Boom! Studios’ comic book series Mech Cadet Yu is coming to the small screen in a new limited series.
Netflix has partnered with Boom! Studios to adapt the comic book series to a new 3D animated series. Spanning 10 episodes, the series is set to debut Aug. 10. It is set 10 years in the future after an alien invasion. Main character Stanford Yu (Brandon Soo Hoo — Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series) is a teenage janitor working at the Sky Corps Military Academy and leads a team of fellow young people as new Mech Robot Pilots whose duty is to defend Earth from a new alien invasion.
Daniel Dae Kim (Lost, Raya and the Last Dragon) joins the cast as General Aiden Park, the head of the academy and its Mech Cadet program.
Also joining the cast is Ming-Na Wen (The Mandalorian, Mulan) as Dolly Yu, Stanford’s overprotective mother.
Debra Wilson (MADtv, Family Guy) serves as the cadets’ mentor, Chief Max.
Rounding out the cast are: Aparna Brielle as Ava Patel, Victoria Grace as Olivia Park, Josh Sundquist as Frank Olivetti, Anairis Quinones as Maya Sanchez, and James Yaegashi as Captain Tanaka.
Print editions of Mech Cadet Yu Volumes 1-3 are available at comic shops nationwide.
More information on this and other titles from Netflix is available at:
Roughly two months ago, Walt Disney Studios released a new collection of vintage Disney cartoons in the form of Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1. The single-disc compilation of classic Disney cartoons proved to be a bit of a mixed bag, primarily because of the shorts that made up its body. Almost half of its shorts had already been released as part of Disney’s 2018 collection, Celebrating Mickey. The other shorts were pulled from the studio’s Have A Laugh shorts that themselves were met with some criticism from audiences. On Tuesday, Disney followed up that collection’s release with the digital release of Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 2. That very title is somewhat problematic for this compilation. It will be discussed a little later. The shorts that make up the new collection are both positive and negative. They will be discussed shortly. The shorts’ overall production quality is another positive worth noting, so it will also be addressed later. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the collection’s presentation. All things considered they make Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 2 a presentation that is at least a slight improvement over its predecessor worth watching at least once.
Walt Disney Studios’ latest collection of classic Disney shorts, Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 2 is a slight improvement over its predecessor/companion compilation, Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1. Released digitally Tuesday and set for physical release June 27, the new collection proves at least slightly better than its predecessor/companion compilation largely because of its featured shorts. As with that previous release, this compilation features 10 more vintage Disney shorts on a single disc. This time out, those responsible for deciding which shorts to include only pulled a pair of shorts from the studio’s 2018 collection, Celebrating Mickey. Of course it is tough to say that is really saying something considering that almost half of the shorts featured in Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 came from that previously released collection. The remainder of the Mickey and Minnie collection were pulled from Disney’s Have A Laugh compilations. So really, Disney’s people had already used up almost the majority of the shorts featured in Celebrating Mickey, leaving so little to recycle again here anyway. To the positive, the shorts pulled from the studio’s Have a Laugh sets this time out are not recycled from Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1. Rather, four of the shorts were featured in Disney Channel’s 60-episode Have a Laugh series that ran from 2009-2012 but never included in the DVD presentations. The other four shorts were included in the Have a Laugh sets but not used in the previous 10-episode collection. So to that end, what audiences get in terms of the set’s shorts is material that at least from one volume to another hasn’t been recycled yet again.
Of course while the shorts that make up the collection’s main body is a positive, the bigger picture is somewhat problematic at the same time. That is because of how much of it was lifted from Disney Channel’s Have a Laugh TV series. Considering that series produced a total of 60 shorts (some new and some vintage) it would just seem to make more sense to release all of those episodes in one larger collection instead of continuing to spread them across various volumes, as was already done briefly in the studio’s four Have a Laugh single-disc compilations. Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 is listed between $15 and $20 depending on the retailer (Best Buy most recently listed it at $15 and Walmart at $20). So odds are when this collection is released on DVD and Blu-ray, prices are likely to be in the same range. That means audiences are paying a lot of money for the content across the two volumes and will likely end up spending a lot more should Disney try to release any more collections from the Have a Laugh series. This is even more fuel for the argument to hold off on any more sets and instead release all of the shorts featured in the Have a Laugh series on one larger DVD and/or Blu-ray collection. Keeping all of this in mind, the content featured in this latest collection is a step up from its predecessor, but also leaves room for concern about any future collections.
Another concern that this collection brings comes in its very title. The title of this collection is Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 2. There was not a Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 released ahead of this collection. The compilation that preceded it was, again, Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1. That collection focused on more than just Mickey and Minnie, adding in shorts that focused just as much on their friends, Donald and Goofy, and Mickey’s canine pal, Pluto. So to go from one title to the other while also trying to connect them with the “Volume 1” and “Volume 2” monikers shows a certain lack of attention to detail in the marketing. On a deeper level, that lack of attention to detail actually hurts the company’s reputation even more. That is because it makes it look even more like Disney’s staff cares more about the studio’s bottom line than actually honoring its history and its audiences. This lack of foresight on something as simple as the collection’s title is not enough to doom the presentation, but it certainly does not help the collection’s appeal. To that end, there is one more positive to note. It comes in the form of the collection’s production values.
The shorts featured in this collection originally premiered between 1935 and 1950, the audio and video has stood the test of time quite well. That is a testament to the time and effort put in by those charged with restoring the footage for its original presentation on Disney Channel for the Have a Laugh series. The color in the shorts is so rich and the audio still has that touch of static that is sure to create a welcome sense of nostalgia for audiences. The result there is a positive general effect for the overall presentation. Taking that into account along with the positive of the featured shorts, the end result is a presentation whose general presentation and aesthetics make for a presentation that is worth watching at least occasionally and that is at least a slight improvement over its predecessor/companion compilation.
