Saturday, June 16, 2012
Digital Digest: Season Six of Night Court Coming Very Soon; Scandal - The Complete First Season DVD Review; Rocko's Modern Life - Season Three DVD Review
Speaking of Warner Archive, if you buy those Alice DVDs any time in the very near future (and you should, it is a nice collection of episodes), you'll be in for a pleasant surprise once you receive the set. Although it has not exactly been fully acknowledged by Warner Archive, one thing that we noticed in our review copy of the set is that the DVDs definitely did not look like DVD-R media, but rather regular pressed DVDs (i.e. the same type of DVDs available at retailers). It wasn't mentioned in the review, because we weren't really sure about it, but Friday morning, there was a bit of discussion on Home Theater Forum about this same issue. So, last night, after somebody brought the discussion over to the Warner Archive Facebook page, they addressed this matter (though not fully answering exactly why this is happening, but acknowledging that it is indeed happening), stating:
"Your comment earlier today on HTF was fairly accurate. Your wisdom is commendable."In other words, Warner Archive is now doing a limited run on some of their multi-disc sets as pressed DVDs, which are highly preferred over the standard DVD-R media typically used for MOD offerings! We can confirm that both Alice and the soon-to-be-released Night Court are using pressed discs (for now, at least), and although we did not review the set, apparently Without a Trace - The Complete Third Season is also using pressed DVDs for early orders. Warner Archive has not really addressed why they are doing this, but considering that they are doing this primarily for multi-disc releases, it is likely due to the fact that releases receive the most publicity when they are first announced, and having a supply of pressed DVDs ready to be shipped is preferable (and likely more economically feasible) to burning multiple copies as they are ordered. In any event, we hope that Warner Archive keeps this up, and we would love to see them try to continue this model beyond just the earliest batches!
Believe it or not, we're not completely finished with our Warner Archive news for this week... although our last piece of news falls a bit more under the category of "rumor from those with inside knowledge," and it relates to a release that may come from the regular retail division of Warner Home Video. This week, somebody asked Warner Archive on Facebook if they have any plans for the sitcom Chico and the Man. The short version of their response was that there are no plans for a release, but the longer version... well, just read for yourself:
"This is under consideration for mass-market release, pending resolution of outstanding clearance matters."Now, we certainly encourage readers to be cautious with that bit of information, because it suggests that the DVDs are most likely not in the physical production phase right now, and a lot can happen between now and an actual release. But the great news here is that the series is under serious consideration, and if it makes it to DVD, it could actually be available from regular retail outlets. Of course, we don't expect an announcement on this any time very soon (and just to be clear, we may never hear an announcement on it if clearance issues are too challenging to clear), but it is great to know that the series is at least on the radar.
Finally last week, we discussed the Sony MOD title Emily's Reasons Why Not - The Complete Series potentially missing an entire episode. It had appeared that a seventh episode existed, "Why Not to Look in Bridal Magazines," which appeared to have aired in some countries... but this episode is not included in the set. However, the online information regarding international airings of this episode were completely incorrect. Upon posting our review, we found out some information relayed directly to an author of an upcoming book of episode guides of short lived series, from series producer Alicia Kirk regarding this "missing episode." Kirk informed the author that the episode was never produced. So, clearly it is very important to not always trust all of the information that you find online... but we hope that you'll trust this information!
BLOG FEATURE REVIEW
As is the case with most Nicktoons, the series usually aired in two separate segments in a half hour block (although occasionally, there would be a "two-part" episode which covered both halves of the episode). So, most of the "episodes" that we talk about are actually just 12 minute segments (although there is one in this set which is a full 25 minute episode). The set begins with "Bye, Bye, Birdie," where Rocko and Heffer have to bird sit with Filburt's bird Turdy when Filburt is sick, but just as his name suggests, Turdy is not a particularly pleasant bird. Rocko has some plumbing trouble (thanks to Heffer) in "Belch of Destiny." In "Schnit-Heads" (a very interesting episode title for a Nickelodeon series), Heffer becomes a member of a "sausage club," so hopefully they won't send him any beef sausage. Filburt tries to come out of his shell for Halloween in "Sugar Frosted Frights." Rocko suspects foul play from the Bigheads when he thinks that Bev murdered Ed in "Ed is Dead: A Thriller!" Heffer and Filburt make a bit of an X-rated video when they videotape Rocko sleepwalking naked in "Camera Shy." In "Old Fogey Froggy," Ed has a midlife crisis, and tries to recapture his youth by hanging out with Heffer, Rocko, and Filburt. Ed's bug problem becomes Rocko's bug problem in "Rocko's Happy Vermin." In "I See London, I See France," Rocko and Heffer go all the way to France... but experience absolutely nothing that they wouldn't experience at home.
