TV-on-Disc Picks (10/19/09)

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Here’s a look at a few of the noteworthy TV releases that have landed on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in recent weeks:

30 Rock: Season 3
Universal | DVD
Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin haven’t gotten any less funny but Season Three of NBC’s "30 Rock" does suffer at times from an over-abundance of big name guest stars.  Whether it’s Salma Hayek,  John Lithgow, John Hamm or Oprah, it seemed as though every episode of this season had at least one famous face popping up, only sometimes to great effect. Still, it should be noted that a lackluster episode of "30 Rock" is still funnier than 90% of the supposed comedies competing during prime time. The 22 Season Three episodes are spread out over three discs and video quality is perfectly adequate. There’s a touch of edge enhancement visible here and there but overall the look and sound of the show is quite solid. Extras are somewhat limited but the 1-900-OKFACE commercial and several of the episode commentaries are worth a look – or listen, as the case may be.

Ally McBeal: Season 1
Fox | DVD
Finally! After years of waiting for the music clearance wrinkles to be ironed out, Fox has finally brought "Ally McBeal" to DVD – and with its original music intact, no less! For the big spenders, Fox has put together The Complete Series, a 31-disc box set containing all five seasons which sells for $199. For those willing to take it slow, Fox has also released the complete Season One, a 6-disc set containing all 23 episodes of David E. Kelly’s debut season. I had a chance to look at the Season One set. Although the full frame 1.33:1 video and Dolby Surround audio were fine, I was absolutely astounded at the complete lack of bonus material. No audio commentaries? No outtakes? There’s a decent retrospective featurette on Disc 31 of the "Complete Series" box set, but those who purchase the Season One box set are in for some disappointment. To finally have the quirky/sexy/funny "Ally McBeal" on DVD is definitely a win, but the lack of bonus material and creative input feels like a big missed opportunity.

Angels vs. Demons: Fact or Fiction?
Image | DVD
Fans of the Dan Brown novel Angels & Demons should enjoy this Discovery Channel special which examines the author’s various claims in an attempt to distill fact from fiction. The 43-minute special is somewhat redundant but entertaining nonetheless as it discusses topics such as the Illuminati and the weapon potential of anti-matter, even visiting the CERN laboratory to get a look at its famed particle accelerator. Also on-disc you’ll find an equal-length TV special on the "Mysteries of the Lost Catacombs." Since Discovery Channel and HD Theater represents some of my favorite programming to watch in HD, it’s a shame this disc isn’t available on Blu-ray, but I’m sure its time will come.

Bones: Season 4
Fox | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
Although "Bones" first got off to a rocky start, it did eventually find its footing and amassed quite a loyal following of fans in the process. Although the first three seasons are still only available on DVD, Fox now brings Season Four to Blu-ray and the results are quite impressive. With loads of crisply-rendered fine detail and a wonderfully natural color palette, "Bones" looks truly great in high def. Although many series require a fully-explained back story to work well, "Bones" is a clever and engaging procedural that allows each episode to stand on its own with little need for prerequisite knowledge. If you’ve never watched "Bones" before, this Blu-ray "Body Bag Edition" of Season Four is a great place to start.

Castle: Season 1
ABC/Buena Vista | DVD
If you’ve read my DVD and movie coverage for any length of time, you’re undoubtedly aware of my passion for all things "Firefly"/Serenity. Since falling in love with Joss Whedon’s brilliant sci-fi western, I routinely seek out films and television series featuring the crew of Serenity. Whether’s it’s Jayne (Adam Baldwin) on NBC’s "Chuck," River (Summer Glau) on Fox’s "Sarah Connor Chronicles"  or Kaylee (Jewel Staite) on SyFy’s "Stargate: Atlantis" they’re each just a joy to watch. This is particularly true of Nathan Fillion (Mal) as the titular author/crime solver on ABC’s "Castle." Although the show frustratingly dumbs down the Detective Beckett character (Stana Katic) when it’s necessary to make Castle seem brilliant, "Castle" effectively breathes new life into the tired police procedural genre. This is thanks largely to the goofy and eminently likeable Nathan Fillion and his on-screen chemisty with Katic. Castle’s HD broadcasts appear much crisper than what we get on DVD, but the anamorphic widescreen presentation of these first ten episodes does look quite good, particularly during the interior scenes of Castle’s luxurious loft. Extras include a few episode commentaries, outtakes/bloopers, a making-of featurette and two segments that revolve around series producer and real-life mystery writer, Stephen J. Cannell.

The Guild: Seasons 1 & 2
New Video NYC | DVD
OK, technically speaking The Guild is not "TV," but Felicia Day’s unique and often hilarious internet series deserves no less respect. Recipient of countless critical accolades, not to mention Streamy Awards for Best Actress (Day), Best Ensemble Cast and Best Comedy, The Guild is a genuinely funny look at what happens when a group of online gamers come face-to-face in the real world. Written and produced by an avid gamer, The Guild is clearly a labor of love for the adorable Day and the eclectic band of fresh faces she has assembled for this internet phenomenon. This new 2-disc DVD set from New Video NYC features all 22 episodes from Seasons One and Two plus a few extra goodies as well. In addition to a gag reel, a table read-through and audition footage, non-gamers will surely appreciate the "Gamer Glossary" leaflet enclosed within the box. You can watch new episodes at watchTheGuild.com and don’t forget to follow the show on both Twitter and Facebook.

