I am – Hercules!!
Along with “Lost” and “Battlestar Galactica,” “Veronica Mars”
was one of the three best new shows on American television last season.
Masterminded by “Cupid” creator Rob Thomas, the show is ”Buffy the Vampire Slayer” - minus the supernatural nonsense - crossed with “Karen Sisco” by way of “The Rockford Files” multiplied by “The OC.”
But, y’know, darker. In the pilot we learn that, within the space of about a month, 17-year-old Veronica’s best friend was brutally bludgeoned to death, her beloved mom disappeared, her beloved dad was disgraced and fired, and her beloved boyfriend dumped her for reasons unexplained. Oh, and then she was roofied and raped at a well-attended rich-kids party.
Nancy Drew it’s not.
Grim as it all sounds, I hasten to point out "Veronica" got more laughs out of me than any of last season's network sitcoms. You wouldn’t think an enterprise with a backstory this horrifying would yield the big yuks, but the episodes routinely sport the kind of resonant comedy of which most writers, frankly, can only dream.
Veronica’s smarts, superior wit and general good nature, inherited from her private-investigator dad, were established almost immediately, and they immediately served to endear the teen sleuth to us. As the first season
built narrative momentum, so was built our desire to learn the truth behind Lianne Mars’ departure, the circumstances surrounding Veronica’s violation, the reason software heir Duncan Kane gave Veronica the boot, and how Lilly Kane came to such an ungracious demise.
The series is served well also by Neptune, Calif., and its high school, a cauldron of resentment that mashes together citizens from both sides of the coastal town’s tracks: the super-rich software peddlers and movie stars as well as their servants. In mapping modern class struggle, “Mars” is a world-class endeavor, rivaling even the likes of “Cutter’s Way,” “Caddyshack," "Pretty in Pink” and “Die Hard.”
While the pilot still tops the Herc rankings, my second-favorite episode is not the one that reveals what happened to Lianne, or the one that reveals who took Veronica’s virginity, or the season finale that reveals Lilly Kane’s murderer.
I give the silver medal to 1.19, “Hot Dogs,” which became a five-star affair the moment one of Neptune’s resident movie stars, Aaron Echolls (Harry Hamlin), went Sonny Corleone on miserable daughter Trina’s abusive halfwit wannabe-filmmaker boyfriend. Watching the livid matinee-idol topple the aspiring little fuck with patio-furniture from 30 feet was thrilling. But when the movie star pulled out his famous belt? The episode (and indeed the series) achieved a whole new level of genius.
Then! Then “Hot Dogs” got even better! An ordinary network show would let Mandy, the adorable super-timid Sean Young-looking dweeb-girl, hold the stun-gun to the neck of the dog-pound employee she believed responsible for the death of her beloved hound Chester. But “Veronica Mars” let Mandy fry the little dog-napping piece of shit. Again and again and again. Her lust to avenge poor little Chester erased all timidity. It was glorious. It was rock & roll. I cried a little.
Extras on
the season-one set, which goes on sale today, include more than 20 minutes of unaired scenes, and a special “creator’s cut” of the pilot re-edited and expanded by series mastermind Rob Thomas. I cannot recommend this set highly enough. “Veronica Mars” is genius.
A great adventure is waiting for you ahead.
Hurry onward Lemmiwinks, for you will soon be dead.
The journey before you may be long and filled with woe.
But you must escape the gay man's ass, or your tale can't be told.
Lemmiwinks' journey is distant, far and fast!
To find his way out of a gay man's ass!
The road ahead is filled with danger and fright!
But push onward Lemmiwinks with all of your might!
South Park: The Complete Sixth Season, also streeting today, includes the introduction of Butters alter-ego Professor Chaos, Russell Crowe fightin’ round the world, and extraterrestrial-managed Catholic Church dealing with its mammoth child-molestation scandal. It has the boys trying to stop George Lucas from ruining “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” it has the boys trying to return “Lord of the Rings” to the video store, and it has the boys constructing a ladder to heaven to learn where Kenny put the winning candy-store-shopping-spree ticket. The Death Camp of Tolerance is founded as Lemmiwinks, the gerbil who would be gerbil king, begins his long journey through Mr. Slave's digestive system. Stan thinks he’s being visited by his future-self. Christmas presents are delivered to needy children in Iraq. And we discover that, whatever it is, “The Simpsons” did it first.
