TV Show Info:
Writer: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Various Others
Director: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Eric Stough
Cast: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Mona Marshall, April Stewart,
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Comedy Central

Release Info:
Original Air Dates:August 13, 1997 - Current
Season Air Dates: March 7, 2007 – November 14, 2007
DVD Box Set Release Date: August 12, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $29.99, Wal-Mart for $29.86
Episodes:All 14 episodes from Season 11

Thanks to the use of current events and the best (and worst) moments of pop culture, South Park is something that will only get old when the creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, want it to get old. Now, well over a decade old, this show about the misadventures of some elementary school kids in a sleepy mountain town is nothing short of classic. Even if you don’t watch the show, you’ve likely heard plenty about it. If you don’t watch, now might be the time to pick up a copy and reacquaint yourself, because things just continue to get better.

The eleventh season had a lot to live up to after the tenth season, which included the extremely popular (and seriously hilarious) “Make Love Not Warcraft.” That being said, I have to say that Trey and Matt always find a way to make things funnier than before because the eleventh season has some seriously funny episodes. In this season, you can see the entire class in South Park Elementary get lice, Hillary Clinton visits South Park and you learn about the importance of elementary school girls and the lists they make. You will also learn more about the Easter Bunny than you ever needed to know and Butters gets a chance to learn what bi-curious means…maybe. You even get a special appearance by Bono, who has it out for Randy when he is replaced as the person who took the biggest crap in the world.

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TV Show Info:
Writer: Kenny Hotz, Spencer Rice
Director: Kenny Hotz, Spencer Rice
Cast: Kenny Hotz, Spencer Rice
Rating: Unrated
Studio: Comedy Central

Release Info:
Original Air Dates:November 2007 – Present (2002 in Canada)
Season Air Dates: 2007-2008
DVD Box Set Release Date: August 12, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $17.99, Wal-Mart for $17.86
Episodes: the first half of the first season

Considering the fact that I am not familiar with Canadian television, like most Americans I had no clue about this show until it hit Comedy Central last year. Had I known that you could make a show by being a gross guy I would be a millionaire by now. My friends and I used to have a show like this, but we called it life. We would dare each other to see who could do the most ridiculous things only to force the loser into awfully humiliating tasks. It was great fun. Our competitions ranged from eating contests to things at work that I can’t even talk about, to little silly things like who could spit the furthest. We took them seriously though. Hell, I even practiced! So, it is nice to see such an interesting show land on my desk.

The rules of the show are simple. Kenny and Spenny (Spencer) are roommates that live together. These contests occur frequently. The loser is forced to go through with some humiliating task, usually picked by the winner of said competition. Depending on the competition, the rules include an agreed upon time period and special rules in case they are necessary. The show is not funny just because of the outrageous competitions they put themselves in, but because of the personalities of Kenny and Spenny. If I wasn’t laughing at the contest I was laughing at one of the two guys. It makes for a great show, assuming it’s in the right demographic, which it seems to be doing just fine with the Comedy Central crowd.

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TV Show Info:
Writers: Various
Directors: Various
Cast: Yancy Butler, David Chokachi, Will Yun Lee, Anthony Cistaro, Eric Etebari
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: June 12, 2001-August 26, 2002
DVD Box Set Release Date: July 29, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $49.99
Episodes: The Complete Series of episodes (two seasons) is available - 24 episodes in total (one TV movie and 23 full length episodes)

Yancy Butler just doesn’t do it for me. Sure, she can act, but I just don’t feel she brought the sex appeal needed to make the Witchblade series more interesting to me. That being said, her acting, at least part of the way through, was solid. Still, in a comic inspired drama, I want to see equal parts hotness, equal parts excellent acting/portrayal elements. Perhaps that’s why I found Witchblade - The Complete Series to be a disappointment.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Plenty of men think Yancy Butler is hot. I’m not one of them. There are still many fans of this show who’ve been waiting for the release of Witchblade - The Complete Series on DVD. Fans have been waiting practically since the end of the series, in 2002. The consensus for this box set (fans or not) is that the first season was really good and the second season pretty much sucked. Either way, I felt blasé about the entire experience, but then again I just couldn’t get into this show.

