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Jane After Dark: 'Supernatural' Season Five - Is the Apocalypse Happening or What?!

Jane Boursaw — 2010-05-02T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Supernatural, Reality-Free, Jane After Dark, Features, TV Shows on DVD

I've been watching 'Supernatural' for Jane After Dark, my weekly column chronicling all the TV shows I watch on DVD into the wee hours. I'm now up to season five, episode 11, 'Sam, Interrupted,' and frankly, this season's been a little slow going.

After the dark powers that gripped the Winchester boys in season four, it almost seems like the writers have forgotten all about the fact that Sam unleashed Lucifer onto the world in the season four finale. You would think that once the Devil had escaped from the depths of Hell, he'd be running roughshod over the planet.

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Three More Shows You'll Never See On DVD

Bob Sassone — 2010-04-28T17:10:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Video, TV Squad Lists, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Back in 2006 I did a post that highlighted the five shows you'll never, ever, ever see on DVD. It's a tricky post to do, because so many shows are being released on DVD now, even ones you thought you'd never see ('Brisco County,' 'Stingray'), but I'm proud to say my picks have held up these past four years. Though I'd still love to see those show on the shiny round discs.

Here are three more. Let's see how I do in another four years.

1. 'Spy Game.' A goofy but well-crafted action show that ran for about a dozen episodes on ABC in 1997. It starred Allison Smith ('Kate & Allie' and 'The West Wing') and Linden Ashby ('Melrose Place' and 'Mortal Kombat') as a spy team battling bad guys. It never took itself seriously and was often ridiculous, but always fun.

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New TV on DVD Releases This Week

Brad Trechak — 2010-04-19T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Coming off of the relatively weak set of DVDs from last week, we have some strong new releases, including the direct-to-DVD movie of the cult series 'Drawn Together.' We also have the cult favorite 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' and its even more popular spin-off 'Xena: Warrior Princess' finally getting their first seasons on DVD in Region 1. What took them so long?

'The Bill Cosby Show' - Season 2
'Bump in the Night' - The Complete Series
'Drawn Together' - The Movie
'Emily of New Moon' - Season 1
'The F Word' - Series 4: Uncensored
'Falcon Crest' - The Complete 1st Season
'Frontier Circus' - The Complete Series
'Heartland' - The Complete 1st Season
'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' - Season 1 (Universal)
'Hi-5' - Season 4
'Huckleberry Finn and His Friends' - The Complete Series
'Merlin' - The Complete 1st Season
'Perry Mason' - The 5th Season, Volume 1
'Relic Hunter' - Season 1
'Transformers' - 25th Anniversary Edition: Seasons 3 & 4
'Whispering Smith' - The Complete Series
'Xena: Warrior Princess' - Season 1 (Universal)

Jane After Dark: 'Supernatural' - Season Four Ends, the Apocalypse Begins

Jane Boursaw — 2010-04-17T11:05:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, OpEd, Supernatural, Reality-Free, Jane After Dark, Features, TV Shows on DVD

You know how I told you guys I'd probably finish season four of 'Supernatural' and then wait for season five to be released on DVD? Yeah, that's not gonna happen. After watching the season four finale, I immediately started buying episodes of season five from iTunes (I couldn't find a good place to see them online for free - if you know of any, pass the word along). At this writing, I'm just about to watch 'The End.'

The mythology has really kicked into high gear during seasons four and five, and if perchance demons destroyed all the ways I could watch season five, I'd have to break into Eric Kripke's office and steal the scripts so I could find out what happens next.

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New TV on DVD Releases This Week

Brad Trechak — 2010-04-12T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Admittedly, this week is a bit of a slow one in terms of television DVD releases. The penultimate season of 'Dallas' is being released (although there are still some reunions and mini-series to go after that). There is also some Jim Henson works (the man was a fountain of creativity before his untimely death), some Tom and Jerry and some Donna Reed. For those who are fans of obscure, short-lived television, both 'Haunted' and 'The Oregon Trail' are releasing their complete series.

