Blu-ray Review “Hung: The Complete Third Season”

Created by Dmitry Lipkin, Colette Burson
Starring: Thomas Jane, Jane Adams, Eddie Jemison, Sianoa Smit-McPhee, Charlie Saxton
Distributed by: HBO Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 4, 2012
Running Time: 315 minutes

Season: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

As much as I love Thomas Jane, he is such a crazy yet amazing actor. Having met him personally I was able to experience his charm first hand, it comes through for this show but it is not enough to draw me in. This was was actually getting better which each passing season, though in December of 2011 HBO officially canceled this series after this season. They seemed much have be cleaning house at HBO since they also canceled “Bored to Death” and “How to Make it in America”. Nonetheless if you enjoyed this show it is at least available with an impressive Blu-ray release.

The third season continued to follow Thomas Jane as his continued his path as the perfect guy and continued making a living being an escort. Things get crazy when Lenore seeks revenge against Ray and his pimp for stealing her idea of turning the local 25-year-old busboy named Jason(Stephen Amell, “The Vampire Diaries”) into a new male hooker.

On television the show might be presented in HD but only 1080i, so the show does look a lot better it is full HD 1080p presentation. It also sounds fantastic with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, though since its a comedy it doesn’t push the barrier. There are a slew of bonuses on this two-disc set including deleted scenes, the featurette “Hung: Inside the Series”, “Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy”, the Wellness centre Walk-through, Damon and Darby’s music video, “Where Is Henry Ford?”, an Alternate Ending and 4 audio commentaries.

Blu-ray Review “Bored to Death: The Complete Third Season”

Starring: Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis, Ted Danson
Distributed by: HBO Home Entertainment
Release Date: September 4, 2012
Running Time: 245 minutes

Season: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Bored to Death” has me hooked from episode one of season one. The show is show quirky and unique that I was instantly a fan. As the show developed, I feel that it only got better. I know it might be a bold statement but I feel that has been easily some of the best work from the three stars; Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis, Ted Danson. Like the majority of comedy shows on HBO, last year this show was canceled following this season. It is a shame because it was one of the best things the network had going for it (besides “Game of Thrones”, I know).

The third season of this show really delves deep its its characters. It also continues to develop the three stars relationships, specifically the relationship with Jonathan and George. Jonathan’s detective duties get much more in-depth as well. Bigger is not always better since he finds himself in ever more trouble with his unlicensed occupation.

On television the show might be presented in HD but only 1080i, so the show does look a lot better it is full HD 1080p presentation. It also sounds fantastic with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, though since its a comedy it doesn’t push the barrier. The special features are decent but not too special per se. There are 4 audio commentaries, a few deleted Scenes, outtakes and a featurette called “Inside the Episodes”.

DVD Review “Revenge: The Complete First Season”

Creator: Mike Kelley
Starring: Emily VanCamp, Madeleine Stowe, Gabriel Mann, Henry Czerny, Ashley Madekwe
Number of discs: 5
MPAA Rating: TV-PG
Distributed by: ABC Studios
Release Date: August 21, 2012
Running Time: 924 minutes

Season: 4 out of 5 stars
EXtras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When I started watching “Revenge”, I enjoyed it but then I thought to myself how are they going to keep this going.  How long can she really seek revenge?  Well I was very pleasantly surprised with this season and each each episode on the show only get better and better and reveals many new mysteries throughout.  Emily VanCamp is one tough girl, I would definitely not want to cross her (I have a feeling she holds a grudge). Madeleine Stowe really steals the spotlight in this show.  Her portrayal of the high-society Hampton wife was one of the best roles on television.  If you are a fan of this show, you will know my concerns on the topic.  ABC Studios is not one to usually release their shows on Blu-ray (besides “Once Upon a Time”).  I am not sure why they did not in the case, especially since the norm is leaning towards Blu-ray releases and the show is already presented in HD.  The DVD itself does look nice though within its aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and an audio track of Dolby Digital 5.1. Nonetheless Mike Kelley has really developed a very deep and interesting season that I have the feeling will be able to continue for many years to come.

ABC’s “Revenge” takes us through Emily Thorne’s (Emily VanCamp) quest for revenge. She plans to uncover every deep, dark secret for one of the Hampton’s most powerful family, the Graysons.  She finds that beneath the luxurious lifestyle of the Hamptons, lies a dark secret within that family concerning the wrongful arrest and leading death of her father.  As Emily unraveled this twisted tale of passion, suspense, and ultimate redemption, she finds clues about her father and the people responses for his framing.  Emily Thorne sets (Emily VanCamp) her vindictive plot against Victoria Grayson (Madeleine Stowe), the reigning queen of the Hamptons, and everyone else who destroyed her family.  Of course things don’t always go to plan and things her complicated and unravel in the wake of an unexpected love triangle between Emily, the son of her greatest nemesis, and a forgotten face from her past.

