“Dude! The flashback did not take that long!”
I am – Hercules!!
I am not a big fan of the soaps! Never could be bothered with “Dallas” or “Dynasty.” Bored to tears by “Desperate Housewives.” Ditto “90210.” “Melrose Place” corralled into its cast some of the most beautiful women ever birthed, but the words – the words coming out of the hot girls’ mouths were so stale and clichéd and idiotic I could not stand to watch more than five minutes at a time.
But “The OC” I loved. It was and is, as the kids used to say, funny as fuck. Loved it from day one, when Luke slugged Ryan Atwood and called him “bitch,” never stopped loving it through four relentlessly disparaged seasons. For me, there was never an episode devoid of entertainment value. And some episodes sent me into bawling fits, so strongly did I come to identify with these characters and their romantic travails. Series mastermind Josh Schwartz is one talented dude. (Note please that both his pilots – “Gossip Girl” at The CW and “Chuck” at NBC – just went to series for next fall.)
Chief among “The OC’s” thespianic virtues we hail Adam Brody as indie-loving comic-book ubernerd Seth Cohen. Seth was always way more “Freaks & Geeks” than “One Tree Hill,” and Brody can get laughs out of the phone book. And I came to love Summer Roberts, the haughty object of his affection, just as aggressively.
And yes, I came to love the grown-ups: Seth’s parents, the big-hearted Sandy and Kirsten Cohen, and scheming neighbors Jimmy and Julie Cooper. And I came to love a litany of characters who paraded in an out of Cohens’ lives. Summer and Fightin’ Ryan first and foremost, but also Anna Stern, Luke Ward, Theresa Diaz, Hayley Nichol, lesbianic Alex Kelly, Lindsay Gardner, Princess Sparkle and Captain Oats.
I even liked Kevin Volchok, Caleb Nichol and Oliver Trask. Mostly because his name is almost Boliver Trask. You heard me!
The club where all the underage kids hung out was called The Bait Shop!!
This show also gave us Chrismukkah, which kicks Festivus hinder.
Season four not only traded the show’s weakest element, Marissa Cooper, for the sassy Taylor (Autumn Reeser), it threw in the 15-year-old minicoop, bikini-loving Caitlin Cooper (Willa Holland), Luke’s fro-happy little brothers and Che (Chris Pratt), who enjoyed a little naked guitar strumming and thought he was maybe gay for Seth’s inner otter. There was also cage boxing and an alternative universe and an earthquake and a horny old cowboy billionaire named “Bullet.” At one point we got to see aging pretty-boy Peter Gallagher put the beatdown on Kevin Sorbo, Faux Hercules Himself. The hilarious and moving series finale seemed to end in Northern California with a male midwife and his wedding-planner boyfriend, but really ended by telescoping far into Seth, Summer and Ryan’s futures.
Wallow in the new set’s many unaired scenes and featurettes.
I have not seen the Roots: 30th Anniversary Edition, nor have I seen “Roots” since it aired on ABC 30 years ago. I just wanted to throw a little love in the direction of John Amos, 67 now and one of America’s most underappreciated actors, who plays the older Kunta Kinte in the series.
Amos did plenty of sraight dramatic stuff besides “Roots” - he played a biker in “Sweet Sweetback’s Badassssss Song,” a military musclehead in “Die Hard 2,” and the D.C. mayor in “The District,” but he’s in my hall of fame for his comic timing - hilarious as Gordy the weatherman on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and as the dad on “Good Times” and as Admiral Fitzwallace on “West Wing.”
And check out who else was in that first, Brando-free “Roots” cast. I guess we all remember that future “Trek” icon LaVar Burton played Young Kunta, but others rattling around in there included poet Maya Angelou (!), Bond villain Ji-Tu Cumbuka, O.J. Simpson (!), Ian McShane (!), Todd Bridges (!), Richard “Shaft” Roundtree (!), “The Brady Bunch’s” Mike Reed, “The Straight Story’s” Richard Farnsworth, “Alien” icon Yaphet Kotto, “Blade Runner” icon Brion James, “Galactica” icon Lorne Greene, “Mission Impossible’s” Lynda Day George, “The Addams Family’s” Carolyn Jones, “The Munsters’” Yvonne DeCarlo, future Klingon John Schuck, future “Twilight Zone” casualty Vic Morrow, “Welcome Back Kotter’s” Lawrence Hilton Jacobs, Ed Asner, Lou Gossett, Sandy Duncan (!),Scatman Crothers, Lloyd Bridges, Chuck Connors, Burl Ives and George Hamilton.