'Alias Smith and Jones' - Seasons 2 & 3
'Dallas' - The Complete 13th Season
'The Donna Reed Show' - Family Favorites
'Emergency!' - Season 6
'Haunted' - Complete Series
'The Jim Henson Hour' - Song of the Cloud Forest & Other Earth Stories
'Jim Henson's Animal Show' - With Stinky & Jake: Lions, Tigers and Bears
'The Oregon Trail' - The Complete Series
'Tom and Jerry Tales' - Season 1

Three Reasons Why 'Lost' is the Greatest Show You'll Never Watch on DVD

Bob Sassone — 2010-04-07T16:08:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, OpEd, Lost, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Last night's episode of 'Lost' was excellent, wasn't it? For the first time this season it seems like we can finally see where the show is headed. The pieces are finally coming together.

We don't know yet who is going to live or die (or even if "live" or "die" mean the same thing in this 'Lost' world) or what it ultimately all means, but last night was certainly a true turning point. Of course, the writers could still throw us a curve and we could find out that alternate-reality Desmond is actually a robot from the future obsessed with cheddar cheese, but it looks like the final handful of episodes will give us a real conclusion.

It's one of the greatest shows in TV history, and I'm probably never going to watch it on DVD.

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'Mad Men': Season Three - DVD Review

Bob Sassone — 2010-04-06T16:04:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, OpEd, Video, Reality-Free, Mad Men, Features, TV Shows on DVD

What do you look for in a DVD set? Are you the type of person who expects to see a lot of extras (commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, bloopers, deleted scenes, documentaries, etc) because DVDs allow us to have all of those things and it would be a ripoff for the consumer if we didn't get them? Or are you the type of person who is just happy to have the actual episodes to watch over and over again whenever you want and you don't really care about the extras?

You're in the middle? What a politician.

I lean towards the former for newer shows and towards the latter for older shows. Though I would love to have commentaries and features for older shows, I realize that's not always possible. I ask this because the DVD set for the third season of AMC's 'Mad Men' has cast and crew commentaries for every single episode. Let's take a look at that feature and everything else in the set.

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New TV on DVD Releases This Week

Brad Trechak — 2010-04-05T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

The 2005 'Battlestar Galactica' series has been repackaged on both DVD and Blu-ray to fit more cleanly on your shelf, but doesn't include the cool Cylon action figure. Universal Home Video is also releasing the individual seasons on Blu-ray and this week is releasing season number two of the four. For those that aren't such big fans of sci-fi space opera, the second season of 'Ally McBeal' has also been released.

'Ally McBeal' - The Complete 2nd Season
'Battlestar Galactica' - Season 2 and the Complete Series on both DVD and Blu-ray (repackaged)
'Blood Ties' - The Complete Series on DVD and Blu-ray
'Ed's Up' - The Best of Season One
'Eyes on the Prize (mini-series)' - America's Civil Rights Years 1954-1965
'Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami' - Season 1
'Mythbusters' - Collection 5
'The New Adventures of Black Beauty' - Season 2
'Party Down' - Season 1
'Simon & Simon' - Season 4
'The Unusuals' - The Complete Series

'Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XVII' - DVD Review

Danny Gallagher — 2010-04-01T13:03:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, TV on DVD, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

One of TV's greatest saving graces came for a show that has racked up more grace saves than, well, 'Saving Grace'.

Rhino released the first set of tapes and DVDs for 'Mystery Science Theater 3000,' just as they entered their final days on Comedy Central and they did a good job of filling the void before it found its footing again on the Sci-Fi Channel.

But they still left something to be desired. The episodes were fun, crisp and clear, but it left you wanting more when the credits rolled. Enter Shout! Factory. They brought a fresher and livelier approach to one of television's fresher and livelier shows, from the special features down to the cover art for the box sets. And they have continued that tradition with 'MST3K: XVII,' the latest in what's sure to be a long line of box sets for a show that hasn't even gotten through half of its decade-long line-up of episodes.

