I am – Hercules!!
Those who record “South Park” but watch “Invasion” after “Lost” on Wednesday nights may want to have a gander at American Gothic: The Complete Series
, which was “Invasion” creator Shaun Cassidy’s first series about a creepy sheriff overseeing creepy things in a creepy small town.
Discover! Jake Weber – famous now as Patricia Arquette’s TV husband on Glenn Gordon Caron’s “Medium” -plays the town doctor and antagonist to Sheriff Lucas Buck. (Most everyone remembers that Buck was played by Gary Cole – who subsequently grew into a major cult icon thanks to his turns in “Office Space,” “The West Wing” and the “Brady Bunch” movies.)
The tenth anniversary DVD contains all 22 episodes produced (four of which never received a network broadcast) as well as 15 deleted and extended scenes. Cassidy and David Eick (who went on to help write and produce the new "Battlestar Galactica" series), but not producer Sam Raimi, contribute commentary to the pilot.
Beware! The episodes on the disc are inexplicably and wildly out of order. You'll likely want to consult the production numbers at epguides.com to figure out how best to watch this set.
My excuse for including Looney Tunes: Golden Collection Vol. 3 in this column is a total, shameless cheat and sham: a rare 1963 “Philbert” TV pilot is included. None of these other cartoons appeared first on television – but, of course, that’s where most of us saw every one of them.
I am obsessed with these stupid cartoons - as one can only become obsessed with things that can reduce one to tears and pants-peeing. I spent years trying to collect all 1,004 - collecting them on VHS, trolling the old TBS Superstation - then on laserdisc. Christ knows, not all of the 1,004 released to cinemas between 1930 and 1969 are any good at all. But some of these on this set are miracles, representing some of the finest American comedy ever produced.
Particularly smitten am I with the work of Chuck Jones, Bob Clampett and Frank Tashlin, all of whom are well represented on this third collection. Jones had a secret weapon in a writer who called himself Michael Maltese - and who consistently lent dark and brainy wit to the words coming out of the Mel Blanc’s amazing mouth.
Break it down:
Disc One
1. Hare Force (Friz Freleng; 1944)
2. Hare Remover (Frank Tashlin; 1946)
3. Hare Tonic (Chuck Jones; 1945)
4. A Hare Grows in Manhattan (Friz Freleng; 1947)
5. Easter Yeggs (Robert McKimson; 1947)
6. The Wabbit Who Came to Supper (Friz Freleng; 1942)
7. Bowery Bugs (Arthur Davis; 1949)
8. Homeless Hare (Chuck Jones; 1950)
9. The Case of the Missing Hare (Chuck Jones; 1942)
10. Acrobatty Bunny (Robert McKimson; 1946)
11. Wackiki Wabbit (Chuck Jones; 1943)
12. Hare Do (Friz Freleng; 1949)
13. Rebel Rabbit (Robert McKimson; 1949)
14. Hillbilly Hare (Robert McKimson; 1950)
15. Duck! Rabbit! Duck! (Chuck Jones; 1953)
Disc Two
16. Daffy Duck in Hollywood (Tex Avery; 1938)
17. Hollywood Capers (Jack King; 1935)
18. The Coo-Coo Nut Grove (Friz Freleng; 1936)
19. Porky's Road Race (Frank Tashlin; 1937)
20. The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos (Frank Tashlin; 1937)
21. She Was an Acrobat's Daughter (Friz Freleng; 1937)
22. The Film Fan (Bob Clampett; 1939)
