memento for Joanne Carson: The shy Johnny Carson had wooed her with screenings of the comedy-variety show. He then gave her copies, episode by episode, one for her birthday, one for Christmas, another for Valentine's Day.

"They were valuable to me because they represented a very touching time, a very special time, when you're getting to know someone," said Joanne Carson, whose nine-year marriage to Carson, his second, ended in 1972.

The cache of old shows also stood for a promise.

"About a year before Johnny died, he said, 'Jo, do me a favour. Take those films someday, put them on DVD and share them. Because there aren't going to be any more,' " Joanne Carson, 75, recalled.

Emphysema claimed her former husband in 2005 at age 79. She and Carson had remained in occasional contact over the years, including during his subsequent two marriages.

"Because we started as friends, it was very important to Johnny that we end friends. And we stayed friends," said Joanne Carson.

She was preparing for an auction last year of memorabilia from her late confidant Truman Capote when she rediscovered Carson's courtship gift. "Joanne, you've got gold there," a friend remarked.

The shows are available on a two-disc DVD set from Shout Factory (US$24.98). There were 39 episodes produced of "The Johnny Carson Show," which aired Thursdays at 10 p.m. on CBS, and Johnny had picked his top 10 for Joanne.

She's unsure if there are any other copies. In the early days of television, live shows were recorded by filming a TV monitor. Known as kinescopes, the recordings often were lost.

The networks and producers "didn't keep anything. They erased the first 10 years of 'The Tonight Show,' " Joanne Carson said.

"The Johnny Carson Show" was part of Carson's journey to stardom.

After a series of local radio and TV jobs in Nebraska, where he was raised, Carson started at KNXT-TV in Los Angeles in 1950. His sketch comedy show, "Carson's Cellar," ran from 1951-53 and drew attention from Hollywood. A staff writing job for "The Red Skelton Show" followed.

The program provided Carson with a lucky break. When Skelton was injured backstage, Carson took the comedian's place in front of the cameras.

Producers sought to find the right vehicle for the up-and-coming comic, trying him out as host of the summer quiz show "Earn Your Vacation" (1954) and then "The Johnny Carson Show."

The DVDs reveal a rail-thin Carson, then 29, well-barbered but swimming in baggy suits and oversized shirt collars. He had yet to achieve the carefully tailored look he sported on "Tonight," but his unshakable poise was in evidence.

In his opening greeting to the studio audience and the sketches that followed, hindsight finds elements of the wry Carson charm and the comedy - ranging from pointed to pleasingly silly - that would make him a late-night legend.

"Johnny said to me, when we were watching the films, 'There's me without the polish,' " his ex-wife recounted.

Johnny Carson revelled in playing the kind of characters that would later populate "Tonight," and there are early hints of Carnac the Magnificent and others to come.

Many of the sketches, performed with a stock company that included comedians Virginia Gibson and Barbara Ruick, centred on TV itself, the revolutionary young invention that made the show - and Carson's ambitions - possible.

From the beginning, television couldn't help but be self-referential.

Carson did a bit about a father who comes home to find the TV set out for repair but his children staring, mindlessly, at the space it had occupied. He offered parodies of hit shows, including "You Are There" and "Person to Person," Edward R. Murrow's interview program (Carson's version of the sternly formal newsman was "Ed Furrow").

He envisioned a bright future for himself, he later told Joanne Carson, then the show was cancelled.

"He got very upset about it, left Los Angeles and moved to New York," she said. That's where Joanne Copeland, then an actress and model, met Carson and where he got a fresh start.

There were a few acting roles, then the game show "Who Do You Trust?" (1957-62), then an offer to replace Jack Paar on "Tonight." The late-night show, which Carson hosted until his retirement in 1992, made his career but helped end their marriage, Joanne Carson said.

"Johnny couldn't go anywhere, we couldn't stick our noses out of the door of the apartment, because people would grab at him. He had all these benefits to go to, all these openings. . . . I was a little girl from California," she said. "You just get to a point you can't do this anymore."

But Joanne Carson, who returned West and went on to earn graduate degrees in psychology and physiology, said her memories of Carson himself are only good.

"He was the best of the best. And that kind of style and class - you won't see it again," she said.

DVD sales off to a slow start in 2007

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Video industry executives concede that any slowdown in DVD sales so far this year is of their own making: Release schedules have been notoriously weak, with a lot of the high-profile titles that traditionally get saved for January or February pushed out the door in December to capitalize on the holiday buying frenzy.

The collective box office value of theatrical DVDs released in January was just $533.5 million, down 28.1% from the January 2006 total of $741.6 million. The February 2007 count was $542.8 million, 8% less than the $588 million theatrical value of February 2006 DVD releases.

Only now, in March, is the industry beginning to see a turnaround, with 17 films coming to DVD after earning $1.03 billion in theaters, essentially flat with the March 2006 theatrical tally.

Four of them grossed more than $100 million theatrically: "Borat" ($128.5 million), which came out on DVD March 6; "Casino Royale" ($167 million), released last Tuesday; "The Pursuit of Happyness" ($162.6 million), due March 27; and "Happy Feet" ($194.8 million), also coming March 27.

There were some success stories early in the year. Lionsgate had its biggest January ever and dominated sales charts with hits like "Saw III" and "Crank."

"Excess product in the holiday period created an opportunity for us in the first quarter," said Lionsgate president Steve Beeks.

Paramount Home Entertainment, too, has had a good first quarter, thanks to such titles as "Flags of Our Fathers," "Babel" and "Flushed Away."

The outlook for April and May is also good, with the box office value of announced April 2007 DVD releases clocking in at $603.3 million, compared with $671.3 million for the final April 2006 roster. And already, several big titles have been slotted for May, including "Dreamgirls" (May 1) and "Apocalypto" (May 22).

Black Snake Moan.. already?

Despite just hitting theaters, Black Snake Moan is getting ready to hit DVD in June from Paramount Home Entertainment.

When a weathered, God-fearing ex-blues musician finds the town nymphomaniac severely beaten and left for dead on the side of the road, he vows to cure her of her wicked ways in Hustle & Flow director Craig Brewer's raw and unflinching follow-up. Lazarus is a hard-living ex-blues guitarist for whom the troubled days are beginning to outnumber the good. Rae is a 22-year-old sex addict whose wild ways are finally about to catch up with her.

When Lazarus discovers Rae covered in dust and clinging to life on the side of the road, he takes her in and nurses her back to health; but Lazarus isn't your typical caregiver, he's more concerned for Rae's immortal soul than he is for her physical well-being. Now, after chaining Rae down and employing the power of the Good Book to curb the salacious seductress' hedonistic ways, Lazarus will be forced to confront his own darkest demons in order to save the soul of a woman whose one-way ticket to hell has already been paid in full. Now, as Lazarus wages a righteous struggle to redeem the soul of the fallen Rae while simultaneously ensuring that his own life hasn't been lived in vein, the situation threatens to explode as Rae's possessive boyfriend, Ronnie — a roughneck Guardsman currently preparing for a tour of duty in Iraq — comes searching for his missing lover.

The DVD will be as no frills as the small Tennessee town in which it takes place.

The film will come in anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1, and aside from Sam Jackson's general badassery, will come with no supplements.

Ain't no cure for the blues like Black Snake Moan. The DVD arrives June 26th for $29.99.

Borat DVD a top seller in Kazakhstan

Though they often bear the brunt of his jokes, Kazakh citizens have apparently rushed online to buy Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat film, released on DVD worldwide last week.

According to the British arm of online retail giant Amazon, the DVD of Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan was the most-ordered product from Kazakhstan.

"With the controversy the film caused around the world, it seems residents of Kazakhstan are now desperate to see what all the fuss is about," Rakhi Parekh, head of media at Amazon.co.uk, told the Hollywood Reporter trade newspaper.

No specific sales figures were released.

At the time of its release last November, a growing chorus of Kazakh movie critics and cultural commentators praised Cohen and the film, saying it drew attention to the former Soviet Republic.

Other sought after items by Kazakhs included the album The Very Best of Sting and the Police, the second season of TV's Stargate Atlantis on DVD and books like Leading at a Higher Level: Blanchard on How to Be a High Performing Leader and The Ultimate Pool Maintenance Manual: Spas, Pools, Hot Tubs, Rockscapes and Other Water Features.

Last week, the U.S State Department criticized Kazakhstan for its past action against British comedian and actor Cohen.

In 2005, the Kazakh government shut down Cohen's Kazakhstan-based website because of his continued performances as his fictional character Borat — a crass and offensive reporter who spouts anti-Semitic, sexist and generally ridiculous comments about his home country and other subjects.

Cohen first introduced the character on his cable TV program Da Ali G Show. The hit film, for which Cohen won a Golden Globe Award, depicts Borat wandering through the U.S. purportedly making a documentary and portraying Kazahks as well as Americans in an unflattering light. As with his show, the film has drawn controversy and even sparked several lawsuits against Cohen.

The nominees for DVD availability

With the Academy Awards less than two weeks away, you can catch up on three of the five best-picture nominees — and many other categories — on DVD before the telecast Feb. 25.

On Tuesday, Martin Scorsese's best-picture nominee, The Departed, arrived on DVD ($29, Warner Home Video). It garnered four other nominations: director, supporting actor Mark Wahlberg, editing and adapted screenplay.

Babel arrives Feb. 20 ($30, Paramount). It has seven nominations, including best picture, director, supporting actresses Rinko Kikuchi and Adriana Barraza, editing and music.

Little Miss Sunshine has been on DVD since December. The day after it received four Oscar nominations for best picture, supporting actress Abigail Breslin, supporting actor Alan Arkin and original screenplay, sales spiked as much as 200% in stores across the country.

"We call it the Oscar bump," says Steve Feldstein of 20th Century Fox, which released the DVD.

No dates have been announced for the other best-picture nominees, The Queen or Letters From Iwo Jima.

Nor has a date been revealed for Dreamgirls, which earned eight nominations, more than any other movie, but not a best-picture nomination. It is still drawing crowds in theaters; it was No. 9 this week at the box office.

Studio DVD marketers are scrambling to announce release dates for other nominees before the ceremony, but they are held in check by their theatrical counterparts, who don't want dates announced while a film is still playing strongly in theaters.

Blood Diamond, with five Oscar nominations, including best actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) and supporting actor (Djimon Hounsou), arrives March 20. The announcement was made just as the film dropped out of the box office top 20.

The Last King of Scotland, for which Forest Whitaker is up for best actor, comes out April 17 ($30, Fox). And Notes on a Scandal, with nominations for best actress (Judi Dench), supporting actress (Cate Blanchett), music and adapted screenplay, is due the same date ($30, Fox).

The leading candidate for best documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, has been on DVD since November ($30, Paramount), and others are coming:

•Deliver Us From Evil, about a molesting priest (May 8, Lionsgate).

•Iraq in Fragments, no date yet.

•Jesus Camp, about a camp that teaches children to be evangelists, out now ($27, Magnolia).

•My Country, My Country, about a doctor who runs for office in Iraq (March 20, Zeitgeist Films).

Other high-profile nominees on DVD:

•United 93, up for best director (Paul Greengrass) and editing ($20, Universal).

•The Devil Wears Prada, up for best actress (Meryl Streep) and costume design ($30, Fox).

•Best-animated-feature nominees Cars ($30, Disney) and Monster House ($29, Sony). Fellow nominee Happy Feet arrives on March 20.

A handful of other movies with Oscar nominations in minor categories also are available on DVD, including:

•Black Dahlia, up for best achievement in cinematography ($30, Universal)

•Superman Returns, best achievement in visual effects ($20, Warner Bros.)

•Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, nominated for achievement in sound, sound editing, visual effects and art direction ($30, Disney).

•Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our Fathers, up for best achievement in sound mixing and sound editing ($30, Paramount).

Rocky Balboa plays to the final bell

Never count Rocky out. The sixth and final Rocky film Rocky Balboa is coming to DVD and Blu-Ray in March from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Rocky Balboa has now been retired for some time, but hard-up for money, he decides to step back into the ring against a few small-time boxers.

Everything changes, though, when Rocky is offered the opportunity to step in with the reigning Heavyweight Champion, Mason “The Line” Dixon. Does Rocky still have what it takes to make another Championship comeback?

The DVD will contain bloopers, deleted scenes including an alternate ending, an audio commentary with Stallone and the featurettes Skill vs. Will: The Making of Rocky Balboa, Reality in the Ring: Filming Rocky's Final Fight and Virtual Champion: Creating the Computer Fight.

The DVD and Blu-Ray both arrive on March 20th with suggested retail prices of $28.95 and $38.96 respectively.

WKRP in Cincinnati - Season 1 Press Release

One Of The Most Requested Programs From Fox Home Entertainment Tops The Charts On DVD April 24, With Commentaries, Featurettes and More

CENTURY CITY, Calif. - Don't touch that dial! Dr. Johnny Fever, Venus Flytrap and the whole gang are back on the air when "WKRP In Cincinnati" Season One hits DVD April 24 from Fox Home Entertainment. Nominated for 10 Emmy® Awards during its run from 1978 to 1982 - including three back-to-back nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series - "WKRP In Cincinnati" follows the hilarious misadventures of the staff at a struggling Cincinnati radio station as their new program director tries every trick in the book to make the station a financial and commercial success. Starring blonde bombshell Loni Anderson ("So NoTORIous," A Night At The Roxbury), Howard Hesseman ("Head of the Class," About Schmidt) and Tim Reid ("That '70s Show," "Sister, Sister"), "WKRP In Cincinnati" featured some of the most memorable characters in television sitcom history including the sultry receptionist Jennifer Marlowe, the lovable veteran DJ Dr. Johnny Fever and the soulful evening DJ Venus Flytrap. The long-awaited, three-disc "WKRP In Cincinnati" Season One DVD set includes all 22 episodes from the series' laugh-out-loud first season, including the infamous "Turkeys Away" episode, as well as never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes featurettes and audio commentaries with creator Hugh Wilson and cast members Loni Anderson, Tim Reid and Frank Bonner. "WKRP In Cincinnati" Season One will be available to own for $39.98 US/$54.98 Canada. Prebook is March 28, 2007.

Marketing Support:

Fox Home Entertainment will support the release of the "WKRP In Cincinnati" Season One with a multifaceted marketing program, including extensive radio, online and publicity campaigns.

Synopsis:

We're on the air! "WKRP In Cincinnati," classic TV's wildest, funniest, rock'n'roll sitcom is here at last on DVD. Join WKRP's hilarious staff - program director Andy Travis, deejays Dr. Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap, neurotic newsman Les Nessman, sultry receptionist Jennifer Marlowe and the rest - both on and off the air, as they take their floundering station from hard times to hard rock. Starring Howard Hesseman and Loni Anderson, this is the one show that has it all. So, set that dial for "WKRP In Cincinnati" ...and turn it up, man!

"WKRP In Cincinnati" Season One DVD Special Features And Disc Content Specifics: "WKRP In Cincinnati" episodes are compiled on three discs and include English Dolby Stereo audio with Spanish subtitles, and are presented in full screen format. In addition, the following episodes and special features are exclusive to each disc:

Disc One - Side A
"Pilot (1)"
Commentary with Creator Hugh Wilson and Cast Members Loni Anderson and Hugh Wilson
"Pilot (2)"
"Les On A Ledge"
"Hoodlum Rock"

Disc One - Side B
"Hold-Up"
"Bailey's Show"
"Turkeys Away"
Commentary with Creator Hugh Wilson and Cast Members Loni Anderson and Hugh Wilson
"Love Returns"

Disc Two - Side A
"Mama's Review"
"A Date With Jennifer"
"The Contest Nobody Could Win"
"Tornado"

Disc Two - Side B
"Goodbye, Johnny"
"Johnny Comes Back"
"Never Leave Me, Lucille"
"I Want To Keep My Baby"

Disc Three - Side A
"A Commercial Break"
"Who Is Gordon Sims?"
"I Do, I Do... For Now"

Disc Three - Side B
"Young Master Carlson"
"Fish Story"
"The Preacher"
"Do My Eyes Say Yes?" Featurette
"A 'Fish Story' Story" Featurette

The Pursuit of Happyness is almost over

The Academy recognized the work in Sony PIctures' The Pursuit of Happyness. The film is on its way to DVD and Blu-Ray.

Chris Gardner is a San Francisco salesman who’s struggling to make ends meet. When his girlfriend Linda walks out, Chris is left to raise their 5-year-old son Christopher on his own. Chris’ determination finally pays off then he lands an unpaid internship in a brutally competitive stockbroker-training program, where only one in twenty interns will make the cut. But without a salary, Chris and his son are evicted from their apartment and are forced to sleep on the streets, in homeless shelters and even behind the locked doors of a bus station bathroom. With self-confidence and the love and trust of this son, Chris Gardner rises above his obstacles to become a Wall Street legend.

The Blu-Ray and DVD both come with and audio commentary with director Gabriele Muccino and the featurettes Father and Son: Onscreen and OFf, The Man Behind the Movie, Making Pursuit: An Italian Take on the American Dream and Inside the Rubik's Cube plus the song I Can.

The DVD and BRD are priced at $28.95 and $38.96 respectiely and will both arrive on March 27th.

Well folks, the year's Spidey blitz has officially begun.

Sony has just officially announced that a Spider-Man 2.1: Extended Cut DVD will be released on 4/17 (SLP $19.94).

The 2-disc set will include 8 minutes of new footage added back into the film. Video will be anamorphic widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.

Extras will include an introduction by producers Grant Curtis and Avi Arad, the Inside 2.1 featurette, audio commentary by producer Laura Ziskin and screenwriter Alvin Sargent, and an exclusive sneak peak at the upcoming Spider-Man 3.

There's no word yet on a Blu-ray Disc release.

Larry Sanders Show, The - Not Just the Press Release

With More Than 8 Hours of Newly-Produced Material Including Garry Shandling in Personal and Intimate Meetings With Stars Like Alec Baldwin, Tom Petty, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, and More, This DVD is...

NOT JUST THE BEST OF THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW

The DVD Set Also Includes 23 Classic Episodes of the Emmy Award-Winning TV Program, the Documentary - "The Making of The Larry Sanders Show" - and Features Guest Appearances by Jason Alexander, Warren Beatty, Jim Carrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Sean Penn, Vince Vaughn and More

The Four-Disc DVD Collection Debuts on April 17

Culver City, Ca (February 5, 2007) - Forget about the 23 featured episodes of the Emmy Award®-winning "The Larry Sanders Show" (it received a whopping 56 Emmy nominations during its run on HBO). NOT JUST THE BEST OF THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW contains more than eight hours of newly produced material that makes this not just your usual DVD - not even close! The four-disc DVD boxed set debuts on DVD on April 17 at the suggested retail price of $49.95.

This innovative, provocative and hugely entertaining release includes personal, intimate, indulgent visits meant until now for only Garry Shandling to see - raw, real-life situations between Shandling and stars who appear in the featured episodes - including Alec Baldwin, Tom Petty, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Sharon Stone and many others. These unrehearsed visits surpass even the Larry Sanders reality, as they once again explore the core ingredients of the ground-breaking program - unexpected human behavior, truth and humor.

The DVD includes the documentary, The Making of The Larry Sanders Show, which reveals an in-depth and surprising look at the process of turning a script into a show that was ahead of its time. The Los Angeles Times selected Garry Shandling‚s series as one of ten TV programs that had inarguable influence‚ on the industry and this DVD is a celebration of the series‚ unique place in entertainment lore.

NOT JUST THE BEST OF THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW also features guest appearances on the featured episodes by a wide slate of stars which includes Jim Carrey, Vince Vaughn, Warren Beatty, Sean Penn, Ellen DeGeneres, Jason Alexander, Carol Burnett and Winona Ryder. The featurette "Rip Torn and Jeffrey Tambor Visit Garry Shandling in His Living Room" is a reunion of Shandling, Torn and Tambor discussing working together on the show.

Also included are interview featurettes with cast members Penny Johnson, Wallace Langham, Scott Thompson, Janeane Garofalo, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Sarah Silverman, Jeremy Piven, Bob Odenkirk, and Linda Doucett.

The Larry Sanders Show debuted on HBO August 1, 1992, and was ahead of its time, becoming an immediate critical and audience hit for its satirical, tongue-in-cheek look at Hollywood. The series that combined documentary-like camerawork with a clever blend of fact and fiction set the standard of quality for HBO and influenced the development of shows like Sex and the City, Six Feet Under, The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Office.Over the course of its six-year, 89-episode run, the series was nominated for 56 Emmy Awards [winning three: Outstanding Writing (Shandling & Peter Tolan); Outstanding Directing (Todd Holland); Outstanding Supporting Actor (Rip Torn)]. The show also won three Golden Globe® nominations, two Peabody Awards, and five CableACE Awards for Best Comedy Series.

Not Just the Best of The Larry Sanders Show episodes include:

What Have You Done for Me Lately?
The Spider Episode
The Hey Now Episode
The List
The Hankerciser 200
Life Behind Larry
The Mr. Sharon Stone Show
Hank's Night in the Sun
Office Romance
Hank's Divorce
Hank's Sex Tape
I Was a Teenage Lesbian
Larry's New Love
Everybody Loves Larry
My Name Is Asher Kingsley
Ellen, or Isn't She?
Pilots and Pens Lost
Another List
The Beginning of the End
Adolph Hankler
The Interview
Putting the Gay‚ Back in Litigation
Flip (1-hour)

DVD Special Features Include:
Documentary: The Making of The Larry Sanders Show
Featurette: Trio
Exclusive Interviews: Personal, Intimate, Indulgent Meetings With My Friends That Are Meant Only for Me to See - Interviews with:
Alec Baldwin
Ellen DeGeneres
David Duchovny
Tom Petty
Jerry Seinfeld
Sharon Stone
Jon Stewart
Carol Burnett
Featurette: Interview with Penny Johnson
Featurette: Interview with Wallace Langham
Featurette: Interview with Scott Thompson
Featurette: Interview with Janeane Garofalo
Featurette: Interview with Mary Lynn Rajskub
Featurette: Interview with Sarah Silverman
Featurette: Interview with Jeremy Piven
Featurette: Interview with Bob Odenkirk
Featurette: Interview with Linda Doucett
Deleted and Extended Scenes
Alternate Takes
Audio Commentary and Documentary Introduction on What Have You Done for Me Lately with Garry Shandling and Peter Tolan
Audio Commentary and Documentary Introduction on Hank‚s Night in the Sun with Garry Shandling and Todd Holland
Audio Commentary and Documentary Introduction on Putting the ŒGay‚ Back in Litigation with Garry Shandling and Judd Apatow
Audio Commentary on Flip with Garry Shandling and Peter Tolan
Digitally Remastered Audio and Video
Full Screen Presentations
Audio: English (Dolby Surround)
Subtitles: Spanish
Closed Captioned
Broadcast Years: 1992 - 1998

Not Just the Best of The Larry Sanders Show has a run time of approximately 660 minutes and is not rated.

For more information on the project, visit www.thelarrysandersdvd.com.

Chevy Chase is Fletch

After Chevy walked away from Saturday Night Live fame, he hit the big screen for several hits and misses, but everyone remembers Fletch. Universal is presenting a special edition DVD coming later this year.

The DVD itself will contain upgraded sound and picture with anamorphic widescreen adn Dolby Digital 5.1 sound, but so far no extras have been announced.

On May 1st the Jane Doe Edition arrives, just make sure it isn't in disguise.

Hey Now: It’s Garry Shandling’s Obsession

It was almost nine years ago that Larry Sanders, the fictional talk-show host who was a too-close-for-comfort amalgam of Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Jay Leno and Jack Paar, signed off the air. In the final episode of his show (and of the biting HBO series that bore the same name), he perched Carsonesque on a stool in front of a blue curtain and started his farewell monologue.

“To you at home, thank you so much,” he began, choking up. Regaining his composure, he returned his gaze to the audience and continued, “To tell you the truth, I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do without you.”

Larry wasn’t just losing his talk show; he was losing a nightly ego boost, and the security of a shimmering curtain that kept the real world at bay. But what of Garry Shandling, the comedian who not only played Larry but created him and “The Larry Sanders Show”? After a six-year run, what would either of them do without it?

“The Larry Sanders Show” had always straddled a fine line between reality and fiction, with Mr. Shandling encouraging the actors and writers to draw on their own experiences to send up the most unappealing aspects of Hollywood culture.

Thus an endless stream of celebrities were recruited to play cartoonish versions of themselves, whether it was Ellen DeGeneres having a fling with Larry while Hollywood buzzed about her sexuality, or Alec Baldwin sleeping with Larry’s wife while the couple were separated, only to be booked later as one of Larry’s guests.

But while the actor and his main character shared more than a few awkward insecurities, Mr. Shandling had never pursued that nightly fix of entertaining millions. As a regular substitute host on “The Tonight Show” in the 1980s, he could have tried to succeed Mr. Carson and was later offered Mr. Letterman’s old job. He declined.

Nonetheless that final “Larry Sanders” monologue proved prescient: Mr. Shandling, now 57, has never entirely moved on. Unlike Jerry Seinfeld, whose television series ended that same spring, Mr. Shandling has not done a stand-up tour. And unlike Bill Cosby, whose “Cosby Show” signed off NBC in 1992 only to be succeeded by “Cosby” on CBS, he has not pursued another series.

Meanwhile, as “Larry Sanders” fades from memory, shows like “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Entourage” on HBO, and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” and “30 Rock” on NBC, have tried to replicate the show-business realism that Mr. Shandling did first and, arguably, best.

Save for two gigs as host of the Emmy Awards and scattered movie roles, Mr. Shandling has kept a low profile. “It’s very similar to — what is it? — the seven stages of grieving,” he said recently, during the first extended interview he had granted in several years. “First there’s the shock,” he said, at ease in a soft leather chair in his living room. “Now I’m going to head for something funny here. Then there’s denial, acceptance and,” he paused, “masturbation.”

As it turns out, the wrenching process of producing as many as 18 episodes a season was so grueling for Mr. Shandling — who was not only the star but also the head writer and so-called show runner — that he never really gave the show a proper goodbye. Meanwhile, in the midst of ending the show, he filed a spectacular lawsuit against his manager, Brad Grey, whom he accused of cheating him.

Hence there was no real wrap party for the cast, and even years later Mr. Shandling was still too exhausted to contribute much to a DVD of episodes from the first season. “It was unfortunate the show couldn’t end with a higher spirit,” he said.

These days Mr. Shandling seems more settled. He spends much of his time boxing (four times a week) or in periodic pickup basketball games at his home.

He is financially secure, at least partly as a result of his settlement with Mr. Grey, valued by Mr. Shandling’s lawyer at more than $10 million. His bushy brown hair, so memorable from his early “Tonight” appearances, remains full but is now close-cropped; his face is tan and taut. And he has sought peace in a place Larry never would: the study of Zen Buddhism. He meditates on long, solitary trips to Hawaii or around his sprawling home, with its sloping backyard overlooking a canyon.

“My sense is that this has been a time for Garry of introspection, and, it sounds funny to say about a comedian or comic actor, of real spiritual growth,” said Peter Tolan, a writer and producer who was his longtime collaborator on the show. “He’s in a better place than when we were doing the show.”

Still, Mr. Shandling has lately been tugged by a powerful, almost obsessive desire to go back and revisit the breadth of his “Larry Sanders’’ experience, for the purpose, he said, of finding out both who he was then and how he might give the show, and his role in it, a fitting ending. His vehicle: a DVD set, drawn from all six seasons of “Larry Sanders,” to be released by Sony Pictures on April 17.

Other performers might be content to put out such packages with a few sweeteners, maybe some outtakes and running commentary from the star. But Mr. Shandling has never been like other performers. More than a year ago he set out, hand-held camera crew in tow, to interview virtually everyone connected to the show. There are the series regulars, including Jeffrey Tambor, who played Hank Kingsley (“hey now!”), Larry’s eager-to-please yet quick-to-lash-out sidekick, and Rip Torn, who played Artie, Larry’s fiercely protective executive producer. Mr. Shandling’s camera also found many of the A-list guest stars whom he had goaded into cameos on the original show, including Mr. Seinfeld, Mr. Baldwin, Sharon Stone, David Duchovny, Carol Burnett, Jon Stewart and Tom Petty.

Thus the DVD’s title, “Not Just the Best of the Larry Sanders Show,” and its length: four discs, despite containing just 23 episodes.

Mr. Shandling concedes that these recorded conversations — which are presented largely unedited, with awkward silences and plenty of mistakes — are at least partly self-congratulatory. Taken as a whole the treatment is also expansive, exhaustive and at times exhausting, with Mr. Shandling’s new material (including a documentary) adding up to nearly eight hours.

But the results are, in many instances, riveting. There are some good casting stories: Ms. Burnett, for example, tells how Mr. Shandling persuaded her to be a guest and to play against her clean-cut image. (On the talk-show-within-a-show, she warns Larry that the loincloth costume he’s wearing isn’t covering what it needs to cover.) And Bruno Kirby, whom Larry memorably “bumped” from the last episode, made an appearance as well — his last, it turned out, before he died last summer.

But to those who watch them carefully — and Mr. Shandling hasn’t a clue whether anyone will — the interviews are also striking for his efforts to make amends. He apologizes to some of the best-known people in Hollywood for having failed to thank them for their service on “Larry Sanders,” and for largely allowing them to drift from his life in the years since.

It is as if the drama club president has returned to high school, a decade after graduating, to find out what his classmates and teachers really thought of him, while also telling them he was sorry if he occasionally passed them in the corridor without saying hello. Mr. Shandling has a slightly darker analogy.

“What’s that old adage, you don’t hear nice things until the funeral?” he said. “I wanted to objectively see the realities of that time. What was I like? What were my relationships like, with the actors and writers? What did they feel?”

Thus the viewer gets to listen in as Mr. Shandling apologizes for not reciprocating when Mr. Baldwin promised to send a gift after his cameo appearance, and later for losing Mr. Baldwin’s cellphone number. This scene of self-reckoning takes place in a boxing gym.

“I thought you really extended yourself,” Mr. Shandling says, as his hands are being wrapped outside the ring. “I did not appropriately extend myself back. I’d like to. ...”

“Make it up to me by coming in here and smacking me in the face a few times?” Mr. Baldwin says, leaning against the ropes.

Mr. Shandling responds, “I’m going to allow you to hit me so hard that I don’t have to. ... ”

“Work again for the next five years?” Mr. Baldwin interjects.

No, Mr. Shandling says, “ ...finish these DVDs.” Mr. Baldwin eventually gets fairly pummeled by the better-trained Mr. Shandling, while the two somehow conduct a meaningful conversation about comedy.

It is hard of course for anyone to be genuine with a camera trained on him, but an exchange that raw would never find its way onto Jay Leno’s “Tonight,” or even Bravo’s “Inside the Actors Studio.”

The most voyeuristic moment on the DVD, however, probably comes when Mr. Shandling sits down in a production office to talk to Linda Doucett. On the show she played Hank’s secretary, Darlene, but in real life she was Mr. Shandling’s fiancée, at least for a time. After the engagement ended, she was fired, and in 1996 she sued Mr. Shandling, along with Mr. Grey’s company, for sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Mr. Shandling and Ms. Doucett eventually reached a settlement, but last March she told The New York Times that he had warned her that Mr. Grey once considered putting Anthony Pellicano, the private investigator now under federal investigation, on her case.