If this show isn’t good enough it’s bonus features are also extremely impressive. “Nolan Ross Exposed” is a faux feature, which exposes the truth behind the character Nolan Ross (Gabriel Mann) with sit-down interview footage and reporter Sarah Juarez (Stephanie Maura Sanchez) looks to get answers.  “Roadmap To Revenge” is narrates by Emily VanCamp as she goes through her road to revenge for the show.  “At Home In “The Hamptons”” is a look into the high life with Ashley Madekwe as she plays tour guide into the larger-than-life role in the show.  “Haute Hamptons: Femme Fatale Fashion” takes a look into the styling of the two leading ladies, Emily VanCamp and Madeleine Stowe with Costume Designer Jill Ohanneson.  There are six quite decent deleted scenes and a bunch of great bloopers and outtakes.  There is also an audio commentary on the pilot episode with Creator Mike Kelley and Actress Emily VanCamp.  Lastly there two music videos including Christina Perri’s “Distance” and Angus & Julia Stone’s “For You.”

“Revenge: The Complete First Season” DVD Giveaway [ENDED]

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EACH WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!

Available on DVD August 21st!

To celebrate the release of “Revenge: The Complete First Season”, Media Mikes would like to giveaway 10 copies of this season on DVD. If you would like to win one of these great prizes, please leave us a comment below or send us an email and let us know your favorite “Revenge” character. This giveaway will be open until September 4th at Noon, Eastern Time and is only open to residents of the United States. Only one entry per person, per household; all other entries will be considered invalid. Once the giveaway ends, Media Mikes will randomly pick out winners and alert the winners via email.

Premise: Almost twenty years ago, Hamptons’ wealthiest elite destroyed a young girl’s life. Relive Emily Thorne’s (Emily VanCamp) quest for revenge and uncover every deep, dark secret. The complete first season includes exclusive bonus features including an in-world sitdown interview with the infamous Nolan Ross in “Nolan Ross: Exposed,” “Lifestyles of the Rich and Dangerous”; “Hamptons Bound: Preparing for Life at the Shore”; “Haute Hamptons: Femme Fatale Fashion”; bloopers; deleted scenes and insightful episode commentaries.

Bonus Features:
  • Nolan Ross Exposed (in-world feature) – What the audience think they know about Nolan Ross (Gabriel Mann) is only part of the story. In the recently unearthed sit-down interview footage, reporter Sarah Juarez (Stephanie Maura Sanchez) questions Nolan on his past… and gets some answers fans might not expect!
  • Roadmap To Revenge – Revenge is sweet, and set within the rich, beautiful, and elite world of The Hamptons, it’s even sweeter. Emily VanCamp narrates some of the checkpoints on the road to revenge, walking fans through the genesis, pilot, themes, and characters of the show. Woven throughout, are interviews from writers, producers and cast members who share how they undertook creating a world where money and desire can make anything possible.
  • At Home In “The Hamptons” – Swank parties and lavish houses are as much a part of “Revenge” as the characters that attend and inhabit them. Viewers can watch as Ashley Madekwe plays tour guide to the not-so-humble abodes – including the plush extravagance of the Grayson’s estate as well as the contrasting rustic ambiance of the Stowaway bar, illustrating everything that goes into making things larger-than-life.
  • Haute Hamptons: Femme Fatale Fashion – They say ‘clothes make the woman’, … and this exciting bonus feature gives a glimpse into the secrets of styling the show’s two leading ladies, Emily VanCamp and Madeleine Stowe. Costume Designer Jill Ohanneson shares key pieces from both of the series’ femme fatale’s closets as she and the cast discuss what it takes to dress a show for success.
  • Deleted Scenes – Fans can turn up the heat with six revealing deleted scenes
  • Bloopers/Outtakes – Hilarious moments from the production fans won’t want to miss
  • Pilot Commentary – Creator Mike Kelley and Actress Emily VanCamp take viewers through all the details of the pilot episode.
  • Music Videos – Key music from the show is featured, including Christina Perri’s “Distance” and Angus & Julia Stone’s “For You.”

Christina Cha talks about competing on Season 24 of CBS’ “Survivor”

Christina Cha appeared on season 24 of the CBS hit reality show “Survivor”. Christina talked recently with Media Mikes.com about her experience on the show and also about some of her current projects.

Adam Lawton: What first prompted you to try out for “Survivor”?
Christina Cha: I had been a fan of the show since I first saw it back when I was still in high school. I thought it was amazing to see a show that takes someone from their normal adapted elements and puts them into these really harsh environments. I also am a very competitive person and I love playing games. In about 2010 I was working in corporate America and due to the economy I got laid off twice. I felt really sorry for myself as I didn’t understand why this happened. I took it very personal which is something I normally never do. I saw an open casting call for “Survivor” and did it absolutely last minute. I think there was only about 48 hrs. left to submit a video. I thought that it was something I had to do and I knew it was something I could be good at. I took my phone and shot a video of me being as obnoxious as I could be. (Laughs) From there I started going through the audition process and ended up on the show.

AL: Can you tell us anything about the audition process?
CC: I can’t say too much about the audition process. There are multiple stages that you have to go through. You start with your video and go from there. I had got through on my first try but I have talked with other people who have applied a bunch of times and they didn’t even get a call. I had gone in to a couple interviews and I also did one over the phone.

