Here are some of the TV shows that are scheduled for DVD release on Tuesday.
"Dharma & Greg: Season One" (Fox, 1997-98, not rated, $39.98, three double-sided discs). Jenna Elfman, as free-spirited yoga instructor Dharma, and Thomas Gibson, as uptight lawyer Greg, who marry in a whirlwind in the hysterical pilot, are a great team. And the writing is especially sharp in this first season. Equally hilarious are Dharma's hippie parents Abby and Larry (Mimi Kennedy, Alan Rachins), and Greg's parents Kitty and Edward (Susan Sullivan and Mitch Ryan), who are snobbish blue-bloods. And both dads, in their own ways, are riotously clueless.
Extras: Full frame, 23 episodes, making-of featurette, co-creator Chuck Lorre's vanity cards, interactive game, language options (English, Spanish), subtitle options (English, Spanish, French), chapters.
"Coach: The First Season" (Universal, 1989, not rated, $34.98, two discs). Chemistry between the lead players also gives this popular sitcom a boost. Craig T. Nelson is a college-football coach and avowed sports nut, and Shelley Fabares plays his TV newswoman girlfriend. And there's also plenty of comic help from Nelson's assistants, played by Jerry Van Dyke and Bill Fagerbakke. This first season has a lot of laughs, and all the performers play endearing characters.
Extras: Full frame, 13 episodes, featurette, one episode from Season 2, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"Medium: The Complete First Season" (CBS/Paramount, 2005, not rated, $62.99, five discs). Patricia Arquette (who won the best dramatic-actress Emmy for this role) is quite charming playing the real-life Allison Dubois, who uses her psychic abilities to help solve crimes in and around Phoenix. Good supporting cast bolsters this lively crime series with a supernatural bent, and the fact that Arquette's character is married and has a family sets it apart from most other police procedurals on the air right now.
Extras: Widescreen, 16 episodes, audio commentaries, extended version of pilot, deleted scenes, featurettes, bloopers, TV spots, language options (English, Spanish), optional English subtitles, chapters.
"This Is America, Charlie Brown" (Peanuts/Paramount, 1988-89, not rated, $19.99, two discs). This series of half-hour cartoons places the "Peanuts" characters in historical settings, for observations on history that are both educational and entertaining. Who knew Snoopy was so integral to the Pilgrims or the Wright Brothers. Fun for kids and their parents.
Extras: Full frame, eight episodes, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"Walker, Texas Ranger: The Complete First Season" (CBS/Paramount, 1993-94, $54.99, seven discs). You have to be a die-hard Chuck Norris fan to get into this rigid, by-the-numbers action series, which offers no surprises and less wit. Strictly for Norrisphiles.
Extras: Full frame, 26 episodes, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"Cheers: The Complete Eighth Season" (CBS/Paramount, 1989-90, not rated, $42.99, four discs). This venerable series is still hilarious in its eighth season as Rebecca is wooed by a millionaire and Frasier and Lilith have a baby, among other developments.
Extras: Full frame, 26 episodes, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"Frasier: The Complete Eighth Season" (CBS/Paramount, 200-2001, not rated, $42.99, four discs). Speaking of Frasier, when his own show hit the eighth season, it started to go downhill, especially as the romance between Niles and Daphne heated up. But there are still laughs to be had here and there.
Extras: Full frame, 22 episodes, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"MacGuyver: The Complete Sixth Season" (CBS/Paramount, 1990-91, not rated, $36.99, six discs). More adventures with that guy who can make anything out of anything. Still an entertaining ride.
Extras: Full frame, 21 episodes, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"Beavis and Butt-Head: The Mike Judge Collection, Volume Two" (MTV/Paramount, 1994-96, not rated, $39.99, three discs). More Beavis and Butt-Head cartoons for those so inclined, including 17 episodes never before on DVD, 13 music videos with their commentary and excerpts from various MTV shows on which the animated duo appeared.
Extras: Full frame, 40 episodes, 13 music videos, making-of featurette, excerpts from various shows, chapters.
"Shark Attack" (WGBH, 1996, not rated, $19.95). This PBS NOVA program is an hourlong documentary about shark attacks on humans, which are rare, but when they do occur, tend to cause panic among locals. In this case, it's tiger sharks off Hawaii.
Extras: Full frame, printable materials, optional English subtitles, chapters. (If you can't find WGBH titles in a local store, order by phone at 800-949-8670, or on the Web at shop.wgbh.org.)
"Dora the Explorer: Animal Adventures" (Nick Jr./Paramount, 2006, not rated, $16.99). Includes episodes "Save Diego," "Baby Jaguar's Roar," "Click" and "Hic-Boom-Ohh."
Extras: Full frame, four episodes, language options (English, Spanish, French), optional English subtitles, chapters.
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com