In the interview Ms. Doucett is teary as she and Mr. Shandling openly discuss their relationship. “It’s really perfect for ‘Larry Sanders,’ ” he said, “and perfect for the DVD and, I suppose, perfect for my life that I’m able to have captured the nature of this personal relationship on tape.” (He said he would have nothing to say about the Pellicano matter, “until it’s finished.”)

Perhaps appropriately, the four discs end with Mr. Shandling in idle conversation with a Vietnamese monk, who is seeking to explain the meaning of a particular Buddhist statue.

“So always extend compassion,” Mr. Shandling is heard saying to the monk, Hanh Nguyen, who interrupts him to add, “Love and compassion to all sentient beings.”

“Even for the enemy,” Mr. Shandling adds, sounding like a post-enlightenment Larry.

The monk responds: “Sure. The true enemy is ignorance.”

GARRY SHANDLING’S humor always had the neurotic shadings of someone raised a summer weekend’s drive from the borscht belt, but he actually grew up in Tucson. His family had moved there from Chicago because the dry climate better suited his older brother, Barry, who suffered from cystic fibrosis.

Barry died when Garry was 10. “I was devastated,” Mr. Shandling recalled. “I remember starting to cry in the schoolyard. I didn’t quite know how to deal with it. I think there was some damage in that.”

His comedic awakening came in his early teens, when he watched “Hot Dog,” a children’s show that, in this particular episode, featured an appearance by Woody Allen. “Here he is, this kid in Arizona, he’s not in New York,” Mr. Shandling recalled, “and while being Jewish, he’s not at all Jewish in the traditional sense, of a noisy Jewish household. And suddenly he sees Woody Allen, and he relates.”

He went on to study electrical engineering at the University of Arizona, but in his junior year he wrote a monologue in the style of George Carlin. As it turned out, he was able to get it to Mr. Carlin, who read it and encouraged him to pursue a career in comedy. After he sold scripts for “Sanford and Son” and “Welcome Back, Kotter,” his big break came during a “Tonight” appearance in March 1981, in which Carson told viewers: “His name is Garry Shandling. You’ll hear a lot about him.”

In his first sitcom, “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show,” Mr. Shandling frequently broke character to address the camera and even walk into the audience. That experience led directly to “Larry Sanders,” in which he marshaled everything he had seen backstage in Hollywood to produce, in cinéma vérité style, a scripted half-hour comedy intended to show how people really treat one another when the spotlights are off.

For several years now the creative well that fed those efforts seems to have run dry, and instead of mounting something original, he has been content to retrace old steps. Watching him during this period has been somewhat frustrating to some old friends, who believe he is young enough and creative enough to find fresh ways to entertain people.

Mr. Seinfeld, for example, is among those who have been encouraging Mr. Shandling to go back on the road as a stand-up comedian, with an eye toward bringing his act to television. In a recent phone interview Mr. Seinfeld said he understood his friend’s reluctance.

“When you go through this TV thing like he and I did, you make so much, you do so much, you’re kind of overfull at the end,” he said. “You don’t want to write anything. You don’t want to read anybody at an audition.”

“Someone starts pitching you an idea,” he added, “and your head just explodes.”

And yet, Jeffrey Tambor said, the same relentlessness Mr. Shandling displayed on “Larry Sanders” was reassuringly evident in his preparation of the DVD. When Mr. Tambor arrived at Mr. Shandling’s home for a joint interview with Mr. Torn, he was filmed from the time he left his car, so no moment would be lost.

“He’s thrown himself into this like I’ve never seen,” Mr. Tambor said. “Happy go lucky, he ain’t. Heels clicking, he ain’t. But I think he had enormous pride in that show, and I think that continues.”

Told of Mr. Shandling’s various attempts to make amends, Mr. Tambor said: “He certainly doesn’t owe me an apology. He changed my life.”

Nonetheless, by finally putting his “Sanders” experience to bed between the covers of his DVD, Mr. Shandling is hoping that he may finally be able to consider what the next new thing might be. “It certainly didn’t start that way,” he said, “but there is no question that this became a reflective journey that I’m still absorbing.”

One idea he is mulling is working up to a stand-up special, as Mr. Seinfeld and others have urged. Another project would draw from his study of Buddhism and shed further light on “what life is about, what the human condition is about,” maybe a series or documentary. He has yet to divine quite what.

“Usually things become clearer as I get closer to the moment of execution,” he said. And then, because old habits die hard, he added, “That’s not to be confused with Saddam Hussein’s execution.”

Twin Peaks On DVD - Will You Wait?

We've got a bit of an update for you today on CBS/Paramount's plans for David Lynch's Twin Peaks TV series on DVD in 2007.

As most of you should know by now, the long-awaited Twin Peaks: The Second Season is already set to hit DVD on 4/10.

Our sources are telling us that this release is designed for those who may already have Season One (released back in 2001 by Artisan/Republic) and the unaired pilot episode (released on DVD in Japan and available only as an import) on disc.

However, for those of you who are patient and want it all in one shot... we're told to expect CBS/Paramount to announce a Twin Peaks: The Complete Series box set for release later in 2007 that contains both seasons AND the pilot episode, PLUS lots of newly-produced extras.

Watch for details on the box set to be announced in the next few months.

Happy Feet is tapping to video in March

The animated hit Happy Feet starring a vast variety of celebrity voices will dance to DVD, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray Disc this March.

In the great nation of Emperor Penguins, deep in Antarctica, you're nobody unless you can sing - which is unfortunate for Mumble (Elijah Wood), who is the worst singer in the world. He is born dancing to his own tune...tap dancing. As fate would have it, his one friend, Gloria (Brittany Murphy), happens to be the best singer around. Mumble and Gloria have a connection from the moment they hatch, but she struggles with his strange "hippity- hoppity" ways.

Away from home for the first time, Mumble meets a posse of decidedly un-Emperor-like penguins - the Adelie Amigos. Led by Ramon (Robin Williams), the Adelies instantly embrace Mumble's cool dance moves and invite him to party with them.

In Adelie Land, Mumble seeks the counsel of Lovelace the Guru (also voiced by Robin Williams), a crazy-feathered Rockhopper penguin who will answer any of life's questions for the price of a pebble. Together with Lovelace and the Amigos, Mumble sets out across vast landscapes and, after some epic encounters, proves that by being true to yourself, you can make all the difference in the world.

Directed by George Miller, “Happy Feet” features the voice talent of Hugh Jackman, Brittany Murphy, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Magda Szubanski, Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Anthony Lapaglia, and Steve Irwin among others.

The DVD version will come as separate widescreen or pan & scan versions with 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio tracks. As extras you will find the Featurette “Dance Like A Penguin” on the release as well as two new animated sequences “Mumble meets a Blue Whale” and “A Happy Feet Moment.” Next up are the two Music Videos “Hit Me Up” from Gia, and Prine’s “Thee Song of the Heart.” As a special bonus from the Warner Vaults, the 1936 Tex Avery Cartoon “I Love to Singa” will also be incorporated on this release.

The HD-DVD version, coming on a HD-30/DVD-9 combo version, will feature the widescreen version of the film with Dolby Digital EX 5.1 and a lossless TrueHD Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track in English, as well as Dolby Digital EX 5.1 tracks in French and Spanish. All extras from the DVD version will also be included on the HD-DVD side of the release.

The Blu-Ray Disc version will offer only Dolby Digital EX 5.1 tracks in English, French and Spanish. The TrueHD track will be missing from this release but all the DVD’s extras will be included.

The DVD version will carry a $29.99 sticker price while the HD-DVD/DVD combo will set you back $39.99 and the Blu-Ray Disc can be yours for $34.99 when “Happy Feet” hits retail shelves on March 27.

Strong summer movies drive DVDs to '06 rally

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Call it the year of smoke and mirrors. When 2006 began, fearful studio executives were still reeling with the first down year in DVD history. They were anxiously looking for salvation, and hoping to find it in high-definition discs, digital downloads or perhaps a combination of the two.

The next generation of software did launch in 2006, regrettably with two incompatible formats, first HD-DVD in April and then Blu-ray Disc in June. Digital downloading began as well, with all the big Hollywood studios aggressively selling their hot new movies on Movielink, CinemaNow, Apple's iTunes and other download services. Studio executives even coined a new term, "electronic sell-through," or EST, for the lucrative business model.

But in the end, none of these technological marvels really mattered. High-def discs still are a blip on the sales radar, and digital downloading are even less of a blip. And lo and behold, what saved the day for home entertainment was an unexpected resurgence in the DVD market, fueled by a powerful slate of summer theatricals.

"What we're looking at is a market that is up slightly from last year, overall," said David Bishop, president of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. "But if you break down the components, we're projecting DVD sales to be up 3 percent, year-over-year, and rental to be up about 12 percent. What drags the industry down to a flat or slightly up basis is that VHS sales and rentals are virtually going away."

"The industry is up as a whole, despite a decrease in overall pricing," added Kelley Avery, president of worldwide home entertainment at Paramount Pictures. "Contrary to popular belief, reports of the decline of DVD have been exaggerated."

Much of the optimism floating around the studio DVD divisions stems from the exceptionally strong fourth quarter. Things got off to a good start when Fox's "X-Men: The Last Stand" and Disney's "The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition" generated $80 million in consumer spending in a single day. Further triumphs came as the quarter progressed, culminating this month when Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" sold 10.5 million DVDs its first week in stores, putting it on track to become the top-selling live-action DVD ever.

The fourth-quarter DVD sales rally was probably the biggest home entertainment story of 2006, even though it didn't make the biggest headlines. That honor went to the launch of the two high-def disc formats and the flurry of major studio deals with digital downloading services.

On the packaged-media front, the launch of two rival, incompatible formats was, if not a disaster, a major disappointment. But the real culprit, and the reason software sales have been anemic (fewer than 10,000 units of even a really big title are typical), wasn't so much a lack of a unified standard. It was the fact that consumer electronics manufacturers really dropped the ball, with a series of delays that really pinged adoption rates. The HD-DVD camp never got beyond two Toshiba models, including an entry-level model retailing for $499, while only at the very end of the year did Blu-ray get additional players to join the $999 Samsung model that arrived in stores in late June.

"Everyone was disappointed in the quantity (of players) that came out of the electronics companies," said Warner Home Video president Ron Sanders. "But what is encouraging is that the attach rate of the software was amazingly high. On average, consumers bought 28 to 30 movies per set-top box, and that's just below what it was for DVD in the same time frame."

Digital downloading, simmering on the back burner for several years, also had its official coming out in April when five of the six major studios begin selling downloads of their movies over the Internet, through services Movielink and CinemaNow. New releases went out day-and-date with the DVDs. Holdout Disney soon joined the party, and by year's end, the two dedicated download services were joined by a wide variety of others, including Apple's iTunes, Amazon.com and file-swapping service BitTorrent. The only hitch was that in most cases, downloaded movies could not be burned to standard DVDs for easy transport into the living room.

In the retail world, the mass merchants continued to clobber each other over price and exclusive gifts with purchase on hot new theatrical DVD releases, while two veteran audio-video combo chains, Musicland and Tower Records and Video, bit the dust. The former was acquired by Trans World Entertainment after filing for bankruptcy, while Tower was liquidated.

So what lies ahead for 2007? For starters, studio presidents expect big things from high-def discs. The prognosis for 2007 is that one of the two rival formats will fall by the wayside, consumer electronics makers will rally and start cranking out players, the Chinese will weigh in with cheap players of their own and by the fourth quarter, high-def discs will be a viable, significant business.

"Consumers are buying more high-definition TVs than ever before," said Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. And once they get hooked on high-definition entertainment through digital cable, he said, consumers are going to want, even expect, high-def content from all their media, spurring demand for high-def discs.

The digital download market, too, is expected to grow significantly, particularly with the prospect that consumers will be able to burn downloaded movies onto DVDs playable in their set-top units. CinemaNow introduced the download-to-burn option on select catalog titles during the summer, but this year the gates are expected to be thrust wide open.

Depending on how well the summer theatrical features fare at the box office, studio chiefs say 2007 could be a very good year, overall, for home entertainment.

WKRP in Cincinnati - Watch for falling Turkeys - Season 1 date, details and extras!

We knew that fans would get excited over the news that WKRP was finally coming out, so we know they'll love this - the date, specs and a list of extras, thanks to one of our retail friends.

The 3 disc set will feature all 22 episodes (561 mins) from the first season, including the famous Turkey episode. The set will retail for $39.98 when it's released on April 3.

Disc 1 Side A:
Pilot (Part 1)
Pilot (Part 2)
Les On a Ledge
Hoodlum Rock

Disc 1 Side B:
Hold-Up
Bailey's Show
Turkeys Away
Love Returns

Disc 2 Side A:
Mama's Review
A Date With Jennifer
The Contest Nobody Could Win2/5/1979 Tornado

Disc 2 Side B:
Goodbye, Johnny
Johnny Comes Back
Never Leave Me, Lucille
I Want to Keep My Baby

Disc 3 Side A:
A Commercial Break
Who is Gordon Sims?
I Do, I DoFor Now

Disc 3 Side B:
Young Master Carlson
Fish Story
Preacher
Special Features include:
Commentary on Pilot (part 1) by creator and cast members
Commentary on "Johnny Comes Back" by creator and cast members
"Don't Touch That Dial - the Making of WKRP"
"Turning A 'Turkey' Into A Classic"
"Doctor Johnny Fever, And I Am Burning Up In Here"

Silence of the Lambs is back for more

Silence of the Lambs is back for more Silence of the Lambs is probably in the running for most different releases of a major film. AS the rights continues to float from studio to studio, the film has many options on DVD. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and MGM will be putting out a new relaase this winter.

Extras on this set will include the Inside the Labyrinth: Making of The Silence of the Lambs documentary, the 2-part The Silence of the Lambs: Page to Screen documentary, the 3-part Jonathan Demme & Jodie Foster documentary, the Scoring the Silence featurette and the original EPK featurette. After all those documentaries, the disc will offer deleted scenes and bloopers, a photo gallery and trailers.

Priced at $26.98, the DVD will arrive on January 30th.

'Pirates' sequel sets DVD record for 2006

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Talk about booty. Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" tallied first-week sales of 10.5 million units, according to the studio, making it the biggest home video debut of any new release this year.

The sequel, also the top box office earner of 2006, shot to No. 1 on the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert sales chart for the week ending December 10, and its draft pulled the original "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" back up to No. 9 a full three years after it was released.

On trade publication Home Media Magazine's video rental chart for the week, "Dead Man's Chest" also scored an easy victory, generating an estimated $12.9 million its first week out.

"Dead Man's Chest" is now poised to be the top-selling DVD of the year, beating another Disney title, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe," which was released in April and has since sold about 14 million copies.

The "Pirates" sequel also will likely become the No. 1 live-action DVD ever. That honor currently belongs to the original "Pirates," which sold 9.9 million DVDs its first week out (and another 1.1 million VHS cassettes) and went on to sell more than 18 million units, discs and cassettes combined.

The strong sales debut of "Pirates" sounded a vote of confidence among DVD boosters, many of whom were cringing in the wake of a broadcast earlier this month on NBC's "Today" in which an executive from file-sharing service BitTorrent predicted DVD's days were numbered due to digital downloading.

"With the incredible success of 'Pirates,' it is evident that the home entertainment industry continues to flourish," said Bob Chapek, president of Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment, Disney's video distribution arm.

The success of the "Pirates" DVD isn't limited to the United States. In the United Kingdom, the film sold nearly 1.5 million DVDs its first of release, a record. And in Japan, "Pirates" sold nearly 1 million units to become the No. 1 live-action movie of all time in that country.

Elsewhere on the First Alert DVD sales chart, Universal Studios' big-screen "Miami Vice" debuted at No. 2, while the previous week's best seller, "Superman Returns," slipped to No. 3.

Two animated features that have been in stores for several weeks, Disney's "Cars" and Fox's "Ice Age: The Meltdown," finished fourth and fifth for the week, while "Beerfest" debuted at No. 6, one notch above "24-Season 5."

In rental stores, "Miami Vice" debuted at No. 3, with estimated earnings of $7.9 million. "Beerfest" bowed at No. 6, with $6.1 million, more than 30% of its theatrical take.

Deck the Halls with 'Die Hard'!

TORONTO (CP) - How do you like your holiday film fare?

Does your family look forward to hearing Tiny Tim call out his ever-optimistic toast "God bless us everyone" in "A Christmas Carol?"

Or do you prefer edgier yuletide offerings? Perhaps Bruce Willis uttering the infamous: "Now I have a machine gun. Ho. Ho. Ho." in "Die Hard"?

Whatever your preference, there's a pervading sense that they aren't making them like they used to.

This month, many households will sit down for an annual ritual - the umpteenth viewing of that well-aged classic, often one that takes them back to simpler, innocent times.

Arguably, the big five repeaters are: "A Christmas Carol" (the Alastair Sim 1951 version), "Miracle on 34th Street (the 1947 original), Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), the colourful 1954 Bing Crosby musical "White Christmas" and - the most recent entry into the seasonal club - 1983's nostalgia-laden comedy "A Christmas Story."

The International Movie Database lists some 300 films with Christmas themes. Some three dozen of them are variations on Charles Dickens' immortal "A Christmas Carol." Yet only one, with Sims' indelible portrayal of the redeemed curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge, stands the test of time.

Of course some latter-day movie fans would nominate a holiday fave far removed from the old school, like the made-in-Canada slasher flick "Black Christmas" or "Die Hard," which finds Willis's steadfast cop John McClane trapped in an L.A. office tower seized by a gang of terrorist-thugs on Christmas Eve.

When he takes out one of the bad guys and arms himself for battle, McClane sends his "ho, ho, ho" message down an elevator shaft along with the bloody body.

Just oozes holiday sentiment, no?

Yet even "Die Hard" was made back in 1988, leaving many to suspect there are few, if any, films in the current pipeline destined for classic status. Perhaps Tim Allen's "Santa Clause" trilogy, or the digitally animated "Polar Express" or "The Chronicles of Narnia."

Charles Keil, a professor of cinema studies at the University of Toronto, believes Hollywood will have to step things up for another classic to emerge.

For one thing, says Keil, today's filmmakers tend to avoid purely spiritual themes (this year's "The Nativity Story" is an exception), opting instead for slapstick and special effects to appeal to a kids' market.

"The major distributors like to shy away from anything that is overtly religious - you could say Christian or sect-based - because it would alienate a good part of their audience," he explains.

"Films like 'Elf' or 'Christmas with the Kranks' are aiming for that. I mean in a way they're still about the message that supposedly Christmas brings, which is this notion of good will to all men and finding your inner good person (but) they leaven it with humour."

Today's holiday films then, adds Keil, represent our idea of spirituality in an ironic age.

Prior to "A Christmas Story" in which Depression-era kid Ralphie pines for a Red Ryder BB gun despite elders' warnings that he could shoot his eye out, Christmas favourites were oh so serious. "A Christmas Carol" - actually a bona fide ghost story - and "It's a Wonderful Life" bear extremely dark themes of despair and death before their redemptive finales.

Keil sees two reasons why some became perennial hits. They languished in the public domain for years, which means TV stations could broadcast any old print every holiday without paying royalties, giving such titles indelible public exposure.

Also, back in the days before TV and video became primary re-run outlets, Hollywood didn't make films for repeat viewings (the odd blockbuster being the exception). They would play in theatres once and then disappear into the vault.

Since then, the truly time-tested classics have emerged, not because of any marketing ploy, but because the audience genuinely loved them.

"These are films for the ages precisely because they don't seem to be calculated attempts to make the season profitable," Keil says.

Here are five favourite moments from popular holiday movies:

-Staples? In "Scrooged" (1988) Bill Murray is Frank Cross, a Scrooge-like TV executive planning a live holiday special. He shocks a stage hand who's having trouble keeping tiny antlers glued to a mouse for a miniature scene. "Have you tried staples?" Cross asks callously.

-In the finale of 1951's "A Christmas Carol" Alastair Sim's Scrooge is deliriously happy to awaken Christmas morning and find he still has time to redeem himself. He performs an impromptu headstand still wearing his nightgown, which sends his screaming housekeeper fleeing in terror.

-In "Miracle on 34th Street" (1947), little Natalie Wood, still skeptical about the existence of Santa, watches wide-eyed from the sidelines as the department store Santa her mother hired comforts a homesick orphan girl from Holland by talking and singing to her in Dutch.

-In one of the rare comic scenes from "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), Jimmy Stewart is walking comely Donna Reed home after their accidental dunking in a swimming pool. He ponders the right thing to do when Reed finds herself trapped inside a bush, apparently naked, while he holds her coat.

-In "A Christmas Story" (1988), little Ralphie's quest for a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas takes him to a grumpy department store Santa who promptly boots him down the exit slide, but not before repeating the discouraging warning already offered him by parents and teachers: "You'll shoot yer eye out, kid."

Lost in the DVD desert

El Cid is a 1961 epic classic about the legendary Spanish hero starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren that was nominated for three Oscars.

Ishtar is a 1987 box-office flop starring Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty as lounge singers caught up in a Middle East espionage tangle.

Orson Welles' Falstaff is considered the best of the legendary director's three Shakespearean adaptations, a 1965 comedy.

What do all three of these films have in common? None has yet been released on DVD in North America, even though the format turns 10 next year, next-generation, high-definition discs are on the market, and conventional wisdom holds that practically everything in Hollywood's vaults is on DVD.

Nothing could be further from the truth. For example, of Warner Bros.' 6,650-film vault, only about 1,300 movies are on DVD.

"Some are tied up with legal issues, some are a result of an inability to find good-enough elements to work from, and others are being held back for commemorative opportunities," says Warner's George Feltenstein.

Falstaff, for example, was partly financed by a Spanish company that holds the rights. The film is available on DVD in Spain, but the disc won't work on U.S. players because of regional coding, launched in 1997 to combat DVD piracy.

In many cases, Feltenstein says, a film remains in the vault simply because the studio doesn't think it will sell. "The fact that a film is old doesn't necessarily make it a classic."

What's a fan to do? Bob Graham, 54, a Missouri market research manager, bought a region-free player to watch foreign DVDs of Falstaff.

John Scheinman, 46, a reporter in Washington, D.C., is desperate to see Ishtar. "The film was pummeled in the media before it came out because of big-time cost overruns," he says. "But Warren Beatty, Dustin Hoffman and Charles Grodin are pretty hilarious — and I, for one, would buy it on DVD."

Greg Pasqua, 40, an entertainment consultant in Burbank, Calif., would like to see Lost Horizon, the 1973 musical with Peter Finch, Liv Ullmann and George Kennedy.

"The film was coined 'Lost Investment' in Hollywood when it did poor box office and the reviews weren't very good," Pasqua says. "But it has a pretty good cult following and was once released for a limited time on laser disc."

Sometimes, fans can make it happen. A barrage of petitions led Sony to issue the cult classic Heavy Metal on DVD a few years back.

"The best current case in point is the (Richard) Donner cut of Superman II," Feltenstein says.

NOTABLES NOT AVAILABLE ON DVD IN NORTH AMERICA

-African Queen, 1951 adventure classic with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Requires extensive restoration.

-The Jazz Singer, the landmark 1927 talkie with Al Jolson. Also needs cleaning up.

-Porgy and Bess, Otto Preminger's 1959 film version, which upset the estate of composer George Gershwin.

-Ace in the Hole, Billy Wilder's 1951 noir with Kirk Douglas.

-Adventures of Don Juan, from 1948, Errol Flynn's last great swashbuckler.

-Brewster McCloud, from 1970, from the late Robert Altman.

-Song of the South, the 1946 Disney retelling of the Uncle Remus stories and one of the few Disney classics not on DVD.

WKRP in Cincinnati - WKRP - it's really coming out

News that Fox is releasing WKRP in Cincinnati is making the rounds thanks to a flyer that can be found inside the upcoming release of Stacked.

The studio has been working on the set for quite awhile, spending most of their time looking at the songs used in the series. As you've probably guessed, there will be music substitutions when the set comes out, but the studio has been spending a lot of time with a music supervisor to ensure that the replaced songs fit the show.

Hugh Wilson, creator of the series, has heard some of the replaced music and thought Fox did a good job.

This series was one that Fox reps said would "never" be released on DVD because of the music, but Fox is currently looking at April, 2007 for the first season set. Hopefully fans will keep an open mind and consider purchasing this set even with some of the music being replaced. We'll have more info when the set is officially announced.

Disney's "Pirates" sells 5 million DVDs in first day

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Holiday shoppers in North America snapped up nearly 5 million DVD copies of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" in the hit title's first day in release, Walt Disney Co. said on Wednesday.

The strong start for "Dead Man's Chest," which was released as a single DVD and a two-disc box set on Tuesday, means that Disney's Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment could have the three best-selling DVDs for 2006, Disney said.

"Dead Man's Chest" also is on track to unseat the previous live-action record-holder for DVD sales, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," which sold about 16 million DVD copies and 2 million home-video units, a Disney spokesman said.

DVD sales can account for as much as half of a movie's total revenues. "Dead Man's Chest," the follow-up to "Black Pearl," has generated more than $1 billion in worldwide box office receipts, making it the top-grossing film of the year.

"Black Pearl" pulled in about $654 million at box offices worldwide. A second "Pirates" sequel is set for release in May.

The top DVD sellers for 2006 now include Disney-Pixar's "Cars," with 13 million DVDs sold since its November 7 release, and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," with 12 million sold since its release by Disney and Walden Media on April 4, Disney said.

Other contenders for the top DVD slots are Warner Bros. " Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," and "X-Men: The Last Stand."

The biggest-selling DVD of all time was Disney's and Pixar Animation Studios' "Finding Nemo," which sold about 27 million units, Disney said.

First 'SNL' season still genius on DVD

NEW YORK - The show then known as "NBC's Saturday Night" debuted in October 1975 and, ever since, the series it became has been measured against it ... and usually found wanting. That is part of the legacy of "Saturday Night Live": a past never to be equaled.

Now anyone who wonders what all the fuss was about — or who was there for it and wants to refresh a dimming memory — can roll back the years with a just-released DVD set.

"SNL: The Complete First Season" (Universal Studios Home Entertainment; $69.98) reunites the original Not Ready for Prime Time Players. It reprises comedy classics like Land Shark, Baba Wawa, Bass-O-Matic and the Killer Bees. It tracks a groundbreaking series in its formative phase. And does all this in context, with the 24 shows preserved intact.

Guest hosts include Candice Bergen, Rob Reiner and Elliott Gould, as well as more novel choices like Racquel Welch, Dick Cavett and Ron Nessen, press secretary for then President Ford.

Musical guests include Jimmy Cliff, Simon & Garfunkel, Patti Smith and (mama mia!) ABBA. Andy Kaufman makes several comic appearances, and Albert Brooks contributes a number of short films. Even the Muppets are on the bill.

Viewers who have never seen "SNL's" Michael O'Donoghue impersonate a show-biz personality with 15-inch needles in his eyes, or heard the latest update that "Generalisimo Francisco Franco is still dead" will be richer for the experience.

But this DVD collection packs an even greater payoff for vintage fans like me, who back then greeted each show as nothing less than an event and lived it right along with the performers. With those shows as our ideal, we're the stubborn traditionalists always carping, "They just don't make 'em like they used to," while we dismiss "SNL" of modern times as an ever-deepening rut.

Maybe that's harsh, but there's no question the series (officially christened "Saturday Night Live" in its second season) was born to lampoon cultural institutions, yet itself has become such an institution that today it's spoofed by one NBC series ("30 Rock") and glorified by another ("Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip").

It's easy to argue that now, under the continuing rule of 62-year-old creator Lorne Michaels (who in 1975 made noises about hiring no one much past age 30), "SNL" stands for nothing other than its own accumulating years.

But here's a chance to cut through three decades' distance (and through the, um, marijuana haze that may have clouded certain viewers' judgment at the time) for a clear-eyed reappraisal: Once and for all, just how good WAS that inaugural season?

During more than 30 hours of immersion recently, I was able to bring my present-day perspective to those old shows (even beyond concluding that, in 2006, Francisco Franco is STILL dead).

In retrospect, I can certify that the complexity, irreverence and live-ness of "SNL" made it revolutionary for a time when there was little if any other topical comedy on the tube.

And despite the pioneering nature of this venture, its premiere — which aired Oct. 11, 1975, with George Carlin as host — is remarkably good.

But, reflecting a series in its shakedown phase, the comedy troupe was scarcely seen on this first show. And scarcely credited in the opening, with the performers' names all squeezed onto a single title card while announcer Don Pardo botched their introduction, calling them "The Not for Ready Prime Time Players."

And what of this soon-to-be-legendary team? Well, to watch Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi three decades later is to behold enduring genius. Gilda Radner shines bright as ever.

On the other hand, I was startled by my latter-day aversion to another troupe member. Did we viewers really laugh, week after week, at the quip, "I'm Chevy Chase and you're not"? Could we really have adored him for his trademark pratfall and smarmy pronouncement that, "Live from New York, it's `Saturday Night'"?

Back then, Chase was hot, hip, the series' breakout star. Seen now, he comes across as a budding version of himself after bolting from "SNL" in its second season to make movies: a one-note, insufferable ham.

The DVD set confirms my recollection of some wonderful shows that first year. Those hosted by Lily Tomlin, Desi Arnaz and Madeline Kahn are among the gems. And maybe grandest of all is the program that aired Dec. 13, 1975, with guest host Richard Pryor. Besides his two extended monologues, he joins Belushi in "Samurai Hotel" (the first for Belushi in that popular recurring character).

Amazingly, by then — show No. 7 — the "SNL" format was firmly in place, destined never to change.

Not that a consistent formula would guarantee consistent quality. Week to week and sometimes moment to moment that first season, the shows were wildly uneven, and some of them real dogs — just as in all the years since.

But if "SNL" has always been a hit-or-miss affair, my look back satisfied me that something special drove it then: an unruly effort to surprise its viewers along with making them laugh. It set out to defy the television medium it had invaded, as well as the larger culture. But all too soon it became part of the culture. It was digested by TV.

So "SNL" long ago lost its capacity to startle, abandoning that mission to repeat itself instead, simply catering to viewers' well-entrenched expectations. It began with a subversive streak. Then it got comfortable.

For some of us, "SNL: The Complete First Season" will expose the series' genesis as maybe not as great as we might like to remember. But the impact of those early shows was greater than we could've imagined, and far greater than the series that evolved. Watching those shows now, it's clear why.

No Seinfeld for You?

Jerry, Elaine and George could end up paying for Michael Richards' rant.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson called for a boycott Monday of the latest Seinfeld DVD, a way of exacting economic punishment for Richards' racist meltdown.

In a bit of bad timing for Jerry Seinfeld, et al., the seventh season of Seinfeld was released as a four-disc set last week, just as Richards' caught-on-video, Nov. 17 Los Angeles comedy club raving was made public.

The new Seinfeld package, featuring much quoted episodes such as "The Soup Nazi" ("No soup for you!"), was Amazon.com's 11th-biggest-selling DVD on Monday and was expected to be a big stocking-stuffer for Christmas.

Richards, 57, won three Emmys for playing the wired Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld, which ran from 1990-98 on NBC.

In the last week, Richards has become better known for hurling the N-word at black hecklers after attempting a lynching joke during the same riff and, later, for apologizing—or trying to, anyway.

"My best friends were African-Americans," Richards said Sunday on Jackson's Premiere Radio Network show.

The Jackson gig was the latest in Richards' reaching-out effort to African-American men who have run for president. Before the radio appearance, the actor was said to have placed contrite phone calls to Jackson and the Reverend Al Sharpton. There was no word if Alan Keyes, a 1996 and 2000 Republican presidential candidate, was sought out.

