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'Pee-Wee's Playhouse' and More New TV Shows on DVD
by Elizabeth Chan, posted Oct 19th 2010 9:00AM
More times than not, when you ask a person to name a celebrity that never ages, a majority of folks will probably sputter off "Cher" or "George Hamilton."We're going to add Paul Rubens aka Pee-Wee to that list.
Almost 25 years after 'Pee Wee's Playhouse' first aired in 1986, Pee-Wee has not shown the signs of age one bit. That's a very good thing now that Pee Wee is experiencing a resurgence of popularity nationwide, after performing a series of live shows, including on Broadway, this year.
To catch a glimpse of the playhouse that started it all, the complete 'Pee Wee's Playhouse' collection hits DVD shelves this week, turning your DVD player into an instant time machine.
Find out a list of other titles being released this week after the jump!
New Shows on DVD for October 12, 2010
by Elizabeth Chan, posted Oct 12th 2010 11:00AM
Some classic TV shows are remembered by their characters' signature styles. Before 'Friends' and "the Rachel," there was 'Blossom' and her hats. A recent episode of 'Glee' made reference to that show, which most likely went above the heads of most 'Glee' fans. However, some of you out there might also remember Joey Lawrence's catchphrase, "Whoa!" Now all those great 'Blossom' moments are being packaged in a new DVD today, hitting stores which includes the original pilot of 'Blossom.'
Check out the full list of DVD's coming out today after the jump!
'Caprica' and New TV DVDs for October 5, 2010
by Elizabeth Chan, posted Oct 5th 2010 9:00AM
As people were mourning the loss of their beloved 'Battlestar Galactica,' SyFy offered a television rehab for those seeking help for their incurable Cylon deficit disorders and frak use withdrawal. That halfway home was called 'Caprica,' introducing viewers to a pre-apocalyptic world of humans, and offered up a testament explaining the genesis of 'Battlestar Galactica.'
Those who missed the 'Caprica' series can catch up now, when the premiere season rolls out on DVD. The second season premieres Oct. 5.
Some honorable mentions hitting the DVD shelves this week include seasons 3-5 of 'Ally McBeal' and a limited edition box set of the complete series of 'Monk.'
Find out the rest of the titles after the jump!
Five British TV Shows to Catch on DVD
by Nick Zaino, posted Oct 3rd 2010 1:30PM
British TV is definitely more visible in America these days. BBC America reaches about 68 million homes, according to its press site, and features a few shows every TV fan probably recognizes, like 'Doctor Who' and 'Top Gear.' But it's still behind some of its basic cable brethren. According to TV By the Numbers, the April premiere of 'Doctor Who' series 5 set ratings records for the network with 1.2 million viewers. That's a lot of people, but dwarfed in comparison to the 5.3 million who watched the 'Jersey Shore' season 2 debut in July.
'Modern Family' and More New TV Show DVDs
by Elizabeth Chan, posted Sep 21st 2010 7:00AM
You never forget your first ... season of your favorite show. This week marks the DVD premiere season releases of 'Modern Family,' 'Bored to Death,' 'Human Target' and 'Community,' shows which had cult followings, critical acclaim and all the things necessary for both DVD immortality and continuing down the road of syndication jackpots.
Other honorable mentions hitting the DVD shelves this week are new seasons of 'Castle,' 'Desperate Housewives' and the final season of 'The Hills'
Check out the entire list of DVD releases after the jump!
New Shows on DVD for August 31, 2010
by Elizabeth Chan, posted Aug 31st 2010 8:00AM
Hitting DVD shelves today is the first season of the critically acclaimed series, 'Parenthood.' Executive producer Ron Howard also oversaw the original 1989 film starring Steve Martin and the first attempt at a TV version in the early '90s. It seems third time's the charm. The new NBC shows bears only a glancing resemblance to previous iterations, but garnered both critical acclaim and good ratings. Now's your time to catch up on everything you missed in it's premiere season, as 'Parenthood' heads into season 2.
Check out more DVDs hitting shelves just before the Labor Day holiday.
New Shows on DVD for August 24, 2010
by Elizabeth Chan, posted Aug 24th 2010 10:08AM
Just when you were starting to get over the post-traumatic stress of losing 'Lost' to the annals of television history, the show sucks you back in. If one DVD could be the most anticipated of the entire summer, this is it.
Hitting store shelves today is the sixth and final season of 'Lost' on DVD and Blu-Ray.
Why such a big deal? The DVD has a special epilogue episode, which shows life on the island with Hurley and Ben in charge. Providing everyone some extra meat and potatoes to start rehashing 'Lost' theories at the dining room table tonight.
Find out the rest of the DVD's being released today after the jump!
Top Gear revs for new season with DVD giveaway
by John Scott Lewinski, posted Jan 14th 2010 11:00AM
A new season of Top Gear, one of this particular gear head's favorite shows, is headed to BBC America on January 25. And, to build buzz for the show's upcoming 13th season, BBC America is giving away DVDs for the new releases of Top Gear Season 11 and Season 12.One of the modern stalwarts of British TV, Top Gear is a popular import to the U.S. with its mix of super cars, stunts and less than politically correct humor. For viewers like me, it's fantasy fulfillment and as close to some mammothly powerful cars as we'll ever come.
We're a season behind here in the U.S., as U.K. fans already worked their way through Season 14. But, the show's ongoing success on U.S. screens means this franchise should drive on a little farther.