AL: Is there a certain memory that sticks out for you from the show that the viewers didn’t get to see?
CC: There were parts. When they are taping these reality shows they are taking about 3 days of footage and condensing it down to a 40 minute segment. There was a lot of stuff missing. You didn’t get to see me strategizing a lot which had fans thinking I was the most clueless player on the show. There really is no way to be a clueless player and make it as far as I did. I think the editing on me was a little unjust because I am not the type of person who likes to speak ill of anyone. That’s just something I don’t do. I tried to play the game very honest and true.  What I did in the game was to not give out any information. I am a terrible liar so I would just stare at people. I really was just trying to figure out what was going on in the game and figure out my placement from there.

AL: Was having the cameras around the entire time one of the more difficult parts of the show for you?
CC: In the beginning it was really weird. There were questions like where do you go to change your clothes? Or where do you go to the bathroom? A lot of times I would just say I need to use the rest room and swim out in to the middle of the ocean.  Strategizing was difficult also with the cameras around. My name came up so many times that it made things even harder. Every time the camera was on me they thought I was strategizing. I never got a break from anyone.  You get paranoid all the time.

AL: Did you find that the producers were often trying to stage conflicts or issues between players?
CC: Of course! That’s their job as a producer. If they weren’t doing things like that then they wouldn’t be doing their job at all. I was pretty aware of what they were doing as I have some friends that are also in this industry. I think that’s a lot of the reason why my edit was so unjust because they wanted me to answer things a certain way and I didn’t do that. In the back of my mind I wanted to win a million dollars so I didn’t want to leak any information out. I also knew there was life after “Survivor”. If I didn’t win the million dollars I would need to find a way to make myself look good. Whatever I did on the show would stick with me for the rest of my life. You have to be careful of what you say. Talking badly about someone as a form of strategy I thought was just bad taste.

AL: Is “Survivor” something that you would think about ever doing again?
CC: I love the game so I would definitely consider it. I think I would play it a little differently as I would want to make some big plays and strategize more. When you play the game the first time after watching it as a fan you think you know everything thats out there. Now that I have a little bit better understanding of things I think I would definitely play the game again.

AL: What types of things are you currently working on?
CC: I am still doing some recruiting and consulting on the side. I also am doing marketing and social media for a bunch of companies and I want to get in to hosting. I studied broadcast journalism in college and have a few shows that I also wrote that I am working on. I am really excited about some of the things that are happening right now.

AL: Is writing something that you have always wanted to do?
CC: I have been a life style journalist for the last 3 years now. In about 2008 I was talking to a client and he asked me what I was doing there? I was there selling a software platform so I asked him what he meant. I gave him my job description and he told me I didn’t look like I belonged there and that I looked like I belonged on television.  I looked at him and started crying. I told him I had been doing the job for X amount of time because it’s safe. He happened to be a publisher and he told me he is always looking for really good writers. He then asked me if I would be interested in being an associate editor and write about travel and various luxury products. I took his offer and have been writing for him and some other online publications. I am writing for about 12 online publications and I have my own blog. Hosting has been a side thing lately and I have some stuff also on the web. Survivor has been a wonderful stepping to help me get acknowledged more.

Blu-ray Review “The Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season”

Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Sarah Wayne Callies, Jon Bernthal, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn
Number of discs: 4
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Anchor Bay
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Running Time: 578 minutes

Season Two: 4.5 out of 5 stars
EXtras: 5 out of 5 stars

Season two of “The Walking Dead” took the hit AMC original series to a whole new level. This season was a real focus on human survival and even though based around a zombie invasion it is really show survivalist story at its core. This show is easily one of the best shows on television and this release is easily a must-own Blu-ray. I am usually not a big proprietor of re-watching a television series but I can see myself easily revisiting this show very often. This season trumps every single aspect of the first season and really develops the story for each character throughout. It was even as brave to kill off three of the series main cast as well. This is easily one of my favorite Blu-ray releases this year. Hardcore fans of the show should pick-up the limited edition of this season that comes in a super cool screwdriver zombie case, not for the squeamish.

“The Walking Dead: The Complete Second Season” looks and sounds absolutely amazing on Blu-ray. It comes with a perfect 1080p transfer of each episode presented in the original broadcast 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The sound on this release is really the star with its stunning Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio track. It really creates the atmosphere for the show and it’s action. The season also comes with a shit load of special features. I mean a shit load. There is commentary tracks spread across all four discs, as well as numerous deleted scenes, over 10 never-before-seen featurettes and webisodes by the great Greg Nicotero.

The audio commentaries appear on the 6 of the 12 episodes this season. The first is “What Lies Ahead” with Executive Producer Glen Mazzara, Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd, Executive Producer/Writer Robert Kirkman, and Executive Producer David Alpert. “Pretty Much Dead Already” with Executive Producer Glen Mazzara, Producer Scott M. Glimple, Director Michelle Maclaren, and Editor Julius Ramsay. “Nebraska” features Executive Producer Glen Mazzara, Co-Executive Producer Evan Riley, and Actors Scott Wilson and Steven Yeun. “Judge, Jury, Executioner” includes Executive Producer Glen Mazzara, Co-Executive Producer/Special Effects Make-Up Artist/Director Greg Nicotero, Writer Angela Kang, and Actor Laurie Holden. “Beside the Dying Fire” is one of my favorites with Executive Producer/Writer Glen Mazzara, Director Ernest Dickerson, Co-Executive Producer/Special Effects Make-Up Artist Greg Nicotero, Executive Producer/Writer Robert Kirkman, and Actor Norman Reedus. I can honestly say that all these commentary are NOT TO MISSED.