In "Dear John," Rocko's kitchen suffers a bit of a setback from a government satellite collapse. Rocko and Heffer get into a big fight, and find themselves trying to resolve it on tabloid TV talk circuit in "Speaking Terms." In the double-length episode"Wacky Delly," Rocko, Heffer, and Filburt make it big into show business. Filburt finds the woman of his dreams (or so he thinks) in "The Big Question," which results in wedding chaos in "The Big Answer." In "Scrubbin' Down Under," Rocko's hygeine becomes a big deal (nationwide) after his "spinach tooth" is revealed. An exciting (and extravagant) recycling program comes to O-Town in "Zanzibar." The season ends with "Fatal Contraption," where Rocko buys a food processor which ends up processing him more than it processes food.
The episodes on the set all seem to be unedited (as far as I can tell), and the runtimes of the episodes are actually a bit longer than I expected, with each episode running close to 25 minutes. In fact, one comes close to 26 minutes, which is very odd for a program which only aired just a little over a decade ago. Runtimes are as follows:
Disc 1:
1. "Bye, Bye, Birdie"/"Belch of Destiny" (24:51)
2. "The Emperor's New Joe"/"Schnit-Heads" (25:25)
3. "Sugar Frosted Frights"/"Ed is Dead: A Thriller!" (24:29)
4. "Fish-n-Chumps"/"Camera Shy" (25:23)
5. "Nothing to Sneeze At"/"Old Fogey Froggy" (25:46)
6. "Manic Mechanic"/"Rocko's Happy Vermin" (25:06)
7. "I See London, I See France"/"The Fat Lands" (25:44)
Disc 2:
8. "Fortune Cookie"/"Dear John" (25:14)
9. "Speaking Terms"/"Tooth & Nail" (23:50)
10. "Wacky Delly" (25:05)
11. "The Big Question"/"The Big Answer" (24:58)
12. "An Elk for Heffer"/"Scrubbin' Down Under" (24:38)
13. "Zanzibar"/"Fatal Contraption" (25:05)
The menus on the set are very basic, with a listing of all of the episodes (along with a photo of Rocko and Heffer) on the main menu. Both segments for each episode are listed on the menu, so you can start the episode from the middle segment if you wish. There is also a Play All option on the main menu. The closing theme music plays in the background of the menu. Chapters are placed appropriately throughout each episode.
There really aren't any issues of concern with the video or audio quality of the episodes. Some of the contrast levels are a little off every now and then (sometimes too dark, sometimes too light), but it isn't too bad. In general, the episodes look just as they did on Nickelodeon. The stereo audio track doesn't really use many special effects, obviously, but it is very loud and clear. Each episode contains closed-captioning.
This is another decent release of the series, and it is great to see more contributions from Joe Murray on here. His insights on this set really were much more, well, "insightful" on this set, and were even better than the previous ones. It is difficult to really come up with a plethora of special features for this set, so I think what is included really does do the job. It is hard to believe that this series is only one season away from completion, and I'm hopeful that we will see a release of that season soon, maybe even with a few surprise special features on it. But for now, you can enjoy the thrills of "modern life" with these thirteen episodes.
