MSN TV Blog: TV on DVD

New on DVD: 'Damages'

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:02:14 GMT

I'm pretty excited that the first season of FX's "Damages" hits the shelves today. The show stars Glenn Close as a diabolical attorney, Rose Byrne as her naive protege, and Ted Danson as the man she's trying to take down. I really liked the pilot, but I was watching too many other shows over the summer to get into it. Besides, it's so great to have the instant gratification of an entire season on DVD.

- Posted by Kate

'Lost:' DVDs and Spoilers

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:49:21 GMT

Season three of "Lost" hits the shelves today. The DVD set includes some pretty intriguing extras: "The World of the Others," "Lost Flashbacks," "Lost On Location," "The Lost Book Club" (ha!), and "Lost in a Day." You'll also find the usual assortment of deleted scenes, a gag reel, and audio commentaries.

I also ran across some pretty decent season four spoilers over at E! Seriously, though, think for a minute before you click that link. Maybe you don't want to know. Maybe you just want to watch a couple more of those cheesy webisodes and then cool it until February.

- Posted by Kate

TV on DVD: 'Gilmore Girls' and 'Northern Exposure'

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:28:46 GMT

It's another great week for TV shows on DVD. We've got "Gilmore Girls:" The Complete 7th Season and "Gilmore Girls:" The Complete Series. The complete series set has forty two discs and a booklet of "Gilmore-isms."

You can also pick up "Northern Exposure:" The Complete Series at the video store tonight. Twenty six discs of Dr. Joel, Maggie, Ed, Shelley, and Maurice.

Another show to check out on DVD is one you might not have seen yet: "Little Mosque on the Prairie." This Canadian comedy follows a group of Muslim Canadians who set up a mosque in their little town in the middle of nowhere. It's funny stuff.

- Posted by Kate

TV on DVD: Get 'Em While They're Hot

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:06:49 GMT

This is an unusually good week for DVD releases. First, you've got a little program called "The Colbert Report." This "best of" compilation clocks in at nearly three hours!

Season 1 of "Flight of the Conchords" also hits the shelves today. All the episodes are on the discs, but I'm not sure about extras.

Out and out collectors can pick up complete series sets of "Seinfeld" and "The King of Queens." The "Seinfeld" set has a lot of extras - including a coffee table book. Kramer's coffee table book? I guess we'll just have to see.

Season 3 of "Project Runway" is also being released today, just in time for the new run (8 days and counting!)

- Posted by Kate

TV on DVD: 'My So-Called Life'

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:50:09 GMT

Well, today's the day the DVD extras edition of "My So-Called Life" is hitting video stores near you. The discs contain all kinds of bonus features, including commentary from the now very un-Angela Chase-like Claire Danes. So, in honor of Angela, Jordan Catalano, Rayanne, Ricky, and Brian Krakow, here are my ten favorite moments from "My So-Called Life:"

1. Jordan can't spell Angela's name but she looooooves him anyway.

2. Patty comes through when Rayanne ODs.

3. Rayanne sings The Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated." It was both awesome and cringe-worthy. Not easy to pull off.

4. Ricky asserts his right to hang out in the girls' bathroom. I know, I know, it happened more than once.

5. The infamous Anne Frank comment. Why does she say it? She's fifteen. We've all been there.

6. Ricky's family kicks him out. No, it wasn't a happy storyline, but it was a good one.

7. We learn that Rayanne's mom feeds Rayanne only appetizers.

8. Angela finds out that Rayanne hooked up with Jordan, and she forgives her...eventually.

9. Angela drives off with Jordan even though she knows Brian really wrote the note. Why? Again, because she's fifteen.

10. We never meet Tino. What does Tino look like? Is he even a mortal creature?

Update: And I can't believe I forgot about the time that Angela thought Jordan wrote a song about her but it was about his car! Thanks, Dad.

- Posted by Kate

Mishaps From Mars

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:59:38 GMT

Season three of "Veronica Mars" comes out on DVD today! Here's some video from the gag reel that some kind soul has posted on YouTube.