There are 11 featurette covering all aspects of the show’s season. They are all a perfect length of 3-8 minutes. The first is “All the Guts Inside” which looks into the creation of the scene where the characters are ripping into a zombie’s stomach. “Live or Let Die” features cast and crew chatting about season two and its differences between the comic book and the show. “The Meat of the Music” looks into the series’ music and the work of composer Bear McCreary. “Fire on Set” focuses on the season’s final episode. “The Ink is Alive” looks deeper into the similarities and differences between comics and series. “The Sound of the Effects” focuses on the impact of the sound effects to the series. “In the Dead Water” looks into the “well zombie” sequence. “You Could Make a Killing” focuses on Media Mikes’ buddy Greg Nicotero and his contributions to the series. “She Will Fight” focuses on Andrea’s character arc this season. “The Cast on Season 2” is a wrap-up of the season with the cast discuss the show. “Extras Wardrobe” features the work of Costume Designer Eulyn Womble.

Also includes are the six internet webisodes, which follow the initial moments following the zombie outbreak. They are available with optional audio commentary with Writer/Director Greg Nicotero. There are also about 30 minutes of deleted scenes including “What Lies Ahead;” “Save the Last One;” “Secrets;” “Pretty Much Dead Already;” “Nebraska;” “Judge, Jury, Executioner;” “Better Angels;” and “Beside the Dying Fire.” They are also available with optional audio commentary with Executive Producer Glen Mazzara. I mean can you ask for anything else? This season release has got it all. I commend Anchor Bay on not cashing in for this release and just dumping the episodes on Blu-ray.  They seems to actually want to  give the fans what they want and have put a lot of time and love into this Blu-ray.

Noah Wyle reflects on Season Two of TNT’s “Falling Skies”

Noah Wyle is currently playing the role of Tom Mason on TNT’s “Falling Skies”. The series is wrapping up its second season this month, but don’t worry since it has been already renewed for a third season set for Summer 2013. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Noah again to have his reflect on season two of the show.

Michael Smith: You now have a year under your belt with this character, are you still learning more about the character and finding different ways to perfect him?
Noah Wyle: Yes I sort of feel like I am just getting started you know they aren’t going start with this guy really will extent over three or four years in this slow deconstruction of his intellectual aspects. And his becoming a little bit harder and they’re way having a big of transference with the Weaver character who starts off very militaristic where Tom’s a bit more of a humanist. And then gradually Weaver becomes a lot more vulnerable and a lot more human and Tom gets a lot more practical and a lot harder edged. We sort of continue in that vein hopefully arriving at some sort of synthesis between the two of them as the most effective way of leading this group which isn’t not traditionally military dogmatic style and not exactly touchy feely human but something in between.

MS: Is it a challenge for your trying to act or interact with skitters or any other computer generated elements in the show that aren’t there with you on the set?
NW: I hadn’t done a lot of that kind of work up until this show but it’s a muscle that the more you exercise the better at it you get. And it’s kind of 50 50 between the screen and practical we do a lot of work hack into tennis balls on the end of sticks. But then we also have a really talented puppeteer and a really great skitter suit, for the close up personal interactions with the aliens. I would say the most difficult part is when you’ve got four or five actors in the same frame all having to react to the same thing that’s not there, trying to find a line of continuity and performance can be tricky.

MS: What continues to be the most challenging aspect to you for the series for your character?
NW: It’s kind of an aggregate thing. It’s a tough show to do most of it, it takes place at night, so you go to work around 12 in the afternoon and you work till 5 in the morning. And because we wanted this year to be less focused on any single location have the group be a lot more mobile, it made for some long wet nights as were shooting in mostly practical locations and exteriors.

MS: How did the second season differ for you, compared to the first?
NW: No there were some significant differences, you know we moved the production from Toronto, Canada to Vancouver, so we had allnew crew for the most part, we only had two or three people on staff that were there in season one. We had almost a brand new writing staff certainly a new show runner, so it wasn’t like we were building on internal momentum, we sort of had to start and get to know each other all over again which gave it a different era, just sort of ambiently. And then storytelling wise I thought we really stepped up the notch you know not having to dedicate so much of our screen time to exposition, establishing the world, establishing the characters. Allowed us a little bit more freedom to be creative in flushing out these character arcs and exploring the mythology of the aliens and why they’re here and who they are and how we’d radically misunderstood the situation in season one.

Blu-ray Review “The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Second Season”

Created by: Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady
Starring: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Running Time: 558 minutes

Season Two: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

The second season of “The Big Bang Theory” really kicked this show into full gear. During the first season, we got to meet and love our science nerds Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Howard and their neighbor Penny.  When you are watching you don’t even realize that you just finished zipped through 23 episodes without moving from the couch once.  Now that this season has been released, the entire series is finally available on Blu-ray minus the fifth season, which is due in September 2012. Within this season, there are 23 very funny episodes. You can tell that Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady are really getting into a groove with this season and really deliver one of the best seasons.  The cast has really discovered their comfort zone in their characters as well. Fans of the series, should definitely pick this up.

