Saturday, September 10, 2011
Digital Digest: Private Practice - The Complete Fourth Season DVD Review; Hawaii Five-O - The Eleventh Season DVD Review
Welcome to Digital Digest, your source for all things digital for your favorite TV series! The fall season is starting to come in like those dark clouds before a thunderstorm, so of course, right now is the time to get caught up on the previous seasons of your favorite TV shows! There are plenty rolling out on DVD in the upcoming weeks, including a very busy release day this coming Tuesday. And to get our ball rolling here, we have reviews of Private Practice - The Complete Fourth Season and Hawaii Five-O - The Eleventh Season. Let's get going!
It hasn't been a busy week at all for news, but there are a few items to share. The first is of a re-release of a series that was previously released by Anchor Bay (as it seems that most of their TV series seem to be falling into the hands of other studios lately). This time, it is the series Sledge Hammer!, and it will be released by Image this time around. You can look for the new release on December 13. There is no word on what differences there will be with this set (if any), but you can read our reviews of Anchor Bay's Season 1 and Season 2 releases if you are interested in those sets (which still seem to be readily available).
We told you about the upcoming release of The Honeymooners Lost Episodes: The Complete Restored Series several weeks ago, but now we have some official information about it, thanks to TVShowsOnDVD.com. Although it seems that not much has changed from the preliminary information that we had, the set will include 107 sketches (including many that haven't been seen since the original broadcast) and include a special commemorative booklet. The set is to be released on October 4. We can't wait to see this set!
UPCOMING WEEK PREVIEW
Tuesday (September 13) is a very busy day for releases, including some re-releases and some releases of episodes new to DVD. As for new releases of sitcoms on Tuesday, The Big Bang Theory - The Complete Fourth Season comes to both DVD and Blu-ray, and we'll also see Universal's release of Outsourced - The Complete Series. You can read our review of Outsourced here. If you are looking for medical dramas, we have Grey's Anatomy - The Complete Seventh Season and Private Practice - The Complete Fourth Season in the IV. And there are a ton of Carsey-Werner sitcoms being released by Mill Creek, including Roseanne (Season 1/Season 2/10 Fan Favorite Episodes), 3rd Rock From the Sun (Season 1/Season 2), Grounded for Life (Season 1/Season 2) and That '70s Show (Season 1/Season 2/Biggest Hits). And there are plenty of other releases that don't fall within the scope of our website, so Tuesday is a busy day indeed! We are still awaiting review copies of many other releases.
BLOG FEATURE REVIEW
DVD Review: Private Practice - The Complete Fourth Season
by Pavan
Private Practice - The Complete Fourth Season (ABC Studios, $39.99) brings the fourth season of the Grey's Anatomy spin-off starring Kate Walsh on DVD with all 22 episodes! I cannot believe we are already finished with season four. Time sure flies! Join the Oceanside Wellness Group family as they try to balance work, friendship and love while they lean on each other for the help and support they need. As Pete and Violet prepare for their wedding day, disagreements at the clinic put a strain on Addison and Sam's relationship. Meanwhile, Charlotte and Cooper struggle in the aftermath of a traumatic personal event, and Derek's sister, Amelia, returns from Seattle with a destructive secret.
The series will once again return to its Thursdays at 10PM timeslot on ABC this coming season, starting Sept. 29, following Grey's Anatomy. The series stars Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery (Obstetrics & Gynecology, Genetic Counseling), Tim Daly as Dr. Pete Wilder (Complementary Medicine), Audra McDonald as Dr. Naomi Bennett (Endocrinology & Fertility), Paul Adelstein as Dr. Cooper Freedman (Pediatrics), KaDee Strickland as Dr. Charlotte King (Urology & Sexology, Chief of Staff at the nearby hospital), Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd (Neurosurgery), Brian Benben as Dr. Sheldon Wallace (Psychiatry), with Taye Diggs as Dr. Sam Bennett (Internal Medicine/Cardiothoracic Surgery), and Amy Brenneman as Dr. Violet Turner (Psychiatry).
Among the recurring stars are Nicholas Brendon, Hailey Sole, Michael Patrick Thornton, Cristián de la Fuente. Among the special guests this year are JoBeth Williams, Stephen Collins, Ann Cusack, Amanda Foreman, Justine Bateman, Kyle Secor, Louise Fletcher, Chandra West, Tess Harper, Joshua Malina and Benjamin Bratt.
This fourth season was once again excellent and filled with lots of drama. Perhaps the best episode of the series is in this season with "Did You Hear What Happened To Charlotte King." The season was very well written once again, but that episode and story arc stands out. The fifth season premieres on Sept. 29 and we cannot wait for that. Anyway, as for season four, some memorable episodes include the season premiere, "Take Two," where Pete and Violet prepare for their wedding day. In "Playing God," the news of Addison's new romance is not well-received. And in the emotional and Emmy-worthy episode "Did You Hear What Happened To Charlotte King," Pete finds Charlotte bloodied and bruised in the halls of the hospital. On the next episode, "What Happens Next," Charlotte suffers in silence after the assault. On the fall finale, "Just Lose It," Cooper gets bad news about Charlotte's sexual assault case. In "If You Don't Know Me By Now," Addison's mom demands she do whatever it takes to keep her partner alive. In "Blind Love," Charlotte's attacker arrives at the hospital in need of urgent care.
In "Two Steps Back," Cooper and Charlotte try to forgive each other after revealing secrets. On the second to last episode of the season, "God Bless the Child," Naomi makes a life-changing decision. And on the season finale, "To Change The Things I Can," a new admirer (Benjamin Bratt) offers Addison a tempting proposition, while the season ends in a cliff-hanger for Pete.
The episodes run usually close to 43 minutes, unedited of course with all the great music intact. There are about 7 chapter stops per episode. View the episode runtimes:
Disc 1
1. "Take Two" 42:59
2. "Short Cuts" 42:57
3. "Playing God" 42:59
4. "A Better Place To Be" 43:01
5. "In Or Out" 43:00
Disc 2
6. "All in the Family" 42:54
7. "Did You Hear What Happened to Charlotte King?" 42:57
8. "What Happens Next" 43:00
9. "Can't Find My Way Back Home " 43:01
10. "Just Lose It" 42:59
Disc 3
11. "If You Don't Know Me By Now" 42:57
12. "Heaven Can Wait" 43:01
13. "Blind Love" 43:01
14. "Home Again" 42:59
15. "Two Steps Back" 42:59
Disc 4
16. "Love and Lies" 43:01
17. "A Step Too Far" 42:35
18. "The Hardest Part" 42:00
19. "What We Have Here..." 43:00
Disc 5
20. "Something Old, Something New" 42:29
21. "God Bless The Child" 43:00
22. "To Change The Things I Can" 43:01
Like last season, packaging has an outer box that you can remove from the top or bottom then you'll see the keep case inside. For seasons one and two, we had a digipak, but ABC Studios changed it to a keep case starting with season three. Both the outer box and keep case have the same cover, a cast photo of them sitting on a couch with the beach in the background. The show logo is on the top in white wording in a purple background. The back of the box and keep case has that purple background with information on the set and has some episodic head shots from episodes that feature all nine of our stars. There is also a section detailing the bonus features box with technical specifications also. Opening the case, on the left panel there are two inserts and on the left and right panels itself we have a disc-by-disc breakdown with episode titles and bonus features and nice episodic photos. As for those inserts, they are for other ABC Studios products and an insert for Blu-ray. We have two little plastic holders, that we can flip like a page on a book. The first holder holds disc one in the front, and disc two in the back. The second holder holds disc three in the front, and disc four in the back. Disc five is on the right panel itself. Each disc matches the set's color scheme, that purple background with a yellow background that has nice character artwork. Disc one has episodes 1-5 with artwork of Addison & Sam. Disc two has episodes 6-10 and has artwork of Cooper & Charlotte. Disc three has episodes 11-15 and has artwork of Pete & Violet. Disc four has episodes 16-19 and has artwork of Amelia & Sheldon. Disc five has episodes 20-22 plus bonus features and has artwork of Naomi.
The menu screen has clips in the background with background music from the series playing in the background audio wise, similar to previous sets. The options on the main menu are Play All, Episode Selection, Set Up, Bonus Features (disc five), and Sneak Peeks (disc five). But before the main menu screen comes on disc one, we get some auto sneak peeks: ABC on DVD,The Lion King and African Cats. Sneak Peeks option is only found on disc five on the main menu and has previews of the new ABC Fall 2011 season, Castle, The Chew, Prep & Landing, Real Steel and Pirates of the Caribbean. Set Up section has the option of subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese or Thai and how you can register your DVD. The Episodes option gives us the episode number, title and a screenshot. Bonus Features option is only on disc five and it has all the extras listed. All of the sub-menus have different background music once again.
The video is digitally mastered and is in widescreen and looks very good! The audio is great and sounds very good, as it is in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. This is from the 2010-11 season, so it had better be good and it is. Crystal clear. Kate Walsh did a crossover episode on Grey's Anatomy but you'll have to get that DVD to see that episode ("Song Beneath The Song," aka The Grey's Anatomy Music Event).
Moving on the bonus features. All of the extras are on disc five! We have a featurette titled "An Inside Look: The Violation of Charlotte King" (13:12). This is a very good extra that gives an in-depth look at the episode in which Charlotte (KaDee Strickland), is raped by a mental patient (Nicholas Brendon), in which she discusses her research and preparation for the shoot, as well as her work with RAINN. It is very well-done, just like the story arc itself. Interviewed are KaDee Strickland, Shonda Rhimes & Betsy Beers (showrunner/exec producers), Paul Adelstein, Gail Abarband (Director of LCW), Katherine Hull (VP of Communications, RAINN), Allison Liddi-Brown (director), Caterina Scorsone, Amy Brenneman, Kate Walsh, Taye Diggs, Brian Benben, Audra McDonald and Tim Daly.
Then we have "Deleted Scenes" listed with episode titles so you know where they are from! Once again, we do NOT have optional audio commentary on these deleted scenes from Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers like we did on season two. Too bad. If my counting skills are correct, we have about 13 deleted scenes, just like the previous season. "Blind Love" (1:04 and 1:05), "All in the Family" (0:52), "What Happens Next" (0:38 and 1:07), "If You Don't Know Me By Now" (0:50), "Blind Love" (1:26 and 1:14), "Home Again" (1:10), "What We Have Here..." (0:59), and "Something Old, Something New" (1:00 and 2:08). Finally, we have some "Bloopers" (2:15)...yes, always great to see bloopers! See all the goofs and play on the set! The timing is down about two minutes from the last set, so that isn't cool. Oh well.
Once again, I recommend this series and set...it is an ABC Studios DVD, so it is good and filled with special features. We have the same amount of extras as last time, I think. Not as much as season two, but still good. The packaging is good and the overlapping discs are not present again. This season was great and it had the series' best episode to date I think. If you haven't see that episode, you really should. It is a nice arc that continues into the season, too, so you'll want to know what happens to Charlotte next. And tune in for sure on Sept. 29 for the fifth season premiere, but you need to refresh yourself, catch up with these 22 season four episodes first! Charlotte may have been violated, but she remains strong, just like this series! Buy today!
