Blu-ray Review “The Sopranos: The Complete Series”

Number of discs: 28
Starring: James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico, Dominic Chianese
Creator: David Chase
Studio: HBO Studios
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Rated TV-MA
Running Time: 4680 minutes

Series: 5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Every once in a while, a show comes along that changed television. “The Sopranos” was one of those shows. It built HBO to what it is today. The series is respected as one of the greatest television series of all time…and I easily agree. I remember dating back to 1999 watching the very first episode and being completely hooked from the start. During that time, I was hooked on mobster films like “Casino” and “Goodfellas” (in fact this series shares 27 actors with the 1990 Martin Scorsese gangster film), so this show was an epic TV version of those films. The cast is just simply outstanding including  James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico and numerous others. I miss this show and I miss James Gandolfini but at least now we have the complete series available in one collection on Blu-ray.

Official Premise: For six seasons, fans have devotedly watched Tony Sopranos deal with the difficulties of balancing his home life with the criminal organization he leads. Audiences everywhere tuned in to see the mob, the food, the family, and Catch up on, or re-watch your favorite episodes of the Sopranos with The Sopranos: The Complete Series DVD Set. For six seasons, fans devotedly watched Tony Soprano deal with the difficulties of balancing his home life with the criminal organization he leads for a very good reason: groundbreaking dramatic storylines. Audiences everywhere tuned in to see the mob, the food, the family, and who was next to get whacked. Celebrate the show that Vanity Fair called, “the greatest show in TV history”. Between 1999 and 2007, The Sopranos was honored with no less than 21 Emmy Awards and 111 Emmy nominations!

This 28-disc Blu-ray release features all 6 seasons from this series, adding up to 86 episodes. The seasons break down as follows: Discs 1-4: The Complete First Season, Discs 5-8: The Complete Second Season, Discs 9-12: The Complete Third Season, Discs 13-16: The Complete Fourth Season, Discs 17-20: The Complete Fifth Season, Discs 21-24: Season Six, Part 1, Discs 25-27: Season Six, Part 2 and Discs 8: Exclusive Bonus Features. HBO is releasing this Complete Series was a combo pack with a Blu-ray + Digital HD copy included. The 1080p transfers are good from season one to great by the end of the sixth season. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is a bit more balanced and sounds great throughout the entire series.

The special features are great even though alot of the content is ported over the previous DVD releases. There are 25 audio commentaries, which sounds amazing but some of good and some are not. I picked a few hear and there on some of my favorites and I realized that very quickly. Other than that there are a bunch of rather short featurettes spread across each of the 27 discs. Some of the highlight extras ported over is a nearly 80 minute interview with creator David Chase by Peter Bogdonavich, which discusses the series in-depth. There is also a decent featurette focusing around “The Music of The Sopranos” with David Chase, Steven Van Zandt and Dominic Chianese.

The main draw for the special features is easily the 28th disc, which offers all new high definition bonus content, including a 46-minute retrospective, two round table discussions between David Chase and members of his cast and crew, a 2-part interview with Chase, and deleted scenes for all 6 seasons of the series. This Blu-ray exclusive content runs about three hours and is worth the purchase of the release itself. “Defining a Television Landmark” is a 45 minute look into the effect this series had a television. “Supper with The Sopranos” is a 75 minute dinner conversation with David Chase and various guests. This is easily the best special feature on the entire release. Lastly there are over 20 minutes of lost scenes from each season.

 

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DVD Review “The Wonder Years: The Complete Series”

Growing up in the 80’s, one of the highlights for me on television was always “The Wonder Years”. The cast was about the same age as me when the show aired, so I was able to relate to a lot of the issues that the series presented. This complete series has never before been released on DVD in its entirety. StarVista Entertainment/Time Life is presenting this as a 26-disc collector’s set featuring all 115 episodes housed in a replica metal locker. This is literally one of the best DVD presentations that I have honestly ever seen for a series. It is also jam-packed with over 23 hours of specially-produced bonus programming including featurettes, an incredible cast reunion 16 years in the making and never-before-seen outtakes. If you are looking to revisit the Arnold family and take a trip down memory lane, this is a wonderful release and I highly recommend it. Giving this a 5 out of 5 stars is not even nearly enough to give it the respect that it deserves.

Official Premise: It was 1968 — the year of Nixon and space walks and Mod Squad and Vietnam. Enter Kevin Arnold (Savage), a sixth grader at Kennedy Junior High School. Set against the suburban backdrop of Anytown, USA, Kevin sought to minimize his teenage angst while dealing with an older, noogie-happy brother Wayne (Jason Hervey), a rebellious sister, Karen (Olivia d’Abo), distant, workaholic father, Jack (Dan Lauria) and doting housewife mother, Norma (Alley Mills). Add to the mix Paul Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano), his nerdy, allergy-riddled best friend, a potential love interest in winsome girl-next-door Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar) and narration by an older, wiser, wittier Kevin (voiced by Daniel Stern) to add perspective to the nostalgia, and you have the perfect recipe for TV greatness.

One of the biggest aspects that I remember from this series was the music. This show introduced me to numerous songs and bands in my early years. What is amazing to find out is that the team at StarVista Entertainment/Time Life went above and beyond to ensure that the series was delivered in its most available entirety. This release received over 400 clearances and includes near 300 songs from many iconic artists such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Simon & Garfunkel, Jimi Hendrix, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and The Rolling Stones, plus Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Many More!  I am happy that people behind this release were able to put in the time and effort to deliver this series with all this great music still included. That is definitely not an easy (and cheap) task to deliver. They could have easy just cut these songs and saved a butt load of money but they decided to take this route

When I hear certain songs like “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)” by The Byrds, “Louie Louie” by The Kingsmen, “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream, Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” The Trogg’s “Wild Thing,” “Good Vibrations” and “Wouldn’t it Be Nice” by The Beach Boys, “My Girl” by The Temptations, I am literally transported back to my parents house and find myself sitting in front of the TV watching this show. Of course let’s not forget the show’s timeless theme song “With a Little Help from My Friends” by Joe Cocker. This song is just so amazing and timeless is really the best way to describe it…another 100 years in the future it will still be just as effective and hopefully still synonymous with this show.