Let’s get to the meat of this release.  Warner’s spared no expenses with this release rounding up a six-disc set consisting of two Blu-ray and four DVDs. So you can watch the series in high-def at home and bring the DVDs to leave at work. The real selling point for me though was the Ultraviolet streaming digital copy included of all 23 episodes.  I really look forward to revisiting this series on the go whenever I want from my iPhone. The 1080p video transfer is similar to the first season and is definitely sharp looking.  The audio included is an DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which is on par with the first season.  The show is all dialogue but is well-balanced and very clear.

The special features on this release though are not as impressive as the season itself. They are also only presented in standard definition.  I was also hoping for some commentary tracks included but they seem to be MIA.  “The Big Bang Theory: Physicist to the Stars”,  runs about 10 minutes and takes a look into the show’s physics consultant Dr. David Saltzberg.  “Testing the Infinite Hilarity Thesis in Relation to the Big Bang Theory” is a basic behind-the-scenes look into season 2. Lastly there is a very funny “Gag Reel” included as well, though not uncensored.

Blu-ray Review “The Big Bang Theory: The Complete First Season”

Created by: Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady
Starring: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Warner Home Video
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Running Time: 374 minutes

Season Two: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

.

“Our whole universe was in a hot dense state,
Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started. Wait…
The Earth began to cool,
The autotrophs began to drool,
Neanderthals developed tools,
We built a wall (we built the pyramids),
Math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries,
That all started with the big bang!”

If you are a fan of the show, you probably find yourself, like me singing along to this theme song…even when the show is not on. “The Big Bang Theory” is easily my favorite comedy on television…period.  I have to be honest though, I was not always a fan of this show.  I remember dating back to 2007-2008, when friends of mine insisted we watch it and I just kept thinking “A show about science…Yeah right!”  Boy, was I so wrong.  This show is so much more and only has gotten better with each season. Thankfully Warner Bros has finally released this show’s first and second seasons on high-definition Blu-ray. “The Big Bang Theory” started its Blu-ray releases with season 3 back in 2010.  So luckily now we are all caught up, until the upcoming release of season 5 in September 2012.  If you are a fan of the show, this release is very welcomed and does not disappoint.

Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady have really created one of the most unique and funniest shows on television.  It is packed with some great pop culture aspects merged with a very creative use of scientific jargon and rapid-fire dialogue (mostly courtesy of the amazing  Jim Parsons). The first season is the shortest of the series due to the Writers Guild strike of 2007, but it still is able to capture its audience.  Fall 2012 also begins the show’s sixth season and it currently shows no signs of slowing down.  In the first season, we meet Leonard and Sheldon, who are science nerds and also roommates.  When they meet their new neighbor Penny, an aspiring actress/currently waitressing at The Cheescake Factory, Leonard goes on the prowl to get her.  We also get introduced to Leonard and Sheldon’s hilarious duo of friends, Howard, who is a suave nerd and Raj, who cannot speak with women (unless he is drunk).  Overall, this season is a great kick-off to a great series.

This Blu-ray release is much more impressive over seasons 3 and 4. This is a six-disc set consisting of two Blu-ray and 4 DVDs. The real selling point for me though was the Ultraviolet streaming digital copy included of all 17 episodes. When I originally saw the first season of “The Big Bang Theory”, it was not in high definition.  So it was great revisit this show on high-def Blu-ray.  The 1080p transfer is very sharp and colorful, definitely does not disappoint.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track also is great but of course isn’t challenged much especially since the show is 99.9% dialogue. The special features though are a bit of a letdown, not some much in what is presented but by what is not included.  “Quantum Mechanics of The Big Bang Theory”, runs just short of 20 minutes and is a retrospective on the origins of the series.  Lorre and Prady and all the principal cast chat about the series. Lastly there is a “Gag Reel” includes, which had me literally crying.

Michael Cassidy reflects on the first season of TBS’ “Men at Work”

Michael Cassidy recently co-starred as Tyler in TBS’ hit new comedy series “Men at Work”.  The show is already in production for it’s second season.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Michael about the first season and what he enjoyed most.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us what you enjoyed most about playing Tyler in “Men at Work”?
Michael Cassidy: Getting to see some of Tyler’s specific preferences was really fun. When we did the pilot I didn’t know that he was going to have his own thing. The toilet episode was a lot of fun as were some of the more recent episodes. All the things that Tyler has going on are just so much fun to watch come out. Everyone on the show has enjoys making fun of me and the character.

MG: How was it working in front of a studio audience?
MC: That was definitely a favorite of mine as an actor. We have such great audiences and I don’t know if you can really have a bad audience in that type of set up. Things have been great. I did theater in the past so this was comfortable for me. It was familiar without being boring. To work on a show all week and then perform it in front of a live audience all the while not knowing how it will be received is very rewarding. It’s phenomenal.