Walt Disney Studios’ new vintage cartoon collection, Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 2 is a slight improvement over its predecessor/companion collection, Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1. The improvement is shown primarily through its featured shorts. The shorts featured here thankfully are not just more recycling of shorts featured in previous collections. Yes, there is some recycling, but it is far less prominent than in the aforementioned collection. That makes for at least some reason to give this collection a chance. At the same time that the featured shorts do help the presentation here, the collection’s title detracts slightly from its appeal. That is because it clearly was not thought through before being used for the set’s marketing. It makes it look like those responsible for marketing the set cared more about Disney’s bottom line than actually making sure every minor detail lined up. Thankfully the impact of this issue is not enough to doom the presentation. To that end, the shorts’ production works with the shorts themselves to add slightly more appeal. Considering the age of the shorts, the footage has been restored with a certain level of heart. That is evident in the quality of the film and its sound. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1. All things considered they make this latest compilation from Walt Disney Studios a slight improvement from its predecessor/companion collection that is worth watching at least occasionally.
Mickey & Friends: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 2 is available now on digital platforms and is scheduled for home physical release June 27 through Walt Disney Studios. More information on this and other titles from Walt Disney Studios is available at:
Fans of CBS and Paramount+’s latest addition to the ever expanding Star Trek universe – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds — got some good news about the series late last month. The news in question was the announcement that the series has been renewed for a third season, this despite the fact that the fledgling series’ second season has not even premiered yet. Its premiere date is scheduled for June 15. Such a statement from higher ups at CBS and Paramount is quite the statement of faith in the series. For those who have yet to even take in the series’ first season, it may well be justified. That is because as the recently released first season shows, it is the best installment of the Star Trek universe since…well…The Next Generation. The writing that went into this season makes that clear. It will be discussed shortly. While the writing does plenty to make the show fully engaging and appealing, Season One’s recent home physical release does have some issue, that being its packaging. This will be discussed a little later. The packaging is not enough to doom the new release. To that end, there is still one more positive to note, and it comes in the form of the cast’s work interpreting the writing. This will also be addressed later. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the new home physical release of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. All things considered, the recent home physical release of this standout series’ debut season largely a successful presentation despite its packaging concerns.
Late last month, CBS and Paramount+ brought their latest addition to the ever expanding Star Trek universe home on DVD, Blu-ray and Blu-ray steel book. The recent home physical release proves to be largely a welcome addition to the home library of any Star Trek fan. That is saying a lot, considering it took its predecessor, Discovery, three seasons to finally prove itself a worthy addition to the Star Trek universe and it took another of its predecessors, Lower Decks, two seasons to finally become appealing. Picard only barely improved from its first season to its second, but not by much, too. The immediate positive impact of Strange New Worlds comes in large part through its writing. Unlike so many series out there today (including so many Star Trek series), this series brings audiences back to the days of episodic writing. This means that audiences do not feel like they have to invest so much of their time into the series to really appreciate the show. This even despite the fact that each episode opens with the standard “previously on…” introduction. The show’s writers are to be applauded for their work throughout the season, even from early on. Season premiere episode “Strange New Worlds” takes audiences back to the golden age of Star Trek as Captain Pike and the crew of the Enterprise have to hide their identities in order to rescue first officer Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn – X-Men, X2, X-Men: The Last Stand) from an alien world where she is being held prisoner. Things don’t go quite as planned as the genetic change used to hide the crew’s identity wears off on Spock and they are revealed to not be from the planet. Ultimately it leads to a powerful climax when Captain Pike (Anson Mount – Hell on Wheels, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Crossroads) stands at a tense political meeting of the planet’s representatives, offering them to join the Federation or destroy each other using the technology they have gained. As it so happens, the writers reveal the warp technology the planet’s people have obtained was the result of the events of Star Trek: Discovery Season 3. The tie-in there is handled expertly by the writers, who allow the reference but do not let it overpower the bigger story line. The result is that said reference will likely get newer audiences to go back and watch Season 3 of Discovery.
Another example of the power of the writing comes much later in the season in the form of the episode, “Spock Amock.” In the case of this episode, Spock (Ethan Peck – The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, In Time, The Midnight Sky) and his fiancée, T’Pring (Gia Sandhu – A Perfect Plan, The Moth Diaries, A Simple Favor) accidentally change bodies when going through part of their courtship. Yes, it’s the old familiar plot device that’s been used in so many science fiction series. The thing is that in this episode, the writers do not allow it to fall into all of the trappings that those series have used and allowed to make the plot device to trite. Watching Sandhu (who is supposed to be Spock through most of the episode_ lay out another Vulcan makes for such a hilarious moment. That is because as serious as Spock is all the time, seeing that surprise moment is just so shocking and lighthearted. Meanwhile, T’Pring, in Spock’s body, has to help Pike navigate negotiations to being another alien race into the federation. The way in which Peck presents T’Pring handling Spock in the moment makes for an equally engaging juxtaposition to how Sandhu took on Spock being in her body. The whole is a surprisingly engaging comedy of errors, so to speak. How the pair finally return to their own bodies will be left for audiences to discover for themselves. It is a little bit too familiar, but still kind of funny in its own right. The whole here shows that even with an all too familiar plot device, the series’ writers are able to bring audiences something fresh, engaging and entertaining.
Another familiar plot device that has been used in previous Star Trek series (and other science fiction series) is that of a mystery ailment making its way through the Enterprise. One of the most notable times then happened was in TNG when a virus spread through the ship that essentially acted like alcohol, inhibiting the crew’s actions and judgements. The Enterprise is almost destroyed as a result. It all happened after the Enterprise’s crew went to investigate the death of another ship’s crew. In the case of “Ghosts of Illyria,” the virus gets onboard the Enterprise after the crew is beamed up from the surface of another planet that was ravaged by the effect of ion storms. The whole story will not be revealed here, but the virus infects the Enterprise’s crew and makes them crazy for light, to the point that they nearly destroy the ship, right down to Chief Engineer Hemmer (Bruce Horak – Warehouse 13, Transplant, In The Dark) trying to transport part of the planet onto the ship. Had Hemmer succeeded, it most certainly destroyed the ship. The tension that the writers create throughout the story makes this familiar matter fully original and in turn just as engaging and entertaining as the stories in the other episodes discussed here and the rest of the season’s episodes. The whole of that content and the bonus feature-length commentaries that accompany some of the episodes pair to make for plenty of appeal for viewers.