I watched every episode of “Soap” religiously when it aired on ABC; it remains one of the funniest sitcoms ever produced. At $20.96, Soap: The Complete Fourth Season is the cheapest of the “Soap” sets and the steal of the week. Robert Guillaume had already moved on to his inferior spin-off, but series mastermind and comedy-genius Susan Harris co-wrote every teleplay of her fabulous mother-series right to its never-resolved cliffhanger conclusion.
Was the second season of Arrested Development creator Mitch Hurwitz’ big “fuck you” to the Christian right, as embodied by George Michael’s gratingly dull and mirthless new love interest Ann? Who can say?
Season two boasted perhaps my favorite “Arrested” episode to date, “Ready, Aim, Marry Me,” which featured Martin Short as Uncle Jack Dorso.
Bonus features include commentaries on three of the 18 episodes (including “Ready, Aim, Marry Me”), deleted and extended scenes, a blooper reel, “Immaculate Election” campaign videos and something called “Season One In Three Minutes.”
If you’ve been wanting to buy your beloved “X-Files” on DVD, but couldn’t stomach the list price? The “X-Files” WERE $74.99 (or more) per season new ($42.99 or more used). But effective Jan. 31, the first three seasons are being reissued NEW for just $34.99 per season. Which would be less. The new sets will have everything the old sets do, including the extras. The only difference is they’re packaged (unlike the old set depicted above) in slimcases, so they’ll take up less room on your shelf.
Hopefully this and the new, greatly reduced price on the “Buffy” series signals that ALL the older season-sets are soon headed for cheapville. (Maybe even Paramount’s “Star Trek” season-sets will fall to under $88 one day!)
Finally, for those who have written in wondering what exactly will be contained on Beavis & Butt-Head: The Mike Judge Collection Vol. 1, due Nov. 8 (and retailing at $25.34), Paramount Home Entertainment was good enough to pass along the details this week:
IT WORKED FOR THE HOBBITS AND LUKE SKYWALKER…
ON NOVEMBER 8, THE BOYS ARE BACK IN
THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF THEIR TRILOGY…
BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD:
THE MIKE JUDGE COLLECTION, VOLUME ONE
HOLLYWOOD, CA, October 5, 2005 – Generation Y and Z, prepare to meet Generation B&B – Beavis & Butthead, that is! The Gen X bad-boy mascots, and the world’s most popular buddy duo, are at long last back with a vengeance in BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD: THE MIKE JUDGE COLLECTION, VOLUME ONE. Debuting on DVD November 8 from MTV Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment, this ultimate collection – the first in a highly anticipated Beavis and Butthead trilogy -- unleashes the mega-stars of TV, radio and the silver screen for an entirely new generation, as well as those who came of age with the heavy-metal poster children.
BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD: THE MIKE JUDGE COLLECTION, VOLUME ONE is the definitive DVD collection for Beavis and Butt-Head fans who have been eagerly awaiting such a comprehensive set. Creator Mike Judge (TV’s King of the Hill, Office Space) has taken great care in hand-picking his personal favorites from the series’ memorable five year run (1993-1997) -- and is even opening up the vaults to release episodes that have never before been available on any video format.
The comprehensive 3-disc set – allowing for non-stop and repeated Beavis and Butthead viewing -- is jam-packed with 40 episodes and includes many never-before-released on DVD, special director’s cut episodes, an exclusive featurette, and those ever-popular music videos with classic Beavis and Butt-Head commentary. So, grab some nachos, pull on your best concert tee and rejoice, for everyone’s favorite boys are back in town and they’re more animated than ever!
The 3-Disc Collector’s Set Features:
* 40 episodes – including 14 never-before-released on DVD, and 23 containing previously censored material
* 11 music videos with running commentary from Beavis and Butt-Head. Music Videos include Pantera, Wilco, Grim Reaper and more.