I admit it. I didn’t grow up in a place where comic books were huge. I lived in a small town so getting comic books to read wasn’t exactly the easiest thing to do. Still, in my mature age, I’ve found a great fondness for comic books and I always like to see how the stories of my favorite heroes translate to screen. Give me Batman, X-Men, or any of the other, more popular DC and Marvel comic book characters. Top Cow’s Witchblade just isn’t my style. It didn’t help that the show aired on TNT (I’ve never been overly fond of the Ted Turner networks). That pretty much guaranteed this show wasn’t something I’d watch. I’m more the HBO and Showtime, premium channel kind of guy.

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TV Show Info:
Writers: Richard Carpenter, Anthony Horowitz, Andrew McCulloch and John Flanagan
Directors: Ian Sharp, Robert Young, Ben Bolt, James Allen, Gerry Mill, Sid Roberson and Alex Kirby
Cast: Michael Praed, Jason Connery, Ray Winstone, Clive Mantle, Phil Rose, Peter Llewellyn Williams, Mark Ryan, Judi Trott, Nickolas Grace, Robert Addie, Philip Jackson, John Abineri
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Acorn Media

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: April 28, 1984-June 28, 1986
DVD Box Set Release Date: July 29, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $74.99

I really like shows about Robin Hood. I’m into the time period in which the show is most often set. I’m not really sure what it is about a simpler time in Britannia, but I really like to find well written shows and movies that explore this specific period in history. This is what prompted me to request a copy of Robin of Sherwood – The Complete Collection. I’d never heard of this series before reviewing it. Released on DVD by Acorn Media, this show aired on British television in the mid-1980s. The show was a collaborative effort by HTV and Goldcrest Films.

It’s not just that I didn’t have a channel that aired Robin of Sherwood. The show first aired when I was four years old. I was much more interested in Sesame Street and The Smurfs then any of the adult shows my parents were watching. Had I been a teenager (or older) I am sure I would have enjoyed watching this show, but I was just too young to appreciate or even know that Robin of Sherwood existed.

Now that I’m in my 20s, I can enjoy this show for what it is. I love British television shows, especially those that are well written. Robin of Sherwood is no exception. I’d say that this series is the definitive version of the legend of Robin Hood. The story sticks close to the myths and the historical aspect, which even included filming in a location that was historically accurate with the setting, made this show a step above all other versions of the Robin Hood tale.

It’s hard to explain exactly what makes this the best version. You just have to watch Robin of Sherwood to appreciate the show for what it is. With excellent writing, a stellar cast that includes Ray Winstone, interesting storyline progression and snippets of humor that are interwoven with drama Robin of Sherwood has all the elements of an exceptional television series. You hear those of us who grew up in the 80s or before say “they don’t make television series like these anymore”. Well, I believe that for Britain, the same can be said about Robin of Sherwood.

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TV Show Info:
Writer: Adam Divello
Director: Jason Sands, Hisham Abed
Cast: Lauren Conrad, Heidi Montag, Kelly Cutrone, Whitney Port, Audrina Patridge, Stephanie Pratt, Spencer Pratt
Rating: Unrated
Studio: MTV/Paramount

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: May 31, 2006 - Present
Season Air Dates: August 13, 2007 – May 5, 2008
DVD Box Set Release Date: July 29, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon, Wal-Mart: $24.86
Episodes: 28 episodes

I have nothing against reality shows. Personally, I don’t watch too many, but I realize that for one reason or another, our current culture seems to be obsessed with them. I am guessing that the primary watchers of reality shows are older (possibly senile) adults and teenagers along with the younger 20-somethings. Unfortunately, I buy into the craze as much as the next guy, but there are some reality shows that I won’t watch. Most of them are on MTV or have associated plotlines that make them appear as if they could be on the network.