How I Met Your Mother: Season 4
Fox | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
I have to confess, my wife and I haven’t finished with Season Three yet, so there’s just no way I’m going to skip ahead and accidentally miss the moment we’ve all been waiting for. But I can tell you that "HIMYM" is easily the best traditional sitcom on television right now and it ranks right up there with "The Office" and "30 Rock" when it comes to measuring laughs-per-minute. I give the folks at Fox credit for bringing Season Four not only to DVD but also to high definition Blu-ray. The show looks great during prime time and I’m sure the same can be said here. Extras include episode commentaries, a panel discussion plus a music video featuring the one and only Barney. Suit up!

Lie to Me: Season 1
Fox | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
Here’s a show I’ve only just discovered on Blu-ray, but I have since added it to my DVR’s to-do list. Tim Roth is great in everything and his portrayal of deception expert Cal Lightman is no exception. By carefully studying facial tics and the universal "micro-expressions" we humans reveal when we lie, Cal has made himself and his unique consulting group an indispensable asset to law enforcement agencies the world over. Fox presents these first 13 episodes on Blu-ray and they look pretty good overall. Shadow detail isn’t as rich as it could be at times, but facial close-ups (of which there are many) exhibit wonderful detail and skin tones generally appear natural. Extras are scant but we do get a few deleted scenes and a making-of featurette.

Sons of Anarchy: Season 1
Fox | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
Watch the pilot of "Sons of Anarchy" and it should be readily apparent that someone’s been watching "The Sopranos." Mind you, that’s not a bad thing. Set in the violent and ruthless world of outlaw biker gangs, "Sons" benefits greatly from a seasoned creative team that includes Kurt Sutter ("The Shield") and Chris Collins ("The Wire," "The Sopranos"). In fact, fans of "The Shield" should definitely be watching "Sons," as most of the former’s writers and producers seem to now be involved with the latter. Like "The Shield," this is another late night series on the FX network and as such, it pushes the envelope a lot farther than most prime time series can get away with. And did I mention Ron Perlman plays the big boss? Say no more, right? Fox does a solid job with Season One on Blu-ray, which boasts wonderfully sharp 1080p video. The 5.1 DTS-HD soundtrack is even more impressive, thanks largely to the unmistakable growl of countless Harleys. Several featurettes and deleted scenes round out this thoroughly satisfying Season One package from Fox.

Star Trek: The Original Series: Season 2
CBS/Paramount | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
The Original Series of "Star Trek" needs no introduction and this Season Two Blu-ray set is every bit as impressive as that for Season One. Thanks to the wizards at CBS, you are able to toggle between the original, unmolested special effects and the beautiful-yet-tasteful updates recently created. Although  I never thought I’d say it, the new effects are actually preferred and they never distract from the classic sci-fi series’ unique look and feel. Sporting exceptional Blu-ray-exclusive extras such as the "Starfleet Access Mode" on select episodes and BD LIVE connectivity, this set is a no-brainer for all "Trek" fans. Highly recommended.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: Season 2
Warner | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
As mentioned above in my "Castle" review, I’ll watch anything starring the crew of Serenity. Consequently, the notion of Summer Glau as a female terminator – well, do you really have to ask? Bring it on! With McG’s big screen Terminator: Salvation coming soon to Blu-ray, Warner has brought the second and final season of the "Sarah Connor Chronicles" to Blu-ray and it’s a fitting sendoff for the underrated prime time series. As with the Season One Blu-ray set, the high def video looks extremely well polished with a vibrant palette and natural skin tones. Considering the series won’t be returning for a third season, the extras package is rather impressive here. Chief among the goodies is a BD-exclusive multi-view dissection of the finale’s climactic action sequence.  This is good stuff, so don’t let the fact that the series is canceled keep you from checking it out.

The Unit: Season 4
Fox | Blu-ray (DVD also available)
Sure, you trust Dennis Haybert with your home and car insurance, but do you trust him to save the world? After four solid seasons of "The Unit," it seems a lot of you would answer yes. In a refreshing change of pace – and as they did with "Bones" and "HIMYM" – Fox has brought Season Four of "The Unit" to both DVD and Blu-ray, making it the show’s first season available on the high def format. (Is it a coincidence that all three of these series had to wait until their respective fourth seasons before getting the Blu-ray treatment? Oddly enough, I think it is.) For the final season of "The Unit," Fox brings its A-game and delivers yet another striking high-def presentation. The show looks great on Fox prime time and it looks (and sounds) even better on Blu-ray. Extras include a trio of featurettes and several deleted scenes.

EVALUATION SYSTEM:
LG 42LH50 1080p HD Display
Philips BDP7200 Blu-ray Disc player
Oppo DV-983H DVD player
Onkyo TX-SR604 A/V receiver
Definitive Technology ProCinema 1000 Speakers
Datacolor SpyderTV PRO video calibration
Monster Power HTS5100 power center
VOLO HDMI interconnects
UltraLink speaker wire