While the general content featured in the new home physical release of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season One does plenty to make this season a strong start for the series, the packaging thereof detracts from that appeal to a point. Speaking specifically about the season’s DVD packaging, the season’s 10 total episodes are spread across four discs. The discs overlap each other on the inside front and back of the case, with two discs on either side. One cannot help but wonder why all involved would use such an archaic packaging method, considering how easy it would have been to place one disc inside on the front, on inside on the back, and then put the other two discs on either side of a leaf inside the case. That would protect the discs while also allowing at least slightly more access to the welcome episode guide printed inside the case’s wrap. Instead, by placing them in overlapping style, viewers lose out. That is because they have to remove both discs on either side to get to just one disc. In the process of removing and replacing the discs, this packaging format dramatically increases the odds of the discs marring one another, in turn potentially reducing their life span. Keeping that in mind, this packaging used for Season One’s home physical release is very problematic. It is not enough to doom the season’s home physical presentation, but hopefully when the series’ second season becomes available to home viewers, all involved with rethink the packaging and do something…well…smarter (for lack of another word) with that season’s packaging. Knowing that the packaging is clearly problematic but not enough to doom the set, there is still one more positive to note. That positive is the cast’s work on camera.
Mount leads the way in terms of the performances as he returns to the role of the famed Capt. Pike. For those who might not be too familiar with the latest Star Trek series, Mount took on the role of Pike in the third season of Discovery in a standalone episode that threw back to the original Star Trek series, what with the whole issue of Harry Mudd and the Tribbles. He stood out just as much in that performance, too and it was likely that it was that performance that led to the creation of Strange New Worlds. The confidence that Mount brings to Mount in the needed moments and the controlled vulnerability that he displays as he faces his own mortality makes him just as enjoyable to watch as William Shatner (Capt. Kirk) and Sir Patrick Stewart (Cpt. Jean-Luc Picard) in their respective series. The moment when he sits down with the bridge crew and welcomes a young Uhura (played by relative newcomer Celia Rose Gooding) throws back to the performances of Stewart and Shatner in its own enjoyable way, too. Gooding herself presents her own impressive performance as the then cadet Uhura. The growth that she brings to Uhura as a persona makes her a fully sympathetic character because of the growing confidence that Uhura gradually displays. Her performances in the role are fully believable and enjoyable to watch during those formative years of Uhura’s career even as Uhura doubts her place aboard the Enterprise.
Peck deserves his own share of credit, too, as Spock. He is not the same Spock portrayed by the late great Leonard Nimoy, but his presence in the role really does its own share to mirror Nimoy’s performances, both in his more serious moments and at least one lighter moment. In similar fashion, Horak’s gruff Chief Engineer Hemmer is so lovable because he is that persona who still does have a certain amount of heart. Horak does so well balancing those sides of Hemmer throughout the season as does Babs Olusanmokun as ship’s doctor M’Bega. M’Bega is no Bones, but his moments on screen allow him to portray some personality, too. Speaking of medical staff, Jess Bush (Home and Away, Playing For Keeps, Skinford: Chapter 2) surprises as the young nurse, Christine Chapel. Chapel is essentially M’Bega’s second in command, yet every time she is on camera, the duality that she brings to the pair with her energy makes for its own share of engagement and entertainment, too. That is because of the comic appeal that she creates opposite M’Bega’s more serious tone. It is just one more example of the importance of the cast’s work here in SNW’s debut season. Between the performances examined here and those of the rest of the cast (all of which are just as deserving of praise in their own right), the overall work of the cast throughout Season One makes for so much engagement and entertainment. When the overall work of the cast is paired with the work of the series’ writers, the whole makes watching each episode so fully engaging and entertaining. That overall content makes Season One’s home physical presentation all the more deserving of praise, even considering the issue of the packaging. All things considered, the home physical release of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season One proves to be one of the best of this year’s new DVD and Blu-ray releases for grown-ups.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season One’s recent home physical release is a mostly successful presentation and start for the series. Its success comes in large part through its writing. The writing brings viewers something new and something familiar throughout its 10 total episodes. The writing makes the new stories fully engaging and entertaining because of their originality. The more familiar story lines are given equally, welcome new life thanks to the writing staff’s work. While the stories that were crafted for Season One are enjoyable, one can only hope that viewers will be able to watch them for years to come. That hope is due to the issue of the packaging method used for the set’s four discs. The overlapping of the discs greatly increases the risk of the discs scratching one another during removal and replacement of each disc, greatly increasing the risk of the discs’ life begin reduced. Thankfully this is not such an issue that it will doom the set. Keeping that in mind, there is one more positive to Season One’s presentation. It comes in the form of the cast’s work. From the bridge crew to the Engineering staff and others in-between, each cast member brings his or her own flair to the show that is enjoyable in its own right along with the writing. When the writing and performances are considered together, they ensure Season One is a strong start for Strange New Worlds and even despite the packaging issues, is one of the year’s top new DVD and Blu-ray box sets for grown-ups.
Star Trek: Strange New WorldsSeason One is available now on DVD, Blu-ray and steel book Blu-ray. More information on the series is available along with all of the series’ latest news at:
Singer-songwriter and entrepreneur “Stretch” premiered the video for his debut single this week.
The founder of the Grinders By Stretch restaurant chain, known formally as Jeffrey Rumaner, premiered the video for his new single, ‘Flavortown‘ Monday. The video features Rumaner on stage alongside members of the independent rock band Black Oxygen as the collective performs the new single together in front of a packed house. No information was provided about when and where the performance was captured in the news release announcing the video’s premiere.
The musical arrangement featured in the new single is a fun, catchy composition. It boasts a clear classic rock influence while also exhibiting a subtle punk sensibility at the same time. The whole makes the song surprisingly engaging and entertaining.
The song’s lyrical theme is pretty straight forward, as it celebrates enjoying all the fine foods out there available to consumers. On the surface, one can’t help but think about “Weird” Al Yankovic in listening to this theme, considering it is all about food, but it really is an original song. At one point, Rumaner even encourages the audience to bypass all of the chain restaurants out there (ironically) and patronize the locally-owned and operated restaurants and businesses that are at the heart of every American town. It is ironic considering he is the owner of a chain of restaurants.
Rumaner has appeared on Food Network alongside Guy Fieri on his program, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Guy’s Grocery Games, and Guy’s Big Bite, and on Food Network’s Big Bad BBQ Brawl and Cutthroat Kitchen. He has also appeared on Travel Channel’s Pizza Paradise and Man vs. Food, Spike TV’s Bar Rescue, Animal Planet’s Eating The Enemy, Discovery Channel’s Monster House, Destination America’s BBQ Pitmasters, PBS’ BBQ With Franklin and ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Along with appearing alongside Fieri on television, Rumaner has also toured alongside Fieri on the nationwide Foodapalooza Roadshow and the South Beach Wine and Food Festival.