MG: What has been a highlight for you from season 1?
MC: My two favorite episodes where the toilet episode, where Milo moves in with Tyler and also the last episode of the season. We shot so much for that last show in front of an audience. A

lot of times there are scenes that need to be pre-shot as they just can’t be done in front of a crowd. We were able to shoot so much in front of the audience on that last episode and it was all very well received. We were shocked how well the song title being played in front of the audience went over. The audience was dying on that stuff.

MG: In the episode “Decath-Lynn”, how did you not die laughing with the meeting song titles?
MC: We rehearse the scenes for about a week. By the time we are in front of the audience our professionalism takes over and we start wondering how the scene will play. Throwing something out and waiting for the audience to react is just so fun. Sometimes you do get new stuff that hasn’t been rehearsed. That stuff tends to go off like a grenade. We will hold it together while the audience laughs and then we just crack up. That’s really my favorite part of the whole deal.

MG: Were there any guest stars from this season that you were really excited to work with?
MC: I couldn’t wait to work with JK Simmons as I wanted to ask him about working with the Cohen brothers. I also loved working with Billy Baldwin. He had never done multi-camera stuff in front of an audience before so he was super stoked to be there. He was really great to talk with and once he got in front of the audience he just blew up.

MG: How does your work on this show compare to some of your previous work?
MC: This show is a different demographic. It’s definitely a male skewing show. I have never done a show like this. The other shows I have done were slightly more favoring women. I am sort of playing more of an adult on this show. I am a young professional. It’s nice playing a character that has a job. (Laughs)

MG: When does production start on season 2?
MC: We are currently in production already. We don’t know when it’s going to air but what we have heard is it will be sometime in 2013. For now I guess we will shoot a bunch of episodes and just wait and see.

Kelly Overton talks about joining Season 5 of “True Blood”

Kelly Overton is currently playing the character of Rikki in season five of HBO’s “True Blood”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Kelly about her role in the show and how was it playing a werewolf.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you got involved with working on “True Blood”?
Kelly Overton: I had gotten an audition and was extremely excited as I was a fan of these shows from the start. It was great to have the opportunity to meet Alan Ball and to be able to show him what I could bring to the show. Everything happened really fast.

MG: Can you tell us a little bit about your character?
KO: I play Rikki who is a new werewolf that is a member of the Shreveport pack. When we first meet my character she is not in the best of moods after finding out the pack master is missing.

MG: How was it joining the team going into season 5?
KO: It was amazing. There is a true sense collaboration on the show. It’s a pleasure to be working with everyone. The talent all the way across the board on the show is great.

MG: What has been the roles biggest challenge?
 KO: Probably having to play a supernatural character. Also having to work with real wolves was a bit challenging. I had never worked with animals before. The season really starts off with a bang and the ride has been amazing.

MG: What have you liked most about playing the villain side of your character?
KO: I try not to look at her as a villain. She is werewolf but she is also a person. Rikki has a really good heart and is very loyal to her pack. She is willing to risk everything for the good of the pack.

MG: What other projects do you have in the works?
KO: I am in the process of figuring out what is next for me. It is a very exciting time in my life right now. I can’t say just yet what my next project is. Mainly I am focused on finishing this season of “True Blood” strong.

Sharon Lawrence talks about new Season of “Rizzoli & Isles”

Nominated for four Emmy awards, Sharon Lawrence is probably best known for her six seasons on “NYPD Blue.” Since leaving the show she has kept busy with roles in both film and television, including the upcoming new season of “Drop Dead Diva.” This week Ms. Lawrence begins a run as Dr. Hope Martin on “Rizzoli and Isles.” Recently Ms. Lawrence graciously took time out to talk with Media Mikes about her new role as well as her strong support for the Women in Film movement.

MIKE SMITH: Can you tell us about your character on “Rizzoli and Isles?”
SHARON LAWRENCE: I play Dr. Hope Martin, Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander) birth mother, who she believed was long lost and had given her up from birth. But by the time my character arrives at the medical examiner’s office after being called in to consult on a case, the audience is aware that the mother didn’t give her up at birth but had thought the baby had died. This character is also a scientist and she shares the same passion for a particular type of forensics. Maura is the first to know that this woman working alongside her in the lab is the mother she has always wondered about and longed for. But Hope is not aware. So it’s a very interesting dynamic to play. And it’s played so masterfully by Sasha Alexander, who had to play such a complex balance of awareness and longing and joy and pain. And to unlocking the secret that Hope is the key to understanding who she is.

