| August TV on DVD |
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| Written by Kevin Filipski | |
 FAERIE TALE THEATRE: THE COMPLETE SERIES This baker’s dozen roundup of new releases is led by Faerie Tale Theatre: The Complete Series (Koch Lorber), a seven-disc set that includes every episode from the long-lamented show that aired on Showtime in the mid-80s, long before pay-cable channels, led by HBO, were the harbingers of excellent original programming. Created, executive produced and narrated by Shelley Duvall–who also appeared in occasional episodes–Faerie Tale Theatre dramatizes beloved stories like Rumplestiltskin, Cinderella, Pinocchio and Rapunzel starring famous actors and cheesy but endearing visual styles. Among those who played heroes and heroines, princes and princesses, and beasts and witches were Mick Jagger, Gena Rowlands, Robin Williams, Jeff Bridges, Malcolm McDowell, Jean Stapleton, Teri Garr, Treat Williams, Christopher Reeve, Pam Dawber, Helen Mirren, Barbara Hershey, Mary Steenburgen, and even an unrecognizable Joan Collins as the witch in Hansel and Gretel. The directors of these 26 hour-long episodes included Eric Idle, Ivan Passer, Tim Burton and Francis Coppola. The new DVD set includes a beautifully-illustrated collector’s storybook, a deck of playing cards and–as extras–a bonus episode and copious behind-the-scenes footage. ALSO AVAILABLE.... On South Park–Season 11 (Paramount), Trey Parker and Matt Stone continue their comic war against everything they deem ridiculous, like using the “n” word, playing “Guitar Hero” or dealing with transsexual teachers (lone extra: Parker and Stone’s uproarious mini-commentaries on each episode); A History of Britain (History Channel), 15 episodes long, is erudite historian Simon Schama’s engaging chronicle of his own country’s long and eventful past; on Everyone Hates Chris–Season 3 (CBS/Paramount), Chris becomes a teenager and deals with all that entails–notably bullies and girls (best extra: seeing Chris Rock record his narration); throughout Weeds–Season 3 (Lionsgate), the plotting and characterizations became increasingly sillier, yet through it all, Marie-Louise Parker continues to charm and beguile as the pot-selling widow (best extra: cast/crew commentaries on 8 episodes); glossy evening soap opera Army Wives–Season 1 (ABC/Lifetime) gains its dramatic intensity thanks to leading ladies Catherine Bell and Kim Delaney (best extra: cast Q&A session); Big Bang Theory–Season 1 (Warners), another bad-idea sitcom–two geeks live next door to a babe–lucks out with a real comic actress, Kaley Cuoco, as its heroine (lone extra: behind-the-scenes featurette); Michael Chiklis is still the best reason to watch The Shield–Season 6 (Sony), since his portrayal of Detective Vic Mackey rises above the series’ increasingly melodramatic plot lines (best extra: three dozen deleted scenes); Supernatural–Season 3 (Warner Home Video) demonstrates that even a paranormal-inspired series can run out of ideas, although it’s been picked up for a 4th season (best extras: a special-effects featurette); now that it’s a top 10 show, NCIS–Season 5 (CBS/Paramount) continues CBS’s winning streak of compelling dramas with acronymic titles, like JAG and CSI (best extra: on location featurette); thanks to the writers’ strike, only 11 episodes of Heroes–Season 2 (Universal), originally aired, out of a planned 24–which may be why the best extras surround an the finale’s alternate ending; One Tree Hill–Season 5 (Warner Home Video) survived by smartly jumping from high school graduation (season 4) to five years later, where the characters are now adults and not burdened by the prom or SAT scores (best extra: making-of featurette); Robert Stack’s performance as FBI agent Elliot Ness remains the touchstone of the classic B&W series, The Untouchables–Season 2, Volume 2 (CBS/Paramount). |
