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SIMPSONS!! ER!! SNL!! 24!! MOONLIGHTING!! ROCKFORD!!
Herc’s Super-Exciting
Season-Box DVD Vault!!

I am – Hercules!!


Sam Simon wrote a radio sitcom for Sirius’ “The Howard Stern Show” titled “The Bitter Half,” which offered a fictionalized look at the show’s stars, staff and spouses. It aired Oct. 25 and was far funnier than any new “Simpsons” episode I’ve seen in a decade.

Why is “The Simpsons” no longer as it was? My personal prevailing theory is it no longer has Sam Simon. Before Homer and Bart made their leap from “Tracey Ullman Show” to their own half-hour series in 1989, Simon was one of the key creative forces behind “Cheers,” one of the funniest sitcoms every produced. About 12 years ago, Simon appears to have left the “Simpsons” to pursue other comedy opportunities; draw your conclusions.

Season nine, which ran over 1997 and 1998 and is the last I’m likely to buy, begins with Barney Gumble parking Homer’s car between the towers of the World Trade Center. Later, principal Seymour Skinner is discovered to be an imposter named Armin Tanzarian, Homer joins the NRA, Homer replaces Ned as Bart’s Pee-Wee Football coach, Marge pretends to be Apu's wife, the skeleton of an angel is found buried under sacred ground, Lionel Hutz hires Marge as a realtor, Bart blames a burglar after he accidentally burns down the Christmas tree and all the presents, the family finds carnies squatting in their house, Springfield falls into the thrall of a religious cult (one of which Flanders and Lovejoy do not approve), the Springfield Elementary kids are marooned on a desert island, Homer’s new Internet company provokes the ire of Bill Gates, Krusty develops an edgier act, Homer and Moe perpetrate an insurance scam, Lisa fears a latent “Simpson gene” will make her as stupid as Homer and Bart, Homer captains a nuclear sub and nearly starts a war, Homer becomes a government mole, Lisa and Bart become news anchors, Homer runs for sanitation commissioner, Homer begins training at movie star Rainier Wolfcastle’s gym, and Homer and Marge start having sex in public places.

Treehouse of Horror VIII, with teleplays credited to Ned Goldreyer, David X. Cohen and Mike Scully, parodies “The Omega Man,” “The Fly” and “The Crucible.”


ER: The Complete Sixth Season contains what I gauge to be the single most dramatic and moving episode of the series ever produced. The Valentine’s Day installment, “All in the Family,” portrays the bloody the aftermath of John Carter and Lucy Knight’s assault, and how Greene, Corday, Weaver, Kovac, Lockhart, Chen, Anspaugh, Benton, Romano and others struggle together to save their colleagues’ lives. I find it impossible to watch this episode without dissolving into a puddle of tears. Spoilers follow in invisotext.

Discover that David Krumholtz, of “Numb3rs” and “Serenity” fame, played John and Lucy’s schizophrenic attacker and that 17-year-old Liza Weil, subsequently high schooler Paris Geller on “Gilmore Girls,” played the attacker’s wife. One of the deleted scenes from an earlier episode depicts Lucy’s unremarkable first meeting with her killer.

And though last season is billed as George Clooney’s last, this season actually marks the last appearance of Dr. Doug.

Extras include a gag reel and loads of deleted scenes from 14 of the 22 episodes.



Herc’s Popular Pricing Pantry:

Only five more shopping days till Christmas, and the retailers continue to go nuts. You should too, because everything pretty much rockets back to its unfortunate normal price on Dec. 26. Next week's column will look very different from this one.


First off, it looks like the first season of “24” just fell to $23.49, which I believe is WAY cheaper than anyone has seen it new. I know for sure that a week ago this set was $43.49. It could be back there in a few hours. See what Kim looked like before the cougars ruined her looks. Feliz Gravitas.


$19.99 At $19.99, every episode of “Firefly” is 60% off! All the space-hookers are included.


The Prisoner is still 50%-off!!
I don’t remember seeing the entire “Prisoner” series selling new for less than $90 until two weeks ago. (When I’m pretty sure it was $109!) It’s down to $69.97! It’s also one of the three best series ever aired. This price can’t last past Christmas.

