Home Media Magazine - April 6-12, 2008 - (Page 14)

TV DVD Edited by John Latchem www.homemediamagazine.com Adult Swim Hopes Force Is With ‘Robot Chicken: Star Wars’ By John Latchem artoon Network’s Adult Swim hopes to put some ‘Star Wars’sized marketing muscle behind its upcoming DVD release of Robot Chicken: Star Wars. For that reason, Warner Home Video has pushed the street date to July 22 to coincide not only with the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con International July 24-27, but also the Aug. 15 theatrical release of the CG-animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “We think ‘Robot Chicken’ fans are going to buy this,” said Erik Resnick, senior director of Cartoon Network Enterprises. “We want to expand that circle to include ‘Star Wars’ fans as well. We’re trying to be everywhere ‘Star Wars’ fans will be.” The half-hour special, which debuted on Cartoon Network last year, features stop-motion animated parodies of the “Star Wars” movies and pop-culture phenomenon, in the style of the “Robot COM I NG May 20 (prebook April 15) releases Charles in Charge: The Complete Third Season (three-DVD set $29.95). UP I ARTS ALLIANCE AMERICA Chicken” sketch-comedy show created by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich, and co-written by Breckin Meyer. Voice cameos include Conan O’Brien, “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane, and even “Star Wars” creator George Lucas. “We’re working really closely with Lucasfilm,” Resnick said. “The DVD is advertised on the home page of the [StarWars. com] Web site.” The $14.97 DVD includes two hours of bonus material, including commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, alternate audio tracks, deleted scenes and panel discussions. “The special features go on and on and on,” Resnick said. “Seth’s name isn’t just on it as an executive producer. He knows about every aspect of what goes into making the show. Those guys put so much thought into them.” Resnick has reason to be optimistic about the potential success of Robot Chicken: Star Wars. Three years after the last live-action “Star Wars” film, the franchise remains popular. The Aug. 15 Clone Wars movie kicks off a new animated series on Cartoon Network. And a DVD of a special “Family Guy” episode spoofing the original “Star Wars” film earned the No. 1 sales spot the week it was released in January. Resnick hopes the wealth of bonus materials and inexpensive price will entice “Star Wars” fans who aren’t already familiar with the material. The DVD promotional tour kicked off with the Wizard World Los Angeles convention in March, and continues at the New York Comic Con with a “Robot Chicken” panel featuring Green and Senreich. At San Diego Comic-Con International, Green and Senreich are scheduled to appear at the annual Lucasfilm panel, and Cartoon Network is planning an evening “Robot Chicken” event, Resnick said. Also in the works is a merchandise line that includes an array of T-shirts. The DVD was originally set for May 20. The prebook date remains April 15. Robot Chicken: Star Wars follows the successful DVD release of the first two seasons of “Robot Chicken,” Resnick said. The “Star Wars” special will be a standalone DVD and the episode will not be included with the future thirdseason DVD release, he said. I BBC VIDEO July 29 (prebook June 24) offers Robin Hood: Season Two (five-DVD set $79.98), accompanied by the $99.98 Blu-ray release of the first season. I HBO VIDEO April 8 has Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry 6 (DVD $19.96). Streeting Aug. 12 (prebook July 8) is The Wire: The Complete Fifth Season (four-DVD set $59.99), the final season of the acclaimed drama. I KOCH ENTERTAINMENT May 13 (prebook April 15) offers American Idol: Season Six Finale Performance Show — The Top 2 (DVD $19.99). I LIONSGATE July 1 (prebook June 4) presents Mad Men: Season One (four-DVD set $49.98, three-disc Blu-ray $49.99). I SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT June 3 (prebook May 1) has Rescue Me: The Complete Fourth Season (four-DVD set $49.95). Due June 10 is My Boys: The Complete First Season (three-DVD set $39.98). BRIEFS I SONY THINS OUT Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is rolling out a new line of thinner boxes for use with multidisc collections. Completeseries sets of TV shows “Soap” (12-DVD set $59.95) and “What’s Happening!!” (nine-DVD set $59.95) arrive in stores June 10 in Space Saver packaging, each a little more than an inch thick. All four seasons of “Soap,” purchased individually, would take up more than 4 inches of shelf space. – Thomas K. Arnold Next ‘Futurama’ DTV Release Due June 24 By John Latchem he second title in 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment’s DTV