On his show, Jackson said he hoped the Richards "crisis" would create an opportunity.

On Monday, the civil-rights leader joined others in calling on everyone—blacks, whites, Seinfeld players, presumably included—to refrain from using the N-word, on stage and off.

"Its roots are rooted in hatred and pain and degradation," Jackson told a Los Angeles press conference. "And whether it's hatred toward African-Americans or whether it's self-hatred, a concession toward it is still wrong."

At the Laugh Factory, the Sunset Boulevard scene of Richards' off-the-rails routine, owner Jamie Masada announced Monday that the N-word would be banned at the club.

Masada called on Richards to donate millions to charities serving black neighborhoods and reiterated that the actor would remain barred from the Laugh Factory until he personally apologized to the patrons who bore the brunt of his racial epithets.

Last week, Frank McBride and Kyle Doss, the two men whose observations of Richards' act sent the performer into a racist rage, teamed up with camera-ready attorney Gloria Allred to seek out their own formal apology—and perhaps some judge-ordered financial compensation.

"It's not enough to say 'I'm sorry' on Letterman," Allred said.

Richards appeared on Letterman's Late Show on Nov. 20 to offer his first public apology. The mea culpa, which drew laughs from a confused studio audience, was criticized as not being enough.

In the Los Angeles Daily News, Najee Ali of Los Angeles' Project Islamic H.O.P.E. slammed the Letterman apology, which came on the same night as an appearance by scheduled guest Jerry Seinfeld, as "damage control in light of the DVD of the seventh season of Seinfeld."

Even Kenny Kramer, Seinfeld cocreator Larry David's former neighbor and inspiration for Cosmo Kramer, moved to distance himself from the actor who made his surname famous.

"In no way do I condone or endorse what Michael Richards said or did," Kramer said on his official Website. "It is really annoying, and sad, that people are saying that Kramer is a racist."

"Michael Richards ceased being Kramer eight years ago."

Richards has appeared infrequently on camera since Seinfeld ended. Per his new PR guru, the actor is now appearing regularly in a psychiatrist's office for counseling.

"I have been trying to get to the source of where that anger comes from," Richards said on Jackson's radio show.

According to Richards, he grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood and never attempted to find the fun in lynching until the infamous Laugh Factory routine.

"That's not an image I carry around every day, [that] every time I look at an African-American I think he should be upside down and hung from a tree," Richards told Jackson. "I have too much love for the African-American."

Richards also denied previously dropping the N-bomb.

"I haven't spoken like this to an African-American before," Richards said. "It's a first time for me to talk to an African-American like this."

In an entry on the Huffington Post, blogger Trey Ellis, who is black, advised Richards to stop apologizing, especially to the likes of Jackson and Sharpton.

"Calling up Jesse and Al as if they were the co-Popes of black folks is almost as dumb as your lame, racist onstage repartee," wrote Ellis.

According to Ellis, Richards should just wait for another celebrity to star in an embarrassing videotape.

"There is nothing you can do to win back black fans," Ellis wrote. "That ship has sailed."

Kevin Smith: 'Degrassi' inspired 'Clerks' sequel

TORONTO (CP) - Filmmaker Kevin Smith's ardour for Canada's "Degrassi: The Next Generation" is well-documented - he's written and appeared in five episodes - but he has a new revelation: the CTV series prompted him to make a sequel to his beloved "Clerks."

"I was a huge fan of 'Degrassi High' and 'Degrassi Junior High' but when they kick-started 'Degrassi: The Next Generation,' I was like: 'Oh man, I don't know,"' Smith said in a recent interview to launch Tuesday's DVD release of "Clerks II."

"I wondered if they should leave well enough alone. Where's the wisdom in revisiting characters that people used to love? But then I finally saw 'Next Generation' and not only were they able to go back to the well with it, but they drew fresh water."

In fact, Smith says, Linda Schuyler and the creative team behind "Degrassi" were so triumphant in melding old characters with fresh blood and "Degrassi's" trademark cutting-edge storylines, it convinced him he could successfully revisit Dante, Randal and the rest of the "Clerks" gang.

"It was so inspiring that it really was largely responsible for me winding up doing 'Clerks II.' I thought if they can go back to those characters and find something new in them, I can do the same thing with mine."

"Clerks II" is indeed an affectionate and funny return to the convenience store slackers of the 1994 original - but this time they're in their 30s and grappling with typical thirtysomething angst over what to do with the rest of their lives, both personally and professionally.

"If 'Clerks' was a flick about what I felt it was like to be in my 20s, 'Clerks II' was a flick about what I felt it was like to be in my 30s and settling down," says Smith, the happily married father of a seven-year-old girl.

Fatherhood, he says, hasn't otherwise seriously affected his filmmaking - with the exception of "Jersey Girl," Smith's romantic comedy that featured Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in the frenzied midst of their ultimately doomed romance.

"If I didn't have a kid I probably wouldn't have written 'Jersey Girl' - I like to blame the kid, by the way, for anyone who didn't like the movie," he says with a laugh before adding ruefully: "I took a world of crap for that movie. If you read the reviews, a lot of people just faulted me for making the movie in the first place, and said it was the kind of movie that Dante and Randal would have made fun of in 'Clerks."'

The 2004 film was released at a time when the public's fascination with all things celebrity-related was moving into serious overdrive as "Bennifer" was routinely making headlines.

That continuing obsession with celebrity culture continues to puzzle Smith, but he thinks there might be an unexpected fringe benefit to the world's fixation on the private lives of stars.

"It's been formed by Sept. 11, I think, in terms of wouldn't you rather think about who Paris Hilton's screwing rather than when the first suitcase bomb is going to go off?" he says. "It's just a diversion - 'let's forget about the real problems and concentrate on stuff that means nothing."'

"Maybe the terrorists are watching the news as well, and they're all so fascinated by Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes that they're not thinking about where to strike next. The celebrities that we mock so much - maybe they're the people who are saving our asses. Now that would be a great cosmic joke."

It would be an irony, in fact, that Dante and Randal would take great pleasure in discussing if they ever return to the big screen - something Smith is not ruling out.

"I could conceive of going back to Dante and Randal sometime in my mid-40s. If I had something to say about being in my 40s, I would totally think about it and I'd immediately think of Dante and Randal."

A return to "Degrassi," too, is something Smith dreams about. He played himself in a three-episode arc from Season 4 and then appeared in two more episodes last season. The sixth season of the show premieres Tuesday night on CTV.

"I don't know how they would fit me in logically again, but if they figure out a way I'd do it again in a heartbeat," he says. "I did say at one point let's skew the reality even further and say that I've given up filmmaking and I've decided to teach at Degrassi, so I could be on every episode - but they didn't go for that."

Christmas DVD gift guide

Boffo Box Sets

- Superman: Ultimate Collector's Edition

For the 'I-want-it-all!' fan. Housed in a burnished silver metal box, this super-sensational set has 14 discs, a vintage comic repro and a coupon for five posters. On disc are seven editions of the five movies: Superman The Movie, the 1978 original and its 2000 extended version; Superman II, the original and Richard Donner's new revised cut (the movie he would have made if he hadn't been dumped for Richard Lester); Superman III, Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (the series was dying and Christopher Reeve was looking ridiculous); plus Bryan Singer's franchise revival, Superman Returns. Among extras is doomed George Reeves in Superman And the Mole-Men (1951) plus all of Fleischer's gaudy 1940s cartoons. Release date is Nov. 28.

- King Kong: Deluxe Extended Edition Gift Set:

Peter Jackson loves serving his fans, and cashing in. So he repeats his Lord Of The Rings pattern with a Deluxe Extended Edition, although only 13 new minutes have been edited in. Another 38 minutes is in the deleted scenes section, along with a truly exhaustive set of extras. Like the Ring cycle, the three-disc Kong set is available in a boxed Gift Set, which offers the three-disc DVD set plus a WETA statuette of Kong climbing the Empire State building with Ann Darrow clutched tenderly in his hand. Available now.

- M*A*S*H: The Martinis & Medicine Collection

The entire M*A*S*H season-by-season series was completed this month. So it was inevitable that one of the classic American TV shows would then repackage itself into another of those total immersion sets for people who did not buy the individual seasons. This spectacular box, in a pseudo military design, contains 36 discs with everything anyone could want, including all 11 seasons on 33 discs, two discs of extra extras, plus Robert Altman's terrific Sutherland-Gould movie that started it all in 1970. War is hell. But M*A*S*H is heaven-sent, especially in one kit bag. Available now.

- Six Feet Under: The Complete Series 2001-2005

Like Larry Gelbart's pioneering M*A*S*H, Alan Ball's droll series made an impact beyond the sitcom zeitgeist.

"Why do people have to die?" a mourner asks.

"To make life important!"

So it is that this dirt-brown box set, topped with fuzzy fake grass and a tombstone plaque, contains everything related to the series' five seasons.

It is presented in memoriam and cherished by hardcore fans. Available now.

FOR OLDTIMERS (AND YOUTH SMART ENOUGH TO LOOK TO THE PAST)

- The Rogers & Hammerstein Collection

Their musicals harkened to a bygone era, and now the musicals themselves are quaintly old-fashioned. So what? That is their charm. "Somebody has to keep saying that there are beautiful meadows bathed in sunlight," Oscar Hammerstein II says in a vintage interview. This box set contains six R&H classic titles, each in a two-disc version containing strong extras: State Fair (both the 1945 and 1962 versions), Oklahoma!, Carousel (both the 1956 version and Fritz Lang's dark French original, a surreal 1934 drama based on the Hungarian play), plus South Pacific, The King And I and, of course, The Sound Of Music. Available now.

- Preston Sturges: The Filmmaker Collection

Unlike Frank Capra, Sturges has been (unfairly) moved to the fringes. But he was a sometimes savage, always incisive satirist who rattled the cage of Americana with screwball comedies and political dramas. This primo seven-disc set offers seven titles from 1940-44, four of which make their DVD debut. Included are classics, such as Sullivan's Travels, The Palm Beach Story and The Lady Eve. Just as worthy is the lesser known gem, The Great McGinty, about a Depression hobo who ascends to the state governor's office by collaborating with crooks.

The other titles: Christmas In July, The Great Moment and the brilliant, frenetic, war-aftermath film, Hail The Conquering Hero. Available now.

- The Premiere Frank Capra Collection

The stylish Capra raised populism to a fine art in American cinema. This absolutely essential, six-disc collection has a major doc on his career and five of his all-star classics of the '30s: American Madness (underrated and similar in theme to It's A Wonderful Life), It Happened One Night (spectacularly won Oscars for picture, actor, actress and director), Mr. Deeds Goes To Town, You Can't Take It With You and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington.

Capra is a genre as well as a legend and his son, Frank Jr., helps to explain the legacy. Release date is Dec. 5.

- Norman McLaren: The Master's Edition

On seven discs in a sublime box set, we get everything this Scottish-born Canadian genius ever did at the National Film Board Of Canada. Even experiments. No fan of classic animation, nor of Canadian cinema and heritage, nor of surrealistic film art, should leave this unwatched. If any proof is needed, first watch his loopy Blinkity Blank, then the live-action, Oscar-winning classic, Neighbours (as a caustic comment on aggression and war, it is as relevant now as it was in 1952). You'll quickly catch McLaren fever and have to see more. Available now.

ALSO AVAILABLE:

The Screen Legend Collection

Rock Hudson

Bing Crosby

Cary Grant

FOR PUCKHEADS (AND DISCERNING JOCKS)

- The Rocket: Maurice Richard

Even for Leafs fans, Charles Biname's drama about the hard life and triumphant times of the fiercely driven NHL star is fascinating. As the heart & soul of Montreal Canadiens hockey history, Richard also represented the rise of working class Francophones in an era of English paternalism or racism -- and that's all here. With subtle craft, actor Roy Dupuis captures The Rocket's essence and the DVD extends the mythology with a tribute doc. Available now.

- Canada Russia '72

Still the greatest spectacle in Canadian sports history, and essential to how Canada defined itself for a generation, the 1972 Summit Series led to this surprisingly good, epic-length drama. The three-disc DVD set, housed in a cool red-metal case, offers two versions. One is the broadcast cut at 184 minutes; the second is T.W. Peacocke's slightly extended version at 193 minutes. The third disc has limited extras (missing and missed is a stats packs and actor-player bios). Available now.

- Torino 2006: Canada's Quest For Success

It is big on sappy sentiment and official gear ads, but it is still packed with info and terrific highlights. This six-disc set covers Canada's participation at the Winter Olympics, where Canadians earned a record 24 medals, including seven gold. The DVDs focus on each day's events, celebrating winners and listing losers, with special intense coverage of hockey and curling. Offbeat, humanizing insights include backstage moments with Jennifer Heil -- and her giggles after getting the call from the PM for winning her gold. Available now.

ANIMATION MADNESS

- South Park: The Hits: Volume 1

Included are 10 of Stone & Parker's faves, plus four bonus episodes and the infamous damned-for-all-eternity short, The Spirit Of Christmas. Heck, I'd buy this for film buff just to share the charming (if twisted) riffs in The Return Of the Fellowship Of The Ring To The Two Towers, not to mention Trapped In The Closet and the sicko Scott Tenorman Must Die.

- Beavis And Butt-Head: The Mike Judge Collection

Speaking of sicko, Judge gives us three volumes (nine discs) of his favourite juvenile nonsense and offers his movie, Beavis And Butt-Head Do America, as a Special Collector's Edition bonus. Available now.

- Nick Picks: Volumes 1-3

Nickelodeon packages three DVDs into a box set full of excerpts from various cartoon shows, including SpongeBob SquarePants and his prehistoric, cave-sponge episode, SpongeBob B.C. Other shows sampled range from All Grown Up to Rugrats. Available now.

JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

A selection of major titles set for release leading up to the holidays:

NOVEMBER 28

Superman Returns

Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition

Clerks II

A Star Is Born (1976)

The Ant Bully

DECEMBER 5

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

Saturday Night Live: The Complete First Season

Miami Vice: Unrated Director's Cut

1900: Special Collector's Edition

Charlie Chan Collection: Volume 2

DECEMBER 12

James Bond: Ultimate Edition: Volumes 3 & 4

The Devil Wears Prada

Talladega Nights: The Legend Of Ricky Bobby

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe: Four-Disc Extended Edition

Barnyard: The Original Party Animals

DECEMBER 19

Little Miss Sunshine

My Super Ex-Girlfriend

Invincible

Lady In The Water

Step Up

DECEMBER 26

The Black Dahlia

The Last Kiss

The Descent

Jackass: Number Two: Unrated Edition

Dane Cook's Tougasm

Slight Delay for Get Smart

We've already received a few emails from customers that preordered Get Smart from Time-Life asking why the set has been delayed until next week. We called our contact over there to find out, and he gave us the low-down on what caused the delay.

The sets are comprised of three pieces; the cardboard digipak, the plastic "O" case that goes over the digipack, and the cardboard box that holds all 5 sets. When Time-Life got all the pieces together they noticed that the 5 sets had a tight fit to get into the box, and this caused the front of the sets to bow a bit. They looked into it further and discovered the company that printed the plastic "O" case used a slightly thicker plastic, and this was causing the problems. The cases have been reprinted, but now they have to be assembled before the sets can ship, so the shipping date was moved back a week.

It's too bad there's a delay for the set, but at least this glitch was caught before the sets shipped out and people complained that they didn't fit in the box properly. I can verify that the sets are tight once my phone booth box arrives; I have the thicker plastic on my sets.

The set can only be ordered directly from Time-Life, and will now ship next Tuesday, November 21.

Slight Delay for Get Smart

We've already received a few emails from customers that preordered Get Smart from Time-Life asking why the set has been delayed until next week. We called our contact over there to find out, and he gave us the low-down on what caused the delay.

The sets are comprised of three pieces; the cardboard digipak, the plastic "O" case that goes over the digipack, and the cardboard box that holds all 5 sets. When Time-Life got all the pieces together they noticed that the 5 sets had a tight fit to get into the box, and this caused the front of the sets to bow a bit. They looked into it further and discovered the company that printed the plastic "O" case used a slightly thicker plastic, and this was causing the problems. The cases have been reprinted, but now they have to be assembled before the sets can ship, so the shipping date was moved back a week.

It's too bad there's a delay for the set, but at least this glitch was caught before the sets shipped out and people complained that they didn't fit in the box properly. I can verify that the sets are tight once my phone booth box arrives; I have the thicker plastic on my sets.

The set can only be ordered directly from Time-Life, and will now ship next Tuesday, November 21.

Sinatra in Vegas out in CD-DVD box set

NEW YORK - Frank Sinatra was never happier, his daughter Tina says, than when he was working in Las Vegas. Those years are now captured in song by "Sinatra in Vegas," a box set of four concert CDs, and one DVD, ranging from the Rat Pack peak of the early 1960s to the late 1980s, just before his voice and memory began to give way.

As Tina Sinatra remembers it, you could pretty much tell how her dad was feeling on stage by the musicians he chose to sing with.

"If he was happy, he would use a larger swing band, a lot of brass," she said during a recent phone interview from Los Angeles. "If he was feeling melancholy, he might work with something a little more intimate, like the sextet he performed with in Paris in the `50s. He would stick closer to saloon songs."

Sinatra, who died in 1998 at age 82, didn't have a Vegas theme song, the way "New York, New York" and "My Kind of Town" (Chicago is) worked for other cities. But his real home in concert was the desert haven of gambling and other recreation that he as much as anybody made famous. "Those were the magic years, his senior statesman years," Tina Sinatra says. "He was the sassy cat in Vegas."

Working with bands led by such favorites as Count Basie, and Sinatra's son, Frank Sinatra, Jr., he comes on sassy for most the Vegas tracks, camping "The Lady is the Tramp" to the point of obscenity; cracking up during the most sensitive of ballads, "I've Got a Crush on You," and warning "Hold on to your handbags" as the Basie band kicks into the break of "I've Got You Under My Skin." Even on a disc from 1987, when he's in his early 70s, he can open with "I've Got the World on a String" and never hint that he doesn't believe it.

Vegas was hardly the place for protest music, but the box set does include a Sinatra interview in which he recalls his anger that the black musicians in his group were told to stay in a separate hotel.

"I did make some demand on some people and, said, `If they all have to live on the other side of town, then you don't need me,'" he says. "I guess I was the biggest mouth in town."

Listening to the Vegas tracks brought back musical and nonmusical memories for Tina Sinatra, who explains how her dad loved the desert because it was good for his throat, and was bothered when all the hotels became air conditioned and he needed a humidifier to keep the rasp out of his voice.

Tina Sinatra has worked on numerous projects about her father, serving as executive producer of the 1992 miniseries, "Sinatra," and writing a memoir, "My Father's Daughter." She still listens to his music all the time — "he's always one of six CDs I have in the player in my car" — and remembers the calls she would receive at 6 o'clock every night, from Vegas or anywhere else.

"I miss his humor, his way of dealing with things. He had a way of saying, `You're wasting your energy," she recalls. "I know he had that other side, but I remember him being soothing and wise. He gave me room to grow. He understood the meaning of seek and search."

TV series get bundled up

Just as TV sets are getting bigger and bigger, so are DVD collections.
After years of selling season sets of popular shows, suppliers now are packaging more box sets of complete TV series.

Stronger-than-expected sales of HBO Video's $300, 20-disc, six-season set of Sex and the City in November gave the marketing team a whole new strategy to use with other series: releasing the set in the lucrative fourth quarter after the series' run had ended.

"We experienced tremendous success with Sex and the City, and it has continued selling at a steady pace," HBO's Sofia Chang says.

The pricey sets generally are released in limited editions of 10,000 to 50,000 and cost $30-$40 a set to produce. With list prices from $200 to $300, the profit potential for a complete series set can be 10 times that of a single DVD.

Bringing out a full-series set is "not unlike numerous releases of a film: a special edition, a director's cut, an ultimate collector's edition," says Twentieth Century Fox's Steve Feldstein.

A&E was one of the first to bundle an entire series in one box with The Avengers in 2001. Since then the company has released complete series of such cult shows as Kids in the Hall, The Prisoner and Monty Python's Flying Circus.

"We've always been about collectors," A&E's Kate Winn says. "The customer base for our megasets is not price-sensitive; they want to take ownership of a program that has meaning to them."

And the sets make great gifts.

But Gord Lacey, who runs the popular website TVShowsOnDVD.com, says the sets can "deliver a big blow to the loyal customers who have purchased all the season sets over the last three to five years."

That complaint won't be heard with Get Smart.

HBO is releasing all five seasons of the classic spy spoof in a 25-disc set. Get Smart: The Complete Collection ($200) goes on sale Nov. 15 exclusively through the Time-Life website. It will arrive in stores next fall.

Inside look at Pixar Animation Studios

EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- Like Jonah in the Biblical tale, the Pixar Animation Studios has been swallowed by a whale.

But it will be business as usual, even in the corporate belly of the Walt Disney Company, which bought the now legendary Pixar in a $7.4-billion share swap earlier this year.

"I'm not worried," John Lasseter, the creative heart of Pixar and the director of four of its seven feature films so far, told the Toronto Sun this week.

"It's funny," he said at the Pixar Animation Studios in this funky industrial town across the Bay from San Francisco, "I'm the least worried of everybody outside of here because I know these people. I know what this place is built upon. It is built upon this passion -- that people love what they do.

"Culture is very important here. I think we recognize that what we do have at Pixar is a unique culture. Frankly, when Disney decided they wanted to buy Pixar, the entire deal was predicated upon the protection of that culture, so Pixar culture could continue exactly that way off into the future."

That can only be good news for audiences, the families who thrilled as Pixar became one of the most phenomenal success stories in Hollywood history. Like Disney used to be, Pixar is now a guaranteed entertainment brand name in animation. The studio boasts a string of seven all-original features, each a huge hit.

The Pixar films are: Toy Story (1995), A Bug's Life (1998), Toy Story 2 (1999), Monsters, Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003), The Incredibles (2004) and now Cars (2006), which is coming to DVD on Tuesday. The next theatrical release is Brad Bird's Ratatouille, due June 29, 2007.

The first seven earned a total worldwide box office of nearly $3.7 billion. The per-picture average is the highest ever (albeit with a limited number of titles compared to other studios). The lowest, by a whisker, is the still impressive $362 million worldwide for Toy Story, the ground-breaking film that was Hollywood's first all-digital animated feature. The highest Pixar box office tally (second only to Shrek 2 -- all-time among animated films) was the $864.6 million worldwide for Finding Nemo. Pixar has generated mega-millions more in DVD sales, although exact figures are not available. But Finding Nemo vaulted into place as the best-selling DVD ever when it was first released.

The first six titles were also all Academy Award nominees, with four winning at least one Oscar each. Cars is expected to generate a best animated feature nomination for 2006. Lasseter is optimistic that Ratatouille will continue the golden streak because Bird, a college buddy who conjured The Incredibles for Pixar, is a filmmaking genius who has fashioned another dazzler. "It's about a rat who wants to be a fine chef in Paris, France, and it's fantastic," Lasseter said.

Working as a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney will not change a single frame of Ratatouille or any other future project, Lasseter promises. Nor will it change the physical environment. Pixar people will remain ensconced in their own studios here. It is a free-spirited place where the breakfast nook has a dozen-plus different cereals, where there is no time clock to punch, where there is no dress code, and where people amuse or refresh themselves in a gym, at a massage centre, at a movie theatre, on outdoor volleyball and soccer fields, in the Olympic-like pool with its swimming lanes, or on walkabout in the acres of green space surrounding the new but retro-built studio.

"It hasn't changed at all," Lasseter repeated about the way Pixar does its creative work. "The whole merger was based on (how) the culture here is so special. Everything is protected. It is meant to be exactly the way it is."

Despite Lasseter's confidence, the concern over Pixar is legitimate. Disney invested heavily in Miramax, the "indie" mini-major studio founded by Harvey and Bob Weinstein. Disney's parenting under CEO Michael Eisner proved to be thorny. Censorship intruded on some risque titles. Interference became the norm. The relationship soured. Eventually, the bombastic brothers were pushed out of The House of Mouse and started a fresh enterprise, the Weinstein Company. But Disney now owns the valuable Miramax film catalogue and its clutch of Oscar winners.

In the case of Pixar, the relationship with Disney head office soured long before the merger because of the contentious terms of the distribution deal Pixar had with Disney. While Pixar made its films in splendid isolation, Disney distributed them, took 50% of the profits and owned the sequel rights. Among the hot button issues was Disney's plan to make Toy Story 3 independent of Pixar. Under Eisner, the distribution deal was also going to end after Cars.

But, when Eisner was pushed out in a palace revolt, which was fuelled among other reasons by the Pixar blowup, the landscape changed. New Disney CEO Robert Iger was eager to find common ground. That became the complicated merger. Some observers believe that, while Disney technically owns Pixar, it is Pixar people who will eventually end up running all of Disney.

Pixar certainly has a huge stake in Disney. Pixar original Edwin Catmull, who joined it when it was still a high-tech computer graphics research group within George Lucas' empire, is now president of both Pixar and of Disney Studios. Lasseter, who was fired by Disney as a young animator before coming to Pixar two decades ago, is now chief creative officer of both Pixar and Disney animation.

Steve Jobs (famous both as a co-founder of Apple and as the one who revitalized the computer company) is the man who bought Pixar from Lucas in 1986, giving it the Pixar brand name. As a result of the Pixar stock swap, Jobs is now the largest individual stockholder in Disney. So the elements are in place to keep Pixar from going down the slippery slope that doomed Miramax.

Lasseter said he is not in a position yet to make any pronouncements about what will happen at Pixar past Ratatouille, although four other unnamed features are already in production. Nor is he free to talk about what he will do with the faltering Disney animation studio, although he stopped work on the rogue version of Toy Story 3 and is rumoured to have started it up again as a legit Pixar production with Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprising their roles. The one confirmed Disney animated release is Meet The Robertsons, due next March.

"I'm busy at Pixar and at Disney animation helping with the new movies," Lasseter said. As for details, he added, "I'm not really ready to talk about that right now."

On a personal basis, Lasseter is stretched for time, he admitted, but that is nothing new. "Time has always been a challenge for John Lasseter. It's like, no matter what I do, it seems like there is not enough time." That made his commitment of a day to help launch the Cars DVD extraordinary because Lasseter has made few media statements about the new world order at Disney and Pixar since the Disney acquisition was first announced in January and then completed in May.

A lot of the Cars animators and artists are true believers in the Pixar culture. In an interview for the Cars DVD, production designer Bob Pauley called the studio zeitgeist "the Church of Pixar -- you just have faith." That means, no matter what problem arises in the making of a film, the Pixar creative team will find a solution, he said. "You just have faith that we're going to be able to push through it."

As for the Disney merger specifically, Pauley says he has no fear at all: "No! the biggest fear is that there's just too many good things to work on. They know. They're not going to change this, not with John. He cares so much. I'm just so excited because there's a lot of good stuff happening. We all know we're very lucky, that's the thing."

For Thomas Jordan, the character shading supervisor on Cars, the merger is a positive thing for the artists at both studios. "I think we've learned a lot more about each other since the merger. So it's been fun to learn how to do things and share with them how we do things."

Part of how Pixar does things is the attention to detail, an exhausting process that takes four to six years on each feature film, from idea to theatrical release. While Disney tried to shave that process to two years, Pixar will not.

Bill Cone, a production designer on Cars, said that Lasseter, the co-director, set the tone on that project. "One of his constant statements on this film was: 'The devil is in the details!' And it's true ... It's because they don't stop. We get the time."

One animator spent six months producing the complex lighting for traffic in a five-second scene during which the lead character, Owen Wilson's race car Lightning McQueen, returns to L.A. at night on the freeway. Another team spent seven months working on dust storms the cars kick up when driving on dirt in Arizona.

"It's a cultural thing," Cars effects supervisor Steve May said of the Pixar way of doing things. "We kind of envision ourselves as craftsmen. We want to build things in a way that shows we care.... This studio is kind of unique because it's built around the directors. I would say that that is the most important thing -- and that the studio is creatively oriented, rather than being driven by schedules and monetary goals."

PIXAR'S STORY

1979: George Lucas launches the Computer Graphics Group with Edwin Catmull from the New York Institute of Technology as the ideas man. Develops futuristic but not ultimately successful Pixar Image Computer.

1984: Catmull hires animator John Lasseter after he is fired by Disney.

1985: Lucas sells the unit to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs for $5 million and he re-launches it as Pixar, a word that combines "pixel" with "art".

1986: Lasseter directs his first Pixar film, the short Luxo Jr., which is nominated for an Oscar.

1989: Lasseter's short Tin Toy wins an Oscar and inspires the development of Toy Story as a feature.

1995: Toy Story, directed by Lasseter, launches the Pixar success story.

2006: Disney buys Pixar in a stock swap valued at $7.4 billion.

'Superman II': The Other Director's Cut

Time Warner plans to issue a director's cut of Superman II on Nov. 20 that will feature the work of director Richard Donner, who was fired from the movie and replaced by Richard Lester midway through the movie in 1979.

According to Wednesday's London Times, the film will include 15 minutes of previously unseen footage of Marlon Brando as Superman's father, Jor-El.

The film also employs footage from Donner's screen tests and numerous alternate sequences. In fact, according to the Times, the film uses less than 20 percent of the footage shot by Lester.

A spokeswoman for Warner Home Video told the newspaper that the new film was made possible because producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind, who fired Donner, sold their interest in the film to Time Warner.

A critic for Britain's Empire magazine who viewed the new version said that it was plagued with continuity problems arising from the fact that Donner was forced to make do with footage on hand, including the screen-test footage.

"It's patchy (Reeve's hairstyle changes from shot to shot), badly lit and stagy, but watching Reeve's performance is electrifying," according to the Empire review.

SNL on DVD!!

Universal has just officially announced the DVD release of Saturday Night Live 1975-1976: The Complete First Season for 12/5!

The 8-disc set (SRP $69.98) will include all 24 90-minute episodes complete with their original hosts and all the original musical guests.

You also get a 32-page book of liner notes and rare case photos.

Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Garrett Morris, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman...woo hoo!!!

Nirvana concert video expanded for DVD

The Nirvana (music) concert video "Live! Tonight! Sold Out"--which was first issued on VHS in 1994--will be released for the first time on DVD on Nov. 7.

According to a Universal Music Enterprises press release, the DVD version of the video has been color-corrected and remastered in 5.1 surround sound. It's also been expanded to include some previously unreleased performances from 1991, which were recorded at the Paradiso club in Amsterdam: "School," "About A Girl," "Been a Son," "On a Plain" and "Blew."

"Live! Tonight! Sold Out"--which includes 15 complete songs, as well as interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and excerpts from the group's home-video archives--chronicles Nirvana's 1991-92 world tour, and continues as the band's popularity exploded through 1993.

The songs included on the video are:

"Aneurysm"
"About a Girl"
"Dive"
"Love Buzz"
"Breed"
"Smells Like Teen Spirit"
"Negative Creep"
"Come As You Are"
"Territorial Pissings"
"Something In The Way"
"Lithium"
"Drain You"
"Polly"
"Sliver"
"On a Plain"
"Endless Nameless"

EXTRAS - Live In Amsterdam:

"School"
"About a Girl"
"Been a Son"
"On a Plain"
"Blew"

Extras - HBO announces season 1

Meet Andy Millman, Actor. He never forgets his lines because he never gets any. Andy (Ricky Gervais) is a desperate man. He's been an actor for five years but thanks to his useless agent (Stephen Merchant), he's never done any real acting. Instead, he's a lowly film extra, making his mark in the background while the stars do their work.