Herc’s Popular Pricing Pantry
Insano-Cheap 69% OFF O.C., Bitch!!
Last week Amazon was selling the first season of “The O.C.” for $51.99. Right now DeepDiscountDVD has first season for $52.93 and the second and third seasons for $48.29.
Amazon’s prices as I type this:
$21.99 The OC: The Complete First Season
$21.99 The OC: The Complete Second Season
$22.99 The OC: The Complete Third Season
I don’t recall Amazon ever discounting those extra-crammed supersized (27 episode) first season adventures of Seth Cohen to below $50 before, let along to less than $22. I actually don’t recall seeing “OC” that cheap anywhere (and I’ve been looking for it)! Do not expect those prices to last!
Greatest American Hero for $10/Season??
Roseanne for $11/Season??
Profit: The Complete Series for $13.50??
THE AMAZON 2-FER SALE IS BACK!!
Buy one, get a cheaper one free. Titles include:
Astro Boy
Carry On
The Commish
Crime Story
Doogie Howser
Greatest American Hero
Grounded For Life
Hercules
Highlander
Hunter
Profit
Renegade
Roseanne
Silk Stalkings
Sledge Hammer!
3rd Rock From The Sun
Thomas The Tank Engine
Three’s Company
Titus
Tripping The Rift
21 Jump Street
Xena
For some reason there are a few cool movie box sets spotlighting foreigners like Peter Sellers, Alec Guinness, Paul Verhoeven, Wim Wenders, Werner Herzog in there too …
$13.49 FOR HILL STREET 1.X!!
$17.99 FOR MURDER ONE 1.X!!
$22.49 FOR BOSTON LEGAL 1.X!!
55% Off Fox First-Season Sets!!
Grab them now. History tells us these prices won’t be this low a few days from now.
$4.49 The Simple Life 1.x
$13.49 Hill Street Blues 1.x
$13.49 In Living Color 1.x
$13.49 King of the Hill 1.x
$13.49 The Mary Tyler Moore Show 1.x
$13.49 NYPD Blue 1.x
$13.49 Reba 1.x
$13.49 Voyage To The Bottom of The Sea 1.x Vol. 1
$13.49 Voyage To The Bottom of The Sea 1.x Vol. 2
$17.99 Angel 1.x
$17.99 Arrested Development 1.x
$17.99 The Big Valley 1.x
$17.99 Buffy The Vampire Slayer 1.x
$17.99 Dark Angel 1.x
$17.99 Futurama 1.x
$17.99 Millennium 1.x
$17.99 Murder One 1.x
$17.99 The Pretender 1.x
$17.99 Remington Steele 1.x
$17.99 Roswell 1.x
$22.49 Boston Legal 1.x
$22.49 Family Guy 1.x/2.x
$22.49 X-Files 1.x
$26.99 Prison Break 1.x
$26.99 The Shield 1.x
$26.99 Tru Calling 1.x
$26.99 24 1.x
$35.99 Lost in Space 1.x
And look! A non-season-one mistake!
$13.49 The Bob Newhart Show 2.x
Speaking of O.J., I continue to highly recommend that “Murder One” season-one set for $17.99. One of the best seasons of anything ever, and the same hunk of O.J.-inspired Daniel Benzali greatness was going for $27.99 last week and $53.98 a year ago!!