- Posted by Kate

Five Shows From My Youth That Have Stood the Test of Time...For Now

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:10:51 GMT

Yes, I am old enough now to have had a youth. It happens to us all, right? Now that so many old shows are playing on cable and coming out on DVD it's possible to check in with stuff I watched when I was a lot younger and see if it still seems like "good" TV. Some shows don't fare so well ("L.A. Law" and "Perfect Strangers" come to mind) and some shows have surprised me. I'll say right off that there are plenty of shows that aren't on the list. "Cheers" is a good example. It's not on the list because it's stood the test of time just like we all expected it to. Same goes for "The Cosby Show." Here are five of the shows I was surprised I still really liked:

1. "Twin Peaks" (1990-1991)
Things go a little bit off the rails in the second season, but otherwise "Twin Peaks" is as good as the best shows on TV right now. Who killed Laura Palmer? Well, you probably already know, and I thought knowing would ruin the fun. It is a police procedural, after all.

Turns out, rewatching "Twin Peaks" is almost better than seeing it for the first time. There are so many little details, and there are characters who didn't seem all that important who suddenly come alive, like Josie. Warning: the early 90s were not a good time in American fashion. It can be distracting.

2. "The Golden Girls" (1985-1992)
This was a funny show. It was such an actual sitcom, too, with really stupid plots - remember when Dorothy and Rose write that "Miami, Miami" jingle? - but still such a great show. The acting is good, and the friendship between the girls seems a lot more real than the bond between Carrie and company, or Joan and her pals from "Girlfriends." They were having fun while they were eating all that cheesecake.

3. "Growing Pains" (1985-1992)
This one really surprised me. Ion started showing reruns of "Growing Pains" and "The Golden Years" around the same time, and I watched a couple episodes of both shows. "The Golden Years" seemed kind of forced, whereas "Growing Pains" was actually funny. It didn't seem as dated as I expected.

4. "Northern Exposure" (1990-1995)
I liked this show a lot when it was first on, but I don't think I fully appreciated its wackiness. Holling and Shelly? Hilarious and awesome. Also Ed, and Ruth-Anne, and Marilyn. It's a little disconcerting to see Rob Morrow in this role, because he looks pretty much exactly the same as he does now in "Numb3rs." Okay, his hair is shorter now.

5. "Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990-2000)
I'm not saying the whole run is worth watching, but the first three seasons (The Brenda years!) are pretty solid. It's funny to see how the show changes from a comedy that pokes gentle fun at the Beverly Hills elite to out and out melodrama. Also, season one has this whole weird subplot where the twins' mom almost has an affair with this other guy.

- Posted by Kate

TV on DVD: Jamie's Kitchen

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:51:26 GMT

Now that "Top Chef" is wrapping up and "Kitchen Nightmares" has failed to wow me, I'm missing my TV of the people-burning-things-and-yelling-at-each-other variety. If only Alton Brown would call Bobby Flay a donkey on "Iron Chef: America." One cooking "reality" show that you might have missed the first time around is "Jamie's Kitchen."

Dreamy British chef Jamie Oliver starts a non-profit restaurant, Fifteen, which he plans to staff with 15 homeless or unemployed young Londoners. The documentary style show takes us from the auditions to the opening of the restaurant. We get to see the fifteen apprentice chefs stumble through cooking school, fail their cooking exams, piss Jamie off, and...burn things and yell at each other. It's really worth a look.

- Posted by Kate

TV on DVD: 'Heroes'

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:15:08 GMT

Today season one of "Heroes" hits the shelves. The seven disc DVD set includes lots of extras, like the unaired 73 minute pilot and several "behind the scenes" features. There are also 50 deleted scenes. Not bad for under $40.

- Posted by Kate

TV on DVD: 'My So-Called Life'

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 19:46:50 GMT

File this under "it's about time:" cult favorite "My So-Called Life" is coming out on DVD on October 30. The complete boxed set will include:

- “My So-Called Life Story:” The amazing story of the origins, life and afterlife of the series.

- 1995 Museum of Television and Radio Panel
“A Conversation with Claire Danes and Winnie Holzman”

- “The Characters” - Exploring the back stories and relationships of the characters.

- An exclusive interview with Claire Danes

- Photo gallery

- “The Music” with composer Snuffy Walden

- Deluxe book accompanies set and includes original art alongside full-color cast photos and liner notes from Winnie Holzman, Joss Whedon, Janeane Garofalo, and Michele Byers (author and co-editor of new book Dear Angela: Remembering My So-Called Life - due out this year).

- Posted by Kate

'As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly'

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 17:28:39 GMT

There are so many TV-on-DVD box sets that make you just ask "Why?" – why, for instance, would anyone want to own the sixth season of "The Dukes of Hazzard"? So when a real gem comes along, one that features a classic show that isn't on the tube in a rerun every time you change the channel, it's worth mentioning. So, I'm mentioning it: On April 3, Fox is releasing the complete first season of "WKRP in Cincinnati."

