Home Media Magazine - April 13-19, 2008 - (Page 18) TV DVD Edited by John Latchem www.homemediamagazine.com Rockin’ Reality Poison rocker Bret Michaels parties it up on ‘Rock of Love: The Complete First Season’ By John Latchem ret Michaels doesn’t need to watch the first season of “Rock of Love.” “I lived it,” Michaels said. But fans can relive the hedonism, and a little more, with the three-DVD set of season one of his VH1 reality dating show, which hit shelves April 8 from Anchor Bay Entertainment at $34.97. “I think the DVD is going to rock,” Michaels said. “There’s a lot of stuff people need to see. We had to tame our stuff down for cable.” “Rock of Love” gave Michaels, lead singer for the rock band Poison, a chance to choose a potential girlfriend from a bevy of groupies and fans. Over the course of 13 episodes, Michaels eliminated girls each week until he chose a winner. The show was styled on VH1’s hit show “Flavor of Love,” starring eccentric rapper Flavor Flav. “I had partied with a lot of the executives from VH1 and a lot of the producers,” Michaels said. “And they were looking for a legendary rocker to do that kind of show. And I was a guy who was newly single and young at heart.” Michaels said he was reluctant at first to turn his life over to the confines of the reality show environment. “I didn’t want them to script everything I was going to say,” Michaels said. “But they came back to me and offered to give me more say over what I could do. I didn’t go in with any intent other than to make this show fit my lifestyle.” Michaels said he doubted the show would actually result in his finding a soulmate, so he set out to make it a fun experience for all involved. “I said that in the first episode we should just have a giant party,” Michaels said. “And all these girls arrived, and I had never met any of them before, and we just had a huge party. And a lot of the girls got hammered. It was a lot of fun, and we took it from there.” B From the start, Michaels mixed in fun competitions for the girls, such as a motocross relay and a mud-football game. “What I really wanted was the show to have these fun challenges and have us go on really fun dates,” Michaels said. “I didn’t want to spend every episode sitting in a Jacuzzi and arguing.” That philosophy wasn’t necessarily shared by the girls, who engaged in their fair share of backstage rivalries for Bret’s affections. “There was a lot of infighting among the girls I didn’t know about,” Michaels said. “Had I known, I would have tried to put a stop to it. I’m kind of a defuser. I wanted more peace in the household.” That doesn’t mean he was totally opposed to conflict. “Occasionally a cat fight kind of turns me on,” Michaels said. “I do not encourage it, but you know, it may take me a few minutes to try to stop it.” For Michaels, eliminations were the hardest part of the show. “I’m great at hellos, but I suck at goodbyes,” Michaels said. “It’s tough to say to someone ‘you are just not the right person.’” Michaels isn’t asking for much in his quest for love. “I look for someone I like, and after the show ends, if something happens, so be it,” Michaels said. “True lust can happen quickly. True love takes time. “First, there has to be a physical attraction and good chemistry. Humor is a big part of it. She’s got to be self-deprecating. I also like people with an up energy. I’m not talking a ‘Girls Gone Wild’ type of energy that is just out of control. But I like a girl who has a good energy around her.” The first season came down to Jes, a cosmetologist, and Heather, an exotic dancer who tattooed his name on her neck. Ultimately Bret picked Jes after she balked at his suggestion they both be his girlfriends, claiming she couldn’t share him. However, the relationship fizzled in the aftermath of the show. “Making a real relationship work is extremely tough in these circumstances,” Michaels said. “People are caught up in the emotions of the show. And when you get away from each other for a while when the show ends and then you try to reconnect, it doesn’t always have that same chemistry. My connection with Heather was probably stronger. Maybe Heather would have been better to have a go at a longterm relationship. Ultimately that’s what the show is about. But at the time I felt I made the right choice.” Having completed two seasons of the show, Michaels isn’t sure he’s ready for a third, preferring to see how things go with his newest leading lady. “I don’t know if I’d want to do the exact same thing again,” Michaels said. On the other hand, Michaels would love to see a one-time crossover of his show with “Flavor of Love” and its spin-off, “I Love New York.” “It would be one episode with this giant one-time mega super party. That would be killer,” Michaels said, sarcastically adding, “I’m sure there would not be one catfight in that house.” COM I NG UP I A&E HOME Nelson (two-DVD set $39.99). I KOCH ENTERTAINMENT May 13 Also due April 22 is Laverne and Shirley: (DVD $24.95), featuring readings of those who VIDEO May 20 (prebook April 15) offers The Chase: Sea- The Complete Fourth Season (four-DVD set witnessed the Nazi holocaust. (prebook April 21) I BCI May 27 (prebook April 22) releases son One (two-DVD set $29.98), Twelfth Night $42.99). Arriving April 29 are The Adventures releases the His- He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Vol. 2 (DVD $24.98) and Adventures of the Galaxy of Young Indiana Jones Vol. 3 (10-DVD set I SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERtory Channel special (three-DVD set $26.98), featuring 13 episodes Rangers: The Collection Vol. 1 (four-DVD set $129.99) and Cheers: The Ninth Season (five- TAINMENT June 17 has Blood+ Vol. Two from the 2002 animated series. $39.98). DVD set $42.99). (DVD $24.96), from the Adult Swim anime series based on Blood: The Last Vampire. The Hunt for John Wilkes Booth (DVD $19.95), followed May 27 (prebook April 29) by Monsterquest: The Complete Season One (four-DVD set $39.95) and Modern Marvels: Engineering Disasters (five-DVD set $39.95). I GENIUS PRODUCTS April 15 I MPI MEDIA GROUP July has What Not to Wear: Mom Makeovers (two-DVD set $24.95). Streeting May 13 is Sesame Street: Dinosaurs (DVD $14.93). 29 (prebook June 23) offers Dark Shadows: The Beginning — Collection 5 (four-DVD set $59.98). I SHOUT! FACTORY April 22 offers Oban Star-Racers Vol. One: The Alwas Cycle (DVD $19.99). Due May 13 is Stargate Infinity: The Complete Series (four-DVD set $34.99), a cartoon adventure based on the popular sci-fi franchise. I PARAMOUNT HOME I IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT April 15 April 15 releases Jupiter Moon: The Ghost in the Machine (five-DVD set $49.99). Streeting June 10 (prebook May 13) is William Shatner’s Tekwar (three-DVD set $39.98). releases from Nickelodeon SpongeBob SquarePants: Pest of the West, followed April 22 by Wonder Pets: Save the Beetles and Sleepytime Stories (DVD $16.99 each). I ACORN MEDIA April 15 releases Clive Cussler’s The Sea Hunters: Set 2 (two-DVD set $39.99) and I Remember I SISU HOME ENTERTAINMENT April 15 releases MTV Networks’ I’m Still Here I WARNER HOME VIDEO July 1 (prebook May 27) offers The Closer: The Complete Third Season (four-DVD set $39.98). Arriving July 15 (prebook June 10) is Dallas: The Complete Ninth Season (four-DVD set $39.98). Due July 29 (prebook June 24) are Tiny Toon Adventures: Season 1 Vol. 1 (four-DVD set $44.98), Freakazoid: Season 1 (two-DVD set $26.99) and Birds of Prey: The Complete Series — John Latchem (four-DVD set $39.98). 18 Home Media Magazine April 13–19, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
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