TV-on-DVD Calendar
Last Week
American Dad Vol. 2
Banacek 1.x
Coach 2.x
Curious George: Rocket Ride
ER 7.x
ER 1.x-7.x
Frasier 9.x
Home Improvement 6.x
Martin 2.x
M*A*S*H: Goodbye, Farewell and Amen
Masters of Horror: Right To Die
Monarch of the Glen 6.x
Monarch of the Glen 5.x/6.x
Playboy After Dark Vol. 2
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Vol. 6
The Red Green Show: 1998
The Rockford Files 4.x
Tex Avery's Droopy: Complete Theatrical Collection
Tom & Jerry Tales Vol. 2
Wanted: Dead or Alive 2.x
The War at Home 1.x
Wings 4.x
This Week
Afro-Samurai: The Complete Miniseries
Afro-Samurai: The Complete Miniseries: Director's Cut
Airwolf 3.x
Avatar: The Last Airbender 2.x Vol. 3
Hero High: The Complete Series
Instant Star 1.x
Kitchen Confidential: The Complete Series
Kyle XY 1.x
Legend of the Dragon 1.x
Legend of the Dragon Vol. 4
;
The Magnificent Seven 2.x
Mythbusters Vol. 1
The OC 4.x
Roots: 30th Anniversary Edition
Scrubs 5.x
Stuart Little: All Revved Up
Stuart Little: Fun Around Every Curve
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1.x Vol. 1
24 1.x (Slimset)
24 2.x (Slimset)
24 3.x (Slimset)
24 4.x (Slimset)
Next Week
The Andy Griffith Show: The Complete Series
Big Train 1.x/2.x
Charlie & Lola Vol. 4
The Closer 2.x
The Closer 1.x/2.x
F-Troop 2.x
Kids in the Hall: Best Of Vol. 2
Rawhide 2.x Vol. 1
Weeds 1.x (Blu-ray)
June 5
The Bill 1.x
Chappelle's Show: Best Of
CHiPs 1.x
The Cosby Show 3.x
The Cosby Show 4.x
Dante's Cove 2.x
Dark Angel 1.x (Slimset)
Dark Angel 2.x (Slimset)
The Dead Zone 5.x
Doctor Who - Castrovalva
Doctor Who - Logopolis
Doctor Who - Keeper of Traken
Doctor Who: New Beginnings
The Fall Guy 1.x
The Fall Guy 1.x Vol. 1
The Fall Guy 1.x Vol. 2
The Henry Rollins Show 1.x
Henry Rollins: Uncut From NYC
Hex 1.x
Hogan's Heroes 6.x
Inside The Actors Studio: Leading Men
Kenny The Shark Vol. 1
Kenny The Shark Vol. 2
Mission: Impossible 2.x
The Outer Limits 1.x Vol. 1
Passport To Europe: France & Italy <--- NEW!!
Prehistoric Park
Rescue Me 3.x
Rescue Me 3.x (BLU-RAY)
Robin Hood 1.x
Seinfeld 8.x
Silverwing 1.x
SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom Adventures
Survivorman: The Complete Series
The Sweeney 1.x
The Tonight Show: King of Late Night
The Tonight Show: Stand-Up Comedians
Tutenstein Vol. 1
Tutenstein Vol. 2
Wait Till Your Father Gets Home 1.x
What's New Scooby-Doo? 2.x
June 12
Blue Murder: Set 1
Deadwood 3.x
Diagnosis Murder 2.x
Doc Martin 1.x
Hardy Boys Nancy Drew Mysteries 2.x
Kathy Griffin: My LIfe On The D-List 1.x
Masters of Horror: The Screwfly Solution
Mile High 2.x
Mile High 2.x Vol. 1
Mile High 2.x Vol. 2
Noah's Arc 2.x
The Office 1.x/2.x Value Pack
The Practice Vol. 1
The Rat Patrol 2.x
Red Shoe Diaries 1.x
Trapped in TV Guide 1.x
Waiting For God 2.x
Walker: Texas Ranger 3.x
Welcome Back Kotter 1.x
What's Happening Now! 1.x
June 19
Animaniacs Vol. 3
Animaniacs Vol. 1-3
Batfink: The Complete Series
Daniel Boone 4.x
Lovejoy 1.x
Perry Mason 2.x Vol. 1
Picket Fences 1.x
Pinky and the Brain Vol. 3
Pinky and the Brain Vol. 1-3
The Powerpuff Girls 1.x
Silver Spoons 1.x
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea 3.x Vol. 1
June 26
Bozo The Clown Vol. 1
Casper: Best Of Vol. 1
Casper: Best Of Vol. 2
Gomer Pyle USMC 2.x
Hannah Montana Vol. 3
Miami Vice 5.x
Monk 5.x
Monk 5.x/Psych 1.x Combo
My Little Pony: The Pony Puppy <--- NEW!!
