SitcomsOnline.com News Blog

Welcome to our "Christmas is done, but the year still isn't over" edition of Digital Digest! Not surprisingly, we've got another slow news week this week, but we hope that we're compensating for that with our review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - The Complete Classic Series Collection. Let's get started!


DIGITAL NEWS

Luuuuuucy! You got some 'splainin' to do! Or at least the online streaming video site Hulu does! As part of a recent deal with CBS, the classic series I Love Lucy is now available on Hulu, a little earlier than expected. Currently, 102 episodes of the series are available, for absolutely free if you watch on your computer, but if you subscribe to Hulu+, you can watch them on any of the approved devices, such as a smartphone or Blu-ray player.

Last month, we told you in one of our regular blog postings that PBS would be airing a new season of Pioneers of Television beginning January 15. The series is a documentary series where TV stars take us behind the scenes through television history, with each episode focusing on one particular genre or theme in television. The DVD release of this set will follow very closely behind this TV debut. Look for Pioneers of Television - Season Three to be released on March 12. The two disc set will come at a $24.99 MSRP.

According to TVShowsOnDVD.com, we can expect to see more Payne soon as Lionsgate releases House of Payne - Volume 10. The three disc set of the series about three generations of family in one house heads to DVD on March 5 at a $29.98 MSRP, and will include episodes 193-212.


UPCOMING WEEK PREVIEW

Tuesday (January 1) is New Years Day, and much like Christmas last week, this means that the studios are taking a break from releasing anything new for the most part. However, Sony has some MOD releases that will ship next week, which include Charlie's Angels - The Complete Fifth Season (note that you can purchase Charlie's Angels - The Complete Series for less than the cost of season 5 alone) and the movie I Dream of Jeannie - 15 Years Later.



DVD Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - The Complete Classic Series Collection (Lionsgate, $99.98)
by Pavan

The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back for one final time...again! The entire series was released individually by season (and volumes), but now you can buy it together in VERY cool packaging. Experience the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle saga in this totally tubular 23-disc set of the original animated series, featuring all 10 seasons in one complete cowabunga collection! From their origins on the comic book page to the depths of Dimension X and beyond, the pizza-loving, shell-busting Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, with the guidance of their Sensei, have been delighting fans for decades with their turtle power. Whether it's facing fierce enemies Krang, Shredder and Lord Dregg, saving humanity from near extinction, or battling against life-altering mutations, the half-shell heroes are always ready for heart-stopping, time-bending, straight outta the sewer action!

Let's recap how the individual releases were before we get into this complete collection. Starting with season four we started getting season releases. Season 4 set had 39 episodes and season 5 had 18 episodes. Season six had a total of 16 episodes on its set. Season seven had 27 episodes in four collectible "slices." Season eight only had 8 episodes, so we got that on a single disc and the same went true for the season nine and season ten sets. Prior to that we were getting volume releases. Here is a recap: Volume 6 had the last 11 episodes from season three, plus the first episode of season four. The third season had a total of 47 episodes, so they decided to split up that season into volumes, so volumes 3, 4, 5, and 6 covered season three. For season 2 there were just 13 episodes, so Lionsgate released that for volume two...so yes, technically the first two volumes were season sets. Season one had only 5 episodes, so that was on Volume 1, with four bonus episodes from the last season (season ten) actually. So do you have all of these? We hope you do dudes, but if not...that's fine because you can get it now in one complete collection! As for episodes, we discussed each season in their individual releases, so I urge you to read our past reviews (the links are all above). There are 193 episodes for this series!

