Boob Tube DVD

In case you were wondering, the SPACE and WITCHBLADE fans are still writing in to support the seasoning of those shows. The more extreme cases either thank me profusely for the charitable work I'm doing on their behalf, or defensively attack me for some imagined insult to their favorite TV show. Okay, point made, folks. We know you like those two cancelled shows, and haven't gotten tired of talking about how the Conspiracy did away with them so the Good People wouldn't become united under them to overthrow the status quo. Meanwhile, I put together this little list of primo seasoning candidates that none of you mentioned.

MY MOTHER THE CAR At the height of the 1960s fantasy sitcom wave, critics called the Jerry Van Dyke reincarnation series the worst show ever broadcast. Of course, now it's better than about everything on the WB.
THE GOODIES BBC comedy like the Pythons meet the Stooges.
TALES OF TOMORROW Rhino issued this early SF anthology on tape years ago. Where's the DVD box set?
LONGSTREET Coolest blind insurance investigator ever, plus cool guest stars.
ON THE AIR David Lynch's short-lived sitcom is due for revival.
LANCELOT LINK Coolest chimpanzee secret agent ever.
TEXAS WHEELERS Forgotten gem about a rural party-of-five led by Gary Busey and Mark Hamill who try to deal with returning dad Jack Elam.
DRAGNET Scattered episodes are available, but the full run deserves seasoning.
LET'S BOWL! Funniest bowling show ever!

This week, our spotlight can't ignore these new releases from the filmography of the amazing Mr. Russ Meyer:

(O) BENEATH THE VALLEY OF THE ULTRAVIXENS (RM Films/Ventura) Meyer's adults-only [IMG2R]magnum opus tells the tale of neglected housewife Kitten Natividad looking for love in the strangest places, turning Small Town, USA upside down.
(O) SUPERVIXENS (RM Films/Ventura) A wicked sheriff (Meyer regular Charles Napier) frames a poor slob for murdering his wife, forcing the man on a cross-country quest for freedom. One of Meyer's most outrageous sex and violence comedies.
(O) VIXEN (RM Films/Ventura) Psychodrama in the deep Canadian woods as Erica Gavin stars as a bigoted nymphomaniac who'll take on any white man even her brother.

(O) ALIEN series (Fox) Fans that want the DVD special editions of the ALIEN QUADRILOGY box set released recently but not ALL of them can now [IMG3L]get them separately.
(O) AMERICAN WEDDING (Universal) Third in a series of obscure comedies that have something to do with teenagers and baked goods. Available in either widescreen or fullscreen, including deleted scenes, outtakes, commentrak, and other funny features. Also available in "Extended Party Editions", and in a gift set bundled with AMERICAN PIE REVEALED.
(O) BABYLON 5: Complete Fourth Season (Warner Bros.) Sci-fi favorite continues with 22 more episodes on six discs, plus commentraks, gag reel and more.
(O) BELLY OF THE BEAST (Columbia TriStar) In this case, the Belly is Steven Seagal as a retired secret agent whose daughter is kidnapped by terrorists.
(O) THE BORROWERS (Universal) Based on the hit children's book about a house infested with tiny people.
(O) CHEERS: Complete Second Season (Paramount) Wisecracks in a bar, with featurettes and gag reel.
(O) CURE (Home Vision) Kiyoshi Kurosawa's grisly and haunting horror story of an apparent idiot savant who may be behind a rash of brutal murders taking place across Tokyo. The only problem is that no one seems to have ever seen him, and no one is sure if he even exists! A lone detective tries to hunt down this powerful psychopath, who may not technically be guilty of anything more than suggestion. Includes interview with director Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
(O) DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE (Warner Bros.) The 1932 Frederic March version (with commentrak by writer Gregory Mank), with the 1941 Spencer Tracy version on the flip side. Both terrific, on one bargain disc, plus a Bugs Bunny cartoon.
(O) EXORCISMO (Eclectic/MVD) Paul [IMG4R]Naschy takes on a possessive demon in this 1974 Spanish shocker, written before THE EXORCIST was released (though it contains the requisite spewing, cursing and head spinning).
(O) FRASIER: Complete Second Season (Paramount) Too bad this spinoff from CHEERS wasn't more successful. Includes episode commentrak, interviews and featurettes.
(O) GOLDEN HORNS (Image) Russian adaptation of the Baba Yaga story, plus documentary featurettes and interviews about the great Russian fairy tale movies.
(O) HELL'S ANGELS ON WHEELS (Image) Motorcycle classic starring Jack Nicholson.
(O) IKIRU (Criterion) Two-disc special edition of Akira Kurosawa's contemplative drama, includes commentrak, two full length documentaries, and more.

