Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - (Page 12) TV DVD Edited by John Latchem www.homemediamagazine.com COM I NG Jan. 20, 2009, (prebook Dec. 16) offers Children of the Stones (DVD $24.99) and The Last Detective: The Complete Collection (nine-DVD set $99.99). UP I ACORN MEDIA I ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT Unveiling Britain’s ‘Secret’ Shout! Factory prepares DVD of classic comedy/music ‘Secret Policeman’s Ball’ specials By John Latchem ometimes the performance is its own reward. For years, the top names in British comedy and music have teamed to stage semiannual shows to benefit Amnesty International. The results often yield classic performances and unexpected laughs. Shout! Factory will release five of these vintage specials on DVD Jan. 27, 2009, (prebook Dec. 23) as the three-DVD set The Secret Policeman’s Balls at $39.99. The Amnesty shows began in 1976 with a three-day festival known as A Poke in the Eye (With a Sharp Stick). “John Cleese called some friends to perform for three nights to benefit Amnesty International,” said Jordan Fields, director of acquisitions for Shout! Factory. “It was a fantastic experience that grew to a larger series over the years.” The stage shows were then edited into 90-minute television specials. The early specials also were released theatrically and on VHS. The first benefit show was edited into a special called Pleasure at Her Majesty’s. This was followed by The Mermaid Frolics in 1977, and The Secret Policeman’s Ball in 1979. “At the time I believe Amnesty was not well known,” Fields said. “The public awareness grew in no small part to the success of these stage shows and this collection of talent doing these shows for this wonderful organization that fights for human rights.” The Secret Policeman’s Balls includes Pleasure at Her Majesty’s and The Secret Policeman’s Ball, plus 1981’s The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball, 1987’s The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball and 1989’s The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball. “These are the vintage shows that are most familiar to North American audiences,” Fields said. “The more recent shows use exclusively British talent that many American audiences wouldn’t know.” Fields said footage had been taken out of Pleasure at Her Majesty’s over the years, so Shout! Factory reconstructed the special for the DVD. The DVDs include comedy performances by Monty Python members John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin; Beyond the Fringe members Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett and Jonathan Miller; plus individual talent such as Rowan Atkinson Jan. 6, 2009, presents Tripping the Rift: The Complete Third Season (two-DVD set $29.97) I BBC VIDEO Jan. 13, 2009, (prebook Dec. 9) releases Saxondale: Complete Seasons 1 and 2 (three-DVD set $39.98) and Skins Vol. 1 (threeDVD set $39.98). S (“Mr. Bean, “Black Adder”); a pre-“House” Hugh Laurie; and Jennifer Saunders of “Absolutely Fabulous.” “You get to see mentors perform with their protégés,” Fields said. “John Cleese performs with Peter Cook, then later with Rowan Atkinson. You see the torch being passed.” Not to be outdone is the assemblage of musical talent, Fields said. “The remarkable music performances are the other side of the story,” Fields said. “This is really the beginning of the unplugged phenomenon.” Included are musical performances from Pete Townshend, Sting, Phil Collins, Bob Geldof, Peter Gabriel, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Kate Bush and Joan Armatrading, plus rare duets from Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, and Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins. “These are raw, intimate performances people will really enjoy,” Fields said. For fans of these performers, the DVDs offer some valuable historical insights, according to Fields. “For people familiar with these performers, to watch them in this setting is a revelation,” Fields said. “You see them perform with silly abandon. There’s a pure joy for what they are doing. They are genuinely spirited about the way they’re contributing to this cause.” Fields said that as a Monty Python fan, he was especially excited to work on these DVDs. “It’s not easy to find footage of Monty Python in their vintage years doing their classic sketches in live settings,” Fields said. “It’s really funny to watch them crack each other up.” The set also includes the 2004 BBC documentary Remember The Secret Policeman’s Ball, which celebrates the third Amnesty show’s 25th anniversary. The DVD also includes rare performances from other shows not included in the set, such as The Mermaid Frolics, and introductions and commentaries from executive producer Martin Lewis, who also provided the liner notes. Fields said Shout! Factory