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New TV on DVD Releases This Week

Bob Sassone — 2010-03-29T18:02:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

Not sure why the first season of 'Sports Night' is being released again. Actually, the series has been released as "Complete Series" packages twice now (there were only two seasons), and the 10th Anniversary edition is still available so I'm not sure what 'Sports Night' fan would spend money on the first season alone. It doesn't look like there's anything on it that you can't get on the other set.

'The Abbott & Costello Show' - Complete Series Collector's Edition
'Alvin & The Chimpmunks' - Cinderella Cinderella
'Ben 10: Alien Force' - Vol. 6
'Celebrity Rehab' - Season 1

Jane After Dark: 'Supernatural' - Doesn't Anyone Stay Dead on This Show?

Jane Boursaw — 2010-03-27T16:25:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Supernatural, Reality-Free, Jane After Dark, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Seriously, doesn't anyone stay dead on 'Supernatural'? Not that I'm complaining. I was devastated at the end of season three when Dean was attacked by the hell hound and dragged off to hell, and pretty excited when he was yanked back to life. I kept waiting for some big reveal that his resurrection was all a dream or alternate universe or something, but after meeting the angel Castiel, I'm convinced that Dean is back for real.

It's interesting. I kept wondering why Dean had gone to hell rather than heaven, because he's a good person doing good things in the world, so why wouldn't he go to heaven? On the other hand, Dean didn't believe in heaven or God or angels up to this point, so maybe that would automatically send him to hell? Nah, I'm not buying that.

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New TV on DVD Releases This Week

Bob Sassone — 2010-03-22T18:04:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

It's not many weeks where there is a DVD set released that I'll definitely buy (most weeks I'm lucky enough to avoid spending money on DVDs), but this is one of those weeks. 'Mad Men' is one of those shows that I'll buy the DVD for no question. In fact, when they release the inevitable 'Complete Series' in a few years (two years? five? seven?), I'm going to buy that, too, even if I'm already buying the individual season sets.

I can't say I'm too interested in season 10 of '7th Heaven' though.

'7th Heaven' - Season 10
'Father Knows Best' - Season 4
'Flashpoint' - Season 2, Vol. 1 (Canada)

South Park Season Thirteen on DVD, and a New Microsite

Nick Zaino — 2010-03-16T08:44:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, South Park, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Today is the day you can finally own epic episodes of 'South Park' like "Fishsticks," in which decimates Kanye West and Carlos Mencia (actually decapitates Mencia), "The Coon," which is Cartman's superhero identity, and "Whale Whores," which shows the 'Whale Wars' crew as selfish asses. Yes, season thirteen is out on DVD and Bluray today, a day before season fourteen debuts on Comedy Central.

The rollout for these feels a bit like an old infomercial. But wait! That's not all! In addition to the DVD, which features some deleted scenes and a short feature touring the South Park Studios, you also get a microsite dedicated to season thirteen. There, you can get a bunch of 'South Park' goodies like wallpaper and ringtones (including West's "Gay Fish Song").

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New TV on DVD Releases This Week

Bob Sassone — 2010-03-15T18:06:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

At first I thought 'C.O.P.S' was the long-running FOX show, but then I saw that it was only Vol. 2 and it was spelled, well, 'C.O.P.S' and realized it was another show, an 80s show about cyborg cops in the future. I barely remember it (in fact, I think I remember the logo and the toys that came from it, but that's it).

But there's a new 'MST3K!'

'The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog' - Vol. 3
'Breaking Bad' - Season 1 (Blu-Ray) and Season 2
'C.O.P.S.' - Vol. 2

Jane After Dark: 'Supernatural' - Dean's Deal With the Crossroads Demon

Jane Boursaw — 2010-03-14T16:50:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Supernatural, Reality-Free, Jane After Dark, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Hey, 'Supernatural' fans. Well, I'm into season three now, after a short break last week to recover from season two. I was sort of bummed out the way it ended and needed some time to get my wits together. I was majorly sad about Dean's deal with the Crossroads demon to save Sam. It was a tough spot, to be sure. He had to save his brother; on the other hand, how will Sam feel when Dean's gone in a year? Clearly, I've got too much invested in these characters.