Amongst the over 23 hours of bonus features, some of the new features included are a commentary track on the first kiss outtakes by Fred (Savage) and Danica (McKellar) on all six takes of the legendary first kiss from Pilot episode, never before available. “That’s a Wrap! Mark B. Perry’s Farewell Set Tour Season 5” features Writer/Producer Mark B. Perry’s home video set tour from the end of his final season on the show, along with new commentary from him. “From the Vault: Alley Mills and Bob Brush Letters” features Alley Mills reading her emotional, written conversation with Executive Producer Bob Brush about the show’s finale. The one-hour finale as it was originally aired on ABC on May 12, 1993, including a deleted scene not included in the half-hour broadcasts of the final two episodes.

There are ten brand-new featurettes inclluding”With A Little Help From My Friends: The Early Days of The Wonder Years, “The Times They Are A-Changin'”: The Era, “My Generation”: The Kids Grow Up, “When A Man Loves A Woman”: Kevin & Winnie Forever, “Bookends”: Kevin & Paul, “A Family Affair”: At Home With The Arnolds, “”I Love You For Sentimental Reasons”: Fan-Favorite Episodes, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”: The Wonder Years’ Love Stories, “ABC”: Teachers That Made A Difference and “Both Sides Now”: The Music That Made The Moments. My favorite was the 2014 Los Angeles cast reunion, featuring all key cast together for the first time in 16 years.

There are also extensive individual interviews with all seven key cast members (Fred Savage, Danica McKellar, Josh Saviano, Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, Olivia d’Abo and Jason Hervey), as well as with notable actors featured as guest stars or in recurring roles, such as David Schwimmer, Ben Stein, Bob Picardo and Seth Green; plus, in-depth interviews with narrator Daniel Stern, Neal Marlens, Carol Black, Bob Brush and other production personnel. You can tell that the people that put together this release were fans of the show themselves. This is full of such amazing fan service that it will leave everyone satisfied.

If you want to purchase this Complete Series DVD set, click here. Also available now is the complete first season DVD, click here to buy. 

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Ten-Four! “Reno 911!” Complete Uncensored Series Releases on DVD on November 4th

Bonus Content Includes Audio Commentary; Alternate, Extended and Deleted Scenes; Outtakes and Featurettes

Currently Available for Pre-Order on Amazon.com

NEW YORK, October 14, 2014 – Beloved cult comedy “RENO 911!” will now be available to take home when the complete uncensored series is released on DVD on Tuesday, November 4 by Comedy Central Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution. Available at Best Buy and major retailers nationwide, the discs are currently available for pre-order on Amazon.com.

A critically acclaimed, hit series which ran for six seasons, “Reno 911!” let viewers ride shotgun with the courageous men and women of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department as they lay down the law and put their lives on the line. Whether the Deputies are busting down the doors of a meth lab or busting “moves” at a local nightspot, the Reno 911! camera doesn’t blink.

Bonus features include audio commentary on 32 episodes; over an hour of alternate, extended and deleted scenes; almost two hours of outtakes; and featurettes “Cops Psychology: Inside the minds of Reno’s Deputies” and “Profiles in Valor.”\

The half-hour ensemble comedy was created by and stars Robert Ben Garant,Kerri Kenney-Silver and Thomas Lennon, and also features Carlos Alazraqui, Mary Birdsong, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Niecy Nash and Cedric Yarbrough. Throughout the 6-season run, guest stars included Aziz Ansari, Michael Ian Black, Wayne Brady, Andrew Daly, Charlie Day, Danny DeVito, Nat Faxon, Lou Ferrigno, Zach Galifianakis, Seth Green, Chelsea Handler, Jonah Hill, Cheryl Hines, Rob Huebel, Keegan-Michael Key, David Koechner, Nick Kroll, Lorenzo Lamas, Lisa Lampanelli, Natasha Leggero, George Lopez, Joe Lo Truglio, Jane Lynch, Ken Marino, Heather McDonald, Jerry Minor, Arden Myrin, Oscar Nuñez, Patton Oswalt, Jordan Peele, Brian Posehn, Jim Rash, Paul Reubens, Craig Robinson, Paul Rudd, Paul Scheer, Nick Swardson, Aisha Tyler, David Wain, Matt Walsh and Rainn Wilson.

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DVD Reviews “Afterlife: Series 1 & 2”

Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Lesley Sharp
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: May 13, 2014 / October 7, 2014
Run Time: 282 / 370 minutes

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

Hold on a sec…did BBC just release a series called “Afterlife” starring “The Walking Dead” star Andrew Lincoln?? Wait a sec, this aired back in 2005? This is honestly, the first time that I am hearing about this series. But BBC Home Entertainment is smart for cashing in on the ridiculous success of “The Walking Dead” and releasing the series 1 and series 2 of this psychological thriller. It also co-stars the brilliant Lesley Sharp (“The Full Monty”). This show didn’t last very long on TV and only aired in the United Kingdom when it did, so this is the first time it is crossing over the pond. If you dig Lincoln, this is a pretty solid show. I really enjoyed it and I wish I would have heard back it sooner. Luckily though, the complete series is available and I recommend it for any “The Walking Dead” fan.

Series 1 Official Premise: A medium who has been able to see spirits since she was a child, Alison appears to be the real deal- unable to avoid the dead who seek her aid, she is driven to resolve relationships torn apart by death. Science-minded Robert finds it hard to change his deeply rooted assumptions that such paranormal activity is impossible. When Alison’s readings provoke an adverse reaction in one of Robert’s own pupils, he begins to observe her with the intention of turning his study into a book. Choosing to believe that Alison is imagining her experiences, Robert finds himself caught up as Alison continuously puts herself at risk in order to comfort both the living and the dead… until she sets her sights on helping Robert come to terms with his son’s tragic death.

Series 2 Official Premise: A chilling psychological drama that enters the world of the dead to answer questions about the living. In the terrifying and emotional climax to the first series, Alison (Lesley Sharp, Scott & Bailey) collapsed and nearly died during a séance in which she was inhabited by the spirit of Robert’s (Andrew Lincoln, The Walking Dead) dead son. Now on the road to recovery, Alison has to accept that the spirits she has seen since she was a child will never leave her. Determined that her life should not be dictated by the dead, she wants to use her gift to help the living. Robert, meanwhile, is in turmoil – once a total skeptic, his beliefs have been shaken by what he witnessed at the séance. He struggles to make sense of his life and turns to Alison for answers… but she is jolted out of her own new-found security by a terrifying presence. For the first time in her life she is being haunted by a spirit from her own past, a ghost she must learn to confront if she is to hold onto her sanity.

