Saturday, October 14, 2006
Mini-DVD Review: C.S.I.: NY - The Complete Second Season (Oct. 17)
C.S.I.: NY - The Complete Second Season (Paramount Home Video/CBS DVD, $64.99)
Perfect for the city that never sleeps, this complete DVD collection includes every shard of brutal evidence, every unsolved murder, and every dangerous secret of CSI: NY Season 2. Detective Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) and his forensics team face the shocking loss of one of its members, followed by a provocative new addition to the force, Lindsay Monroe (Anna Belknap). The stakes get even higher when a Miami serial killer strikes in Manhattan and CSI: Miami's Horation Caine (David Caruso) joins the riveting manhunt. Start spreading the news: CSI: NY Season 2 is unforgettable.
My Review: Although I am a big fan of C.S.I. and C.S.I. Miami, I didn't enjoy the first season of C.S.I. New York as much. The show was very dark and cold and filmed in a hard blue light. Starting with the second season, they started to lighten the mood a bit. It worked and made it a more interesting show to watch. The show is still gritty and bloody but not as depressing.
This 6-disc set contains all 24 episodes of the second (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 17 hours, 19 minutes. Notable season 2 guest stars include Joel Brooks, Lori Petty, Michael Gross, Kelly Hu, Mia Sara, Wayne Knight (Hello, Newman), Rance Howard, Joel Gretsch, Dick Enberg, Eugene Robert Glazer, Michael DeLuise, and Kid Rock. The attractive packaging features a photo of Gary Sinise and Melina Kanakaredes, with a embossed, holofoil outer slipcase.
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. 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. One of these days, I'll get myself a high definition TV to see what I'm missing.
There is an impressive amount and variety of special features included. There are 5 audio commentaries available on the first three discs. Director David Von Acken and Editor Bill Zabala provide commentary for "Summer in the City." Story Editor/Writer Zachary Reiter and Director Scott Lautanen comment on "Grand Murder at Central Station." Co-creator and Executive Producer Anthony E. Zuiker and Writer Elizabeth Devine discuss "Manhattan Manhunt." Story Editor/Writer Zachary Reiter and Director Duane Clark do the commentary for "Bad Beat." Co-Executive Producer Peter M. Lemkov and Director James Whitmore Jr. shared their thoughts on "Trapped." There are five entertaining and interesting featurettes that add up to around 40 minutes.
"Top of the Heap: The Cast and Crew Look at Season 2" (10:02) includes interviews with Co-Creator/Executive Producer Anthony E. Zuiker, Actor/Producer Gary Sinise, and Actors Melina Kanakaredes, Carmine Giovinazzo, Anna Belknap (who is cute as a button), Hill Harper, and Eddie Cahill. They talk about the changes that were made and how things were lightened up in season 2 to make the show more entertaining. Although the show is set in New York, the bulk of the show is shot in Burbank.
"Rolling with Jamalot" (7:43) includes interviews with Anthony E. Zuiker, Director Jonathan Glassner, Gary Sinise, Melina Kanakaredes, Stunt Coordinator Norman Howell, LA Derby Dolls Sondra Frame (aka "Tara Armour") and Redjenn Schilling (aka "Red Jenn"), and Eddie Cahill. This was the roller derby episode. They talk about how they shot it in a 17,000 seat stadium, with a limited number of extras. They also show how they did the shots on the roller derby track.
"A New Look From the 35th Floor - CSI: NY Set Tour" (8:28) - Anthony E. Zuiker provides a tour of the new season 2 set. He is very energetic and funny as he shows Mac Taylor's office, the audio/visual lab room, trace labs, break room, the bullpen/Stella's office, coroner's lab, and autopsy room. The set cost them millions of dollars and looks very authenic to me. "Behind-the Scenes "Heroes" (7:34) includes interviews with Writer/Supervising Producer Eli Talbert, Vanessa Ferlito, Gary Sinise, Executive Producer Pam Veasey, and Anthony Zuiker. This episode featured the return of Vanessa Ferlito as Aiden Burns. The b-story was about Fleet Week. They shot some scenes on the Intrepid. "Season 2 Ends with a Bang" (6:28) includes interviews with Melina Kanakaredes, Pam Veasey, Gary Sinise, Anna Belknap, Techincal Advisor Bill Haynes, Anthony E. Zuker, and Supervising Producer/Writer Timothy J. Lea. This featurette deals with the final 2 episodes of the season. They talk about the blowing up the building and about Mac Taylor's military background and the flashbacks.
Overall, this is a very nicely packaged set that any fan of the series will enjoy. The special features were well-produced and interesting. CSI: NY will never be my favorite CSI series, but I've grown to like it and look forward to the new episodes on Wednesday nights. My only disappointment with this set is that they didn't include the first part of the CSI Miami/NY cross-over episode. You'll have to buy CSI: Miami - The Complete Fourth Season to see that one.
-- Reviewed by Todd Fuller
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Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Wednesday, September 17
Shifting Gears - "Gummies" (ABC, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Riley is horrified when she finds weed gummies in Carter’s pocket, prompting surprising advice from Matt. Meanwhile, Eve inadvertently lands Gabriel and Stitch in hot water after asking them to donate to a charity auction.
Shifting Gears - "Kiss" (ABC, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Jimmy returns with a new job and a proposition for Riley and the kids to move into his house, Riley is torn between her past and her future. Meanwhile, Matt's feud with Eve flares up once again after she damages his car.
Abbott Elementary - "Rally" (ABC, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Ava and the Abbott teachers go to the district to plead for Ava's job back; Gregory handles duties as interim principal.
Abbott Elementary - "Please Touch Museum" (ABC, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Abbott Elementary goes on a schoolwide field trip to the Please Touch Museum, which has some of the older kids skeptical.
The Hospital - "Double or Nothing; Make a Wish" (BET, 11:00PM ET/PT)
Apparently the best spot to gamble during your shift, is in the morgue.
The Hospital - "Lyrical Surgery; Get It Poppin" (BET, 11:30PM ET/PT)
Dr. Do-It-To-Em's mixtape has more bars than a nursing student during finals week.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 15)
Wednesday, September 17
- Jason Bateman (Arrested Development/George and Leo/Chicago Sons/Simon/The Hogan Family/It's Your Move/Silver Spoons) - Jason appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Ron Howard (Arrested Development/Happy Days/The Andy Griffith Show) - Ron is a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Brett Goldstein (Shrinking/Ted Lasso) - Brett stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Rob Reiner (All in the Family/Morton & Hayes) - Rob appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Paul F. Tompkins (The Great North/BoJack Horseman/DAG) and Greta Titelman (Fantasmas/Search Party/Los Espookys) - Paul and Greta are guests on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Eva Longoria (Only Murders in the Building/Telenovela) - Eva talks about FX's Necaxa on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
- Marlon Wayans (Marlon/The Wayans Bros.) - Marlon talks about Him on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Eugene Levy (Schitt's Creek/Greg the Bunny/Hiller and Diller) - Eugene talks about The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Mark Duplass (Big Mouth/Togetherness/The Mindy Project/The League) - Mark talks about The Morning Show on ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis at 7pm.
- Rosie Perez (Human Resources/Search Party) - Rosie co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Kristin Davis (And Just Like That.../Bad Teacher/Sex and the City) - Kristin dishes on the end of And Just Like That and surprises Drew with an item from the set of Sex and the City on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Jane Lynch (Angel from Hell) - Jane talks about Fox's Celebrity Weakest Link on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Judy Reyes (Scrubs) - Judy is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.
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