(4/5 stars)To purchase this DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
Amazon.com
Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews Page
Private Practice on TV.com
BLOG FEATURE REVIEW
It's time for a little more surfing, tanning, and, oh yeah, murder in the state of Hawaii! Hawaii Five-O, the classic series that ran for over 10 years on CBS, starts Jack Lord as Steve McGarrett, the crime fighter who will stop at nothing to make the islands a safer place for everybody. It is a series that became an icon of popular culture and successfully transcended multiple generations of series in the crime genre (beginning in the era of series such as Dragnet and ending in the era of series such as Charlie's Angels). And of course, it helped spawn a current CBS series with a similar theme and almost identical title, Hawaii Five-0. Here is our review of season 11 of the classic series.
Hawaii Five-O - The Tenth Season
by skees53
Hawaii Five-O - The Eleventh Season (CBS Home Entertainment, $49.99) brings us 21 more episodes of the classic CBS series in a six disc set. Once again, Steve McGarrett, aided by his well-equipped team, are on the hunt for the thieves, thugs, sociopaths, and murderers that pollute the waters of the island paradise, and will stop at nothing until they have their man or woman.
by skees53
Hawaii Five-O - The Eleventh Season (CBS Home Entertainment, $49.99) brings us 21 more episodes of the classic CBS series in a six disc set. Once again, Steve McGarrett, aided by his well-equipped team, are on the hunt for the thieves, thugs, sociopaths, and murderers that pollute the waters of the island paradise, and will stop at nothing until they have their man or woman.
Steve Kanaly guest stars in the season premiere, "The Sleeper," where a government agent is murdered. An astrologer informs McGarrett of a murder in "Horoscope for Murder." In "The Case Against Philip Christie," McGarrett shows that he is ethical when he has jury duty and believes that the defendant is innocent. A neo-Nazi group is out for murder in "A Distant Thunder." In "The Pagoda Factor," McGarrett is convinced that he knows how to stop a crime, but first, he must help another small-time criminal escape from prison! Danno's former girlfriend becomes linked to a murder in "A Long Time Ago." James Sikking guest stars in "The Miracle Man," where McGarrett and crew discover what may be a dangerous cult.
Is it wise to make a deal with the mob to prevent a murder? That is the question in the two-part episode "Number One With a Bullet." Robert Reed guest stars in "The Meighan Conspiracy," where a bank robbery appears to be an inside job. Sandra Kerns guest stars in "Stringer," where a photographer takes a photograph of a politician meeting with a mobster. In "The Execution Files," McGarrett pursues a former cop who may be taking vigilante justice a little too far. McGarrett decides to investigate a doctor who may be killing his patients (and not accidentally) with prescriptions in "A Very Personal Matter." The season ends with "The Year of the Horse," where the governor is implicated in a heroin smuggling ring. Victoria Principal guest stars.
The episodes on the set appear to be unedited, with runtimes as follows:
Disc 1:
1. "The Sleeper" (48:59)
2. "Horoscope for Murder" (48:48)
3. "Deadly Courier" (48:49)
4. "The Case Against Philip Christie" (48:59)
Disc 2:
5. "Small Potatoes" (48:49)
6. "A Distant Thunder" (48:50)
7. "Death Mask" (48:48)
8. "The Pagoda Factor" (48:59)
Disc 3:
9. "A Long Time Ago" (48:49)
10. "Why Won't Linda Die?" (48:51)
11. "The Miracle Man" (48:49)
Disc 4:
12. "Number One With a Bullet (Part 1)" (48:36)
13. "Number One With a Bullet (Part 2)" (48:50)
14. "The Meighan Conspiracy" (48:49)
15. "The Spirit is Willie" (48:47)
Disc 5:
16. "The Bark and the Bite" (47:46)
17. "Stringer" (49:23)
18. "The Execution File" (49:21)
19. "A Very Personal Matter" (49:18)
Disc 6:
20. "The Skyline Killer" (49:21)
21. "The Year of the Horse" (1:37:16)
Nothing has truly changed about the packaging this time. We still have the Viva case inside of the cardboard sleeve (both of which have the exact same artwork). Once again, the cover features a large photograph of McGarrett, and smaller photos of other cast members, and we have a few episodes snapshots on the back, along with a brief description of the series in general. Inside the case, you'll find descriptions and original airdates for all of the episodes. The disc artwork is basically just the series logo on a gray background, like all other CBS Home Entertainment releases.
Like most other CBS Home Entertainment products, the menus haven't changed yet again in this season. On the main menu, we have a large photo of Steve McGarrett while the theme song plays in the background, with options of Episodes and Subtitles. Upon selecting episodes, you get a text list of the episodes, but there is no Play All option at all. The subtitles option allows you to turn on the subtitles, if you need them. Chapters are placed throughout each episode.
There were some complaints regarding the video and audio quality of the tenth season when it was released, but honestly, I think the bigger problem is that it was just more of a disappointment compared to the quality of the earlier seasons when they were released. The video and audio quality on the episodes is about what one would expect for a series this old, although there is some grain and debris. I suppose that it could look a little better, but it isn't a huge problem. The episodes are presented in English mono, with English subtitles available for each of the episodes.
Once again, the set has no special features. It is too bad, because this series honestly deserves to have some. How many other series that have lasted this long have made it to their 11th season on DVD? Not many, so clearly, this series has a following.
I only recently began watching this show, and I have become a fan of it almost instantly. It is great to know that we are getting close to completion on this series (although the "banned" second season episode "Bored, She Hung Herself" will apparently not be seen on DVD anytime soon), but it would be even better if they'd step it up on the special features in future seasons. The new revival series on CBS, Hawaii Five-0, should seemingly make interest in the original series (which, by the way, is much better) peak, and fans of the new series should definitely check out the original for comparison. And of course, for fans of the original series, this is definitely another great (but still barebones) set of the classic series.
(4/5 stars)To purchase this DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
Amazon.com
Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews Page
Hawaii Five-O on TV.com
CLICK OF THE WEEK
Empty Nest Online (www.emptynestonline.net) - Personally, I've really been missing the series Empty Nest since it was abruptly yanked from the Hallmark Channel lineup after airing for just a few short months. The series has seen very few opportunities on air, aside from a relatively lengthy run on WGN in the late 90s, and I still haven't had an opportunity to watch every episode. But despite the fact that the series has gotten so little airplay over the years, Empty Nest Online is a fully dedicated fan site that has existed since 1998, and is frequently updated and full of content for fans of the series.
The website contains all of the basics of a series website, such as a complete episode guide, biographies of the stars, and character profiles, but what makes this site a choice for Digital Click is where it goes beyond those basic standards. You'll find plenty of Laverne's crazy stories on here, episode scripts, vintage articles and magazine clips (including one from MAD Magazine), photos, goofs quizzes, inconsistencies, and more. It's definitely a website that could only be made by a dedicated fan, and it is great to know that there is a fan out there that is this dedicated to a truly under-appreciated sitcom that has faded from the screen way too soon.
That's all for this week. Until next time, keep it digital!
Friday, September 09, 2011
ION Television Acquires Leverage, Lifetime Acquires AMW; Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 12, 2011)
We have two pieces of acquired series news. One will be reruns, but the other will actually be new episodes on a new network! First, ION Television continues to expand its programming line-up with high-quality content with the acquisition of reruns of the popular TNT drama series, Leverage from Electric Entertainment. ION Television, a top-10 rated network, has licensed the off-network rights to all seasons of Leverage. The series will begin airing on ION Television in summer 2012.
The series will enter its fifth season on TNT by the time ION starts airing reruns. Before that, the fourth season will continue with the second batch of episodes starting Sunday, Nov. 27 on TNT. Leverage follows a five-person team: a thief, a grifter, a hacker, a retrieval specialist, and their leader, former insurance investigator Nathan Ford (Academy Award Winner(R) Timothy Hutton), who use their skills to right corporate and governmental injustices inflicted on ordinary citizens. The first half of season four has averaged more than 4.8 million viewers, up 10% over season three, with 1.9 million adults 18-49 (+6%) and 2.3 million adults 25-54 (+9%).
The Leverage deal comes on the heels of ION's recent acquisition of cable's other hit series Psych, Monk and House, signifying ION as a viable after-market platform for cable net productions. The hit series also joins ION Television's primetime schedule of the popular off-net series Without a Trace, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer and ION's first original police drama Flashpoint, which will join the network soon.
We recently announced ION Television's Fall 2011 schedule, but we will have an update on that by hopefully next week, so stay tuned. We might see a sitcom or two added. Enticed now? Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, Lifetime has picked up all-new episodes of John Walsh's pioneering series America's Most Wanted, television's top crime-fighting show that will return for its 25th season later this year on Lifetime. Hosted and executive produced by Walsh, America's Most Wanted has become one of the most important programs on television, having played a major role in the capture of more than 1,100 fugitives in the U.S. and 30 countries, including 17 on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List, and rescue of 61 children and missing persons since its launch in 1988.
The series was not placed on the Fox schedule this fall, but Fox had scheduled quarterly two-hour specials, the first of which is slated to air on Saturday, Oct. 29. As of now, that is still on the schedule on Fox, but it is unclear if there will be any other specials as originally planned. The series stopped airing as a regular on Fox this past June. Stay with us for scheduling updates on when Lifetime will start airing it. As of now, their September schedule will remain the same (that's why we haven't covered Lifetime yet), but if anything should change, we will of course be the first to let you know.
It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of September 12-16, 2011, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!
Monday, September 12, 2011
The series will enter its fifth season on TNT by the time ION starts airing reruns. Before that, the fourth season will continue with the second batch of episodes starting Sunday, Nov. 27 on TNT. Leverage follows a five-person team: a thief, a grifter, a hacker, a retrieval specialist, and their leader, former insurance investigator Nathan Ford (Academy Award Winner(R) Timothy Hutton), who use their skills to right corporate and governmental injustices inflicted on ordinary citizens. The first half of season four has averaged more than 4.8 million viewers, up 10% over season three, with 1.9 million adults 18-49 (+6%) and 2.3 million adults 25-54 (+9%).
The Leverage deal comes on the heels of ION's recent acquisition of cable's other hit series Psych, Monk and House, signifying ION as a viable after-market platform for cable net productions. The hit series also joins ION Television's primetime schedule of the popular off-net series Without a Trace, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer and ION's first original police drama Flashpoint, which will join the network soon.
We recently announced ION Television's Fall 2011 schedule, but we will have an update on that by hopefully next week, so stay tuned. We might see a sitcom or two added. Enticed now? Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, Lifetime has picked up all-new episodes of John Walsh's pioneering series America's Most Wanted, television's top crime-fighting show that will return for its 25th season later this year on Lifetime. Hosted and executive produced by Walsh, America's Most Wanted has become one of the most important programs on television, having played a major role in the capture of more than 1,100 fugitives in the U.S. and 30 countries, including 17 on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List, and rescue of 61 children and missing persons since its launch in 1988.
The series was not placed on the Fox schedule this fall, but Fox had scheduled quarterly two-hour specials, the first of which is slated to air on Saturday, Oct. 29. As of now, that is still on the schedule on Fox, but it is unclear if there will be any other specials as originally planned. The series stopped airing as a regular on Fox this past June. Stay with us for scheduling updates on when Lifetime will start airing it. As of now, their September schedule will remain the same (that's why we haven't covered Lifetime yet), but if anything should change, we will of course be the first to let you know.