Additionally, Rumaner is part of a group of celebrity chefs known as Messlords that entertains and feeds America’s military forces worldwide.
More information on Rumaner’s new single and video is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Walt Disney Studios has come a long way today from where it started out roughly a century ago in terms of its cinematic and television offerings. Sadly for the most part, that change has been anything but positive, though there have been some positives thanks to the studio’s partnership with the likes of Pixar Studios, and four years ago, fans of the classic days of Disney got a special treat with the release of the Blu-ray/DVD collection titled, Celebrating Mickey. The collection culled 13 vintage shorts that all celebrated Mickey Mouse’s legacy. Now Tuesday, fans of vintage Disney will get another treat in the form of another 10-short collection titled Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 in a new Blu-ray/DVD set. The collection is a bit of a mixed bag presentation. That is due in large part to its features shorts, which will be discussed shortly. While the collection’s title is focused on Mickey and Minnie, audiences get more than just the pair throughout the shorts. This will be discussed a little later. It is another positive. The general presentation, in terms of the video and audio is one more positive to note here. It will also be addressed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of this collection. All things considered Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 proves a mostly positive tribute to the legacy of Walt Disney Studios’ animation history.
Walt Disney Studios’ new vintage animation collection, Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 is an intriguing new presentation from the company. It is a presentation that is something of a mixed bag. That is due in large part to its features shorts. Almost half of the shorts featured in this 10-cartoon collection are already presented in the company’s 2018 BD/DVD release, Celebrating Mickey. They are: “Steamboat Willie,” “The Brave Little Tailor,” “The Little Whirlwind” and “Thru The Mirror.” The other six shorts featured here are new to this collection but not to previous Disney collections. Audiences might find some of the shorts here familiar because they were previously released in Disney’s Have a Laugh sets. That is actually a good thing because it brings some of those shorts together in one setting here. Of course, not all of the shorts from those sets are featured here. Odds are the ones not featured here will end up on the next collection, if another one does happen. Keeping all of this in mind, bringing these shorts together here is both good and bad all at the same time.
One of the best of the “new” shorts featured here is “Mickey’s Delayed Date.” This situation presents a fun story that finds Mickey forgetting about his date with Minnie for a costume party. The things he goes through as he realizes he overslept and tries to make his way to the party will ensure plenty of laughs from audiences of all ages. What’s more (not to give away too much), but the fact that he was trying to stay dressed formally against the realization of the situation makes for its own laughs. “Mr. Mouse Takes A Trip” is another memorable new addition to this collection. It finds Mickey and Pluto taking a train trip to the redwoods forest. The duo has to outsmart one of Mickey’s old foes in Pete as he takes on the role of the train conductor. Pete knows Mickey is trying to hide Pluto and has to try to bust him. The physical comedy that plays out is timeless. “Hawaiian Holiday” is yet another fun addition to the collection, even though Mickey and Minnie only play supporting roles in this short. Audiences will love to watch Goofy get bested by a wave as he tries to surf while Pluto finds himself at odds with first a starfish and then a crab. It’s just one more of a number of memorable moments exhibited here that makes the shorts collectively at least somewhat worth watching.
Staying on the note of Mickey and Minnie not being the leads in “Hawaiian Holiday,” that is just one of the shorts featured here in which the duo are not the leads. In total, only four of the shorts featured in this set – “On Ice,” “Hawaiian Holiday,” “Figaro and Frankie” and “Bath Day” – do not feature Mickey and Minnie as the leads. “Figaro and Frankie” and “Bath Day” are both focused on Minnie’s beloved feline friend, Figaro. “Figaro and Frankie” immediately lends itself to comparison to Warner Brothers’ Sylvester and Tweety cartoons, just not as edgy in the general approach, while “Bath Day” finds Figaro trying to avoid having to take a bath. What cat likes water, after all. “On Ice” focuses more on Mickey and Minnie’s pals, Donald, Pluto, and Goofy. Goofy gets harassed by some fish while Donald plays a not so nice prank on Pluto. Of course, Donald’s actions come back to bite him in the end. That resolution will be left for audiences to discover for themselves, so they can fully enjoy the outcome. Simply put, while the set’s title (and most of the shorts) focus on Mickey and Minnie, audiences get more than just the duo. Rather, viewers get some shorts that play tribute to their friends, too, so really it is the best of both worlds considering – again – the majority of the shorts are focused on Mickey and Minnie. That is actually quite a positive in its own right.
While the general content featured in this content offers some entertainment and concern, one thing that everyone can agree upon with the shorts is their general presentation. Considering that these shorts reach as far back as Disney’s formative days and just after those days, the footage has clearly stood the test of time. The audio and video sound and look impressive. The colors are rich, even with the one that started it all, “Steamboat Willie.” The sound ensures audiences won’t have to adjust the volume at any point in the presentation. The result is a largely positive general effect. That positive general effect works with the positives of the shorts noted to make the whole a largely successful presentation despite its few shortcomings.
Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume I is an interesting new presentation of vintage cartoons from Walt Disney Studios. It is not perfect but is still enjoyable. That is due in part to its featured shorts. Half of the shorts here were already presented in the company’s most recent release, Celebrating Disney in 2018. The other shorts were already presented in previous Disney’s previously released Have A Laugh cartoon collections. Having some of those set’s shorts culled together in one setting here is a positive, meaning audiences can watch them in one setting instead of having to switch between sets. Adding to the positives is that while the majority of the shorts featured here focus on Mickey and Minnie, audiences also get some treats with shorts that focus on their pals, Donald, Goofy, and Pluto. Even Pete, one of Mickey’s foes, gets a moment to shine in one of the shorts. To that end, there is some variety in these shorts. The production values in these shorts is just as important to the set’s presentation as the shorts themselves. That is because the sound and video is impressive in each short. They come together to give the presentation a positive general effect. When this is considered along with the shorts themselves, the whole makes Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 a mostly successful offering from Walt Disney Studios, despite its shortcomings.