David Tennant's Doctor Who swan song comes to DVD
by John Scott Lewinski, posted Jan 13th 2010 7:32PM
Doctor Who went from regular production to sporadic specials last year to freshen up the show and to give former lead David Tennant a shot at playing Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The end results of that year of specials are headed your way on DVD in a five disc set.Doctor Who: The Complete Specials features what proved to be a mixed bag of special episodes that became a sort of de facto fifth mini-season for Tennant. While you're not going to find a bad piece of television anywhere on this disc (or anywhere in Doctor Who's 21st century rebirth), last year's programs got weaker as they marched toward Tennant's regeneration.
The line-up includes The Next Doctor, Planet of the Dead, The Waters of Mars and The End of Time, Parts One and Two. The first two stand alone, but the last three create a sort of trilogy documenting the 10th Doctor's final days.
Rifftrax returns for live Christmas mock fest
by John Scott Lewinski, posted Dec 18th 2009 4:02PM
The Rifftrax crew unwrapped its second national live broadcast this week from San Diego as Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett took on a series of moldy Christmas short films and sent the results to hundreds of theaters across this great nation of ours.Over the 90+ minute run of the upbeat show, the Mystery Science Theater 3000 alums steered seemingly innocent holiday-themed shorts and clunky toy advertisements from bygone eras into dark, pitiful entries into irony complete with sexual innuendos and memories of failed Christmas' passed.
Weird Al Yankovic showed up to join in on mocking a delightful, but bizarre look at pork. But the high point of the show was a closing shot at a Max Fleischer directed version of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" -- including Santa visiting the heroic mammal in his bedroom with the disturbing words: "Rudolph...I need you tonight."
Remember the great Edward Woodward with Callan
by John Scott Lewinski, posted Dec 14th 2009 1:02PM
Most American TV viewers know Edward Woodward from his run as Robert McCall as The Equalizer. But, British TV aficionados know he trained in backside-kicking on the dark, gritty British spy series, Callan.Written by James Mitchell, the show featured David Callan -- a spy working for an ultra-secret arm of the British Intelligence service specializing in assassinations. Unfortunately, the former soldier and convict was cursed with a conscience that led him to hate his job, his superiors and himself.
Woodward was perfect in the role -- blending haunted humor with genuine menace to create an intelligent, tortured man who you believed could kill anyone without having to look like Rambo while he did it.
Class enrollment begins at Lost University this week
by John Scott Lewinski, posted Dec 6th 2009 11:00AM
Plenty of freshman (and drunken upperclassmen at most state colleges) get lost on university campuses every day. But, the developers of the new Lost: Season Five Blu-Ray set want you to lose yourself in its "school" willingly.Opening for "classes" December 8, Lost University is a special feature of the Blu-ray offering a "captivating new immersive bonus experience powered by BD-Live technology. A series of interactive "lectures" expands "the world of Lost, giving viewers around the world an unprecedented interactive experience unlike any other before it."
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment arranged a strong collection of "professors" to teach the university seminars. Cast members include Naveen Andrews, Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, Daniel Dae Kim, Yunjin Kim, Evangeline Lilly, Terry O'Quinn, Michael Emerson and Henry Ian Cusik.
New Doctor Who DVD features new CG-enhanced episode
by John Scott Lewinski, posted Nov 18th 2009 3:02PM
Many sci-fi fans wonder what classic Doctor Who might look like if the BBC bosses of the '70s and '80s could have budgeted more than £6 per episode for visual effects.A new Who DVD set from BBC Video features a specially remastered episode that offers you just that experience.
Doctor Who: "The Black Guardian Trilogy" serves up a trio of 1983 Who episodes featuring Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor in a life and death struggle against a supernatural evil force.
A team of restoration and digital effects artists took the final episode of that trilogy ("Enlightenment" -- a well-written, high-concept adventure featuring a simulated sailing race in deep space) and laid in 21st Century CG visuals.
TV Squad Video: Starship Enterprise orbits Griffith Park
by John Scott Lewinski, posted Nov 18th 2009 2:05PM
If you're like me, and I know I am, you've wondered what it would like if the U.S.S. Enterprise descended on the Hollywood Hills.
Fortunately, Paramount held the big DVD and Blu-ray release party for J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movie at the Griffith Park Observatory Monday night, and the Enterprise took up a standard orbit around the famous planetarium landmark.
While the film's creators and cast mingled inside the observatory, a high-definition multimedia system projected video images of Trek visual effects up against the building's walls.
So, for a few moments, the Enterprise (almost to scale) swooped in for a visit before heading away at warp factor one.
Enjoy a glimpse of it below.
Fortunately, Paramount held the big DVD and Blu-ray release party for J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movie at the Griffith Park Observatory Monday night, and the Enterprise took up a standard orbit around the famous planetarium landmark.
While the film's creators and cast mingled inside the observatory, a high-definition multimedia system projected video images of Trek visual effects up against the building's walls.
So, for a few moments, the Enterprise (almost to scale) swooped in for a visit before heading away at warp factor one.
Enjoy a glimpse of it below.
TV's G.I. Resolute outduels big-screen Rise of Cobra
by John Scott Lewinski, posted Nov 15th 2009 10:30AM
Director Stephen Sommers might want to discourage the production of animated lead-ups to his feature films. They keep outdoing the movies they're supposed to set up for audiences.Before his Van Helsing reached theaters in 2004, Universal released Van Helsing: The London Assigment. Written by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, the animated half-hour was clever and action-packed. Van Helsing? It was not clever and action-packed.
Now, the DVD release of G.i. Joe: Resolute, an 11-episode series of animated shorts that originally aired on Adult Swim before the release of Rise of Cobra, brings a cooler and more visually compelling "Yo, Joe!" to screens.
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