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It’s only been six weeks since my last installment of TV-on-Disc Picks, but there’s been a number of exceptional titles released in the interim. Here are a few of the highlights, titles worth your hard-earned dough that’ll help get you through the remaining dog days of summer until the new fall TV season begins:
Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.5
Universal | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
If you’re not ready to throw down $349 ($200 online) for the complete BSG Blu-ray collection, say hello to the next best thing. Let’s face it, hardcore BSG fans probably already own the previous DVD sets, but the newly-released Season 4.5 brings the groundbreaking series to a fantastic, albeit bittersweet, conclusion. Universal’s BD LIVE-enabled, 3-disc BD set includes loads of high def extras including U-Control features such as the interactive guide, "The Oracle." BSG, you will be missed. "So say we all!"
Dollhouse: Season 1
Fox | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
I’ll never understand the enigmatic decision-makers at FOX television. On the one hand, they have the good sense to greenlight and fund the brilliant Joss Whedon, who goes on to create such gems as Buffy, Angel and Firefly. On the other hand, they give his shows disastrous time slots (Fridays at 9???), tinker with his story strategy, leave important, strong episodes in the can and ultimately cancel his shows (Firefly, Dollhouse?) before they can find their footing. Dollhouse, about an undeground organization which serves as a high-tech pimp for their mind-wiped and re-programmed human specimens, is Whedon’s latest effort and it’s business as usual for Whedon. That is, the dialogue is smart and witty, each episode furthers a compelling, season-long story arch and, well, Eliza Dushku kicks a lot of ass. Fox’s Blu-ray set gives the series a mostly solid 1080p transfer and includes two unaired episodes, including the excellent "Epitaph One." Now let’s just hope we get a complete Season Two this fall…
Early Edition: Season 2
CBS/Paramount | DVD
Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose! Err, sorry, wrong show. Friday Night Lights fans should recognize Coach Taylor (aka Kyle Chandler) except this time he’s not coaching the Dillon Panthers. Instead, he’s saving the good people of Chicago one disaster at a time as a man who mysteriously receives tomorrow’s newspaper today. Fisher Stevens aside, it’s hard not to enjoy this sweet, dramatic fable of a series. CBS/Paramount hasn’t given us any extras, but this 5-disc set presents all 22 Season Two episodes in full frame video with intelligible dialogue on its Dolby Stereo soundtrack.
Eastbound & Down: Season 1
HBO | DVD
"Sweet fable" may be a fitting description for Early Edition, but Eastbound & Down is an entirely different animal. Plumbing new depths of crass, obnoxious behavior, Eastbound & Down is must see TV for fans of Danny McBride (Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express). In this HBO series, McBride plays a former pro pitcher who has a well-deserved fall from glory and ends up teaching gym class at his North Carolina middle school. Although it won’t appeal to those with delicate sensibilities (I didn’t say women!), there are definitely a few laughs to be found here. Extras include outtakes, deleted scenes, bogus commercials and a making-of featurette. And how can you not at least smile when admiring that glorious cover art?
G.I. Joe: Season 1.1
Shout! Factory | DVD
If you’re anything like me, you’re more than a little nervous to see what Stephen "Van Helsing" Sommers has done to that most beloved of chilhood cartoons: G.I. Joe. And in case you need a reminder of just how much fun it was to watch Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow "duke" it out, Shout! Factory has put together this "Season 1.1" collection of the show’s first 22 episodes. In addition to the episodes – which look surprsingly decent by the way – you also get a number of extras including those "Knowing is Half the Battle" public service announcements we all remember. Die hard fans may want to opt for the Complete Collector’s Set which features all 95 episodes and comes in sweet, footlocker packaging. Yo, Joe!
The IT Crowd: Season 2
MPI | DVD
Fans of The Office (no, the other one) will definitely want to give The IT Crowd a look. Like many British series, this "second season" is a mere six episodes, but good luck not laughing when you watch the continuing adventures of Reynholm Industries’ IT department: Roy, Moss and Jen. MPI’s Season Two DVD includes commentary with series creator Graham Lineham (The Office) plus some amusing outtakes. Video is anamorphic widescreen coupled with Dolby 2.0 sound
Leverage: Season 1
Paramount | DVD
After watching Leverage‘s surprisingly-entertaining Season One episodes in HD on the TNT network, I have to admit at least a small measure of disappointment that this Season One collection did not receive the Blu-ray treament. Timothy Hutton leads an eclectic and energetic cast of thieves and con artists doing bad things to bad people for good reasons. In other words, these are bad guys you can root for and not lose any sleep over it. Although a few episodes missed the mark, most of them play like 45-minute variations of Ocean’s Eleven and that boils down to tension- and comedy-filled fun. Paramount’s discs perform well enough for standard DVD and extras are plentiful, including behind-the-scenes segments on the show’s stunts and camera work.
