Home Media Magazine - May 4-10, 2008 - (Page 14)

TV DVD Edited by John Latchem www.homemediamagazine.com COM I NG UP I ACORN MEDIA June 3 (prebook May 6) has Time For Murder (twoDVD set $39.99). I ECHO BRIDGE HOME ENTERTAINMENT May 6 has Due South: The Ultimate Collection (11-DVD set $39.99). Disney Loads Up Studio plans extras-laden TV DVD slate for fall By John Latchem alt Disney Studios Home Entertainment hopes to help fans forget about the recent writers strike with extras-heavy DVDs of eight series to be released this fall, with a Blu-ray release for two. “The strike did create a situation where those closest to the shows had more downtime,” said Lori MacPherson, Disney GM for North America. “That enabled them to devote more time and energy to dreaming up new DVD possibilities. The DVDs will be more innovative and robust as a result. Luckily, the strike did not last long … and there is minimal effect on our DVD plans.” Due Sept. 2 (prebook July 8) is Desperate Housewives: The Complete Fourth Season — Sizzling Secrets Edition at $59.99. Extras include the behindthe-scenes program “Getting Desperate From Beginning to End”; “Couples Commentary,” featuring the on-screen couples teaming to discuss their favorite moments from season four; the featurette “The Men of Wisteria Lane”; deleted scenes; and bloopers. Streeting Sept. 9 (prebook July 15) are Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Fourth Season — Expanded and Ugly Betty: The Complete Second Season. Both five-DVD sets are $59.99, while Grey’s Anatomy also streets as a four-disc Blu-ray set at $96.99. I IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT May 6 has Future Weapons: Season 2 (three-DVD set $19.99). I INFINITY ENTERTAINMENT June 17 (prebook May 20) releases The Real McCoys: Complete Season 3 (five-DVD set $39.98). W “Betty” extras include “On Set With the Besties,” a tour of the Mode sets; “Wilhelmina Slater: Love to Hate Her,” a focus on Vanessa Williams’ character; “Betty Bloops,” allowing the actors to explain their outtakes; and deleted scenes. Arriving Sept. 16 (prebook July 22) are Private Practice: The Complete First Season — Extended Edition and Dirty Sexy Money: The Complete First Season, both at $39.99. The “Private Practice” set delves into the “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off with the featurettes “Kate Walsh: Practice Makes Perfect” and “Alternative Ensemble: Behind the Scenes of ‘Private Practice,’” plus two extended episodes, deleted scenes, bloopers and commentaries. The “Dirty Sexy Money” three-DVD set includes the featurettes “The Road to Excess: Making Dirty Sexy Money”; “Enter the Penthouse: A VIP Set Tour”; “Haute Couture: Dressing the Darlings”; “The Other Woman: Candis Cayne”; audio commentary; bloopers; and deleted scenes. Streeting Sept. 23 (prebook July 29) are Samantha Who? — The Complete First Season at $29.99 and Brothers & Sisters: The Complete Second Season at $59.99. Included on the first season set of “Samantha Who?,” starring Christina Applegate, are deleted scenes and bloopers — a light load compared to some of the other boxed sets. The “Brothers & Sisters” five-DVD set includes the interactive “Guest Book,” in which the stars discuss their experiences; “TV Dinners: Food From Season 2,” a look at the food stylist; a set tour; audio commentaries; deleted scenes; and bloopers. Finally, due Dec. 9 (prebook Oct. 28) is Lost: The Complete Fourth Season — The Expanded Experience as a five-disc set at $59.99 for DVD and $96.99 for Blu-ray. Tentative extras include bloopers, commentaries, deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, a featurette about the freighter that played a role in the fourth season, a look at filming in Hawaii, a profile of the guns used on the show and a featurette about the show’s music. Even with the bonus features, however, disc totals for returning shows are lower than the previous seasons. While the strike resulted in a lower episode run for the season for most shows, Disney’s boxed sets for its returning shows are priced the same as the previous season, despite fewer episodes and discs per set. “Our DVD pricing has never been based on a per episode formula,” MacPherson said. “Episode numbers change from series to series and season to season occasionally. When changes in episode numbers are significant, however, we adjust our pricing to reflect that.” I KOCH ENTERTAINMENT May 20 has Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers: The