The series is only being released on DVD from BBC Home Entertainment. I would have loved to see a Blu-ray release but this show barely looks good on DVD. It is quite grainy throughout. The first series has audio commentary tracks on episodes 1 and 6 with stars Andrew Lincoln and Lesley Sharp, the series creator, Stephen Volk and producer, Murray Ferguson. I like that Lincoln is actually involved here but I am not sure when it was recorded and if it was before his fandom from “The Walking Dead”. The second series only comes with a 45 minutes behind-the-scenes features, which is very thorough and dives into the series’ production.

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DVD Review “My Little Pony: The Complete Original Series”

Number of discs: 4
Rated: G (General Audience)
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: September 30, 2014
Run Time: 720 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Having a two year old daughter, there is no shortage of “My Little Pony” in my life. Usually it is the new series “Friendship is Magic” that is currently airing on Hub TV. Thanks to Shout Kids!, my wife and I are able to introduce our daughter to the original “My Little Pony” series from the 80’s that we grew up with. It is available for the first time ever on DVD in its entirety. If you loved “My Little Pony” as a kid and looking for a little nostalgia, this is the DVD set to do it with!

Official Premise: You’re invited to return to Ponyland, the home of all your favorite classic Little Ponies, including the Earth Ponies, Unicorns, Pegasus Ponies, Flutter Ponies, Sea Ponies, Baby Sea Ponies, their human friends Megan, Danny and Molly and, of course, their dragon friend, Spike! Together, they live a life of games, songs and harmony with allies like the Bushwoolies and Furbobs. But, occasionally, there are problems in Ponyland and the Little Ponies of Paradise Estate must face evil witches, goblins, Stone Backs, Grundles and more! Now you can come join in the fun and adventure with My Little Pony: The Complete Series!

This complete series includes all 65 episodes! These episodes look plain and simple…OLD. The colors are faded and they are definitely not restored at all. So it is not perfection but at least we still get the episodes all together. Disc 1 includes the following episodes: “The End Of Flutter Valley, Part 1-10”; “The Ghost Of Paradise Estate, Part 1-4”; “The Great Rainbow Caper” & “The Glass Princess, Part 1-3”. Disc 2 includes “The Glass Princess, Part 4”; “Pony Puppy”; “Bright Lights, Part 1-4”; “Sweet Stuff And The Treasure Hunt”; “The Return Of Tambelon, Part 1-4”; “Little Piece Of Magic” & “The Magic Coins, Part 1-4”

Disc 3 includes the following episodes: “Mish Mash Melee”; “Woe Is Me, Part 1-2”; “Fugitive Flowers, Part 1-2”; “Would Be Dragonslayer”; “Baby, It’s Cold Outside, Part 1-2”; “Crunch The Rockdog, Part 1-2”; “The Revolt Of Paradise Estate, Part 1-2” & “Through The Door, Part 1-2”. Disc 4 includes “Rescue From Midnight Castle, Part 1-2”; “The Quest Of The Princess Ponies, Part 1-4”; “Spike’s Search”; “The Golden Horseshoes, Part 1-2”, “Flight To Cloud Castle, Part 1-2”; “The Ice Cream Wars”; “Somnambula, Part 1-2”; “The Prince And The Ponies” & “Escape From Catrina, Part 1-2”. There are no additional special features on this release.

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Win a DVD of “Denver The Last Dinosaur: Complete Series” [ENDED]

To celebrate the release of the 80’s cartoon “Denver The Last Dinosaur”, Media Mikes is excited to giveaway one (1) copy of the Complete Series on DVD to our readers. If you would like to enter for your chance to win one of this prize, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with your favorite 80’s cartoon. This giveaway will remain open until October 3rd at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to all of our Media Mikes readers worldwide. One entry per person, per household. All other entries will be considered invalid. Media Mikes will randomly select winners. Winners will be alerted via email.

Fun for the whole family, the “Denver the Last Dinosaur” Complete Series DVD is packed with bonus features, including interviews with Creative Director Jeremy Corray, image galleries and seven additional episodes of various classic cartoons, including “Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs,” making it the perfect set for fans, collectors and 80s cartoon enthusiasts.

“Denver the Last Dinosaur” revolves around the adventures of the last dinosaur, Denver, a Corythosaurus who has been released from his egg by a group of multicultural modern California teens: Jeremy, Mario, Shades, Wally and Casey, along with tag-along older sister, Heather. The kids teach Denver the finer points of skateboarding and other pastimes while protecting him from concert promoter Morton Fizzback who wants to use the dinosaur to make money.

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Blu-ray Review “Spartacus: The Complete Series (Limited Edition)”

Actors: Liam McIntyre, Andy Whitfield, Manu Bennett, Lucy Lawless, Peter Mensah
Directors: Joshua Donen, Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, Steven S. DeKnight
Number of discs: 13
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Run Time: 2136 minutes

Series: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 5 out of 5 stars

“Spartacus” is a show that I never got to watch during its original run since I was not a subscriber to Starz. I caught the show after it was completed. The entire series can be easily summed up in three words: stylish, sexy, and brutal. The series started off strong with “Blood and Sand”, then had a hard turn with the loss of it’s star Andy Whitfield due to cancer but bounced back with its prequel series “Gods of the Arena” and then got back on track with the official second season “Vengeance” and finished off strongest with “War of the Damned”. I love a show that can see its potential and then end while it is on top. This was a strong show and Anchor Bay has re-released every season of the hit Starz TV show into a very impressive collectible bundle.

Official Premise: Spartacus tells the classic tale of the Republic’s most infamous rebel, who comes alive in the series’ first season, Blood and Sand. Then comes Gods of the Arena, a prequel that explores a deadly history before the arrival of Spartacus, and the death he now carries with him. The second season, Vengeance, continues to follow Spartacus as he is faced with a choice to either satisfy his personal need for vengeance, or make the sacrifices necessary to keep his growing army from breaking apart at the seams. Finally, in War of the Damned, Spartacus carves his name into history as he plots to avenge his wife’s death and leads Batiatus’ slaves in a bloody uprising that will not be forgotten or equaled. All four seasons are currently available on Blu-ray.

The series features an all-star cast with Andy Whitfield getting his star-making title role for first season. Liam McIntyre ended up taking over as Spartacus for Seasons two and three after his passing. Other notable cast in the series includes John Hannah (“The Mummy”, “Four Weddings and A Funeral”), Peter Mensah (“300”, “The Incredible Hulk”), Manu Bennett (“30 Days of Night”), Nick E. Tarabay (TV’s “Crash”), Dustin Clare (“Underbelly”), Dan Feuerriegel (“Home and Away”), Simon Merrells (“The Wolfman”), Todd Lasance (“Cloudstreet”), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (“FlashForward”) and the scene-stealer and still smoking hot Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess”, “Parks and Recreation”).

