Saturday, May 25, 2013

Digital Digest: Growing Pains and Inspector Gadget on DVD; Rookie Blue - The Complete Third Season DVD Review

Happy Memorial Day weekend, and welcome to Digital Digest! Before you get that barbecue going, stick with us for a little bit for our news and features, along with a review of Rookie Blue - The Complete Third Season. Let's get started!


DIGITAL NEWS

Warner Archive always brings us big surprises every few weeks, and they had a big one for us this week as they released Growing Pains - The Complete Third Season. The first two seasons, of course, were released by Warner Home Video, and the series always seemed to have difficulty getting a go of it on DVD... but hopefully we'll see a steady stream of releases of this series now, and "the best is ready to begin!"

TVShowsOnDVD.com discovered some preorder listings that fans of a classic '80s animated series are sure to love, as Inspector Gadget not only comes to DVD again, but it appears that fans will get the entire series on DVD now! They'll all be released on the same day, but it'll be in separate releases, as they bring fans three volumes of season 1 (volume 1, volume 2, and volume 3) and season 2.

There are eight million stores in the Naked City, and not all of them have been on DVD... that is, not yet... but they're coming! A preorder listing appeared on amazon.com this week for Naked City - The Complete Series. No release date has been given for this series so far.


UPCOMING WEEK PREVIEW 

Tuesday (May 28) has no sitcom releases, but there are several other releases TV related releases of interest, including Covert Affairs - Season Three, Beetlejuice - The Complete Series, and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - Season Two, Volume Two.

Of course, one of the "biggest" things coming next week is not a DVD at all... instead, it is the debut of the new (and final... maybe) episodes of Arrested Development on Netflix. All 15 new episodes will debut on Sunday morning at 3:00 AM ET!


BLOG FEATURE REVIEW



Blog DVD Review: Rookie Blue - The Complete Third Season (Entertainment One, $39.98)
by Pavan

The hit ABC summer primetime cop show Rookie Blue returns for its third season on DVD, but this time there is no Blu-ray release for some reason. That's not a big deal to us because we reviewed the DVD releases for the previous two seasons. Be careful what you wish for...with two years under their belt, the rookies of 15 Division are well on their way to becoming seasoned cops, but experience isn't everything...and the boundary between job and personal life is no longer as black and white as it one seemed. The drama is produced in Canada and is a Canadian production and also airs on Global in Canada.

We have all 13 episodes from the third season on a nice four-disc set from eOne! The series stars Missy Peregrym as Andy McNally, Enuka Okuma as Traci Nash, Gregory Smith as Dov Epstein, Travis Milne as Chris Diaz, Charlotte Sullivan as Gail Peck, Peter Mooney as Nick Collins, Matt Gordon as Oliver Shaw, Melanie Nicholls-King as Noelle Williams, Lyriq Bent as Sergeant Frank Best, and Ben Bass as Sam Swarek. Noam Jenkins as Jerry Barber and Eric Johnson as Luke Callaghan recur. Guest stars include William Shatner!

The third season has 13 episodes just like the first two seasons. Among the memorable episodes is the season premiere "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life," where after her three-month suspension, McNally faces an official hearing which will decide if she should be reinstated back onto the force, however upon returning, she and Swarek are accidentally involved in a missing child case when a drunk driver (William Shatner) collides with a van and finds a teenage girl in the back, while Peck gets a shock when a new rookie, ex-soldier Nick Collins (Peter Mooney), arrives for his first day at 15 Division. In "A Good Shoot," Dov's world explodes into chaos when he walks in on a convenience store robbery in progress and shoots a young black teenager, who may or may not have been armed and the tight-knit community erupts in outrage, as the ensuing investigation calls into question whether Dov used excessive force or acted too quickly. In the first of a two-part episode, "The Girlfriend Experience," a grad student's disappearance leads Andy and Nick to discover the woman's double life as a high-end escort, but when a pattern of missing women emerges, Gail, who is physically similar to the victims, is sent in on an undercover sting operation. In the conclusion, "Out of Time," the same night the officers of 15 Division are forced to release a suspected predator for lack of evidence, Andy and Gail are violently assaulted in Andy's loft -- and Gail is abducted, as Detective Luke Callaghan is brought in to oversee the case that very well may be the work of a serial murderer. In "Cold Comforts," the officers of 15 Division struggle to come to terms with their fallen colleague and get back to work patrolling the streets and when they discover that a police laptop containing sensitive information has been stolen they set off on a hunt to recover the computer and prevent any dangerous fallout. On the season finale, "I Never," when a violent child abductor escapes from an emergency hospital visit, the officers of 15 Division try to track him down before he takes another young victim, while Chris' family obligations have him contemplating a transfer, and Traci and Gail each face monumental decisions regarding their respective careers. We get all 13 unedited episodes on this DVD. Runtimes for each episode follow:

Disc One
1. The First Day of the Rest of Your Life (43:00)
2. Class Dismissed (42:50)
3. A Good Shoot (42:59)
4. Girls' Night Out (42:12)

Disc Two
5. Messy Houses (43:02)
6. Coming Home (42:44)
7. Leap of Faith (43:02)
8. The Girlfriend Experience (42:46)

Disc Three
9. Out of Time (42:56)
10. Cold Comforts (42:59)
11. The Rules (41:55)
12. Every Man (43:00)

Disc Four
13. I Never (43:00)

Moving on to the packaging, the set this time doesn't have an outer thin box holding the case. We just have the case itself. The cover of the case in blue (fitting!) and has the series logo towards the bottom following a nice cast photo of the five original rookies and the complete second third mention is above them. The back of the case has info on the set and series, with a nice quote from the L.A. Times. We have a nice cast photo of the rookies with Swarek as well, along with five episodic images (one includes William Shatner!). There is a little box showcasing the bonus features as well. Inside the case we have nice artwork of a Metropolitan Police car on the left panel and McNally and Swarek on the right panel itself. There is also a disc-by-disc breakdown on the left panel listing episode episode title per disc and bonus features. The discs themselves are on two little plastic holders that you can flip like a page in a book, similar to the previous sets. Each disc is in the blue design with the series logo and the Metropolitan Police badge in the background and the disc number on top. Disc one holds episodes 1-4, disc two holds episodes 5-8, disc three holds episodes 9-12 and disc four has episode 13 and all the bonus features. We don't get an Entertainment One booklet showcasing other DVDs this time. Most of this section is very similar to the first two seasons, though.

The menu design is great again and has moving video clips playing in the background while we listen to the closing music from the show. The series logo is also placed on the main menu. We have an Episodes menu this time, as previously we just had the numbers/titles listed right on the main menu itself below the video clips that were playing. The main menu options are Play All, Episode and Set-Up. In Episodes, it's simple...we have the episode number and title and you can choose from that. In Set-up, we can choose either English 5.1 Digital Dolby audio or 2.0 Stereo. English SDH subtitles can also be turned on. Special Features option is on disc four only. There are no auto trailers on disc one before the main menu this time.

Video and audio quality are both outstanding once again on this DVD. There is no Blu-ray version this time, so this is the way to go. This set is superb. You can turn on the 5.1 surround sound and watch the series in great audio quality as well. Each episode has 8 chapter stops (up from the 7 from the previous set), so it is easy to jump through an episode if you are looking for something in particular like McNally in a dress or her in bed with Swarek. This is a hot cast!

There are some special features on this set as well! They are all on disc four again and are decently produced again. First up, we have "Season 3: Be Careful What You Wish For" (1:58) where we look at the relationships from this season. Interviewed are Travis Milne, Missy Peregrym, Ben Bass, Gregory Smith, Enuka Okuma, and Charlotte Sullivan. Next we have, "Crash Course: Inside the Season Premiere" (8:05) where we are on location for the season premiere and have interviews on the spot from Gregory Smith, Enuka Okuma, William Shatner, Missy Peregrym, and Ben Bass, along with some behind the scenes shots. Then we have "The New Rookie" (2:15) where we look at Nick Collins the new rookie, with interviews with Matt Gordon, Peter Rooney, Charlotte Sullivan, Missy Peregrym, and Ben Bass. The next featurette is "New Detective" (1:35), which talks about Traci being promoted and has interviews with Enuka Okuma, Missy Peregrym, and Charlotte Sullivan. Then we go "behind the Camera" (2:05) which is about Gregory Smith directing episode #311 and has interviews with Travis Milne, Gregory Smith, Enuka Okuma, Missy Peregrym, Peter Mooney, and Ben Bass. Then we have "Travis Tours" (3:15), which is Travis Milne giving us a set tour of the set. Moving on, we have "Mooney Moments" (2:03), as we get the fun side of Mooney with Missy, Charlotte and Travis. We also have "On-Set Camera Interviews," as this looks like a Global production. We have Travis Milne and Gregory Smith (4:18), Enuka Okuma (3:51), and Ben Bass (4:07). Finally we have "Split Screen Behind-the-Scenes Footage" for the episodes Messy Houses (3:52) and Every Man (3:14). This is actually showing us the way it looks on the set compared to what we really see in the finished product. Wow, that finished product looks really good compared to what it actually looks. That was a very unique special feature and we got a taste of it on the season 2 set!