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New TV on DVD Releases This Week

Bob Sassone — 2010-03-08T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

This week is an 80s extravaganza, as we have the first season of 'Matt Houston,' the first season of 'Scarecrow and Mrs. King,' a 'Wiseguy' collector's edition, and even a 'Tenspeed and Brownshoe' complete series set.

For those who have never heard of the latter, it was a comedic private eye show starring Ben Vereen. I remember the reviews for the show were outrageous, but for some reason, the show was very short-lived (which is why we're getting a complete series set).

I'm very, very tempted to get 'Matt Houston' and 'Scarecrow and Mrs. King,' though I don't know if they will hold up today. I'm guessing that 'Scarecrow' will hold up better than the Lee Horsley show.

'Charlie & Lola' - Vol. 10
'The Commish' - Season 1
'Greek' - Chapter 4
'Hannah Montana' - Vol. 6: Miley Says Goodbye
'In Plain Sight' - Season 2

'A-Team' Complete Series DVD Will Be Shaped as the 'A-Team' Van

Danny Gallagher — 2010-03-02T21:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other Comedy Shows, TV on DVD, TV on the Bigscreen, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD, TV News

Did you ever want to own the 'A-Team' van but the missus wouldn't let you blow Junior's college fund on a GMC van, the fancy paint job or the ton of golden neck jewelry? This may be the closest you'll ever get.

Universal Home Entertainment will release the entire series run on DVD on June 8th, just a few days before the big screen remake from director Joe Carnahan hits the screens.

Just look at it! It's the shape of the freakin' 'A-Team' van, quite possibly the coolest van in the history of vans. If Universal would be willing to sell just the box, I would gladly buy it just so I can store my bootleg 'Spaced' DVDs in it.

Entire 'Larry Sanders Show' Coming to DVD

Danny Gallagher — 2010-03-02T20:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, TV on DVD, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

It always seemed strange to me that the first season of HBO's 'The Larry Sanders Show' is the only season to get a full DVD release.

Sure the first season DVD didn't have the best quality and the "Not Just the Best of" box set released some of the show's better episodes, but every episode deserves to be watched, shared and re-watched until the veneer of the DVD is worn away into dust.

Shout! Factory will correct this travesty of home entertainment by releasing a complete box set of the Garry Shandling series.

'Elvis' - DVD Review

Danny Gallagher — 2010-03-02T15:03:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

My eyes didn't see this movie when it came out since they weren't even a fully functioning organism until a year after it hits the airwaves. But my brain carries a fleeting memory of a syndicated run of John Carpenter's TV movie about the King of Rock 'n Roll.

I only saw one brief scene, but I remember thinking that this must have been a theatrically released movie because it felt like one. Back in the 80's, it was hard not to be able to tell the difference between a melodramatic TV mini-series and an honest and bracing biopic even if my TV diet consisted mostly of 'The Real Ghostbusters' and game shows that forced kids to dive in slop for a trip to Universal Studios.

Now almost fifteen years after that brief moment and more than 30 years after the TV movie told the life story of the King just a few years after his untimely passing, 'Elvis' returns to a TV near you in the form of a new DVD.

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New TV on DVD Releases This Week

Bob Sassone — 2010-03-01T18:03:00+00:00

Filed under: TV on DVD, Reality-Free, Features, TV Shows on DVD

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

I wonder how many people are going to go to pick up 'Alice,' hoping to settle in to some great 70s comedy featuring grumpy bosses and the kissing of grits, and then they put the DVD in and discover the other 'Alice.' Of course, that's not going to happen because people don't buy DVDs without looking at the cover (I hope), but I can imagine a few people looking at the listing below and thinking of the Linda Lavin show before the SyFy miniseries.

'Alice' - Miniseries
'Designing Women' - Season 3
'Doctor Who' - Dalek War and Remembrance of the Daleks: Special Edition
'Have Gun Will Travel' - Season 4, Vol. 1