This Limited Edition release includes the 13 discs within a very detailed (and quite graphic) statue inside of its base. Anchor Bay is known for their stunning “Limited Edition” releases like the outstanding sets from “The Walking Dead” series. It is great to see a series like this get this kind of attention and respect. The set itself besides the pretty collectible comes with some new extras including three commentaries tracks from season one and an exclusive bonus disc with several featurettes as well as including all the old special features as well. Along with the Blu-ray discs, Anchor Bay really sweetened the deal including the entire series with UltraViolet Digital HD copies.

“Spartacus: The Complete Series” includes each episode with stunning 1080p transfers backed with even better Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround tracks. They look and sound outstanding throughout the entire series and get with each season. The new special features include Audio Commentaries on episode “Legends” with Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, Executive Producer Rob Tapert, and Actors Viva Bianca and Lucy Lawless. “Great and Unfortunate Things” features with Executive Producer Rob Tapert and Actors John Hannah and Lucy Lawless. Last one is on “Mark of the Brotherhood” with Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Manu Bennett, Viva Bianca, and Lucy Lawless.

“Spartacus Fan Favorites with Liam McIntyre” features the actor giving out his top ten fan-favorite moments from the series. “Scoring a Hit: Composer Joseph LoDuca” has the composer discussing his work on the show, briefly. “An Eye Full: Roger Murray” is a chat with the series’ prosthetic & prop supervisor, Roger Murray, and its executive visual effects supervisor, Charlie McClellan. “Spartacus: Paul Grinder” features the series’ 2nd unit director discussing the show. Lastly, “The Last Word: John Hannah” features the actor talking about the show. So even though these aren’t outstanding new extras, Anchor Bay could have just packaged this seasons together and resold them with nothing new, so I give them an A for effort here.

No on to the rest of the special features for each of the seasons. First up is “Spartacus: Blood and Sand – The Complete First Season”, which comes with a ton of extras. There are extended versions of “The Red Serpent” and “Sacramentum Gladiatorium” and commentary tracks for “The Red Serpent” with Director Rick Jacobson, Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Executive Producers Rob Tapert and Joshua Donen, “Sacramentum Gladiatorium” with Director Rick Jacobson, Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Executive Producer Rob Tapert and “The Thing in the Pit” with Director Jesse Warn and Actor Andy Whitfield.

There is an enhanced version of Shadow Games, as well as an extended versions of “Delicate Things and Mark of the Brotherhood”. There are also Audio commentaries with Director Michael Hurst and Actors Andy Whitfield and Lucy Lawless discussing Shadow Games and Director Rick Jacobson, Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Actor Erin Cummings for the episode “Delicate Things”. “Whore” and “Party Favors” also hae tracks with Actors Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless, and Viva Bianca; and Revelations with Writer Brent Fletcher, Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, and Actor Nick E. Taraby. There is a commentary track along with the enhanced episode” Kill Them All” with Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Peter Mensah and Katrina Law. There is a collection of nine featurettes going behind-the-scenes into season.

“Spartacus: Gods of the Arena” is jam-packed as well with great extras. There are Audio Commentaries track with Executive Producer Robert Tapert, Director Jesse Warn, Production Designer Iain Aitken, and Costume Designer Barbara Darragh for “Past Transgressions, which is also an Extended Version; Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Dustin Clare, Peter Mensah, and Maime Murray for “Missio;” Robert Tapert, Director Michael Hurst, and Actor Lucy Lawless chat about the Extended Version of “Paterfamilias;” Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Dustin Clare, Lucy Lawless, and Kaime Murray chat about the Extended Version of “Beneath the Mask”;” Steven S. DeKnight, Writer Brent Fletcher, and Actors John Hannah and Lucy Lawless focus on the Extended Version of “Reckoning” and lastly, Steven S. DeKnight, Director Rick Jacobson, and Actor Peter Mensah commentate on the Extended Version of “The Bitter End”

“3D “Ring of Fire” Battle Sequence” is a collection of the seasons key scenes presented in 3D, which is totally rad! “Starz Studios: Gods of the Arena” features the cast/crew discussing the series. “Weapons of Mass Disruption” is a quick chat with Property Master Rob Bavin chatting about the seasons weapons. “Battle Royale: Anatomy of a Scene” looks into the boot camp the actors underwent. “On Set with Lucy Lawless” takes us around with the actress. “10 Easy Steps to Dismemberment” is a collection of the seasons best kills. “Post Production: The Final Execution” shows the work done to the show after shooting. “Enter the Arena: Production Design” looks at set design and CG work. “Dressed to Kill” is an interview with Costume Designer Barbara Darragh and cast. Lastly there is a Convention Panel highlight with Stephen S. DeKnight, Lucy Lawless, John Hannah, and Vivia Bianca from a Comic-Con and a collection of Arena Bloopers.

“Spartacus: Vengeance – The Complete Second Season” includes audio commentaries on all but two of the season’s episodes. “Fugitivus” features Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Viva Bianca, Lucy Lawless, and Liam McIntyre on the Extended Version. “A Place in This World” features Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Lucy Lawless, Liam McIntyre and Peter Mensah on the Extended Version. “The Greater Good” features Robert Tapert and Actors Lucy Lawless and Craig Parker. “Empty Hands” has Robert Tapert, Director Mark Beesley, VFX Art Director Peter Baustaedter and Actor Viva Bianca talking about the Extended Version.

The Extended Version of “Libertus” features Rick Jacobson and Actor Liam McIntyre. “Chosen Path” has Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Viva Bianca, Lucy Lawless, and Nick Tarabay talking about the Extended Version. “Sacramentum”, also the Extended Version features Robert Tapert, Jesse Warn, and Actor Dustin Clare. The last commentary track is on the Extended Version of “Wrath of the Gods” with Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Viva Bianca, Lucy Lawless, and Liam McIntyre. This collection of commentary tracks are outstanding if you are a fan of this series.

“Starz Studios – Spartacus: Vengeance” is an extended look into the season. “The Making of Spartacus: Vengeance” takes a quick look into the shows production. “Behind the Camera: Directing the Rebellion” gives a glimpse into the show behind-the-scenes from direction to digital effects. “On Set with Liam McIntyre” folllows around the actor while getting into character. “Burning Down the House: The VFX of Episode 205” is a chat with VFX Supervisor Charlie McClellan on the season’s critical scenes. “The Legend of Spartacus” talks with Historians Aaron Irvin and Jeffrey Stevens discussing the real history behind the series. “Famous Last Words” gets some final word from characters that were killed off. Lastly there are Bloopers and a teaser included.

