A '70s artificially constructed superhero makes his DVD debut this week but only online.
"The Six Million Dollar Man: The Complete Collection" (Time Life, 1974-78, 40 discs, $239.95). Leave it to Time Life to compile this expensive but amazingly comprehensive set, after its similar treatment of "Get Smart" and "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." Exclusively available at www.6mdm.com until its wide release in October 2011.
Fans have been asking why the first season of this show's spinoff, "The Bionic Woman," was released last month while the original show remained in limbo. Here's the answer — this set was in the works, with every "Six Million Dollar Man" episode, the pilot movies (which were originally part of the "ABC Suspense Movie" anthology, in rotation with other made-for-TV flicks) and the reunion movies, along with bonus features galore.
After a near-fatal crash, astronaut Steve Austin (Lee Majors) finds himself with bionic implants that turn him into a superhuman cyborg, a government-built half-robot who is sent on dangerous assignments.
The first pilot movie is basically a straight character study, slow and deliberate. The second two pilots — complete with an awful '70s-style theme song — take on a James Bond flavor with more action.
As the show settles into its weekly hourlong format (thankfully, without the song), there's no denying its camp value, but it also has a tongue-in-cheek sensibility, which suggests they were in on the joke. Majors is one of those stiff leading-man types so popular in 1970s dramatic series but he's surrounded by capable actors.
And the show received a real injection of energy with the arrival of Lindsay Wagner as the Bionic Woman in the second season, which led to her own show.
Guest stars over the show's run include Farrah Fawcett (playing three different characters in four episodes), Flip Wilson, Stefanie Powers, William Shatner, Suzanne Somers and future Oscar-winners Kim Basinger, Louis Gossett Jr. and, in a reunion movie, Sandra Bullock.
Extras: full frame, 100 episodes, alternate syndicated edits (two-part versions of the pilot movies, which later ran as series episodes), three pilot movies, three reunion movies, crossover episodes of "The Bionic Woman," audio commentaries, featurettes, trailers; six booklets, collectible box (with a lenticular 3-D cover of Steve Austin running and an audio chip with a bit of dialogue from the show's opening, activated when the box is opened)
"Brian Wilson: Songwriter, 1962-1969" (MVD, 2010, two discs, $24.95). This three-hour, two-part documentary on the enigmatic songwriter/singer emphasizes his early Beach Boys-era music, with an array of performances assessed by friends and boosters. Tons of archival footage helps. Nothing new really but entraining fun for fans.
Extras: full frame, featurettes, text biographies
"Sacred Triangle: Bowie, Iggy & Lou, 1971-73" (MVD, 2010, $19.95). Examination of three seemingly washed-up musical talents — David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed — who came together to turn things around in the early '70s.
Extras: full frame
"John Scofield: New Morning, the Paris Concert" (MVD, 2010, $19.95). The jazz guitarist in an electric Paris concert filmed earlier this year..
Extras: widescreen, 12 songs, featurette
"Human Weapon: The Complete Season One" (History/Blu-ray, 2007, four discs, $49.95). Sixteen unusual forms of combat are explored in this series, as mixed-martial arts expert Jason Chambers and former pro-football player Bill Duff travel the world to demonstrate the history, style and methodology.
Extras: widescreen, 16 episodes
"Gangland: Season Six" (History/Blu-ray, 2009-10, three discs, $44.95). Six seasons? Really? That alone should give you an idea of how much a part of modern society gangs have become. This season goes inside the gangster communities of Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Detroit and San Diego, among others, in a way that most of us, hopefully, will never see in our lives.
Extras: widescreen, 11 episodes, deleted scenes (also on DVD, $34.95)
"Animal Tails" (Lionsgate, 2010, $14.98). Episodes of "Bob the Builder," "Thomas & Friends," "Fireman Sam," "Barney" and "Kipper" offer positive lessons for children ages 2-5.
Extras: full frame, five episodes
e-mail: hicks@desnews.com