Collection Vol. 1 (four-DVD set $39.98). I PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT and Nickelodeon June 17 (prebook May 6) release The Naked Brothers Band: Polar Bears (DVD $16.99). Also due June 17 is Jericho: The Second Season (two-DVD set $29.99). Arriving Aug. 12 (prebook July 1) are Caroline in the City: The First Season (three-DVD set $42.99) and Dave’s World: The First Season (three-DVD set $42.99). I SHOUT! FACTORY May 6 releases Hiya Kids!! A ’50s Saturday Morning (four-DVD set $34.99), featuring episodes of such shows as “Howdy Doody,” “Flash Gordon” and “The Cisco Kid.” I SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT July 8 (prebook June 5) has I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete Fifth Season (four-DVD set $39.95). I 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT July 15 (prebook June 18) has Saving Grace: Season One (four-DVD set $49.98). — John Latchem Catching Up With Speed Racer Blu Bodyslam for WWE By Chris Tribbey t’s a great time to be a “Speed Racer” fan. Lionsgate May 6 releases Speed Racer: The Next Generation — The Beginning, a Nickelodeon update of the classic Japanese anime series, in advance of a live-action film version hitting theaters May 9. Peter Fernandez, the American voice of Speed Racer in the original 1960s version, couldn’t be more excited. “America’s still in love with cars,” Fernandez said. “‘Speed Racer’ is one of those things that stands the test of time.” Fernandez has voiced English tracks for hundreds of foreign films, in- I cluding Fistful of Dollars and several Godzilla flicks. His voice also graces “Kenny the Shark” and “Courage the Cowardly Dog,” plus other Japanese classics such as “Ultraman” and “Astroboy.” But Fernandez will always be best known for helping drive the Mach 5 into living rooms, and he doesn’t seem to mind. When summoned from his New York home to help revisit “Speed Racer” twice recently, he needed no further motivation. “In our business, you don’t retire. You die,” said the 81-yearold actor, author and director. “Call an old actor. We’ll work.” New stints included voicing Speed’s sidekick Spritle in Speed Racer: The Next Generation, and a guest appearance in Warner’s big-screen version as a race announcer. While the latest animation work was fun, Fernandez said his work on the live-action film was even better. He’s not sure whether his brief scene will survive the editing room. “They flew me to Berlin, first class both ways!” he said. “It was a marvelous trip. I met the Wachowski brothers (directors Andy and Larry), and they said that when they were kids, they would run home to watch ‘Speed.’” Fernandez said the original show (on DVD from Lionsgate) still appeals to youngsters. “My wife’s grandson is now 9 years old, and he’s a ‘Speed Racer’ freak,” Fernandez said. “When he comes by, he watches the video, and I sometimes cringe when I hear my voice, even though I’m so used to it.” By John Latchem orld Wrestling Entertainment May 20 releases its first title on Blu-ray, Wrestlemania XXIV, dayand-date with the DVD. “Blu-ray disc will demonstrate our commitment to bring WWE’s high-definition content to fans around the world,” said Joel Satin, VP of WWE Home Entertainment and Books. The annual pay-per-view professional-wrestling extravaganza comes to home video as a three-DVD set at $39.95 and a two-disc Blu-ray at $49.95. The 2008 card included Ric Flair’s retirement match and boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. taking on the Big Show. W WWE distributor Genius Products touts Wrestlemania XXIV as the first Blu-ray release of any kind in the lucrative sports category. “Much like sports content has driven HDTV sales, we believe sports content will thrive in Bluray,” said Mitch Budin, EVP and GM of Genius Products. “WWE is the best fit to lead the sports segment into Blu-ray.” Seven of the 10 topselling sports titles in 2008 are WWE programs, according to unit sales data from Nielsen VideoScan, and three previous Wrestlemanias rank among the top 15 sports home video sellers of all time. May 27 sees the debut of the Backlash 2008 PPV on DVD at $24.95. Home Media Magazine May 4–10, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com

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Home Media Magazine - May 4-10, 2008 Contents News TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced

Home Media Magazine - May 4-10, 2008

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