The last season of the show “Spartacus: War of the Damned – The Complete Third Season” includes sex featurettes, ten commentary tracks, and extended versions of each episode. There audio Commentaries include Robert Tapert, Mark Beesley, and Chloe Smith for “Enemies of Rome;” Stephen S. DeKnight and Actors Manu Bennett, Liam McIntyre, and Simon Merrells for “Wolves at the Gate;” Stephen S. DeKnight and Actors Dustin Clare, Anna Hutchinson, and Todd Lasance for “Men of Honor;” Stephen S. DeKnight, Rick Jacobson, and Actors Christian Antidormi and Simon Merrells for “Decimation;” Stephen S. DeKnight, Director TJ Scott, and Actors Manu Bennett and Dan Feuerriegel for “Blood Brothers”…

…(deep breath)…Robert Tapert, Director Mark Beesley, and Visual Effects Art Director Peter Baustaedter for “Spoils of War;” Robert Tapert, Director Jesse Warn, and Executive Visual Effects Supervisor Charlie McClellan for “Mors Indecepta;” Stephen S. DeKnight, Rick Jacobson, and Actors Manu Bennett and Liam Mcintyre for “Separate Paths;” Stephen S. DeKnight and Actors Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Anna Hutchinson and Todd Lasance for “The Dead and the Dying;” and Stephen S. DeKnight, Rober Tapert, Rick Jacobson, and Actor Liam McIntyre for “Victory.”

“Spartcus: The Legend Retold” is a overview of the series as a whole. “The Price of Being a Gladiator” goes into the workout that the actors have to endure for the show. “A Bloody Farewell” features cast and crew reflecting on the series. “The Spoils of War Revealed: Visual Effects” looks into the show’s effects and visuals. “Adorning the Damned” looks into the show’s costumes. Lastly “The Mind Behind Spartacus” is an interview with Series Creator Stephen S. DeKnight, who if you don’t recognize him is the guy on virutally ever commentary track for this series.

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Enter to Win a Blu-ray for “Heavenly Sword”, based on Playstation video game series [ENDED]

To celebrate the release of the movie “Heavenly Sword”, based on the Playstation video game series, Media Mikes is excited to giveaway one (1) copy of the film on Blu-ray to our readers. If you would like to enter for your chance to win one of this prize, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with your favorite character from the series. This giveaway will remain open until September 26th at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to all of our Media Mikes readers worldwide. One entry per person, per household. All other entries will be considered invalid. Media Mikes will randomly select winners. Winners will be alerted via email.

Nariko’s clan has long protected the “Heavenly Sword,” a god’s blade of immense power that drains its wielder of their life force. A power-hungry ruler known as the evil King Bohan seeks to obtain the sword to gain its devastating power. As the impending apocalypse nears, it remains to be seen how long Nariko can resist the sword’s deadly curse.

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DVD Review “Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete Series”

Actors: Gabe Kaplan, John Travolta, Ron Palillo
Directors: Bob LaHendro
Number of discs: 16
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: August 26, 2014
Run Time: 2280 minutes

Series: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

“Welcome Back, Kotter” was in the new this week since the internet was buzzing with the death of Ron Palillo aka Horshack. Of course, only if everyone actually knew that Ron actually passed away in August 2012, so don’t believe everything you read online. I remember watching repeats of the 70’s classic comedy “Welcome Back, Kotter” on TV. Shout! Factory is giving this series a Complete Series on DVD on August 26th, 2014. This is the first time that this show is available complete in one box set. This 16-disc release contains all 95 episodes from the series. If you are a fan of this show, I wouldn’t pass up this opportunity.

Official Premise: Meet the Sweathogs. They’re the rowdiest, goofiest bunch of students to ever step foot inside a high school. But if they think they’re too unruly for a good teacher to handle, they’re in for a rude awakening when they meet Mr. Kotter: a former Sweathog who’s returned to his alma mater to shape the minds of these remedial students as their new teacher! With the hilarious talents of comedian Gabe Kaplan, Marcia Strassman, John Travolta in the role that made him a star, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Robert Hegyes and Ron Palillo, the Emmy-Award nominated run of Welcome Back, Kotter will have you rolling with laughter and maybe even a little nostalgia from your own days as a Swea

Revisiting this show was proved this show was still hilarious and jam packed with great talented actors including Gabe Kaplan, John Travolta, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Robert Hegyes, Ron Palillo and Marcia Strassman. “Welcome Back, Kotter” was also lined-up with some amazing guest stars as well including George Carlin, James Woods, Pat Morita, Scott Brady, Richard Moll, Della Reese and Dinah Madoff. If you are looking for a little nostalgia, this is a good trip for sure. In terms of special features, we only have a featurette called “Only a Few Degrees from a Sweathog” and the Actors’ Original Screen Tests. I would have loved to see some commentary tracks or retrospectives for sure.

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Enter to Win a DVD of Hulu’s Original Series “Deadbeat: Season One” [ENDED]

To celebrate the Target exclusive release of Hulu’s hit original series “Deadbeat”, Media Mikes is excited to giveaway one (1) copy of Season One on DVD to our readers. If you would like to enter for your chance to win one of this prize, please leave us a comment below or send us an email with your favorite Hulu series. This giveaway will remain open until September 5th at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to all of our Media Mikes readers worldwide. One entry per person, per household. All other entries will be considered invalid. Media Mikes will randomly select winners. Winners will be alerted via email.

Kevin Pacalioglu (Labine) may have no money and no clue, but he can see dead people, so that’s pretty cool. Faced with a constant stream of stubborn spirits, Pac goes to whatever lengths require the least amount of effort to help New York City’s most frivolous ghosts finish their unfinished business. Starring Tyler Labine (TV’s “Reaper”)the show also features Brandon T. Jackson (Tropic Thunder), Lucy DeVito (TV’s “Melissa & Joey)and Cat Deeley (the host of TV’s “So You Think You Can Dance”).

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DVD Review “Almost Human: The Complete Series”

Starring: Karl Urban, Michael Ealy, and Minka Kelly
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Rating: Not Rated
Release Date: August 5, 2014
Running Time: 558 minutes

Our Score: 2.5 out of 5 stars

When I saw that J. J. Abrams was Executive producing a new sci-fi/drama for Fox last Fall, I was psyched to check it out. “Almost Human” starred Karl Urban (“The Lord of the Rings” series, “Star Trek” series), Michael Ealy (“2 Fast 2 Furious”, “Barbershop” series), and Minka Kelly (“Parenthood”, “Friday Night Lights”). The cast is great and it had a cool idea but was rather poorly executed. Due to that this short-lived show was canceled after one season consisting of 13 episodes. Not sure if this show really caught on a fan base but thanks to Warner Archive, the show is available in a Complete Series DVD.