slate of “Futurama” DVDs debuts June 24 (prebook May 28), with Futurama: The Beast With a Billion Backs. An animated sci-fi parody from “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening, “Futurama” chronicles the adventures of a spaceship crew in the 31st century. The latest story follows Bender, Fry, Leela and the rest of the Planet Express team as they deal with a repulsive planet-sized monster from another dimension, with sensuous results. Beast With a Billion Backs is the second of four DTV movies commissioned by Fox since the original series ended in 2003. Reruns of “Futurama,” like another former Fox network cast-off, “Family Guy,” became a popular staple of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim line-up. After “Family Guy” returned with new episodes, Comedy Central acquired the rights to “Futurama” reruns and asked for its own new episodes. The first “Futurama” DTV, Bender’s Big Score, enjoyed brisk sales on par with the four previously released “Futurama” season sets, according to Nielsen VideoScan. I 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT May 13 (prebook April 16) has The Rat Patrol: The Complete Series (seven-DVD set $49.98). Streeting June 10 (prebook May 14) is Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes — The Complete First Season (four-DVD set $39.98). T I ACORN RIDES ‘ADAMS’ Hoping to cash in on the success of HBO’s John Adams miniseries, Acorn Media May 13 (prebook April 15) releases The Adams Chronicles (four-DVD set $59.99). The 13part PBS miniseries, produced in 1976, explores four generations of the Adams family. George Grizzard plays John Adams, with David Birney and William Daniels playing John Quincy Adams at different ages. The DVD set includes a 12-page guide with historical articles. HBO Video’s Adams DVD streets June 10. – John Latchem The $29.98 Beast With a Billion Backs DVD includes commentary from cast and crew; the half-hour “Futurama: The Lost Adventure,” an episode produced for a video game; the behindthe-scenes featurette “Meet Yivo!”; “A Brief History of Deathball” featurette; deleted scenes; storyboards, animatics and 3-D models with animator discussions; and a sneak peek at the third movie, Bender’s Game. As with Bender’s Big Score, Fox promises carbon-neutral DVD packaging. Information about the environmentally friendly production of the DVD is available at www.newscorp.com/energy. I VCI April 29 has Burke’s Law: Season One Vol. 1 (four-DVD set $29.99). I WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT May 27 (prebook April 15) releases the Disney Channel original movie Minutemen (DVD $26.99). Streeting June 10 (prebook April 29) is Army Wives: The Complete First Season (three-DVD set $39.99). Uni Bows ‘Lipstick,’ ‘Eureka’ By John Latchem ith Sex and the City: The Movie bowing in theaters May 30, Universal Studios Home Entertainment is set to release the first DVD set from another series based on a book by Candace Busnell. Lipstick Jungle: Season One streets May 27 (prebook April 22), with all seven episodes plus deleted scenes on a two-DVD set at $29.98. The show stars Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price as three movers and shakers taking on the fast-paced business climate of W I NBA CHAMPS DVD IN JULY Warner Home Video July 15 (prebook June 10) releases NBA Champions 20072008 (DVD $24.98), highlighting the season of the team that wins the upcoming playoff tournament. The 2008 NBA playoffs begin April 19 and run through mid-June. – John Latchem New York City. “Lipstick Jungle” plays strong in its time slot among women aged 18-49. Aiming at a completely different demographic, Universal July 15 (prebook June 10) offers Eureka: Season Two, a three-DVD set with all 13 episodes of the Sci Fi Channel series. Jumping on the green trend, the $39.98 set comes in eco-friendly packaging made from biodegradable materials. The set’s release comes one week before the annual San Diego ComicCon International. I WARNER HOME VIDEO May 13 (prebook April 8) releases Two and a Half Men: The Complete Third Season (four-DVD set $44.98). Arriving June 17 (prebook May 13) are ER: The Complete Ninth Season (six-DVD set $49.98), Popeye the Sailor Vol. Two: 1938-1940 (twoDVD set $34.98) and Popeye & Friends Vol. One (DVD $14.97). Due July 29 (prebook June 24) is Witchblade: The Complete Series (seven-DVD set $69.98), starring Yancy Butler as the comic book heroine. — John Latchem Home Media Magazine April 6–12, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.newscorp.com/energy

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Contents News TV DVD Cine Mercado Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced

Home Media Magazine - April 6-12, 2008

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