Shows like The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, or any other dating shows are definitely avoided, and when they are watched by my mother I cringe just by having to hear the sound of them permeating throughout the house from her living room. This is also my reaction to shows like The Hills. I mean seriously, I know that I have 25 or so MTVs and that most of them play music, but is it necessary to keep a time slot open for one of the most asinine, unnecessary shows on television? I would have expected better from MTV (a station that once aired cool stuff like the long defunct Remote Control). Shame on you.

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TV Show Info:
Writer: N/a
Director: Michael McNamara
Cast: Ashley, Moriah, Garnette, Roqui, Sal, Staci, Gaven, Jordan, Willie, Gerren, Daymeon
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: BET/Paramount

Release Info:
Original Air Dates: July 10, 2007 – Present
Season Air Dates: July 10, 2007 – August 28, 2007
DVD Box Set Release Date: July 29, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon
Episodes: All ten episodes of the first season

Baldwin Hills could have been something special. Alright, scratch that. It probably wouldn’t have been special, but it could have at least been somewhat worthwhile. However, what viewers are offered is something along the same vein as The Hills and Laguna Beach. Supporters of the show will be quick to tell you that parental involvement is more prevalent on Baldwin Hills than it ever was on Laguna Beach and that may be true. That doesn’t make the show any good though. In fact, it doesn’t even come close to good, which is quite sad if I do say so myself.

This is one of the only all African American reality shows that I can think of on television. This could be handled in a way where people could learn about culture and the way of life of African Americans. This is not to say that African Americans are completely different, but this would have been a good way to bust up some stereotypes that are all too common. Unfortunately, the kids go from beginning to break the stereotypes one minute to feeding into them wholeheartedly the next. Considering the fact that this is reality television you can expect to see a lot more acting and drama and a whole lot less of the breaking stereotypes.

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Writer: Matt Short
Director:Billy Burgess, Jonathan Haug
Cast: Karina Michel, Matt Short
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount/Spike TV
Release Date: July 15, 2008

MANswers is a man’s man kind of show. The entire premise of this show is to cater to men that are in puberty, college, or never really grew up. It’s easy to imagine men sitting around in bonding circles scratching, eating, and laughing while watching MANswers. Then again, maybe that’s just how my circle rolls. Either way this is one of those shows that tend to be (more often than not) gender specific.

I have not met too many women that find this show appealing. There are a few that can find the humor, but generally I find that most women don’t want to know “Which Nationality is most Willing to Put Out on the First Date”, and things of that sort.

The thing that makes this show work is that it’s mindless entertainment. You don’t need to think too much. All you need to do is be a guy and laugh. It’s simple and let’s face it, we could all use a little more simplicity these days. Spike Television is known for offering the best in guy programming, so I suppose it was only a matter of time before they went where they did. The reception was taken well enough to grant the show a second season, which apparently means I am not the only one out there watching MANswers.

Release Information:
Paramount and Spike have teamed up to offer you the 25 hottest questions from the first season of MANswers. This is a pretty basic disc to promote the show. If you’re new to the show, this is a good way to acquaint yourself with how it works. If you’re not new to the show, this gives you a chance to see some of your favorite moments all over again. It offers an inexpensive way to catch the best moments of the season without having to wait for your favorite re-runs to appear.

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Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Cedric Yarbrough, Niecy Nash, Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon, Carlos Alazraqui, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kerri Kenney, Mary Birdson
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount/Comedy Central
Release Date: July 15, 2008

When a show about cops has the motto “They’re not the best, but they’re the best we got”, you know you’re in for some trouble. For the last five seasons, Reno 911 has been knocking the socks off of fans with irreverent and insane comedic scenarios. These certainly aren’t like any cops that you’d want in your neighborhood or protecting anyone else that you know, for that matter. That being said, the cast of Reno 911 provides some of the strongest laughs around, bar none. Comedy Central really hit the nail on the head with this series because it’s definitely funny and worth a space in their lineup.

One of the best things about this show is that the actors are able to take things where they may. They have an incredibly loose script and end up improving most of their material, which makes for a very interesting show. This first set of discs is the first time I have ever seen the show and all I can say is this fine comic troop has made a fan out of me. I look forward to going back and seeing what I have missed over the years.

