Diana’s DVDs: Nov. 3, 2009
PICKS OF THE WEEK
Spin City: Season 3
Who does it star? Michael J. Fox (as Deputy Mayor Michael Flaherty), Richard Kind (as Paul Lassiter), Alan Ruck (as Stuart Bondek), Michael Boatman (as Carter Heywood), Connie Britton (as Nikki Faber), Alexander Chaplin (as James Hobert), Victoria Dillard (as Janelle Cooper), Jennifer Esposito (as Stacey Paterno) and Barry Bostwick (as Mayor Randall M. Winston, Jr.).
What’s the premise? Follow the goings-on of a mayor and his staff as they run New York City — although it’s really Mike Flaherty who’s calling the shots.
When can I see it? On DVD!
Where does it air? Spin City aired for six seasons on ABC until it was cancelled due to low ratings.
Why is it worth my time? Next to his roles in Family Ties and Back to the Future, Michael J. Fox is best known for portraying the rollerblade-loving, personal life-neglecting deputy mayor on ABC’s now-defunct comedy Spin City. Season 3 marks Fox’s second to last year on the show — at the end of the fourth, the Edmonton-born actor left to spend more time with his family and raise money for Parkinson’s disease research (a degenerative nervous system disorder that he suffers from).
But before he bowed out, Fox bestowed us lucky TV viewers with a hilarious half-hour laffer that’s perfect for passing the time on a lazy Sunday afternoon or even just to throw on in the background while making dinner/folding laundry/puttering around the house; hearing the awesome one-liners is sure to make you chuckle just as much as watching the crazy antics onscreen.
This season, the office faces re-election and that means the gang is down to business — well, when they’re not messing up their relationships, fighting off assassination plots and harassment lawsuits, and dealing with teenage muggers. With hilarious cameos from some of today’s most well-known celebs, including Dallas’ Priscilla Presley, Project Runway's Heidi Klum and The Tonight Show’s Conan O’Brien (in a don’t-blink-or-you’ll-miss-him role), and a cast that exudes chemistry and superb comedic timing, Spin City is sure to please any ‘90s sitcom fan.
In Season 3 … Carter takes in his parents’ old suicidal dog, Rags; Stacey tries to out Paul for stealing sick time; Mike begins dating Heidi Klum; James grieves for his “Aunt Sarah"; Paul campaigns for a raise; Stuart falls for a woman as loathsome as he is; Nikki makes up a boyfriend to cover up her feelings for Mike; the mayor reveals that he’s dating Janelle.
Guest stars: Conan O’Brien, Heidi Klum, Beth Littleford, Lou Diamond Phillips, Frankie Muniz, Jeff Gordon, Jayson Williams, Priscilla Presley, Christopher Lloyd, Bill Maher and Jon Stewart.
Bonus features: N/A.
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Number of Discs: 4
Number of Episodes: 26
Running Time: 570 mins |
Fraggle Rock: The Final Season
Who does it star? The primary group of Fraggles includes Jerry Nelson (as Gobo), Kathryn Mullen (as Mokey), Karen Prell (as Red), Steve Whitmire (as Wembley) and Dave Goelz (Boober).
What’s the premise? This fun children’s show uses adorable puppet characters to entertain, amuse and inform.
When can I see it? On DVD!
Where does it air? In North America, Fraggle Rock aired on CBC in Canada and HBO in the U.S. during its four-season run. But those who subscribe to Canadian specialty channels Teletoon Retro and BBC Kids can still catch repeats there.
Why is it worth my time? Oh, Jim Henson — what would my childhood have been if not for your ability to concoct fabulous children’s programming? Growing up, I lived and breathed for any of your puppet creations, from Sesame Street and The Muppet Show to the wildly-popular Fraggle Rock.
These colourful, furry and supremely cute critters were a TV show staple in my early years, not only for their enviable superpowers (I’d so love to dream-share), quirky traits (radishes, anyone?) and contagious love of life, but for teaching me valuable life lessons, too. Of course, as a toddler I wasn’t comprehending the serious topics Henson worked into each half-hour production — ideas of prejudice, racism and social conflict, to name a few — but I did grasp his light lessons of caring, sharing and acceptance that ultimately portrayed these deeper issues.
And, most importantly of all when it comes to kids’ shows, Fraggle Rock was (or is, I should say) so much fun! What kid wouldn’t want to spend some time romping, exploring and playing around the Fraggles’ caves, avoiding the dull and dreary Doozers and rooting for Mokey as she scores radishes from the Gorgs’ garden?
Red’s my favourite, with all of her wild-haired, control freak, athletic awesomeness, and I’m elated this final instalment is now available — as a soon-to-be first-time aunt, I can’t wait to share this classic show (and cherished childhood memory) with another generation.
If you don’t already own Fraggle Rock, but love it as much as I do, the complete series is also available on DVD. Surprisingly, it actually came out last November (an entire year before this fourth season), but it’s recently been repackaged as a gift set if you’re looking for the most current version.
In the fourth and final season … the Fraggles continue to teach kids valuable lessons such as having fun vs. being responsible, having faith in yourself, the gift of sharing and learning to trust.
Guest stars: N/A.
Bonus features: Seven featurettes titled “The Inner Gorg” (an interview with the performers inside the costumes), “Designing the Puppets” (an interview with the puppet makers), “Directing the Fraggles” (an interview with Eric Till and George Bloomfield), “Let the Music Play” (an interview with Phil Balsam and Dennis Lee), “Dance Your Cares Away” (the evolution of the theme song), “You Cannot Leave the Magic” (excerpts from the last day of shooting) and “Celebrating Fraggle Rock” (excerpts from the wrap party).
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Number of Discs: 5
Number of episodes: 24
Running Time: 596 mins |
OTHER TV AVAILABLE THIS WEEK
Questions or comments? diana@tvguide.ca
Diana's DVDs every Tuesday
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To escape from the daily chaos of life, Diana enjoys curling up on the couch to watch a good movie, and is guilty of partaking in the current TV-on-DVD trend. From documentaries and dramas to comedies and animated flicks, no genre is off-limits.
Before her current editorial gig, Diana worked in TVGuide.ca’s listings department, so she’s a pro at getting the most up-to-date info to keep fellow movie buffs in the know with the latest TV and film releases. Now a content specialist, Diana graduated from the Broadcast Journalism program at Seneca College in Toronto. |
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