Commentary and a making-of documentary are part of the bonus goodies, but the real reason the "WKRP" set is a must-own: "Turkeys Away," named one of TV Guide's all-time best TV episodes, in which the radio station throws turkeys out of an airplane as a holiday promotion with the people of Cincy.

WKRP news anchor Les Nessman: "It's a helicopter, and it's coming this way. It's flying something behind it, I can't quite make it out, it's a large banner and it says, uh – Happy ... Thaaaaanksss ... giving! ... From ... W ... K ... R... P!! No parachutes yet. Can't be skydivers ... I can't tell just yet what they are, but--Oh my God, they're turkeys!! Johnny, can you get this? Oh, they're plunging to the earth right in front of our eyes! One just went through the windshield of a parked car! Oh, the humanity! The turkeys are hitting the ground like sacks of wet cement! Not since the Hindenburg tragedy has there been anything like this!"

WKRP station manager Arthur Carlson, post-"Turkeygate": "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."

Priceless. Well, actually not: It'll set you back $39.98 (retail) when it's released, and it's worth every cent.

- posted by Kim

'Invasion' and 'Threshold' … They're Back

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 03:14:44 GMT

O.K., it's only on DVD, but still good news for fans of those cancelled-too-soon series from the 2005-06 TV season.

The "Invasion" and "Threshold" complete series DVD box sets follow last week's release of the "Surface" complete series box, which makes me wonder which new fall season show is most likely to end up as a one-DVD-box set wonder.

A couple of guesses: ABC's "The Nine" or "Six Degrees," both really good dramas that may have a tough time building high ratings in a season that features several returning dramas that already have loyal audiences--"Lost," "Grey's Anatomy," "Prison Break," "24," etc.--plus a slew of new serial dramas that require a big time commitment.

- posted by Kim

WIN FOUR HBO DVD BOX SETS!

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 01:50:37 GMT

Our generous pals at HBO and HBO Home Video have struck again, which means two TV Filter readers will hit the jackpot! We have two prize packages, with each package featuring four HBO DVD box sets: "The Comeback: The Complete Only Season," "Entourage" season two, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" season five and "The Wire" season three!

Again, two lucky readers will each win all four box sets, which is more than enough great TV to get you through the next few weeks 'til the new fall season officially starts!

To enter, all you have to do is answer the following trivia question and send the answer, with "HBO DVD Package" in the subject line, in an e-mail to winthis@microsoft.com. TWO winners will be selected at random from amongst the correct responses, and each winner will snag one awesome HBO DVD package.

HBO DVD PACKAGE CONTEST TRIVIA QUESTION:
What was the first movie to be shown on HBO when it launched on November 8, 1972?

Again, all you have to do to enter is send your answer to winthis@microsoft.com for a chance to win a cool package of four HBO DVD box sets. The contest begins today, and all entries must be received by August 28, 2006 at 12:01 a.m. ET. (The MSN TV Filter Sweepstakes Official Rules).

Good luck everyone, and keep checking in for more TV Filter giveaways … we've got more great swag coming your way!

- posted by Kim

'Dr. Who' Invades America for Nearly $100 a Pop

Thu, 01 Dec 2005 00:00:58 GMT

The first season of the latest "Dr. Who" is going to be available in America Feb. 14 for a suggested retail price of about $99, according to Sci Fi Wire.

With the season only having 13 episodes, that's kind of a pricey Valentine in my book. But I'm sure there are more than a few Whovians who won't have much better to do with their money that day.

I kid, I kid.

- posted by Raoul

'But I Don't Wanna Be a Pirate!'

Tue, 22 Nov 2005 18:00:39 GMT

Call off the holiday shopping if there's a "Seinfeld" fan on your list. Today's seasons five and six box set release (complete with miniature reproduction of the infamous puffy shirt!) is a must-own for any "Seinfeld" fan, and it's loaded with extra features that make it worth the price (which, btw, is knocked down to $77.97 at Amazon.com).

There's a reproduction of a script with Jerry's handwritten notes, commentaries, deleted scenes, trivia, clips of Jerry's stand-up performances and, among the more than 20 hours of new material, a feature on how Larry David inspired the George Costanza character, a favorite topic of "Seinfeld" fans.