Mickey & Minnie: 10 Classic Shorts – Volume 1 is scheduled for release Tuesday through Walt Disney Studios. More information on this and other titles from Walt Disney Studios is available at:
Hollywood’s major movie studios offered audiences little to enjoy this year both in regard to theatrical and streaming content. This year’s crop of new cinematic presentations has just been more of the same prequels, sequels, reboots, and movies based on actual events and books. The last of those categories – the movies based on actual events and books – change so much from the source material that they are really that unworthy of watching and always have been. Anyone that wants the real stories behind those movies based on actual events would do better watching PBS’ American Experience and American Masters series.
Speaking of PBS, PBs is also known for importing shows from overseas that really are so much better than even what major American networks have to offer, as in the case of Endeavour and the surprisingly enjoyable rebooted series, All Creatures Great & Small. Both those series saw their latest seasons released to DVD and BD this year, and those seasons are included in this year’s list of the year’s top new DVD/BD box sets for grown-ups. Also on this year’s list is the recently released full series release of Seaquest DSV: The Complete Series. DC also had a number of notable home releases this year from series, such as Doom Patrol, The Flash, and Lois & Superman, all of which also made it onto this year’s list.
As with each list from Phil’s Picks, this one features the year’s top 10 titles in the given category and five honorable mention titles, for a total of 15 titles. From dramas to comedies to action and more, this year’s collection of new box sets for grown-up audiences offers so much enjoyment and engagement. Without any further ado, here is Phil’s Picks 2022 Top 10 New DVD/BD Box Sets For Grown-Ups.
PHIL’S PICKS 2022 TOP 10 NEW DVD/BLU-RAY BOX SETS FOR GROWN-UPS
All Creatures Great & Small: Season 2
Endeavour: Season 8
Seaquest DSV: The Complete Series
Abbott Elementary: Season 1
Star Trek Discovery: Season 4
The Flash: Season 8
Lois & Superman: Season 2
Doom Patrol: Season 3
The Honeymooners Specials: The Complete Collection
Peacemaker: The Complete First Season
Spiderman: Far From Home/Homecoming/No Way Home
James Bond: Daniel Craig 5-Film Collection
Star Trek Lower Decks: Season 2
Halo: Season 1
Titans: Season 3
Grown-ups were not the only audiences who received lots of enjoyable offerings this year in regard to home releases. Families in general also had lots to like this year in the way of home releases. Only 10 titles made Phil’s Picks list this year, instead of 10, just because there were not enough new family releases for families. This year’s field of notable family releases includes the 2022 World Series Collector’s Edition set, The Batman: The Complete Series, and even the complete series run of Ed, Edd, & Eddy. That Seaquest DSV set is technically family friendly, too, in comparison to so many action shows out there today. Keeping all of that in mind, here is the list of this year’s top new Family Friendly DVD/BD Box Sets.
PHIL’S PICKS 2022 TOP 10 NEW FAMILY FRIENDLY DVD/BD BOX SETS
The Batman: The Complete Series
The Proud Family Original Series: Anniversary Edition
Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood: Kindness Collection
World Series 2022: Collector’s Edition
Seaquest DSV: The Complete Series
Ed, Edd & Eddy: The Complete Series
Rugrats: Season 1, Volume 1
Kamp Koral: Season 1, Volume 1
The Patrick Star Show: Season 1, Volume 1
Scooby Doo & Guess Who: The Complete Second Season
That is it for this year. Work is already underway for new titles being released in 2023. The second season of the Rugrats reboot is due out in March, for instance. Strange New Worlds: Season 1 is due out around the same time. Lots of new music, movie, and TV reviews are coming as 2022 gives way to 2023, so stay tuned!
Early this spring, Showtime and Paramount+ brought Microsoft’s beloved video game Halo to audiences in a brand new streaming series by the same name. Audiences who don’t stream finally got the chance to see the brand new series for themselves last month when its debut season was released on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K UHD platforms. The series’ debut season is an intriguing first impression that while not perfect, is worth watching at least once, regardless of audiences’ familiarity with the Halo video game franchise. The success of the series’ debut season comes in large part through its special effects, which will be addressed shortly. They give audiences at least some reason to give the series a chance. While they are an impressive part of the series’ opening act (of sorts), the story at the center of Season 1 is not as strong. This will be discussed at more length a little later. It is not enough to doom Season 1. To that end, there is at least one more positive to note in this season’s presentation. It comes in the form of the bonus content that accompanies the debut season’s home release, which will also be examined later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the season’s presentation. All things considered the first season of Halo is not perfect but is still worth watching at least once.
The debut season of Showtime and Paramount+’s Halo streaming series is an interesting first outing for the show, which was adapted from the highly popular Microsoft xBox video game franchise. The show’s success comes in large part through its special effects. The balance of the live action and CG elements throughout the series creates a welcome general effect for the presentation. It is clear when those CG elements are used and when actual sets are used, such as in the asteroid field used by Soren (Bokeem Woodbine – Fargo, Queen & Slim, Spiderman: Homecoming) and the other pirates as their home. The sets are live action, but the moments when the “cars” travel the wires between the asteroids are clearly CG. The balance of those moments conjures thoughts (at least to this critic) to the way in which the CG and live action were balanced way back in the 90s in Babylon 5. That is mean in the most complimentary fashion. The battle scenes in which audiences watch Master Chief, Kai, Riz and Vannak battle the Covenant monsters were clearly lifted right from the Halo video game. That is obvious in the heads up displays that are shown as the group shoots the alien beings, and just as much in the fight sequences themselves. The thing of it is that even as obvious as those incorporations are, knowing they are lifted from the video game makes them bearable.
On yet another note, the prosthetics used to create the Covenant Prophets is another great special effects element used here. Audiences learn through the bonus content (which will be discussed later), the Prophets are real…or rather, they are real in the fact that they were created through the use of prosthetics by a company called 343 Industries. The work that went into bringing them to life on screen is so wonderfully comparable to the work of the Jim Henson Creature Shop, which has crafted creates for another well-known sci-fi series, Farscape. The similarity in style will appeal to fans of both series. This is just one more of so many ways in which the special effects used here prove to be the most notable positive of the series’ debut season.