It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of September 12-16, 2011, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!
Monday, September 12, 2011
- Christina Applegate (Up All Night/Samantha Who?/Married with Children) - Watch the lovely Christina on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Victoria Justice (Victorious/Zoey 101) - Victoria is a musical guest on The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Ashton Kutcher (Two and a Half Men/That '70s Show) - Ashton stops by The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
- Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster/Sabrina, the Teenage Witch) - Soleil talks about her book, Happy Chaos, on Today between 10-11am on NBC.
- Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen) - Catch Ellen on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Will Arnett (Up All Night/Arrested Development) - Will visits Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
- Roseanne Barr (Roseanne) - Roseanne appears on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) - Watch Alec on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Danny DeVito (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia/Taxi) - Tune in to see Danny on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
- Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men) - Jon drops by The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
- Will Arnett (Up All Night/Arrested Development) - Will talks about his new show, Up All Night, on Today on NBC between 7-9am.
- Kirstie Alley (Cheers/Veronica's Closet) - Catch Kirstie on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Louis C.K. (Louie) - Louis drops by on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) - Zooey appears on LIVE! with Regis & Kelly, so check your listings and later she will be on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
- Kristin Davis (Sex and the City) - Kristin visits Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
- Ashton Kutcher (Two and a Half Men/That '70s Show) - Ashton continues to make the rounds on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Ashton Kutcher (Two and a Half Men/That '70s Show) - Watch Ashton on a repeat of The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory) - Kunal stops by the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
- Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City/Square Pegs) - Sarah chats with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Jerry Ferrara (Entourage) - Jerry is a guest on The Gayle King Show at 10am on OWN.
Thursday, September 08, 2011
The Hub Fall 2011 Schedule; Remembering Don Taffner of DLT Entertainment
The Hub will be making some changes to the fall 2011 schedule, with some changes already in effect as of Tuesday (Sept. 6). Before we turn our focus to the sitcom line-up, we want to mention that they added the animated '90s series Batman: The Animated Series, airing weekdays at 5pm, followed by the wildly popular series Goosebumps at 5:30pm. Batman: The Animated Series is also airing weekdays at 7pm and 1am, while Goosebumps will also air on Saturdays at 12 noon starting this Saturday. And as we already announced, The Hub has acquired the cable rights to the popular game show, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? and will launch it on Monday, Sept. 19, airing it Mon-Thurs at 8:00pm & 8:30pm with an encore at 2:00am & 2:30am. This means the sitcom line-up will change a bit. Family Ties will move from 8-9pm to the 9:30pm half-hour. The Keaton family will also encore at 3:30am. The Wonder Years will remain at 9pm, as will the encore at 3am, but Doogie Howser M.D. will go from 9:30pm to 11pm, with an encore at 5am. From 10-11pm, instead of back-to-back Happy Days, we now get an episode each of Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley, since Doogie is moving to 11pm (Laverne & Shirley's old timeslot). The duo will encore in the 4am hour Mon-Thurs nights. And remaining at 11:30pm with an encore at 5:30am is classic Batman starring Adam West and Burt Ward. Holy Consistency Batman!
As of now, the sitcom line-up on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights will remain intact, but this is not official yet. We will let you know if it isn't. So in addition to Mon-Thurs weeknights, you can still enjoy the comedies on Friday nights from 2-6am, Saturday nights from 1am-4am and Sunday nights from 12am-4am that are currently airing. Other notable non-sitcom stuff on weekdays has classic Transformers Sun-Fri at 7am and Mon-Thurs at 12am; G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Mon-Thurs at 12:30am and Sundays at 6:30am; Jem Sun-Fri at 7:30am and weekdays at 2pm & 6pm; Fraggle Rock weekdays at 9am; and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show weekdays at 10am.
Discuss The Hub Fall 2011 schedule. As I mentioned, keep it with us for continued updates, but none of the sitcoms are leaving the schedule as of now this fall even with the addition of 5th Grader! Stay with us.
As of now, the sitcom line-up on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights will remain intact, but this is not official yet. We will let you know if it isn't. So in addition to Mon-Thurs weeknights, you can still enjoy the comedies on Friday nights from 2-6am, Saturday nights from 1am-4am and Sunday nights from 12am-4am that are currently airing. Other notable non-sitcom stuff on weekdays has classic Transformers Sun-Fri at 7am and Mon-Thurs at 12am; G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Mon-Thurs at 12:30am and Sundays at 6:30am; Jem Sun-Fri at 7:30am and weekdays at 2pm & 6pm; Fraggle Rock weekdays at 9am; and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show weekdays at 10am.
Discuss The Hub Fall 2011 schedule. As I mentioned, keep it with us for continued updates, but none of the sitcoms are leaving the schedule as of now this fall even with the addition of 5th Grader! Stay with us.
Donald Taffner Sr., a 40-year veteran of the television industry and an inventive executive who helped bring Three's Company, Too Close for Comfort and The Benny Hill Show to the American public, died on September 6 after a brief illness. His daughter, Karen Butler, spoke to the St. John's University newspaper The Torch and said that the doctors believe the cause of death was a "cataclysmic heart event, like an aneurysm or clot.” Mr. Taffner was 80.
Taffner and his wife, Eleanor, founded D.L. Taffner Ltd. in 1963. The couple later changed the name to Taffner Enterprises before it became known as DLT Entertainment. The company was originally formed to help international broadcasters looking for American television shows for their schedules, but they later started to sell overseas shows to the U.S. networks. They helped bring the ABC sitcoms Three's Company, its spinoff Three's a Crowd and Too Close for Comfort to American audiences. DLT Entertainment also brought us the 1985-88 Canadian sitcom Check It Out! which starred Don Adams; the BBC sitcoms My Family and As Time Goes By; and various cartoons that featured the Beatles, Crazy Cat, Barney Google and Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. In 1986, he received the International Emmy Founders Award "for setting new levels of creativity in the worldwide exchange of television programs."
You can read more about his career and view a video interview at the Archive of American Television. Mr. Taffner's wife, Eleanor, passed away from natural causes on September 15, 2010 in New York. He is survived by a son, producer Donald L. Taffner Jr.; two daughters, Karen Butler and Rhonda Taffner Cantor; and three grandchildren, John, Henry and Tom Butler. We thank him for bringing us Three's Company and Too Close for Comfort. He will be missed.
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
TV Guide Network Fall 2011 Schedule Has Short-Lived Sitcoms; MeTV Network Now Cleared In 60% of The Country
TV Guide Network has released their fall 2011 schedule and they will bring in some sitcoms! And they are short-lived ones, too! Starting Monday, Sept. 12, TV Guide Network will add the 1995-97 Fox sitcom Ned & Stacey starring Thomas Haden Church and Debra Messing, airing weekdays weekdays at 6pm and an encore weekdays at 11am starting Tuesday, Sept. 13. Then the three-season sitcom Veronica's Closet, which aired from 1997-2000 on NBC starring Kirstie Alley, will air weeknights at 6:30pm & 7pm and an encore weekdays at 11:30am & 12pm starting Tuesday, Sept. 13. Then a more recent comedy will air weeknights at 7:30pm and an encore at 12:30pm, the ABC 2007-09 comedy Samantha Who? starring Christina Applegate makes its off-network debut. All four comedies will air on Saturdays as well, from 6-8pm only and will be encores rather than continuation of the rotation. Samantha Who? has never aired out of its network run, but Ned & Stacey and Veronica's Closet had short runs on USA Network in the late 90s/early 2000s.
These are the new additions to the line-up. Curb Your Enthusiasm will no longer air weekdays from 11am-12pm as a result of these changes. The comedy will now only air Saturdays 11pm-12am and Sunday nights from 1-2am. Other changes include Ugly Betty moving its time slots to 1pm & 2pm, instead of 2pm & 3pm. The Hills will air weekdays from 4-6pm, but Nail Files will air instead from time to time. Weeds will now air Wednesday nights from 1-2am and Saturday nights from 12-2am. And Punk'd will air late nights in the 1-2am hour on some nights, like Tuesday nights and Fridays nights. It seems Spin City is no longer airing on the network, but they will continue to air movies in primetime (usually Tues-Fri and Sunday nights).
Discuss the TV Guide Network Fall 2011 schedule. Stay with us for any further updates, but adding a sitcom block is always good!
MeTV Network continues to add major markets with key media groups, most recently Hubbard Broadcasting, Journal Communications and Landmark Television. The network has a clearance level reaching 60% of the country as these network affiliated stations join the MeTV Network line-up. MeTV's newest affiliates to join the network include the following media groups, stations and markets:
Hubbard Broadcasting KSTP/ABC Minneapolis/St. Paul; Journal Communications WSYM/Fox Lansing, Michigan; Journal Communications WGBA/NBC Green Bay; Midwest Broadcasting KFMB/CBS San Diego; Landmark Television KLAS/CBS Las Vegas; Roberts Broadcasting WRBU/MyNetwork St. Louis; and Southwest Media KCSG/Me-TV Salt Lake City.
Many of the nation's top broadcast groups are now part of the MeTV family, including Journal, Hearst, Raycom, Gray, Hubbard, Landmark, Midwest, Media General, Newport, Cox, Bahakel, Titan, Quincy, New Age, London, Nexstar, Bonten, Southwest and many more.
Stay with us for further updates on MeTV as we hope to bring you their Fall 2011 schedule very soon that will feature new additions such as Batman, Star Trek, Lost in Space, and Mission: Impossible. Hopefully some sitcoms will be added as well. Stay with us.
These are the new additions to the line-up. Curb Your Enthusiasm will no longer air weekdays from 11am-12pm as a result of these changes. The comedy will now only air Saturdays 11pm-12am and Sunday nights from 1-2am. Other changes include Ugly Betty moving its time slots to 1pm & 2pm, instead of 2pm & 3pm. The Hills will air weekdays from 4-6pm, but Nail Files will air instead from time to time. Weeds will now air Wednesday nights from 1-2am and Saturday nights from 12-2am. And Punk'd will air late nights in the 1-2am hour on some nights, like Tuesday nights and Fridays nights. It seems Spin City is no longer airing on the network, but they will continue to air movies in primetime (usually Tues-Fri and Sunday nights).
Discuss the TV Guide Network Fall 2011 schedule. Stay with us for any further updates, but adding a sitcom block is always good!
MeTV Network continues to add major markets with key media groups, most recently Hubbard Broadcasting, Journal Communications and Landmark Television. The network has a clearance level reaching 60% of the country as these network affiliated stations join the MeTV Network line-up. MeTV's newest affiliates to join the network include the following media groups, stations and markets:
Hubbard Broadcasting KSTP/ABC Minneapolis/St. Paul; Journal Communications WSYM/Fox Lansing, Michigan; Journal Communications WGBA/NBC Green Bay; Midwest Broadcasting KFMB/CBS San Diego; Landmark Television KLAS/CBS Las Vegas; Roberts Broadcasting WRBU/MyNetwork St. Louis; and Southwest Media KCSG/Me-TV Salt Lake City.
