TV on DVD & Blu-ray

[Fletch F. Fletch]

From TVShowsOnDVD:

WKRP in Cincinnati - WKRP - it's really coming out
Posted by Gord Lacey

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.

[Joe Buck]

Has any one ever heard any rumor about Car 54 Where Are You coming to DVD? It is my favorite show ever, and if you ever catch wind, please, announce it from the highest rooftops.

[Polybius]

Read the WKRP news earlier today. The Miami Vice breakthrough convinced me to never say "never." Several seemingly insoluble problems have been worked out over the last couple of years.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Not to mention it sounds like series creator Hugh Wilson is giving the new filler music his seal of approval so that's reassuring.

[flyonthewall2983]

Any word on when the first season of Dexter is coming out? I followed it from the first show to the season finale and was very very impressed.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

YES!

From TVShowsOnDVD:

WKRP in Cincinnati - Watch for falling Turkeys - Season 1 date, details and extras!
Posted by Gord Lacey 1/1/2007

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:
1. Pilot (Part 1)
2. Pilot (Part 2)
3. Les On a Ledge
4. Hoodlum Rock

Disc 1 Side B:
5. Hold-Up
6. Bailey's Show
7. Turkeys Away
8. Love Returns

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

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

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

Disc 3 Side B:
19. Young Master Carlson
20. Fish Story
21. 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"

[Ashirg]

Maude Season 1 on DVD from Sony

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Garry Shandling talks to the New York Times about the upcoming Larry Sanders Show DVD set. It's a shame it's only going to be a Best Of compilation. However, the extras sound fascinating.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Dark Skies (The X-Files' red-headed stepchild) might be finally getting a DVD release. From one of the exec producer's blogs:

Breaking News: "Dark Skies" DVD Coming Soon!
Once again, the truth about President Kennedy being assassinated in order to cover up UFOs can be told! Or at least the TV series purporting to be about the truth can be seen. Or something like that. Anyway...

After the thousands of e-mails I've gotten over the years from what seems like every corner of the globe asking me when they will be able to see the "Dark Skies" series on DVD, I finally have some good news!

I just received the good word today that "Dark Skies" is scheduled for DVD release in October 2007. Eight months and counting, but at least the countdown has begun...

A lot of copy's been written on this blog about the series. Go check here to read more about it. But, yes, the short story is that we were the people who were just enough south of sanity to write 20 hours of TV dedicated to the Unifed Field Theory of Conspiracies -- melding JFK's assassination with the UFO cover-up.

Flash forward to 2006. You may remember the poster you see here being ripped off (an homage?) by the "Path to War" publicity campaign. Since this similarity was reported on Salon, Slate, the Huffington Post and a lot of other places, maybe that extra notoriety helped move the show up the ladder of priorities. Whatever it was, it's great news.

If you'd like to read the pilot in anticipation of the DVD release, here it is.

BTW, my "Dark Skies" writing and producing partner Brent Friedman and I are working on a new project that is as insidious and mind-bending as our first project together. Also, Brent currently is the creative force behind "Afterworld" which has just launched on Bud TV after getting a build-up on the SuperBowl. Jim Parriott, the other Executive Producer on the show, has come off one success after another, most recently "Grey's Anatomy" and "Ugly Betty."

Because "Dark Skies" was a period piece set in the 1960s, it has aged remarkably well. I just screened a few episodes the other day, and they feel very fresh. Can't wait for those who want to see them to get the chance. The period music is terrific, the late J.T. Walsh is phenomenal as the leader of Majestic-12 Frank Bach. And Eric Close, now of "Without A Trace", portrayed the tormented and courageous John Loengard in one of the best performances he's ever given. And Jeri Ryan and Megan Ward were both great, regardless of which side of the Hive Mind they were on!

Thanks to Dave and SONY for making it possible, and congratulations to Brent and all the other people who worked so hard making those original 20 hours of TV!

However, the guys at TVShowsOnDVD had more sobering news:

The other day reader Tony Martin emailed us a link to Bryce Zabel's blog. Fans of Dark Skies will recognize Zabel as one of the writers and executive producers on the show, and his recent blog post announces that Dark Skies will be out on DVD in October. We got excited about the news that this great, short-lived series starring Eric Close would be released on DVD, but decided to check with our home video contacts at Sony. Unfortunately they told us they're looking at the show, but nothing has been confirmed at this time, which isn't as positive as the word Zabel has. At least the show is being considered, though I would have felt better if our Sony contacts (the people who work directly on the DVD sets) had better news for us. Hopefully Sony bumps the show from the "looking into it" stage to "we're working on it" stage so they can get it out in October.

[dave41n]

Is anyone aware of a release date for the fourth season of The Wire? I haven't been able to find anything.

[Matt]

Is anyone aware of a release date for the fourth season of The Wire? I haven't been able to find anything.

HBO almost always releases the previous season of a show on DVD just in time for the premiere episode of the new season. I don't believe a date has been set for the premiere of the 5th season.

[HerrSchreck]

Anyone else a hopeless addict of this fucking The First 48 on A&E? Christalmighty this show has me by the balls, and the episodes capture the flat poetry of the hugest stupidity in the world: the utterly senseless murders that go down everyday over breathtakingly stupid (non)issues. Douche bag hip hop "yo you front'n kid?" POP POP POP type murders that used to be fistfought over in schoolyards a decade or two ago. Among equally stupid murders committed by adults each & every day.

