New DVDs are a mixed bag (or box)

[vashti1999]

New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com

New DVDs are a mixed bag (or box)
David Bianculli

Monday, March 28th, 2005

You may be getting frustrated waiting for new episodes of your favorite current TV series - but old episodes of old series, in DVD boxed sets, are a lot easier to come by. The quality of these sets, like the quality of the shows themselves, covers a wide range.
Single-season series that didn't catch on - making them curiosities or collectibles for fans - are represented in two sets from Fox Home Entertainment: "Wonderfalls" and "The Lone Gunmen."

"The Lone Gunmen," the "X-Files" spinoff released tomorrow as a three-disk set ($39.98 retail), contains all 13 episodes, along with commentaries, other extras and a crossover "X-Files" episode. Even so, this 2001 show has not improved with age, and isn't worth it.

"Wonderfalls" (three disks, $39.98) is quite another matter. Of the 13 hours here, nine were never shown by Fox, making this the best missing-episodes cult release since another Fox series, "Firefly."

Just in time to compare it to "Grey's Anatomy" and "House," the medical drama "Doogie Howser, M.D.," starring Neil Patrick Harris as the teen prodigy doctor, is seeing its first season released by Anchor Bay Entertainment. The four-disk set ($39.98) includes fresh interviews with Harris and executive producer Steven Bochco, but not co-creator David E. Kelley.

"Doogie," 1989-93, hits college kids squarely in the young nostalgia market, and its content and packaging should please fans of the show, whatever their age.

When it comes to rolling out subsequent seasons of TV series, two recent releases show how to do it right - and others show, to varying degrees, how to do it wrong.

On the excellent side is Image Entertainment's "The Twilight Zone: The Definitive Edition, Season 2," on sale tomorrow, a five-disk set with a hefty price tag ($99.99) but with extras and quality transfers to justify it. Included are pristine copies of two "Zone" classics: Donna Douglas attempting an extreme makeover in "Eye of the Beholder," and Agnes Moorehead chasing little men from space in "The Invaders."

Audio commentaries are provided by Cliff Robertson, Dennis Weaver, Bill Mumy and others (Donna Douglas' is so rambling, most of it concerns her days as Elly May on "The Beverly Hillbillies"), and bonus material includes a complete Rod Serling script.

Also terrific is Shout! Factory's "SCTV: Volume 3," its continuation of the later years of the "Second City TV" troupe. These sets are very nicely packaged, and this new one (five disks, $89.98) introduces Martin Short to the cast, and includes so many special documentaries, features and commentaries that it's a gluttonous feast for "SCTV" fans. Included are the classic "Battle of the PBS Stars" show, as well as, sigh, the very first appearance of Eugene Levy and John Candy as the polka-playing Schmenge brothers.

On the other end of the spectrum, the classy and classic episodes of "Columbo" continue to get the bum's rush - and the rush to release - by Universal. It's terrific to get all eight movie-length episodes from the second season (four disks, $39.98), but that's all you get. No extras and no commentaries - even though star Peter Falk is one of the most quotable guys in Hollywood, and other very reachable people involved with this season include Steven Bochco (heard on Anchor Bay's "Doogie," but not here?), Robert Culp, Leonard Nimoy and Martin Landau. This is a shame, bordering on a disgrace.

Warner Home Video's "Wonder Woman: The Complete Second Season" (four disks, $39.98) is another disappointment. Episodes are included on both sides of each disk, a personal peeve and irritant, but what's worse is the scarcity of information about each episode on the packaging or the disk menus.

The only way you can tell what's at your fingertips here is to watch each show; there aren't even chapter subheads. Even "Wonder Woman" deserves more respect than that.

[robyrob]

sure would be nice if the studios realized how little extra effort it takes to produce a nice set... and how much more the fans would appreciate it.

it's being sold as nostalgia - you want to be left with good memories, not a feeling of distaste with how poorly put together a set is or whether you just got ripped off...