Many of the nation's top broadcast groups are now part of the MeTV family, including Journal, Hearst, Raycom, Gray, Hubbard, Landmark, Midwest, Media General, Newport, Cox, Bahakel, Titan, Quincy, New Age, London, Nexstar, Bonten, Southwest and many more.
Stay with us for further updates on MeTV as we hope to bring you their Fall 2011 schedule very soon that will feature new additions such as Batman, Star Trek, Lost in Space, and Mission: Impossible. Hopefully some sitcoms will be added as well. Stay with us.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
FamilyNet Fall 2011 Schedule Part II With Sitcoms Like Mr. Belvedere; The Parkers Returns to BET
Last month we gave you FamilyNet's Fall 2011 schedule that started Sept. 1, but that was just part one! Part two will begin on Saturday, Oct. 1 and sitcoms will join the line-up beginning Monday, Oct. 3! The weekday line-up from 4pm-1am will get a makeover! 20th Century Fox series, including sitcoms, dramas and even a game show will be coming! The '80s classic Mr. Belvedere makes its first regular appearance in years airing weekdays at 4pm and 8pm! Belvedere last aired during a Christmas episodes marathon in 2009 on sister network ALN. Other than that, Belvedere hasn't been seen since it aired on FoxNet (for markets who didn't have a Fox affiliate) over a decade ago. It has never to my knowledge ever aired on a cable network, so this will be the first time. Back to the FamilyNet schedule, the classic sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show will air weekdays at 4:30pm & 8:30pm. The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart will follow from 5-6pm and 9-10pm. Mary Tyler Moore & Bob Newhart Show currently air on digital network MeTV, but they were last on cable on FamilyNet's sister network ALN from 2007-09, along with Newhart. Another former ALN series, the drama Remington Steele will follow weekdays at 6pm and 10pm.
FamilyNet has also acquired the rights to the recently canceled game show Don't Forget the Lyrics! airing it weekdays 7-8pm and 3-4am. It will also air Saturdays at 5:30pm. Current series airing in weekdays The New Flipper, Lost in Space and Lou Grant will be leaving the line-up. Now the series they added in September will still remain in October as well. I Spy, the Robert Culp-Bill Cosby '60s series will air weekdays at 8am ET still but the 1am ET will move to 11pm ET after Remington Steele. The fun series will still air Saturdays at 3pm and late night on Sundays at 2am. Half-hour series The Lone Wolf from the '50s will air weekdays at 6:30am and British series The Saint from the '60s will air weekdays in the 7am ET and 12am ET hours, paired with I Spy. Canadian series The Beachcombers will remain weekdays in the 3pm ET hour and The New Zorro, which ran from 1990-93, will continue to air Saturdays at 4-5pm ET.
View the FULL FamilyNet Fall 2011 schedule. Stay tuned for any further updates on FamilyNet, as we are certainly happy that sitcoms have returned to the network. Sister network AmericanLife Network (ALN) will be rebranding and changing their name on Sept. 19. We still cannot reveal what the name is yet so you'll have to stay with us! We can tell you they will be adding some classic series programming again! Stay tuned!
Last Thursday we mentioned a BET sitcom stunt happening on Saturday, Oct. 1 from a sitcom that last aired on BET in 2008. That is still happening, but the series will join the schedule now starting TODAY (Tuesday, Sept. 6)! So we will reveal that series right now. The sitcom The Parkers will return to BET and air weekdays in the 11am ET hour replacing an hour of The Jamie Foxx Show, which remains at noon. The Parkers will also air weekdays in the 5pm ET hour and BET will begin with season three episodes. "Heeyyy!" The marathon that we hinted last week is indeed The Parkers and will air Saturday, Oct. 1 from 8am-8pm. The Parkers aired on UPN from 1999-2004 and was a spin-off of Moesha that starred Mo'Nique and Countess Vaughn.
We are not revealing the BET Fall 2011 schedule yet, because they have a new series joining the line-up in October. We will reveal what that is soon, but we can tell you that they have never aired the series before! Also, we will reveal sister network Centric's Fall 2011 schedule soon, too. Stay with us!
FamilyNet has also acquired the rights to the recently canceled game show Don't Forget the Lyrics! airing it weekdays 7-8pm and 3-4am. It will also air Saturdays at 5:30pm. Current series airing in weekdays The New Flipper, Lost in Space and Lou Grant will be leaving the line-up. Now the series they added in September will still remain in October as well. I Spy, the Robert Culp-Bill Cosby '60s series will air weekdays at 8am ET still but the 1am ET will move to 11pm ET after Remington Steele. The fun series will still air Saturdays at 3pm and late night on Sundays at 2am. Half-hour series The Lone Wolf from the '50s will air weekdays at 6:30am and British series The Saint from the '60s will air weekdays in the 7am ET and 12am ET hours, paired with I Spy. Canadian series The Beachcombers will remain weekdays in the 3pm ET hour and The New Zorro, which ran from 1990-93, will continue to air Saturdays at 4-5pm ET.
View the FULL FamilyNet Fall 2011 schedule. Stay tuned for any further updates on FamilyNet, as we are certainly happy that sitcoms have returned to the network. Sister network AmericanLife Network (ALN) will be rebranding and changing their name on Sept. 19. We still cannot reveal what the name is yet so you'll have to stay with us! We can tell you they will be adding some classic series programming again! Stay tuned!
Last Thursday we mentioned a BET sitcom stunt happening on Saturday, Oct. 1 from a sitcom that last aired on BET in 2008. That is still happening, but the series will join the schedule now starting TODAY (Tuesday, Sept. 6)! So we will reveal that series right now. The sitcom The Parkers will return to BET and air weekdays in the 11am ET hour replacing an hour of The Jamie Foxx Show, which remains at noon. The Parkers will also air weekdays in the 5pm ET hour and BET will begin with season three episodes. "Heeyyy!" The marathon that we hinted last week is indeed The Parkers and will air Saturday, Oct. 1 from 8am-8pm. The Parkers aired on UPN from 1999-2004 and was a spin-off of Moesha that starred Mo'Nique and Countess Vaughn.
We are not revealing the BET Fall 2011 schedule yet, because they have a new series joining the line-up in October. We will reveal what that is soon, but we can tell you that they have never aired the series before! Also, we will reveal sister network Centric's Fall 2011 schedule soon, too. Stay with us!
Monday, September 05, 2011
TV Marathons on 2011 Labor Day Weekend
Happy Labor Day! It's a holiday, so of course you turn to SitcomsOnline to see what marathons are on TV! Most of you are probably outdoors this last "unofficial" weekend of summer with your family & friends, but for those of you who are in need of some TV marathons...you've come to the right place as usual!
We have mentioned many of these already, but it's a good reminder if you have forgotten! First, we will cover the sitcom stunts, most we have covered already--so you have a reminder. As we first reported, How I Met Your Mother launch marathon will run all day today on FX from 12pm-12am! We also mentioned that TBS will have a The Office marathon from 4pm-8pm this afternoon/evening. MTV2 will have a Martin marathon from 3:30pm-8pm. Tonight of course is the launch of the week-long Friends marathon on Nick at Nite that we already mentioned, starts at 8pm tonight! Classic sitcom fans will want to tune into THIS tv for the movie Munster Go Home at 3:30pm and then at midnight for McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force based on two classic sitcoms (The Munsters and McHale's Navy). Other notable sitcom marathons on this day are the regular Monday night The Golden Girls marathon on WE tv from 8pm-1am and Hallmark Channel's regular Frasier marathon from 9pm-12am.
For non-sitcoms, Centric has an all-day The A-Team marathon from 11am-12am, so don't be a fool and miss this one! ABC Family has its Secret Life of the American Teenager catch-up marathon from 11am-8pm leading into the summer finale at 8pm, as we mentioned before. A&E has a Criminal Minds marathon from 8am-10pm. INSP Network has a Waltons Labor Day Marathon, as we mentioned already, starting at 1pm. Looking for game shows? GSN has a marathon of The Newlywed Game from.
Other marathons of note on Labor Day are the Buffy the Vampire marathon on Chiller from 6am-8pm, Law & Order: Criminal Intent/Law & Order: SVU marathons on Cloo from 6am-6am, SOAPnet's One Tree Hill marathon focusing on Leyton from 11am-6am, TNT's The Closer marathon from 1pm-6pm, USA Network has a NCIS marathon from 6am-9pm, Sundance Channel's My So-Called Life marathon from 11am-8pm, and GMC's Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman marathon from 10am-11pm.
Looking for movies? Antenna TV has a Jerry Lewis movies from the '60s marathon from 9am-1am. We mentioned THS tv earlier today, but they are also airing a Don Knotts double feature tonight with The Reluctant Astronaut at 5:30pm, followed by The Ghost and Mr. Chicken at 8pm. Cinemax has a Star Trek Movie Marathon from 8:15am through primetime, while Spike TV has a Star Wars Movie Marathon from 9am-1pm. It's a "Big Action Weekend" on Hallmark Movie Channel with titles like Speed from 6am-6am. LMN has a TV-movie marathon titled "Baby-in-Peril Movie Marathon" starting at 6am. Syfy has a "The Labor Day Monster-thon" starting at 9am with titles like Bloodsuckers. And for your trash TV fans, Jersey Shore is on MTV from 9am-9pm, but when isn't it on? E! has a Keeping Up with the Kardashians marathon from 3-11pm, while Bravo has a Real Housewives of Orange County marathon from 8am-9pm. I guess there is something for everyone...
View some more TV marathons for this holiday weekend from our buddies at TVTango.com!
We have mentioned many of these already, but it's a good reminder if you have forgotten! First, we will cover the sitcom stunts, most we have covered already--so you have a reminder. As we first reported, How I Met Your Mother launch marathon will run all day today on FX from 12pm-12am! We also mentioned that TBS will have a The Office marathon from 4pm-8pm this afternoon/evening. MTV2 will have a Martin marathon from 3:30pm-8pm. Tonight of course is the launch of the week-long Friends marathon on Nick at Nite that we already mentioned, starts at 8pm tonight! Classic sitcom fans will want to tune into THIS tv for the movie Munster Go Home at 3:30pm and then at midnight for McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force based on two classic sitcoms (The Munsters and McHale's Navy). Other notable sitcom marathons on this day are the regular Monday night The Golden Girls marathon on WE tv from 8pm-1am and Hallmark Channel's regular Frasier marathon from 9pm-12am.
For non-sitcoms, Centric has an all-day The A-Team marathon from 11am-12am, so don't be a fool and miss this one! ABC Family has its Secret Life of the American Teenager catch-up marathon from 11am-8pm leading into the summer finale at 8pm, as we mentioned before. A&E has a Criminal Minds marathon from 8am-10pm. INSP Network has a Waltons Labor Day Marathon, as we mentioned already, starting at 1pm. Looking for game shows? GSN has a marathon of The Newlywed Game from.
Other marathons of note on Labor Day are the Buffy the Vampire marathon on Chiller from 6am-8pm, Law & Order: Criminal Intent/Law & Order: SVU marathons on Cloo from 6am-6am, SOAPnet's One Tree Hill marathon focusing on Leyton from 11am-6am, TNT's The Closer marathon from 1pm-6pm, USA Network has a NCIS marathon from 6am-9pm, Sundance Channel's My So-Called Life marathon from 11am-8pm, and GMC's Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman marathon from 10am-11pm.
