Saturday, October 21, 2006

Mini-DVD Review: C.S.I.: Miami - The Complete Fourth Season (Oct. 31)

We brought you a review of C.S.I.: New York last week. Today we travel south to sunny Miami for C.S.I.: Miami - The Complete Fourth Season. C.S.I.: Miami stars David Caruso, Emily Procter, Adam Rodriquez, Khandi Alexander, Jonathan Tigo, Rex Linn, and Eva LaRue. Paramount Home Video/CBS DVD will release this set on October 31st.

C.S.I.: Miami - The Complete Fourth Season

C.S.I.: Miami - The Complete Fourth Season (Paramount Home Video/CBS DVD, $64.99)

Join lead criminalist Horatio Caine (David Caruso) and his state-of-the-art forensics team as they investigate hot and steamy Miami crimes using cold hard facts. The CSI: Miami Season 4 Complete DVD Collection features 25 episodes of riveting and shocking mysteries. The evidence leads into seedy nightclubs, privileged suburbs and explosive family secrets. The stakes are higher than ever before, because this time it's personal.

My Review: C.S.I.: Miami is my second favorite series in the C.S.I. franchise. This show has gone through more cast changes than the others. The Miami location is probably the best setting. There are more personal character arcs this season, which made the show more interesting.

This 7-disc set contains all 25 episodes of the fourth (2005-06) season. The episodes are featured in Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio. It has a running time of 18 hours, 10 minutes. The attractive packaging features a photo of the 5 main cast members. The overall color theme of this set is orange and yellow, just like they use on the show. The inside case is in a book format that you can flip through to get to the discs. Each disc features a different photo of one of the cast members or the Miami skyline. The menus are also very stylish and easy to navigate. They have a montage a video clips, with some instrumental music playing in the background. Options are available for Episode Selection, Set Up, Previews (only on Disc 1), and Special Features. On the Set Up menu, you can choose either Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround or Spanish 2.0 Surround. Closed captioning is availble for all of the episodes. As you would expect from such a recent show, the video and audio quality is outstanding.

There is an impressive amount and variety of special features included. There are 6 audio commentaries available on the first three discs. Writer Elizabeth Devine, Director Karen Gaviola, and Department Head of Makeup and Special Makeup Effects Cheri Montesanto-Medcalf provide commentary for "From the Grave." Writer Corey Miller and Director Scott Lautanen do the commentary for "Prey." Executive Producer Anthony E. Zuiker, Writer Elizabeth Devine, and Director Scott Lautanen give their comments on "Felony Flight." Producer Don Tardino, Director Matt Earl Beesly, and Director of Photography Eagle Egilsson provide the commentary for "Urban Hellraisers." Writer Ildy Madrovich and Scott Lautanen do the commentary for "Shattered." Writer Marc Dube and Director Sam Hill offer their thoughts on "Payback."

There are three entertaining and interesting featurettes on the creating of episodes that add up to around 45 minutes. "Creating Feature Television: The Concept, Script and Pre-Production of CSI: Miami" (18:58) features interviews with Executive Producer Ann Donahue, Co-Producer/Writer Ildy Madrovich, Executive Story Editor Corey Miller, Story Editor John Haynes, Supervising Producer Sunil Nayer, Co-Executive Producer Elizabeth Devine, Supervising Producer Barry O'Brien, Researcher Brad Iten, Producer Don Tardino, First Assistant Director Marco Black, Director Eagle Egilsson, Production Designer Fred Andrews, Art Director Roland Rosenkranz, Costume Designer Andrea Federman, and Locations Manager Brian O'Neill. They talk about how they come up with the basic story ideas, how the characters are developed, how they do research on cases and specific terms, writing and editing the script, the production and costume design, and location shooting. "Producing Feature Television: The Production of CSI: Miami" (13:54) has interviews with Co-Producer Ildy Madrovich, Executive Producer Ann Donahue, Producer Don Tardino, First Assistant Director Marco Black, Unit Production Manager Sam Hill, Director Eagle Egilsson, Actor Eva LaRue, Actor Emily Procter, Actor Adam Rodriguez, Locations Manager Brian O'Neill, Visual Effects Supervisor Larry Detwiler, Visual Effects Supervisor Michael Leone, Associate Producer Eric Mirich, and Second Unit Assistant Director Natalie Van Doren. They talk about how they have a lot of meetings, new director Eagle Egilsson, how they created the spa in a home, and the visual effects for the chop shop scenes. "Finishing Feature Television: The Post-Production of CSI: Miami" (11:04) includes intervews with Supervising Producer Gina Lamar, Editor Mark C. Baldwin, Executive Producer Ann Donahue, Associate Producer Melissa Black, Supervising Sound Editor Tim Kimmel, Composers Kevin Kiner and Jeff Cardoni, and Foley Artists Joe Sabella. They talk about finishing the episodes after the principal photography has been completed. This includes the editing, looping, adding music, and foley sound effects.

Overall, this is another very nicely put together set. All of the C.S.I. sets seem to be similar and follow the same format. The special features added a lot to my knowledge of the show. So many people are involved with making an episode, and it seems like a time-consuming process. CSI: Miami is now the #1 show on Monday nights and the most-watched U.S. series around the world. My only disappointment with this set is that they didn't include the second part of the CSI Miam/NY cross-over episode. You'll have to buy
C.SI: NY - The Complete Second Season to see that one.

-- Reviewed by Todd Fuller
(4.5/5 stars)

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Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
CSI: Miami CBS.com Official Site
CSI: Miami TV.com Page


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, May 18

The Simpsons - "Estranger Things" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT)
When Bart and Lisa stop watching Itchy and Scratchy together, Marge fears that they'll start to drift apart.

Family Guy - "The Fat Lotus" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Peter suspects Lois of betraying his trust with Quagmire at a swanky vacation resort.

Krapopolis - "Ty Died" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Ty is tired of his family thinking he's not important enough to be assassinated.

Bob's Burgers - "Mr. Fischoeder's Opus" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Tina becomes the new advice columnist for the school newspaper; Teddy takes on more than he can handle when he volunteers to build a float for the Bounty of the Bay Parade.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of May 12)

Friday, May 16

  • Lunell (Lopez) - Watch Luenell on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC. She will also be on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:39am.
  • Benito Skinner (Overcompensating) - Benito appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Mayan Lopez (Lopez vs Lopez) and Jerry O'Connell (We Are Men/Do Not Disturb/Carpoolers/My Secret Identity) - Mayan and Jerry are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Luke Kirby (Étoile) and Gideon Glick (Étoile/The Other Two) - Luke and Gideon talk about Étoile on NBC's Today in the 9am hour.
  • Stanley Tucci (Central Park) - Stanley talks about his new series Tucci in Italy with GMA co-anchor Michael Strahan on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm. He will also be on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
  • Howie Mandel (Good Grief) - Howie talks about America's Got Talent on Live with Kelly and Mark (check your local listings) and on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your lcoal listings.
  • Marissa Jaret Winokur (What We Do in the Shadows/Retired at 35/Stacked) - Marissa talks about her latest project Mama I'm a Big Girl Now on Sherri, so check your local listings.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series Frasier (2023) - Season Two Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered) Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
06/06 - Shoresy - Season 2
06/17 - Looney Tunes - Collector's Vault - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
07/08 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)

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