MS: How did you get involved with the show? Did they come to you because they felt you were the right actress for the part? Were you a fan of the show before hand?
SL: Yes to both! (laughs)

MS: I have a question that I also asked Angie Harmon, who of course appeared on “Law and Order.” After having appeared for six seasons on one of the greatest television shows ever, “NYPD Blue,” does that effect your choices as an actress when you’re asked to do television?
SL: Well I certainly agree with you that it was one of the greatest television shows ever made and it certainly stands the test of time. I just saw an episode recently. But I’m a different person now. I could never base my choices and things that are decades in the past. I play different things now. I have different wisdoms. I have different experiences. I have a different role to fill in any story. And I’m so gratified that now I get to play mothers to these remarkable women. Whether it’s to Sasha on “Rizzoli and Isles” or on “Drop Dead Diva,” a delightful show that has a magic realism about it. I’m really fortunate that my career is not held in the past or held to one particular type of character or stage in a woman’s life. And what’s also very exciting is that I’ve been working with Women in Film for the past ten years. It’s a group that’s not just for networking but for promoting women in the executive and creative capacity of our business. And now I see so many women that are creating the material and telling the stories from their perspective. Whether it’s as show runners or writers or as directors, it’s nice to see that these women are building careers and not just one-offs. Knowing that there are female executives at networks like TNT and Lifetime that understand the complexity that we expect to see in our stories and that really resonate with us. So yes, “NYPD Blue” was glorious and these stories that we’re telling now are very exciting too.

MS: Since you mentioned Women in Film, do you have any interest in going behind the camera? I know you’ve produced in the past but do you want to take on more, perhaps as a director?
SL: I’m developing a movie about the breast cancer survivors who, just recently, after 20 years together as the first Dragon Boat racing team, was invited to be part of the Queen’s flotilla for the Jubilee. It’s an exciting process to get to interview those women and doctors and to prove that women not only can survive a diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer but grow stronger.

MS: Besides “Rizzoli and Isles,” what else do you have coming up?
SL: “Drop Dead Diva” begins in August and I’m also in a feature film called “The Middle of Nowhere,” which just won the Best Director Award at Sundance, which was a first for an African-American director. I’m also in a feature with Kathleen Turner called “The Perfect Family.” It’s currently out on DVD. And again, it’s all female writers, director and producers. I’m happy to help support them.

 

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“Aqua Teen Hunger Force” co-creator Matt Maiellaro chats about new season

Matt Maiellaro is the co-creator of “Aqua Teen Hunger Force”, titled “Aqua Something You Know Whatever” this season.  Matt was also the producer/writer on such Adult Swim shows as “Space Ghost Coast to Ghost”, Sealab 2021 and “12 Oz. Mouse”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Matt about the new season and what we can expect.

Mike Gencarelli:
Tell us about the title change for this season to “Aqua Something You Know Whatever”?
Matt Maiellaro: We had four baskets filled with pieces of paper with one word on them. We just reached into each basket and whatever we picked was going to be the title [laughs]. Our ratings have been so incredibly high that we’ve been embarassing the other shows. So we decided to change the title of the show and no one will be able to find it, which would cause our ratings to drop. It didn’t work though, we are still doing good. People are seeking us out despite the title change [laughs].

MG: What we can expect from this season of show?
MM: Just making fun of everybody’s stuff [laughs]. Seth MacFarlane was going to re-imagine “The Flintstones” and we did a whole parody on that. We did a parody of “Titus Maxium”, because we love the show. We are spoofing “The Human Centipede”. We are kind of all over the map but we they are really good this year. It is the first time we reached out and messed with other peoples material but we are having fun with it.

MG: After 100 episodes, what did you find was your biggest challenge to overcome this season?
MM: There is no challenge. This show is so easy to make. Well, the biggest challenge is actually what hotel I am going to stay at when I fly into Atlanta to meet with Dave (Willis) [laughs]. That is pretty much it.

MG: What is your favorite episode this season?
MM: Shoot man, everyone is so good. We got to work with Queensryche and Mastadon, so that was pretty cool. That is a hard call though honestly.

MG: What has been your favorite voice to do for the show to date?
MM: Well, doing Err is pretty fun because he is just drunk and yells stuff. He has really bad ideas. In fact when we write a show we don’t even write Err in the script. I just go in and hell stuff out. I haven’t done the Cybernetic Ghost in a while. My fee has gone up enormously for that character, since it really hurts my throat [laughs].

MG: What can we expect from the future of the series?
MM: We are just going to continue making the thing till America realizes that they don’t want to watch it anymore. We are digging it.

MG: Are you shocked that it has been on for so long?
MM: I do, when I tell someone about it and they go “Shit, 12 years?!” I am just glad we are still at it. It is fun to do. Whatever makes Dave and I laugh we just do it and it’s been successful. It is one of the longest running shows…I mean we beat “M.A.S.H” [laughs].

MG: Any update on the second “Aqua” movie “Death Fighter”?
MM: It is all written and great. We are just trying to convince the network do it again. The first one was such a cash cow for them, not just box office but also ad sales in the movie. So it is kind of a no-brainer. So hopefully one day.

MG: What else do you have planned upcoming?
MM: I have a pilot with Disney XD that is real kid friendly. My show is broke the mold with pilots, it is went really well. So right now it is testing and it is called “Shred Force”. So keep an eye out hopefully.

