Mini-DVD Review: Alvin & the Chipmunks: Trick or Treason (Aug. 22)

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Mini-DVD Review: Alvin & the Chipmunks: Trick or Treason (Aug. 22)

This week we take a look at Paramount Home Entertainment's Alvin & the Chipmunks: Trick or Treason. Alvin & the Chipmunks is of course the hit animated series that ran from 1983-1991. It was most popular in the early-mid 80s and this set has a 1994 Halloween special and four mini episodes from 1988 and 1989. Cartoonist Dave Seville takes care of three chipmunks: Alvin, Simon and Theodore! See my mini-DVD review of Alvin & the Chipmunks: Trick or Treason:

Alvin & the Chipmunks: Trick or Treason (Paramount, $14.99) brings a classic Halloween special and four spooky animated episodes. This is the second set from Paramount featuring the Chipmunks. The last set was the Christmas special release along with a few holiday-themed episodes. Both releases have episodes only when the show was renamed to The Chipmunks in 1988 and 1989. DiC designed the show then and they don't look the same as from 1983-87, but they still look great! Paramount has also released the Chipmunk feature film from 1987 on a separate set. This set has a 1994 half-hour Halloween special that aired on cable, titled "Trick or Treason," hence the title of this DVD. Alvin wants to join the Monster Club this Halloween and you will get to see them perform a great rendition of the hit tune "Monster Mash." The set also has spooky episodes, like I mentioned. On this volume are all mini episodes, meaning each half hour had two episodes when they originally aired, and we get one of them here. The episodes on this set are: "Babysitter Fright Night," "Theodore's Life as a Dog," "Nightmare on Seville Street," and "No Chipmunk is an Island." Two of the four episodes do not have closing credits, as they probably were the first episodes of the half-hour; runtimes range from about 10-12 minutes each. The menu screen has Play All and Episode Selection, with a song from the Chipmunks in the background. When we go to episode selection, the episodes are listed with a screenshot from the episode. The menu is designed quite well and is easy to navigate. The video and audio are decent and very watchable. I highly do recommend any fan to pick up this set. New fans might also want to, but I am hoping Paramount (or any other studio) releases the series on DVD in order, and not just select episodes from The Chipmunks years. So, hopefully that happens, but for now go out and buy this set to make that happen before Dave says "Alvinnnnn!"
-- Reviewed by Pavan

(4/5 stars)

To purchase the DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
Amazon.com

Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Alvin & the Chipmunks TV.com Page

We might have two special mini-DVD reviews during the week this week. So stay tuned for that. And if all goes well, next Saturday we will have a special mini-review of not a DVD, but a TV-movie, about Diff'rent Strokes, which will premiere on Labor Day on NBC. We also will have a review of Barry Williams' (Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch) new CD. Should be fun!

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Tuesday, September 10

The Conners - "Jeoparde, Sobriete and Infidelite" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Darlene makes a decision about her trip to Hawaii, leading to a heated encounter with Barb; Becky gives a presentation on addiction to Mark's class.

The Conners - "Two Proposals, a Homecoming and a Bear" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Two proposals bring change to the Conner family; Jackie uses her "Jeopardy!" infamy to her advantage.

The Conners - "Trucking Live in Front of a Fully Vaccinated Studio Audience" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Conners continue to deal with the pandemic while navigating breakups and newfound sobriety, all while planning an upcoming wedding.

The Conners - "Education, Corruption and Damnation" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
After Ben declines Darlene's proposal, she starts to ponder why she tends to be so negative in life, prompting her to start a journey of self-discovery, which leads to Pastor Phil.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Love Yourz" (BET, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Calvin, worried about his son Calvin Jr.'s math struggles, recruits his eccentric friends Pookie and Peanut to help.

Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "To The Left" (BET, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Vinny's nightmare causes him to want to get saved and Mr. Brown will do the baptizing, while Lindor is up to his neck in everyone's IT needs.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 9)

Tuesday, September 10

Jane Fonda (Grace and Frankie) - Catch Jane on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building), Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building/Mulaney/I'm a Big Girl Now/The Associates) and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building/Wizards of Waverly Place) - Steve, Martin and Selena are guests on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Kevin Hart (Die Hart/The Big House/Undeclared) - Kevin appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Caitlin Reilly (Hacks) and Rickey Thompson (Foursome) - Caitlin and Rickey are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Kelly Ripa (Hope & Faith) and Mark Consuelos (Alpha House/Hope & Faith) - E! News has interviews with Kelly and Mark at 11pm on E!.
The Cast of Emily in Paris) - E! News has interviews with the cast of Emily Paris at 11pm on E!.
Salma Hayek Pinault (The Sinbad Show) - Salma will be on CBS Mornings some time between 7-9am.
Valerie Bertinelli (Hot in Cleveland/Café Americain/Sydney/One Day at a Time) - Drew is introducing the newest Drew-crew member, Valerie Bertinelli! Plus, Valerie is making a shrimp and veggie cups recipe from her latest cookbook, Indulge, on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Zoë Kravitz (High Fidelity) - Zoë is joining Drew to talk about her directorial debut Blink Twice. She's spilling on what it was like working with fiancÃ© Channing Tatum and her take on their viral NYC bike photo on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Adam Pally (Mr. Throwback/Indebted/Making History/The Mindy Project/Happy Endings) - Adam discusses his mockumentary series Mr. Throwback on The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.