Official Premise: In this action-packed show set in 2048, a worse-for-wear cop teams up with a second-hand synthetic android to fight a strain of urban crime that’s evolved in ever more frightening ways. Detective John Kennex survived a catastrophic attack on the city’s police department that cost him nearly everything. Returning over a year later, he finds the transition difficult. Not only does he suffer guilt for the lethal ambush, but department policy now requires that every cop be paired with a highly evolved human-like android partner. Rejecting policy, Kennex reinstates an outdated Dorian android – whose somewhat dysfunctional platform is based on a “Synthetic Soul” program, allowing it to have emotional responses. It’s this flawed humanity, however, that connects Dorian and John. And together, they set out to keep the city safe, uncover the criminal conspiracy that threatens to destroy their world…and find their common humanity.

I think a show like this could have really benefited more from a Blu-ray release. Since even though it was canceled, the series still received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Special and Visual Effects. This MOD (manufacture on demand) release comes with all 13 episodes on 3 discs and is currently available to U.S. buyers via the studio’s WBshop online store. The episodes included in the complete series are Pilot”; “Skin”; “Are You Receiving?”; “The Bends”; “Blood Brothers”; “Arrhythmia”; “Simon Says”; “You Are Here”; “Unbound”; “Perception”; “Disrupt”; “Beholder” and “Straw Man”. There are no special features included besides the episodes.

 

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DVD Review “Gilligan’s Planet: The Complete Series”

Voices of: Bob Denver, Alan Hale, Jr., Russell Johnson, Jim Backus, Natalie Schafer, Dawn Wells
Directed by: Hal Sutherland
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 292 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

When I saw that this was coming out on DVD, I honestly have never even heard of it. I used to watch “Gilligan’s Island” as a kid though, so I know the idea around the show. This was in fact the second animated spin-off of the popular sitcom “Gilligan’s Island”. The first, which was “The New Adventures of Gilligan” aired in 1974-1975. What is cool about this is that the cast of “Gilligan’s Island” actually returned to their respective roles except for Tina Louise who played Ginger Grant. Dawn Wells ended up pulling double duty voicing Ginger as well as her own original character, Mary Ann Summers. Not the greatest of the bunch of cartoons that were born in the 80’s. If you are a hardcore fan of “Gilligan’s Island” and remember this show, it might be worth picking up.

Official Premise: It’s a brand new story about The Castaways! Leaving their tiny island after years and months and days, they built a little spaceship, crude but it could fly. They left their home and lost their way, between the stars and sky, they went from an island to star, lost on Gilligan’s Planet.” It’s true – The Castaways are now lost in space! They’re all here, in this strange, new world, Gilligan (voice of Bob Denver), the Skipper (voice of Alan Hale, Jr.), the Millionaire (voice of Jim Backus), his Wife (voice of Natalie Schafer), the Movie Star (voice of Dawn Wells), the Professor (Russell Johnson) and Mary Ann (voice of Dawn Wells). Now joined by Gilligan’s alien sidekick Bumper, they begin a whole new life on a whole new world, while still trying to repair the now space-worthy SS Minnow and return home from their infinite three hour tour. It’s something old, something new in this Saturday morning cartoon sit-com sci-fi romp!

I can’t imagine why 😉 but this show only lasted for 13 episodes in one season. The episodes are “I Dream of Genie”; “Turnabout Is Fair Play”; “Let Sleeping Minnows Lie”; “Journey to the Center of Gilligan’s Planet”; “Amazing Colossal Gilligan”; “Bumper to Bumper”; “Road to Boom”; “Too Many Gilligans”; “Space Pirates”; “Invaders of the Lost Barque”; “Wings”; “Super Gilligan” & “Gilligan’s Army”. This complete series DVD release is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release and it is available exclusively through Warner’s online store and Amazon.com. So this also means that if you do want this DVD, I would get it quickly since you don’t know how long it is going to be produced for. The episodes looks as good as you would think they would for this lost show. They are presented in their original aspect ratio: 4 X 3 full frame – 1.37:1. There are no additional special features included besides the episodes.

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Briana Evigan talks about returning to the “Step Up” series with “Step Up: All In”

Briana Evigan got her big break in film with “Step Up 2: The Streets”. Since then she has appeared in films like “S. Darko”, “Sorority Row” and “The Devil’s Carnival”. She is returning to the “Step Up” series in the fifth film “Step Up: All In”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Briana about coming back and what we can expect from the film.

Mike Gencarelli: How did it come about for you to come back in “Step Up: All In”?
Briana Evigan: I got a call from Jennifer Gibgot and Adam Shankman and asked me if I wanted to come back for the fifth “Step Up”. They said they were bringing everyone back. The fans made it apparent who they wanted to see come back and I was one of them. They were still looking for a director at the time but we all had dinner, talked and I came on board. It was a pretty easy “Yes” for me being that “Step Up” started my career. I wanted to go back and get to be with everyone one more time.

MG: Did you ever think you would be coming back to this series?
BE: No, never. It is so funny. I never thought I would do it again.

MG: How has Andie West changed in this film?
BE: Andie is definitely sexier, my wardrobe alone. She is more in control. She knows what she wants and is much more focused. She is still this sweet and loving girl though that cares more about her friends and family that anything in the world. In this one, Shawn and I are butting heads but at the end of the day we really want the same thing throughout the movie. We teach each other a little bit about life and then we come together and there is love.

MG: How was it getting back same cast including Alyson Stoner, Adam Sevani, Mari Koda and Luis Rosado?
BE: Getting back with the gang was just great. I love Mari Koda. She and I have gotten so close in the last few years. We spent every day together pretty much on or off set, which was awesome. I seriously think she is one of my favorite people in the world and you can quote me on that [laughs]. I love her. We are all like a awesome. It was just awesome.

MG: What was it like bringing the setting to Las Vegas?
BE: Oh that was fun. I have grown up in LA, so Vegas is a place that I have gone often for partying but now I was there filming actually on the Strip, so it was pretty cool. How many times have I been there? Yet there I was filming in a truck driving down the strip with all my friends, so that was just amazing.

