TV shows aplenty have arrived on DVD this week, from crime dramas to medical shows to a Star Wars animated series.
NCIS: Los Angeles: Season 7 (CBS/Paramount, 2015-16, six discs, 24 episodes, deleted/extended scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes). LL Cool J and Chris ODonnell return as agents Hanna and Callen in this military police-procedural spinoff of NCIS, this season going up against ISIS, the Russian mob and Korean spies, among others. Michael Weatherly appears in one episode in his NCIS role. (Season 8 begins Oct. 2 on CBS.)
Criminal Minds: Season 11 (CBS/Paramount, 2015-16, six discs, 22 episodes, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes, bloopers). Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna and the gang continue to pursue serial killers in this disturbing but popular procedural, but, as indicated by the final Season 10 episode, Jennifer Love Hewitt is absent. Danny Glover guests in one episode. (Season 12 begins Sept. 28 on CBS.)
Greys Anatomy: The Complete Twelfth Season (ABC, 2015-16, six discs, 24 episodes, deleted scenes, bloopers). Ellen Pompeo is back as Dr. Meredith Grey but Patrick Dempseys character is gone, of course, having been killed off at the end of Season 11. The Seattle hospital finds Meredith teaching anatomy to interns, while Miranda (Chandra Wilson) is appointed chief of surgery. Guests include Rita Moreno and Joey Lauren Adams. (Season 13 begins Sept. 22 on ABC.)
Star Wars Rebels: The Complete Season Two (Disney, 2015-16, three-disc Blu-ray/four-disc DVD, 22 episodes, featurettes). This season, Darth Vader continues to hunt the rebels, with a particular focus on Jedi Knights. "Rebels" is an animated Star Wars series, set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, and boasts several veterans of the movies among its voice cast, led by James Earl Jones as Vader. Freddie Prinze Jr., David Oyelowo and Sarah Michelle Gellar are also here. (Season 3 begins Sept. 24 on Disney XD.)
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir (Shout! Kids, 2016, dubbed in English or in French with English subtitles, six episodes, one episode of Animatics). This French animated childrens series, which is shown here on the Nickelodeon cable channel, follows the adventures of two French teenage girls who transform into the title heroines to protect Paris from supervillains.
Arrow: the Complete Fourth Season (DC/Warner, 2015-16, four-disc Blu-ray/five-disc DVD, 23 episodes, deleted scenes, featurettes, crossover episode of The Flash, bloopers). This season the Arrow becomes Green Arrow (the title of the comic book) and his team goes after Damien Darhk and H.I.V.E. Stephen Amell stars as the superhero with the quiver and bow. (Season 5 begins Oct. 5 on The CW.)
Chicago Fire: Season Four (Universal, 2015-16, six discs, 23 episodes, featurette, crossover episodes of Chicago Med and Chicago P.D.). Chicago firefighters and paramedics at Fire House 51 find themselves distracted by soap opera storylines when they should be concentrating on their jobs. Hey, its TV. (Season 5 begins Oct. 11 on NBC.)
Chicago Med: Season One (Universal, 2015-16, five discs, 18 episodes, crossover episodes of Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D.). Interns and veterans working the trauma center of a Chicago hospital are the focus of this latest entry in the Chicago franchise, with Oliver Platt and S. Epatha Merkerson among the main cast, and Annie Potts in a recurring role. (Season 2 begins Sept. 22 on NBC.)
19-2: Season 2 (Acorn, 2015, two discs, 10 episodes, featurettes). This season, the Canadian police-procedural has Officer Ben Chartier (Jared Keeso) discovering that his department has a mole, which leads to investigating fellow officers, including his own partner, Nick Barron (Adrian Holmes). This leads to an uneasy partnership, even as they respond to a school shooting.
Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries (Acorn, 2012-15, eight discs, 34 episodes, featurettes, promos, photo galleries). Essie Davis stars in this frothy 1920s Australian romp as flapper lady detective Miss Phryne Fisher, who solves murders despite the interfering chauvinism she consistently encounters. The first three seasons of this amusing Melbourne-set series are gathered here. (Rumors of a fourth season, or a possible movie version, have not yet been confirmed.)