* Beavis and Butt-Head VMA appearances, promos and more.
* Thanksgiving Special w/ Kurt Loder
* Exclusive featurette, Taint of Greatness: The Journey of Beavis and Butt-Head, Part 1
Originally airing on MTV, the series followed the adventures of Beavis, a blond guy in a Metallica shirt, and Butt-Head, a dark-haired guy in an AC/DC t-shirt. Each day they can be found amusing themselves with activities such as getting sent to the principal’s office, getting rabies, washing the dog, learning to drive and getting ripped off at a charity walk. One of the pair's all-time favorite pastimes is scanning TV channels and commenting on "really cool" programs and music videos. Beavis and Butt-head think alike, laugh alike, and bang their heads in unison while playing air guitar.
BEAVIS AND BUTT-HEAD: THE MIKE JUDGE COLLECTION, VOLUME ONE is a three-disc DVD set priced at around $30 at retail in the U.S. and is encoded with the MacrovisionÔ AntiCopy protection.
Move over Star Wars. Be forewarned Lord of the Rings. There’s a new DVD trilogy headed to town, and it’s loud, it’s old school and a little bit crazy.
TV on DVD!
Last Week
Alfred Hitchcock Presents 1.x
America's Funniest Holiday Home Videos
The Bob Newhart Show 2.x
Cartoon Network: Christmas Rocks
Christmas with SCTV
Count Duckula
Drawn Together 1.x: Uncensored
Farscape: Starburst Edition 2.3
Into The West
Kenny Vs. Spenny 1.x
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Oblongs: The Complete Series
Postcards From Buster
Spike The Vampire: Love Is Hell
Stargate SG1 8.x
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vol. 19: Mutant & Monsters
Tom Green: Inside and Outside
A Twist in the Tale
Wild Palms: The Complete Series
October 11
All Grown Up: RV Having Fun Yet?
Arrested Development 2.x
The Captain & Tenille: Ultimate Collection
Dora the Explorer: Dance To The Rescue
The Duchess of Duke Street 1.x
Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids Vol. 2
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air 2.x
The Jeffersons 4.x
Kingdom Hospital Vol. 3
Mutant X 3.x
Only Fools and Horses 6.x
Soap 4.x
South Park 6.x
Veronica Mars 1.x
October 18
The Adventures of Superman 1.x
Atomic Betty Vol. 1
Atomic Betty Vol. 2
The Batman Vs. Dracula
Braceface: Turning 13
CSI: New York
Dark Shadows: Complete 1996 Series
Garfield: Cat Tales Gift Set
Ghost Hunters 1.x
He-Man 1.x Vol. 1
The Hilarious House of Frightenstein
The Legend of Zelda: The Complete Series
Nick Picks Vol. 2
Pet Alien: Aliens Unleashed
Pet Alien: Atomic Tommy
Saved by the Bell: The New Class 5.x
Strawberry Shortcake: Dress-Up Days
The Twilight Zone 4.x
Unscripted
October 25
Alias 4.x
The Ambassador
American Gothic: The Complete Series
The Beverly Hillbillies/Petticoat Junction Christmas Collection
Bewitched 2.x
Danger Mouse 3.x/4.x
Degrassi Junior High: The Complete Series
The Doris Day Show 2.x
Hamish MacBeth 1.x
Hart To Hart 1.x
Little House on the Prairie 9.x
In Living Color 4.x
Invasion Earth: The Complete Series
Kids in the Hall 3.x
Little House on the Prairie 9.x
Looney Tunes: Golden Collection Vol. 3
The L Word 2.x
Mad TV: Best of 8/9/10.x
The Munsters 2.x
The Planet's Funniest Animals
Point Pleasant 1.x
Puppets Who Kill 2.x
Tales From The Crypt 2.x
3rd Rock From the Sun 2.x
Tom & Jerry Vol. 2
Tripping the Rift 1.x
Upstairs Downstairs 24-Disc Collector's Edition