For my money, these are the two funniest British shows ever forged, and they’re usually much more expensive at not-Christmas. Not-Christmas being just around the corner, I suggest you snap these up now-ish:

$29.97 Fawlty Towers: The Complete Series
$69.97 Monty Python: The Complete Series 16-Ton Megaset (45 episodes)

And for those who have been away two weeks, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment still has a handsome selection of season sets ripe for the picking at 70% Off. Again, pretty sure the whole 70%-off thing disappears with Santa’s cookies late Saturday night, but for now:


70% Off Action includes:

$5.99 Babylon Five: The Gathering/In The Beginning
$11.99 Cheyenne: The Complete First Season
$17.99 Smallville: The Complete First Season
$17.99 Smallville: The Complete Second Season
$17.99 Smallville: The Complete Third Season
$11.99 V: The Complete Series
$11.99 Wonder Woman: The Complete First Season


50% Off Action includes:

The Adventures of Superman: The Complete First Season
The Adventures of Superman: The Complete Second Season
The Adventures of Superman: The Complete Third and Fourth Seasons
The Adventures of Superman: The Complete First Four Seasons
Kung Fu: The Complete First Season
Kung Fu: The Complete Second Season
Kung Fu: The Complete Third Season
Kung Fu: The Complete Series
Lois & Clark: The Complete First Season
Lois & Clark: The Complete Second Season
Lois & Clark: The Complete Third Season
Smallville: The Complete Fourth Season
Smallville: The Complete Fifth Season
Smallville: The Complete First Five Seasons


70% Off Comedy


$8.09 The Ben Stiller Show: The Complete Series
$5.99 Blue Collar TV: The Complete First Season
$11.99 Friends: The Complete First Season
$11.99 F-Troop: The Complete First Season
$8.39 The Jamie Foxx Show: The Complete First Season
$8.39 MADtv: The Complete First Season
$8.39 Murphy Brown: The Complete First Season
$8.39 Night Court: The Complete First Season
$8.39 The Wayans Bros.: The Complete First Season


50% Off Comedy


Friends: The Complete Second Season
Friends: The Complete Third Season
Full House: The Complete Third Season
Gilligan’s Island: The Complete First Season
Joey: The Complete First Season


">70% Off Drama


$8.39 ER: The Complete First Season
$11.99 Knots Landing: The Complete First Season
$8.39 Without A Trace: The Complete First Season


">58% Off Drama


$24.49 Gilmore Girls: The Complete Second Season <--- NEWLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$25.49 Gilmore Girls: The Complete Third Season <--- NEWLY ENCHEAPENED!!


">50% Off Drama


Gilmore Girls: The Complete First Season
Nip/Tuck: The Complete First Season
Nip/Tuck: The Complete Second Season
Nip/Tuck: The Complete Third Season
The OC: The Complete First Season
The OC: The Complete Second Season
The OC: The Complete First Two Seasons
The OC: The Complete First Three Seasons
One Tree Hill: The Complete First Season
One Tree Hill: The Complete Second Season
One Tree Hill: The Complete First Two Seasons
Veronica Mars: The Complete First Season
Veronica Mars: The Complete Second Season
Veronica Mars: The Complete First Two Seasons
The Waltons: The Complete First Season
The Waltons: The Complete Second Season
The Waltons: The Complete First Two Seasons
The Waltons: The Complete Third Season
The West Wing: The Complete First Season
The West Wing: The Complete Second Season
The West Wing: The Complete Third Season
The West Wing: The Complete Fourth Season
The West Wing: The Complete Fifth Season
The West Wing: The Complete Sixth Season
The West Wing: The Complete First Six Seasons


70% Off Adult Swim


$8.99 The Brak Show: Vol. 1
$8.99 Harvey Birdman, Attorney At Law Vol.1
$8.99 The Oblongs: The Complete Series
$8,99 Robot Chicken: The Complete First Season
$8.99 The Venture Bros.: The Complete First Season


TV-on-DVD Calendar


Last Week
The Andy Griffith Show 8.x
Full House 5.x
Full House 1.x-5.x
Gomer Pyle USMC 1.x
Law & Order: Criminal Intent 2.x
Stacked: The Complete Series
Voltron Vol. 2

This Week


Criss Angel: Mindfreak 2.x


ER 6.x


Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels 1.x


Hogan's Heroes 5.x


Married With Children 6.x


The Simpsons 9.x

Next Week
Airwolf 2.x
Dane Cook's Tourgasm: The Complete Series
Davey & Goliath: The Lost Episodes
Girls Behaving Badly Vol. 1
The New Adventures of He-Man Vol. 1
The Simple Life 4.x
Two-A-Days 1.x

January 2
Martin 1.x

January 9
MI-5 Vol. 4
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Vol. 5
SpongeBob SquarePants 4.x Vol. 2