The first season of Ricky Gervais' latest series, Extras, will be released by HBO on January 9, 2007. All 6 episodes, along with over 2 hours of bonus material (never-before-seen deleted scenes, exclusive outtakes, behind the scenes featurette and more) will be on this set.

'Mermaid' Swims Back Into the Spotlight

LOS ANGELES -- "The Little Mermaid," re-released on a special edition DVD, became an instant family classic when it first hit theaters in 1989, and continues to demonstrate an enduring appeal, which actress Jodi Benson attributes to many factors.

"I think [it's because it's] a classic fairy tale, the first one for our studio since 'Sleeping Beauty' in '61," comments Benson, who provided the voice of the title character. "And it's a great story in and of itself, but then to add the music to it, you know, to really make it like a Broadway musical, is what makes it so magical."

Composer Alan Menken, who won Oscars for the film's score as well as the original song "Under the Sea" with lyricist Howard Ashman, agrees that it's the combination of story -- about the mermaid Ariel who falls for a human despite her father's disapproval -- and music that make the film memorable.

"It's got a wonderful innocence about Ariel," says Menken. "As a father, I look at it as a story of a father giving his daughter away, or allowing her her independence. It's about a young woman who wants her independence and dreams of going to this other world. It's really like a rite of passage.

"It's a very heartfelt musical, a genuine musical," he adds. "It's a score that is very guileless. And it's very heartfelt in Ariel's song ['Part of Your World'] and the reprise of the song. I think it reflects the best of the Disney animated musicals, and it also brought the contemporary musical into a marriage with Disney animation."

Although Benson's childhood dreams revolved becoming an actress, not a mermaid, when the opportunity came to audition for the roles, she somehow tapped into her inner mermaid without any prompting.

"What I did is I went to the restroom at the rehearsal studio and I started talking into the mirror of what I thought she would sound like," she explains. "And I ran back in, and they had a reel to reel tape and just laid it down on that -- just put what I thought she sounded like. And [directors Ron Clements and John Musker] will tell you, 'We didn't know what we wanted till we heard it. Then we heard it, then we wanted it.' So I think it was just meant to be."

At that point, both Menken and Ashman had already known Benson for several years from her work on Broadway as a chorus girl.

"Jodi has one of those voices -- if you're going to get technical about it -- she's not a pure soprano," Menken observes. "She's got this wonderful mixed belt, which just floats, and was perfect for Ariel."

While playing Ariel changed Benson's life and boosted her career, Menken's time on the film helped change the face of the Oscars. After winning those first two Academy awards, the composer went on to win six more for "Beauty and the Beast," "Aladdin" and "Pocahontas." Despite the numerous other jobs that the two have had since "Mermaid," both credit Ashman for the shape of their success, even though he died in 1991 from AIDS.

Ashman was the one who convinced Menken to try his hand at scoring, and guided Benson how to perform her songs. In the DVD's "Behind the Scenes" featurette, archival footage shows Ashman standing next to the actress in the recording booth, feeding her the lines for "Part of Your World."

"[He did] everything -- every single line of every single character he has said, either on a tape or to your face," says Benson. "And every song, he's played all the characters. So the renditions of what he can do is just really amazing. So we all just basically copied him. Like I said, he just knew it better than anybody else."

With the passion and talent behind it, "Mermaid" seems like it was always destined to be a hit, but at the time it was made, the filmmakers and performers didn't expect it to become such a phenomenon.

"We had no idea, absolutely no idea whatsoever," reflects Benson. "It was just a complete blessing and gift. The reaction of the way it was received just took us all by storm. We just couldn't believe it. People just kind of really connect with this particular character. I've traveled all over the world and met children all over, and just to hear how this movie affects them in different ways is really precious, very precious."

"The Little Mermaid" 2-disc Platinum Edition is in stores now.

Nirvana concert film making DVD debut

NEW YORK (Billboard) - The Nirvana concert film "Live! Tonight! Sold Out!" will make its DVD debut November 7, 12 years after it was originally issued on VHS.

The Geffen Records release was conceived by Kurt Cobain as a way to anthologize Nirvana's quick ascent to rock superstardom but was not completed until after his 1994 suicide.

The bulk of the DVD features live footage from the band's 1991-92 tour in support of "Nevermind," highlighted by versions of "Breed," "Drain You," "Dive" and "Aneurysm." According to the label, the footage has been color-corrected and digitally remastered; previously unreleased bonus performances will be included but details have yet to be announced.

"Live! Tonight! Sold Out!" also sports performances of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," "About a Girl," "Love Buzz," "Negative Creep," "Come As You Are," "Territorial Pissings," "Something in the Way," "On a Plain," "Lithium" and "Sliver," among others.

The only prior Nirvana DVD was included with the 2004 boxed set "With the Lights Out."

Talladega comes to DVD

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is ready for the release fo Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby on rated and unrated DVDs, a Blu-Ray and a UMD release.

The fastest man on four wheels, Ricky Bobby is one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. A big, hairy American winning machine, Ricky has everything a daredevil could want: a luxurious mansion, a smokin' hot wife and all the fast food he can eat.

But Ricky's turbo-charged lifestyle hits an unexpected speed bump when he's bested by flamboyant Euro-idiot Jean Girard and reduced to a fear-ridden wreck.

Losing his wife and job to best bud and fellow fool, Cal Naughton, Jr., Ricky must kick some serious asphalt if he is to get his career back on track, beat Girard and reclaim his fame and fortune.

The DVDs, and Blu-Ray will come with a gag reel, deleted scenes, alternate takes, interviews with Ricky, Cal and Carley, bonus race footage, the featurette Will Ferrell Returns to Talladega a 25 Years Later commentary, a NASCAR spot, interviews with Jean Girard and Gregory, Walker & Texas Ranger outtakes and Ricky and Cal's Commercials and PSAs.

The unrated cut will contain an additional 13 minutes of footage. The DVD versions will be available in both fullscreen and anamorphic widescreen versions

OK, so for those keeping track at home. The UMD, fullscreen theatrical, widescreen theatrical, fullscreen unrated and widescreen unrated versions will all arrive for $28.95 while the Blu-Ray will be pricd at $38.96.

All six discs will arrive on November 9th.

Get Smart - It's here - Canadian Ordering Info!

Alright my fellow Canucks, we can order the Get Smart DVD set from Time-Life in Canada, but we'll have to do it via phone for now.

The set, which sells for $199.96 US, is $249.95 CAN (a reasonable conversion rate), plus a shipping and handling charge of $19.99 CAN and taxes (but if you whine a bit they may give you free shipping).

Just call Time Life Canada at 1-800-950-7887 and place your order. They still don't know when the set will be added to their website.

North America Series Two DVD Release

Sci Fi Wire, the news service of the US Sci Fi Channel, has announced the North American release of the second series on DVD on 16 January 2007, according to BBC Worldwide Americas.

"We're over the moon with Doctor Who," said Megan Branigan, vice president of BBC video marketing, in an interview with Sci-Fi Wire.

"We're really pleased with the results this year. We're very excited to continue the momentum with [season] two as we did with [season] one."

The DVD release will be exactly the same as the UK version, including video diaries, the cut-down versions of Doctor Who Confidential, and the lenticular box cover.

The second series of Doctor Who starring David Tennant will begin airing one week from today, Friday 29 September on Sci Fi in the US, and on 9 October in Canada on CBC; the release states that the DVD set will be released on the Tuesday after the series finale in the US, meaning that the season will finish later than was originally expected and will likely skip several weekends late in 2006.

"Smart" marketing: Time-Life sells entire series

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - HBO Video is bucking TV-DVD tradition when it releases "Get Smart" on DVD this year.

Instead of rolling out season sets to retailers, HBO is issuing the entire series, all at once, and giving mail-order giant Time-Life a one-year exclusive.

"'Get Smart' is among the most-requested classic TV series, yet because of the retail space squeeze we needed a way to make the series stand out," HBO Video president Henry McGee said.

"Get Smart: The Complete Collection" goes on sale November 15 exclusively through the Time-Life Web site. The collection includes all 138 episodes from the spy spoof series' 1965-70 network run, spread out over 25 discs. It is priced at $199.96. The series will be released to retail stores in fall 2007.

Time-Life and HBO spent nearly a year restoring and digitally remastering each original episode, not the shorter cuts that have lived on in syndication.

"This incredible restoration means that finally 'Get Smart' can be seen the way it was meant to be seen," said Leonard Stern, executive producer of the series.

DVD producer Paul Brownstein was hired to oversee production of the DVD package, and he came up with more than 10 hours of bonus materials, including rare bloopers, network promotional spots, commercials and the hourlong 75th birthday roast of star Don Adams at the Playboy Mansion in 1998. Adams died last year.

Gord Lacey, who runs the popular http://www.TVShowsOnDVD.com Web site, said "Get Smart" is No. 3 on the site's list of most-requested TV shows not yet out, behind "The Wonder Years" and the live-action "Batman."

"Fans have been waiting to get their hands on 'Get Smart' for years, and now they're being rewarded with the complete series loaded with special features," Lacey said. "I can't imagine anyone complaining about the release Time-Life has put together -- it sounds amazing."

Other bonus materials on the "Get Smart" collection include commentaries by Stern, series co-creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, actors Barbara Feldon, Bernie Kopell and Bill Dana, and guest stars Don Rickles and James Caan. Also included will be clips from the 2003 Museum of Television & Radio's "Get Smart Reunion" seminar, the last time the series' key alumni were together on the same stage.

DVD places the loot in 'Dead Man's Chest'

The third chapter of the Pirates of the Caribbean saga, At World's End, is eight months away from theaters.

Industry observers expect the DVD of the year's biggest movie to easily be the year's top seller, beating another Disney title, The Chronicles of Narnia, which was released before Easter and sold more than 11 million DVDs in the USA alone.

"It's definitely a repeatable movie that people will want to own," says industry analyst Tom Adams of Adams Media Research. He predicts sales of 12 million to 13 million for Dead Man's Chest.

The sequels only fuel renewed interest in the movies that came before. During Dead Man's summer theatrical run, the DVD of the original Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl shot back into the top five on the national DVD sales chart nearly three years after it was released.

"That's likely to happen again with the DVD release of the second one," Adams says.

The Dead Man's Chest DVD will come out in both a single-disc edition ($30) and a two-disc collector's edition ($35).

Both DVDs have bloopers and commentary from writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, who also are writing the upcoming movie.

The collector's edition also comes with 10 featurettes, including a profile on Depp, an inside look at the movie's premiere on Disneyland's Main Street, a photo diary from producer Jerry Bruckheimer, a feature on how Disneyland's popular Pirates of the Caribbean attraction became the basis for a movie and an extensive making-of documentary.

For the DVD, Bruckheimer worked to be sure the special features give audiences something fresh.

"We wanted to give people more than they saw in the theater, a little insight into the filmmaking process," he says.

For the making-of featurette, "a documentary filmmaker followed us around during the prep work, and you'll see things that went wrong, as well as the joy of the first day of filming, which is really nice."

Bruckheimer says work on the third installment in the franchise is progressing nicely.

"We shot a lot of Chow Yun-Fat's stuff already, and we should finish the principal actors by the beginning of November, so we are quite a ways into it."

The third film is expected to open May 25, on Memorial Day weekend.

And by Christmas 2007, expect a DVD release and a boxed set of all three films.

Get Smart - Complete Series up for ordering - Tons of Details Inside

There has been lots of talk about how Time-Life will release Get Smart on DVD.

People were speculating about the price, the packaging, and how long they'd have to wait between releases of each season. Well, Time-Life has done something that should make pretty much everyone happy... they're releasing all 5 seasons in one big box, then releasing the seasons individually later on.

You don't have to worry about a big collectors set being released with more material months after you buy the fifth season because they're doing it up front. You can buy the complete series right now for $199.96, or wait awhile and get individual seasons for $40 (though we've not sure why you would want to do that).

I've double-checked with Time-Life to make sure these are uncut episodes, and the episode times they sent me are around 25 mins (some higher, some slightly lower). This is a major release for them, and they've given the series the attention it deserves by hiring Paul Brownstein to produce extras for the set.

You'll know Paul from his work on other sets like The Dick Van Dyke Show, Wild, Wild, West, Gunsmoke and The Twilight Zone.

Remember, this set will only be available from Time-Life for the next year; it will not be available in stores, or from other online retailers. Head on over to the Time-Life site and place your order now. The set will begin shipping on November 13

TIME-LIFE AND HBO® VIDEO ANNOUNCE THE LONG-AWAITED RELEASE OF GET SMART ON DVD

GET SMART: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

November 13th Marks The Debut Of The Award-Winning TV Series On ANY Home Video Format!

SERIES EXECUTIVE PRODUCER LEONARD STERN CALLS THE
DIGITAL RESTORATION OF ALL 138 EPISODES "INCREDIBLE"

FAIRFAX, VA - Sept. 15, 2006 - Would you believe... one of the greatest television sitcoms of all time will finally arrive on DVD, as Time-Life and HBO Video debut Get Smart: The Complete Collection this fall. The seven-time EMMY® Award-winning comedy series, starring Don Adams as title character Maxwell Smart, originally aired on NBC from 1965 to 1970, and has never before been available on home video. All five seasons arrive November 13th featuring nearly 10 hours of stunning bonus material such as a new, in-depth interview with co-star Barbara Feldon (Agent 99), original featurettes, new episode introductions, audio commentaries with cast and series co-creators Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, never-before-seen bloopers, and much, much more.

Get Smart: The Complete Collection DVD set will be available exclusively from Time-Life via the Time-Life website (www.getsmartondvd.com) for the first year. This super-sized, specially packaged collection contains every original, unedited episode from all five seasons of Get Smart - a total of 138 episodes on 25 DVDs! Get Smart: The Complete First Season will soon be available as a five-disc set with over two hours of bonus material, also through the Time-Life website and additionally through direct-response television commercials, with Seasons 2-5 to follow. The series is due to be released at retail by HBO Video, but not until Fall 2007. HBO Video is distributed by Warner Home Video.

Time-Life, working in conjunction with HBO Video, spent nearly a year restoring and digitally re-mastering each individual full-length episode of the celebrated series. Commenting on the new look of the show, Get Smart executive producer Leonard Stern remarked, "This incredible restoration means that finally Get Smart can be seen the way it was meant to be seen."

Award-winning DVD executive producer Paul Brownstein (The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Twilight Zone, The Odd Couple) oversaw the Get Smart DVD production. Brownstein's extensive research and talent outreach have resulted in an impressive amount of nearly 10 hours of bonus features.

Series co-creators Brooks and Henry, producer Stern, actors Feldon, Bernie Kopell (KAOS kingpin Siegfried), Bill Dana (Agent Quigley), and guest stars Don Rickles and James Caan recently recorded audio commentaries for the collection. Five original featurettes boast exclusive on-camera interviews, Get Smart memorabilia and show highlights. Bonus features also include clips from the 2003 Museum of Television & Radio's Get Smart Reunion seminar, representing the last time key Get Smart alum Adams, Feldon, Kopell, Stern and producer/director Jay Sandrich appeared together on the same stage. Never-before-seen bloopers, rare network promotional pieces, commercials, EMMY award acceptance speeches, and classic TV appearances by Adams, both in and out of character are found within the collection. Finally, the Get Smart DVD collection, which is aptly dedicated to the memory of Adams, includes the hour-long roast taped at the Playboy Mansion on the occasion of Adams' 75th birthday, as well as an hour of footage from the touching memorial service held after the beloved star's death in 2005.

GET SMART: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION (25-DVD Set)
Release Date: November 13, 2006
Pre-Order Begins: September 15, 2006
List Price: $199.96
Collection includes:

25 DVDs in special collectors packaging
5 eight-page booklets with liner notes written by actor Dave Ketchum (Agent 13) and Alan Spencer, creator of the TV comedy series "Sledge Hammer!" and contributor to the feature film "Get Smart Again"
All 138 Original unedited episodes (1965-70) with new introductions by Barbara Feldon
9 Audio commentaries with Barbara Feldon, Mel Brooks, James Caan, Don Rickles, Buck Henry, Leonard Stern, Bernie Kopell, and Bill Dana
5 On-camera interviews with Barbara Feldon, Buck Henry, Bruce Bilson, Bernie Kopell, and Leonard Stern
5 Featurettes: "The Secret History of Get Smart," "Barbara Feldon: Real Model to Role Model," "Spooks, Spies, Gadgets and Gizmos," "Code Words and Catch Phrases," and "The Fans of Get Smart" Never-Before-Seen Bloopers!
2003 Museum of Television & Radio Get Smart Reunion seminar featuring Don Adams, Barbara Feldon, Bernie Kopell, Leonard Stern and Bruce Bilson
Don Adams' 75th Birthday Roast at the Playboy Mansion
Footage from Don Adams' 2005 memorial service with tributes from Barbara Feldon, Don Rickles and many others
5 Fun interactive features: CONTROL Entrance Exam, Max's Apartment, The Chief's Office, Agent 99's Purse, Max's Sunbeam Tiger
Footage from all 7 EMMY® award wins and acceptance speeches
1964 "Top Brass" hair care TV commercial that won Barbara Feldon the Agent 99 role
1964 Clip from Don Adams' guest-starring appearance on "The Bill Dana Show" - the Maxwell Smart character is born!
Clips from Don Adams' three guest-starring appearances on "The Andy Williams Show"
Behind-the-Scenes footage, Get Smart promotional spots and much, much more!

Superman Returns in November

We just got word that Warner Home Video has scheduled Brian Singer’s Superman Returns for release on DVD in November in two separate versions.

After a long visit to the lost remains of the planet Krypton, the Man of Steel returns to earth to become the people’s savior once again and reclaim the love of Lois Lane.

The first DVD version will be a Standard Release featuring the movie in its widescreen presentation with 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio in English and French. This version of the film will no contain any extras.

The second version will be a 2-disc Special Edition that contains the film as above, but also includes an additional disc with Deleted Scenes and the Full-length Documentary “Requiem For Krypton: The Making Of Superman Returns.”

Both DVDs will be in stores on November 28 and cost $28.98 and $34.98 respectively.

Seinfeld - Sony Serves Up 7th Season of Seinfeld

Today, Sony is announcing the November 21st release of Seinfeld - Season 7. The 4-DVD set contains all 24 episodes, running 541 minutes and costing $49.95 SRP.

Here is Sony's early info (including bonus material):

The pivotal year for Seinfeld with nearly 34 million viewers weekly! It's got everything: love, engagements, deaths, secret ATM codes, soup, Marisa Tomei and more! This hilarious DVD is packed with all new special features created in partnership with Jerry Seinfeld.

Guest stars this season include Marisa Tomei, Debra Messing, Rob Schneider, Jerry Stiller, Janeane Garafolo, “soup Nazi” Larry Thomas, Larry David and more!

Includes all new popular Sein-Imation!
Notes About Nothing
Inside Looks (Episode-Specific “Mini Making of” Documentaries)
In the Vault (Deleted Scenes)
Not That There's Anything Wrong With That (Bloopers)
Yada Yada Yada (Commentaries)
And More!

New 'Grey's Anatomy' season hints

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The doctors were in, as cast and crew of the hot TV medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" converged Tuesday night for a celebration of the DVD release of the show's second-season episodes.

The cast was generally tightlipped about third-season plot developments, but word did slip that the Meredith-Derek-Addy love triangle would finally be resolved, at least to some degree.

"Well, I think that you do see it, there is definitely a resolution, otherwise it becomes a really strange isosceles triangle," Kate Walsh (Dr. Addison Shepherd) told AP Television.

"So you see a resolution to the love triangle and you see all of the characters on their own a little more, myself included," she added. "The relationship becomes in its proper proportion. You see them who they are as a person and who they are professionally in a whole new and different way."

There was also talk of some casting news: Diahann Carroll and Richard Roundtree will appear in recurring roles as the parents of Dr. Preston Burke (Isaiah Washington)

"Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Second Season - Uncut," which also includes about five hours of extras, hits stores Sept. 12. The show begins its third season on its new day, Thursday, Sept. 21 on ABC.

Gore's "Truth" DVD boasts earth-friendly package

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Mother Nature won't be harmed when former Vice President Al Gore's hit global-warming documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" comes out on DVD November 21.

The DVD packaging consists entirely of waste products that have been recycled, including paper, inks and coatings formulated to emit virtually no volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere. That means no plastics and no laminates.

"An Inconvenient Truth," a Paramount release directed by David Guggenheim, grossed $22.7 million in U.S. theaters, a huge amount for a documentary.

"I'm excited about the documentary's release on DVD," Gore said in an interview. "The DVD is a vital way for us to continue the conversation about global warming with even more Americans. As more and more people understand what's at stake, they become a part of the solution, and share both in the challenges and opportunities presented by the climate crises."

The DVD will feature a new introduction by Gore, with updates on global temperatures, population, hurricanes, projections of soil moisture and more. Also included: the Melissa Etheridge music video "I Need to Wake Up," and audio commentaries from Guggenheim and producers Lawrence Bender, Scott Burns, Laurie David and Lesley Chilcott.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each DVD will be donated to Alliance for Climate Protection, a bipartisan environmental group.

..."90210," "Melrose" Coming to DVD

Brandon, Brenda, Billy, Amanda...it's been too long.

In news that will send Peach Pit-obsessed Gen-Xers racing to Amazon.com, the powers-that-be at Paramount have announced that Beverly Hills, 90210 and its spinoff, Melrose Place, are finally headed to DVD.

The iconic shows, from the factory of the late, great Aaron Spelling, catapulted Fox to major network status in the '90s, became major trendsetters and unleashed Shannen Doherty on the world, and prepared the TV landscape for such coming-of-age dramas as Dawson's Creek, Felicity and The O.C.

Paramount Home Entertainment and CBS DVD will release Beverly Hills, 90210: The Complete First Season and Melrose Place: The Complete First Season to stores on Nov. 7, with a retail price of $62 each. The two series will also be packaged in a combo set, The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful, for $108.99.

Following the lives and loves of a bevy of spoiled rich kids attending West Beverly Hills High, 90210 made Tiger Beat fodder of its cast. The forthcoming six-disc set contains all 22 episodes of the inaugural 1990-91 season, with commentary on select episodes from writer and executive producer Darren Starr (who went on to launch Sex and the City) and behind-the-scenes featurettes. There are also profiles of all the main characters: Brandon ( Jason Priestley), Brenda (Doherty), Dylan ( Luke Perry), Kelly (Jenny Garth), Donna ( Tori Spelling), Steve ( Ian Ziering), Andrea ( Gabrielle Carteris) and David ( Brian Austin Green).

The older-skewing Melrose Place, which focused on a group of twentysomethings residing in a Los Angeles apartment complex, premiered July 8, 1992 and initially focused on the story lines of the likes of Alison ( Courtney Thorne-Smith), Billy ( Andrew Shue), Jo ( Daphne Zuniga), Jake ( Grant Show), Matt (Doug Savant), Jane ( Josie Bissett) and medical student/future psycho Michael (Thomas Calabro).

With ratings sagging, the brain trust decided to jettison a couple of weak characters-- Amy Locane's Sandy and Vanessa Williams' Rhonda--and Spelling brought in his former T.J. Hooker/Dynasty vixen Heather Locklear to wreak havoc as conniving advertising exec Amanda Woodward. Melrose subsequently evolved into one of the '90s biggest soap operas replete with stunning cliffhangers and monumental plot twists that kept fans coming back for seven seasons. It even spawned its own spinoff in 1994, the short-lived Models Inc..

The Melrose set includes all 32 first-season episodes on eight discs, along with features on the show's music and style, behind-the-scenes footage and character profiles, but no commentaries.

Both series have been among the most requested DVD titles, but their release had been hung up while producers resolved music-rights issues (many of the songs featured on the show weren't originally cleared for DVD distribution).

According to Variety, the DVDs were fast-tracked following the breakup of Viacom and CBS, the latter of which ended up with control of the shows' home video rights.

"With [CBS chief Leslie Moonves'] blessing, we quickly scoured the library to see what hadn't been released," Ken Ross, CBS DVD's executive vice president, told the trade. "What caught my eye immediately was Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose...We recognized these jewels had to come out post-haste."

In order to expedite their release, the company tapped one of Spelling's former music supervisors to find substitute tracks for the early episodes.

Said Ross, "The majority of viewers won't even know the music has been changed."

St. Elsewhere - Some good news about Season 1

Over its six-season run, the ground-breaking, critically acclaimed St. Elsewhere was nominated for over 60 Emmy Awards, winning 13 of them!

This remarkable series, paved the way for later TV classics such as E.R. and Chicago Hope, while introducing America to future superstars Mark Harmon, Howie Mandel, and Oscar-winner Denzel Washington. Eccentric, insightful, and intelligent, St. Elsewhere is considered to be one of the best dramas ever to air on broadcast television.

Fox hasn't officially announced the first season of St. Elsewhere (and it's been awhile since we posted the rumor it was coming), but a retailer was kind enough to send us the info for the set.

The first season will be released in a 4 disc set (DVD-14s) on December 12. The 22 episodes (1078 mins) will be presented in Full Frame (1.33:1), along with English stereo audio, and mono Spanish (likely with matching subtitles, though we didn't receive word on those). The set will retail for $39.98 US, or $54.98 CAN.

Disc 1 side A:
Pilot
Bypass
Down's Syndrome
Cora & Arnie

Disc 1 side B:
Samuels & The Kid
Legionnaires (Pt 1)

Disc 2 side A:
Legionnaires (Pt 2)
Tweety & Ralph
Rain
Hearts

Disc 2 side B:
Graveyard
Release

Disc 3 side A:
Family History
Remission
Monday, Tuesday, Sven's Day
The Count

Disc 3 side B:
Brothers
Dog Day Hospital

Disc 4 side A:
Working
Craig In Love

Disc 4 side B:
Baron Von Munchausen
Addition

The set's extras will include:
Commentary on selected episodes
"Cora & Arnie: An Outstanding Episode"
"St. Elsewhere: The Place To Be"
Tim Robbins Piece
David Morse Piece

The Grinch returns to DVD for Christmas yet again

I have lost count how may times How The Grinch Stole Christmas has been released on DVD so far, but for this Christmas season Warner Home Video has prepared a Deluxe Edition of the film for all fans, celebrating the film’s 50th Anniversary.

“Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas a lot” the voice of Boris Karloff lets us know as the fun begins when the grumpy, grouchy, Yule-hating Grinch plots to ruin the Who’s Christmas. Can he steal their holiday spirit by stealing their holiday treats? Or does Christmas... perhaps... mean a little bit more?

Offering up a newly re-mastered transfer of the beloved film, the DVD will also contain the New Featurette “Dr. Seuss And The Grinch - From Whoville to Hollywood”, a rapping, rhyming chronicle of the original book and its beloved animated adaptation. Also included are Songs In The Key Of Grinch, featuring interviews with composer Albert Hague and vocalist Thurl Ravenscroft. Next up is Who’s Who In Whoville a biography gallery as well as a Grinch Song

Selection giving you immediated access to all of the movie’s songs.

The DVD will also contain TNT’s “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” featurette with Phil Hartman and Pencil Tests and the story Horton Hears A Who!

“How The Grinch Stole Christmas: Deluxe Edition” is scheduled for release on November 21 with a suggested retail price of $19.98.

Adventures of Brisco County Jr., The - Canadians: Missing your booklet? Here's what to do...

Warner Canada has issued a press release about the missing booklet in the recent release of The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. Canadians were the only ones affected by this issue, so this information relates to Canadian residents only.

July 26th, 2006

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for purchasing the Adventures of Brisco County Jr. (DVE 76833 - UPC 0-12569-76833-8 - street date July 18th, 2006).

WHV has determined that, due to an error, the episode guide booklet was not inserted into the package.

WHV is dedicated to customer service and apologizes for any inconvenience this error may have caused you. Effective until August 31st 2006. WHV will remedy the situation by sending you the missing episode guide booklet at no additional cost to you.

To obtain the booklet, please contact us immediately at one of the following numbers:

Phone: 1-888-603-8888
email: warner@unigistix.com
fax: (905) 458-8275

Once you contact us, you should receive the booklet within 10 days.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sincerely,
Warner Home Video Canada

"X-Men" DVD set for October 3 release

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The year's second-biggest movie is going to kick off the fourth-quarter DVD-selling season.

20th Century Fox is expected to announce Friday that "X-Men: The Last Stand," which grossed $233 million at the box office, will arrive on DVD on October 3 in two extras-laden editions.

The highlight of the third "X-Men" movie's DVD debut: three alternative endings, each with optional commentary by director Brett Ratner. The single-disc DVD release also includes 10 deleted scenes; audio commentaries from Ratner, the writers and the producers; a preview of the upcoming Ben Stiller movie "A Night at the Museum;" and two hidden "Easter eggs," one of the Beast reciting Shakespeare and the other of the X-Jet landing in Washington.

Fox also is preparing a collector's edition that includes an exclusive 100-page commemorative book with an all-new story penned by Marvel Comics master Stan Lee. It is his first original Marvel Comics book in five years.

In addition, Fox is packaging all three "X-Men" movies into a trilogy pack.

Paramount has already slotted "Over the Hedge" (box office: $151.7 million, No. 7 for the year) for October 17, while Fox has snagged the lucrative pre-Thanksgiving date of November 21 for "Ice Age: The Meltdown" ($194.9 million, No. 5).

Of the year's seven other top 10 theatrical releases, "Mission: Impossible III" ($133.5 million, No. 8), "Click" ($129.4 million, No. 9) and "The Break-Up" ($117.1 million, No. 10) are likely contenders for October, sources said.

"Superman Returns" ($180.2 million, No. 6) is a good bet for November, sources said, as are "The Da Vinci Code" ($215.9 million, No. 4) and "Cars" ($230.8 million, No. 3).

The wild card: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," the year's box office champ with theatrical earnings of $330.4 million -- and counting. While observers predict a December DVD release date, as was the case for "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" in 2003, they said nothing is certain, particularly if the film's box office momentum continues.

"Hedge" set for October 17 video release

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The barnyard cartoon "Over the Hedge" is set for DVD release on October 17.

The DreamWorks Animation video will be released by Paramount Home Entertainment, whose Viacom Inc. parent bought DreamWorks on February 1.

"Hedge," with a $151.7 million domestic gross, is the year's No. 7 movie. The DVD will come with a "hibernating content" feature that will allow consumers to unlock additional bonus materials, already loaded onto the disc, after November 28 by accessing a Web site and typing in a code.

Out of the box, the DVD will come with an all-new, four-minute minimovie. "Hammy's Boomerang Adventure" brings back all of the film's characters and voice talent for a parody of reality television.

The DVD also includes "Behind the Hedge," a look at the real-life animals that inspired the film's critters; filmmaker commentaries; a mock "infomercial" spoofing the career opportunities of pest control; a "making-of" documentary; cast interviews; and a virtual drawing lesson by a DreamWorks animator on how to sketch Hammy.

While most of the major spring and summer theatricals likely will be released on video before Christmas, only one other big title has a firm date: Fox's "Ice Age: The Meltdown" on November 21.

Buena Vista Home Entertainment is bringing extended version of Narnia to DVD

An Extended Edition of The Chronicles Of Narnia is in production as a 4-disc DVD set that is slated for release this winter from Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

The set will be available for only a very limited time.