is also planning a separate single-DVD release of the best comedy performance from the specials on the DVD set, and a single-DVD of the best musical performances. I GAIAM Feb. 3, 2009, (prebook Dec. 23) presents the ABC Family movie Princess (DVD $14.98). I GENIUS PRODUCTS and WWE Dec. 9 present The Twisted, Disturbed Life of Kane (DVD $34.95), followed Dec. 23 by Edge: A Decade of Decadence (DVD $34.95). I HBO VIDEO Dec. 9 offers Deadwood: The Complete Series (19-DVD set $179.97) and The Wire: The Complete Series (23-DVD set $249.99). Arriving Jan. 13 (prebook Dec. 9) is Little Britain USA (two-DVD set $29.98). Due Jan. 20, 2009, (prebook Dec. 16) is Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger (DVD $19.97, three-DVD set $29.98). I KOCH VISION Dec. 9 releases McLeod’s Daughters: The Complete Seventh Season (eightDVD set $79.98). I LIONSGATE Jan. 6, 2009, (prebook Dec. 10) presents Secret Diary of a Call Girl: Season One (two-DVD set $29.98). I MEDIA BLASTERS Dec. 23 releases Voltron Vol. 6 (three-DVD set $34.99). Due Jan. 13, 2009, is Voltron Vol. 7 (three-DVD set $34.99). I PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT and CBS Dec. 9 release Gunsmoke: Season Three Vol. One (three-DVD set $39.99) and Rawhide: Season Three Vol. Two (four-DVD set $39.99). Due Jan. 20 (prebook Dec. 9) are My Three Sons: Season One Vol. Two (three-DVD set $42.99) and This American Life: Season Two (DVD $19.99). ‘FUTURAMA’ FLIES INTO ‘GREEN YONDER’ By John Latchem I RHINO ENTERTAINMENT Jan. 13 releases the PBS documentary Make ’Em Laugh (three-DVD set $34.95), about the history of comedy in America. T he fourth direct-to-video movie based on the “Futurama” animated TV comedy series flies to shelves Feb. 24, 2009, (prebook Jan. 28) from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder will be available on DVD at $29.98 and Blu-ray Disc at $39.98. The story finds the galaxy on the verge of a new Green Age, threatened by ancient forces. Meanwhile the members of the Planet Express crew must deal with personal conflicts. Guest stars include Penn Jillette, Snoop Dogg, talk radio’s Phil Hendrie, and a cameo by “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane. The resurrection of “Family Guy” on TV due to strong DVD sales is often cited as the inspiration for the decision to create these “Futurama” movies. Extras include audio commentary by creators Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, plus cast members John DiMaggio and Maurice LaMarche, and others who worked on the movie; a storyboard animatic; deleted scenes; making-of featurettes; a “How to Draw Futurama in 10 Very Difficult Steps” featurette; “Bender’s Movie Theater Etiquette”; “Zapp Brannigan’s Guide to Making Love at a Woman”; and more. As with the earlier DTV follow-ups to the show, Green Yonder will be broken into four episodes to be run with Comedy Central’s “Futurama” syndication package. I SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT Dec. 30 has 10 Items or Less: The Complete First and Second Seasons (two-DVD set $29.95). Arriving Feb. 3 (prebook Jan. 15) are The Partridge Family: The Complete Fourth Season (three-DVD set $29.95), Bewitched: The Complete Seventh Season (four-DVD set $39.95), the TV movie The Tenth Circle (DVD $24.96) and Nickelodeon’s Gym Teacher: The Movie (DVD $19.95). I UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT Jan. 6 releases Battlestar Galactica: Season 4.0 (four-DVD set $49.98). — John Latchem Home Media Magazine December 7–13, 2008 http://www.homemediamagazine.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 Contents News News High-Def News Electronic Delivery News TV DVD Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 DVD Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - News (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - News (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - News (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - High-Def News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - High-Def News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Electronic Delivery News (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Electronic Delivery News (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - TV DVD (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Reviews (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Pipeline (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 DVD Sellers (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 25) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 26) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 27) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page 28) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - December 7-13, 2008 - Just Announced (Page Cover4)
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