These TV shows to be released on DVD Tuesday are led by a pair of Tom Selleck "Jesse Stone" movies and the initial seasons of two disparate series.
TV movies
"Jesse Stone: Night Passage" (Sony, 2006, $24.96).
"Jesse Stone: A Death in Paradise" (Sony, 2006, $24.96). Selleck is great as Robert B. Parker's character, who is far removed from Selleck's "Magnum, P.I." persona in these CBS movies.
Stone is a sullen, lonely alcoholic — a former L.A. homicide detective who becomes police chief in a small New England town. But he's also compassionate, smart and determined to see truth and right prevail.
The films are invested with sly humor, fascinating characters, good mysteries — and Selleck is perfect. The first in this series was "Stone Cold" (released on DVD two years ago). "Night Passage" is a prequel, which shows us how Stone got into this position; "Death in Paradise" is a follow-up.
Extras: Widescreen
Documentary
"The Bridge" (Koch Lorber, 2006, $26.98). This is a fascinating look at the Golden Gate Bridge, the iconic symbol of San Francisco, which is curiously the place where more people commit suicide than anywhere else in the world.
Extras: Widescreen, featurette
TV series
"The Practice: Volume One" (Fox, 1997, four discs, $39.98). With "The Practice" coming to DVD, can David E. Kelly's "L.A. Law" and "Ally McBeal" be far behind? ("Picket Fences" comes out next week.) "The Practice" is also a very good show, especially in the early seasons of its eight-year run — sort of the flip side of "Law & Order," observing low-rent defense attorneys who start out as idealistic but ultimately become cynical and occasionally down-and-dirty. Dylan McDermott leads a great ensemble cast, which includes Lara Flynn Boyle, Camryn Manheim, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Steve Harris, Michael Badalucco and Kelli Williams.
Extras: Full frame, featurette
"Welcome Back, Kotter: The Complete First Season" (Warner, 1975-76, four discs, $29.98). Gabe Kaplan's comedy series about a teacher who returns to his high school to teach underachievers is really more of a vaudeville act wrapped up in sitcom trappings. The humor is broad, and many episodes open and/or close with Kaplan telling a joke. This show is primarily remembered for launching John Travolta's career, but the rest of the cast is also appealing, including Marcia Strassman as Kaplan's wife.
Extras: Full frame, 22 episodes, featurette, screen tests
"Blue Murder: Set 1" (Acorn, 2003-04, three discs, $49.99). This British series is an interesting twist on the usual police procedural as the chief homicide detective is a single mother who is pregnant by her low-life husband, from whom she separates in the opening episode. Caroline Quentin brings world-weary quality and occasional humor to the role, and she's very good.
Extras: Widescreen, six episodes
"Diagnosis: Murder: The Second Season" (CBS/Paramount, six discs, 1994-95, $54.99). Predictable and old-fashioned, but, thanks to star Dick Van Dyke, highly enjoyable series about a doctor who solves murders. Think "Murder She Wrote" set in a hospital. Scott Biao, Victoria Rowell and Van Dyke's real-life son, Barry, co-star. Guests include Morgan Fairchild, Sally Kellerman, Betty White, Leah Remini.
Extras: Full frame, 22 episodes
"Deadwood: The Complete Third Season" (HBO, 2006, six discs, $99.98). This smart, compelling Western has a devoted fan following, but the R-rated sensibilities, especially the non-stop foul language, will put off many.
Extras: Widescreen, audio commentaries, featurettes
"The Rat Patrol: The Complete Second Season" (MGM, 1967-68, three discs, $39.98). Fun, fast-paced half-hour World War II action show with a sense of humor, starring Christopher George as the head of a four-man team of commandos battling Germans in the North African desert. This was the final season.
Extras: Full frame, 26 episodes
"The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries: Season Two" (Universal, 1977-78, four discs, $39.98). Juvenile series with Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson as the Hardy Boys, teamed with Nancy Drew (Pamela Sue Martin) in several episodes. In the first two-parter, they meet Dracula! Guests include Lorne Greene, Jaclyn Smith, Robert Wagner, Ray Milland, Melanie Griffith, Kim Cattral, Valerie Bertinelli.
Extras: Full frame, featurette
"Walker, Texas Ranger: The Third Season" (CBS/Paramount, 1995-96, seven discs, $54.99). Chuck Norris chases down (and karate kicks) more bad guys in the third season his popular show.
Extras: Full frame, 26 episodes
"Mile High: Season 2, Part 1" (Koch, 2004, four discs, $49.98).
"Mile High: Season 2, Part 2" (Koch, 2004-05, four discs, $49.98). More raunchy adventures with that English flight crew that seems to spend as much time with their clothes off as they do with their uniforms on. This BBC America series is amusing but very "adult."
Extras: Full frame, 13 episodes each
"Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List: Season 1" (Universal, 2005, two discs, $29.98). Another foul-mouthed comic with a reality show. One of her stand-up specials is included.
Extras: Full frame, stand-up special: "Kathy Griffin Is ... Not Nicole Kidman," "Season 2" preview
"Masters of Horror: The Screwfly Solution" (Anchor Bay, 2007, $14.98). Joe Dante ("Gremlins," "The Howling") directed this episode, which depicts the war between the sexes as homicidal. Jason Priestley and Elliott Gould star. Contains R-level violence, sex, nudity and language.
Extras: Widescreen, audio commentary, featurettes, photo gallery; DVD-Rom applications
Animated show
"Hellboy Animated: Blood & Iron" (Anchor Bay, 2007, $19.98). Ron Perlman, Selma Blair and Doug Jones (from the live-action "Hellboy" film and the previous animated feature, "Sword of Storms"), along with John Hurt, do the voices for this straight-to-video feature, as Hellboy and friends try to stop the resurrection of a female vampire in New York.
Extras: Widescreen, audio commentary, featurettes
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com