A way too long journey of imagination and one of Walt Disney Pictures’ most successful live-action films of all time, Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media present “The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe” the spectacular live-action/CGI motion picture adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s beloved literary classic.

In World War II England the four Pevensie siblings -- Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter -- enter the world of Narnia through a magical wardrobe while playing a game of ‘hide-and-seek’ in the rural country home of an elderly professor.

Once there, the children discover a charming, peaceful land inhabited by talking beasts, dwarfs, fauns, centaurs and giants that has become a world cursed to eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis. Aided by the wise and magnificent ruler, the lion Aslan, the children fight to overcome the White Witch’s powerful hold over Narnia in a spectacular, climactic battle that will free Narnia from Jadis’ glacial powers forever.

Disc 1 of the set will contain the extended version of the film with enhanced special effects and extended battle scene. Also included on this disc is a Commentary Track featuring Director Andrew Adamson, Production Designer Roger Ford, and Producer Mark Johnson. A Second Commentary Track will feature the delightful child stars Georgie Henley (Lucy), Skandar Keynes (Edmund), Anna Popplewell (Susan) and William Moseley (Peter) that was recorded when they had just screened the film for the first time. The result is a fresh, witty and lively commentary track, joined by director Andrew Adamson.
Narnia Fun Facts and Bloopers Of Narnia are also included on this disc.

Disc 2 of the set contains Creating Narnia, a multipart documentary covering various aspects of the movie’s production, such as the director’s personal diary, a behind-the-scenes tour by the child stars from the film, which includes wonderful moments when the children get a first look at the amazing ‘Narnia’ sets.

Evolution Of An Epic is another multi-part documentary included here, that covers topics such as “Anatomy Of The Scene: The Melting River,” “Cinematic Storytellers,” “C.S. Lewis: From One Man's Mind,” and “Creating Creatures.”
Creatures, Lands & Legends is another multi-part documentary that will cover subjects, such as “Creatures Of The World,” “Explore Narnia (3d Map),” “Legends In Time,” and “C.S. Lewis – The Dreamer Of Narnia.”

The third disc of the DVD set will contain an all-new feature length film while the fourth disc contains various additional segments, such as Visualizing The Lion, The witch And The WardrobeAnatomy of a Scene: Behind The Battle,” giving viewers a look at a crucial battle scene from the film. From pre-visualization computer images to storyboards, here is the exciting process of creating one of the key scenes in the film.

And lastly, the disc will contain an extensive Image Gallery filled with stunning imagery, a special museum full of superb images from the film, practically.

This 4-disc Extended Edition of “The Chronicles Of Narnia” will be in stores on December 12 and will be available for only seven weeks, making it the perfect Holiday gift. It will carry a $42.99 suggested retail price. For $79.99 you can also purchase a Gift Set of the release, which also includes a pair of heirloom-quality bookends from the master creative artists at WETA Ltd.

Come Home To Beverly Hills, 90210 This November! ! !

Although the pilot episodes came to DVD two years ago, fans have been clamoring for season sets of this landmark primetime soap opera! Shannen Doherty (Charmed), Jason Priestley (Tru Calling), Luke Perry (Windfall), Gabrielle Carteris (Palmetto Pointe), Tori Spelling (So NoTORIous), Ian Ziering (upcoming Biker Mice From Mars), Brian Austin Green (Freddie), Jennie Garth (What I Like About You), James Eckhouse (upcoming 2006 film Half-Life), Carol Potter, Douglas Emerson and Joe E. Tata star in the initial season of the series, where the action mainly takes place at West Beverly Hills High School with new kids Brandon and Brenda Walsh moving into the upscale neighborhood, and making lots of new friends.

You would think with that zip code, there would be a ton of guest stars in the first season of this show. But really there weren't. But you will be able to spot upcoming Friends star Matthew Perry, singer Debbie Gibson, and even '80s Playboy playmate Julie McCullough among these 22 episodes.

Beverly Hills, 90210 - The Complete 1st Season will be a 6-DVD set that runs 17 hours and 48 minutes. Please stand by for extras (if any) and box art! Melrose Place - The Complete 1st Season has been announced for the same release date of November 7th, and we've heard that the long-awaited Twin Peaks - Season 2 will hit US shores a couple of weeks after that. Stay tuned!

"Superman II" 2.0

Superman Returns sequel or no, Man of Steel fans are getting a new movie. Make that, a new old movie.

A reconstructed version of 1980's Superman II, largely featuring footage shot and ditched nearly 30 years ago, including 15 minutes worth of Marlon Brando espousing fatherly advice from "Kryp-tin," will be released on DVD on Nov. 28, Warner Home Video announced Friday.

Not a "special" or "expanded" edition, Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, named after the film's original director, is billed as an unprecedented do-over.

"With this DVD release, Richard Donner has become the first director in history to be able to complete a film he left during production," Warners said in a statement.

Donner was shooting Superman II along with 1978's Superman: The Movie when, as Warners delicately put it, "creative differences...became irreconcilable." Translation: Donner was fired--after he finished Superman, but before he finished Superman II.

The Superman II that subsequently opened in theaters, played on TV, got issued on video, and reissued on DVD is credited to A Hard Day's Night's Richard Lester, who reshot, reworked and finished the movie.

Not to be pushed aside, Lester's version (which contains more than a few feet of the Donner footage, but none of the Donner-directed Brando scenes) is also getting a new DVD release.

In fact, in Lucasfilm fashion, Warners will be issuing--or, rather reissuing--all four Christopher Reeve-led Superman movies, from the original 1978 opus to 1987's Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. The films were issued separately and as a four-disc set just five years ago.

This time out, the movies will all feature commentary tracks; last time out, only Superman: The Movie did. And, this time out, there will be two Superman IIs to choose from.

"This looks like the holy grail. It does," Barry Freiman of SupermanHomepage.com said of the Donner Superman II. "From what I've seen so far, it looks like it's going to be what anybody wants."

In a recent interview with iFMagazine.com, Superman Returns director Bryan Singer said he'd seen the first 20 minutes of the Donner cut, "and it was awesome."

Singer told the site one sequence he saw was recreated using Reeve's and Margot Kidder's old screen tests for Clark Kent and Lois Lane, respectively.

"It was such an impressive thing to watch," Singer said.

According to Warners, the Donner Superman II features a different opening and ending than the Lester Superman II. The reinstated Brando appears in "three pivotal scenes," according to Superman Cinema (www.supermancinema.co.uk). And the "Lester Humour," as the fan site put it, has been "reduced or completely cut out."

Among those presumably pleased is Kidder, who last year raved about Donner's "really, really fabulous" lost film to a Canadian comic convention audience.

"So, there is somewhere, in a vault, wonderful Dick Donner Superman II scenes with Christopher and I, and I'd love you to write Warner Bros. and ask where it is," Kidder said, according to ComicsContinuum.com.

While the Donner vision is now realized, the future of the big-screen Superman franchise is unclear.

TMZ.com reported this month that Warners will pass on a Superman Returns sequel unless the movie, reported to have cost as "little" as $204 million or as much as $260 million, cracks $200 million at the domestic box office. (Like Warners, TMZ.com is part of Time Warner.) As of Thursday, per BoxOfficeMojo.com, the film stood at $171 million.

Adventures of Brisco County Jr., The - Poor Canadians - Missing a booklet?

It appears the dreaded booklet goblin has struck The Adventures of Brisco County Jr sets in Canada. We've received reports that ALL the sets are missing the booklets, and we've passed the information on to Warner Bros.

Unfortunately we don't expect to hear anything back until next week due to people being out of the office for Comic Con, but we'll post another news item when we have something to report.

Kong is Long

The long expected announcement of Peter Jackson's latest effort came through with the word from Universal Home Entertainment coming that King Kong will receive two DVD releases for the extended director's cut.

A three disc version of the film with a longer running time and several features will be coming with a suggested retail price of $34.98. At the same time, a collector's box will be available for $79.98. More details on extras and what exactly comes in that gift set will likely start popping up soon. Both versions will arrive on November 14th.

Pricey nostalgia

It's fair to say that no defunct television show commands the kind of craving for DVDs like "The Wonder Years."

Among shows that have yet to release full seasons, "The Wonder Years" - a nostalgic coming-of-age series set in suburbia circa 1970 - is one of the most sought-after. The website TVshowsonDVD.com lists the 10 most requested DVDs still unreleased by studios, and "The Wonder Years" sits at No. 2, right behind "Beverly Hills 90210."

Amazon.com offers the only two "Wonder Years" DVDs, and the cheapest one - "The Christmas Wonder Years: The Holiday Episodes" - costs $74.99. For the more affluent, a used 70-minute DVD of "The Best of The Wonder Years" starts at $97.84 and runs up to $186.99 for a new one.

But full seasons of the show remain locked up, as costly music licensing has postponed their release.

"We're not that far along," said Jyoti Sarda from 20th Century Fox Marketing, of releasing full seasons of the show. "We know it's something we'd like to put out. We know that people want it out. Consumers are waiting. Fans are waiting. We talk about needing to tackle it, but we haven't gotten to a place where it's being actively worked on."

"It's not imminent," said Steve Feldstein, senior vice president of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, "in that it's not going to be out in the next couple of months."

"The Wonder Years" aired on ABC from 1988-93. Set in the late 1960s and early 70s, it followed the adventures of Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage) as he negotiated adolescence.

Actor Daniel Stern provided the voice- over narration of the adult Kevin, and it was this filtering of junior-high angst through an adult's memories that resonated with viewers. People can identify with Kevin's experiences growing up, right down to schoolkid crushes, bullying siblings, parental expectations and the general trials of teendom.

The period music on "The Wonder Years" is critical to the show's emotional resonance, serving as an aural touchstone to viewers of a certain age. In one of the series' most memorable scenes, Kevin climbs a tree to peer into on-and-off girlfriend Winnie's window after she's hurt in an accident. The background music: "We've Got Tonight," by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band.

Sarda hopes to begin releasing the DVDs within two years. No matter when they come out, the original music most likely won't be on them.

"I think that's the only way really we're going to see it," says Gord Lacey, creator of the Web site TVshowsonDVD.com. "I don't have a list of the songs used in the show, but something tells me they're not going to be able to release a completely intact series."

The music-licensing hurdle is substantial. "The Wonder Years" borrowed more than 300 pieces of music for its 115 episodes. Even more daunting is the fact that the music is from what has emerged as a resurgent, nostalgic era.

"I'd love to put it out on DVD, so other people can enjoy it," Sarda said. "So we just have to work through these issues. It's not that simple, because music is an integral part of that show. So it's not like you can just go in and replace it all."

Rights to broadcast on TV differ from rights to distribute for home entertainment. Most shows now negotiate home-entertainment rights prior to production. Shows produced in the pre-digital days - like "The Wonder Years" - never negotiated those rights.

The only two DVDs of "The Wonder Years" out now - "The Holiday Episodes" and "The Best of The Wonder Years" - both used replacement music.

"You go in and see which songs are expensive that are not as essential," Sarda says. "And that process of going through each episode and doing that analysis is a more complicated process than putting out a TV show that doesn't have these issues."

'Weeds: Season One' on DVD

LOS ANGELES -- The TV series Weeds, a savage comedy about a suburban housewife who sells marijuana, is a satire on American culture and lifestyle.

It ridicules the U.S. war on drugs, critiques the war on terrorism, lambastes the war in Iraq and makes the American Dream look like an American hallucination. Especially in the suburbs. Especially because the heroine, a Caucasian sarcastically nicknamed "Snowflake" by her African-American suppliers, goes to the inner city to replenish her stash. Incendiary issues are in play.

So you tell Weeds star Mary Louise Parker you are surprised that the show ever made it to air, that Ann Coulter hasn't attacked its creators with an ice pick.

"Me too!" Parker says, a wry smile sneaking up on her mouth. She plays the Snowflake, a drug-dealing, sexually free-wheeling single mom. Parker, a single mom herself after breaking up with real-life boyfriend Billy Crudup during her pregnancy, has taken a break today. She is shooting the 12 episodes for season two, which goes to air in August (on the 31st in Canada).

For the interviews, we're huddled in a cavernous soundstage inside Hollywood's aging Ren-Mar Studios, where Lucille Ball once filmed I Love Lucy.

"I think we're constantly satirizing ourselves even when we don't realize it," Parker says of the American state of mind and the appetite for edgy entertainment that runs counter to conventional thinking. "And I think this show is a perfect example of that."

Since it went to air last August (on Showtime in the U.S., Showcase in Canada), Weeds has become one of those cult hits that enter pop culture as a comic symbol of something darker on the American landscape.

The Liongates production was just nominated for five Emmy Awards. Now the audience is expanding: Weeds: Season One just came out, a compilation of the 10 episodes from 2005. In terms of content, including counter-culture extras such as co-star Romany Malco' hilarious history of marijuana use and Kevin Nealon's droll comic asides, this is an excellent set (except that core fans are rightly annoyed that the two-disc box set is in fullscreen mode only, not in 16:9 widescreen, the format for its hi-def broadcasts).

Increased popularity and more exposure could lead to the kind of criticism that Weeds has managed to avoid so far. "It's a tricky show," says co-star Elizabeth Perkins, who plays Parker's friend and neighbour, a loose cannon and ardent PTA fascist. "And I don't think any of us knew when we put it out there that the reaction was going to be as positive as it was ... because it can be perceived in many ways. We cross a lot of boundaries and tread some very fine lines."

Yet a show as subversive as Weeds is as necessary now as bigot Archie Bunker from All In The Family was in an earlier generation, Perkins says. "I think it is incredibly timely. I think there is a distinctive lack of intelligent comedy on American television. America is embracing it because we don't have a lot of voice in our government right now."

But Weeds still has managed to avoid the censuring suffered by the C&W group The Dixie Chicks for simply speaking out against the Bush administration. "I think we're sneaking in under the wire," says Perkins.

Parker gives the show a lot of its credibility, although there are reports she is not exactly buddy-buddy with Weeds creator Jenji Kohan, especially because Parker thinks her character is a lousy mother to her two sons.

But, as established star who broke out in Fried Green Tomatoes and helped make two obscure plays, Prelude To A Kiss and Proof, hits on Broadway, Parker has transformational powers. Nancy Botwin in Weeds is a recognizable, thoroughly flawed but very human character.

Parker, a classically trained South Carolinian, is in the prime of her career. She will be 42 on Aug. 2: Young enough to be vibrant and sexy on screen, old enough not to fall into the trap of lecturing audiences.

"I have no opinion on the politics of the show," Parker says of Weeds. "I don't pick anything because of a stand that it takes. I'm not a propagandist. I take things purely because of the text, because I like the words, because I find some kind of humanity coming through, because of irony, because it makes me laugh. It is just that simple. It is that uncomplicated. And I don't pick things because I think they'll advance my career."

Parker once turned down the Teri Hatcher role in Desperate Housewives. "That was a career job," she says. "This is not a career job. You don't take a part as a pot-dealing suburban housewife (to make a career-enhancing move). But it worked out okay."

DVD looks Pretty in Pink

Molly and the rest will return for the upcoming special edition of Pretty in Pink coming from Paramount Home Entertainment.

Young Andie is one of the not-so-popular girls in high school. She usually hangs out with her friends Iona or Duckie. Duckie has always had a crush on her, but now she has met a new guy from school, Blane. He's one of the rich and popular guys but can the two worlds meet?

Save up your allowance, Pretty in Pink is coming with a wealth of extras on August 29th.

Brittany Murphy is voice of Disney's Tinker Bell

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Walt Disney Co on Tuesday said "Just Married" actress Brittany Murphy will provide the voice for the fairy Tinker Bell in an upcoming animated film, the first in the new Disney Fairies line.

Murphy, 28, provides the voice for the character Luanne Platter on the animated TV show "King of the Hill." Her voice will be the first ever to emanate from the mouth of Peter Pan's feisty sidekick in a Disney animated film. The direct-to-video film is due out in 2007.

Disney's Fairy franchise rolled out last fall and follows on the success of the company's Princess line, which has grossed $3 billion in fiscal 2005.

A Fish Called Wanda comes as a Special Edition this August

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing the MGM comedy A Fish Called Wanda this August as a brand new 2-Disc Collector’s Edition.

Tour-de-force performances from an unparalleled comic cast highlight this much-loved hit. Monty Pythoners John Cleese and Michael Palin join Oscar winner Kevin Kline and Jamie Lee Curtis in an entertainment so impeccably timed and executed that it borders an pure genius.

Four conniving jewel thieves...three yorkshire terriers...two heaving bosoms and one proper British barrister. When a girl called Wanda (Curtis) tries to deceive her Nietzsche-quoting boyfriend (Kline), an animal-loving hitman (Palin) and an embarrassment-prone counselor (Cleese) out of a fortune in jewels in this hilariously funny farce, be prepared for an endless array of side-splitting jokes and hair raising plot twists.

This new Collector’s Edition will offer up a hours of great bonus materials to accompany the film, such as a selection of Alternate Scenes and Deleted Scenes with introductions by John Cleese. A Commentray Track by John Cleese is also included on the release, as well as the Documentary “Something Fishy.” A number of smaller Featurettes can also be found on the DVD set, such as “Farewell Featurette: John Cleese,” “John Cleese’s First Farewell Performance” and “Kulture Vulture.” In addition John Cleese’ First Farewell Performance will be found on the release also, as well as an Interview With John Cleese. The disc set is rounded out by the movie’s Theatrical Trailer.

“A Fish Called Wanda” will be in stores on August 1 with a suggested retail price of $24.98.

MGM revamps DVD, TV distribution

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. on Tuesday unveiled new plans to revitalize the movie studio by ending video and DVD distribution pacts with Sony Pictures Entertainment and reestablishing a TV sales division.

MGM said it signed a new worldwide video and DVD distribution pact with 20th Century Fox to consolidate sales efforts under one company. Previously MGM split video and DVD distribution between Fox overseas and Sony in domestic arenas.

For Sony, MGM's decision cuts both ways. Sony's home video business will lose lucrative distribution fees it would have earned for releasing titles from MGM's library of 4,000 movies and 10,000 TV episodes. However, Sony will benefit if MGM makes more money because Sony owns 20 percent of the company.

Sony also secured a deal to extend a film co-production and distribution pact with MGM for one more James Bond film beyond November's release of "Casino Royale." Sony and MGM further agreed to co-produce and distribute a new "Pink Panther" comedy and other yet-to-be determined films.

Finally, MGM will continue supporting Sony's blu-ray DVD technology by releasing DVDs in the new video format.

"We have identified another important opportunity to build out our business by returning our worldwide television sales operations in-house and by consolidating our home entertainment releases with a single distributor," MGM chairman and CEO Harry Sloan said.

Sony has a seat on MGM's board, meaning it had a say in the decision.

The moves follow MGM's March announcement to again begin distributing movies to theaters on its own, and it comes about seven months after Sloan took the reins of the company.

Venerable MGM, known for producing movies like "The Wizard of Oz" and "Gone with the Wind" during Hollywood's Golden Age, was acquired last year by the Sony-led consortium for roughly $3 billion in cash, plus assumed debt.

Private equity investors Texas Pacific Group and Providence Equity Partners together own roughly 50 percent of MGM, Sony and cable TV company Comcast Corp. each own about 20 percent. Other major investors include DLJ Merchant Banking, Quadrangle Group and Sloan.

Sony Pictures is part of Japanese electronics company Sony Corp, and Fox is part of News Corp.

Warner to Proceed Straight to Video

The studio is launching a direct-to-DVD business with plans to release 10 to 15 movies a year.

Looking for new, less risky ways to boost profit, Warner Bros. is launching a direct-to-DVD business that will release 10 to 15 low-budget movies a year.

First up will be a sequel to the studio's 2005 hit "The Dukes of Hazzard," scheduled to go on sale at the end of this year or in early 2007.

Movies made exclusively for DVD typically are done on the cheap without the costly stars and lavish production expenses associated with theatrical films.

Adhering to that model, Warner aims to keep each direct-to-DVD movie's production budget to $5 million or less, although some films may cost slightly more. The "Dukes" sequel, for example, won't reunite cast members Jessica Simpson, Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott.

The new venture, a partnership between Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, aims to cash in on what has been a lucrative, relatively inexpensive business for such rivals as Walt Disney Studios and Universal Pictures.

"We recognize that the made-for-video business is a place we need to put emphasis and devote considerable resources," Warner President Alan Horn said. "Discipline is the key to the ultimate success of the new venture for us."

Still, the direct-to-DVD business is no sure bet. It faces increased competition from boxed sets of popular television shows such as "Lost," "24" and "Desperate Housewives," one of the hottest areas in home video.

"The made-for-home entertainment business can be very profitable if you select the right projects, control your development and production costs and time your releases to minimize your marketing expenditures and maximize your exposure," said Louis Feola, Universal Pictures' former home video president who oversaw such popular direct-to-video franchises as "The Land Before Time."

Jeff Robinov, Warner's production president, and Kevin Tsujihara, president of the studio's home entertainment group, will oversee the new division, which is expected to be operating within three months. The two are looking to hire an executive to run the day-to-day operations of the unit, which is expected to have 10 staff members, including its own creative, business and marketing personnel.

Robinov said the division would produce live-action DVD prequels and sequels to existing Warner Bros. movies such as "Dukes," which grossed $80.3 million domestically but was not the kind of hit that would justify spending the large sums required to make and market a theatrical release.

Still, Robinov said, "That doesn't mean they don't have audience interest and built-in awareness."

Robinov added that although profit margins in the direct-to-video business could be thinner than in theatrical releases, such built-in awareness along with creative marketing could mitigate the financial risks.

Tsujihara said a "Dukes" sequel allowed Warner to repackage on DVD the original film and episodes of the popular 1980s TV series it was based on.

Warner's new division also will produce and acquire original made-for-DVD movies running the gamut of genres including horror, comedy and action films. Last month, Warner, a unit of media giant Time Warner Inc., announced it would finance three, under-$5-million DVD-only horror films to be directed by Daniel Myrick ("The Blair Witch Project"), producer Tony Krantz ("24") and TV writer John Shiban ("The X-Files").

Until now, Warner has released direct-to-video titles on a scattershot basis, mostly animated family fare from the studio's "Scooby-Doo," "Tom & Jerry" and "Looney Toons" franchises. The studio plans to continue releasing family-oriented DVDs, including films culled from its DC Comics library of characters, among them Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

"We've had an existing slate of four to five of these evergreen titles a year, and they are fairly profitable," Tsujihara said. "We'd like to put together slates that have a mixture of genres."

Nostalgic Sesame Street DVD set coming in October

For the first time ever, Sesame Workshop is planning to release Classic Sesame Street on DVD. Sesame Workshop has not yet announced if the set will contain complete episodes or skit compilations.

In September, Sesame Workshop stated that they were considering the possibility of releasing "classic" Sesame Street material on DVD, but not to expect anything anytime soon. This is due to the necessary development time, many legalities and several other organizational issues that would need to be addressed first.

There is now light at the end of the tunnel. Recently we received the following response from Sesame Workshop on the issue:

We are planning to release a "Sesame Street Nostalgia Box Set", however this is something that will not happen until October '06.

In the meantime, we released a boxed set of The Electric Company in February '06, and there are plans for a second volume of The Electric Company as well.

So, now it is official. The first DVD box set of "classic" Sesame Street material should be released (if all goes as planned) in October 2006.

There are no further details on the set available at this time, but we'll be sure to keep you all updated as more information is revealed on this exciting upcoming release.

Marathon 'Runner'

WB preps 'final cut' of sci-fi classic

Warner's homevid will release a remastered 'Blade Runner,' to be followed by a theatrical version, which studio says will be director Ridley Scott's final cut.

Warner homevid has disentangled "Blade Runner's" famously thorny rights issues to pave the way for a September reissue of the remastered "Director's Cut" version, followed by a theatrical release of a version promised to be truly Ridley Scott's final cut.

Warner's rights to "Blade Runner" lapsed a year ago, but the studio has since negotiated a long-term license. The pic, now considered a sci-fi classic, has had a troubled history from the start: When Scott ran overbudget, completion bond guarantors took control of it and made substantial changes before its 1982 theatrical release, adding a voiceover and happy ending. That version was replaced by the much better-received director's cut in 1992, but Scott has long been unhappy with it, complaining that he was rushed and unable to give it proper attention.

The helmer started working on the final cut version in 2000, but that project was shelved by Warner soon after, apparently because the studio couldn't come to terms with Jerry Perenchio over rights issues.

The restored "Director's Cut" will debut on homevid in September, and remain on sale for four months only, after which time it will be placed on moratorium.

"Blade Runner: Final Cut" will arrive in 2007 for a limited 25th anniversary theatrical run, followed by a special edition DVD with the three previous versions offered as alternate viewing: Besides the original theatrical version and director's cut, the expanded international theatrical cut will be included. The set will also contain additional bonus materials.

The massive "Blade Runner" project comes on the heels of Scott's four-disc treatment for "Kingdom of Heaven," released this week by Fox homevid, less than a year after the pic's initial homevid release.

A new special edition version of Apocalypse Now! is coming to DVD

Paramount Home Entertainment is preparing a new version of Apocalypse Now! for release this August, entitled “The Complete Dossier”.

Nominated for 8 Academy Awards, this classic and compelling Vietnam War epic stars Martin Sheen as Captain Willard, who is sent on a dangerous and mesmerizing odyssey into Cambodia to assassinate a renegade American Colonel named Kurtz (Marlon Brando), who has succumbed to the horrors of war and barricaded himself in a remote outpost. Also stars Robert Duvall, Laurence Fishburne, Dennis Hopper and Harrison Ford.

“Apocalypse Now: The Complete Dossier” will come in a cool custom packaging and feature a number of great bonus materials. The release contains both the Original 1979 Version of the movie as well as the 2001 Redux Cut. It is complemented by Commentary Tracks on both versions of the film, featuring Francis Ford Coppola. as well as a selection of Rare, Unseen Footage.

Also included on the release are Lost Scenes a number of Brand New Featurettes as well as 12 never-before-seen Segments From The Cutting Room Floor and various Then & Now Retrospectives. Also look for Marlon Brando’s complete “The Hollow Men” Reading on the release and a Cast Member Reunion.

All in all this release will contain more than 2 hours of new bonus materials!
“Apocalypse Now: The Complete Dossier” will be in stores on August 15!

Vintage TV Faces the Music

The DVD business is helping keep Hollywood solvent these days, as studios rush to empty their storage rooms and give the boxed-set treatment to even long-forgotten TV shows like "Space 1999" and "Bridget Loves Bernie."

But one mystery is why fans of some hit series of the past few decades -- well-known shows including "WKRP in Cincinnati," "The Wonder Years" and "Beverly Hills, 90210" -- can't find them on store shelves.

The reason: Hollywood doesn't want to pay the piper.

Each of these shows includes popular music in the soundtrack, and the shows' producers paid license fees to those who own the rights to the tunes. But back then, no one anticipated that DVD sales of old TV series would turn into a billion-dollar business. So the music rights don't allow the release of these shows on discs.

Now, Hollywood is finding that in some cases, relicensing the music for DVDs either costs too much or is too difficult to negotiate. That has left some series in DVD limbo. For others, it has prompted studios to replace background songs with generic-sounding substitutes. In a few cases, scenes are eliminated entirely. Most DVD boxes don't notify consumers of any of these alterations.

In deciding whether to release an old series on DVD, a studio must weigh whether enough discs will sell to justify the music-licensing fees, and sometimes the numbers don't add up, says Ben Feingold, president of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

'Multiple Millions'

That's why fans of "Ally McBeal" have yet to see a full season of the Calista Flockhart romantic comedy on DVD, says Peter Staddon, senior vice president of Fox Home Entertainment. Although Fox has released a three-disc "best of" DVD of the series, which includes about a half-dozen episodes, Mr. Staddon says to license the music for all 112 of the shows -- including those where Vonda Shepard performed covers of songs such as "Someday We'll Be Together" and "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" -- would cost "multiple millions" of dollars.

And although Sony has "painstakingly cleared" the majority of music used in its library of TV shows for DVD release, it hasn't been able to reach a licensing deal for the Frank Sinatra song "Love and Marriage," which was heard in the opening credits of "Married... with Children," says Mr. Feingold. Sony sells DVD versions of four seasons of the popular sitcom about a dysfunctional family, replacing the Sinatra song with new theme music.

"While it was a signature song, it's the content of the show that counts," says Mr. Feingold. He says DVD buyers, at least in this case, haven't been all that upset by the switch. "I've received maybe one or two emails about it," he says.

That same tack was taken by Fox for the DVD version of "Roswell," about alien teenagers stuck on Earth. Songs by hit artists such as Hole, Beck and Counting Crows have been replaced with songs by virtual unknowns Eleventeen, Goldo, and Glen Phillips, respectively, among many others.

Yet the musical reworkings can be extensive, and some fans notice. When the sixth season of "Dawson's Creek" was recently released on DVD, 49 of 204 songs in the 22 episodes were replaced, according to the fan site dawsonscreekmusic.com. One of the songs was the Sophie Hawkins hit "As I Lay Me Down," which was heard during a crucial scene in a bar where Joey (Katie Holmes) hears it on a jukebox, says she hates it, and Dawson (James Van Der Beek), kicks the jukebox. The song was replaced by "We Belong" by Sylvia Tosun. The original song "was meaningful to the two main characters," says Paul Karpontinis of Montreal, who operates a "Dawson's Creek" fan site on Geocities.com. "The scene culminated in a moment that fans had been waiting for. Not only did the new music alter the mood of the scene, they changed a song that was referenced by a character in the show."

Paul Stupin, who for seven years was executive producer of "Dawson's Creek," says music substitution usually is driven by DVD economics but argues that it "breathes new life" into old episodes, "in some instances making them even better." He says he had his producing partner and music supervisor submit four possible songs for each substitution. They then watched as each song was laid against the scene to determine the best one. In some cases, however, when he couldn't clear a song's rights for DVD, and the song was integral to the scene, the scene itself was cut. For example, in one episode the DVD release is missing a scene where a character sings "Love Is All Around" by the 1960s group the Troggs. But the 15 seconds that were lost as a result, Mr. Stupin says, "were not essential."

Song-Swapping

Some people in the music-licensing business say they shouldn't be blamed for such song-swapping or scene-cutting. Music-rights holders would be willing to peg the cost of licensing a song to how many DVDs are sold, which would make it cheaper for a show's producers in many cases because sales volume tends to be limited, says Jeffrey Brabec, vice president of business affairs at Chrysalis Music Group, which controls the theme songs to "The Sopranos" and "Las Vegas" (both of which were licensed for DVD release). But, he says, studios prefer to pay a flat fee no matter if one DVD is sold or one million, to protect against getting socked with huge royalty payouts if a DVD becomes a huge seller.

Sometimes the artist behind a song simply will refuse to grant licensing rights altogether. Bob Emmer, chief operating officer of Shout! Factory, a DVD distributor, says that in preparing the DVD release of "Second City TV" he had to delete a scene from the 1970s comedy-sketch series that parodied musician Neil Young because he couldn't obtain rights from the artist. In the scene, an actor played a psychiatrist named "Dr. Neil Young" who gave answers to a patent's question only in lyrics from Mr. Young's songs. "He had a problem with it," says Mr. Emmer, declining to elaborate. A spokesman for Mr. Young had no comment.