There is also a brief episode guide (to replace that, well, non-existent episode guide not included in the DVD!), a brief synopsis of each season, an overview of the movie which was the inspiration for the series, an overview of the spinoff Flo, and even a few episode scripts which you can read on the website. There is aslo a place to find some memorable quotes and some audio clips from the series. It certainly isn't a website which is all inclusive of everything you'd ever want to know about Alice, but it is a very nice and professional looking site which will get you cued in on all of the essential information which you need to know about the series... and perhaps, with the release of the DVDs, the site will gain more interest from fans and become bigger over time. Of course, if you want to see the first season after (or maybe even before), you can always find it on Warner Archive. And since this is our Click of the Week, you may find that things will work out and that you'll stay a while!
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Tuesday, April 1
St. Denis Medical - "Anything to Push Zaluva" (NBC, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Ron's teasing makes Joyce question whether her friendship with a pharmaceutical rep is genuine; Alex has trouble letting Serena take on a new task; Matt finds a mentor in Bruce.
Night Court - "Hot to Trot" (NBC, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Abby's friendship with her ex-boyfriend's mother leads to romantic complications; when Julianne's wealthy aunt passes away, the gang vies for a piece of her inheritance.
Tyler Perry's House of Payne - "Love At First Swipe" (BET, 9:00PM ET/PT)
C.J. and Janine receive marital advice from an unlikely source; Peanut seeks help with his newfound online lover.
Tyler Perry's Assisted Living - "Failure 2 Launch" (BET, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Assisted Living is the new situation comedy by Tyler Perry about three generations who must make a new start in the rural backwoods of Georgia.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 31)
Tuesday, April 1
- Adam Scott (Ghosted/Veep/Parks and Recreation/Party Down) - Catch Adam on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Kevin Bacon (I Love Dick) - Kevin is a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Amanda Peet (Brockmire/Togetherness/Bent) - Amanda appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Paul Rudd (The Shrink Next Door/Living with Yourself/Wild Oats) - Paul stops by Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Ike Barinholtz (The Studio/The Afterparty/Bless the Harts/The Mindy Project/Eastbound & Down) - Ike appears on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC. He will also be on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
- Vinny Thomas (Platonic), Paul F. Tompkins (The Great North/BoJack Horseman/DAG) and Aparna Nancherla (The Great North/Lopez vs Lopez/Corporate) - Vinny, Paul and Aparna are guests on After Midnight at 12:37am on CBS.
- Chase Sui Wonders (The Studio/Bupkis) and Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Chase and Kathryn are guests on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen at 9:30pm on Bravo.
- Will Ferrell (The Office) and Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls/Joey) - E! News has interviews with Will and Jennifer at 11pm on E!.
- Román Zaragoza (Ghosts) - Román talks about Ghosts on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
- Jenny Slate (The Great North/Big Mouth/Married/Bob's Burgers) - Jenny talks about Dying for Sex on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.
- Michael Angarano (Laid/I'm Dying Up Here/Will & Grace) and Michael Cera (Life & Beth/Arrested Development/I Was a Sixth Grade Alien) - Michael and Michael talk about Sacramento with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia guest co-hosts NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Hannah Einbinder (Hacks) - Hannah talks about Hacks on NBC's Today in the 10am hour.
- Tasha Smith (Survival of the Thickest/Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse/The Tom Show/Boston Common) and Tone Bell (Survival of the Thickest/Fam/Disjointed/Truth Be Told/Bad Judge/Whitney) - Tasha and Tone talk about the new season of Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Kathryn Hahn (The Studio/Tiny Beautiful Things/Central Park/Happyish/Transparent/Free Agents) - Kathryn is dishing on her new comedy series The Studio on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer and Freddy Rodriguez chat about their podcast Dos Amigos on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Brenda Song (Running Point/Dollface/Dads/The Suite Life on Deck/The Suite Life of Zack & Cody) - Brenda talks about Netflix's Running Point on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Paul Walter Hauser (The Afterparty) - Paul is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
11/05 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
11/12 - The King of Queens - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (2024 Release)
11/19 - SpongeBob SquarePants - The Complete Fourteenth Season
11/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 4 (Blu-ray)
12/03 - Angel (1960-1961) - The Complete Series, Volume 1
12/17 - Seinfeld - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (4K UHD)
01/28 - Wait Till Your Father Gets Home - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/04 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
03/11 - Frasier (2023) - Season Two
04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
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