Mad Men: Season 2
Lionsgate | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
As I am a product of 1976, I cannot say how much truth there is in the fabric of life portrayed in AMC’s hit series Mad Men. What I can say though, is that never before have I seen a retro series so convincing, so authentic-FEELING so that I buy into the whole mirage hook, line and sinker. And that’s the point, isn’t it? A show about Madison Avenue’s advertising giants, where image and perception is everything, Mad Men sells itself completely and effectively from the moment those opening credits roll. Like they did with Season One, Lionsgate delivers Season Two on Blu-ray with gorgeous high definition visuals and plenty of juicy extras. Highly recommended.
The Middleman
Shout! Factory | DVD
Joining the ranks of obscure and bizarre comedies that hold up exceptionally well to repeat viewing, behold The Middleman. Never heard of it? I hadn’t either, I’m ashamed to admit. So just what is The Middleman? Like The Matrix, no one can be told what The Middleman is. You really have to see it for yourself. Part Men in Black, part The X-Files and infused with a splash of Dragnet, The Middleman is a goofy, funny-as-hell sci-fi comedy series that you owe it to yourself to check out. Trust me on this one. Brought lovingly to DVD in a 4-disc set, Shout Factory loads up the set with enjoyable extras such as a gag reel, audition footage, alternate scenes and a groovy booklet featuring a rather amusing introduction by series creator Javier Grillo-Marxuach.
Prison Break: The Final Break
Fox | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
My wife and I are still working our way through Season Four of the endlessly addictive Prison Break, so you’ll forgive me for not wanting to spoil the fun by watching The Final Break before its time. Continuing to puzzle and frustrate fans, Fox has decided to release The Final Break – the series’ 90-minute conclusion – on Blu-ray Disc whereas Seasons Two and Four remain solely on DVD. (Meanwhile, Seasons One and Three are on Blu-ray. D’oh!) On-disc extras are limited to deleted scenes but I remain hopeful that the 1080p video will rival that of the excellent Season One Blu-ray release.
Psych: Season 3
Universal | DVD
If they were real cops, the partnership of Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (The West Wing’s Dule Hill) would serve as the perfect foundation for a buddy cop movie. But they’re not cops, they’re detectives. And this isn’t a movie, it’s Psych, USA’s clever and light-hearted series about a (fake) psychic detective (Shawn) and his bestest buddy (Gus). The chemistry between our two heroes is what makes the show work and this Season Three collection from Universal sees them quite content in their now-comfortable roles. Like the previous two seasons, Universal has put together a solid package for Season Three’s sixteen episodes. Extras include audio and podcast commentaries plus deleted scenes. The widescreen video is bright and colorful aided by a front-heavy Dolby 5.1 soundtrack.
Pushing Daisies: Season 2
Warner | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
What a great show. Trippy and unique, colorful and different, Pushing Daisies was sadly not long for this world. If only a light touch from hero Ned could bring this recently-deceased series back to life. Alas, it is not to be. On the bright side, Warner Home Video has given us the second and final season on Blu-ray Disc to savor for years to come. Like I said with Season One, this show was made for high definition and these Season Two episodes look every bit as splendid as those from Season One. In addiiton to the gorgeous HD video, Warner has thrown in a smattering of extras to make this set a no-brainer. You won’t be disappointed.
Shark Week: Great Bites Collection
Image | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
Many people slave all year to enjoy that wonderous week or two of summer vacation. Some enjoy that week between Christmas and New Years when schools are closed and families are together. For still others though, nothing compares to Shark Week, the Discovery Channel’s annual ode to the ocean’s most fearsome predators. Working with Discovery, Image Entertainment has put together this exhilirating "Great Bites Collection" and on Blu-ray, no less. Featuring a half dozen Disovery specials plus three additional bonus segments make this a collection well worth watching. Video quality is definitely above average, but it may have benefited further by spreading the nearly-six hours of content onto more than one disc.
The State: Complete Series
MTV/Paramount | DVD
Quite possibly the only reason to watch MTV in the mid-90′s, The State was the network’s first attempt at sketch comedy a la Saturday Night Live and Mad TV. Believe it or not, the results are pretty darned funny. And you’ll see some familiar faces in this goofy-but-clever troupe, such as Ken Marino (Veronica Mars) and Michael Ian Black (who, for this nostalgic critic, will forever be remembered as Phil Stubbs on NBC’s criminally-underrated Ed). To the delight of its rabid cult fan base, MTV and Paramount have assebled the complete series on four discs plus a fifth disc chock full of goodies, including unaired sketches, special TV appearances and more. Good stuff.
The Universe: Season 2
A&E | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
The History Channel’s popular series continues its jorney on Blu-ray with this exciting Season Two release. Exploring subjects such as "Cosmic Collisions" and "The Milky way," The Universe delves into any and everything pertaining to, well, the universe. For the most part, recent interviews and newly-created CGI sequences look quite good on the high definition format, but some of the archival footage and intermittent excerpts from less-than-stellar sources look just that. Still, there’s no denying that like its subject matter, The Universe contains many engrossing and wonderous tales, stories ripe for exploration and subsequent discussion.
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