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Let's Get Digital

TV on DVD: a perfect marriage of medium and content. For those of us Ancients who remember the dark days of home video in the early Eighties, it's almost impossible to believe that whole a whole season of TV can now be packed into a box slightly wider than a VHS tape with picture and sound quality often better than the original transmission. Add to that the notion of copious supplemental material like commentaries, deleted scenes, and whatever else producers can imagine and the mind fairly reels at the possibilities.

No one could have imagines the wealth of extras populating the releases of shows like DOCTOR WHO or the new Starburst Editions of FARSCAPE. Not only do we now get to enjoy these shows again and again, but we get to step behind the curtain to see the magic, meet the magicians, and become a part of the show as never before. Anyone who's seen the special Yearbook Edition of FREAKS AND GEEKS understands the scale upon which these supplemental goodies can be produced.

Best of all, such treatment is not merely reserved for the indomitable cult shows of yore (who remembers when STAR TREK was the only show on VHS?). Series that barely lasted a season are now routinely popping up on store shelves offering curious viewers who missed their original, and only, airings an opportunity to see what only a handful would have witnessed to remember in previous times. In the next few weeks alone, Fox Home Video is going to release PROFIT (co-created by ANGEL co-creator David Greenwalt) and the much missed SPACE: ABOVE AND BEYOND (courtesy of Cannell/1013 alumni Morgan & Wong). These are shows that virtually no one saw during their original airings. Even I, addict that I am, missed the four episodes that aired. Now, DVD offers fans a chance to relive these favorites with top notch transfers while newcomers can see what they missed.

Not only does DVD change a show's afterlife, it's changing the way we watch existing shows. My parents didn't bother with 24 on TV. They picked up the DVDs and experienced the show in four episode doses so potent that they raced back to the video store for the next disc. Fox's decision to release the first season of the series on DVD at the top of season two was sheer genius and they've continued the program with Buena Vista stepping up to the plate a short time later with ALIAS. No longer do viewers need to worry about falling out of a show due to missed episodes. Imagine if TWIN PEAKS or even BUFFY had the benefit of season by season DVD releases. The former might have lasted a little longer while the latter might have reached a broader audience than its networks allowed. Sagely, VERONICA MARS will soon hit shelves in time for the audience to have a leg up on season two. Add to that the repeats scheduled to air on CBS and Rob Thomas's marvelous series gets a boost hitherto unheard of for a UPN show...even ENTERPRISE didn't get this kind of support. Always keen to up the TV on DVD ante, Fox plans to release the pilot episode of OVER THERE, the new FX series from Steven Bochco, on DVD less than a week after its premiere. Forget watching the preceding season before the premiere, why not watch the last episode on DVD?

When DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES comes to disc in September, it will feature material "too hot" for ABC. Though uncensored DVD releases of TV shows isn't necessarily new (NBC's KINGPIN and Sci-Fi's DUNE), never has a show this popular offered up completely different cuts for DVD consumption. It's only a matter of time before shows are being designed to offer sanitized broadcast edits as a teaser for more risqué DVD editions shortly thereafter. VHS, at most, preserved TV, but DVD has, in only half a decade, changed the way we watch while simultaneously re-tooling what we watch. Tim Minear, late of ANGEL, FIREFLY, and WONDERFALLS, is already planning the DVD release of his newest Fox casualty, THE INSIDE. In his fan letter announcing the cancellation, he writes that "DVDs have changed a lot. If I end up being some little Americanized BBC, churning out limited series for DVD, and the people who employ me want to keep handing over 20 or 30 million dollars for me to do that, then I'll be perfectly content." So, special features, second chances, superb quality, cross promotion, and a little more spice in the edit are ours courtesy of something that looks like a CD. Now, if only they'd release AMERICAN GOTHIC...they're planning to? Oh, what a wonderful world...

MONDAY, AUGUST 1

THE SIXTH SENSE (8pm PST, ABC) See M. Night Shyamalan at the crest of his wave before he hits the rocks with SIGNS and gets washed up on the beach with THE VILLAGE.

HELL'S KITCHEN (8pm PST, Fox) If you've never had the pleasure of watching UK comic Lenny Henry's series CHEF!, this is the next best thing. Professional cooking makes the mob look like a cushy career.

THE DUKES OF HAZZARD (10pm PST, TV Guide) Get the first look at the desecration of a televisual icon when TV Guide goes behind the scenes on what must surely be the most disturbing movie of the summer...Flash the basset hound is downtrodden, I'm sure.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2

THE GILMORE GIRLS (8pm PST, WB) A repeat of the WB's best show is usually better than a new episodes on another network.

RESCUE ME (10pm PST, FX) The Emmys may have dissed Leary and company, but this show from the creators of THE JOB is worth a look.

OVER THERE (11pm PST, FX) Here's a repeat of Steven Bochcho's new pilot for those who missed it. Does anyone else remember when FX was only good for MISSION IMPOSSIBLE repeats?

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3

THE INSIDE (9pm PST, Fox) The best new show of the summer returns from a two week hiatus to offer up what sounds like a truly disturbing tale of a serial killer who stalks pregnant women. Star Rachel Nichols will be joining ALIAS next year, so catch her before she's on the cover of all the magazines.

SMALLVILLE (9pm PST, WB) While you're waiting for Warner Bros Home Video to release the excellent FLASH series from the early nineties, check out the Speedster's guest spot on tonight's repeat.

VERONICA MARS (9pm PST, UPN) Watch it here. Watch it on CBS. Watch it on DVD. Just watch it already.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4

THE LADYKILLERS (8:30pm PST, TCM) Forget the Coen Brothers re-make and catch the original Ealing comedy starring Alec Guinness and a young Peter Sellers.

THE DUKES OF HAZZARD (10pm PST, Spike TV) Longing for the days when Daisy was a brunette? Look no further.

JAKE 2.0 (10pm PST, HDNET) While you're waiting for this short-lived UPN series to hit the DVD rack, you can check it out in Hi-Def and marvel at pores you never imagined the cast had...

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5

VERONICA MARS (8pm PST, CBS) Someone give the genius who thought up this piece of promotion a raise!

STARGATE SG-1 (8PM PST, Sci-Fi Channel) More Claudia Black. 'nuff said.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (8pm PST, Fox) Four back to back episodes of one of America's best sitcoms.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (10pm PST, Sci-Fi Channel) I really love watching Colonel Tigh making one bad decision after another. It's gonna be a real drag when Bill Adama wakes up and things start getting dealt with by a sane person.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (8pm PST, Biography) There has never been a better adaptation of Sherlock Holmes than this series starring Jeremy Brett as the world's famous consulting detective. Treat yourself.

NERO WOLFE (9pm PST, Biography) There's no point in changing the channel when another classic sleuth is on deck...

OVER THERE (9pm PST. FX) An all new episode premieres with the benefit of its predecessor already available on DVD--brave new world, indeed.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 7

SIX FEET UNDER (9pm PST, HBO) I honestly have no idea what's gonna happen in the wake (literally, I suspect) of last week's astonishing installment. I knew it was coming, but I suspected they'd wait a little bit longer to do it.

THE DEAD ZONE (10pm PST, USA) Johnny Smith and company have been on a run of great episodes lately--here's to a continuing trend of excellence!

WANTED (10pm PST, TNT) After viciously canceling Gary Cole's last TV outing on their behalf, TNT brings my favorite small screen lead back to the air. We'll hit season two again one of these days, GC! I'm pulling for you!