Looking for movies? Antenna TV has a Jerry Lewis movies from the '60s marathon from 9am-1am. We mentioned THS tv earlier today, but they are also airing a Don Knotts double feature tonight with The Reluctant Astronaut at 5:30pm, followed by The Ghost and Mr. Chicken at 8pm. Cinemax has a Star Trek Movie Marathon from 8:15am through primetime, while Spike TV has a Star Wars Movie Marathon from 9am-1pm. It's a "Big Action Weekend" on Hallmark Movie Channel with titles like Speed from 6am-6am. LMN has a TV-movie marathon titled "Baby-in-Peril Movie Marathon" starting at 6am. Syfy has a "The Labor Day Monster-thon" starting at 9am with titles like Bloodsuckers. And for your trash TV fans, Jersey Shore is on MTV from 9am-9pm, but when isn't it on? E! has a Keeping Up with the Kardashians marathon from 3-11pm, while Bravo has a Real Housewives of Orange County marathon from 8am-9pm. I guess there is something for everyone...
View some more TV marathons for this holiday weekend from our buddies at TVTango.com!
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Summer Week 14 Sitcom Ratings; New Episodes of Sitcoms On Basic Cable
We're nearing the end of summer and of course we will be back with our normal weekly ratings report with the first four nights numbers and analysis then, but we still continue to have our regular how the sitcoms did all for the next few summer weeks! Here are our summer ratings:
Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Summer Week 13, week of Aug. 22-28)
Monday Sitcoms
Summing it up. Repeats of Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, How I Met Your Mother 8:30p, and week 13's Family Guy were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as repeats of The Big Bang Theory, The Middle) or just plain old terrible (such as Raising Hope, and the very low rated NBC Thursday repeats especially, Parks & Recreation). Feeling the repeat blues? Look for original sitcoms on cable all this summer, with Comedy Wednesday on ABC Family this Wednesday with an all-new one-hour Melissa & Joey from 8-9pm, as the series will be all-new for one-hour until its season finale on Sept. 14! Also of course House of Payne and Meet the Browns are on TBS Wednesdays. New sitcom airings is the perfect way to beat the summer repeat blues! Watch them! And on premium cable, it is of course Curb Your Enthusiasm, Weeds, and Entourage among the entrees.
[Source: Nielsen NTI Ratings. View Travis Yanan's Ratings Website].
Last Sunday Sitcoms (counts for Summer Week 13, week of Aug. 22-28)
- American Dad! (Fox) - A repeat at 7pm did 1.71 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating, which was down a bit from the previous week. The regular 9:30pm was preempted by the new summer series In the Flow...which isn't doing much in the ratings.
- Bob's Burgers (Fox) - A repeat did just 2.06 million and a 1.0 18-49 rating, up some actually from previous week.
- The Simpsons (Fox) - A repeat did 2.93 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, which was off some from previous week.
- The Cleveland Show (Fox) - A repeat did 2.63 million and a 1.2 18-49 rating, just about holding all of its lead-in's ratings.
- Family Guy (Fox) - A repeat did 3.69 million and a 1.7 18-49 rating, as the latter is among the leaders for repeats of comedies in the summer.
Monday Sitcoms
- How I Met Your Mother (CBS) 2 airings - 4.21 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating for a repeat at 8pm was up a good number from the previous week. A second repeat followed and delivered 4.21 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating, also up from previous week.
- Two and a Half Men (CBS) - 5.33 million and a 1.5 18-49 rating for a repeat at 9pm is up a tad week-to-week.
- Mike & Molly (CBS) - 5.05 million and a 1.3 18-49 rating for a repeat at 9:30pm was again on par really with the previous week.
- Raising Hope (Fox) 2 airings - A repeat at 9pm did 2.02 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating. A repeat at 9:30pm only mustered 2.02 million and a 0.8 18-49 rating.
- The Middle (ABC) 2 airings - A repeat at 8pm did 4.03 million and a 1.1 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week. A second repeat followed with 3.9 million but grew to a 1.2 18-49 rating.
- Modern Family (ABC) 2 airings - A repeat at 9pm did 4.63 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, down a lick from the previous week but still a good summer showing for sitcoms. A repeat at 9:30pm followed and did 4.32 million and a 1.8 18-49 rating, holding on to everything basically from the 9pm airing.
- Happy Endings (ABC) - preempted. ABC Family will air a marathon on Friday, Sept. 16 from 5-11pm, so if you missed any watch then before the new season starts on Sept. 28!
- The Big Bang Theory (CBS) 2 airings - A repeat did 5.04 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating, which was down a lot from the previous week but NFL pre-season preemptions was the reason. A second repeat followed and did 4.74 million and a 1.4 18-49 rating.
- Rules of Engagement (CBS) - preempted.
- Community (NBC) - A repeat only did 1.87 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, on par with the previous week.
- Parks & Recreation (NBC) - A repeat in its 8:30pm slot did only 1.52 million and a 0.6 18-49 rating, down a tenth from previous week.
- The Office (NBC) - A repeat at 9pm did 2.07 million and a 0.9 18-49 rating, best of the low rated block again but down a lick from the previous week.
- 30 Rock (NBC) - A repeat at 9:30pm did 1.74 million and a 0.7 18-49 rating, down some from previous week.
Friday Sitcoms
- American Dad! (Fox) - prelim ratings show only 1.32 million and a prelim 0.6 18-49 rating.
- The Cleveland Show (Fox) - prelim ratings for this show were even lower with a prelim 1.31 million and a prelim 0.5 18-49 rating.
Summing it up. Repeats of Modern Family, Two and a Half Men, How I Met Your Mother 8:30p, and week 13's Family Guy were impressive for the week. Everything else was OK (such as repeats of The Big Bang Theory, The Middle) or just plain old terrible (such as Raising Hope, and the very low rated NBC Thursday repeats especially, Parks & Recreation). Feeling the repeat blues? Look for original sitcoms on cable all this summer, with Comedy Wednesday on ABC Family this Wednesday with an all-new one-hour Melissa & Joey from 8-9pm, as the series will be all-new for one-hour until its season finale on Sept. 14! Also of course House of Payne and Meet the Browns are on TBS Wednesdays. New sitcom airings is the perfect way to beat the summer repeat blues! Watch them! And on premium cable, it is of course Curb Your Enthusiasm, Weeds, and Entourage among the entrees.
[Source: Nielsen NTI Ratings. View Travis Yanan's Ratings Website].
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Digital Digest: Brothers and Sisters - The Complete Fifth Season DVD Review; Off the Map - The Complete Series DVD Review
Happy Labor Day weekend, and welcome to Digital Digest, your source for all things digital relating to your favorite TV series! In between your cookouts and picnics, why not take a break from the heat and enjoy some TV either on DVD, Blu-ray, or online? This week, we have reviews of Brothers & Sisters - The Complete Fifth and Final Season and Off the Map - The Complete Series. Let's roll!
Netflix users will see a big change in their streaming service early next year as the streaming agreement offering Starz! programming will come to an end. As a result, a big chunk of the streaming program on Netflix will disappear on February 28. While this may not seem like a big deal to classic TV fans, the repercussions are deeper than they may seem. Starz! does provide some classic western programs for the Netflix service, but the added incentive has provided Netflix with a larger subscriber base to support other programming deals. Obviously we don't yet know what the immediate consequences are of this breakup, but we certainly hope that it doesn't lead to an overall decline in service quality.
Meet the Browns has been making very steady progress since it was first announced for DVD, but wait! There's more already in the pipelines! Meet the Browns - Season One was released last week, and Meet the Browns - Season Two is coming up October 4, so what is going to happen November 22? Well, Meet the Browns - Season Three, of course! It isn't available for pre-order just yet. This is indeed a fast pace for DVD sets, but then again, there are a lot of episodes of the series, as is typical for a Tyler Perry series.
The Night Court - The Complete Fourth Season story has been very bizarre, with it appearing as a manufacture-on-demand title on the Warner Archive website, being harshly criticized, then being totally removed. But is justice about to be served? It is! Now, the series is once again available to purchase. Does this mean that the set has been improved? If so, what does that mean for those who bought the "inferior" sets? Does this mean that more seasons are on the way? There is no answer for these questions yet, according to TVShowsOnDVD.com. But they are looking in to the situation, and hopefully there will be an answer soon. You can order the set here.
UPCOMING WEEK PREVIEW
Tuesday (September 6) brings the sitcoms The Office - Season Seven (DVD/Blu-ray) and Parks and Recreation - Season Three to DVD from Universal. You can read our reviews of both: The Office and Parks & Recreation. Sony has another NBC Thursday night sitcom, Community - The Complete Second Season (read our review) coming up. Also on Tuesday, from Warner, comes Two and a Half Men - The Complete Eighth Season (and Charlie Sheen's last one). Finally, if you are looking for some classic drama, Shout! Factory has the 70s police drama Police Story - Season One on the way.
BLOG FEATURE REVIEW
DVD Review: Brothers and Sisters - The Complete Fifth and Final Season
by Pavan
Brothers and Sisters - The Complete Fifth and Final Season (ABC Studios, $45.99) brings the final 22 episodes of the long-running family drama on a 5-disc DVD! It's the fifth and final season and you will want to see where the Walkers are headed. Featuring one of the most celebrated casts on television, including Sally Field, Calista Flockhart, Rachel Griffiths, and Patricia Wettig, ABC's Brothers And Sisters is outstanding television at its warm and witty best.
The series aired Sundays at 10PM for its entire run on ABC and stars Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Sally Field as Nora Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Walker Whedon, Ron Rifkin as Uncle Saul Holden, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty, with Gilles Marini as Luc Laurent, and Patrica Wettig as Holly Harper. Recurring are Balthazar Getty as Tommy Walker, Kerris Dorsey as Paige Whedon, Maxwell Perry Cotton as Cooper Whedon, Isabella Rae Thomas as Olivia and Ken Olin as David.
With special guest stars Emily VanCamp as Rebecca Harper and Beau Bridges as Nick Brody. Other guest stars include Dave Annable's real wife Odette Yustman, Ryan Devlin, Richard Chamberlain, Jon Terry, Sonia Braga, Jeremy Davidson, Cara Buono, Rob Kazinsky and Stephen Collins.