The bewildering research, paperwork and legal haggling involved in clearing music for release sometimes prompts studios to leave the chore to independent DVD distributors, who get a fee or a cut of the revenue. DreamWorks, for example, didn't want to go through the hassle of clearing music rights for a short-lived 1999 series it produced for Fox, "Freaks and Geeks," which was set in the 1980s and includes music from period by Lynard Skynard, Van Halen and Styx, as well as the show's theme song, Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation." Mr. Emmer says it cost Shout! Factory about $1 million to obtain music rights to 118 songs for the DVDs, but it was worth it: So far, his company has sold about 112,000 units of the 18-episode DVD, with a list price of $70, and about 7,000 units of a collector's edition packaged like a high school yearbook, for $129.

"The music is so interwoven with the TV show that to put in other music would have caused a lot of problems," says Mr. Emmer.

ARG! POOCHES PICK UP SCENT OF DVD PIRATES

Two black Labradors in Britain have been trained as the world's first dogs to sniff out counterfeit DVDs, according to reports.

The dogs, Lucky and Flo, are being used by FedEx and British Customs to crack down on DVD piracy.

A spokesman said the dogs had been taught to identify DVDs located in boxes, envelopes or other packaging which would then be sold illegally in the U.K.

'Rumor Has It' Makes DVD History

Rob Reiner's Rumor Has It went virtually unnoticed when it opened theatrically on Christmas Day last year (It earned just $7.5 million over the holiday weekend.) But it is going down in history as the first film to be released on DVD in high definition on one side of the disk and standard definition on the other. Warner Home Video plans to have it in stores on May 9 (along with the regular DVD version). In an interview with Home Media Retailing magazine, WHV exec Steve Nickerson said that the "hybrid" discs will give "consumers the greatest flexibility in viewing options: If they own an HD DVD player, they'll get all the benefits of HD DVD. ... If they're considering a future purchase of an HD DVD player, they can still enjoy the movie [on their existing DVD player] until they upgrade."

Beavis and Butt-head - More details for Volume 2

When Beavis and Butt-Head first appeared on MTV more than a decade ago, critics dismissed them as brainless couch potatoes who did nothing but watch TV and make lewd jokes about bodily functions. Today we know they were ahead of their time. Beavis and Butt-Head's unique idiocy profoundly changed television, movies, pop culture and the world. This historic box set, personally edited by creator Mike Judge, includes their finest episodes, specials, promos and guest appearances that so enriched a grateful and stupid nation. Creator, Mike Judge has chosen his next set of favorite episodes & music videos for this collector's edition box set.

Paramount and MTV have released more information on the second volume of Beavis and Butt-Head, featuring 40 cartoons (226 mins) selected by Mike Judge. Here's what we can expect:

Music Videos:
Beastie Boys: Sabotage
Seaweed: Kid Candy
Pantera: I'm Broken
Mercyful Fate: The Bellwitch
Compulsion: Delivery
Madonna: Secret
Six Finger Satellite: Parlour Games
Pizzicato 5: Twiggy, Twiggy
Rush: Stick It Out
Radiohead: Fake Plastic Trees
Extreme: Hole-Hearted
Helium: Pat's Trick
MC 900 Ft. Jesus: If I Only Had A Brain
Taint of Greatness: The Journey of Beavis & Butt-Head, Part 2
Butt-Bowl '94
Butt-Bowl '95
Butt-Bowl '96
MTV 20th Anniversary Special
Calvin Klein Ad Parodies
Moron-a-thon Clips
Unaired I Love the 90's Segment
Beavis and Butt-Head Promos
Montages
Previews

The set goes on sale June 6.

"Brokeback" DVD ride set for April 4

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Brokeback Mountain," which stunningly lost the best picture Academy Award this month to "Crash," is being rushed out on DVD in two weeks to capitalize on Oscar buzz, its distributor said Monday.

The gay-cowboy romance will be available on April 4, according to Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

The release is notable, not only because the film is still playing in theaters, but because there is usually a six-week window between the announcement and the street date. Observers say the narrowing gap reflects the growing clout of mass merchants over video specialists.

"You don't need six weeks to sell to Wal-Mart," said one insider.

"Brokeback" is the latest in a series of high-profile films with drastically shortened DVD solicitation periods. While the March 28 release date for "King Kong" had been speculated on by the media since early February, Universal didn't officially announce the Peter Jackson remake until the second week in March. Similarly, 20th Century Fox waited until mid-February to announce the February 28 release of "Walk the Line."

The "Brokeback Mountain" DVD boasts a documentary in which stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal discuss their preparations for the film, such as training for a rodeo and for wrangling. There's also a profile on Ang Lee, who won the best director Oscar for "Brokeback," as well as interviews with Oscar-winning scribes Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana as they discuss bringing Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx's short story to the screen.

Music DVDs see growth spurt, data show

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The music DVD business grew at a higher rate in 2005 than the DVD business overall, according to sales data issued Tuesday.

Excluding CD-DVD combos, suppliers last year sold 21.4 million music DVDs, up from 20.6 million in 2004, according to Nielsen Entertainment research presented at the second annual Music DVD Awards. That translates to nearly 4% growth compared with growth of less than 1% for the DVD business overall.

Even so, music DVDs account for just 2.7% of total music transactions recorded in 2005, the first year the total number of transactions topped 1 billion. CDs still account for the vast majority of music purchases, Nielsen research shows, with 61.7%, followed by digital tracks at 35.2%.

Among retailers, mass merchants are in the lead when it comes to music DVD sales, enjoying 7% growth in 2005. Also on the upswing is the DualDisc, a hybrid that consists of a bonded disc with CD content on one side and DVD content on the other. Nielsen research shows that since the format's official bow in February 2005, 9.7 million DualDiscs have been snapped up by consumers, or 15% of total music sales.

During the conference, produced by trade publication Home Media Retailing in partnership with The Hollywood Reporter, DEG: the Digital Entertainment Group and the Video Software Dealers Assn., panelists discussed ways to grow the market while realizing music DVDs always will be a niche business.

Music DVDs can serve as a strong branding opportunity for an artist or group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment senior vp sales Harry Safter said. His company's release of a Los Lonely Boys DVD served as a bridge between two album releases, keeping interest and visibility high for the Texas-based country-rock group.

Labels primarily consider DualDisc an audio product, and they aren't abandoning the practice of releasing double-disc sets that include a DVD and CD separately. "The days of a single-format world are over," said Bill Sondheim, executive vp at DualDisc Worldwide for Sony BMG.

Also possibly on the horizon are more window-like strategies for music DVDs and the music market as a whole, panelists said.

The ideal window strategy for a music DVD would be to time it with an artist's new album release and tour, offering a digital-cinema blast around the street date and then have a TV airing, said Steve Sterling, senior vp programming and production at Live Nation, formerly Clear Channel Entertainment Home Video.

"If I could schedule that every time, I'd feel good about spending $1 million-$2 million on a release," he said. "But it's still art we are dealing with here, and it's very hard to put art in a bottle, let alone on a schedule."

How to monetize all the opportunities that the Internet and digital delivery can offer is a key issue the business must start addressing to keep up with the consumer, panelists said. Music DVDs need more and better marketing to draw in the core fans and broaden the awareness of product as it hits the streets.

Earl Hickey, Meet Stewie Griffin

LOS ANGELES -- Imagine for a moment a TV world in which Earl Hickey, after winning his $100,000 and getting run over by a car, doesn't see Carson Daly talking about karma from his hospital bed.

Imagine, instead, that he instead took a life lesson from ... Stewie Griffin.

Or, save yourself some imaginative effort and just wait until the first season of "My Name Is Earl" is released on DVD sometime later this year. Because then you'll find out.

Greg Garcia, creator of the hit NBC comedy, unveiled plans for the show's first-season DVD set Tuesday night (March 7) to the audience at the Museum of Television & Radio's annual Paley Festival. He says it should be released before the show's second season begins in the fall, and it will contain a fair number of bells and whistles including commentary tracks and selections from "hours and hours" of gag-reel footage cast and crew have accumulated this year.

"We're actually doing 15-minute mini-episode [that asks] what if Earl [Jason Lee] passed by Carson Daly and landed on Stewie from 'Family Guy,'" Garcia says. Garcia is a former producer on "Family Guy," and both it and "Earl" are produced by 20th Century Fox TV.

Lee and Garcia also discussed the origins of television's most famous facial hair since the heyday of "Magnum, P.I." Garcia says that NBC initially was hesitant about having a mustachioed Earl, "but Jason said, 'Trust me, I look funny with facial hair.'"

The network did, however, convince Lee to trim the 'stache back a little bit. "I originally went for a fu manchu, but NBC said no. I guess it made me look a little bit too trashy," he says. "So we sort of shaved off the chu and left the fu man."

"My Name Is Earl" is in the homestretch of production for this season, with three episodes and part of a fourth left to shoot. Garcia says in the season finale, we'll find out the No. 1 item on Earl's karmic to-do list, which was the misdeed he performed just before he won the lottery.

Other upcoming episodes include two that were screened for the audience Tuesday: one in which Earl and Randy (Ethan Suplee) try to make up for all the bad Mother's Days they've given their mom (Nancy Linehan and Beau Bridges reprise their roles as Earl's parents) and a flashback-heavy episode that shows how Earl, Randy, Joy (Jaime Pressly) and Darnell (Eddie Steeples) lived through Y2K.

New, improved on DVD, "Network" hasn't aged a day

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "I think I'd like to be an angry prophet denouncing the hypocrisies of our time," fallen news anchor Howard Beale tells co-workers in the opening minutes of Paddy Chayefsky's masterpiece "Network."

Writer Chayefsky, equally mad as hell, used his black comedy about a raggedy fourth TV network to denounce the hypocrisies of 1976 and warn of media evils to come.

Like his creation Sybil the Soothsayer, "Paddy was capable of seeing the future," director Sidney Lumet says. Chayefsky warned of entertainment masquerading as news, corporate meddling, violent reality shows, the tyranny of ratings, foreign ownership of U.S. media -- essentially the strip-mining of what already was a vast wasteland.

"The vision that the movie displayed so eloquently is alive today," producer Howard Gottfried maintains. Adds Lumet, "TV today has become its own satire."

Warner Bros. has released "Network" in a double-disc set that's tagged "Still mad as hell after 30 years." Disc 1 includes a sober but quite good commentary from Lumet, who focuses on who won what Oscar, why he rehearses actors and the thinking behind the "Network" lighting scheme, in which "even the camera is corrupted" as the movie descends into anarchy.

The extra features leadoff is a making-of by DVD documentary specialist Laurent Bouzereau. It includes chapters on the late Chayefsky, the "mad as hell" phenomenon and the film's powerhouse actors. The docus cover a lot of material and get the job done, but don't expect much of that loopy "Network" spirit.

Also on Disc 2, Chayefsky ponders "Network" on a segment of the talk show "Dinah!" And there's an hour-long Lumet retrospective from 2005, when he received an honorary Oscar, partly to atone for oversights that included losing the best director award (for "Network") to John Avildsen for "Rocky."

"THE DEATH HOUR." A GREAT SUNDAY NIGHT SHOW FOR THE WHOLE

FAMILY.

Aside from "Network's" on-air killing of a TV personality -- "because he had lousy ratings" -- all of its outrageous events happened in real life, Lumet points out.

"Network" anchorman Beale (Peter Finch) starts his wild ride by threatening to kill himself on camera. Crazy talk, but it mirrored headlines of the time. In 1974, as Chayefsky was writing "Network," a Florida TV personality shot herself to death on a morning show, saying it was "in keeping with (the) policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts." In the world of "Network," an on-air suicide was good for "a 50 share, easily."

The home video hit "Faces of Death" followed "Network" by two years, launching an above-ground snuff franchise. "Cops," "The Morton Downey Jr. Show" and Howard Stern were in the wings.

Today, death and violence -- real and imagined -- do brisk business in all media. News divisions draw and redraw the line between electronic journalism and morbid pandering. Freeway chases don't always end with surrenders and handcuffs, a percentage play that keeps viewers tuning in at 10 and 11. Local TV news "is as corrupt as anything I've ever seen," Lumet charges.

As for death in primetime, the director says: "On one of the reality shows it'll happen. There will be a real death. And it'll be shown to you, I promise."

Ratings are money, Chayefsky said in 1976. "If you follow the desire to get ratings . . . we will pursue this right into 'Coliseum '77' -- in which we will throw Christians to the lions every Saturday night."

The message of "Network," he said, was, "When do we say 'Hold it!' A human life is a hell of a lot more important than your lousy dollar."

Star Faye Dunaway reflects: "The reason ('Network') was so funny was because it was so outrageous. You're thinking, 'C'mon, nobody's going to kill somebody on television, are they?' And now we sort of think, yeah, we think so."

THE NEWS DIVISION WILL BE REDUCED FROM AN INDEPENDENT

DIVISION TO A DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO NETWORK.

Walter Cronkite, who worked with Lumet on the historical re-enactment series "You Are There," recalls CBS news staffers' reactions to "Network": "I understand it was supposed to be a combination of drama and comedy, but to us it was all comedy -- it was so overdrawn. . . . We howled with laughter."

Chayefsky talked extensively with NBC's John Chancellor but otherwise relied on his own adventures in live television. Cronkite says accusations that Chayefsky and Lumet were turning on the medium that made them were just "sour grapes from some who were envious." Adds Lumet: "We didn't leave TV. It left us."

Of ratings demands on network news, Cronkite says, "It is a fact that the pressure is there" to entertain. But taken too far, "The newspeople would revolt, pressure and maybe quit." As they did in "Network." Sort of.

Cronkite, whose daughter Kathy played the film's Patty Hearst lookalike, says the film's legacy is "it waved a banner of warning to the TV industry that it better not let things do as far as it did on that (UBS) network."

ALL I WANT OUT OF LIFE IS A 30 SHARE AND A 20 RATING.

Faye Dunaway's portrayal of lone-wolf programming VP Diana Christensen won her the best actress Oscar -- and it is her top-billed performance that gets the most attention in the DVD extras.

Diana, "who learned life from Bugs Bunny," stalks the sagging UBS network's news division, eventually hijacking its madman anchor for her evening news carnival. The ratings potential of her show "The Mao Tse-Tung Hour," featuring the criminal exploits of black radicals, brings the slinky executive to orgasm. She beds the everyman news chief (William Holden), stealing him from his wife and then stealing his division.

The part "wasn't easy to say yes to," Dunaway says. "I was advised not to do it. Because, you know, she didn't have a soul. She was a TV baby. There was a vacantness behind those eyes. People were afraid I'd be thought of that way."

Theater veterans Dunaway and Finch helped Holden adjust to Lumet's drawn-out rehearsals, a new one on the longtime film star. Dunaway says rehearsals "always struck me as insane not to do" on films.

SHE GETS THE WINTER PASSION; I GET THE DOTAGE.

Three "Network" players won Academy Awards: Dunaway, Finch (posthumously) and Beatrice Straight. There were five acting nominations in all, making the cast the most honored in Oscar history.

Straight, a stage actress, took home the supporting actress gold for one five-minute scene, in which Holden's newsman tells his wife of 25 years he's in love with the beautiful young programming exec. Her reply, in a heartbreaking monologue, contains some of Chayefsky's finest writing. Lumet says he deliberately exhausted the actress by making her do repeated takes, then captured this amazing scene.

Ned Beatty, who played a corporate chieftain, likewise was nominated for a single scene in which he uses the voice of doom to warn Beale that he's "meddled with the primal forces of nature." Beatty, who mimicked his hometown holy roller for the tirade, describes himself as just "a day player" on the film.

"Network" couldn't beat "Rocky" in the best picture race, a loss that Chayefsky took hard. "I think it's a hell of a film," he told Dinah Shore.

VIDEO DIFFICULTIES ARE TEMPORARY -- PLEASE DO NOT ADJUST

YOUR SET.

The new! improved! "Network" DVD smokes Warner's bare-bones versions of 1998 and 2000. Images are suitably colorful and handsome for a '70s film, though the presentation suffers from some speckling and unwelcome grain. The stereo Dolby Digital seems challenged by the audio's occasional spikes, lessening their intended impact. The aspect ratio is 2.35:1; the video employs the enhancement for widescreen monitors.

Woody serves up Match Point

A serious departure for Woody Allen in virtually every respect, Match Point still bares the soul of its director from start to finish. Dreamworks will unveil the story of luck and disaster on DVD this spring.

A one-time tennis pro, Chris Wilton (was used to falling just short in his life. But when he befriends Tom Hewett (and marries his sister, Chloe), the doors are opened to the kind of money and success that Chris had once only dreamed of. Chris should have settled for happiness, but he is torn by his attraction to Tom’s impossibly beautiful and sensual fiance, Nola. The attraction turns to an obsession that forces Chris to make a critical choice. Now everything in his life hinges on if Chris falls short again…and whether or not his luck runs out.

The DVD like all Allen films will be in mono only, but with an anamorphic widescreen transfer. No supplements appear to be included.

The DVD arrives on April 25th with a $29.98 suggested retail price.

DVDs: Oscar special

Sunday is Oscar's golden moment so it is no surprise that a slew of Oscar-nominated films are coming to DVD.

One crucial factor is that most of the 2006 Academy Award nomination leaders are art films and/or edgier material, not mainstream studio blockbusters. So they need awards to fuel their financial success, in theatres and on DVD.

Of the 35 films that received at least one Oscar nomination in the feature categories for 2005, 12 have already been released and the rest are pending.

Here are the titles that are available:

WALK THE LINE

Out on DVD tomorrow. James Mangold's stirring biopic of legendary country music couple Johnny Cash and June Carter earned five Oscar noms but missed out in the best picture category. Both Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon are acting contenders, with Witherspoon cited as the likely best actress winner. Both actors are excellent dramatically and -- because their vocal stylings invoke the originals -- ace the singing, too.

The DVD is available in the basic one-disc release, in separate full and widescreen editions. It has Mangold's excellent, thoughtful commentary plus 10 deleted scenes with optional commentaries.

Better is the widescreen-only, two-disc Collector's Edition that, in addition to five souvenir postcards, has the same first disc plus a second disc of first-rate bonus materials. There are extended versions of three songs, with Cocaine Blues the star entry. Strong featurettes background Cash & Carter, focus on the upheavals of 1968 as the year of crisis and redemption for Cash and explain how Mangold struggled for a decade to make this film.

The crucial thing missing is live performances by Cash & Carter. For that, and a lot of religion, turn to tomorrow's widescreen DVD release of Gospel Road: A Story Of Jesus (1973), in which Cash talks/sings through a docu-drama about the life of Jesus, with Carter as Mary Magdalene. It is crudely done but heartfelt.

PRIDE & PREJUDICE

Out tomorrow as well. Joe Wright's lovely reworking of Jane Austen's classic novel earned four nominations, key among them Keira Knightley as best actress. The DVD is available in separate full and widescreen editions that boast good extras.

Wright's droll commentary is articulate, as is his participation in the four featurettes which delve into the history of Austen and the making of the film. The highlight is listening to Donald Sutherland wax poetic about Knightley, whom he adores and respects, and watching Brenda Blethyn with her bubbly brood of girls on set.

GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK

Out on DVD March 14. George Clooney's sly second film as a director is less a conventional narrative and more of a poetic mood piece about a political era: The upheavals of Joe McCarthy's Communist witchhunts of the 1950s. It earned six noms -- including best picture, Clooney as best director and the wonderfully subtle David Strathairn, who plays crusading TV journalist Edward R. Murrow, as best actor.

The widescreen DVD will feature a sometimes funny, even silly, but often useful commentary shared by Clooney and co-writer/co-star Grant Heslov. The DVD is good but this is a title that demands more, perhaps even a civics lesson. A special edition DVD would be welcome.

CAPOTE

Out on DVD March 21. Bennett Miller shocked Hollywood with the subtle yet explosive quality of his biopic about colourful writer Truman Capote and his controversial research for In Cold Blood. The film earned five noms, including as best picture and Philip Seymour Hoffman as best actor. Hoffman is the front-runner for not merely his mimicry of Capote's high-pitched voice but his embodiment of Capote's tragic internal conflicts.

The widescreen DVD will contain a lineup of excellent extras, none of them hype and all created with the same clear-minded care as the film. Among insights, Miller says of casting Hoffman: "It was a huge risk for Phil to take. The possibility of profound humiliation is always there."

CRASH

On DVD since Sept. 6 last year; a special edition due April 4. Paul Haggis, who was born in London, Ont., leapt into the public eye by writing Million Dollar Baby. Now his remarkable L.A. race drama has six noms, including as best picture, with Haggis named as best director and for best original screenplay (shared with Bobby Moresco).

The original DVD, available in full or widescreen, has a commentary shared by Haggis, Moresco and Don Cheadle, as well as a punchy featurette on the making of the film and its ambition to illuminate the race struggle. "This is a passion piece," Haggis says. That is why the special edition due in April is appropriate. Even more is a good thing.

OSCAR'S DVD LIST

Release dates for selected Oscar nominees:

Crash: Sept. 06, 2005
Batman Begins: Oct. 18, 2005
Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge Of the Sith: Nov. 1, 2005
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory: Nov. 8, 2005
War Of The Worlds: Nov. 22, 2005
Cinderella Man: Dec. 6, 2005
The Constant Gardener: Jan. 10
Hustle & Flow: Jan. 10
Junebug: Jan. 17
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride: Jan. 31
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit: Feb. 7
North Country: Feb. 21
Walk The Line: Feb. 28
Pride & Prejudice: Feb. 28
Howl's Moving Castle: March 7
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire: March 7
Good Night, And Good Luck: March 14
A History Of Violence: March 14
Capote: March 21
The Squid And The Whale: March 21
Memoirs Of A Geisha: March 28
King Kong: March 28
Brokeback Mountain: April 4
Crash: April 4 (Special Edition)
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe: April 4
Munich: TBA
Match Point: TBA
Syriana: TBA
Mrs. Henderson Presents:TBA
Transamerica: TBA
The New World: TBA

The Couch Potato Report - February 21st, 2006

This week The Couch Potato Report includes two releases that I don't really have an opinion on.

Each week I sit here and give you my thoughts, musings and opinions on new video and DVD releases.

Whether it is a release I loved - like DOCTOR WHO - or one I hated - such as WAITING - I usually have an opinion.

This week I don't.

Over the past seven days I watched the film NORTH COUNTRY and the first season of the TV show GREY'S ANATOMY, but neither release moved me enough to have an opinion about it.

I didn't like them, I didn't hate them. I didn't enjoy them, I didn't not enjoy them.

Wait, was that a double negative? Well, if there is a double negative in my thoughts, at least there isn't a double negative regarding this week's two releases.

No negatives, no positives, just some thoughts. So let me get to them.

I'll start with NORTH COUNTRY.

This film is "based on real life events" that took place in the late seventies and eighties at a mine in Minnesota state.

Academy Award winner Charlize Theron from MONSTER stars as a woman who goes to work in the mine, to the dismay of her male co-workers.

Theron only wants the job because she has two children to feed after leaving her husband and the mine will pay six times what she was making elsewhere.

From her first day on the job she learns that she isn't wanted. Even the human resources manager tells her and her female counterparts that he doesn't want them there and if it wasn't for the Supreme Court, he wouldn't have hired them.

But NORTH COUNTRY is only partially about the hardships that Theron and her co-working women face in the mine. It is also about the first class action sexual harassment lawsuit that was filed against the mine in the early 1990's.

A case of which the outcome is clearly revealed on the film's packaging, an outcome I am not going to give you.

The women in NORTH COUNTRY's story are threatened, attacked, degraded and made to feel like second-class citizens.

While watching the movie I felt sorry for them, and I felt saddened that they had to put up with this abuse just because they wanted to earn a living.

But once you know the outcome of the lawsuit, there is no drama in the film. The middle of the film, the "how do they get from the mine to the conclusion" has little to offer as a movie, and by the end of the two hour plus running time I was indifferent.

It is a very positive thing that these real life women fought back against their oppressors. Everyone should do that! The fictionalized movie named NORTH COUNTRY that tries to tell their story is neither positive nor negative.

It isn't good enough to recommend it and it isn't bad enough for me to tell you to ignore it.

Charlize Theron may have received an Oscar nomination for her work, but the movie she is in just didn't move me enough to have any feelings about it whatsoever.

And neither did the first season of the medical ensemble drama GREY'S ANATOMY.

The second season of this show airs on TV Sunday nights and last week the show was the fourth highest watched program in North America.

Now, GREY'S ANATOMY - SEASON ONE is available on DVD.

GREY'S ANATOMY is a one-hour drama that is primarily about five young and very competitive surgical interns at a fictional hospital in Seattle.

The doctors all juggle romance - in and out of work - and try to remain friends while they simultaneously try to grab the best cases and perform surgeries.

I never got in to the show when it first debuted, and I don't watch GREY'S ANATOMY now, but I did sit down and watch all nine of the episodes on this new 2-DVD set.

As I was watching them I started to think of the medical dramas that I have enjoyed over the years from ST. ELSEWHERE to SCRUBS, and while I didn't feel that GREY'S ANATOMY was in the same league as those shows, I had no problems watching all 9 of the episodes, and the DVD's extra features.

I didn't love it, I didn't hate it, and I didn't try and figure out how the show is doing so well in the ratings.

I watched it, it ended, yet I don't have an opinion about it.

Of course, I suppose the fact that I don't have an opinion on GREY'S ANATOMY or NORTH COUNTRY can be taken as a negative review since if I liked them I would just say I liked them.

However, I didn't like them, and I didn't dislike them.

I watched them, and they are over.

And now both NORTH COUNTRY and GREY'S ANATOMY - SEASON ONE are available at a store near you for you to watch and see if you can form an opinion about them.

Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report

The superb WALK THE LINE is a cinematic look at the early years in the life of Johnny Cash.

Jane Austen's book PRIDE & PREJUDICE is given a youthful update with Oscar nominee Keira Knightley leading the cast.

And it is time to celebrate the 50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION of Walt Disney's masterpiece LADY & THE TRAMP.

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!

Napoleon Dynamite gets the Special Edition treatment

Scheduled for release in May, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has just unveiled plans for Napoleon Dynamite - Like The Best Special Edition Ever!
“Napoleon Dynamite” is a new kind of hero, complete with a tight red 'fro, sweet moon boots, and skills that can’t be topped. Napoleon spends his days drawing mythical beasts, duking it out with his brother, Kip, and avoiding his scheming Uncle Rico. When two new friends enter Napoleon's life - shy Deb and mustachioed Pedro - the trio launches a campaign to elect Pedro for class president and make the student body's wildest dreams come true. But if Pedro is to beat by stuck-up Summer, Napoleon will have to unleash his secret weapon...

This 2-disc Special Edition will contain an anamorphic widescreen transfer of the film complete with a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track, as well as Dolby surround tracks in English, French and Spanish. Additionally, the release will contain a Commentary Track featuring Jon Heder, director Jared Hess and producer Jeremy Coon.

A selection of Deleted Scenes will be included, complemented by optional commentary, as well as a Photo Gallery.

On the second disc of the release you will find The Short Film “Peluca” complete with a commentary track, as well as a Featurette called “The Wedding Of The Century!” “The Real Napoleon Dynamite” is another Featurette found on the release, as well as a “Behind-the-scenes” featurette. Then there will be the MTV Interstitials as well as Outtakes from these interstitials, as well as Interstitial Raw Tapes.

Last but not least, you will get to see “Napoleon Sightings,” a selection of “Napoleon Dynamite” Interstitials and Clips including the ESPN clip – “2005 Scripps National Spelling Bee”, clips from TRL, clips from the MTV Movie Awards, the opening of SNL with Jon Heder, Cartoon Network-Napoleon Bonomite, the 2004 Teen Choice Awards-Napoleon Dynamite & Nicole Richie Playing Tetherball, the 2005 Teen Choice Awards-Hissy Fit Award, new outtakes and deleted scenes, sweet Jumps-Nap on the bike outtakes, Lord of the Dance-freestyle dance of Napoleon filmed during Peluca and Chugger - alternate scenes of chugging sports drink.

“Napoleon Dynamite - Like The Best Special Edition Ever!” will be in stores on May 16 and carry a $26.98 suggested retail price.

Doctor Who - Canadian Release Of 2005 Show Delayed?!?!

The 2005 version of Doctor Who, starring Christopher Eccleston as the 9th Doctor, was delayed in the USA until the 4th of July holiday, due to the SciFi Channel's pick-up of the show for broadcast in the USA on the popular cable network.

The Canadian release, as of last week, was still on track for its long-planned February 14th release.

Even though Amazon.ca's website now states "Usually ships within 24 hours." there are some internet rumours that the streetdate is now March 7th.

I have ordered it from Amazon.ca and in my account information it states: "Delivery estimate: Feb 21 2006 - Feb 23 2006."

I can't get any real confirmation on this, but if it is delayed until March, it is still coming out four months ahead of the south-of-the-border DVD release!

Cash dividend: 3 "Line" DVDs arriving February 28

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Hoping to ride on the Oscar buzz for "Walk the Line," 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is rushing the Johnny Cash biopic to DVD in three versions February 28.

"Line" is up for five Oscars, including best actor for Joaquin Phoenix, who portrays the Man in Black, and best actress for Reese Witherspoon, who plays his wife and musical partner, June Carter.

Consumers can choose from a single-disc widescreen edition, a single-disc full-screen edition and a two-disc special edition packed with extras.

All three versions come with a commentary by director James Mangold and 10 deleted scenes.

The two-disc edition also comes with three extended musical sequences, three featurettes and collectible postcards.

The film won three Golden Globe Awards last month, for Phoenix and Witherspoon and as best picture in the musical/comedy category.

"Baywatch" washing up on DVD

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Beach-and-babes TV series "Baywatch" is finally headed to DVD.

A late-summer best-of set, with episodes chosen by star Pamela Anderson, will be the initial release, followed by complete series sets.

"Baywatch," which aired from 1989-2001, is again making headlines, with a big-budget movie in the works from director Eli Roth ("Hostel," "Cabin Fever").

The series gained fame for its look at the Southern California beach lifestyle as seen through the eyes of a team of sexy lifeguards.

Armstrong Recalls 'Moonlighting' Days

Curtis Armstrong had an atypical introduction to film and television work.
"I was spoiled going into movies, because my first movie was 'Risky Business' and I was spoiled for television by 'Moonlighting,'" says the veteran character actor.

Armstrong arrived on "Moonlighting" early in its third season, a transitional moment for the private investigator comedy. The show had just received 16 Emmy nominations, including a somewhat peculiar outstanding drama series nod.

"Once 'Moonlighting' had established its reputation for being clever and flip and self-referential, that's what everybody was looking for and at the same time everyone's looking for that, maybe the leads are saying, 'You know, we've done a pie fight and we've done drag. Now I would like to do something that gives me a little exercise.'" Armstrong says.

Introduced as an unwilling love interest for Allyce Beasley's Agnes, Armstrong's Herbert Viola initially provided an awkward, bumbling injection of humor, allowing stars Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd to concentrate on their emotions.

"As much as it may have pleased Bruce to do serious dramatic stretches on that show, it may not have been what the audience particularly wanted," explains Armstrong. "They might have liked the flip, crazy David Addison of the old days, so they needed somebody to dress up as a woman and pop out of a cake and that was me."

The show's third season, premiering on DVD on Tuesday (Feb. 7), had only 15 episodes. Amidst that truncated schedule came classics like "Atomic Shakespeare," the show's take-off on "Taming of the Shrew."

"They wrote the script, which was so clever, and they had these fabulous costumes ... and then we went to shoot at the Court of Miracles at the backlot of Universal and, for me, this was the biggest thrill of my life, because I had grown up loving the old Universal horror movies and the Universal Sherlock Holmes movies, which all took place on that set," Armstrong recalls.