(O) IRON SWALLOW (Crash) Judy Lee stars as the legendary Iron Swallow. Stop snickering. With Wang Tao and Yee Yuen.
(O) MONKEY BUSINESS (Fox) In this classic 1952 comedy, Carey Grant invents a youth formula that regresses him to childhood.
(O) MUTANT X Season 1: Disc 8-9 (ADV Films) Includes episodes 115-118.
(O) NIGHT OF THE ASSASSIN (Crash) 1981 historical action drama with David Chiang and Danny Lee.
(O) OUT OF TIME (MGM) Florida police chief Denzel Washington finds that all the clues in a murder investigation point to him. Includes commentrak, outtakes, screen tests and more.
(O) OZONE (Tempe) [IMG5R]Tenth anniversary special edition of J.R. Bookwalter's impressive action/horror film. Includes director's commentrak, Making-Of, test footage, galleries, isolated music track, clips from the Spanish version, trailers (including a Japanese one), and lots more!
(O) PAVEMENT (HBO) Robert Patrick and Lauren Holly team up to track a serial killer.
(O) SANTO ON THE BORDER OF TERROR (Rise Above/VAS) The Silver-masked wrestling superhero battles desperadoes in this 1969 adventure. Delayed from last September.
(O) SEVEN PROMISES (Crash) Meng Fei goes on a trip and encounters all kinds of kung fu masters. Directed by Cliff Lok.
(O) SO CLOSE (Columbia TriStar) This Hong Kong action spectacle from director Corey Yuen (THE TRANSPORTER) got a brief US theatrical release billed as an Asian CHARLIE'S ANGELS, but it's at once more down to earth and features wilder gadgets. Vicky Zhao and Shu Qi are a pair of vengeful super assassins stalked by tough cop Karen Mok, but they end up teaming up to fight the real bad guys in over-the-top {IMG1L]action.
(O) UNDERWORLD (Columbia TriStar) Kate Beckinsale is a vampire warrior fighting a centuries-old war with werewolves. Goth heaven. Available in fullscreen and widescreen editions, with two commentraks, animated comic-book, featurettes, music video, storyboards and more.
(O) VIRGIN REPORT (Image) Jess Franco had a European hit with this 1971 sexploitation feature, which purports to be an educational tour of teenage sex habits through history.

And finally, we close off each weekly list with a rundown of the constant stream of anime from around the world:

(O) AKIRA (Geneon) [IMG6L]Pioneer Entertainment has become Geneon, and to celebrate, they're re-releasing a lot of their big hits in restored and remastered "signature series" editions, including this 1988 anime classic.
(O) ANGELIC LAYER Volume 3: Idol Worship (ADV Films) The next four episodes. Contestants continue to battle to become pop stars.
(O) ARMITAGE III: Poly-matrix (Geneon) Humans vs. robots on Mars.
(O) BATMAN SUPERMAN MOVIE (Warner Bros.) World's Finest duo in cartoon action together. Includes interview, game and more.
(O) BEYBLADE Volume 1: Let It Rip! (Geneon) 6 episodes.
(O) BEYBLADE Volume 2: National Champions Finals (Geneon)
(O) BOYS OVER FLOWERS Volume 3: Love Beyond the Horizon (Viz) Four episodes.
(O) CARDCAPTORS Volume 1: Tests of Courage (Geneon) Card playing magicians try to catch escaped spirits.
(O) CATNAPPED!: The Movie (Geneon) A [IMG7R]planet of the cats, where visitors turn into monsters.
(O) A CHARLIE BROWN VALENTINE (Paramount) Three holiday episodes.
(O) FULL METAL PANIC! Mission 06 (ADV Films) This volume begins with a hot tub party!
(O) GATEKEEPERS Volume 1 (Geneon) Teen mutants able to channel other dimensions fight back against the alien invaders that took over Japan in 1945.

(O) LAIN Volume 1: Navi (Geneon) A tweenage girl sees the virtual world meshing with the real world. Four episodes.
(O) MICKEY & MINNIE: SWEETHEART STORIES (Buena Vista)
(O) PANDA! GO PANDA! (Geneon) Fun nonsense about a girl who is part of a family of pandas. Early work from Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata.
(O) PRETEAR Volume 1 (ADV Films) When the Princess of Disaster invades our dimension, sucking all life away with her demon larva, a young girl named Himeno merges with a mystic Leafe Knight to form a superpowered defender.
(O) SAILOR MOON R: The Movie (Geneon) Sailor Scouts protect Earth from an evil flower.
(O) SAILOR MOON S: Heart Collection I (Geneon) Seven [IMG8L]uncut episodes.
(O) SAILOR MOON S: The Movie (Geneon) Serena and friends battle the evil Snow Queen.
(O) SAILOR MOON SuperS: The Movie (Geneon) Serena fights a dream demon.
(O) SAIYUKI Volume 7: The Gods of War (ADV Films) Continuing adaptation of the Chinese classic JOURNEY TO THE WEST.
(O) SLAYERS GREAT (ADV Films) Laia's brother and father create battling golems in the image of her heroes.
(O) SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: The Seascape Capers (Paramount) Two episodes from this 10-episode collection won't air on Nickelodeon for another year!
(O) TENCHI IN TOKYO Volume 1: A New Start (Geneon)
(O) TENCHI MUYO OVA Volume 1 (Geneon)
(O) TENCHI THE MOVIE: Tenchi Muyo in Love (Geneon)
(O) TENCHI UNIVERSE COLLECTION: Tenchi Muyo on Earth 1-4 (Geneon) Anybody looking for some Tenchi?
(O) TRIGUN 1: The $60,000,000,000 Man (Geneon) Four episodes.
(O) WINNIE THE POOH: Un-Valentine's Day / A Valentine For You (Buena Vista) Two VD episodes.