MG: How does this film compare to “Step Up 2: The Streets” in terms of challenging dances?
BE: The cool thing about the dances in this one but we tried to come up with organic ways to do things. Instead of doing things in post-production and going overboard, we figured out ways for us to use things that weren’t too big and distracting but makes the dancing bigger than ever. I am dancing with fire. We have dancers coming out of the ground when we are dancing on sand. Guys are zip-lining. We have these huge fan machines, which you can’t see obviously, but they are blowing us. So we have all of the elements. The finale is very epic. Everyone dances their faces off and the choreography is just phenomenal.

MG: How does this film live up to the title of “All In”?
BE: Oh, it is totally all in [laughs]. That’s it!

MG: What else do you have in the cards upcoming?
BE: I just did a movie and in a role that was quite a leap for me. It was actually a role that I have been looking for for years and it landed right in front of me. I am playing an artist/photographer that is confused about her sexuality and trying to find love. The character has Huntington’s disease, which is very rare. It was quite the challenge and I prepped for the role for about 3 1/2 weeks. It is called “ToY” and Patrick Chapman directed it. Plus I also have “The Devil’s Carnival 2”, which I am working on right now actually. We will be in heaven this time and it is going to be awesome. Ms. Merrywood will be back!

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Mari Koda talks about her role in the “Step Up” series and the new film “Step Up: All In”

Mari Koda is known for her role as Jenny Kido in the “Step Up” film series. She has been in every “Step Up” film since “Step Up 2: The Streets”. She is returning this week in the the fifth film in the series “Step Up: All In”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Mari about the film and her challenges during filming.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you get started with your background in dancing?
Mari Koda: I started listening to music before dancing. I just thought to myself, “Wow, I would love to do something with the music that I love”. So I started dancing and I just started moving. I do not think that I was even any good [laughs]. I never went to school or anything. I just went out there and starting dancing and that’s how I got I into it. You just catch the energy and go with it. I love it. After I started dancing, I wanted to know what the songs were actually about and after that I decided to learn English and move to New York. I love New York because it is so diverse and there are so many different kinds of people. I knew this is where I belong. In Japan, there are too many Japanese people [laughs].

MG: “Step Up All In” takes us to Las Vegas, what was that like going from the streets to the Sin City?
MK: It was just amazing. Just Wow! We came this far! We are in Las Vegas. There is a lot of surprise in this new film. Even working on the film, we were all impressed with what happens. I am just lucky to be in the film.

MG: How has Jenny Kido changed at all over the course of these four films?
MK: I have played Jenny in four films now. She has never had a love interest in the films. Does this girl never fall in love? Can I at least hold somebody’s hand? [laughs] In the movie, I quit my job and come to Vegas to support my friends but she never has a boyfriend. I told the producers about this and they asked me if they do a “Step Up 6”, who would I choose for a boyfriend? I told them “JT” and they asked “Who” and I said “JT…Justin Timberlake”. So I figured it can’t hurt to ask [laughs].

MG: This film brings back Briana Evigan and Ryan Guzman to lead roles along with others like Alyson Stoner; what do you enjoy most about the continuity of the cast in these films?
MK: We have grown up so much together. It is just so much fun to work together. We are laughing all the time. Rehearsals are just a blast and getting to catch up with everyone. With a normal movie series, there is usually a different cast but not with these films. Like with me and Moose, he and I are always coming back. So it is really great.

MG: When co-starring in “Step Up 2: The Streets”, did you ever think you would have been in three follow-up sequels for this franchise?
MK: No, not at all. I was surprised that there was even a “Step Up 2”. I had no idea what I was going to do in the movie. I knew I would be in it as either “Dancer 1” or “Dancer 2”. But I had no idea about my character and I was really excited. Everything I did in “Step Up 2” was all improv and I was just excited that I ended up staying in the movie. Jenny Kido stood out. I didn’t even know what would happen after that. I even went to the audition for “Step Up 3” and Jon Chu, the director, was like “What are you doing here? You are already in the film”. So that was so awesome!

MG: What was the most challenging aspect of this film compared to the others?
MK: Well I actually got hit by a car in this film for real. I was in the hospital for a while. It was very challenging for me. The doctors told me that I needed to stay in the hospital for at least two or three weeks and that I couldn’t do anything. I told them if they told the producers I’d punch them! [laughs]. So I carried around an ice pack with me wherever I went. Everyone was so supportive of me and I got a lot of positive energy. In the finale scene, I have this little solo and I struggled through it but I was able to nail it, which was great.

 

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“The Wonder Years: The Complete Series” Now Available to Pre-Order!