23. Speakin' of the Weather (Frank Tashlin; 1937)
24. Thugs with Dirty Mugs (Tex Avery; 1939)
25. Goofy Groceries (Bob Clampett; 1941)
26. Swooner Crooner (Frank Tashlin; 1944)
27. Wideo Wabbit (Robert McKimson; 1956)
28. The Honey-Mousers (Robert McKimson; 1956)
29. The Last Hungry Cat (Friz Freleng; 1961)
30. The Mouse That Jack Built (Robert McKimson; 1959)
Disc Three
31. I Haven't Got a Hat (Friz Freleng; 1935)
32. Porky's Romance (Frank Tashlin; 1937)
33. Porky's Party (Bob Clampett; 1938)
34. Porky in Egypt (Bob Clampett; 1938)
35. Porky and Teabiscuit (Bugs Hardaway/Cal Dalton; 1939)
36. Pigs Is Pigs (Friz Freleng; 1937)
37. Pigs in a Polka (Friz Freleng; 1943)
38. Porky Pig's Feat (Frank Tashlin; 1943)
39. Daffy Duck Slept Here (Robert McKimson; 1948)
40. Bye, Bye Bluebeard (Arthur Davis; 1949)
41. An Egg Scramble (Robert McKimson; 1950)
42. Robin Hood Daffy (Chuck Jones; 1958)
43. The Windblown Hare (Robert McKimson; 1949)
44. Claws for Alarm (Chuck Jones; 1954)
45. Rocket Squad (Chuck Jones; 1956)
Disc Four
46. Daffy Duck and the Dinosaur (Chuck Jones; 1939)
47. Super Rabbit (Chuck Jones; 1943)
48. Daffy Duck and Egghead (Tex Avery; 1938)
49. A Gruesome Twosome (Bob Clampett; 1945)
50. Draftee Daffy (Bob Clampett; 1945)
51. Falling Hare (Bob Clampett; 1943)
52. Steal Wool (Chuck Jones; 1957)
53. Birds Anonymous (Friz Freleng; 1957)
54. No Barking (Chuck Jones; 1954)
55. Rabbit Punch (Chuck Jones; 1948)
56. An Itch in Time (Bob Clampett; 1943)
57. Odor-able Kitty (Chuck Jones; 1945)
58. Walky Talky Hawky (Robert McKimson; 1946)
59. Gonzales’ Tamales (Friz Freleng; 1957)
60. To Beep or Not to Beep (Chuck Jones; 1963)
More than half of these get commentaries by the likes of Joe Dante, Paul Dini and June Foray. Besides the “Philbert” TV pilot, bonuses include “Sinkin’ in the Bathtub” (the first Looney Tune ever, born 1930), “It’s Got Me Again” (the first Warner cartoon, released 1932, nominated for an Oscar), three “Private Snafu” shorts, a short titled “Point Rationing of Foods,” storyboards and deleted scenes from “Falling Hare” and “Porky’s Party,” a 1967 MGM Chuck Jones cartoon titled “The Bear That Wasn’t” (based on a book by Frank Tashlin), plus …
… new documentaries on Tashlin (!), Pepe LePew, monochromatic cartoons, wartime cartoons, restoration, and the astonishingly hilarious Daffy-Bugs-Elmer trilogy.
Buy. This. Set. It could be the best $45 you spend this year.
TV on DVD!
Last Week
The Adventures of Superman 1.x
Atomic Betty Vol. 1
Atomic Betty Vol. 2
The Batman Vs. Dracula
Braceface: Turning 13
CSI: New York
Dark Shadows: Complete 1996 Series
Garfield: Cat Tales Gift Set
Ghost Hunters 1.x
He-Man 1.x Vol. 1
The Hilarious House of Frightenstein
The Legend of Zelda: The Complete Series
Mr. Peepers
Nick Picks Vol. 2
Pet Alien: Aliens Unleashed
Pet Alien: Atomic Tommy
Saved by the Bell: The New Class 5.x
Strawberry Shortcake: Dress-Up Days
The Twilight Zone 4.x
Unscripted
October 25
Alias 4.x
The Ambassador
American Gothic: The Complete Series
The Beverly Hillbillies/Petticoat Junction Christmas Collection
Bewitched 2.x
The Captain & Tennille: Ultimate Collection
Danger Mouse 3.x/4.x
Degrassi Junior High: The Complete Series
The Doris Day Show 2.x
Hamish MacBeth 1.x
Harts of the West: The Complete Series <--- NEW!!