Blu-ray Review “Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season One”

Starring: Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, LeVar Burton, Marina Spirtis
Number of discs: 6
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distributed by: Paramount Home Entertainment
Release Date: July 24, 2012
Running Time: 1184 minutes

Season One: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars

I have to first admit that I am new to the whole “Star Trek” universe. Earlier this year, I have completed watching the Original Series, the Animated Series and currently I am halfway through Season Six of “The Next Generation”. Let me tell you I am completely immersed in this series and I feel like I have been living and breathing “Star Trek” over the last few months. I have purchased shirts, iPhone cases and even baby onesies to only enhance my trek into becoming a full on “Trekkie”. I feel that my review would actually provide a unique perspective to this release, especially since I am not your typical hardcore fan. When I recently watched the first season of “Star Trek: The Next Generation”, courtesy of Netflix, I couldn’t help by thinking how terrible this series looked and it really needed an HD upgrade bad! Well, all of our prayers have been answered because this release brings the first season re-mastered beautifully in high-definition and just in time for the show’s 25th anniversary.

Firstly, when they say that this season has been restored, they are not saying that lightly. This show looks like it was ran through the cleaners and it is super pristine with proven before/after results. It is also is presented in the original 4:3 ratio, which should be a must for fans. Those who think that it would be better widescreen should know that this show was specifically shot for full screen ratio and wouldn’t even be able to be converted to widescreen without distorting the picture. Even though the first season isn’t the most highly regarded in the series it is still a great start and only a sample of what we can expect for future seasons. One thing that I was hoping for though was a better case presentation, the season’s 25 episodes are spread out among six discs delivered in a slim BD case with a slipcover. I liked “The Original Series” Blu-ray packaging way more than this but nonetheless fans of “Star Trek” couldn’t have asked for a better high definition jump to warp speed for this classic sci-fi series.

Let’s talk a little bit about the video presentation for season one of “The Next Generation”. These episodes haven’t been just remastered from the existing film masters, they actually went back to the original 35mm camera negatives and redone all the visual effects, all in high definition. The special effects are completely updated and revised, sort of what Lucas did with the “Star Wars” trilogy. The 1080p transfers of each episode are extremely sharp and are very impressive, summing up a really excellent restoration. There are two audio tracks included on this release. There is a mind-blowing DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track and a retro Dolby Digital 2.0 track as well. Personally the 7.1 track completely trumps the 2.0 track, the clarity of the sound is super clear and also completely restored. You honestly feel like the action is happening all around you and you are flying through space with the USS Enterprise.

Click play to watch the incredible side-by-side look at the transformation of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” into high-definition.

This release also includes a bunch of exclusive special features including never-before-seen archival footage, many brand new interviews and much more! Honestly the special features are worth the purchase alone for any true “Star Trek” fan. The extras are split over the 1st and 6th discs. Disc 1 starts off with a promo for Season Two of “The Next Generation” on Blu-ray, which I was very pleased to see that they are planning these seasons back-to-back. It is even more exciting since it revealed that it will contain a brand new, high definition 75-minute roundtable with the cast of “The Next Generation”. You can really tell that they are looking to please their series fans and not just cash in on a high-def release. There is the retro 1987 series introduction trailer, a season one vintage promo, three more launch promos as well as three episode promos. The real draw for this disc though is a brand-new 25-minute documentary titled “Energized: Taking The Next Generation to the Next Level”, which focusing on the remastering process and how they went to the original camera negatives and restored the visual effects in HD.

The rest of the special features are included on disc six, mostly vintage extras from past DVD releases but still worth checking out. Included are four production featurettes, “The Beginning”, “Selected Cast and Crew Analysis”, “The Making of a Legend” and “Memorable Missions”. It covers quite a bit of ground. Next up is a great three-part 95-minute documentary called “Stardate Revisited: The Origin of Star Trek: The Next Generation.” It provides some really comprehensive information about the series. The first part is called “Inception” , the second is “Launch” and last is “The Continuing Mission”. Don’t miss this for sure! Lastly there is a great 8-minute gag reel. “Star Trek: TNG” has always had a great sense of humor and this shows it. There is also another teaser for season two on this disc as well. I really am looking forward to what they are planning next, especially after this already amazing release.

DVD Review “Dead Season”

Directed by: Adam Deyoe
Starring: James C. Burns, Scott Peat, Marissa Merrill, Corsica Wilson
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Distributed by: Image Entertainment
Release Date: July 31, 2012
Running Time: 88 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

When it comes to zombie films, there are definitely no shortage. In fact there is almost a new one every month. “Dead Season” stays above the rest and delivers some great effects, gore and entertaining story. It is a film that is not afraid to get its hands dirty and really dive deep into the zombie genre and delivers a kick-ass fun time. It is low-budget but looks the complete opposite. Fans of the horror genre should consider giving this latest zombie entry a try. You should be pleasantly surprised for sure.

When the zombies apocalypse breaking out, we follow two survivors who are looking to flee the chaos and make their way to a remote island and looking to start a new life. Of course once they make it to the island there are already hordes of the flesh-hungry undead and other people already on the island. They are forced to join forces with the island group in order to survive and escape from the zombies with their lives.

Image Entertainment has been releasing some pretty great titles in the horror genre recently after this last months “Some Guy Who Kills People”. I wish they would bring these films to the Blu-ray format though. There are some decent special features included on this DVD at least. There is a Making of featurette. As well as a few deleted scenes and outtakes included. Lastly there is a trailer included for the film. I commend Adam Deyoe for taking zombie and without recreating the wheel delivering an great addition to this genre.