JOIN STARVISTA ENTERTAINMENT/TIME LIFE
FOR A TRIP TO THE MOST BELOVED SUBURBS IN TV HISTORY,
AS THEY UNVEIL A HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED, EMMY® AWARD-WINNING
TELEVISON LANDMARK — NEVER BEFORE AVAILABLE ON DVD!
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THE WONDER YEARS COMPLETE SERIES
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NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER –
EXCLUSIVELY AT TIMELIFE.COM/WONDERYEARS 
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Named by TV Guide as one of the “Top 20 Shows of the ‘80s,” the Groundbreaking
Family Sitcom Will Be Housed in a Collectible Kennedy Junior High Locker and Feature Every Complete Episode Across 26 DVDs, a Specially-Designed Yearbook, Two Notebooks Containing Detailed Episode Info, Custom Wonder Years Magnets, Over 15 Hours of Exclusive Bonus Features, Including the First Cast Reunion in 16 Years, Never-Before-Seen Outtakes, Extensive Interviews with Key Cast & Crew, Ten Newly-Produced Featurettes and More!
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Additional Collectible Configurations Include THE WONDER YEARS EXPERIENCE Which Also Includes a Kennedy Junior High School T-shirt and Tube Socks in a Vintage Gym Bag, a Kennedy Junior High Pennant and Patch, Wonder Years Collectible Pins, a New CD and more; and, THE WONDER YEARS SIGNATURE EDITION, Which Includes All Elements Described Above, Hand-Signed by Fred Savage and Danica McKellar and Other Cast Members
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FAIRFAX, VA – Before there was Modern Family, That ‘70s Show or Freaks and Geeks, there was The Wonder Years — a nostalgia-inducing take on the traditional family sitcom — and one of the most beloved sitcoms of the past thirty years.  Debuting in 1988 following ABC’s broadcast of Super Bowl XXII, the affectionate look at growing up in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s in suburban America was unlike anything else on television.  And, for the next six seasons, America tuned in to follow the exploits of Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage), as he navigated adolescence in the most memorable of ways.  Never before released on DVD in its entirety, THE WONDER YEARSCOMPLETE SERIES will be presented as a 26-disc collector’s set featuring all 115 episodes housed in a replica metal locker, along with a host of extras including 15 hours of specially-produced bonus programming —featurettes, an incredible cast reunion 16 years in the making and never-before-seen outtakes, including all takes of Kevin and Winnie’s first kiss from the pilot episode. THE WONDER YEARS COMPLETE SERIES will be available exclusively online, available now for pre-order at TimeLife.com/WonderYears for $249.95.
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It was 1968 — the year of Nixon and space walks and Mod Squad and Vietnam.  Enter Kevin Arnold (Savage), a sixth grader at Kennedy Junior High School.  Set against the suburban backdrop of Anytown, USA, Kevin sought to minimize his teenage angst while dealing with an older, noogie-happy brother Wayne (Jason Hervey), a rebellious sister, Karen (Olivia d’Abo), distant, workaholic father, Jack (Dan Lauria) and doting housewife mother, Norma (Alley Mills).  Add to the mix Paul Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano), his nerdy, allergy-riddled best friend, a potential love interest in winsome girl-next-door Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar) and narration by an older, wiser, wittier Kevin (voiced by Daniel Stern) to add perspective to the nostalgia, and you have the perfect recipe for TV greatness.
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With 28 million viewers tuning in to ABC for the first episode, all it took was one kiss between Kevin and Winnie to get audiences hooked on this series created by the husband-and-wife duo Neal Marlens and Carol Black.  From 1988 to 1993, The Wonder Years was one of the most popular shows on TV, achieving a spot in the Nielsen Top 30 for four of its six seasons.  And the critical accolades and awards would follow: after only a scant six episodes, the show captured an Emmy® for “Best Comedy Series;” and, at the age of 13, Fred Savage, would become the youngest actor ever nominated as “Outstanding Lead Actor for a Comedy Series.”  The series would also go on to win 24 awards (and be nominated for 70 more), including multiple Emmy® Awards, a Golden Globe® and, in 1989, a Peabody® Award for pushing the boundaries of the sitcom format and using new modes of storytelling.  Additionally, in 1997, “My Father’s Office” was ranked #29 on TV Guide’s “100 Greatest Episodes of All Time” and in the 2009 list, the pilot episode was ranked #43.  Suffice it to say, The Wonder Years was one of the most critically lauded sitcoms of the late 80s and early 90s.
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An integral part of The Wonder Years was its use of classic period music, so to release the series to the consumer marketplace, StarVista Entertainment/Time painstakingly cleared over 300 songs as they were featured in the original broadcast.  Included among the hundreds of memorable, era-defining recordings are Joe Cocker’s iconic title song, “With A Little Help From My Friends,” plus songs by Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Simon & Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson, The Who, Aretha Franklin, Carole King and many others.
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THE WONDER YEARS COMPLETE SERIES is nostalgically packaged in a collectible metal locker, a replica of those used by Kevin and Winnie in Kennedy Junior High School — complete with colorful Wonder Years magnets to custom-design each locker.  Within the locker are housed 26 DVDs, featuring every complete episode* of the beloved series. Also included are two notebooks, each featuring detailed episode information and production photos, as well as a replica yearbook embellished with signatures from cast members, behind-the-scenes photos and classic show memorabilia, and liner notes penned by Fred Savage, series creators Neal Marlens and Carol Black, and executive producer Bob Brush.
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The TV archivists at StarVista Entertainment/Time Life have also put together 15 hours of specially-produced bonuses including the 2014 Los Angeles cast reunion, featuring all key cast together for the first time in 16 years; extensive individual interviews with all seven key cast members (Fred Savage, Danica McKellar, Josh Saviano, Dan Lauria, Alley Mills, Olivia d’Abo and Jason Hervey), as well as with notable actors featured as guest stars or in recurring roles, such as David Schwimmer, Ben Stein, Bob Picardo and Seth Green; plus, in-depth interviews with narrator Daniel Stern, Neal Marlens, Carol Black, Bob Brush and other production personnel; and, ten brand-new featurettes:  “With A Little Help From My Friends”: The Early Days of The Wonder Years, “The Times They Are A-Changin’”: The Era, “My Generation”: The Kids Grow Up, “When A Man Loves A Woman”: Kevin & Winnie Forever, “Bookends”: Kevin & Paul, “A Family Affair”: At Home With The Arnolds, ““I Love You For Sentimental Reasons”: Fan-Favorite Episodes, “Will You  Love Me Tomorrow”: The Wonder Years’ Love Stories, “ABC”: Teachers That Made A Difference and “Both Sides Now”: The Music That Made The Moments.  Finally, never-before-seen outtakes, including alternate versions of Kevin and Winnie’s first kiss from the pilot episode completes this impressive collector’s set, certain to be a fixture in the homes of many a Wonder Years fan and TV DVD aficionado.
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Additionally, being released day-and-date will be two additional configurations sure to excite die-hard fans who’ve been eagerly awaiting the series’ home entertainment release since it left the airwaves in 1993.  THE WONDER YEARS EXPERIENCE, priced at $299.95, includes all the elements from the COMPLETE SERIES, along with a selection of limited-edition memorabilia created exclusively for this set: a Kennedy Junior High School tee shirt, tube socks, and a vintage gym bag; a Kennedy Junior High School pennant and commemorative patch, The Wonder Years collectible pins, and a newly-produced Wonder Years CD, featuring the theme song plus classics by Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, The Beach Boys, The Temptations and many others.
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THE WONDER YEARS SIGNATURE EDITION, limited to 500 sets, includes everything from the COMPLETE SERIES and EXPERIENCE editions; each set will also be hand-signed by Fred Savage, Danica McKellar and other cast members, housed in a numbered locker and  accompanied by a numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
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The most requested unreleased TV DVD in the marketplace, THE WONDER YEARS is the newest DVD release from StarVista Entertainment/Time Life, following in the critically acclaimed footsteps of for top-selling, award-winning boxed sets of CHINA BEACH, THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW and THE DEAN MARTIN CELEBRITY ROASTS, among many others.  And much like Kevin Arnold says in the final episode, perhaps, after all these years, you’ll “still look back with wonder” at one of the landmark television programs of our time.
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Fans interested in receiving Wonder Years updates and exclusive content can visit WonderYearsDVDs.com.
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The Wonder Years was created by Neal Marlens and Carol Black in association with New World Television, which was acquired in 1997 by 21st Century Fox (then News Corporation), the parent company of Twentieth Century Fox Television.
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*All episodes offer closed captioning

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