My top five quotes from seasons five and six:

- "The thing about eating the Black and White cookie, Elaine, is you want to get some black and some white in each bite. Nothing mixes better than vanilla and chocolate And yet somehow racial harmony eludes us. If people would only look to the cookie all our problems would be solved." --Jerry, from "The Dinner Party"

- "The sea was angry that day, my friends. Like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli." --George, from "The Marine Biologist"

- George: "I might tell her that I love her. I came this close last night, then I just chickened out."
Jerry: "Well, that's a big move, Georgie boy. Are you confident in the 'I love
you' return?"
George: "Fifty-fifty."
Jerry: "'Cause if you don't get that return, that's a pretty big matzoh ball hanging out there."
George: "Aw, I've just got to say it once, everybody else gets to say it, why can't I say it?"
Elaine: "What, you never said it?"
George: "Once, to a dog. He licked himself and left the room." --from "The Face Painter"

- "I know the D is the biggest. I've based my whole life on knowing that the D is the biggest." --George, from "The Sniffing Accountant"

- "Well here's the thing. Being a woman, I only really have access to the, uh ... equipment, what, thirty, forty-five minutes a week? And that's on a good week. How can I be expected to have the same expertise as people who OWN this equipment, and have access to it twenty-four hours a day, their entire lives?" --Elaine, from "The Beard"

And, bonus, five great "Seinfeld" Websites to remind you how much you love the show:

- The Seinfeld Scripts

- Stan the Caddy's "Seinfeld" Blog

- The Official "Seinfeld" site

- Seinology (check out the site's fan-written scripts)

- Wikipedia's guide to Festivus, Frank Costanza's alt-holiday

So … what are YOUR favorite "Seinfeld" moments from seasons five and six?

- posted by Kim

Dear 'Angel' Fans....

Tue, 01 Nov 2005 19:33:57 GMT

So if you already have all five seasons of "Angel" on DVD, as I do, and don't want to shell out again for the five-in-one set, you are missing out on this letter from Joss.

Via the good folks at Whedonesque, you can read Joss' very special message to you:

"..and she'll have a love interest, a mysterious stranger named Angel who turns out to be a vampire! But a vampire with a soul, cursed to walk the night in eternal remorse for his evil deeds.."

No wait. That's way too cheesy. Nobody will ever buy that.

Such were my thoughts as I developed the TV show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." I knew Angel wouldn't (forgive the pun) fly. I was frantic. And then something wonderful happened.

I totally didn't come up with anything better.

So this guy was born, and not only did people buy him, they loved him. I loved him, at least 76% platonically. I loved him enough to create, with my partner in crime David Greenwalt, his own show. "Angel". And then it got weird. Well, weirder.

The thing is, "Buffy" was a simple premise that developed into a complex show. "Angel" was not a simple premise, not for guys like Dave and me. We couldn't just have noble, handsome, dark hero rush in and save various days. We tried. That ain't life. We found that "Angel" needed to be a show about our darkest journeys, not unlike Buffy except that Buffy had a grounding; she had a destiny, an arc, a posse. We knew where she had to go. We had NO IDEA where Angel had to go. And so he went everywhere: up down, good, bad, left, farther left... off the edge of the world and home for supper and the thing is, it ended up being as much or more about our lives than Buffy was. We weren't 'chosen' (not for sports, anyway). We had no destiny. We lived on the edge of chaos, personally, narratively... even as Angel surrounded himself with more and more of a family (and we found more and more wonderful actors for David Boreanaz to play against), that central core of warmth and safety that Buffy enjoyed was missing. The result is before you in toto: The long, strange trip that is five years in the life a vampire. Not long enough, I would argue, but plenty with the strange. For your listy goodness, a few of the moments herein that made my life worth living:

--Angel locking a roomful of lawyers in with two peckish vampire gals.
--Buffy swearing never to forget her time with Angel, right before she does.
--Faith in the rain, begging Angel to kill her.
--Princess Cordelia.
--Darla's horrified accusation, "While Spike - SPIKE - was out killing a Slayer, you were busy saving Missonaries!... From me." (True emotional Vampire logic, courtesy of Tim Minear.)
--Lilah dressing up Fred to seduce Wesley. (Gentlemen, start you therapists!)
--Any and all karaoke.
--Fred and Wesley, deeply drunk.
--Gunn in the White Room, meeting his match.
--The biggest, bloodiest and most personal Spike/Angel fight we've ever shot.
--The silliest, most pointless Spike/Angel argument we've ever shot.
--Dude, puppets!