While the special effects used in the lead season of Halo are unquestionably impressive, the show’s story is sadly somewhat less impressive. The story follows as such: John — Master Chief – (Pablo Schreiber — Orange is the New Black, Skyscraper, 13 Hours) is the ultimate military soldier. However, after a mission to a colony that comes under attack by the Covenant aliens, something starts to change in him when he touches an artifact found on the planet where the colony is established. The more John touches the artifact, the more he comes to learn a dark secret about his past that involves the military organization known as UNSC and the not so honorable scientist, Dr. Catherine Halsey (Natascha McElhone – The Truman Show, Solaris, Ronin) who works with the military organization. Eventually, John learns the full truth of who he is and what happened that led him to fight for the UNSC. Some audiences may think this whole setup is original, but the reality is that it is anything but. Those familiar with the history of cinema (and television) will immediately find a very close similarity to the setup for Orion Pictures’ 1987 action flick Robocop here. That is because Officer Murphy (Peter Weller – Robocop 2, The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai Across The 8th Dimension, Naked Lunch) saw something very similar happen to him in that movie. When Murphy is gunned down by a group of evil drug runners, he is “brought back to life” by OCP when he is turned into a cyborg cop. When he starts to remember his past, things start to change for him just like things changed for John as both figures start their own journey of rediscovery and growth. As John learns the truth of what Halsey and the UNSC did to him, he still has to face down the beings from The Covenant and prevent them from using a device that could potentially wipe out all life in the universe. How many times in science fiction history has a story’s protagonist had to stop evil beings from using some all powerful device to wipe out all life in the universe? Again, this is nothing new. To that end, the story becomes even less engaging. That is because it is really the same story put against a different (albeit very familiar style) backdrop.
The secondary story involving Kwan Ha is just as much of a problem. That is because her story really ultimately does not entwine with John’s central story, as much as the writers tried to make the two stories work together. Ha (Yerin Ha – Reef Break, Sissy, Troppo) wants to avenge the death of her father, Jin Ha (Jeong-hwan Kong – Rampant, Designated Survivor: 60 Days, Jeon Woochi). The thing is that even though Jin Ha died at the hands on the Covenant, her attention is more on a separate figure named Vinsher Grath (Burn Gorman – The Expanse, Pacific Rim: Uprising, The Dark Knight Rises). Grath is an evil overlord of sorts who runs things on the planet where Kwan Ha and her people’s colony was established. In other words, her story is fully secondary. There really is no connection whatsoever to John’s story. What’s more, she never even plays a part in the final outcome of Season 1’s primary story. It just leaves one wondering why her story was there, other than just to help set up the primary story and nothing more. Again, keeping this in mind, the overall story in this season of Halo simply proves anything but positive. Yes, it is worth watching at least once, but really offers nothing outstanding or extraordinary.
Add in the story of yet another sub-story, that of Makee (Charlie Murphy – Happy Valley, Peaky Blinders, The Last Kingdom) and the story becomes even more problematic. That is because her anti-hero style story is so formulaic in itself. She starts out as a member of the Covenant, who ends up making “the ultimate sacrifice” by the season’s end because of an eventual revelation about herself and The Covenant. It is yet another element that has been used and re-used way to often throughout the history of television and movies. To that end its use here is anything but original. When this additional story line is added to Kwan Ha’s secondary story and the primary story involving John’s own self-revelation, the whole proves just the same as ever. So again, the story does little to add anything spectacular to this season. It does not doom the season but doesn’t add much of anything to the season either.
Knowing Season 1’s overall story does not doom the season’s presentation, there is at least one more positive to note. That is the season’s bonus content. The bonus content is contained largely on the season’s fifth disc. It consists of extras, such as examinations of the show’s costumes, sets, weapons, etc. The feature that examines the Covenant, as noted before, is one of the most notable. It would have been so easy for the show’s creative forces to just have the Prophets be CG creations, but they didn’t go that route. Rather, they actually took the time to make the Prophets real characters. It makes for so much appreciation for the work that went into bringing them to life. The examination of the sets, weapons and costumes are just as enjoyable because audiences see the amount of time and work that went into making everything as believable as possible on screen. It shows that a lot of effort and time went into paying tribute to fans of the original video game, even if only in terms of the general effect. To that end, the bonus content that is presentation in Halo Season 1 makes for plenty of engagement and entertainment, as do the special effects. When the two elements are joined, they make up at least to a point for the failing of the season’s collective writing. Keeping that in mind, it makes this premiere season worth watching at least once.
The debut season of Showtime and Paramount+’s Halo streaming series is a presentation that does not fully live up to expectations. That is regardless of audiences’ familiarity with the video game franchise on which the show is based. It is not a total loss, though. The show’s special effects give audiences reason enough to take in the show and watch at least once. That is due to the balance of the live action and CG elements. The overall story, what with its three story lines (technically four if one count’s Soren’s own story), is anything but original. The interweaving arcs are examples of writing that has been used time and again in dramas and action presentations alike. They are stories that have been done time and again, just against a new backdrop. While the overall writing is anything but original, it is not enough to doom the season’s presentation. That leaves at least one more positive to be noted in the form of the bonus content that comes with Season 1. The bonus content overall shows the amount of time and work that went into making Season 1’s general effect positive and believable. The extensive episode discussions that accompany each of the season’s nine total episodes add even more to that appreciation. When the overall bonus content is joined with the positive of the special effects, the whole makes this season worth watching at least once.
Halo: Season 1 is available now. More information on this and other series streaming on Paramount+ is available at:
Rob Zombie’s new prequel to the beloved 1960s sitcom The Munsters officially debuted on Netflix and released on DVD and Blu-ray this week. In the short time that the movie, which tells the story of how Herman and Lily met, has been met with starkly sharp responses from audiences and critics alike. According to the numbers from Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has received a score of 49% from critics so far, and even worse among audiences, at 35%. The criticisms have run the gamut, from the makeup and costumes to the general look to the very story itself. It further shows that it is impossible to improve on perfection, even when perfection only lasted two seasons. Thankfully for fans of the much better source material that has remained so beloved to this day, mpi Media Group released a much better alternative to the new Munsters movie in the form of the new classic Munsters compilation DVD, Marineland Carnival with The Munsters TV Show Cast Members & More Lost Treasures. The single-disc presentation offers plenty for audiences to enjoy over the course of its roughly two hour run time. That is due in large part to its featured content, which will be discussed shortly. The quality of the footage presented adds to the appeal in its own way and will be addressed a little later. Considering the content presented here, the DVD’s average price point rounds out its most important elements and will also be examined later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the DVD’s presentation. All things considered they make the DVD a welcome watch not only during the Halloween season this year but any time during the year.