The total ultimate drama playing out on reality tv-- just this overnight at 3am had a repeat (the 50G Murder) where a crackhead in a breathtaking moment of total honesty decided to come clean on a murder-- I couldn't do justice describing it... the dumb voice with the dopey accent with the brutal straighforwardness about the reasons behind the source robbery, admission what crack had done to him, etc.

There is a dvd called The First 48; the Most Intense Investigations that has, in the "UNMASKED" episodes, one of the most poignant moments I've ever seen thrown up on the small screen, where a Tennessee female sargeant gets under the skin of a gold-toothed hoodie.

This show is a bit sick, very sad, but as riveting as is humanly possible. The most riveting drama played out by human beings with the highest individual stakes, and it's all real.

[dx23]

Tvshowsondvd.com is reporting that Shout is going to re-release My So-Called Life. More news here:

[Dylan]

Just a heads up for fellow Wonder Years fans here: there's still no DVD release on the horizon, but back in April the channel ION (channel 8 here in Eastern Washington) started airing an hour block every weeknight, and God have these reruns revealed it to be an even more gorgeous, witty, often heartbreaking show than I remembered (and Fred Savage is wonderful). I must say that every episode, to some degree, elicits a strong emotional reaction from me (the strongest, so far, was the episode "The Lake"). Anyway, with the DVD release stalled for several more years due to various music clearance issues, this is a great opportunity to catch it again.

[rohmerin]

please, can anyone confirm me that BIG LOVE (HBO 1st season, R1) has got Spanish subtitles ?

amazon doesn't have any information. IMDB says yes... but may be is one of thei mistakes.

Muchas gracias.

[The Invunche]

There are also English, French, and Spanish subtitles.

[flyonthewall2983]

No word on Dexter yet?

[patrick]

Dexter is slotted for August 21st.

[Antoine Doinel]

Just a heads up for Canadian Seinfeld fans. Both Amazon.ca and Future Shop (instore at least) have Seasons 1-7 at 60% off. I picked up Season 6 today for $20 at Future Shop and when I opened the package I was surprised to find an exclusive bonus CD of Jerry's standup material. There weren't many left in store and Amazon seems to be running out of them quick.

[malcolm1980]

I own:

Arrested Development (Seasons 1 to 3)
Malcolm in the Middle (The Complete First Season) --> When is the second season going to come out?
The Office (UK) (The Complete Series)

I want to ask the people here: Do you collect all the seasons of your favorite shows or just the seasons you like?

[colinr0380]

I want to ask the people here: Do you collect all the seasons of your favorite shows or just the seasons you like?

I try to collect them all because I like the continuity, but that's one reason I don't buy much TV - I find it difficult to make the sustained commitment. £60 once or twice a year doesn't seem too bad, but when that is combined with a lot of interesting films being released (which always win out!) or having a few television series already on the go I don't like to take on more. The Simpsons and Family Guy are really the few I commit to.

I also like Oz a lot, but even though all seasons are available I've still only got the first two on DVD, so I hope they don't go out of print before I've had the chance to slowly collect them!

But that (and needing to pick up the third season of Buffy, the last two of Drop The Dead Donkey and the fourth of Six Feet Under!) is one of the reasons why I haven't tried to start buying The Sopranos, Arrested Development or Curb Your Enthusiasm yet, though I have been extremely tempted!

[flyonthewall2983]

Someone in another forum recently talked about how, due to a pricing snafu, he acquired the complete Six Feet Under set for only 60 bucks.

[patrick]

I'm sure HBO won't let the OZ seasons go out of print unless they have plans to upgrade them in some way. However, I honestly don't think the show is worth owning after the third season or so, it got really silly in the last few seasons.

As for my own TV collection, I have a surprising amount, now that I look at it:
Arrested Development Seasons 1, 2 & 3
The Office (BBC) complete series boxset
The Office (US) Seasons 1 & 2
The Simpsons Seasons 1-9
Mr. Show Seasons 1-4
Various Dr. Who serials
Robot Chicken Season 1
The Venture Bros. Seasons 1 & 2

[patrick]

Also, I've heard that the WKRP set is absolutely atrocious without the original music. Licensing the original music is kind of a damned-if-you-do/damned-if-you-don't situation, since it seems like either spending too much money on music rights or using filler music can damn a show to only get one season released or not get released at all. In the case of something like Freaks & Geeks, it took a company taking a personal interest in the show, said company taking pre-orders for an expensive limited edition version, and selling the regular edition for a premium price to make it happen. I'm sure we'll see season 1 of the Wonder Years come out some day, but I'm sure it'll probably be expensive and then all the people who clamored for it won't buy it and we'll be back at square one.

[Cinesimilitude]

I have:

God, the Devil, and Bob: Complete Series
Freaks and Geeks: Regular Boxset
Band of Brothers
The Office: BBC Complete Series
Kung Fu: Complete Series
Alias: Complete Series
24: Seasons 1-5
Frasier: Seasons 1-3 (going to buy all the rest before the year is over)
Planet Earth: HD-DVD complete series
Trailer Park Boys: Seasons 1-5
Corner Gas: Seasons 1-3
Scrubs: Season 1-5

I am a completist when it comes to TV, so It takes me a lot of "can I, can't I?" self talk to buy a first season of a show. I plan on Getting Rome 1 and 2 eventually, but with my job at blockbuster affording me free rentals now, I doubt I'll be buying as many TV seasons as I have in the past.