With no star to guide us, we sailed into waters filled with dragons and mermaids and a few really impressive icebergs. We made some of our most compelling television, reinventing season by season, show by show, moment to moment. This is our odd little odyssey, and no, we never did reach the shores of safety, but that's sort of the point. We don't go through the Hell of existence - the pain, the drama, the meaninglessness and confusion because it's safe, or simple, or will end happily now or ever after. We do it because nobody ever come up with anything better.

So enjoy it. I did.

Whedonesque also linked to a story over on Fangoria about an upcoming vampire movie that stars a number of "Buffy" and "Angel" alums, including the actors/actresses who played Andrew, Hamilton and Darla.

- posted by Raoul

'Stewie Griffin' the Amusing If Unnecessary Story

Mon, 10 Oct 2005 19:06:02 GMT

And speaking of revived series, I'm as big a "Family Guy" fan as there is. So I was really looking forward to watching "Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story."

Unfortunately, I don't think the movie can proclaim "Victory is mine!" But neither is it as bleak as Asian correspondentTricia Takanawa says: "a straight-to-DVD feature that will soon be in the $3.99 bin at your local car wash."

There are lots of amusing bits, of course. The rapid-fire series of gags include riffs on "Bullitt," "Star Wars," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," It gives celebrities from Drew Barrymore to Susan Sarandon to Cher the mocking they richly deserve. Listening to the commentary track is great because you get to see how much fun Seth MacFarlane and everyone had putting this together.

But for all the claims of being outrageous and uncensored...not so much. There doesn't seem to be that much that they couldn't get away with in a regular episode of "Family Guy" beyond a few bleeped out curse words and the like.

All told, I think "Stewie" is better as a rental for "FG" fans. Save your money for the next box set, due in November.

- posted by Raoul

'Lost' DVDs Found

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 05:22:44 GMT

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin breaks down why the hefty $50+ retail price for the new season one DVD box set of "Lost" (Buena Vista Home Video) is worth the coin. I agree; maybe for the casual fan, fifty bucks is a lot for a single season set, but let's be real, with a show as intricate as "Lost," is it even possible to be a casual fan?

By the way, if you haven't bought your copy yet, you may want to head to your local Best Buy, which is offering a cool bonus disc, free with purchase. It features some additional extras that were too long to include on the seven-disc box set.

And it all makes the wait--only two more weeks!--for season two a bit more bearable.

- posted by Kim

College Geeks, 'Office' Freaks and Other Tube DVDs

Tue, 16 Aug 2005 16:57:04 GMT

This week in TV shows-on-DVD . . .

- The "Will & Grace" season four box set (Lion's Gate Home Entertainment) features my all-time favorite episode, the one where guest star Matt Damon pretends to be gay to compete with Jack for an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe with the New York Gay Men's Choir.

- What Judd Apatow did for adorkable high school students in his cancelled-before-its-time classic NBC dramedy "Freaks and Geeks" he did for adorkable college students in "Undeclared," the short-lived Fox comedy that hits DVD (Shout! Factory) in a fancy-schmancy box set loaded with interviews, commentary and other bonus goodies.

Apatow, by the way, is a TV genius who's right up there with the J.J. Abramses ("Lost" and "Alias") and the Tom Fontanas ("Oz," "Homicide" and "St. Elsewhere") in my book. In addition to "Freaks" and "Undeclared," Apatow was also a writer on "The Larry Sanders Show" and "The Ben Stiller Show," and he's the co-writer/director of this week's hilarious Steve Carell big-screen romp "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."

- "I Love Lucy" season five box set (Paramount Home Video) – includes the end of the gang's Hollywood adventures (Lucy meets John Wayne in the second ep) and their trip to Europe, with Lucy's classic grape stomping scene.

- "The Office" season one (Universal Home Video) – speaking of the wonderful Steve Carell, he's no David Brent (as if anyone could ever top Ricky Gervais' King of Cheese), but he's his own special brand of self-obsessed boss from hell Michael Scott in NBC's remake of Gervais' faux documentary comedy. The box set includes all six installments from season one, plus selected audio commentary and deleted scenes for every episode. Do not miss the deleted scenes, which truly showcase Rainn Wilson's scene-stealing Dwight Schrute performances. And, do not miss NBC's four-episode mini-marathon of the show Wednesday night at 8 p.m.

- And "The Simpsons" season six box set (Fox Home Entertainment) ends with the "Dallas"-spoofing "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" cliffhanger and comes packaged in a hella cool Homer's head-shaped big yellow box. (Warning: apparently some people are unhappy with the big yellow Homer head).