January 16
Allo Allo 6.x
Doctor Who 28.x
Doctor Who 27.x/28.x
The King of Queens 7.x
The Legend of Prince Valiant Vol. 2
My Hero 1.x
The Royle Family 1.x
Run's House 1.x/2.x
Space Academy: The Complete Series

January 23
Avatar: The Last Airbender 2.x Vol. 1
Walker: Texas Ranger 2.x
The Waltons 4.x
The Waltons 1.x-4.x

January 30
The Big Valley 2.x Vol. 1
Dallas 6.x
I Dream of Jeannie 3.x
Law & Order Special Victims Unit 3.x
Lucky Louie 1.x
Murder She Wrote 5.x
Three's Company: Jack's Favorites

February 6


Anything But Love 1.x/2.x
Baywatch Syndicated 3.x
Ben 10 1.x
Charlie & Lola Vol. 3
Charmed 7.x
Mad About You 3.x
Masters of Horror: Family
Masters of Horror: Pelts
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward
Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo

February 13
All in the Family 6.x
Beauty and the Beast 1.x
Captain N The Game Master
Emergency 3.x
The Golden Girls 7.x
The Hills 1.x
Hustle 2.x
Men Behaving Badly: The Complete Series
Picket Fences 1.x
Reno 911! Most Wanted Uncensored
Sonic X: 6.x

February 20
Alias Smith & Jones 1.x <--- NEW!!
Curious George: Zoo Night <--- NEW!!
Family Ties 1.x
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea 2.x Vol. 2
What's New Scooby Doo 1.x

February 27
Da Vinci's Inquest 1.x <--- NEW!!
The Doris Day Show 4.x
Ghostbusters Vol. 1
Girlfriends 1.x
The Immortal: The Complete Series
The Rockford Files 3.x <--- NEW!!
Voltron Vol. 3

March 6
Doctor Who: The Invasion
Doctor Who: The Sontaran Experiment
Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends 1.x


Hawaii Five-0 1.x
Moonlighting 5.x <--- NEW!!


Northern Exposure 6.x <--- NEW!!
Sabrina The Teenage Witch 1.x
SNL: The Best of Steve Martin 2 <--- NEW!!
South Park 9.x
Stargate Atlantis 2.x

March 13
Baby Looney Tunes Vol. 3


Bosom Buddies 1.x
I Love Lucy 7.x-9.x
Loonatics Unleashed 1.x
The Pretender: The Movies
Without A Trace 2.x

March 20
Batman Beyond 3.x
JAG 3.x
JAG 1.x-3.x
Justice League Unlimited 2.x
Morel Orel: Vol. 1
Sleeper Cell 2.x


The Wild Wild West 2.x

March 27
The Addams Family 1.x Vol. 2
Full House 6.x <--- NEW!!
Mind of Mencia (Uncensored) 2.x <--- NEW!!
The Shield 5.x

Selected season-sets containing
some of Herc’s all-time favorite TV!!