That season also featured "The Straight Poop," a behind-the-scenes exploration of the animosity between Willis' Dave Addison and Shepherd's Maddie Hayes, which parodied tabloid rumors surrounding the real on-set antics.

"Because of the tensions around the set there were different camps and you had to avoid being in any of the camps -- and I'm not just talking about two camps, there were other camps," Armstrong says. "They were dancing around this Maypole of weirdness and stress."

Armstrong only recently revisited his "Moonlighting" experience, screening an episode for his daughter.

"It was enough to live it and I've never really been compelled to relive it," he laughs.

Armstrong has found Europeans associate him with "Moonlighting," while Americans recognize his familiar face from films like "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Better Off Dead." Armstrong has never had a problem being approached by fans, even ones calling him "Booger."

"The way I look at is, if you're an actor and you have one role in a career that people remember with affection and write you letters about and stop you in the street, then you're damned lucky. To have more than one is an incredible blessing."

PHASE OF THE 'MOON'

Twenty years after it debuted, "Moonlighting" is still a constant presence for stars Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis and show creator Glenn Gordon Caron.

Shepherd and Willis, who shot to fame on "Moonlighting," famously had their ups and downs — with their own lives and with each other — during the show's storied run.

The third season of "Moonlighting," which some consider the show's best — and a season fraught with interruptions, delays and agita on the part of ABC execs — is being released Tuesday on DVD (Lion's Gate).

"I think we'd be fine working together," Shepherd says. "People sure want Bruce and I to work together again. They want the 'Moonlighting' reunion, obviously, but Glenn doesn't know how to do it.

"He feels like we shouldn't revisit it because we did it so well. Just leave it in the past," Shepherd says.

Tuesday's DVD release reminds everyone of one of the most tumultuous, nerve-wracking, controversial and exciting seasons for any show in TV history.

"I do have a diary that I kept," says Shepherd. "I dictated it into a cassette recorder. And I wouldn't want that published."

Everyone knows about the on-set fighting, the delayed scripts, the weeks between original episodes and the prints — delivered to ABC so late the nights they aired, the network saw the new episodes the same time as America.

And, in the midst of it all, Shepherd gave birth to twins.

"Oh, how in the world did I do that?" laughs Shepherd, just back from Sundance with her new movie "Open Window." "I really don't know how."

The show only produced 15 episodes in that third season, thanks to that pregnancy, a skiing accident with Willis and the lengthy delays as Caron crafted scripts. But the results were legendary.

One episode began with a Movietone newsreel story about the lack of episodes. Another episode — a stop-gap clip job — featured gossip queen Rona Barrett on the set talking with cast members about their squabbles.

And then there's Maddie getting married to a dweeb she barely knew, Dave and Maddie finally sleeping together and perhaps the most famous "Moonlighting" episode of all: "Atomic Shakespeare," their re-telling of "The Taming of the Shrew."

The fights ("I once threw a director's chair against a wall," admits Shepherd) didn't get in the way. In some ways, they helped.

"When we met, Bruce and I had this great sexual chemistry and also the idea of sending each other up," says Shepherd.

"We would see the absolute worst in each other as characters, as David and Maddie. We fought before every scene in which we had a fight.

"At some point, I realized it and mentioned it to Bruce and he said, 'Yeah, you're right.' That didn't change it."

The twins Cybill gave birth to played a big role, too.

"When we did the interviews and commentary for the DVDs, Bruce thanked me profusely for getting pregnant because it made it possible for him to do 'Die Hard.' "

'Mermaid' Swims to DVD Oct. 3

The Little Mermaid will be the next Walt Disney animated classic to get the full VIP treatment on DVD.

The 1989 film won two Oscars (for best song and best original score) and is credited with revitalizing Disney’s animated features after a long dry spell. It will arrive in stores Oct. 3 (prebook Aug. 8) at $29.99 as the studio’s eighth “Platinum Edition” DVD, a designation that brings with it significantly more bells and whistles than a standard DVD release.

The film is Disney’s eighth Platinum Edition DVD — following Lady and The Tramp, which streets Feb. 28 — and marks the first time The Little Mermaid will be available on DVD in seven years.

“The Little Mermaid is a monumental film in the history of Disney animation that is beloved by everyone,” said Gordon Ho, EVP of brand marketing and business development for Buena Vista Home Entertainment. “It signaled the beginning of a new era of animation at the Walt Disney Studios that included Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King.”

Ho said Mermaid is the most-requested Disney movie for release on DVD and will be backed by a massive marketing campaign similar to that for Cinderella, last year’s holiday-season Platinum Edition release. Cinderella went on to sell more than 6.5 million units and, according to Nielsen VideoScan data, is the No. 8 DVD seller of 2005, outselling such major new theatricals as Batman Begins and Ray.

Like other Platinum Edition releases, The Little Mermaid will be a two-disc set, with one disc reserved solely for bonus materials. Several cutting-edge features still are being developed, along with such expected extras as deleted scenes, commentaries, and featurettes on various aspects of the making of the movie. The DVD also will include several musical bonuses.

Ho said the film itself has been digitally restored, as has the audio track.

And like Cinderella, Ho said, Disney Consumer Products is working with a variety of partners to develop “a whole range of licensed products” to hit stores at the same time as the DVD, from costumes and other apparel to dolls and toys — more than 2,000 new products, in all.

“One of the greatest things about working on DVD releases like The Little Mermaid is that unlike a big theatrical release, we have the ability to plan very far in advance because we don’t have to guess whether the film will become a hit,” Ho said. “It already is.”

Two 'Narnia' versions to hit DVD in April

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Disney has big DVD plans for "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," preparing two versions of the blockbuster hit for release on April 4.

Both the single-disc version ($19.99) and a two-disc edition ($29.99) will include two commentaries with director Andrew Adamson, one in which he's accompanied by other filmmakers and the other, by children. Both versions also will come with pop-up windows throughout the film with facts on the movie and "Narnia" author C.S. Lewis.

The double-disc "Narnia" also will come with a booklet, concept art, storytelling diaries of the filmmakers, a "making of" featurette, an interactive map of Narnia and other extras.

Also in the works from Disney is a single-disc version of "Chicken Little," the studio's first computer-animated film produced in-house rather than by Pixar. The DVD will be out March 21 and include music videos, "making of" featurettes on the animation process and the vocal talent, and deleted scenes, including an early take in which Chicken Little is a girl voiced by Holly Hunter.

Disney also has begun showing an 11-minute preview of the direct-to-video sequel "Bambi II" on the film's Web site (http://www.bambi2DVD.com) in advance of the February 7 street date. The belated sequel to the 1942 animated classic will be in stores only 70 days before it is placed on moratorium.

The controversial sitcom Action comes to DVD in February!

The show too controversial for network television Action: The Complete Series – Uncut and Unbleeped!, starring Jay Mohr, Illeana Douglas, Buddy Hackett, Jarrad Paul and Jack Plotnick, debuts on DVD this February from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

“Action” took on Hollywood and the censors with its no holds barred, bleep-filled take on the film industry. Executive Producers Joel Silver, Ted Demme and Don Reo took great pride in pushing sitcom boundaries with their wry, campy and irreverent humor along with a “no mercy” attitude toward Hollywood and the show’s characters. Shot with just a single camera, the innovative series featured cameos by top talent in almost every episode, including appearances by Keanu Reeves, Salma Hayek, Sandra Bullock and Scott Wolf.

In the show, mega-producer Peter Dragon (Jay Mohr) has a track-record of huge box-office hits, and a hugely inflated ego, even by Hollywood standards. A Xantac-popping, stereotypical over-the-top producer who everyone loves to hate, Peter’s record of box office hits was perfect … until his last cinematic bomb. Determined to remain on the Hollywood "hit" list he resorts to desperate measures. Dragon hires Wendy Ward (Illeana Douglas), a former child TV star who is now a call girl, to be his new development executive since she’s the only one he can trust to tell him the truth. Rounding out the cast are Jack Plotnick as Vice President of Development Stuart Glazer, Jarrad Paul playing neurotic writer Adam Rifkin and Buddy Hackett as Uncle Lonnie, the head of security who spends most of his time sleeping on the couch.

The DVD version will feature all 13 episodes from the show in 2-disc DVD set. The release is scheduled for February 21 and will carry a $24.96 suggested retail price.

The year in DVD

From collector's editions to favourite shows, Hollywood brought it home

DVD sales have long been Hollywood's crutch of choice. While movie audiences have been shrinking for years, the home entertainment business has assured robust profit margins for studios that now rake in more cash from DVDs than box office. 2005 leaves us, however, with the industry facing an uncertain future. In question is who will win the critical battle to determine what next-generation DVD technology looks like. Sony, which backs Blue-ray high-definition discs, appears to be the likely victor because it has the support of both Hollywood studios -- and will be built into next year's PlayStation 3 game console.

Opposing the Blu-ray group (not to be confused with the Blue Man Group) is a consortium, including Toshiba, that has developed the HD DVD format. Time is of the essence because sales of flat-screen high-definition television sets are spiking.

Worrisome, too, are recent reports that DVD sales may be peaking amid a pop culture landscape exploding with entertainment choices and ever-new technologies.

We say -- let the suits do the fretting. We're happy to kick back and pop in our favourite movie. Here are the Calgary Sun's picks for the best movies released in 2005 on DVD.

1) SIDEWAYS: Alexander Payne's keenly-observed follow-up to About Schmidt is both a mellow character study and a high farce drunk with emotion. The commentary by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church reveals the easy rapport they share on-screen translates off-camera too.

2) MILLION DOLLAR BABY: "I'm just doing what feels right," Clint Eastwood tells effusive interviewer James Lipton (Inside The Actors Studio) during a chat with Oscar-winning trio Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman on the DVD. "I don't think too much about it." True, as a director, Eastwood makes every blow count. His wrenching, Oscar-winning Million Dollar Baby is as spare and economical as the screen icon himself. Eastwood's drama is as much about faith, sacrifice and contrition as exchanging left hooks.

3) STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH: The year's biggest DVD -- and movie -- redeemed creator George Lucas with its sinister tale of how Anakin Skywalker finally fell to the dark side of the Force to become Darth Vader. The DVD's bounty of extras is a Wookiee-like shout-out to fanboys.

4) CINDERELLA MAN: Ron Howard's biography of Depression-era boxing legend James Braddock is a crowd-pleaser that entertains more than it illuminates. That said, it's also packs a sucker punch thanks to an Oscar-worthy turn by Russell Crowe. For fans, the DVD goes so far to provide analysis of the actual Braddock-Baer fight that concludes Howard's drama.

5) THE INCREDIBLES: Smart, sly, sleek and sophisticated entertainment that continues Pixar's unprecedented dominance of all that is animated (Toy Story, Monsters Inc., A Bug's Life and Finding Nemo). The two-disc DVD is crammed with extras -- the standout being the Brad Bird-directed short film Jack Jack Attack.

6) BATMAN BEGINS: Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins scraps the neon gaudiness of Joel Schumacher's movies and puts Bats (Christian Bale) back in black. It's darker, fiercer and far more ambitious than the previous films.

7) FAMILY GUY PRESENTS STEWIE GRIFFIN: THE UNTOLD STORY: Punctuated by cheerfully offensive humour that wouldn't have flown on Fox, Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story plays very much like an extended episode as the matricidal infant searches for his real father.

8) MARCH OF THE PENGUINS: Think mating is hard for humans? Try being an emperor penguin in the South Pole. Or better still, watch this spectacular documentary from the warmth of your living room.

9) KUNG FU HUSTLE: Imagine The Matrix's Morpheus discovering Wile E. Coyote is "The One" and you begin to understand the over-the-top zaniness actor-director Stephen Chow's go-for-broke live-action cartoon comedy achieves. Chow knows that just because your film is fun, doesn't mean it has to be stupid.

10) THE UPSIDE OF ANGER: Joan Allen provides the fiery centre of Mike Binder's hilarious, human comedy, but it's Kevin Costner -- delivering his best performance in eons as Allen's neighbour -- who steals the show as a has-been baseball star turned talk-radio DJ who begins a boozy romance with the simmering widow.

BEST TV ON DVD

DAILY SHOW INDECISION 2004: The most hilarious DVD of 2005 is this collection of memorable election-themed bits from The Daily Show With Jon Stewart. Included is correspondent Stephen Colbert's featurette: Requiem for a Show That Was Daily.

SCRUBS -- THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON: In praising Arrested Development, critics often overlook this medical comedy starring Zach Braff. It's whimsical, sweet and consistently funny.

LOST -- THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON: Among eight hours of buried bonus treasure are audition tapes, fun facts (Evangeline Lilly almost didn't get the part of Kate because they couldn't get the Canadian actress a work visa) and what-might-have-beens (producers wanted Michael Keaton to play Jack -- and then kill him off).

THE OFFICE SEASON 1: A worthy remake of the British original thanks largely to Steve Carell's fitfully funny performance as a boss whose incompetence approaches the superhuman.

MUPPETS: THE MUPPET SHOW: SEASON 1: It's Muppet-ational. Each episode in this boxset features optional pop-up "Muppet morsels" that teach you about the show as you go.

MIAMI VICE SEASONS 1 AND 2: Enough '80s goodness to make you want to gag yourself with a spoon. This cop drama fused an MTV aesthetic to genre television, changing the look and sound of the small screen.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SEASON 1: This dark, gritty remake has reimagined the cheesy show into a space-bound parable for today's anxiety-ridden paranoid world.

ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS: Nobody ever did comic noir better than Hitchcock, as evidenced by these engrossing 39 episodes of this 1950s series.

NIP/TUCK: SEASON 2: It's as silly as it is sinful, but this drama about cosmetic surgeons is heartlessly addictive.

EMERGENCY: SEASON 1: Before ER, there was this 1970s drama about paramedics.

BEST COLLECTORS EDITIONS

GLADIATOR EXTENDED EDITION: After the likes of Alexander and Troy, Ridley Scott's Oscar-winning epic Gladiator only looks better than it did in 2000. The three-disc DVD includes a new widescreen edition of the film that's 17 minutes longer, along with new commentary by Scott and star Russell Crowe -- who won an Oscar for his role -- and an embarrassment of behind-the-scenes riches.

VINTAGE MICKEY: This 90-minute disc continues the recent Disney trend of releasing classic animated footage on DVD. Vintage Mickey contains nine cartoons, including The Birthday Party, Plane Crazy, Mickey's Revue, Building A Building and the legendary Steamboat Willie.

THE JAMES DEAN COLLECTION: James Dean has been dead for half-a-century, but the actor remains a pop culture icon. The Complete James Dean Collection includes two-disc special editions of Dean's best-known films: East of Eden (1955), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), and Giant (1956). This is the first time East of Eden has been out on DVD. The set even includes the "Drive Safely" ad Dean shot before his death in a car crash.

TOY STORY ANNIVERSARY EDITION AND TOY STORY 2 SPECIAL EDITION: It's been a decade since this pioneering CG-animated comedy from Pixar Studios about the secret lives of toys revolutionized the industry. But Toy Story and its sequel are much more than just a landmark in cinematic technology -- they're deliriously joyous movies that, for sheer entertainment value, are unparalleled. The two-disc special edition of the original includes deleted scenes, games, making-of featurettes and a preview of Pixar's next film Cars.

GHOSTBUSTERS GIFT SET: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis are superbly deadpan as a trio of paranormal investigators who get a lot more than they bargained for when New York is overrun by ghoulish spirits in the sublime 1984 original. Too bad the 1989 sequel is a letdown -- a tepid, misguided retread. This gift set includes both films as well as a host of extras, including three featurettes, deleted scenes and commentary from Ramis and director Ivan Reitman.

JAWS 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION: Steven Spielberg was just 26 years old when he directed Jaws. He lurched into the project, almost sank with the difficulties of shooting a scary drama at sea, and then found himself with a hit movie that remains as shocking today as it was in 1975. The 30th Anniversary Edition DVD is a classy two-disc set which includes an excellent two-hour documentary.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: The two-disc edition of this classic features Gregory Peck's Oscar acceptance speech, commentary from director Robert Mulligan and producer Alan J. Pakula, the theatrical trailer as well as a documentary about the legendary leading man. There's also an introduction penned by author Harper Lee.

THE DEER HUNTER: The last thing this five-time Oscar-winner needed was a longer version, yet the film, collected here in a two-disc set, provides keen insight into a particular time in the American psyche. A very young Robert DeNiro and Christopher Walken are superb as life-long friends torn apart by the tragedy of the Vietnam war.

THE STING: This sly and wickedly smart Oscar-winner stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford, who established the standard by which all cinematic buddy flicks are measured. A comedy and caper set in the 1930s about two con men, it remains a vast entertainment.

CINDERELLA PLATINUM EDITION: Cinderella, the downtrodden maid-turned-glass-slipper-wearing-princess, has a fairy godmother to make her gorgeous. Cinderella, the Walt Disney musical, has digital wizards to restore its shimmering beauty -- something that's abundantly evident in the studio's sparkling new Platinum Edition release of the 1950 animated musical based on the Grimms' fairy tale. Along with the restored picture and sound, the two-disc DVD features an embarrassment of extras.

EDWARD SCISSORHANDS 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION: Tim Burton's enchanting fable about a boy (Johnny Depp) who is blessed but mostly cursed with razor-sharp scissors for hands. Since its release in 1990, Edward Scissorhands has been hailed as Burton's most personal film, possibly explaining why it's his best.

THE BRUCE LEE ULTIMATE COLLECTION: Five of Bruce Lee's martial arts movies -- The Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Way of the Dragon, Game of Death and Game of Death II -- are collected in this informative must for fans of the superstar.

BILL & TED'S MOST EXCELLENT COLLECTION: For some, Marlon Brando will always be Stanley Kowalski. For others, Robert De Niro is Travis Bickle. And for others, Keanu Reeves will always be Ted of Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and its sequel, which starred Reeves and Alex Winter, as a pair of affable '80s-era dufuses. This Excellent Collection features an air guitar tutorial, interviews and even a cartoon episode of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures. To this we say, "Whoa."

DONNIE DARKO: DIRECTOR'S CUT: Since its 2001 release ,this surreal drama starring a pre-Brokeback Mountain Jake Gyllenhaal, developed enough of a cult following to justify a director's cut. It remains one of the odder American films not directed by David Lynch in the past 20 years.

The Couch Potato Report - December 13th, 2005

This week The Couch Potato Report features one of the best, and one of the worst films of the year.

It has been said that laughter is the best medicine.

I put that theory to the test one week in late August when I was in need of some hilarity.

Luckily I wasn't disappointed, and I felt better after one dose, but I went back for two more.

The medicine I took was a movie called THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN.

Steve Carell from ANCHORMAN and BRUCE ALMIGHTY is THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN.

The plot of the film is exactly what the titles suggests, it's about how a 40-year-old virgin named Andy looks for love.

Not just sex, but love.

Along the way Andy discovers chest waxing, speed dating, and he is encouraged by his friends and co-workers.

THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN is incredibly funny, all of the main and supporting characters are personable and interesting, and the dialogue is always entertaining, and sometimes insightful.

When I needed to laugh, this movie made me laugh, and every time I have watched it since, I still laugh just as hard.

I don't think you can ask for more from a comedy than that.

THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN is one of my favourite films of the year.

On the other hand is THE ISLAND.

I wouldn't call THE ISLAND the worst film of 2005, but it is definitely close.

In the film Ewan McGregor from BIG FISH and Scarlett Johansson of LOST IN TRANSLATION star as clones.

They are residents of what they perceive to be a utopian facility sometime in the mid 21st century.

Every resident of this carefully controlled environment hope that they are chosen to go to the "The Island" - reportedly the last uncontaminated location on the planet.

But soon McGregor's character finds out that he, and everyone else in the facility are clones.

After that, the film's interesting premise is thrown aside and THE ISLAND becomes a run and hide, explosion and chase film.

That isn't too big of a surprise as the movie was directed by Michael Bay, the man responsible for the less-than-subtle films ARMAGEDDON and PEARL HARBOUR.

McGregor and Johansson are both talented, personable actors with great physical appeal, but they are wasted in THE ISLAND and if you watch the movie your time will be wasted as well.

To recap, I think THE ISLAND is a waste of your time.

Some other people think that sitting and watching TV is the ultimate waste of time.

For others - like me - watching TV is an enjoyable way to relax and be entertained.

When I was in high school I used to relax and be entertained by MIAMI VICE. Soon after I completed my education, THE SIMPSONS became a staple of my daily and weekly TV watching.

Now, there are new box sets available for both shows!

MIAMI VICE: SEASON TWO and THE SIMPSONS: THE COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON.

The former continues to follow the adventures of the vice squad detectives of the Miami Police Department; specifically the adventures of Crockett and Tubbs.

The 3-disc set for SEASON TWO features the 22 episodes of the 1985-86 season and begins with "Prodigal Son," a two-hour episode that transplants Crockett and Tubbs to New York.

Along the way are guest stars Peter Allen, Gene Simmons, Pam Grier, Phil Collins, Bruce McGill, David Strathairn, Little Richard, Bob Balaban, and G. Gordon Liddy.

MIAMI VICE is a TV show that is a product of the 80s, and many of the episodes reflect the period so effectively that at times it does seem a bit dated.

But that is also a part of its charm. I enjoyed MIAMI VICE in the 80s and I still recommend MIAMI VICE now because it remains a great show and a great waste of time.

MIAMI VICE ran from 1984 to 1989 and the year it went off the air was the same year THE SIMPSONS debuted.

THE SIMPSONS: THE COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON contains all 25 original episodes, and another incredible array of commentaries, deleted scenes and extras.

Some of the episodes in the season include the answer to "Who Shot Mr. Burns?", the Radioactive Man movie, Bart selling his soul for five dollars, "Lisa the Vegetarian", featuring Paul and the late Linda McCartney, "King-Size Homer", Sideshow Bob returns, former President George Bush moves next door, "Homerpalooza", and "The Treehouse of Horror' special features Homer in 3-D.

My favourite is "The Simpsons 138th Show Spectacular', hosted by Troy McClure - who is voiced by the late, great Phil Hartman.

THE SIMPSONS is still airing new episodes, and will be back next year for it's eighteenth season, but it is the episodes in the seasons that are already available on DVD that make it worth watching, owning, and laughing at.

And even if watching TV is a waste of time, remember laughter is the best medicine.

THE SIMPSONS: THE COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON, MIAMI VICE: SEASON TWO, THE ISLAND and THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN are all now available at a store near you.

Coming up in three weeks on the next Couch Potato Report

Bill Murray stars as a man who travels across the country to find his son in BROKEN FLOWERS, Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson are WEDDING CRASHERS, and the TV show FIREFLY becomes the movie SERENITY.

Also on the next Report, Jennifer Connelly's talent and beauty can't save DARK WATER and Jessica Alba only has her beauty on display in INTO THE BLUE.

And then there is the documentary GRIZZLY MAN about two grizzly bear activists who were killed in October of 2003 while living among grizzlies in Alaska.

I'm Dan Reynish. I'll have more on those, and some other releases, in twenty-one days.

For now, that's this week's COUCH POTATO REPORT.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, Enjoy the movies and I'll see you back here next time on The Couch!

Seinfeld: Season 5

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has also added some hidden features on 'Seinfeld: Season 5' for you to uncover. Here is how to get to them.

Insert the third disc of the DVD set and from the Main Menu go to the 'Extras' section. There, highlight the menu entry 'Setup' and then press the 'Right' arrow key on your remote control. This will highlight the zig-zagging lifeline on the screen. Now press the 'Enter' key and you will see the Seinfeld cast discuss the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

Now insert the fourth disc of the DVD set and from the Main Menu go to the 'Setup' section. Highlight the menu entry 'subtitles' here and then press the 'Left' arrow key on your remote control. This will highlight the heart symbol and if you press the 'Enter' key now you will get to observe a suggested camera angle of the ugly baby.

Seinfeld: Season 6

A number of Easter Eggs can also be found on the season 6 DVD set of 'Seinfeld' from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Insert the first disc of the set in your DVD player and form the Main Menu go to the 'Setup' section. There, highlight the 'Main Menu' entry and press the 'Left' arrow key on your remote control to highlight the enter key on the keyboard. Press 'enter' now and you will see a clip of the Seinfeld cast talking about the Rob Reiner tribute.

Now go to the 'Extras' section of the disc and highlight the entry' Running With The Egg: Part 1. Press the 'Up' arrow key to highlight the poison spray can.

Press the 'Enter' button and you will get to see the Seinfeld-imation.

Now insert the second disc and go to the 'Extras 'section, accessible from the Main Menu. There, highlight the menu entry 'Setup' and press the 'Right' arrow key on your remote control twice to highlight the pecan. You will now see a small clip featuring Jerry Seinfeld talking about the little things in the show.

Time to insert the third disc of the set. There, go to the 'Extras 'section and highlight the 'episodes 'menu entry. Then press the 'Left' arrow key on your remote control to highlight the pencil, which will take you to a clip of Jerry Seinfeld talking about the Dark Side.

Finally, insert the fourth disc of the DVD set and go to the 'Extras' section. Highlight the menu entry 'Cramer vs. The Monkey' and then press the 'Up' arrow key on your remote control. This will highlight the hot dog and if you press 'Enter' now you will get to view a clip of Jerry discussing the pain he caused on the show.

The Couch Potato Report - December 6th, 2005

This week The Couch Potato Report features a Cinderella man, and a man who is no longer with us.

It is rare when a film that is as good as CINDERELLA MAN fails to find an audience.

And make no mistake, CINDERELLA MAN is good, and it did fail to find its audience when it was released in theatres in June.

Now that it is available on video and DVD I hope the film finds it's audience, because it is a film that is worth seeing.

In CINDERELLA MAN Russell Crowe from GLADIATOR plays James J. Braddock, a real person who lived and was a boxer in the early 1930's and during The Great Depression.

As the depression takes away his money, and injuries take away his career, almost everyone in his inner circle turns their back on Braddock. Eventually his injuries end his boxing career and he struggles to support his family.

Renee Zellweger from COLD MOUNTAIN plays Braddock's loving and supportive wife.

Unable to fight, Braddock looks for any kind of work he can get, but he also believes that he will box again.

Through a twist of fate, the day does arrive, and he gets a second chance at success.

CINDERELLA MAN is a complex film with great acting from Crowe, Zellweger and Paul Giamatti from SIDEWAYS. The movie also benefits from the experienced direction of Ron Howard.

Be warned though, if you are looking for the type of sentimental melodrama that Howard brought to A BEAUTIFUL MIND, THE MISSING, and some of his other films, you won't find that here.

The desperate struggle of the Depression is on plain view, and the boxing scenes are very realistic and at times they are very violent.

No, CINDERELLA MAN didn't find its audience in theatres, but I hope that people who enjoy well made, quality movies will ensure it finds success on video and DVD, because this is a film that should be seen.

As a side note, CINDERELLA MAN was filmed in Toronto, partially at Maple Leaf Gardens. The theatre where I first saw it in was on the site of where the Montreal Forum used to stand. Thus, for me, in addition to enjoying this boxing film, I was enjoying memories of hockey's greatest rivals as well.

But I digress, and we move on now to a film that has been available on video for years but is now - finally - debuting on DVD.

That film is 1988's IMAGINE: JOHN LENNON.

With the world pausing to remember that it has been 25 years since we lost the man, the time is right for this film to be released again.

The film is part documentary, part biography, and all Lennon and it was put together using nearly 240 hours of film and videotape that Lennon took during his life.

Director Andrew Solt took that material and created a fascinating story of one of the most complex and fascinating people in music history.

If you are fan of John Lennon, or The Beatles, this movie is a must have.

And if you are curious about why people are making such a big deal about this guy twenty-five years after he died, then IMAGINE: JOHN LENNON is a great place to start.

I have worn out my video copy, so I am pleased to now own IMAGINE: JOHN LENNON on DVD.

For the record, I will never own the movie versions of FANTASTIC FOUR or THE DUKES OF HAZZARD on DVD, or video for that matter.

That isn't because the films are horrible, but just because I will never need to see them a second time. Yes, each one does have parts that are worth seeing, just not a second time.

As far as FANTASTIC FOUR is concerned, that is too bad as I remain a huge fan of the comic book to this day. But films based on comic books have to be judged by their source material and this film doesn't hold up.

The source material in the film sees Reed Richards, Victor Von Doom, Ben Grimm, and Sue and Johnny Storm travel into outer-space in order to do research into human DNA.

Things don't go as planned, and the result is superhuman powers. Four of the five use their powers for good, Victor Von Doom does not.

To its credit, FANTASTIC FOUR is a light-hearted and funny adventure that doesn't take itself too seriously, but that also works against it. If the people making the film took it more seriously then a better movie could have been the result.

Since they don't, the character development is only mildly interesting, and there isn't much action in the movie until towards the end.

FANTASTIC FOUR isn't horrible, but it could have been great.

Great like the X-MEN films and THE INCREDIBLES.

The film version of the 1970s and 80s TV show THE DUKES OF HAZZARD isn't horrible either, and it also doesn't take itself too seriously either, but unlike FANTASTIC FOUR, THE DUKES OF HAZZARD is just stupid - and not always in a good way.

The plot of the film, as it is, centers around Cousins Bo and Luke Duke, their sexy cousin Daisy, and their Uncle Jesse's attempts to save the family farm from destruction by the town's corrupt and evil commissioner Boss Hogg.

In order to save the farm the cousins must elude the authorities over and over again in their car "The General Lee."

But as I said, the film is just stupid, and so are many of the characters in it. On occasions when that stupidity involves Deputy Enos, or pop star Jessica Simpson as Daisy, the film is mildly entertaining.

All other times, it isn't.

No, the film version of THE DUKES OF HAZZARD isn't horrible, but it is definitely the last, and least of this week's new releases.

And it is now available at a store near you along with FANTASTIC FOUR, IMAGINE: JOHN LENNON, and the overlooked in theatres CINDERELLA MAN.

Coming up in the next Couch Potato Report

Steve Carell from THE DAILY SHOW is THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN. Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johanson star as clones in THE ISLAND, and there will be new box sets available for MIAMI VICE: SEASON TWO and THE SIMPSONS: THE COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON.

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 week on The Couch!

The Couch Potato Report - November 29th, 2005

This week The Couch Potato Report features 8 new releases, and I will overuse the word "surprise."

One of the most successful films of the year was a complete surprise.

It was surprise that it did as well as it did at the box office, and it was surprisingly entertaining.

That film is MARCH OF THE PENGUINS a documentary about the over-100 kilometer journey that emperor penguins have to make every year in order to survive and procreate.

The film is narrated by Morgan Freeman and at times it is dramatic, suspenseful, and informative. At other times it is just funny and entertaining.

Actually, the film is entertaining from start to finish.

Penguins can either be waddling entertaining, or incredibly graceful and in MARCH OF THE PENGUINS you get to experience both.

The film is a perfect mix of science and entertainment and the whole family will enjoy it.

Yes, the documentary MARCH OF THE PENGUINS was a surprise.

So was the documentary MURDERBALL.

I had no idea what to expect from this film about quadriplegic rugby - or "Murderball" as it was formerly known.

The film shows us players in modified wheelchairs in a hardcore, full-contact sport trying to win Gold at the Athens Paralympics. But in addition to MURDERBALL being about the sport, it is also about some very interesting people who play it.

