Mini-DVD Review: JAG Season Four (Aug. 21)

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Welcome to a special Sunday edition of mini-DVD reviews! Today we have we take a look at CBS DVD's Fourth Season of JAG. JAG was a huge hit for CBS. If you are a fan of Navy NCIS, you know that NCIS is a spin-off of JAG. See Seth Thrasher's mini-DVD review of JAG - The Complete Fourth Season:

JAG - The Complete Fourth Season (CBS, $64.99) is now on DVD. Catch the long running Donald Bellisario classic series, on DVD from CBS DVD! Another season of another show I remember fondly, and another JAG DVD set with an absurd MSRP. $64.99 is just absurd. That said, this is a good season. The show starts off strong, with the episode "Gypsy Eyes," a continuation of the finale from last season. Harm and Mac are found after being shot down. The Russians are reporting they're dead, but Admiral Chegwidden doesn't buy it. In "People vs. Mac," Mac is arrested and placed on trial for a felony, along with her former commanding officer. Harm volunteers to defend her, but this efforts are thwarted. Nonetheless, he's determined to figure out just what's going on. Near the end of the season, Harm gets his night blindness fixed, and turns in his request to fly again to the admiral. The concern over Harm's future at JAG would span through the final two shows, "Yeah Baby" and "Goodbyes." Obviously we all know how this turns out now, but it's still quality television nonetheless.
The actual set itself could still use work. The packaging is the TV DVD standard-issue outer box with inner slimcases. The cover art is similar to the previous sets, with in this instance Harm and Mac standing in front of a background with the US flag and gavel below them. For season 4, the predominant color in the packaging is teal. The menu features an image in a faux-letterbox style, with the American Flag serving in place of the black bars on top and bottom. In the center is a photo. Show logo and season 4 appear in top left, with episode titles appearing as text links on the left side. Another plain-Jane CBS DVD menu. To my absolute shock, there IS a special feature. On Disc 6 we get a Gag Reel that runs 4:08. I'm shocked, and extremely pleased, at this feature's presence. For $65 MSRP, I'd certainly like to see more though. Video quality is exceptional, I freely admit. No flaws, with perfect color balance, no noticeable compression issues. For standard-definition video that's almost ten years old, this is extremely good. Closed- Captioning is available. Chapter Stops appear at each commercial break plus before and after the opening titles. Runtimes hover in the mid-40 minute range – acceptable for a late 90s TV show.
I really think CBS DVD/Paramount is slowly starting to "get it," this set features nearly flawless video – as far as I could tell anyway – high quality audio, and actually has a bonus feature. Now just work on *more* features and a lower MSRP, and I'll certainly be a happy man. I think if you're a fan of the show you'll be happy too.

-- Reviewed by Seth Thrasher

(4/5 stars)

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

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

Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows

Sunday, November 17

Bob's Burgers - "Saving Favorite Drive-in" (Fox, 7:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When the Belchers visit the local drive-in, Bob comes up with a plan to save the theater from closing; Linda accidentally insults another mom while on a group text chain; Louise and Gene hide from Tina after stealing some of her favorite candy.

Krapopolis - "Ice Week" (Fox, 7:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tyrannis struggles to keep his cool when he gets the hots for a visiting reporter; Shlub is paid a visit by an old friend; Hippocampus and Stupendous risk missing the festivities altogether.

The Simpsons - "Bart's Brain" (Fox, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Bart makes a new friend.

Universal Basic Guys - "Pet Projects" (Fox, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Threatened by a doctor's kindness toward Tammy, Mark tries to get her an exotic animal; Hank bonds with the chimpanzee via its bluetooth; David's dog saves David and Mernft Man from a pet snake.

Bob's Burgers - "Colon-ly the Dronel" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Linda agrees to drive Teddy to pick up Kathleen from her colonoscopy after he accidentally injures himself; the kids concoct a scheme to prank an overhead drone which is set to film the school from above.

Krapopolis - "Thor" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Tyrannis' little hunting mishap brings the Norse gods to Olympus; the family is forced to deal with the hunky Thor, the mischievous Loki, and some nasty bridge trolls.

Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of November 11)

Friday, November 15

Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Watch Tom on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
Joel McHale (Animal Control/The Great Indoors/Community) - Joel appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Caroline Rhea (Sydney to the Max/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch/Pride & Joy) - Caroline is a guest on a repeat of After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
Jeff Goldblum (Search Party) - NBC's Today catches up with Jeff in the 9am hour.
Jimmy O. Yang (Interior Chinatown/Space Force/Silicon Valley) and Taika Waititi (Our Flag Means Death) - Jimmy and Taika talk about Interior Chinatown on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
Billy Bob Thornton (Hearts Afire) - Billy Bob chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
Bad Sisters Cast - Eve Hewson, Sharon Horgan, Sarah Greene, and Eva Birthistle are dishing on the new season of the hit thriller show on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
Lacey Chabert (Still the King/Baby Daddy/Family Guy) - Lacey tells Sherri about her new holiday movies, Hot Frosty on Netflix and The Christmas Quest on Hallmark, on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg (Two and a Half Men/Jenny) - Jenny talks about Fox's The Masked Singer on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.