Release Information:
Reno 911 has been on the air since 2003. The show is based on COPS. These cops are a product of the Reno Sheriff’s Department. They offer a show similar to cops though a lot more interesting. It is not uncommon to see the officers directly speaking to the camera or to have you see them going through their everyday police procedures. Despite the show being based in Reno, filming is done in California. Fans of MTV’s defunct show The State will love this show, as many of the same cast members are involved in this program.

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Writer: Tanya Biank, Katherine Fugate, Rama Stagner
Director: Ben Younger, Perry Lang, Patrick Norris, Michael Lange, and Others
Cast: Catherine Bell, Drew Fuller, Wendy Davis, Sterling K. Brown, Brian McNamara, Kim Delaney, Sally Pressman, Brigid Brannagh
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Disney
Release Date: June 10, 2008

I am not quite sure why, but when I first heard about the show Army Wives I immediately thought that the show was reality television. I suppose with all the war talk and experiences that are going on, it was a natural thought. However, I never turned it on for that reason. It wasn’t that I don’t support the troops, because I do, but rather that I didn’t feel the exploitation of the families of servicemen was the right way to go. Boy was I glad to learn that I was completely wrong.

This DVD box set showed up on my doorstep and my first thought was to cringe. I turned the box over to read the description and was pleasantly surprised to find that this show is fictional. The description led to my being curious, though I was still hesitant as it is a Lifetime show and I am not a huge fan of the Woman’s Network. Regardless, the DVDs were placed in the player and I set out to watch them with the most unbiased viewpoint possible, now that I finally knew what the show was actually about.

Release Information:
Army Wives may be fictional, though it is actually based on a non-fiction book, The Unwritten Code of Military Marriage by Tanya Biank. Biank is also a writer on the show, so I imagine that she offers a sense of reality to the show’s themes. The first season of Army Wives ran for 13 episodes. Apparently, it was popular enough to warrant a second season, as this 19 episode season began airing right before the June 10th DVD release of the first season, on June 8, 2008.

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Writer: Gerald Green
Director: Marvin Chomsky
Cast: James Woods, Meryl Streep, Michael Moriarty, Joseph Bottoms, Tovah Feldshuh, Rosemary Harris, Deborah Norton, Sam Wanamaker, Fritz Weaver
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: May 27, 2008

I don’t remember when I watched my first movie on the Holocaust. I am going to wager a guess that it was one or two movies. I don’t know if it was The Diary of Anne Frank or Sophie’s Choice. All I know is that I have been addicted to movies on this subject for as long as I can remember.

Surprisingly, I do not remember ever hearing about Holocaust. Of course, due to the age of the mini-series I suppose it makes sense. It wasn’t on DVD, at least not until now, so it didn’t make a lot of sense to continue talking about the powerful message that it offers.

Just reading the title and seeing the box art, I knew that I would want to be the one reviewing this seven hour drama. Offering an incredibly young Meryl Streep, in one of her first roles, and James Woods, who was also just starting out, Holocaust is a fictional tale of one family’s struggle through the biggest criminal injustice in the history of the world. Powerful performances are turned in by the established cast and by names I have never heard of, by people who rarely worked in acting after this miniseries. While this was made prior to Streep’s major acting boom that would lead her to be perhaps the greatest actress of this generation, Holocaust certainly reminds us what she can do even as a less than central character.

Release Information:
Considering I was only just about to be born, only nine days from being born to be exact, when the final day of the miniseries aired in 1978, it’s no wonder why I missed the television broadcast. While the four evening mini-series made enough of an impression to be nominated for numerous awards it was not without criticism. Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel stated that the miniseries was “untrue, offensive, and cheap.”

Of course, he had a point. The series was not a true story. It is about an entirely fictional family. Wiesel was likely referring to the fact that the things that occurred could not have happened in the Holocaust that he remembers. Whether that is true or not remains to be seen. I don’t recall seeing anything too outlandish, but I was not there, so my opinion is not one of authority.

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