TV shows from the recent past dominate these new DVD releases, all scheduled to hit store shelves on Tuesday.
"3rd Rock From the Sun" (Anchor Bay, 1996, not rated, $39.98, four discs). John Lithgow has played killers and authority figures, both calm and unhinged, since the mid-1970s. But it was his turn as over-the-top wacko scientist Dr. Lizardo in "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai" that seems in retrospect to have prepared him for his role as the leader of four aliens who take on human form to observe earthlings in "3rd Rock From the Sun."
In this silly slapstick sitcom, Lithgow manages to go further over the top than perhaps any actor since Robin Williams played that other TV alien, Mork. And Lithgow sets the tone for this sometimes shrill but often funny farcical series, with Jane Curtin, Kristen Johnston, French Stewart and Joseph Gordon-Levitt following suit.
Extras: Full frame, new interviews with all of the principals, bloopers, TV spots, 16-page booklet, chapters, DVD-Rom applications.
"America's Funniest Home Videos: Volume 1" (Shout! 2002, not rated, $39.98, four discs). Fans of people making fools of themselves (which would seem to include the bulk of TV watchers in this reality-show era) will likely rejoice to see this first-in-a-series of "AFV" box sets.
This one has 12 hourlong episodes from the 2002 season, hosted by Tom Bergeron. But if you are a fan of original host Bob Saget, you do get to glimpse him in the two-part, two-hour 300th episode, a sort of best-of the series' decade-and-a-half.
I laughed mostly at kids and animals doing goofy things, but I had a harder time with sequences where people seem to get hurt. And do we really need baby-barfing and "groin-hit" video competitions?
Well, maybe during sweeps.
Extras: Full frame, 12 hourlong episodes, two-part 300th episode, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"Xena, Warrior Princess: 10th Anniversary Collection" (Anchor Bay, 1995-2000, not rated, $59.98, seven discs). Those who love Lucy Lawless as "Xena" should enjoy this collection aimed at rabid fans, with bonus features galore and 16 varied episodes from the show's six seasons on the air. In fact, the episodes were chosen by fans of the show as those they most wanted compiled to represent the story of Xena and Gabrielle's adventures.
Extras: Full frame, 16 episodes, audio commentaries, interviews, featurettes (on fan convention, fan-submitted videos, re-enactments, Bruce Campbell, etc.), optional English subtitles, chapters.
"Star Trek: Enterprise: Season 2" (Paramount, 2002-03, not rated, $129, seven discs). Capt. Archer (Scott Bakula) and his crew satisfactorily address the cliffhanger that ended the first season, and there are some very good episodes here. This is the "Star Trek" show that everyone complains about, but this season is a pretty good one.
Extras: Widescreen, 24 episodes, audio commentary (on two episodes), deleted scenes, making-of featurettes, interviews, outtakes, photo gallery, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"The Brady Bunch: The Complete Second Season" (Paramount, 1970-71, not rated, $38.99, four discs). The Bradys are back with their second season, as women's lib gets spoofed, along with a variety of domestic issues involving the blended family of Carol (Florence Henderson), Mike (Robert Reed), their kids and housekeeper Alice.
Extras: Full frame, 24 episodes, chapters.
"Gilligan's Island: The Complete Third Season" (Warner, 1966-67, not rated, $39.98, three discs). Fans of the survivors of that "three-hour tour" will enjoy this third and final season of the beloved series. Silly slapstick abounds, of course.
Extras: Full frame, 30 episodes, season introduction by creator/producer Sherwood Schwartz, audio commentary (by Schwartz on episode 4: "The Producer"), making-of featurette, subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
"Dark Shadows: Collection 19" (MPI, 1970, not rated, $59.98, four discs). More color episodes from the popular daytime soap opera that specialized in monsters and mysticism in the small Maine fishing village of Collinsport, with the 175-year-old vampire Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid).
Extras: Full frame, 40 episodes, interviews, chapters.
"All Grown Up! Dude Where's My Horse?" (Nick/Paramount, not rated, $16.99). More episodes from the kid-friendly cartoon series. In addition to the title episode, bonus episodes are "Blind Man's Bluff" and "Yu-Gotta-Go."
Extras: Full frame, bonus episodes, chapters.
"Tikii Tikki Tembo . . . and more favorite tales" (Scholastic, 2005, not rated, $14.95).
"The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash . . . and more back-to-school stories" (Scholastic, 2005, not rated, $14.95). More stories for children ages 3-9. The first disc features "Tikki Tikki Tembo," "Hot Hippo" and "The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin," with bonus stories "The Happy Lion," "The Magic of Anansi" and "Little Red Riding Hood." The second has "The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash," "Shrinking Violet" and "Will I Have a Friend?" with bonus stories "The Sweater" and "Many Moons."
Extras: Full frame, bonus stories, chapters.
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com