These new-to-DVD TV shows are led by follow-up seasons of such popular series as "The Streets of San Francisco," "Father Knows Best" and "Scrubs."
"The Streets of San Francisco: Season 2, Volume 2" (CBS/Paramount, 1973-74, three discs, $39.98). Michael Douglas found his breakthrough role, and longtime character actor Karl Malden found stardom in this police procedural about a young cop partnered with a veteran detective in the City by the Bay. Solid mysteries, great chemistry with the two stars. Guests include Tyne Daly, Cheryl Ladd, Nick Nolte and Sam Elliott.
Extras: full frame, 12 episodes
"Father Knows Best: Season Two" (Shout, 1955-56, five discs, b/w, $29.99). Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin return as one of America's favorite TV families of the '50s. Included here is the rare, out-of-circulation Western episode "Stage to Yuma," along with more interviews with Donahue and Chapin, and another episode of Young's "Window on Main Street" series.
Extras: full frame, 36 episodes, "Window on Main Street" episode, featurette
"Hawaii Five-0: The Fifth Season" (CBS/Paramount, 1972-73, six discs, $54.99). Top cop Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord), Danno (James MacArthur) and their elite squad go after blackmailers, con artists and killers in this set. Guests include Andy Griffith, Ricardo Montalban, William Shatner, Patty Duke and Erik Estrada.
Extras: full frame, 24 episodes, promos
"Scrubs: The Complete Seventh Season" (ABC, 2007-08, two discs, $29.99). Thanks to the writer's strike last season, the show's production was cut in half, so this set has only 11 episodes. But there are bonus features to make up it, featuring Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, John C. McGinley and the rest of the wacky gang at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Extras: full frame, 11 episodes, deleted/alternate scenes, audio commentaries, featurettes, bloopers
"McHale's Navy: Season Four" (Shout, 1965-66, five discs, b/w, $39.99). In its final season, this World War II sitcom has McHale (Ernest Borgnine) and Parker (Tim Conway) still driving Binghamton (Joe Flynn) nuts — but the entire crew is transferred from the South Pacific to Italy. Among the highlights are Borgnine tackling a second role as McHale's lookalike cousin (in two episodes) and Don Knotts in a guest appearance. (Now all we need are the two '60s theatrical "McHale's Navy" movies.)
Extras: full frame, 30 episodes
"JAG: The Seventh Season" (CBS/Paramount, 2001-02, five discs, $55.98). David James Elliott and Catherine Bell re-evaluate their relationship in this season, while military missions take them around the world, including post-9/11 Afghanistan.
Extras: widescreen, 24 episodes
"Operation Valkyrie: The Stauffenberg Plot to Kill Hitler" (WGBH, 2008, two discs, color and b/w, $19.98). The plot to assassinate Hitler by members of his inner military circle is chronicled in this documentary (which is the subject of a December movie starring Tom Cruise as the plot's leader, Claus von Stauffenberg). The documentary is interesting but more compelling are the bonus features, two hours that include Eva Braun's color home movies and an interview with the last surviving member of the conspiracy.
Extras: widescreen, featurettes
"Zoom Back to the 70s" (WGBH, 1972-78, two discs, $34.95). This beloved interactive TV show for kids was a PBS favorite during the '70s (so much so that it was revived in the late '90s) and this set features segments from each season and virtually every cast member. The skits, animation, poems, jokes, science experiments, etc., were written and performed by children, with suggestions from moppet viewers. A blast from the past for kids of the '70s and fun for their own 21st century young'uns.
Extras: full frame, featurette, printable cards, downloadable wallpaper
"Health Matters" (WGBH, 2004-08, five discs, $49.95). These five PBS documentaries comprehensively explore cancer, heart disease, depression, obesity and Alzheimer's, with testimonials from first-person experiences as well as medical experts.
Extras: widescreen, featurettes (on the cancer and heart-disease discs)
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com