Hee Haw: The Collectors Edition (Time Life, 1969-92, 14 discs, complete episodes and bonus skits, 1969 debut episode, featurettes; booklets). Buck Owens and Roy Clark are the Pickin and Grinnin hosts of this series of silly blackout skits (think rural Laugh-In) and classic country songs performed by Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Tanya Tucker and too many others to list, all in their prime. Lots of cornball laughs (if the chauvinist sensibilities of the 60s and 70s dont offend) from Minnie Pearl, Grandpa Jones, Archie Campbell, etc., and an array of countrified guests. This collection is comprised of three DVD volumes: The Hee Haw Collection, Kornfield Klassics and Hee Haw Laughs.
The Wonder Years: Complete Series (StarVista/Time Life, 1988-93, 22 discs, 115 episodes, featurettes). The popular ABC comedy-drama about growing up in the 1960s was groundbreaking and award-winning as it followed Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage, with Daniel Stern providing the adult narrative voice) while he traversed junior high and high school, and then went out into the world over six seasons. Touted for its successful blend of comic encounters and serious social issues, the series is backed by rock/pop songs from the era, featuring Bob Dylan, Carole King, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Simon & Garfunkel, etc.
Blunt Talk: The Complete First Season (Starz/Anchor Bay, 2015, two discs, 10 episodes, featurettes). Crass, profane sitcom with Patrick Stewart as a British TV commentator hosting an American cable-news program, dispensing wisdom that flies in the face of his dysfunctional lifestyle. With Jacki Weaver and Adrian Scarborough. (Season 2 begins Oct. 2 on Starz.)
The Strain: Season 2 (Fox, 20115, three Blu-ray discs/four DVDs, 13 episodes, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurettes, bloopers). Guillermo del Toro is one of the minds behind this horror series about a mysterious virus transforming New Yorkers into zombies or vampires or something. Corey Stoll heads the ensemble cast, which also features Sean Astin and Samantha Mathis. (Season 3 is now showing on FX.)
Shameless: The Complete Sixth Season (Warner, 2016, two Blu-ray discs/three DVDs, 12 episodes, deleted scenes, featurettes). More dark-comic dysfunctional antics from the less-than-pleasant Gallagher clan, led by William H. Macy as the bad-example father of six and Emmy Rossum as his oldest daughter. One of many pay-cable series that would easily be rated R. (Season 7 begins Oct. 2 on Showtime.)
NCIS: Los Angeles: Season 7 (CBS/Paramount, 2015-16, six discs, 24 episodes, deleted/extended scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes). LL Cool J and Chris ODonnell return as agents Hanna and Callen in this military police-procedural spinoff of NCIS, this season going up against ISIS, the Russian mob and Korean spies, among others. Michael Weatherly appears in one episode in his NCIS role. (Season 8 begins Oct. 2 on CBS.)
Criminal Minds: Season 11 (CBS/Paramount, 2015-16, six discs, 22 episodes, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes, bloopers). Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna and the gang continue to pursue serial killers in this disturbing but popular procedural, but, as indicated by the final Season 10 episode, Jennifer Love Hewitt is absent. Danny Glover guests in one episode. (Season 12 begins Sept. 28 on CBS.)
Greys Anatomy: The Complete Twelfth Season (ABC, 2015-16, six discs, 24 episodes, deleted scenes, bloopers). Ellen Pompeo is back as Dr. Meredith Grey but Patrick Dempseys character is gone, of course, having been killed off at the end of Season 11. The Seattle hospital finds Meredith teaching anatomy to interns, while Miranda (Chandra Wilson) is appointed chief of surgery. Guests include Rita Moreno and Joey Lauren Adams. (Season 13 begins Sept. 22 on ABC.)
Star Wars Rebels: The Complete Season Two (Disney, 2015-16, three-disc Blu-ray/four-disc DVD, 22 episodes, featurettes). This season, Darth Vader continues to hunt the rebels, with a particular focus on Jedi Knights. "Rebels" is an animated Star Wars series, set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, and boasts several veterans of the movies among its voice cast, led by James Earl Jones as Vader. Freddie Prinze Jr., David Oyelowo and Sarah Michelle Gellar are also here. (Season 3 begins Sept. 24 on Disney XD.)
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir (Shout! Kids, 2016, dubbed in English or in French with English subtitles, six episodes, one episode of Animatics). This French animated childrens series, which is shown here on the Nickelodeon cable channel, follows the adventures of two French teenage girls who transform into the title heroines to protect Paris from supervillains.