Mystery Science Theatre 3000 Vol. 11
The New Adventures of Batman: The Complete Animated Series
The New Adventures of Superman: The Complete Animated Series
The New Statesman: The Complete Series
Psych 1.x
Reno 911! 4.x Uncensored
Super Mario Bros. 3: The Complete Series
Wild Chronicles 1.x Collection
July 3
Baa Baa Black Sheep Vol. 2
Bravestarr: Best Of
Digrassi: The Next Generation 5.x
Eureka 1.x
Filmation's Ghostbusters Vol. 2
Passport To Europe: England, Ireland and Scotland <--- NEW!!
Slings & Arrows 3.x
July 10
Beauty and the Beast 2.x
Bewitched 5.x
Extras 2.x
Extras 1.x/2.x
Hustle 3.x
My Super Sweet 16 1.x/2.x
Punky Brewster Vols. 1-6
Shark Week: 20th Anniversary Collection
July 17
Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog Vol. 1
America's Funniest Home Videos: Guide To Parenting
Birdman & THe Galaxy Trio: The Complete Series
College Hill: Virgin Islands
Grafters 1.x <--- NEW!!
Gunsmoke 1.x
The Incredible Hulk 2.x
Most Haunted: Castles of Britain
Most Haunted: The Collection
Most Haunted: London Haunts
Overhaulin 3.x Vol. 1 <--- NEW!!
Payback 1.x <--- NEW!!
Rising Damp 4.x <--- NEW!!
The Rookies 1.x
Space Ghost & Dino Boy: The Complete Series
Vincent: The Complete Series
Voyagers! The Complete Series
William & Mary: The Complete Miniseries
July 24
Benson 1.x
A Bit of Fry & Laurie 3.x
A Bit of Fry & Laurie 4.x
A Bit of Fry & Laurie: The Complete Collection
The Crow: The Complete Series
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law 3.x
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law 1.x-3.x
Land of the Giants: The Complete Series
The Pink Panther Vol. 6
The Real McCoys 1.x
The Secret of Isis <--- NEW!!
Sgt. Preston of the Yukon: Complete Collection
Spawn: 10th Anniversary Gift Set
Stargate SG-1 10.x
Star Trek: Captain's Log
Tales From The Crypt 6.x
Underdog: Ultimate Collection Vol. 2
Underdog: Ultimate Collection Vol. 3
Weeds 2.x
Woody Woodpecker & Friends
July 31
The Archie Show: The Complete Series
Babylon 5: The Lost Tales
Dallas 7.x
Hawaii Five-0 2.x
The Kids of Degrassi Street: Complete Series
Popeye 1933-1938
The Rhinemann Exchange: The Complete Miniseries
Sabrina The Teenage Witch 2.x
Sons of Hollywood 1.x
Space 1999: The Complete Series <--- NEW!!
Thunderbirds: The Complete Series <--- NEW!!
August 7
The Adventures of Jim Bowie: Complete Series
Charlite & Lola Vol. 5
Darkwing Duck Vol. 2
The Dresden Files 1.x <--- NEW!!
Full House 7.x
Inside The Actors Studio: Barbara Streisand
The Muppet Show 2.x
My Hero 2.x
Saved By The Bell: The Movies <--- NEW!!
Soul Food 2.x
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Vol. 2 <--- NEW!!
Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show
That Girl 3.x
The Tick Vs. 2.x
August 14
All Creatures Great and Small 7.x
All Creatures Great and Small: The Complete Series <--- NEW!!
Avatar 2.x Vol. 4
Baby Looney Tunes Vol. 4
Doctor Who: Robot
Doctor Who: Survival
Dynasty 2.x <--- NEW!!
8 Simple Rules 1.x <--- NEW!!
The Fugitive 1.x Vol. 1
Home Improvement 7.x <--- NEW!!
Loonatics Unleashed 2.x
Loonatics Unleashed 1.x/2.x
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Vol. 7
Rome 2.x
August 21
Dexter 1.x
JAG 4.x
JAG 1.x-4.x
August 28
Dark Shadows: The Beginning
Legion of Super-Heroes Vol. 1
Heroes 1.x <--- NEW!!
The Odd Couple 2.x; <--- NEW!!
The Outer Limits Vol. 2 <--- NEW!!
Samurai Jack 4.x
September 4
Bosom Buddies 2.x <--- NEW!!