The film is a unique mix of sports documentary and inspirational profiles of triumph over adversity.

The majority of the people in MURDERBALL are disabled, but since the film doesn't focus on that, by the end of the film you won't be thinking about that it at all.

Unlike MARCH OF THE PENGUINS, MURDERBALL isn't for the entire family. But both documentaries are completely entertaining, and both are full of surprises.

MR. AND MRS SMITH isn't full of surprises, in fact it doesn't have any. But some films don't have to have surprises, or be a surprise to be entertaining.

And make no mistake, MR AND MRS SMITH sure is entertaining.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie play an unhappy couple who are bored with each other and their mundane day to day home life.

Their relationship improves once they discover their mutually-hidden identities as world-class assassins.

Unfortunately they have each been hired to kill the other one.

No MR AND MRS SMITH doesn't contain any major surprises or plot twists, but the performances of Pitt and Jolie are fun to watch and the dialogue is a treat to listen to. Plus, Jolie looks amazing as always, and Pitt is always fun to watch in a film.

Director Doug Liman gave us a better action film with THE BOURNE IDENTITY, and MR AND MRS SMITH should've been a better movie than it is, but I still enjoyed it.

I also sort of enjoyed SKY HIGH, even if I am not in the film's target demographic.

In this film the son of superheroes must save the world, and I suspect the demographic the filmmakers were shooting for was between 12 and 16 years of age.

Sky High is a high school in the clouds for kids with super-human powers or abilities.

At this school gadgets, acts of bravery, and magical skills are part of high school the same way that peer pressure and dating are.

SKY HIGH isn't unique, especially if you've seen THE INCREDIBLES, but it is a surprisingly fun film, whether you are in the correct demographic or not.

Finally this week, I would like to talk about THE MUPPET MOVIE, THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER, MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND and THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL because all four films are being re-released to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Kermit The Frog.

Yes, it has really been 50 years since Jim Henson introduced us to Kermit The Frog.

I have made no attempt over the years to hide my adoration for Jim Henson and The Muppets, so I won't bother to review these four releases for you, other than to say that I watched all four again this week and they still entertained me on every level, especially THE MUPPET MOVIE and THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL.

I've seen each of these films dozens of times over the years and it still surprises me how much I am entertained by them.

Happy Anniversary Kermit!

THE MUPPET MOVIE, THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER, MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND, THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL, SKY HIGH, MR AND MRS SMITH, MURDERBALL and the superb MARCH OF THE PENGUINS are all available now at a store near you.

Coming up in the next Couch Potato Report

CINDERELLA MAN is the underlooked, but very good, true story of heavyweight boxer Jim Braddock starring Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger and Paul Giamatti.

IMAGINE: JOHN LENNON is the superb 1988 documentary about the man made with home movies. The audio from those movies allows Lennon himself to
be the narrator.

The movie version of the classic comic book FANTASTIC 4 is less than classic, and much less than fantastic, but it isn't horrible. On the other hand the film version of THE DUKES OF HAZZARD is horrible, but somehow it is worth seeing.

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 week on The Couch!

The Couch Potato Report - November 22nd, 2005

This week The Couch Potato Report features Cruise, Spielberg and "The Beav."

For some summer films, like THE LONGEST YARD, FANTASTIC FOUR, and THE DUKES OF HAZZARD, it was easy to check your brain at the door and just enjoy them.

Doing that with some other summer movies was harder, primarily due to expectations.

For instance, if Steven Spielberg decided to make another science fiction movie, there would be expectations.

After all he's the man who made CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and E.T. - THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL.

And if that film starred Tom Cruise, the world's biggest movie star, and was going to be based on the classic H.G. Wells book "The War Of The Worlds", well, talk about expectations!

In the end, despite that pedigree, and the best special effects money can buy, the newest version of WAR OF THE WORLDS isn't very good.

The film is very faithful to the book and the story still focuses on aliens who are looking destroy humankind as quick as possible.

But unlike the WAR OF THE WORLDS inspired INDEPENDENCE DAY this movie doesn't give us much of a thrill ride. Ultimately, that is why I didn't find it very entertaining.

Yes, it has the special effects, Spielberg's unflappable direction, and Cruise's reliable performance as a divorced father who has to rise to the challenge to save his kids, but it doesn't have enough thrill ride moments to make it a great action film, or even a great summer movie.

In reality, it is just a dramatic film with some summer explosions thrown in for good measure.

But it is the second most popular film of 2005 in theatres, so people must have enjoyed it, right?

Well, I didn't enjoy it when I saw it in a theatre, and when I watched the DVD this week I was more than bored.

WAR OF THE WORLDS has great special effects, great directing, a great cast and a great premise, but unfortunately the sum of the movie's parts are nowhere near great.

Another film base on a book is also new on video and DVD this week and I hope this film becomes a cherished holiday classic alongside IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE and A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS.

When THE POLAR EXPRESS was released in theatres a little over a year ago much of the publicity the film received was due to the fact that the film used a "performance capture" technique to translate live performances into all-digital characters.

I admit that if you focus on the technological side of the film you won't enjoy THE POLAR EXPRESS as much as you should.

However, if you can enjoy the film you will find it to be a classic! It is a wonderful celebration of the Christmas spirit, and yes I said Christmas and not Holiday Spirit.

Late one Christmas Eve night, a doubting boy boards a magical train with many other pajama-clad children. The train is headed to the North Pole and only one of the children will be chosen to receive a magical gift that only those who still believe in Santa are eligible.

Tom Hanks' voice stars in THE POLAR EXPRESS and he is directed by Robert Zemeckis, the man who gave us FORREST GUMP and the BACK TO THE FUTURE FILMS.

Yes, THE POLAR EXPRESS is visually stunning, but the story is what is most overwhelming. And who knows, it might even fill you with the childhood joy of Christmas.

Christmas - and Holiday - gift giving might be easier this year if you have people on your list who love TV shows on DVD.

After all there is a wide array of DVD Box Sets already available, and this week we add four more.

And I must admit that it is about time for one of these releases!

My friends, LEAVE IT TO BEAVER has finally debuted on DVD!

LEAVE IT TO BEAVER premiered in the fall of 1957 and instead of looking at life from a parents point of view it focused on the adventures of seven-year-old Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver and his 12-year-old brother, Wally.

Ward and June Cleaver try to keep their youngest son in line, but he always ends up in one kind of jam or another.

Some of the stories are a little dated today, but the show's charm still shines through. It remains one of the best TV shows ever and now all 39 episodes from the show's first season have been digitally remastered and they are available in a three-disc box set.

"Seinfeld" is another classic television show, albeit from a different era. SEINFELD - SEASON 5 and SEASON 6 are also new on DVD this week.

Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer continue to go through life, discussing and experiencing things that we can all relate to on one level or another.

SEASON FIVE includes: The Puffy Shirt, The Sniffing Accountant, The Bris, The Lip Reader, The Stall and The Opposite and you will find The Big Salad, The Gymnast, The Soup, The Race, The Label Maker and The Kiss Hello on the SEASON SIX set.

Each of the sets are four discs and they also include an array of retrospective interviews and behind-the-scenes features.

Since I have already raved about seasons ONE to FOUR here on The Couch Potato Report, you know I love the show, so let me just conclude by saying: Giddy-up!

The final DVD set that I am going to speak about this week is also our final "leftover." Yes, we have now covered all of the major titles that came out while there were no shows this summer.

So, that final "leftover" is the DVD set for A DIFFERENT WORLD - SEASON ONE.

IN 1987 the show debuted as a spin off of THE COSBY SHOW. Daughter Denise was sent off to college to find out that there was "a different world" awaiting her outside the Huxtable house.

In addition to Lisa Bonet as Denise, this first season of the show stars the young, and always beautiful, Marisa Tomei, who would eventually go on to win an Academy Award for her work in MY COUSIN
VINNY.

Denise, Maggie, Whitley, Dwayne Wayne, Ron. They are all still attending Hillman College on this new 4-DVD box set.

A DIFFERENT WORLD - SEASON ONE, SEINFELD - SEASONS 5 & 6, LEAVE IT TO BEAVER - SEASON ONE, THE POLAR EXPRESS and WAR OF THE WORLDS are all available now at a store near you.

Coming up in the next Couch Potato Report is the superb documentary THE MARCH OF THE PENGUINS; Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie star in MR. AND MRS. SMITH as a couple who hide their real jobs from each other; and in SKY HIGH the son of superheroes must save the world.

There is also FAMILY GUY - VOLUME THREE, MURDERBALL and THE MUPPET MOVIE, THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER, MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND and THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL are being re-released to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Kermit The Frog!

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 week on The Couch!

Peak 'Seinfeld' Seasons to Be Released

NEW YORK - "Seinfeld" has not suffered from shrinkage. Seven years after its finale, not only does the classic sitcom air up to two hours a day in some markets, but the reruns remain fresh enough to spark watercooler chitchat about everything from puffy shirts to mimbos.

"Isn't it weird how present it still is on the television landscape?" Jerry Seinfeld wondered during a recent joint interview with Jason Alexander (who played George), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Elaine) and Michael Richards (Kramer).

"I hear it all the time, `We go to bed with you guys. We never miss it,'" says Alexander.

Tuesday marks the DVD release of seasons five and six, a period when "Seinfeld" was at its peak with episodes like "The Fusilli Jerry," "The Face Painter" and "The Opposite."

"Most people, you do a TV series, it ends three, four, five years later; it's a relic," Seinfeld says. "But we're still hearing from the people, the audience, the people on the street, as if we're still doing it.

"It feels alive."

Seeing the four principals together again is like a reunion of the Beatles — for the actors as well, who are rarely together any more. Despite last year's acrimony over DVD proceeds, today they revel in each other's company, quickly recounting dialogue when certain scenes are mentioned.

Recalling Kramer's exploits to save a severed pinky toe by commandeering a city bus, Alexander repeats Jerry's line: "You kept makin' all the stops?"

"They kept ringing the bell!" Richards replies, in character.

And they all laugh — it's still funny to them. Similarly, on many of the DVD commentaries, insider insight devolves into simple laughter; the viewer no longer has a guide, but a companion on the couch.

"The show had an intense comedic energy that you do not find on other shows," Seinfeld says. "There's an intense comedic scene happening all the time, and that's the way we tried to make them, really packed, tight, strong — and that just holds the audience."

Alexander adds, "On this show, the comedy was the thing, so if you had to kind of trash a character a little bit..."

"Or entirely," chimes Louis-Dreyfus, whose character perhaps suffered the most — a long, subtle descent from "sponge-worthy" to flirting with Newman, if needed.

"Seinfeld" nearly didn't get the chance to become a hit. It wasn't until the third or fourth season that the show really found its rhythm and audience.

"It seemed early on that it was such a specific audience and when every new element of the audience came on, I was just thinking, `Wow,'" Alexander says. He remembers being astounded when he saw, through his mother's friends, "the senior citizen community groovin' on our show."

"It really was written and geared for a very specific audience, but our comedic strength trumps all of that," Seinfeld says. "The subject matter, the dialogue, the tone isn't right for most of America."

Part of what he's referring to is the racy material. Though vulgarity is often hidden by acrobatic metaphors and pregnant omissions ("You know, I was alone..."), "Seinfeld" still managed to slide plenty past the censors.

How did they get away with their most heralded triumph, "The Contest," from season 4?

"We were somewhat unsupervised," Seinfeld says. "The audience was there and the network is not going to complain if everyone's liking the show."

But one fact of television life is that it can't help but eventually feel dated. While "I Love Lucy," "M A S H" and "Cheers" still have their charms, they are very much of their era.

The absence of cell phones, Jerry's old computer and the group's fondness for "Melrose Place" may soon feel antiquated. Louis-Dreyfus cringes at some of her outfits and hairstyles, and is quick to correct Seinfeld's claim that her clothes have aged more than his.

After the show ended, Seinfeld, 51, mostly went back to standup, a journey chronicled in the documentary "Comedian." The other three have tried new shows: Alexander with last season's canceled "Listen Up," Richards with the failed "The Michael Richards Show," and Louis-Dreyfus on "Old Christine," which debuts at midseason on CBS.

But being pigeonholed by "Seinfeld" is a price the cast will gladly pay. "What actor wouldn't want that kind of experience?" says Louis-Dreyfus, 44.

Perhaps inevitably, the foursome is further removed from "Seinfeld" than many fans. Richards, 56, says he never says "Giddy up!" — "not even when I'm on a horse."

They say they rarely watch their old show, though Alexander, 46, recounts the fun of watching "Seinfeld" with his children, who were surprised what a jerk their father was.

The cast will nevertheless have plenty to remind them of "Seinfeld." People actually practice Mr. Constanza's pseudo Christmas holiday, Festivus, for example. Alexander still gets shouts of "Can't-stand-ya" and "these pretzels are makin' me thirsty!" Louis-Dreyfus hears "yada yada yada," and Seinfeld is asked "where's Kramer?"

So what does Richards get?

"Wish you were back."

Sartorial 'Seinfeld' latest in DVD marketing

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - As the market for TV series repackaged on DVD becomes a bigger and bigger chunk of the overall home video business -- it's now at 25%, or about $4 billion a year in consumer spending -- studios are upping the ante in packaging and marketing as well.

Complete-season sets of the original "Star Wars" trilogy come in specially crafted plastic containers built to look like the TriQuarters used in the films. For Season 6 of "The Simpsons," 20th Century Fox ditched the customary cardboard box in favor a plastic case shaped like Homer's head. Warner Home Video has begun staging gala launch parties for DVDs of such classic TV shows as "Gilligan's Island" and "Dallas." And in September, a "Desperate Housewives" DVD release party was canceled only at the last minute because of media coverage of Hurricane Katrina.

The latest: Sony Pictures is offering consumers Seasons 5 and 6 of "Seinfeld" in an elegant $120 gift set that includes a copy of a handwritten script and a miniature replica of the famed "puffy shirt" that triggered Jerry Seinfeld's notorious whine, "But I don't want to be a pirate."

The gift set, which arrives in stores Tuesday, is the latest in a series of extravagant trappings for the celebrated series' DVD rollout that began last fall with an elegant launch party at New York's Rainbow Room and continued the next day with the real puffy shirt's enshrinement in the Smithsonian.

"We're essentially treating 'Seinfeld' the same as we do big theatricals because it's become an integral part of American culture," Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president Benjamin Feingold said. "Everyone knows 'Seinfeld."'

What's next for Seasons 7 and 8, which will be released in tandem in November 2006?

"We're on the boards now," said "Seinfeld" executive producer Howard West, who with partner George Shapiro oversees the DVD production and marketing. "We have to go back and examine all the episodes, but rest assured it will be big."

The Couch Potato Report - November 16th, 2005

This week The Couch Potato Report features some good, some bad, and some very funny penguins!

With the holiday season fast approaching the home entertainment industry continues to release strong titles for your gift giving consideration.

The latest animated film the industry is hoping you will pick up is MADAGASCAR.

Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith and David Schwimmer lend their voices to - respectively - Marty the Zebra, Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, Melman the Giraffe.

They are four friends who all live in the New York City Zoo.

Marty the Zebra decides that he wants to know what is outside of the walls he's surrounded by and he escapes. The friends realize that they have to rescue him so they escape as well to try and bring him back.

Their escape and eventual capture leads to a public outcry about the state of mind of animals in captivity and the friends find themselves back in the wild.

I know, it all sounds a bit boring, doesn't it?

I love animated films, but when MADAGASCAR opened in theaters back in May I didn't go see it because that synopsis, and the film's trailers, didn't make the film look remotely entertaining.

Yet when I finally sat down last week and watched the film, I found it very entertaining.

Especially all of the scenes involving the penguins!

This group doesn't need Sidney Crosby to be it's savior, they score all on their own!

The plot in MADAGASCAR isn't superb, the story isn't anything you haven't seen before, and the animation isn't as good as what you've seen in THE INCREDIBLES, FINDING NEMO, or even CHICKEN LITTLE, but for some reason MADAGASCAR works.

And those penguins are tremendous!

I also use that word - tremendous - when I talk about the TV show SCRUBS.

SCRUBS is situation comedy that gives us an interns'-eye view of hospital life and the torturous, tragic, and triumphant route to becoming a doctor.

The show has a great cast and is exceptionally written.

SEASON TWO of the show features the continuing development of the characters of JD, Turk, Elliot, Carla, and Dr. Cox and the Janitor!

I already said that I find the show tremendous, but I feel just as comfortable describing it as hilarious, poignant, and just plain entertaining!

There won't be new episodes of the show airing on TV until January. In the interim SCRUBS - SEASON TWO is a 3-disc box set with all of the 22 hilarious episodes from SCRUBS sensational second season. And it is available right now!

Plus, it is tremendous, hilarious, poignant...did I mention that already?

I did? Well, let me just move on to THE SKELETON KEY then.

This film is a mildly entertaining supernatural thriller that takes place in rainy, mild Louisiana.

Kate Hudson from ALMOST FAMOUS plays a compassionate caregiver who takes a job in the rural plantation home of a woman and her invalid husband.

The place is creepy and in all of the house's rooms are secrets, especially in the rooms that no one goes in.

Ohhhhh!!!!

I like Kate Hudson, and I usually enjoy supernatural thrillers, but this one just has too many scenes that have nothing going for them other than a stereotypical scary movie music score.

The main spell in the film only effects you if you believe it. I didn't believe it, so the film didn't effect me.

If you don't expect much, maybe you will enjoy THE SKELETON KEY more than I did.

Finally this week, I want to compare a brand new film that has just been released to this week's "leftover."

Both HAPPY ENDINGS - the new film - and CRASH * the "leftover" - are ensemble dramas with large casts.

Both tell many stories with one or two things that happen that tie everyone and all their stories together.

But both aren't successful in keeping you engaged as a viewer.

CRASH does, HAPPY ENDINGS does not.

Let me start with the latter.

HAPPY ENDINGS features three main stories. Lisa Kudrow from FRIENDS is having an affair with a masseuse when a wannabe filmmaker blackmails her to get a movie made.

Her gay stepbrother believes that his boyfriend may be the father of the child of a lesbian couple.

And a homeless, gold-digging karaoke singer tries to make her life better.

Even re-reading those story points, I think it would make a great film. But they don't.

HAPPY ENDINGS is interesting, but it just isn't engaging enough to hold your attention. It certainly didn't hold mine.

The film's characters are interesting, but their situations are not.

The result can only be described as a disappointment.

Now CRASH on the other hand is engaging from start to finish!

CRASH is an intelligent, completely engaging and moving exploration of the interlocking lives of a dozen Los Angeles residents.

Those residents include a politically nervous white district attorney and his wife who get car-jacked by two black youths; a rich black T.V. director and his wife who get pulled over by a white racist cop; and a black detective who is investigating a white cop who shot a black cop.

Normally I would never focus on a character's race in a review, but CRASH is a film that demands it.

Canadian writer/director Paul Haggis spins his characters in unpredictable directions, and refuses to let any one of them become a stereotype.

CRASH is a film that will anger you, entertain you, enrage you, and make you smile, but most of all it will make you think.

The cast of CRASH includes many well known actors, including Sandra Bullock, Brendan Fraser, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Ryan Phillippe, Jennifer Esposito, Terrence Howard, and rap star Ludacris, but it is the writing and the film itself that make it worth seeing.

HAPPY ENDINGS is an ensemble picture that doesn't work at all, CRASH is one that does.

Both films are available now at a store near you. So are MADAGASCAR, SCRUBS - SEASON TWO and THE SKELETON KEY.

Coming up in the next Couch Potato Report

The summer blockbuster WAR OF THE WORLDS is Steven Spielberg's take on H.G. Wells science fiction classic. Tom Cruise and Tim Robbins star.

Tom Hanks is the star of the animated film version of the classic book THE POLAR EXPRESS. He voices five characters in this heartwarming story about a group of children are taken to the North Pole to meet Santa.

Three television shows from different eras are new releases on DVD. I'll talk about LEAVE IT TO BEAVER - THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON, SEINFELD - SEASON 5 and SEASON 6 and A DIFFERENT WORLD - SEASON ONE is our final "leftover."

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 week on The Couch!

New Line makes Dumb a little Dumber

New Line Home Entertainment has just unveiled plans that a new version of the hilarious Farelly Brothers comedy Dumb And Dumber is coming to DVD in January, featuring an Unrated cut of the film with 6 minutes of additional, never-before seen footage inserted back into the movie.

Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels are too lame to live - and too dense to die - as a pair of deliriously dim-witted pals on a cross-country road trip to return a briefcase full of cash to its rightful owner. Along the way they'll confound cops, kidnappers and anyone and everyone who had the misfortune of crossing their paths in this comic caper for every idiot in the family!

The 2-disc Platinum Series release will feature an anamorphic widescreen transfer of the film, complete with a 5.1 channel Dolby Digital track in English and a number of extras, such as 3D Animated Menus and 2 Alternate Endings. Also included on the release are 9 Deleted Scenes as well as a new Retrospective Documentary. Further the DVD will contain a selection of Trailers, TV Spots and Fake Trailers.

Scheduled for release on January 3, “Dumb And Dumber: Unrated” will carry a $19.97 suggested retail price.

The Corpse Bride rises

Tim Burton's return to the world of creepy puppets comes to DVD early next year with the arrival of The Corpse Bride from Warner Home Entertainment.
Set in a 19th century European village, this stop-motion, animated feature follows the story of Victor, a young man who is whisked away to the underworld and wed to a mysterious Corpse Bride, while his real bride, Victoria, waits bereft in the land of the living. Though life in the Land of the Dead proves to be a lot more colorful than his strict Victorian upbringing, Victor learns that there is nothing in this world, or the next, that can keep him away from his one true love.

The disc will come in seperate fullscreen and anamorphic widescreen versions, both in Dolby Digital 5.1 EX. Extras on the disc include the three documentaries Tim Burton: Dark vs. Light, Voices from the Underworld and Danny Elfman Interprets the Two Worlds, the featurettes Making Puppets Tick and Inside the Two Worlds, interviews, art galleries and an isolated score.

With a $29.98 suggested retail price, the DVD arrives on the 31st of January.

Kiss Keeps Rocking With Live DVD

Make-up clad rock icons Kiss will on Dec. 13 release a double-disc concert DVD, "Rock the Nation Live!," via Image Entertainment. Although there are countless Kiss home videos and DVDs on the market, "Nation" sets itself apart with an abundance of rare songs, the "Kiss Powervision/Select-A-Kiss" option to hone in on an individual member and candid behind-the-scenes vignettes.

Taped in summer 2004 in Washington, D.C., and Virginia Beach, the DVD features core members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons flanked by guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer. "We were playing a lot of songs that Kiss hadn't played in years, or haven't played at all," Thayer tells Billboard.com. "One day, Doc McGhee, the manager, came into the dressing room, and said, 'We really need to film and record this show, because it's so good. It's probably the best Kiss performance I've seen.' So we said, 'OK.' That was the spark that got the whole thing going."

"At any moment, a viewer can choose what they want to see, and use different camera angles," Stanley adds. "So if you happen to have the good taste to see me, you can watch pretty much solely that. It's really your mix and your version of the show. I don't think we can forget that the band is really in peak form, and that's really shown on this DVD."

Stanley admits he was thrilled to air out such Kiss oldies as "Christine Sixteen," "She" and "Parasite" during the tour. "To be able to go out and play every and any Kiss song was very freeing," he enthuses. "We reached a point where a lot of the tours after the reunion tour were virtually the same set list, and it wasn't because we didn't want to play other songs. Once Tommy and Eric came in, on any given night, we could change the show, and really dig deep into our catalog. A band that's been together this long not only should be able to play 'Rock and Roll All Nite' and 'Love Gun,' but [also] 'Two Timer' or 'Got To Choose.'"

Still, fans continue to await a vault-clearing visual release, a project that Stanley acknowledges is closer to reality than ever before. "Yesterday was the beginning of planning really the ultimate Kiss experience," he says. "That Scorsese/Dylan piece ['No Direction Home: Bob Dylan'] was eye opening, at least to me, in terms of how you can be immersed in a time capsule, and not only see the music and be part of the crowd, but also get a sense of who Dylan was then. There are times when I'm much more interested in actual footage of somebody in the moment than somebody reminiscing 20 or 30 years later. It's fascinating to see where somebody was at, and what their mindset was in the midst of storm, as opposed to looking back on it. That set a really high bar, and I think that is more likely our approach at this point."

For now, it is unknown when Kiss may return to the road. "There's definitely talk," Stanley acknowledges. "I had a hip replacement a year ago, and that unfortunately didn't go as well as it should have, and they did it again, and that also didn't go as well as it should have. So the recovery from that has been longer, although about six weeks ago we did a corporate show for 15,000 people, in Columbus, Ohio. The band is as good and ready to go as ever. The difference is that I have to make sure that I can commit 100% of my energy for a tour, and not just a show."

Here is the track list for "Rock the Nation Live!":

Disc one:
"Love Gun"
"Deuce"
"Makin' Love"
"Lick It Up"
"Christine Sixteen"
"She"
"Tears Are Falling"
"Got To Choose"
"I Love It Loud"
"Love Her All I Can"
"I Want You"
"Parasite"

Disc two:
"War Machine"
"100,000 Years"
"Unholy"
"Shout It Out Loud"
"I Was Made For Lovin' You"
"Detroit Rock City"
"God Gave Rock & Roll to You II"
"Rock and Roll All Nite"

The Couch Potato Report - November 8th, 2005

This week The Couch Potato Report features a movie remake, a TV show spinoff, and Live 8 on DVD.

The first movie I ever saw in a theatre was WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, a film based on Roald Dahl's book CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.

Admittedly, I don't remember much about my first cinematic experience, but I will never forget the film.

Gene Wilder was brilliant as the title character, and the sights and sounds that fed my senses inside the chocolate factory were overwhelming!

To this day, when I hear the words "come with me, and you'll be, In a land of pure imagination," I am instantly taken back inside Willy Wonka's world.

And I love it there!!!

I love it there so much, that when I heard that director Tim Burton was going to do his own version of the film, it didn't bother me. I was also okay with Johnny Depp taking over as Willy Wonka.

To their credit, Burton and Depp did a great job and there are many things to enjoy in their film.

However, I like my original version better.

That isn't necessarily because one version is better than the other, after all it is Roald Dahl's original story that is the basis for both, but I still prefer the original.

And I bet thirty-four years from now, when they inevitably make another film version, there will be someone who proclaims the 2005 version to be the preferred one because it was the first film they saw.

Whichever film you prefer, the story will always be the same unique tale of Charlie Bucket, a poor boy who is fortunate enough to receive one of only five golden tickets that grant the holder exclusive entry into recluse Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, and they will get to experience the wonders with.

Once inside, due to the winners' unfortunate personality traits, they eventually disappear until only one ticket holder remains.

That person is in store for a wonderful gift, if he can accept it.

And of course, if you haven't read the book, or seen either movie, I don't want to give anything away.

However, the book and the newest film are called CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY.

But I digress.

It might not be my preferred version of this classic story, but Depp and Burton's CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY is very entertaining. Specifically, Depp does an incredible job playing a very, very unlikable character. His Wonka is actually very mean at times, but in a good way.

I say just think of this as a guilty pleasure and enjoy it.

Another guilty pleasure this week is the DVD set for A DIFFERENT WORLD - SEASON ONE.

IN 1987 the show debuted as a spin off of THE COSBY SHOW. Daughter Denise was sent off to college to find out that there was "a different world" awaiting her outside the Huxtable house.

In addition to Lisa Bonet as Denise, this first season of the show stars the young, and always beautiful, Marisa Tomei, who would eventually go on to win an Academy Award for her work in MY COUSIN VINNY.

Denise, Maggie, Whitley, Dwayne Wayne, Ron. They are all still attending Hillman College on this new 4-DVD box set.

Another 4 disc box set that is now available is the LIVE 8 BOX SET.

On July 2nd some of the biggest names in the music industry- including Coldplay, Robbie Williams, Mariah Carey, Sarah McLachlan, Bryan Adams, Black eyed Peas, Jet, Elton John, The Who, Sting, Paul McCartney, U2 and a re-formed Pink Floyd - took part in a series of concerts around the world. Two decades after he gave the world LIVE AID Bob Geldof staged an even more ambitious series of continent-spanning concerts dedicated to raising funds and public consciousness about international debt relief.

This Box Set focuses on the two biggest concerts that took place in London and Philadelphia. Sadly, even though there were a series of shows there is very little from them in this set.

That is the bad, but there is plenty of good on the LIVE 8 BOX SET. In addition to the concerts themselves there is also a backstage documentary and the entire performance from Pink Floyd and their pre-concert rehearsal.

Now if you are interested in the individual concert DVDs from Toronto, Paris, Rome or Berlin, they are also available as single discs.

However it is the Box Set that is most worthy of your time.

Plus, royalties from sales of the set will go to the Band Aid Trust for the relief of hunger and poverty in Africa.

From LIVE 8, we go now to this week's "leftovers."

Up first is the superb 2001 TV show UNDECLARED about Steve Karp and his fellow freshman dorm-mates.

They are all about to embark on one the greatest experiences of their lives...unfortunately for Steve, the girl he slept with last night has a boyfriend, and his lonely and recently divorced father is tagging along for the ride.

If you were a fan of the under appreciated FREAKS AND GEEKS then you will enjoy the humour and honesty that is front and centre in UNDECLARED.

And now UNDECLARED- THE COMPLETE SERIES is now available in an incredible 4-disc box set with an array of extras.

I declare that I love UNDECLARED, and I am quite pleased that I now own THE COMPLETE SERIES on DVD.

I am just as pleased that I now own a movie version of Douglas Adams' classic book THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY.

After almost twenty years development THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY was finally turned into a movie this year.

For those unfamiliar with the story, everyman Arthur Dent wakes up one morning to discover that the entire planet of Earth is about to be destroyed for an interplanetary bypass.

Dent is saved by his best friend, and alien-in-disguise Ford Prefect and that sets the stage for a series of interesting and goofy trips across the galaxy, accompanied - of course - by the trusty Hitchhiker's Guide.

Many of my friends revere Douglas Adams' "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" book, and the BBC television series. Many of them were subsequently disappointed in this film adaptation.

But I enjoyed it. The cast seems to be having a good time, and the result is a fun, breezy movie that is a treat to watch.

THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY movie might not be as good as the book, or the series, but it is an entertaining film nonetheless!

And it is available now at a store near you, along with CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, A DIFFERENT WORLD - SEASON ONE, the LIVE 8 BOX SET and UNDECLARED.

Coming up in the next Couch Potato Report

The funny film MADAGASCAR features four zoo animals who end us shipwrecked outside of their friendly confines.

SCRUBS - SEASON TWO is the 3-disc box set with all of the 22 hilarious episodes from SCRUBS sensational second season.

THE SKELETON KEY is the title and the item that reveals the secrets of an old mansion.

And our "Leftover" is the 2005 version of CRASH. In this exceptional film several stories interweave during two days in Los Angeles involving a collection of inter-related characters.

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 week on The Couch!

The Top Selling TV Shows on DVD

IN case you are curious, or just love useless facts, here they are!

Rank Title Units sold in millions Revenue in millions

1. Chappelle's Show: Season 1 Uncensored 3.68 $95.6
2. Family Guy, Volume 1 3.21 $120.4
3. The Simpsons: The Complete First Season 2.96 $110.8
4. Seinfeld First and Second Seasons 2.55 $95.6
5. Chapp