mpi Media Group’s brand-new collection of rare The Munsters TV appearances is a presentation that so many of the classic sitcom’s fans will appreciate. That is due in no small part to its featured content. The content that makes up the DVD’s body comes in the form of the rare hour-long TV special, Marineland Carnival. This is a presentation that is not included in the standalone DVD sets for either of the series’ two seasons released in 2013. Season 1 does include the series’ original unaired pilot episode, but again, neither season set features this collection which finds Herman, Lily, Grandpa, Eddie and Marilyn at the Marineland Oceanarium (likely in Florida) taking in a show at the facility. The family thinks it is at a fish market, leading to its own share of laughs along the way. Grandpa makes his way up a flag pole and does a few stunts in the process (or rather his stunt double more likely) at one point. Eddie and Marilyn see a pair of “mermaids” feeding some dolphins at another, as well as enjoying trainers work with seals and dolphins. Meanwhile Herman, Lily and Grandpa also meet a rather confident walrus who wants to get his feet…er…flippers in the TV door as they make their own way through the park. The hour-long story is funny in its own right, though it is clear why it was never included as part of the original series at any point.
Star Fred Gwynne gets his own moment in the sun in another funny appearance in The Red Skelton Show in the three-part story, “To-Ra-Ra-Bum Today.” Herman joins up with Red Skelton’s famous character Freddie The Freeloader in the story and learns how to live like Freddy. Freddy uses Herman as much as possible, though the story has its own hilarious ending that no one saw coming.
In yet another engaging and entertaining presentation, Gwynne’s co-star Yvonne De Carlo (who plays the part of Lily) appears on The Joey Bishop Show not in her Munsters costume and makeup but as herself. Her discussion with Bishop about her time on the show, and with the audience about other topics is truly enlightening in its own right.
Much the same can be said of fellow star Butch Patrick’s retrospective on his time on the show. Many audiences might be surprised to learn from Patrick himself that he got the part because Billy Mumy (Lost in Space, Babylon 5, The Twilight Zone) turned down the role of Eddie originally. He also notes the enjoyment that he had working with his fellow cast mates throughout the show’s short run while surprisingly speaking highly of Zombie’s new Munsters prequel. The brief discussion on these and so many other topics makes for even more enjoyment. This and the other features included in this disc really are the most notable of the disc’s overall presentation. There is an appearance by Gwynne as Herman on The Danny Kaye Show that is enjoyable. It finds Herman and Kaye’s Dracula-esque character acting like they are news figures in Transylvania. It is funny but not overly memorable. The commercials for other shows that mpi Media Group has released make up the rest of the DVD’s body. They really are anything but notable, so keeping all of this in mind, the primary content featured in this disc does give audiences plenty to enjoy regardless of the lesser material.
While the primary content featured in the disc makes for its own share of appeal, the quality of the footage therein makes for its own appeal. The majority of the classic clips shown here are from 1965. There is one from 1966, and Patrick’s comments were recorded this year. Those classic clips (including the hour-long special) still sound and look very impressive even considering the features’ ages. It is clear that no effort was taken to spit shine any of the footage, but it also did not need that added work, as audiences will see and hear for themselves. The result is such a wonderful and welcome sense of nostalgia for viewers. Again, this shows the clear importance of the footage presented here.
Keeping in mind the engagement and entertainment that this DVD’s content will bring through itself and through the quality of its video and audio, there is that much more for audiences to appreciate. That means there is one more item to note, that being the DVD’s average price point. The DVD’s average price point is $16.82. That price was obtained by averaging prices listed through Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Books-A-Million. The most common listing is $14.99, through Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. Target lists the DVD at $15.99, which is still below the noted average price point. Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Books-A-Million list the DVD at $19.99 and $19.98 respectively, which is well above the average. In other words, for the most part, the DVD will not break any viewer’s bank account, coming in at less than $20. That will appeal in itself to the original series’ fans all the more. To that end, this price point proves to be just as important as the DVD’s content and its quality. Keeping all of this in mind, Marineland Carnival with The Munsters TV Cast & More Lost Treasures proves itself so worth owning and watching whether this Halloween season or any other time of the year.
Marineland Carnival with The Munsters TV Cast & More Lost Treasures, the new compilation of rare The Munsters TV appearances, is a presentation that so many fans of the original series will enjoy. The DVD proves so appealing in large part through its featured content. It is all content that is not featured as bonus content with the most recent – 2013 – release of the series’ two seasons on DVD. It is also so entertaining. The quality of the footage makes for its own appeal because it proves no touch ups were needed to any of said material. The average price point for the DVD makes for its own appeal, too, keeping in mind the overall appeal of the content. Keeping all of this in mind, the DVD in whole is a welcome addition to the home library of any fan of The Munsters.
Marineland Carnival with The Munsters TV Cast & More Lost Treasures is available now through mpi Media Group. More information on this and other titles from mpi Media Group is available at:
Hardcore fans of the seemingly ever-expanding Star Trek universe got some good news this year when it was announced that Star Trek Picard, which focuses on legendary Federation Captain turned Admiral Jean Luc Picard, would get a third season run. The wait for the series’ third and final season will not be too long for said audiences, either, as it is currently planned to stream on Paramount+ from Feb. 16 to April 20, 2023 over 10 episodes. While audiences wait for the series’ final season, they can take in the series’ second season on DVD and Blu-ray now in a new three-disc set released through CBS DVD. Of course, this latest installment in the series sadly has little to applaud, save for a couple of high points. The most notable of the high points is the fact that it relies far less on the foul language and blood and gore of the first season. This will be discussed shortly. On the other hand, though, there is a lot to dislike about the season’s story and the packaging for the season’s home release. This will be examined a little later. The only other positive to this season is the surprise season finale, which will be discussed but not given away here. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the season’s presentation. All things considered they make the second season of Picard an intriguing presentation that is worth watching at least once regardless of audiences’ devotion to the Star Trek universe.