- posted by Kim

The Most Sensational, Inspirational, Celebrational, Muppetational . . .

Tue, 09 Aug 2005 19:51:06 GMT

If "Dallas" isn't your thing, you might be into today's other cool TV-on-DVD release, the season one box set of "The Muppet Show" (Buena Vista Home Video), that 1976-81 variety show spoof starring, natch, The Muppets, and a line-up of groovy celeb guest stars.

Season one's guests included an eclectic list: Ruth Buzzi, Ethel Merman, Vincent Price, Twiggy, Valerie Harper, Phyllis Diller, Candice Bergen, Harvey Korman, Paul Williams and Florence Henderson, who sang and danced and swapped bad jokes with Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie and the gang.

"Muppet Show" trivia: the episodes were taped in London; future seasons included guest appearances by Milton Berle, Steve Martin, George Burns, Elton John, Peter Sellers, Bob Hope, John Cleese, Gilda Radner, Liberace, Liza Minnelli, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Cash, Gene Kelly, Paul Simon and Carol Burnett; those two wise-crackin' curmudgeonly dudes in the balcony are Statler and Waldorf, and they were named after New York City hotels.

PS – The box set's packaging alone is worth the price: the four DVDs come packaged in a green fuzzy box that resembles Kermie's fur. And yes, it's just as cute as it sounds.

- posted by Kim

The Shot Seen 'Round the World

Tue, 09 Aug 2005 18:17:42 GMT

It's the greatest TV cliffhanger of all-time: Who Shot J.R.? Today, Warner Home Video releases the third season DVD box set of "Dallas," featuring the famous 1980 season finale episode in which the ornery Texas oilman (Larry Hagman) was gunned down.

It's a great set, with a special documentary all about that classic whodunit. Did you know more people watched the November 1980 episode that revealed the scorned Kristin (Mary Crosby) as J.R.'s shooter than voted in that year's Reagan vs. Carter presidential election? It was a really good show . . .

- posted by Kim

Hey Hey Hey! 'The Cosby Show' Makes It to DVD

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 03:04:08 GMT

I have a strange relationship with "The Cosby Show." I was a faithful viewer for years growing up. Don't know if there ever has been a sitcom lineup to match it with "Cosby," "Family Ties" and "Cheers" all on the same night. And the way things are going, I doubt there will be again.

But darned if I can recall all that much about "Cosby" now. The time when Stevie Wonder guest-starred..."I brought you into this world. I can take you out." That about does it.

That's why I'm glad the show's out on DVD, starting today. It'll give people like me a chance to catch up with their memories...or to find out that show is as dated as some of those flashy sweaters Cosby and co. would wear.

The Boston Globe has a good piece looking at the lasting legacy of "The Cosby Show."

The Philly Daily News captured celebrities' much sharper memories here.

- posted by Raoul

$300 for 'Sex'?

Tue, 02 Aug 2005 15:27:13 GMT

Never mind that fans of "Sex and the City" have already dropped a few hundred bucks to own all six seasons of the show on DVD; HBO wants you to do it again.

The "New York Daily News" reports that HBO plans to release "the ultimate" DVD box set for "SATC" on November 1, with all 94 episodes on 19 discs, plus an extra DVD of bonus features. The price tag: $299.95.

"It really is the complete collection, the ultimate fan collection," HBO home vid exec Cynthia Rhea told the newspaper. "I don't think it will be for everybody. But the show does speak to its fans in a certain way. . . . We know many of the buyers of the series on DVD are ardent fans who have seen every episode several times."

In other words, they think plenty of people will shell out another $300 for some fancy packaging and an extra DVD around the holidays.

Will you buy the new collection?

- posted by Kim

20 Years of Oprah-tainment Coming Soon

Sat, 30 Jul 2005 21:27:14 GMT

Rejoice, Oprah" fans! Within mere months, Ms. Winfrey will be releasing a compilation of some of her favorite shows on DVD.

There was a time when I would have made the obligatory joke about how the DVD set would allow you to chart her weight gains and losses. Or I would have reminisced about the fact that one of my exes proudly displayed a season's worth of "Oprah" videotapes and how that was a major red flag that maybe the relationship wouldn't work out.

But instead, I think I will commend Oprah on donating her cut of DVD proceeds to her charity. I can only hope that once I'm worth a gazillion I'll be so generous.

I think I've grown.

-posted by Raoul