The only thing really new in the collection is the packaging. And it is very cool. We have a big box that is in purple and has a lot of nice artwork of the Turtles (in the newer design though). We also have a synopsis of the set, along with a list of bonus features (none which are new). The huge box has a see-through portion where we can see what's inside the box. Inside the box we have a collectible Turtles van! It is very cool and fits the series well. The van is in yellow and green. You can actually even play with it since the van has wheels. The series logo is on the top and on the sides while the back of the van says "Heroes in a Half Shell." We can remove the top portion of the van easily and you are inside the van! Inside the van we have all 23 discs lined-up together from left to right. It's kind of hard to take any disc out and put it back since they are so closely put together. The artwork on each disc is brand new just for this collection. Each season has different coloring and the discs have numbers (from 1-23). Season 1 is just one disc and is in green. Season 2 is just one disc and is in orange. Season three has four discs and is in a lime green color. Season four has five discs and is in red. Season five has three discs and is in a sky blue color. Season six is in two discs and has color scheme of purple. Season 7 has four discs and is in a light orange type color. Season eight is on a single disc in a dark blue color. Season nine is also on single disc and is in brown, while season ten is a single disc with a light purple background. Bodacious!

The menu screens for each season are exactly the same as they were on the individual seasons/volumes. We get auto-trailers before the main menu appears. The theme song is playing in the background and we also have video clips playing where the Turtles are on the cover art this is from seasons 6-10). The menu options usually are: Play All Episodes, Episode Selection, Special Features. The earlier sets may differ a bit, but you can read our past reviews and see what exactly the options are. Episode Selection takes us to a submenu with episode #, title, and a screenshot from the episode. When we select any of these options, there is a cool transition. Gnarly!

The video is exactly the same as the individual seasons/volumes, since the content has not changed on this complete collection. In general, we have dust and debris here and there, especially in the earlier seasons. The audio is also on exactly the same as the individual releases. It is not bad and is listenable. It's not remastered, but this is the best we have and it beats our taped VHS versions. The episode runtimes vary from season to season, but I believe everything is unedited. Check our past reviews for exact episode runtimes for each season. We have chapter stops per episode, like we did on the individual releases. Sensei Master Splinter likes!

For special features, on the individual releases, seasons four and five sets had extras. Then for the 25th anniversary set, we had a lot of extras for season seven. And the final season (10) also had extras. We get all of those special features once again on this complete collection. There is nothing new just for this complete collection, so not to worry if you are not interested in buying the complete collection. See our season reviews (links are earlier in this review) to see what each season exactly had in terms of special features.

If you are mega-fan, then you need to get this complete collection. All mega-fans probably have the individual releases, but that won't matter for them since they will want the cool new packaging. Because that's the only thing new here. Everything else is the exact same as before. For anyone who has not bought the season/volume releases, then you can buy it all in one shot with this complete collection. It would make for a nice gift this holiday season. Other than that, I don't see anyone else buying this just for the new packaging. If you want all ten seasons in one spot, then sell your season/volume sets and buy this. It's cool to have this Turtle van on your DVD shelf! It stands out nicely. So if you are in all of those options I mentioned...buy this! Turtle power!

(4/5 stars)

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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews Page
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on TV.com



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Who to Follow: Mayim Bialik (Twitter/Facebook), "This is the official Twitter page for actress Mayim Bialik. Really; it's me."
Claim to Fame: Mayim Bialik is one of the most intriguing actresses out there. She was well-known as being the child (and evolving into teen) actress who played TV's Blossom in the '90s, and once she was done with that, she quit acting and went on to further her education... which, unlike many celebrities who view "furthering their education" as getting their GED, meant getting a PhD in neuroscience for her. And then, after all of that hard work, she returned to her roots in acting, playing the role of Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory.
Why You Should Follow Her: Who can't admire Bialik? Whether you're a fan of cute (though also corny) teen-oriented sitcoms of the '90s or funny (though also geeky), Bialik has something to offer for every sitcom fan out there. She has demonstrated how dynamic she can be in her acting roles, and even more amazing is that she has managed to do this by acting mostly as a hobby, with completing a PhD in the hard sciences. Going beyond just admiring Bialik as an actress or person, though, her Twitter feed (or Facebook page) is a fun one to follow. She is an interesting (though maybe a bit quirky) person who manages to seem like a very real and down-to-earth person, and doesn't seem at all like any of the other PhD sitcom stars out there.
Pick of the Tweets: "I like that less than a week after The View bashed me and blamed me for my parenting choices causing my divorce, I got a residuals check for my appearance on their show from last year which was about my parenting book. Heehee." (December 2, 2012)