Once again, I think Entertainment One did a good job with this set. It's another great season for this great show and the episodes just get better and better. As usual, the finale is a must-see and we have a nice two-part episode. The menus, packaging and bonus features are all good as well. I think the special features quantity went up from season two, so that is good news, too. Not sure why we don't have a Blu-ray release this season, but maybe it will come later? This is a summer series, so we only have 13 episodes each season. Wish it was more, but quality over quantity, right? Missy Peregrym is just stunning and is great as the lead. ABC/Global will air 13 more episodes this summer, as the fourth season premiere was this past Thursday at 10|9 central. Watch every Thursday at 10|9c all summer-long! But if you need to catch-up, start, or just to have this in your DVD collection, then click the order link below! Don't screw up! And finally, catch Missy Peregrym on Good Morning America this Tuesday promoting the season!

(4/5 stars)

To purchase Rookie Blue - The Complete Third Season on DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
Amazon.com

Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews Page
Rookie Blue on TV.com


FOLLOW ME 

Who to Follow: Roseanne Barr (Twitter), @TheRealRoseanne
Claim to Fame: Roseanne is a woman of many last names (she typically uses Barr, the one under which she became famous), and she got her start as a stand-up comedian. She became well known, though, in 1988, when her self-titled series Roseanne debuted on ABC. The series ran for nine seasons, and she won many awards and was the second highest paid female in entertainment at the time. Since the end of that series, she has made a few more attempts at success, including a 2012 run for president... where she came in sixth place. Most recently, she made appearances on some of the final episodes of the NBC series The Office.
Why You Should Follow Her: Roseanne is a great actress and comedian that many of us watched all throughout the '90s. Even though she hasn't had a hit TV series since Roseanne, we have a feeling that she'll be back eventually (she's still young) with some new and exciting project that will succeed. She is very active on Twitter (even though most of her tweets are by no means politically correct), and even takes the time to respond to her fans at times. In between some of her rants and other things (right now, she is in attack mode on Jerry Lewis), she takes time to look back at her career. And, despite her persona as being in an eternal bad mood (which sometimes it seems like she is on Twitter), you'll see that she actually is a nice person underneath it all.
Pick of the Tweets: "i used to hear cybil and other women crying in the alley behind the roseanne sound stage. I knew that chuck lorre had destroyed their logos." (May 21, 2013)

That's all for this week. Until next time, keep it digital!


Sitcoms Airing Tonight

Thursday, June 8

Young Sheldon - "Pancake Sunday and Textbook Flirting" (CBS, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Mary struggles to make new friends while Mandy pushes Georgie to date another woman.

Ghosts - "Alberta's Descendant" (CBS, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Alberta is thrilled when a living relative, Alicia (Ashley D. Kelley), visits Woodstone to learn more about her, but things take a turn when she hits it off with Todd (Rodrigo Fernandez Stoll), Sam’s podcast co-host. Also, Nigel uses his knowledge of Trevor and Hetty’s secret tryst to try to blackmail Hetty.

Animal Control - "Dogs and Geese" (Fox, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Dispatch radios a report of a goose on the loose; the precinct hosts an adoption day.

Animal Control - "Pigs and Minks" (Fox, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The team welcomes back Patel even though he is still on suspension; Shred and Victoria are called into the principal's office on a school visit; Rick heads back into the field with Frank.