Hart To Hart 1.x
Little House on the Prairie 9.x
In Living Color 4.x
Invasion Earth: The Complete Series
Kids in the Hall 3.x
Little House on the Prairie 9.x
Looney Tunes: Golden Collection Vol. 3
The L Word 2.x
Mad TV: Best of 8/9/10.x
The Munsters 2.x
The Planet's Funniest Animals
Point Pleasant 1.x
Puppets Who Kill 2.x
Tales From The Crypt 2.x
3rd Rock From the Sun 2.x
Tom & Jerry Vol. 2
Tripping the Rift 1.x
Upstairs Downstairs 24-Disc Collector's Edition
November 1
The Adventures of Pete & Pete 2.x
Alvin: A Chipmonk Christmas
American Chopper 3.x
Backstairs at the White House
The Brady Bunch 4.x
Cheaters: Best of Vol. 1 <--- NEW!!
Cheaters: Best Of Vol. 1 - Uncensored! <--- NEW!!
Dick Cavett: John & Yoko
Disney Channel Holiday
Fame 1.x
Hearts Afire 2.x
Just For Laughs: Gags Vol. 1
Just For Laughs: Stand-Up Vol. 1
Monster Garage 3.x
Outer Limits (1999) 1.x
Sex and the City: Collector's Edition
Star Trek: Enterprise 4.x
Star Trek Enterprise: The 27-Disc Complete Series
Tales of Tomorrow Vol. 2
21 Jump Street 4.x
Ultimate Fighter 1.x
War of the Worlds 1.x
World Poker Tour 3.x
November 8
Beavis & Butt-Head: The Mike Judge Collection Vol. 1
Blue Collar TV 1.x Vol. 1
Chip & Dale Vol. 1
A Different World 1.x
Doctor Who: City of Death
Doctor Who: Claws of Axos
DuckTales Vol. 1
Five Mile Creek 1.x
Jay and Silent Bob Do DeGrassi
Jeopardy! An Inside Look
The Kingdom
The Kumars at Number 42
Mystery Science Theatre 3000 Vol. 8
The Partridge Family 2.x
Pioneers of Primetime
Popular Mechanics For Kids
Remington Steele 2.x
Space: Above and Beyond - The Complete Series ($34.99 edition)
Swiss Family Robinson: The Complete Series
Tales From Avonlea 1.x
What's New Scooby Doo Vol. 7
The White Shadow 1.x
November 15
Andromeda 5.x Vol. 2
Beast Machines Transformers: The Complete Series
Blue Murder: Complete Miniseries <--- NEW!!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: 40-Disc Collector's Set
Charmed 3.x
Cheers 7.x
Fantasy Island 1.x
The Flintstones 4.x
Frasier 7.x
Friends 10.x
Friends: The One With All Ten Seasons
Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait
Home Movies 3.x
Huckleberry Hound Vol. 1
The Johnny Cash Show Collection
King Kong: The Animated Series
King Kong: The Animated Series Vol. 1 ($9.09)
King Kong: The Animated Series Vol. 2 ($9.09)
The Man Show 4.x
Murder One 2.x
Oprah 20th Anniversary
P. Diddy and the Bad Boys of Comedy
Scrubs 2.x
Stargate Atlantis 1.x
That '70s Show 3.x
Three's Company 5.x
Tru Calling 2.x
The Yogi Bear Show: The Complete Series
November 22
Aeon Flux: The Complete Animated Collection
American Idol: Best Of 1.x-4.x
American Idol: Worst Of 1.x-4.x
American Idol: Best & Worst Of 1.x-4.x
The Andy Griffith Show 4.x
Astro Boy: Collection Box Set
Batman Vs. Dracula Gift Set
CSI Miami 3.x
Dark Shadows: Vol. 21
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 1.x
Golden Girls 3.x
Home Improvement 3.x
King of the Hill 5.x
Leave It To Beaver 1.x
Life in the Freezer
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