This fifth season is decent and of course not as good as the previous seasons, but still a solid show with great drama and comedic moments. Season five definitely had its moments, but there were some clunkers. As always, when the Walkers get together for a family dinner or any event all together it makes for great television and that is true for season five as well. There is no other family on television like the Walkers! Some classic episodes include the season premiere "Homecoming," where a year has passed since the road accident and a lot has changed for the Walkers, such as Justin has spent the year in the army leaving Rebecca alone to deal with her mother who has amnesia and Robert is in a coma, but Kitty refuses to let him go, and then Kevin and Scotty are distant after their surrogate loses their baby, while Sarah is throwing herself into work and Nora is refusing to get involved in her children's problems. In "Faking It," Kitty meets Jack, a handyman, while staying in Ojai, while Sarah is desperate to hide the fact that she is turning 40 from Luc, to whom she lied to about her age and Rebecca and Justin reunite for a short discussion about what Justin said to Rebecca's mother, while Rebecca meets with her mother which causes her to lose memory again. In one of the better episodes of the season, "An Ideal Husband," Kevin is still reeling after Scotty's betrayal, but doesn't want his family to know about their problems and this becomes difficult after Sarah catches Kevin sleeping in his office, while Justin bartends at a party and bumps into the man Scotty had his one-night stand with. In "Resolved," Justin meets Annie, a nurse, while taking Holly to the hospital, while Kevin isn't willing to talk to Scotty, but the two are forced to spend time together after Paige asks for their help with a school debate. In "Scandalized," Kevin and Scotty decide to adopt, while Kitty's and Seth's relationship becomes public knowledge and Karl has trouble accepting how close Nora and her children are.
In "Safe At Home," Tommy returns with a big surprise for the Walker family, while Sarah announces the wedding date and Justin and Annie have trouble and decide to just be friends, even though they still have feelings for each other, as Olivia becomes part of the Walker family and Tommy and his fiancee, Rose, find out some strange information about Nora. In "Brody," though Nora tries her best to keep Brody (guest starring Beau Bridges) at bay, she can't help but feel the long lost connection between them, and Justin reaches out to a homeless vet reluctant to accept help getting back on his feet. In "Father Unknown," Justin tells Nora that Brody lied about his blood type and the two of them set about doing a secret paternity test, while Sarah thinks her mother's strange behavior is down to her heartbreak and plans to take her away and Luc and Saul prepare a surprise for the wedding, also Kevin and Scotty call the police in the hopes of tracking down their baby but Michelle tells Scotty she wants to stay involved. On the season finale, now series finale, "Walker Down the Aisle," Kevin rushes around planning Sarah's wedding and Luc is disappointed his father doesn't attend and blames his mother, while Justin worries that his relationship with Tyler is too complicated until she tells him she wants to put him first and Kitty discovers she is pregnant but Seth is worried it could affect her health. Sarah becomes stressed about everyone else's problems until she talks and bonds with Brody leading her to ask him to give her away and give her blessing to his relationship with Nora, while Saul and Jonathan decide to get married.
The episodes run usually in the 42-43 minute range (a few are just under 42 minutes, though), all unedited of course. There are about 7 chapter stops per episode. See the runtimes for each episode below:
Disc one
1. "The Homecoming" 42:14
2. "Brief Encounter" 42:51
3. "Faking It" 42:48
4. "A Righteous Kiss" 42:56
Disc two
5. "Call Mom" 43:03
6. "An Ideal Husband" 42:43
7. "Resolved" 42:27
8. "The Rhapsody of the Flesh" 43:02
9. "Get A Room" 41:51
Disc three
10. "Cold Turkey" 42:47
11. "Scandalized" 42:35
12. "Thanks for the Memories" 42:16
13. "Safe At Home" 41:38
14. "The One That Got Away" 42:57
Disc four
15. "Brody" 43:00
16. "Home is Where the Fort Is" 42:10
17. "Olivia's Choice" 42:41
18. "Never Say Never" 43:02
19. "Wouldn't it be Nice" 41:23
Disc five
20. "Father Unknown" 42:36
21. "For Better or For Worse" 43:03
22. "Walker Down the Aisle" 43:02
Packaging has a nice light yellow/orange outer box with a main cast photo with them sitting at the table on the front cover...the back cover has information on the series & set and has four episodic photos. There is also a section detailing the special features in a darker colored box with technical specifications also. Inside the box is the case. The front of the case has the same artwork as the outer box, and the same goes true for the back of the case. Opening the case, we get a few inserts on the left side and also a disc-by-disc breakdown and lots of episodic photos that are on both panels. We don't get an episode booklet again since the episodes are listed on the panels. Discs one and two are in a little plastic holder that you can flip like a page on a book. The same goes true for discs three and four, but disc five is on the right panel itself. Each disc is in red style color and has artwork of two characters per disc. Disc one has episodes 1-4 with artwork of Kitty & Nora. Disc two has episodes 5-9 and has artwork of Sarah & Luc. Disc three has episodes 10-14 and has artwork of Saul & Holly. Disc four has episodes 15-19 and has artwork of the couple Kevin & Scotty. Disc five holds episodes 20-22 and the bonus features with artwork of the (former) couple Rebecca & Justin. After you remove the discs, you see the nice episodic photos on the panels itself like I mentioned...very cool.
The menu screen starts by showing us little moving images on a clothing line it seems before reaching one image where video clips are playing. Background music from the show is playing in the background. It is really neat once again. On disc one only, before the main menu we have auto trailers for DVDs of ABC on DVD, Lion King and African Cats. The options on the main menu are Play All, Episode Selection, Bonus Features, Set Up, and Sneak Peeks. Sneak Peeks is just on disc five and has trailers for the new ABC 2011 series Castle, The Chew, Prep & Landing, Real Steel and Pirates of the Caribbean. Set Up section has the option of subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese or Chinese and how to register your DVD. Bonus Features are on each disc because there are deleted scenes (and two total audio commentaries) on each disc, while disc five has the actual bonus features. The Episodes option gives us the episode number and title to choose along with a screenshot from the episode.
The video is digitally mastered and is in widescreen and looks very good! It's HD-like, even though it isn't Blu-ray. I have a DVD player that upconverts to HD, so who needs a Blu-ray player? Ha. The audio is great and sounds very good, as it is in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. This is from the 2010-11 season, so it has to be good. The two-hour episode that aired on April 10, 2011 is presented as two separate episodes, which is fine. Once again, we get to hear the nice closing theme, as on ABC there are promos at the end of the episode.
Moving on to the bonus features. Each disc has deleted scenes for episodes from that disc like the previous sets. I like that instead of having them all on one disc. Disc one has two deleted scenes running 1:56 and 3:28. Disc two has two deleted scenes running 1:26, and 0:28. Disc three has two deleted scenes running 1:01 and 1:50. Disc four has one deleted scene running 0:36. Disc five has two more deleted scenes running 0:30 and 0:13. The latter deleted scene is an alternate ending that was not used because the series was ended by ABC, so they didn't want to end in a cliffhanger. That is a total of 9 deleted scenes, down from the 22 that were on the previous set. That's disappointing. BUT, unlike the previous set, we have TWO audio commentaries! First one is on disc three for the Christmas episode "Cold Turkey" from production coordinator Jonathan Deiner, co-producer Stephen Judge and producer Nicole Carrasco. They are interesting and detailed, but fun, too. These three return once again on disc four for the final audio commentary, for the episode "Wouldn't It Be Nice."
As far as featurettes, disc five has "Gilles Marini: Uncovered" (6:06) where he gives us a tour going behind closed doors in his dressing room and inside his personal workout. The cast members that were were interviewed are Luke MacFarlane, Dave Annable, Matthew Rhys, Gilles Marini, Rachel Griffiths and Gilles' personal trainer was on hand. Next there was a writing featurette titled "Writing for the Walkers" (9:59) and we learn how the writers come up with ideas and stories from their personal lives into this season. Interviewed are David Marshall Grant (showrunner), Sarah Kucserka (writer), Stephen Tolkin (producer/writer), Dave Annable, Matthew Rhys, Luke MacFarlane, Geoffrey Nauffts (writer), David Babcock (writer), Veronica Becker (writer), Molly Newman (writer), Marc Halsey (staff writer), Cliff Olin (writer) and Michael Cinquemani (staff writer). We finally have 2:20 worth of Bloopers & Outtakes. Very fun to watch always and just a bit longer than last year's reel.
I highly recommend this series and set to finish off your collection. It is such a well written and acted show. Sally Field and Rachel Griffiths once again were Emmy material this season and while Calista Flockhart wasn't in all the episodes, she was as always great. I always looked forward to this series every Sunday on ABC will certainly miss it this coming season. We can still catch the series in local broadcast syndication and on cable on ReelzChannel TV. See the Walkers from the beginning! The set is good, but I think the bonus features were reduced in quantity, like season four, from the previous set. But at least we get features and the return of audio commentaries! It is similar to the previous set, which is a good thing. Complete your collection and say goodbye to the Walkers in style!
(4.5/5 stars)
To purchase this DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
Amazon.com
Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews Page
Brothers and Sisters on TV.com
BLOG FEATURE REVIEW
ABC has seen much success with medical dramas such as Grey's Anatomy in recent years, and from the same creative team this season came the medical drama Off the Map. The series put a new twist in the medical drama genre by taking six young doctors and literally placing them "off the map" by putting them in practice in a remote area of South America. The series was canceled after just thirteen episodes, but fans can still relive the experience on DVD. Here is our review of Off the Map - The Complete Series.
DVD Review: Off the Map - The Complete Series
by Pavan
Off the Map - The Complete Series (ABC Studios, $29.99) brings all 13 episodes of the short-lived adventure medical drama on a 3-disc DVD! This is a riveting new drama about a team of idealistic young doctors committed to saving lives and pushing the boundaries of medicine with nothing brains, instinct, and the untapped healing of the uncharted jungle. The series was created by Grey's Anatomy producer Jenna Bans and Grey's showrunner Shonda Rhimes is among the executive producers. Often called "Grey's in the Jungle," this series is more than that with lots of adventure and a different take and setting for medicine. It's very unique and gone way too soon.
The series aired Wednesdays at 10PM on ABC from Jan-March and stars Martin Henderson as Dr. Ben Keaton, Jason George as Dr. Otis Cole, Valerie Cruz as Zita Alareina "Zee" Toledo Alvarez, Caroline Dhavernas as Dr. Lily Brenner, Zach Gilford as Dr. Tommy Fuller, Mamie Gummer as Dr. Mina Minard, with Jonathan Castellanos as Charlie, and Rachelle Lefevre as Dr. Ryan Clark. Recurring are Cheech Marin as Papa Ucumari, Aimee Garcia as Alma and Nicholas Gonzalez as Mateo.
Guest stars include Michael McKean, Ed Begley Jr., Jonathan Cake, Judy Reyes, Jayne Brook, Leslie Hope, Jere Burns, and Cynthia Stevenson.