Star Trek Picard: Season 2 is an intriguing continuation of the series, which focuses on the one and only Jean Luc Picard. That is because of its overall mixed presentation. One of the few positives to this season is that it relies so much less on the violence and foul language that was incorporated into the series’ debut season. The writers relied far too much on that content in Season One, almost as if they knew that otherwise Season One would not work. Yes, there are some moments of foul language peppered throughout the season, but its presence is so much less in this case than in Season One. The worst of the bloodshed comes late in the season’s run this time as Seven is run through by the Queen Borg/Agnes (not to give away too much for those who have yet to see this season). Rios gets injured by one of the borg drones that Dr. Soong uses, but even in that case, the writers kept the bloodshed to a minimum. It is a nice change of stylistic approach that while still could have been minimalized even more, was still a welcome change in comparison to the level of violence in Season 1.
While the clearly decreased level of violence and foul language incorporated into the second season of Picard makes it more worth watching, this season still fails in so many ways, not the least of which is its story. The story in question finds Q (John De Lancie) sending Jean Luc and his friends back in time to the 21st century, apparently out of his own bizarre sense of something. He admits in the end that he just wanted Jean Luc to learn a lesson about forgiving himself (once again, not to give away too much), but he does this at the risk of history being changed forever. Yes, there is even an alternate timeline bit tied into the season. What’s more, there is even an indirect reference to none other than Quantum Leap as part of the story. That really is what audiences get here. Picard and company go back in time and have to ensure history’s safety, this time all because Q has some quirky fascination with Jean Luc even as he (Q) is dying.
Complicating matters even more is that Picard and his rogue’s gallery of friends have to ensure that the borg queen, who essentially possesses Agnes, does not manage to take over 21st century Earth and turn it into a borg planet. Adding even more to the complication is Dr. Soong and his role in everything. He lets his selfish desire for fame and immortality (literal and figurative) blind him and makes things even more difficult for Jean Luc and company. Considering that Jean Luc already had to battle the Borg in Star Trek First Contact in order to preserve history, this whole story arc becomes all the less original. The only difference is that instead of making sure that first contact is made, he has to ensure that his ancestor precedes that moment and joins the flight to Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons.
As if all of this was not problematic enough, the writers incorporate a completely cheesy and unnecessary romance subplot between Rios and a young, single mother who runs her own clinic in Los Angeles. Obviously, Rios’ own future is set early on and audiences know what will happen here.
The fact that the writers drag out this season’s story as much as they do over 10 episodes, ensuring that Jean Luc keeps getting into so many tough spots, using so much exposition as he recalls his childhood that led him to become the stoic person her became known as during his life, makes for even more problem. It makes the season feel so much longer than it really is. To that end, if Season One failed to live up to expectations, then all of this together makes this season fail to live up to expectations even more so because of its overall
The writing is just one of the very problematic issues that Season Two faces. The season’s packaging proves problematic in its own way. The three discs over which the season’s 10 episodes are spread are poorly packaged for starters. Disc One sits on its own spot inside the Blu-ray case while Disc two sits atop Disc three with nothing to protect Disc two from getting marred by Disc 3. This greatly decreases the potential longevity of at least one of the discs if not both, depending on which one ends up sitting atop the other from one point to another.
Adding to the problems of the packaging is the fact that there is no hint of an episode guide anywhere in the packaging. The episode titles are printed on the discs, but that is the extent of what audiences get here. The result is that audiences who have not yet seen Season Two will just have to sit and wait to find out what happens from one episode to the next. What’s more, even those who are familiar with the series might forget each episode specifically, so even they might end up having to go through just to remember which episode has what aspect of the story. This greatly diminishes the general effect of Season Two along with the massive writing problems that plague this season.
Keeping all of this in mind, there is at least one aspect of the story that does work. That aspect is the season’s surprising finale, which actually ties (at least indirectly) back to the story element from Season One involving the Borg. Audiences who have seen Season One will recall that Jean Luc made the revelation that the Borg were more victims than the monsters that they were made out to be for so much time. That realization likely led to Picard to ultimately make the decision to give talks with the Borg the chance to talk in the first place in the season premiere (and finale). The revelation that is made at season’s end is sure to play into the coming third and final season. It makes all of the slow boil buildup to that point at least somewhat bearable. Keeping that in mind, this final aspect of the season works with the lessened violence and foul language to make the season worth watching at least once.
The second season of Star Trek Picard is hardly the presentation that it clearly could have been. It could have done so much right, but sadly did so much else. That is not to say that it is a total failure. It succeeds in that it uses far less foul language and overt violence (including bloodshed) than was used in Season One. The surprise finale to Season Two makes for its own interest, too. It is certain to shock plenty of longtime Star Trek fans. These two elements make up at least somewhat for all of the failures that are so prevalent throughout Season Two’s writing and packaging, which are so problematic in themselves and collectively. Each item examined is important in its own way to the second season of Picard. All things considered they make Star Trek Picard: Season 2 come up even shorter than the series’ first season.
Star Trek Picard: Season 2 is available now on DVD and Blu-ray. More information on Star Trek: Picard is available along with all of CBS All Access’ latest news at:
Rocker/director Rob Zombie’s “prequel” origin story of The Munsters is scheduled for release this week on digital and Blu-ray, but for those looking for something more along the lines of the original show, mpi Media Group has something on the way next month.
mpi Media Group announced Monday, it is scheduled to release Marineland Carnival with The Munsters TV Show Cast & More Lost Treasures Oct. 4. The classic presentation is scheduled for release exclusively on DVD. The forthcoming special marks the first time ever that the 1965 TV special will have seen the light of day on DVD.
Along with the title special, the collection also includes a 1966 full-color The Munsters themed “episode” featuring star Fred Gwynne in costume and character as the beloved bumbling head of the Munster household, Herman on The Danny Kaye Show. There are also some rare and vintage segments from other talk shows and a new featurette titled “Munster Memories.” The special presentation features Butch Patrick (who played Eddie Munster in the original series).
In addition, guest appearances by Edie Adams and Joey Bishop, as well as music from New Christy Minstrels.
Marineland Carnival with The Munsters TV Show Cast & More Lost Treasures will retail for MSRP of $19.98. Its run time is listed as two hours.
More information on this and other titles from mpi Media Group is available along with all of the company’s latest news at:
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