$8.39 ER 1.x (26 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$8.99 The Venture Bros. 1.x (13 Episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$11.99 Friends 1.x (24 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$16.99 Oz 1.x (eight episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$19.99 Newsradio 1.x/2.x (29 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$19.99 Kung Fu 2.x (23 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$24.99 Firefly: The Complete Series <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$20.97 The Tick: The Complete Series (9 Episodes)
$20.99 Moonlighting 1.x/2.x (25 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$20.99 Soap 1.x (25 episodes)
$21.47 Northern Exposure 3.x (23 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$21.99 The Bob Newhart Show 1.x (24 episodes)
$21.99 The Mary Tyler Moore Show 1.x (24 episodes)
$22.97 Hill Street Blues 1.x (17 episodes) <--- NEWLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$22.97 Wonderfalls: The Complete Series (13 episodes) <--- NEWLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$23.49 24 1.x (24 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$24.97 Futurama Vol. 2 (19 episodes) <--- NEWLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$25.84 The Tick Versus 1.x (12 episodes)
$25.99 Rocky & Bullwinkle 1.x (26 episodes)
$26.99 South Park 1.x (13 episodes)
$28.99 Cheers 1.x (23 episodes)
$28.99 Taxi 1.x (22 episodes)
$29.49 Columbo 1.x (nine TV-movies)
$29.49 The Rockford Files 1.x (22 episodes)
$29.97 Fawlty Towers: The Complete Series (12 episodes)
$29.99 The Simpsons 2.x (22 episodes)
$29.99 Veronica Mars 1.x (22 episodes)
$29.99 The West Wing 1.x (22 episodes)
$30.99 The Andy Griffith Show 5.x (32 episodes)
$31.99 Buffy The Vampire Slayer 4.x (22 episodes)
$31.99 Curb Your Enthusiasm 1.x (10 episodes)
$34.97 Murder One 1.x (23 episodes)
$34.99 The OC 1.x (27 episodes)
$35.49 The Wild Wild West (28 episodes)
$35.49 Seinfeld 3.x (23 episodes)
$35.99 Angel 5.x (22 episodes)
$35.99 Gilmore Girls 4.x (22 episodes)
$36.99 Undeclared: The Complete Series (17 episodes)
$41.47 The Dick Van Dyke Show 1.x (31 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$44.99 Battlestar Galactica 1.x (13 episodes plus 4-hour mini)
$46.99 Lost 1.x (24 episodes)
$47.99 SCTV Network 90 Vol. 1 (Nine 90-minute episodes)
$48.49 The Sopranos 1.x (13 episodes)
$48.99 Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series (18 episodes)
$50.99 The Wire 1.x (13 episodes)
$52.47 Carnivale 1.x (12 episodes)
$52.47 Deadwood 1.x (13 episodes)
$53.99 Once and Again 1.x (22 episodes)
$55.99 Star Trek: The Next Generation 3.x (26 episodes)
$59.99 Six Feet Under 1.x (13 episodes)
$62.99 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 3.x (26 episodes)
$67.97 The Twilight Zone 1.x (36 episodes)
$69.97 Monty Python: The Complete Series 16-Ton Megaset (45 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$69.97 The Prisoner: The Complete Series (17 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$67.49 Star Trek 2.x (26 episodes)
$97.99 The Larry Sanders Show 1.x (13 episodes)
$144.45 Twin Peaks 1.x minus pilot (seven episodes)
$310.00 My So-Called Life: The Complete Series (17 episodes)

