NewsRadio DVDs

[lil.fred]

Amazon lists a release date now - May 24, 2005.

[Xyzzy]

Thanks for the heads up.

[bare trees]

Is this the sitcom starring Phil Hartman?

[njwiv]

Is this the sitcom starring Phil Hartman?

Yes!

[Planbee]

Here's the official announcement of the May 24th DVD release:

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=3141

It's great that there are going to be 20 commentaries among the 29 episodes, but the fact that the episodes will be crammed onto only three discs leaves me concerned about picture quality. I was hoping for at least four discs--I'm not sure how much of an improvement the DVDs will be over my SP-taped episodes on high-quality videotape.

BTW, fellow NewsRadio fans will recognize my username.

[Christopher J]

Here's the official announcement of the May 24th DVD release:

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=3141

It's great that there are going to be 20 commentaries among the 29 episodes, but the fact that the episodes will be crammed onto only three discs leaves me concerned about picture quality. I was hoping for at least four discs--I'm not sure how much of an improvement the DVDs will be over my SP-taped episodes on high-quality videotape.

BTW, fellow NewsRadio fans will recognize my username.
At ten episodes per disc for the first two and nine episodes and extras on the third disc, I would've thought they'd have to be 3 DVD-18s (double-sided/dual-layer, so each side carries about 2½ hours). Unfortunately, the release art clearly shows they're not - almost four hours on a one-sided disc seems like a compromise in picture quality is inevitable. It is just promotional art and not final, so we'll just have to see. I'll be getting the set for the commentaries alone, myself.
And I thought of using "Mr. Jameson Rogerwood" as a username but chickened out. :)

[Ken_McAlinden]

They will be able to squeeze some extra bits compared to typical movie DVDs since the discs will be dual layered, but not RSDL, and there will not be a 5.1 track, but three hours and 50 minutes or so is still a lot to cram on a dual layered disc.

Regards,

[Planbee]

Four discs would've made too much sense (one disc for the seven-episode first season, with the 22 episodes from S2 spread out over the other three discs), so I can see where the studio missed the obvious logic. [/sarcasm]

And I thought of using "Mr. Jameson Rogerwood" as a username but chickened out.

Nice one. "Edward Armurrow" would've been another fine choice. :)

[Planbee]

Here's a review of the DVD. Looks like the discs are single-sided; hence, the picture quality is apparently just good, not great.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/newsradioseason1and2dvdreview.html

[Planbee]

Got this today for $27.99 at Circuit City and watched the first two episodes with commentary. The commentaries are interesting--more importantly, the picture quality is surprisingly good considering the number of eps on each disc. The DVD was in the top 20 on Amazon's best-seller list last time I checked. Hopefully, that's a good sign for at least the two subsequent Phil Hartman seasons to be released in the future.

[Ken_McAlinden]

Got this today for $27.99 at Circuit City and watched the first two episodes with commentary. The commentaries are interesting--more importantly, the picture quality is surprisingly good considering the number of eps on each disc. The DVD was in the top 20 on Amazon's best-seller list last time I checked. Hopefully, that's a good sign for at least the two subsequent Phil Hartman seasons to be released in the future.I have to admit, when watching the syndicated re-runs a year or so ago, I actually enjoyed the fifth, Hartman-less season. I always liked the whole Johnny Johnson/D.B. Cooper storyline, and with a little more distance from the death of Phil Hartman, the other episodes struck me as funnier than I remembered. Not the peak of the show's run, obviously, but still funnier than anything else that was on at the time ("Seinfeld" had just ended its run).

Regards,

[93curr]

I can't believe they went for such a horrible cover photo. if I'd never seen the show before, I'd have assumed this was one of the trashiest sitcoms ever. wasn't there something a little more dignified they could have used?

[RDK]

I can't believe they went for such a horrible cover photo. if I'd never seen the show before, I'd have assumed this was one of the trashiest sitcoms ever. wasn't there something a little more dignified they could have used?

It's a group shot of the rather large cast. I'm not sure what you were expecting... :confused:

[93curr]

It's a group shot of the rather large cast. I'm not sure what you were expecting... :confused:

it's the facial expression that get me. they're about two seconds away from making "jazz hands." :shake: I thought it was just Matthew that was supposed to be excessively enthusiastic?

[Planbee]

I actually enjoyed the fifth, Hartman-less season.

All things considered, I think it was a pretty good season, though I could survive with my videotapes if a DVD never came to pass. I thought the beginning and end of the season was very good, but the middle lagged some (the episode with Lisa's Boston accent and the "Stinkbutt" episode were terrible IMO).

I also enjoyed the Johnny Johnson arc and was one of the few fans who wasn't bothered by him marrying Lisa. Dave and Lisa broke up for the final time early in S4--I wasn't expecting them to hook up again anyway.

