Saturday, October 28, 2006

Mini-DVD Reviews: Baywatch Syndicated Seasons 1 and 2; The Super Mario Bros. Super Show Volume 2 (October 31)

Welcome to another edition of the Saturday mini-DVD reviews! Today we take a look at First Look Home Entertainment's Baywatch: Syndicated Seasons 1 and 2 and Shout! Factory's The Super Mario Bros. Super Show: Volume 2. Both series were very popular in the late 80s/early '90s and are two totally different shows, so we hope the audience for today's blog will be of all ages. Baywatch was of course about lifeguards saving lives on the beach in Santa Monica while The Super Mario Bros. Super Show was both live-action and animation! See my mini-DVD reviews of both sets:

Baywatch: Syndicated Seasons 1 and 2 (First Look, $34.99 each) brings the first two seasons from the syndication years on DVD on two separate five-disc sets. If you are wondering what they will do about the real season one, which aired on network television on NBC, they will put all of those episodes on each syndicated season set. So, for syndicated season one we will get the Baywatch pilot movie and on the syndicated season two set we will get the next two episodes. So, eventually we will have all the NBC episodes. You just will have to buy the syndicated seasons to get them. Well, anyway, I will cover mainly syndicated season two set since that is when this show really took off with the additions of Pamela Anderson and Nicole Eggert joining David Hasselhoff and the gang. Each episode from syndicated season one and syndicated season two are on this set except the two-part season premieres for both seasons. That is not good, but First Look has said that they don't own the rights to these episodes, Lionsgate does. I find it fishy because in the original press release these episodes were listed, but in the press release that was sent to us with this packaged review copy set, they are removed. So, we get 20 hours on each set instead of 22 hours each, plus the bonus NBC episodes. Each syndicated episode on both sets run approx. 43:40, and has the "Tonight on Baywatch" episode preview for each episode. The content is unedited I believe, but the music is missing according to the box. And you don't need the box to tell you that the opening theme has been replaced. That is not good! A theme called "All My Life" or something like that is the theme instead. I'm not sure if that is a new song made just for the DVD or if it is an existing song, but it sounds more of a theme used on a teen show (like 90210). What is even more strange is that a month back First Look sent us a promotional disc that included the last two episodes of syndicated season two and the NBC pilot, the two syndicated season two episodes HAD the original theme intact! So, what happened? This must have been a last minute thing. I am not a fan of syndicated season one, but I will talk about the episodes on syndicated season two. Some good episodes include "Pier Pressure," "Showdown at Malibu Beach High," "Masquerade," "Vacation, Parts 1 and 2," "Shattered, Parts 1 and 2," and "Fatal Exchange." The menu screen for both sets has Episodes & Set Up, with the replacement theme song in the background. We are greeted with a wave before the main menu starts and also when we select an option a wave transition is in effect. Four chapters are on each episode, and there are also scene selections. The video and audio are both very good. The extras are decent and are on disc five on both sets. On syndicated season one we have a photo gallery, the NBC pilot (which runs 95 minutes), and a featurette with the creators running 16 minutes. I will go in more detail for the extras in syndicated season two. They have a Baywatch Through the Years photo gallery, two NBC network episodes: "In Deep" (45:40) & "Heatwave" (46:15), and a How it Began featurette in which the creators (Michael Berk, Doug Schwartz, and Greg Bonann) discuss everything in detail. I am not sure if I can recommend this set for diehards. Diehards will be upset about the music replacement, the two missing two-part episodes, and the wonderful original theme. If you are a new or casual fan, then I do highly recommend to pick up this set. Syndicated season three is coming in February, that is the last season I really like, so I will review that one, too.
-- Reviewed by Pavan
(3/5 stars)

To purchase the DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
Syndicated Season 1:
Amazon.com
Syndicated Season 2:
Amazon.com

Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
Baywatch TV.com Page


Super Mario Bros. Super Show: Volume 2 (Shout!, $29.98) brings the next 24 half hours on DVD for the very first time. Volume one was such a big success that Shout! rushed and has brought us volume two. This set is a four-disc set that has six episodes on each, plus bonus features on each disc. The episodes all run just under 22 minutes and include the live-action segments with Captain Lou Albano and Danny Wells as Mario & Luigi. In between the live action, there was a cartoon. The is the main feature of the show, but most probably remember the show for the live-action segments. The live action segments featured many guest stars. On this set we see Gary Schwartz, Sgt. Slaughter, Rob Stone, Donna Douglas, Brian Bonsell, Nedra Volz, Jim Lange, Fred Travalena, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Vanna White and even Patrick Dempsey. Though, Dempsey played a tree and was not seen really. The menu screen has Play All, Episodes, Special Features, with the theme song in the background and clips in the middle. The menu is designed quite well and is easy to navigate. There are about 7 chapter stops for each episode. The video and audio are both very good, but the video is slightly grainy (especially on the animated portion). Each disc has extras. Each disc has a bonus animated episode that runs approx. 14 minutes. These do not have any live-action segments. Each disc also has a "The Worlds of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show - Art Gallery." This shows us sketches of the animated portion, with music playing in the background. Each on average is about 3-5 minutes each. Disc one also has sketches from the live-action studio, titled "Interactive Tour of the Mario Bros. Plumbing." Disc three has a cute featurette called "Fan Costume Gallery," that is a photo gallery of many fans dressed up as characters from the show. And finally disc four has a feature from one fan's perspective titled "Meeting Mario: A Fan Tale's Featurette." This runs 3 minutes and has this fan giving his story on the night (March 28, 2006) that he met Captain Lou Albano at the Jersey Gardens mall in Elizabeth, NJ. Albano was appearing there to promote the volume one DVD. I live very close to that mall; I should have went and helped that fan with directions, as he got lost and went to Newark airport, lol. I highly do recommend any fan to pick up this set. If you never saw the show, pick it up because it is very fun! Hurry today and order the DVD before the DVD sells out!
-- 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
Super Mario Bros. Super Show TV.com Page


Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Saturday, September 7

Johnson - "Bahama Breeze" (Bounce TV, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Naomi is impressed with Omar's growth; Antionette makes Jarvis a proposal at a much-needed time; Greg reconnects with Jada; Omar, Keith and Jarvis hit the club.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 2)

Friday, September 6

  • Kumail Nanjiani (Bless the Harts/Silicon Valley) - Watch Kumail on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
  • Michael Keaton (Report to Murphy/Working Stiffs/All's Fair) - Michael appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Conner O'Malley (Shrill) - Conner is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Edie Falco (Bupkis/Nurse Jackie) - Edie talks about her film I'll Be Right There on NBC's Today in the 10am hour and on Live with Kelly and Mark, so check your local listings.
  • Josh Gad (Wolf Like Me/Avenue 5/The Comedians/1600 Penn/Back to You) - Josh is joining Drew and telling her about getting denied from his college's musical theater program and making his return to Broadway after eleven years with bestie Andrew Rannells on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Diane Farr (Splitting Together/Like Family/The Job) - Diane discusses the CBS drama series Fire Country on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.


New on DVD and Blu-ray

Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series Check It Out! - The Complete Series Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray) Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD) Young Sheldon - The Complete Series

04/03 - Too Close for Comfort - The Complete Series (VEI)
04/08 - Check It Out! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/21 - Frasier (2023) - Season One
06/11 - The Jeffersons - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
06/11 - Welcome Back, Kotter - The Complete Series (2024 Release)
07/05 - Letterkenny - Season 12 (Final Season)
07/30 - Ted Lasso - The Richmond Way (The Complete Series) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/10 - Rick and Morty - The Complete Seasons 1-7
09/10 - Ted - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/17 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
09/17 - Top Cat - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/24 - Friends - The Complete Series (4K Ultra HD)
09/24 - Young Sheldon - The Complete Seventh Season (DVD) / The Complete Series (DVD) (Blu-ray)
10/08 - Curb Your Enthusiasm - The Complete Twelfth Season / The Complete Series
10/22 - Veep - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)

More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD and Blu-ray Releases / TV Shows on DVD, Blu-ray and Prime Video / DVD Reviews Archive


Recent SitcomsOnline.com News Blog Posts

09/07 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Only Murders in the Building Renewed for Fifth Season; Plex Adds Knots Landing and More
09/06 - Hulu's Child Stars Documentary; Keke Palmer Heads to The 'Burbs for Peacock
09/05 - Dancing with the Stars Season 33 Cast; Tia Mowry We TV Docuseries
09/04 - Nick at Nite Acquires Modern Family; SNL Stars Go Live on Peacock Next Thursday
09/03 - The CW Swaps Two Nights for Fall 2024 Schedule; Retta Returns to HGTV
09/02 - TV Marathons on Labor Day 2024 Include Barney Miller
09/01 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of September 2, 2024)
08/31 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at New Netflix Comedy; One Tree Hill Sequel in the Works
08/30 - Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween 2024; Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Premieres October 29
08/29 - Based on a True Story Returns in November on Peacock; Nikki Glaser to Host Golden Globes
08/28 - Acapulco Renewed for Season 4; Kiernan Shipka Max Movie
08/27 - Everybody Still Hates Chris Premieres September 25 on Comedy Central; Final Season of Somebody Somewhere Returns in October
08/26 - Frasier Returns September 19 on Paramount+ for Season 2; Ted Danson's Netflix Comedy Premieres in November
08/25 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 26, 2024)
08/24 - SitcomsOnline Digest: First Look at New Netflix Comedy; TNT Picks Up The Librarians: The Next Chapter
08/23 - FETV's Sunday Mystery Matinee Block; Glen Powell Is Chad Powers for Hulu Comedy
08/22 - Pee-wee Forever on August 27 on Shout! TV; The Lincoln Lawyer Is Back This October
08/21 - NBC Moves Premiere Due to VP Debate; Seth Meyers Gets Live Primetime Special
08/20 - The Rockford Files 50th Anniversary Marathons on Great Entertainment Television (get.); Bad Sisters Returning for Season 2
08/19 - Schitt's Creek Stars to Host Emmys on ABC; Madison Iseman Joins USA Network Series
08/18 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 19, 2024)
08/17 - SitcomsOnline Digest: The Drew Carey Show Now Streaming for Free; Hulu Picks Up Mid-Century Modern Comedy
08/16 - NBC to Air Mr. Throwback Premiere; Ariel Winter Returns for New Sofia the First Series
08/15 - Comedy Central Acquires Family Guy; Hallmark to Launch Hallmark+ Streaming Service
08/14 - Only Murders in the Building Season 4 Trailer; Grotesquerie Gets Premiere Date on FX
08/13 - Audible Announces Two Scripted Comedy Podcasts; Modern Family's Julie Bowen's Peacock Series
08/12 - Tyler Perry's House of Payne and Assisted Living Return; First Look at Wizards Beyond Waverly Place
08/11 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of August 12, 2024)
08/10 - SitcomsOnline Digest: A Sequel to A Different World and Reboot for Scrubs?; Cartoon Network Shuts Down Website
08/09 - Rewind TV's Welcome Back, (to School) Kotter Marathon; Gary Coleman Peacock Documentary
08/08 - Antenna TV Closing Out Summer with Back to School and Labor Day Marathons; Colin from Accounts Returns Sept. 26
08/07 - Hulu Fall 2024 Programming Slate; Onyx Collective's How to Die Alone Trailer Released