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Reader Talkback

Tom Hanks Hair
by kurdt420
Dec 19th, 2006
01:16:39 AM
It's like Torture porn.
by DerLanghaarige
Dec 19th, 2006
01:26:45 AM
hawaii five-0
by reckni
Dec 19th, 2006
01:38:51 AM
Ah, Dr Abby
by Franklin T Marmoset
Dec 19th, 2006
02:01:33 AM
"*Nucular*. It's pronounced *nucular*."
by Ribbons
Dec 19th, 2006
02:12:38 AM
Nearly half those Simpsons episodes are unwatchable.
by Flim_
Dec 19th, 2006
02:42:10 AM
Yep, season 6 was the last year I watched ER.
by Shermdawg
Dec 19th, 2006
02:59:50 AM
I bought my mom the first season of Gilmore Girls.
by Shermdawg
Dec 19th, 2006
03:02:19 AM
yeah, the slide was really evident by season 9:
by newc0253
Dec 19th, 2006
04:03:31 AM
YOU GUYS R TALKING OUT OF UR ASSES!! Simpsons rules!
by silentbobafett2
Dec 19th, 2006
04:08:11 AM
My So-Called Life for 230 - 310 bucks?
by adeepercut2k
Dec 19th, 2006
04:16:20 AM
Bow down before McGarrett's hair!
by OtisSpofford
Dec 19th, 2006
04:17:20 AM
Simpsons has gotten old and cranky...
by OtisSpofford
Dec 19th, 2006
04:19:51 AM
ER - Gilmore Girls - Dawson's Creek
by OtisSpofford
Dec 19th, 2006
04:21:41 AM
Simpsons Season 9
by conniebrean1
Dec 19th, 2006
04:41:31 AM
season 9
by lionbiu
Dec 19th, 2006
04:48:26 AM
"The Lord of the Flies and the Trash Man episodes are"
by newc0253
Dec 19th, 2006
05:08:17 AM
Why the Simpsons has changed:
by Flim Springfield
Dec 19th, 2006
05:28:26 AM
All In The Family...
by maxwell's hammer
Dec 19th, 2006
07:29:46 AM
24 Season 1
by Sammy Jankis
Dec 19th, 2006
08:11:49 AM
the simpsons is still good
by BendersShinyAss
Dec 19th, 2006
08:18:59 AM
That Best of Steve Martin 2 DVD is a mistake...
by DanielKurland
Dec 19th, 2006
08:44:59 AM
Wasn't season eight the last one with Brad Bird?
by Osmosis Jones
Dec 19th, 2006
08:57:47 AM
Hey, Simpons faithful . . . I have a ?
by SkidMarkedUndies
Dec 19th, 2006
09:00:57 AM
Why can't A&E package THE PRISONER decently?
by SpyGuy
Dec 19th, 2006
09:02:01 AM
Scorpio ep ("You Only Move Twice") in season 8
by Osmosis Jones
Dec 19th, 2006
09:08:18 AM
the simpsons dont like right anymore
by adzigjo
Dec 19th, 2006
09:44:16 AM
the simpsons dont look right anymore
by adzigjo
Dec 19th, 2006
09:44:30 AM
scorpio episode was classic
by adzigjo
Dec 19th, 2006
09:48:41 AM
Who remembers Anything but Love?
by Borgnine JR
Dec 19th, 2006
10:21:13 AM
My Fav Simpsons Episode was Itchy and Scratchy Land
by godzillasushi
Dec 19th, 2006
11:15:07 AM
I must be bored
by Roook
Dec 19th, 2006
11:23:57 AM
What is it about Richard Lewis....
by One-Eye Tigh
Dec 19th, 2006
12:02:15 PM
Simpsons/Futurama
by jmyoung666
Dec 19th, 2006
12:09:19 PM
Season 9 onwards = flames on Optimus
by photoboy
Dec 19th, 2006
12:36:22 PM
Monty Python is back up to $99
by Creamery Butter
Dec 19th, 2006
12:54:43 PM
I have to admit the latest Simpsons are getting better
by Floyd_Dylan
Dec 19th, 2006
01:23:22 PM
Season 8
by Coenbro
Dec 19th, 2006
01:31:39 PM
Have you watched THE SIMPSONS lately? It's been good...
by SpyGuy
Dec 19th, 2006
02:01:46 PM
silentbobafett2: "I loose cunt" is funnier...
by Childe Roland
Dec 19th, 2006
02:11:09 PM
"Welcom to Itchy and Scratchy Land where
by Mr. Mcpoops
Dec 19th, 2006
02:19:17 PM
I meant to misspell Welcome.
by Mr. Mcpoops
Dec 19th, 2006
02:20:04 PM
Simpsons lately aren't that bad...
by DanielKurland
Dec 19th, 2006
02:51:05 PM
Herc Prisoner is back up to $109
by chase232
Dec 19th, 2006
03:08:26 PM
Another year without Wonder Years on DVD.
by nofate
Dec 19th, 2006
03:20:30 PM
Simpsons commentary is 90% crap now
by Baron Karza
Dec 19th, 2006
03:41:34 PM
The funny thing about Season 8/Scorpio and all that...
by Flim Springfield
Dec 19th, 2006
04:31:43 PM
Simpson's ARE funny again...i tuned in lately and
by future help
Dec 19th, 2006
05:19:49 PM
I've defended the simpsons every year...
by PushTheButton
Dec 19th, 2006
05:41:43 PM
Twin Peaks etc.
by Attempted Yorker
Dec 19th, 2006
06:27:22 PM
Apu's octuplets, death of Maude, and sober Barny...
by Billyeveryteen
Dec 19th, 2006
07:34:06 PM
I grant you this...
by Darkman
Dec 19th, 2006
09:24:44 PM
chase232 - Snooze and Lose - Sorry about that
by gadlaw6
Dec 19th, 2006
11:12:05 PM
Monty Python and Fawlty Towers Regular Price
by gadlaw6
Dec 19th, 2006
11:22:56 PM
Prisoner to HIGH PRICES
by scrivener
Dec 20th, 2006
02:04:46 AM
Fuckin A on the Twin Peaks pilot . . .
by Nice Marmot
Dec 20th, 2006
10:23:02 AM
The Angel episode and Cult episode arer classics
by Col. Tigh-Fighter
Dec 20th, 2006
10:27:51 AM
Oh yeah, forgot to mention. . .
by Nice Marmot
Dec 20th, 2006
10:36:45 AM
Simpsons: have they shown the actors...
by Russman
Dec 20th, 2006
04:56:46 PM
HBO Sale - Best Buy
by JohnIan
Dec 20th, 2006
05:13:32 PM
A few things about The Simpsons...
by omarthesnake
Dec 20th, 2006
05:48:02 PM
Simpsons Fans Took Down Futurama
by shellfishh
Dec 21st, 2006
06:06:43 AM
You can blame Sam Simon or Brad Bird
by Mr_Boombista
Dec 21st, 2006
03:08:37 PM
the simpsons jumped the shark with...
by the_shogun_gunslinger
Dec 25th, 2006
05:59:57 AM

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