This series is a solid show with great adventure, drama and even comedic moments. All 13 episodes are pretty solid and should be watched in order. In the series premiere, "Saved by the Great White Hope," Lily Brenner, Tommy Fuller and Mina Minard are all running away from their lives when they find themselves practicing medicine in paradise and paradise simply happens to be the most challenging place to practice medicine in the world. In "A Doctor Time Out," while Ben, Zee and Lily try to deliver a baby from the woman they rescued from the forest, Tommy and Ryan are fighting for the life of the father and her husband in the jungle, while Mina and Cole treat a patient who has been electrocuted after stepping in a puddle, which resulted in a power outage all over the village, complicating the Caeserean surgery Ben and Brenner are trying to perform to deliver the baby. In "It's Good," the clinic is left without any medication after a robbery, and the doctors are finding it hard to treat the patients, as Ben, Zee and Lily try to treat a patient with a ruptured appendix, but the robbery left them without enough anesthetics to perform the surgery so Cole must face his old demons as he and Mina go to see his old dealer on getting some drugs to use as pain relief, much to the dismay of the other doctors. In the very next episode "Es Un Milagro," a rescue chopper has crashed somewhere deep in the jungle and the clinic team heads out to help, but Lily is nowhere to be found, while in the aftermath of the helicopter crash, Ryan looks for the missing girl with the bug bite, the patient with the ruptured appendix's wife suffers some injuries and Mina races to save her life when they become complicated and Ben, Tommy and Cole try to treat the pilot who is seriously wounded. In "Everything's As It Should Be," an old friend of Ben's visits the clinic and brings two patients to do a transplant, but Lily finds out that there is something suspicious about the patients and the procedure might put the clinic in jeopardy, while Zee and Otis treat a patient who's daughter is his caretaker and wonder if she is abusing him. And in the finale, "There's A Lot to Miss About the Jungle," the country's Holy Week festivities take a chaotic turn when a truck float crashes, and Ben makes a difficult call as Ryan's health deteriorates, while Lily forces her own issues aside when tragedy strikes Mateo's family farm.
The episodes run usually in around 43 minutes, all unedited of course. There are about 6 or 7 chapter stops per episode, depending on the episode. See the runtimes for each episode below:
Disc one
1. "Saved by the Great White Hope" 43:00
2. "Smile. Don't Kill Anyone" 43:00
3. "A Doctor Time Out" 42:33
4. "On the Mean Streets of San Miguel" 43:00
Disc two
5. "I'm Here" 42:59
6. "It's Good" 43:00
7. "Es Un Milagro" 43:00
8. "It's A Leaf" 42:59
9. "There's Nothing to Fix" 42:59
Disc three
10. "I'm Home" 43:00
11. "Everything's As It Should Be" 42:59
12. "Hold on Tight" 42:59
13. "There's a Lot to Miss About the Jungle" 43:00
Packaging has a nice blue outer box with a main cast photo of them standing and looking towards the left in the jungle on the front cover...the back cover has information on the series & set and has five episodic photos. There is also a section detailing the special features in a darker colored box with technical specifications also. Inside the box is the case. The front of the case has the same artwork as the outer box, and the same goes true for the back of the case. Opening the case, we get a few inserts on the left side and also a disc-by-disc breakdown and a nice cast photo that is on both panels. We don't get an episode booklet but the episodes are listed on the panels. Discs one and two are in a little plastic holder that you can flip like a page on a book. And disc three is on the right panel itself. Each disc is in a blue style color and has artwork of two or three characters per disc. Disc one has episodes 1-4 with artwork of Lilly, Ryan & Ben. Disc two has episodes 5-9 and has artwork of Otis & Zee. Disc three has episodes 10-13 plus the bonus features and has artwork of Charlie, Mina & Tommy. After you remove the discs, you see the nice cast photo on the panels itself like I mentioned...very cool.
The menu screen starts by showing us a wide shot of "somewhere in South America" with the logo before reaching the main menu where video clips are playing. Background music from the show is playing in the background as well. On disc one only, before the main menu we have auto trailers for DVDs of ABC on DVD, Lion King and African Cats. The options on the main menu are Play All, Episode Selection, Bonus Features, Set Up, and Sneak Peeks. Sneak Peeks is just on disc three and has trailers for the new ABC 2011 series Castle, The Chew, Prep & Landing, Real Steel and Pirates of the Caribbean. Set Up section has the option of subtitles in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese and how to register your DVD. Bonus Features is on disc three only. The Episodes option gives us the episode number and title to choose along with a screenshot from the episode.
The video is digitally mastered and is in widescreen and looks very good, as it should! It's HD-like, even though it isn't Blu-ray. I have a DVD player that upconverts to HD, so who needs a Blu-ray player? Ha. The audio is great and sounds very good, as it is in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. This is from the 2011, so it has to be good. And we get to hear the nice closing theme, as on ABC there are promos at the end of the episode.
Moving on to the bonus features. All of them are on disc three. As far as featurettes, first we have "On Set At Off the Map" (8:17) where we get set tours and how the cast got their roles, how the South American set was created and what it's like filming in Hawaii. Interviewed are Jenna Bans (showrunner), Shonda Rhimes & Betsy Beers (executive producers), Martin Henderson, Jason George, Rachelle Lefevre, Zach Gilford, Caroline Dhavernas, Mamie Gummer, Sarah Fischer (producer), Kim Hicks (art director), Valerie Cruz, Stephanie Spangler (location manager), Alex Hajdu (production designer), and Jim Van Houghten (sculptor). Next there was a jungle featurette titled "Jungle Medicine" (4:55) and we learn about the show's seemingly impossible medical cases based on real-life jungle medicine and cures. Interviewed are Jenna Bans, Shonda Rhimes & Betsy Beers, Jeannine Renshaw (co-executive producer), Martin Henderson, Jason George, Zach Gilford, and Rachelle Lefevre.
We also have 11 deleted scenes from eight episodes. Here is a list by episode:
"Saved by the Great White Hope" 1:00
"On the Mean Streets of San Miguel" 1:04, 1:07, 1:10
"It's Good" 0:42 and 0:40
"Es Un Milagro" 1:43
"It's A Leaf" 1:22
"There's Nothing to Fix" 0:56
"I'm Home" 1:13
"There's a Lot to Miss About the Jungle" 1:13
We finally have 2:12 worth of Bloopers & Outtakes. Very fun to watch always and Jason George is very funny. He needs to be on TV every season in something! He has appeared on many ABC series since 2006.
I highly recommend this series and if you've never watched it, it is only 13 episodes so it's worth the buy. It is such a unique show with a great setting. I especially think Caroline Dhavernas needs another series to star in, as she was great. Jason George is great in everything he is in on ABC. This series will be missed because it is a different type of medical show with different medicine. No high tech surgeries and hospitals. The set is good, but I think more bonus features would have been nice. Audio commentaries would have been nice along with the catchy "Mina Minard" song. Oh well, head on to South America with just a simple click below!
(4/5 stars)
To purchase this DVD, click below and help support SitcomsOnline.com:
Amazon.com
Related links:
SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews Page
Off the Map on TV.com
CLICK OF THE WEEK
OfficeTally (www.officetally.com) - With the upcoming release of The Office - Season Seven (DVD/Blu-ray), as well as the upcoming eighth season of the series (which has recently had a major cast shakeup), you may just need to keep a "tally" on all of the changes. OfficeTally is touted as the top fansite for the NBC series, and in visiting the website, I don't think that too many fans would disagree with that assessment. While the website does have the basics, such as an episode (very thorough, by the way) and ratings, where the site really shines is in how "interactive" it is with the series.
We don't just get clips and segments of what happened elsewhere relating to the show on this website (although we DO get that in the seemingly daily news updates that the site posts, they find new news everyday it seems), but this site actively gets involved with the cast members and crew from the series, who often pop in for exclusive interviews and even live chats with those who visit the site. While there are plenty of great TV fan websites out there (and many are listed on this very website), very few get such a close-up an in-depth view of the series they cover as this one does. And if you are just itching for curiosity, you can find some spoilers and secrets that the average fan doesn't realize (but don't get too excited, even THEY don't know who will be the new boss on the series!). Fans of The Office, if not already familiar with this website, should be familiar with this website to get to know everything that you need to know about the series, and one day after the series is long gone from the airwaves, hopefully the site will stand as a thorough and accurate history of one of the more memorable shows of the current era.
That's all for this week. Until next time, keep it digital!
Friday, September 02, 2011
Castle Marathon On TNT September 15; Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of September 5, 2011)
We announced TNT's Fall 2011 schedule already and we also announced that TNT has gotten the cable syndication rights to Castle beginning in summer 2012, but before that, TNT will have a special promotional marathon of Castle. The marathon will air Wednesday, Sept. 15 from 3pm-11pm with eight episodes from seasons 1-3. It is designed to give promotion to ABC's upcoming fourth season of the series and also spots for the third season DVD and ABC's new fall series.
Castle will start airing once a week on TNT starting next summer with the first two seasons before it starts airing more often in 2013. Episodes airing for the marathon stunt are: "A Chill Goes Through Her Veins" from season one, "A Rose for Everafter" from season two, the season two finale "A Deadly Game," the season three premiere "A Deadly Affair," "Punked" from season three, "Nikki Heat" from season three, "Knockdown" from season three, and the third season finale "Knockout." The latter is the last episode to air so far as we wait for the season premiere on Monday, Sept. 19 at 10pm on ABC. ABC will also re-air the third season finale on Monday, Sept. 12 at 10pm.
Now, after three seasons, Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett's (Stana Katic) relationship has grown even stronger as they've dodged bullets, captured killers and solved countless murder cases in their unorthodox partnership. But in the explosive Season 3 finale, NYPD Captain Roy Montgomery -- who we learned had a connection to the unsolved murder of Beckett's mother -- was shot and killed by a man tied to that crime. As the episode came to a close ***SPOILER ALERT****, Beckett, who was speaking about her Captain at his funeral, took a bullet from a sniper's rifle and was last seen on the ground with life fading out of her. Will she survive...?
Tune in for the marathon on TNT Sept. 15 starting at 3pm before the new season starts Sept. 19 on ABC. Our review of the third season DVD will be coming soon on Digital Digest (our Saturday blog feature). Stay tuned!
It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of September 5-9, 2011, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Castle will start airing once a week on TNT starting next summer with the first two seasons before it starts airing more often in 2013. Episodes airing for the marathon stunt are: "A Chill Goes Through Her Veins" from season one, "A Rose for Everafter" from season two, the season two finale "A Deadly Game," the season three premiere "A Deadly Affair," "Punked" from season three, "Nikki Heat" from season three, "Knockdown" from season three, and the third season finale "Knockout." The latter is the last episode to air so far as we wait for the season premiere on Monday, Sept. 19 at 10pm on ABC. ABC will also re-air the third season finale on Monday, Sept. 12 at 10pm.
Now, after three seasons, Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett's (Stana Katic) relationship has grown even stronger as they've dodged bullets, captured killers and solved countless murder cases in their unorthodox partnership. But in the explosive Season 3 finale, NYPD Captain Roy Montgomery -- who we learned had a connection to the unsolved murder of Beckett's mother -- was shot and killed by a man tied to that crime. As the episode came to a close ***SPOILER ALERT****, Beckett, who was speaking about her Captain at his funeral, took a bullet from a sniper's rifle and was last seen on the ground with life fading out of her. Will she survive...?
Tune in for the marathon on TNT Sept. 15 starting at 3pm before the new season starts Sept. 19 on ABC. Our review of the third season DVD will be coming soon on Digital Digest (our Saturday blog feature). Stay tuned!
It's Friday, so it is time for "Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows" for the coming week. This is where we list what sitcom stars are appearing on talk shows for the coming week, the stars are both current and past sitcom stars, so this is for all sitcom fans of all eras!
For the week of September 5-9, 2011, we have many current sitcom stars and past sitcom stars on TV talk shows! So get your DVR's (or whatever you use) ready! Ready? Here is all what you need to know for the coming week!