BTW, amazingly, the DVD is currently #8 on Amazon's DVD best-sellers list. I was afraid that people had forgotten about this show. Bring on S3! :)

[Ken_McAlinden]

I also enjoyed the Johnny Johnson arc and was one of the few fans who wasn't bothered by him marrying Lisa. Dave and Lisa broke up for the final time early in S4--I wasn't expecting them to hook up again anyway.I never got why that bothered people either. It must have been "Friends" conditioning or something that left a segment of the audience pining for soapier dramatic plots at the expense of the comic possibilities of an uber-charismatic wino. :)

...and even the lousy "Stinkbutt" episode had the whole Matthew dressing like Lisa thing going on for a few easy chuckles.

Regards,

[93curr]

I loved Stinkbutt. :righton:

in fact, I wouldn't mind having a print of that painting hanging in my living room.

a fine work of art that be. :agree:

[Ken_McAlinden]

I loved Stinkbutt. :righton:

in fact, I wouldn't mind having a print of that painting hanging in my living room.

a fine work of art that be. :agree:Well, I guess that settles what the cover of the Season 5 DVD should look like. :D

Regards,

[Planbee]

...and even the lousy "Stinkbutt" episode had the whole Matthew dressing like Lisa thing going on for a few easy chuckles.

During the commentary for "Inappropriate" ("well, Buttafuoco to you, too, Matthew"), Maura Tierney, series creator Paul Simms, and the two others on this particular session talked about the unfashionable wardrobe the cast wore during S1. Someone brought up the episode where Lisa and Matthew wore the same outfit and Maura claimed to have no recollection of it.

Another wardrobe note: in the commentary for "Luncheon At The Waldorf", the ep with Bill's classic "how could she...french her daddy?" line, Vicki Lewis said that her blue dress went for only $17 on eBay. I find that hard to believe. Hell, the last time a yellow WNYX coffee mug was seen on eBay, it sold for over $250!

[93curr]

good lord, but I had the BIGGEST crush on Maura Tierney when this show was on the air. :love:

they just don't make celebrities like that any more.

who'm I supposed to have a celebrity crush on now? Paris Hilton? Britney Spears? ick. :shake:

'Buffy's been off the air for two years (Alyson Hannigan :love: ) and 'Six Feet Under' (Lauren Ambrose :love: ) hasn't started again yet. I'm celebrity-deprived. :(

[bldg blok]

BTW, amazingly, the DVD is currently #8 on Amazon's DVD best-sellers list. I was afraid that people had forgotten about this show. Bring on S3! :)
Glad to know I had a hand in that. I've got that coming along with Seinfeld Vol.4, Futurama Vols. 3&4, and Mystery Science Theater 3000 Vol. 7. When I saw NewsRadio for that price, I couldn't resist piling on.

[Planbee]

According to this (http://sitcomsonline.blogspot.com/2005/12/benson-coming-to-tv-land-in-june-day-2.html) report, S3 will be out on February 28th (scroll down to the last paragraph). Can't wait--that's the season with the "Arcade" episode.

[Ken_McAlinden]

According to this (http://sitcomsonline.blogspot.com/2005/12/benson-coming-to-tv-land-in-june-day-2.html) report, S3 will be out on February 28th (scroll down to the last paragraph). Can't wait--that's the season with the "Arcade" episode....and two of my all-time favorites: "The Complaint Box" and "Our Fiftieth Episode". The latter was actually the 48th episode. It lands Phil Hartman's character in a mental hospital with Jon Lovitz. It was also given the "pop-up-video" treatment in a re-run back when that was trendy. I wonder if they will reproduce this as an extra.

Regards,

[Planbee]

"Our Fiftieth Episode". The latter was actually the 48th episode. It lands Phil Hartman's character in a mental hospital with Jon Lovitz.

The opening sequence where Bill gets in an altercation with the parking meter cop (and then the police) is one of the funniest scenes in the entire series.

[Christopher J]

I think pound for pound the best Season 3 episode for Bill McNeal moments is "Airport" -

"Don't try to confuse the issue with half truths and gorilla dust."

"Have you ever heard the expression, 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade and then toss it in the face of the person who gave you the lemons until they give you the oranges you asked for in the first place'?"

"Have you heard the expression 'Only a hillbilly sits around figuring out the best way to catch flies'?"

- with "Led Zeppelin Boxed Set" a close second:

"I remember one time my father came home from a night on the town - which of course had turned into a week - and my Mother said, 'John, is there anything you wont drink?' And my father shot back, 'Poison! I'm saving it for you.' And I and my brother - who is now an alcoholic himself - just about died laughing..."