Complete TV Listings


Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of June 5)

Thursday, June 8

  • Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory/8 Simple Rules/Ladies Man) - Catch Kaley on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
  • Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Tom appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
  • Lea Michele (The Mayor/Scream Queens) - Lea is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Janelle James (Abbott Elementary) - Janelle appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
  • Chris Messina (The Mindy Project) - Chris will be on a repeat of The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
  • Laurie Metcalf (The Conners/Roseanne/The McCarthys/The Norm Show) - Laurie chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
  • Boris Kodjoe (The Last Man on Earth/Second Time Around) - Boris is a guest on a repeat of The Talk on CBS at 2pm ET/1pm CT-PT.
  • Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Never Have I Ever) - Maitreyi talks about Never Have I Ever Live with Kelly and Mark, (check your listings) and on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
  • Eva Longoria (Telenovela) - Eva appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
  • Marcus Scribner (grown-ish/black-ish) - Marcus joins the Tam Fam to discuss the final season of grown-ish on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
  • Nia Long (Uncle Buck/The Cleveland Show/The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) - Nia appears on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Lauren London (The Game) - Lauren is a guest on a repeat of The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
  • Fortune Feimster (Kenan/Bless the Harts/Champions) - Fortune appears on a repeat of The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings. She also talks about FUBAR on CBS Mornings sometime between 7-9am.
  • Kelsey Grammer (Frasier/Partners/Cheers) - Kelsey is telling Rachael about his recent movie, the Frasier revival and what he's got going on next on a repeat of Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
  • Marilu Henner (Evening Shade/Taxi) - Marilu talks about Hallmark's Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Haunted by Murder on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
  • Vivica A. Fox (Mr. Box Office/Getting Personal/Arsenio/Out All Night) - Vivica stops by to discuss her involvement with the Tony Awards and her Fox Soul talk show Cocktails with Queens on Sherri, so check your local listings.
  • Marsha Warfield (Night Court/Empty Nest) - Marsha drops by to talk about her iconic comedy career, her The Book of Marsha comedy tour and finally sees the green room at Sherri that was inspired by her, so check your local listings.
  • Sarah Jessica Parker (And Just Like That.../Sex and the City/Square Pegs) - Sarah will be on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am.


New on DVD/Blu-ray (January-June)

Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI) Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI) Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series

01/03 - Andy Richter Controls the Universe - The Complete Series (2023 Release)
01/27 - Master of None - Season Three / The Complete Series
02/21 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Nine / The Complete Season Ten
02/28 - Growing Pains - The Complete Series
03/28 - Rick and Morty - Season 8 (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/04 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Fifth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
04/18 - Blondie - The Complete 1957 Television Series (Blu-ray)
04/25 - Cheers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
05/23 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Complete Season Eleven / The Complete Season Twelve
05/23 - Go On - The Complete Series
05/23 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (Universal)
05/29 - Gimme a Break! - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/29 - Kate & Allie - The Complete Series (VEI)
05/30 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 1 (Blu-ray)
06/13 - Mayberry R.F.D. - The Complete Series
06/13 - Night Court (1984-1992) - The Complete Series
More Recent and Upcoming TV DVD Releases / DVD Reviews Archive / SitcomsOnline Digest


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06/06 - New Superman Animated Series Coming to Adult Swim; TV Stars Come Together in Netflix Film
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06/03 - SitcomsOnline Digest: ABC Declares Rating Victories for 22-23 Season; Australian Version of The Office in the Works
06/02 - HBO Renews Somebody Somewhere for a Third Season; Remembering Marlene Clark of Sanford and Son and Other Sitcom Stars We Recently Lost
06/01 - MeTV's Marry Me Block on June 4; TBS Sets Miracle Workers: End Times Premiere Date for July 10
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05/19 - Futurama Triumphantly Returns July 24; Final Season of Physical Drops August 2; Primo Premieres May 19 on Amazon Freevee
05/18 - The CW Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Netflix Upfront 2023
05/17 - Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2023; Sarah Silverman HBO Special Premieres May 27
05/16 - ABC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; FX's Summer 2023 Slate
05/15 - FOX Announces 2023-24 Programming Slate; iCarly Season 3 Premieres June 1
05/14 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 15, 2023)
05/13 - SitcomsOnline Digest: Night Court Season Finale Brings Back a Familiar Face; Comedy Central Renews Digman! for Second Season
05/12 - NBC Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; Hulu Orders Deli Boys from Onyx Collective
05/11 - CBS Upfront 2023-24: Fall 2023 Schedule; The CW Summer Lineup Has Comedies
05/10 - Minx Returns in July on STARZ; Never Have I Ever Final Episodes Premieres June 8, Trailer Drops
05/09 - The CW Acquires Son of a Critch; FX's The Bear Returns June 22
05/08 - NBC's Hot Wheels Gets Celeb Judges; Zooey Deschanel's Max Series Premieres May 23
05/07 - Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows; This Week in Sitcoms (Week of May 8, 2023)