Arrow: the Complete Fourth Season (DC/Warner, 2015-16, four-disc Blu-ray/five-disc DVD, 23 episodes, deleted scenes, featurettes, crossover episode of The Flash, bloopers). This season the Arrow becomes Green Arrow (the title of the comic book) and his team goes after Damien Darhk and H.I.V.E. Stephen Amell stars as the superhero with the quiver and bow. (Season 5 begins Oct. 5 on The CW.)
Chicago Fire: Season Four (Universal, 2015-16, six discs, 23 episodes, featurette, crossover episodes of Chicago Med and Chicago P.D.). Chicago firefighters and paramedics at Fire House 51 find themselves distracted by soap opera storylines when they should be concentrating on their jobs. Hey, its TV. (Season 5 begins Oct. 11 on NBC.)
Chicago Med: Season One (Universal, 2015-16, five discs, 18 episodes, crossover episodes of Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D.). Interns and veterans working the trauma center of a Chicago hospital are the focus of this latest entry in the Chicago franchise, with Oliver Platt and S. Epatha Merkerson among the main cast, and Annie Potts in a recurring role. (Season 2 begins Sept. 22 on NBC.)
19-2: Season 2 (Acorn, 2015, two discs, 10 episodes, featurettes). This season, the Canadian police-procedural has Officer Ben Chartier (Jared Keeso) discovering that his department has a mole, which leads to investigating fellow officers, including his own partner, Nick Barron (Adrian Holmes). This leads to an uneasy partnership, even as they respond to a school shooting.
Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries (Acorn, 2012-15, eight discs, 34 episodes, featurettes, promos, photo galleries). Essie Davis stars in this frothy 1920s Australian romp as flapper lady detective Miss Phryne Fisher, who solves murders despite the interfering chauvinism she consistently encounters. The first three seasons of this amusing Melbourne-set series are gathered here. (Rumors of a fourth season, or a possible movie version, have not yet been confirmed.)
Hee Haw: The Collectors Edition (Time Life, 1969-92, 14 discs, complete episodes and bonus skits, 1969 debut episode, featurettes; booklets). Buck Owens and Roy Clark are the Pickin and Grinnin hosts of this series of silly blackout skits (think rural Laugh-In) and classic country songs performed by Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Tanya Tucker and too many others to list, all in their prime. Lots of cornball laughs (if the chauvinist sensibilities of the 60s and 70s dont offend) from Minnie Pearl, Grandpa Jones, Archie Campbell, etc., and an array of countrified guests. This collection is comprised of three DVD volumes: The Hee Haw Collection, Kornfield Klassics and Hee Haw Laughs.
The Wonder Years: Complete Series (StarVista/Time Life, 1988-93, 22 discs, 115 episodes, featurettes). The popular ABC comedy-drama about growing up in the 1960s was groundbreaking and award-winning as it followed Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage, with Daniel Stern providing the adult narrative voice) while he traversed junior high and high school, and then went out into the world over six seasons. Touted for its successful blend of comic encounters and serious social issues, the series is backed by rock/pop songs from the era, featuring Bob Dylan, Carole King, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Simon & Garfunkel, etc.
Blunt Talk: The Complete First Season (Starz/Anchor Bay, 2015, two discs, 10 episodes, featurettes). Crass, profane sitcom with Patrick Stewart as a British TV commentator hosting an American cable-news program, dispensing wisdom that flies in the face of his dysfunctional lifestyle. With Jacki Weaver and Adrian Scarborough. (Season 2 begins Oct. 2 on Starz.)
The Strain: Season 2 (Fox, 20115, three Blu-ray discs/four DVDs, 13 episodes, deleted scenes, audio commentary, featurettes, bloopers). Guillermo del Toro is one of the minds behind this horror series about a mysterious virus transforming New Yorkers into zombies or vampires or something. Corey Stoll heads the ensemble cast, which also features Sean Astin and Samantha Mathis. (Season 3 is now showing on FX.)
Shameless: The Complete Sixth Season (Warner, 2016, two Blu-ray discs/three DVDs, 12 episodes, deleted scenes, featurettes). More dark-comic dysfunctional antics from the less-than-pleasant Gallagher clan, led by William H. Macy as the bad-example father of six and Emmy Rossum as his oldest daughter. One of many pay-cable series that would easily be rated R. (Season 7 begins Oct. 2 on Showtime.)