Monday, September 5, 2011
- Steve Carell (The Office) - Watch Steve on a repeat of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
- Norm MacDonald (The Norm Show) - Catch Norm on a repeat of Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Hank Azaria (Free Agents/The Simpsons) - Hank chats on LIVE! with Regis & Kelly, so check your listings.
- Kevin Connnolly (Entourage/Unhappily Ever After) - Kevin drops by LIVE! with Regis & Kelly, so check your listings.
- Jennifer Aniston (Friends) - Jennifer is a guest on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
- Don Rickles (C.P.O. Sharkey/Daddy Dearest) - Jimmy Kimmel Live! will pay tribute to Uncle Frank Potenza at 12am on ABC. Comedian and friend Don Rickles will reminisce with Jimmy about this kind and irreplaceable man who was indeed an Uncle to all who knew him.
- Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine/Wanda at Large) - Catch Wanda on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Lisa Kudrow (Friends/The Comeback) - Lisa is a guest on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
- Denis Leary (The Job) - Denis appears on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
- Olivia Munn (Perfect Couples) - Olivia visits Late Night with Jimmy Fallon at 12:37am on NBC.
- Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) - Tune in to see Aubrey on Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Sofia Vergara (Modern Family) - Watch Sofia on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
- Raven-Symoné (State of Georgia/That's So Raven/The Cosby Show) - Raven drops by The Wendy Williams Show at 2am on BET or on your local stations.
- Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City/Square Pegs) - Watch Sarah on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Elijah Wood (Wilfred) - Elijah stops by Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 12am on ABC.
- Busy Philipps (Cougar Town) - Busy visits Conan at 11pm on TBS.
- Allison Janney (Mr. Sunshine) - Allison appears on a repeat of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, so check listings.
- Michael J. Fox (Family Ties/Spin City) - Catch Michael on The Late Show with David Letterman at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Will Arnett (Up All Night/Arrested Development) - Will drops by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Felicity Huffman (Sports Night) - Felicity appears The Wendy Williams Show at 2am on BET or on your local stations.
- Brie Larson (United States of Tara/Raising Dad) - Watch Brie on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson at 12:37am on CBS.
Thursday, September 01, 2011
ABC Family Fall 2011 Schedule, Part II; BET Saturday Sitcom Stunts In September
Last month we gave you ABC Family's September 2011 schedule, but there really weren't any changes to the regular schedule. Now we have October 2011 and there are changes to the line-up beginning Monday, October 3, 2011! There are no new shows joining the line-up, but the biggest news probably is that Gilmore Girls returns to the ABC Family line-up after a few months off the schedule. The series will return and air weekdays at 11am replacing an hour of Full House, bumping Full House to the 9am half-hour, replacing Grounded for Life. It's not bad news though for that sitcom, as Grounded for Life will now air for an hour in a later timeslot of 1-2pm. 8 Simple Rules will move from 1-2pm to 3-4pm right after My Wife & Kids at 2. That '70s Show's two-hour block will be shifted as a result of 8 Simple Rules coming at 3pm, so Fez and the gang will now air from 4-6pm. That '70s Show will replace repeats of The Secret Life of the American Teenager at 5pm, as the 5-days a week airing for that show will end. The rest of the line-up will remain as it is in September.
Moving on to stunts in October, we have the annual "13 Nights of Halloween" event starting Wednesday, October 19. This year the event will kick-off with a special Halloween episode for ABC Family's hit original series Pretty Little Liars. The episode will air at 8pm and will be a Halloween-themed episode but is a prequel episode for fans to have something new as we wait for the second half of the season (12 more episodes) to begin in January 2012. A marathon of the series will lead-in starting at 11am. Pretty Little Liars ended its first half this past Tuesday with a quite a cliff-hanger and to high ratings. "13 Nights of Halloween" will feature Halloween episodes of America's Funniest Home Videos and That '70s Show, but will be mainly filled with movies. The movie premieres are the basic cable premiere of Coraline and the ABC Family premieres of movies that are also TV series: Bewitched and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. Other movies airing in the annual event are Hocus Pocus, The Goonies, Casper, Teen Witch, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Beetlejuice, The Addams Family Movie, Scooby-Doo Movie, Haunted Mansion, Monsters, Inc. and Practical Magic.
Before the 13 Nights of Halloween, the ABC Family premiere movies are Mamma Mia! and Unbreakable. Other movies airing include Coyote Ugly, Titanic, Dr. Dolittle, G-Force, 50 First Dates, and Along Came Polly. Besides, the Pretty Little Liars special episode, the only original series for ABC Family in October will be the final three episodes of the season for new series The Lying Game, airing Mondays at 8pm. The season finale will be on Monday, Oct. 17.
View the complete ABC Family October 2011 schedule and the complete breakdown of the annual 13 Nights of Halloween! Keep it right here if there are any changes announced.
BET will have some sitcom Saturday fun in September. First up, this coming Saturday (Sept. 3), BET will feature a marathon of Bernie Mac from 8am-4:30pm. The following Saturday (Sept. 10), will feature an appearance from sister network Centric's The Steve Harvey Show from 12:30pm-6:30pm following a mini-block of Jamie Foxx Show/Bernie Mac from 10am-12:30pm. Moving on to September 24, there will be an assorted display of sitcoms starting at 8am and running until 3pm. We get The Game, The Jamie Foxx Show, Bernie Mac and Everybody Hates Chris airing on this day.
We will have the BET Fall 2011 schedule soon, along with sister network Centric's Fall 2011 schedule. One hint for BET we will give you is that there will be a special sitcom stunt on Oct. 1, featuring a new acquisition that returns to the network after a couple years off. Stay tuned and find out what it will be soon!
Moving on to stunts in October, we have the annual "13 Nights of Halloween" event starting Wednesday, October 19. This year the event will kick-off with a special Halloween episode for ABC Family's hit original series Pretty Little Liars. The episode will air at 8pm and will be a Halloween-themed episode but is a prequel episode for fans to have something new as we wait for the second half of the season (12 more episodes) to begin in January 2012. A marathon of the series will lead-in starting at 11am. Pretty Little Liars ended its first half this past Tuesday with a quite a cliff-hanger and to high ratings. "13 Nights of Halloween" will feature Halloween episodes of America's Funniest Home Videos and That '70s Show, but will be mainly filled with movies. The movie premieres are the basic cable premiere of Coraline and the ABC Family premieres of movies that are also TV series: Bewitched and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. Other movies airing in the annual event are Hocus Pocus, The Goonies, Casper, Teen Witch, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Beetlejuice, The Addams Family Movie, Scooby-Doo Movie, Haunted Mansion, Monsters, Inc. and Practical Magic.
Before the 13 Nights of Halloween, the ABC Family premiere movies are Mamma Mia! and Unbreakable. Other movies airing include Coyote Ugly, Titanic, Dr. Dolittle, G-Force, 50 First Dates, and Along Came Polly. Besides, the Pretty Little Liars special episode, the only original series for ABC Family in October will be the final three episodes of the season for new series The Lying Game, airing Mondays at 8pm. The season finale will be on Monday, Oct. 17.
View the complete ABC Family October 2011 schedule and the complete breakdown of the annual 13 Nights of Halloween! Keep it right here if there are any changes announced.
BET will have some sitcom Saturday fun in September. First up, this coming Saturday (Sept. 3), BET will feature a marathon of Bernie Mac from 8am-4:30pm. The following Saturday (Sept. 10), will feature an appearance from sister network Centric's The Steve Harvey Show from 12:30pm-6:30pm following a mini-block of Jamie Foxx Show/Bernie Mac from 10am-12:30pm. Moving on to September 24, there will be an assorted display of sitcoms starting at 8am and running until 3pm. We get The Game, The Jamie Foxx Show, Bernie Mac and Everybody Hates Chris airing on this day.
We will have the BET Fall 2011 schedule soon, along with sister network Centric's Fall 2011 schedule. One hint for BET we will give you is that there will be a special sitcom stunt on Oct. 1, featuring a new acquisition that returns to the network after a couple years off. Stay tuned and find out what it will be soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, September 3
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - "A Bus Bench and Faith out the Wazoo" (CBS, 9:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Audrey and Mary’s (Zoe Perry) feud rears its head when Georgie needs their help with the tire store, and Jim’s forced to confront his age after a visit to the DMV.
Ghosts - "Up the Creek" (CBS, 9:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
When Woodstone’s future is put in jeopardy, Sam and Jay join forces with the ghosts to protect the mansion by securing its place in history, on part one of the two-part fifth season finale.
Adults - "Talia" (FX and FXX, 9:00PM ET/PT)
Anton learns that his sister is starting a family, while Issa begins thinking about her own fertility. Written by Shaun Menchel; Directed by Maggie Carey.
Adults - "Raccoon" (FX and FXX, 9:32PM ET/PT)
Issa and Paul Baker host Acid Night. Written by Sanaz Toossi; Directed by Oz Rodriguez.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of August 31)
Thursday, September 3
- Olivia Rodrigo (Bizaardvark) - Catch Olivia on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Jim Gaffigan (The Jim Gaffigan Show/My Boys/The Ellen Show/Welcome to New York) - Jim is a guest on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Rickey Smiley (The Rickey Smiley Show) - Rickey appears on a repeat of Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 12:37am on CBS.
- Stephen Root (Barry/Ladies Man/NewsRadio) - Stephen is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Glen Powell (Chad Powers/Scream Queens) and Steve Zahn (Chad Powers/The Righteous Gemstones) - Glen and Steve talk about Chad Powers on ABC's Good Morning America sometime between 7-9am. Steve and Frankie Rodriguez will be on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
- Sophia Bush (Partners) - Sophia guest co-hosts a repeat of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Michelle Buteau (Survival of the Thickest/Bless the Harts/Enlisted) - NBC's Today has the Best of Fun & Games with "Queen of Quips" with Michelle in the 10am hour.
- Casey Wilson (The Righteous Gemstones/Black Monday/The Hotwives/Marry Me/Happy Endings) and Andrew Rannells (Girls/The New Normal) - NBC's Today has the Best of Fun & Games with "Beat the Box" with Casey, Andrew and Prue Leith in the 10am hour.
- Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere/Nightcap) - Jeff talks about Apple TV's Widow's Bay on a repeat of Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
01/20/26 - The Woody Woodpecker and Friends Golden Age Collection (Blu-ray)
01/27/26 - The New Fred and Barney Show - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/11/26 - Tom and Jerry - The Complete CinemaScope Collection (Blu-ray)
03/24/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
04/11/26 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Fourth Season (DVD)
04/21/26 - Famous Studios Champion Collection (Blu-ray) (DVD)
05/19/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
05/19/26 - Looney Tunes Cartoons - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
06/16/26 - Difficult People - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
06/30/26 - Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
07/14/26 - The Office - The Complete Series - Superfan Extended Episodes (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Bill Dana Show - The Complete Series (DVD)
07/28/26 - I Love Lucy - The Complete Series - 75th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray)
07/28/26 - The Paper - Season One (Blu-ray) (DVD)
08/25/26 - Perfect Strangers - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) (DVD)
09/08/26 - Looney Tunes Collector's Vault - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
09/22/26 - Bridget Loves Bernie - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
09/29/26 - The Quick Draw McGraw Show - 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
Sitcoms Online Main Page
Contact Us