Nip/Tuck 4.x ($41.99) <--- NEW!!
Nip/Tuck 4.x [Blu-Ray] ($55.95) <--- NEW!!
Nip/Tuck 4.x [HD-DVD] ($55.95) <--- NEW!!
September 11
Avatar 2.x <--- NEW!!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fast Forward Vol. 2
September 25
Davey and Goliath: The Lost Episodes
Touched By An Angel 4.x Vol. 1 <--- NEW!!
Selected season-sets containing
some of Herc’s all-time favorite TV!!
$13.49 The Mary Tyler Moore Show 1.x (24 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$13.49 Hill Street Blues 1.x (17 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$17.99 ER 1.x (26 episodes)
$17.99 Murder One 1.x (23 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$17.99 Wonder Showzen 1.x (eight episodes)
$18.49 Friends 1.x (24 episodes)
$19.99 The Bob Newhart Show 1.x (24 episodes)
$21.99 Soap 1.x (25 episodes)
$21.99 The Tick: The Complete Series (9 Episodes)
$22.99 The OC 1.x (27 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$22.99 Futurama Vol. 2 (19 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$22.99 Curb Your Enthusiasm 1.x (10 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$22.99 The Venture Bros. 1.x (13 Episodes)
$23.49 The Tick Versus 1.x (12 episodes)
$24.99 Rocky & Bullwinkle 1.x (26 episodes)
$24.99 Moonlighting 1.x/2.x (25 episodes)
$24.99 South Park 1.x (13 episodes)
$26.99 24 1.x (24 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$26.99 Cheers 1.x (23 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$26.99 Veronica Mars 1.x (22 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$27.99 Angel 5.x (22 episodes)
$27.99 Oz 1.x (eight episodes)
$28.49 St. Elsewhere 1.x (22 episodes)
$29.49 Newsradio 1.x/2.x (29 episodes)
$29.49 The Rockford Files 1.x (22 episodes)
$29.49 Columbo 1.x (nine TV-movies)
$29.99 Buffy The Vampire Slayer 4.x (22 episodes)
$29.99 The Simpsons 2.x (22 episodes)
$29.99 Firefly: The Complete Series (14 episodes)
$29.99 Wonderfalls: The Complete Series (13 episodes)
$30.49 The Larry Sanders Show 1.x (13 episodes)
$30.99 The Andy Griffith Show 5.x (32 episodes)
$31.49 Taxi 1.x (22 episodes)
$33.99 Kung Fu 2.x (23 episodes)
$34.99 Mission Impossible 1.x (28 episodes)
$35.49 The Wild Wild West (28 episodes)
$35.49 Seinfeld 3.x (23 episodes)
$35.99 The Dick Van Dyke Show 1.x (31 episodes) <--- VASTLY ENCHEAPENED!!
$36.99 Northern Exposure 3.x (23 episodes)
$36.99 Undeclared: The Complete Series (17 episodes)
$37.49 The West Wing 1.x (22 episodes)
$39.99 Gilmore Girls 4.x (22 episodes)
$42.49 Fawlty Towers: The Complete Series (12 episodes)
$44.99 Battlestar Galactica 1.x (13 episodes plus miniseries)
$44.99 The Sopranos 1.x (13 episodes)
$45.99 Alias 1.x (22 episodes)
$45.99 Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series (18 episodes)
$46.99 Lost 1.x (24 episodes)
$47.99 The Wire 1.x (13 episodes)
$50.49 Star Trek: The Next Generation 3.x (26 episodes)
$50.99 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 3.x (26 episodes)
$53.99 Once and Again 1.x (22 episodes)
$53.99 Six Feet Under 1.x (13 episodes)
$53.99 SCTV Network 90 Vol. 1 (Nine 90-minute episodes)
$62.99 Star Trek 2.x (26 episodes)
$64.99 Monty Python: The Complete Series 16-Ton Megaset (45 episodes)
$64.99 Deadwood 1.x (12 episodes)
$73.99 Carnivale 1.x (12 episodes)
$76.49 The Prisoner: The Complete Series (17 episodes)
$87.99 The Twilight Zone 1.x (36 episodes)
$119.93 My So-Called Life: The Complete Series (17 episodes)
$195.00 Twin Peaks 1.x minus pilot (seven episodes)
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