Amazon.com

When Ally McBeal premiered on the Fox network in 1997, the series was already riding high on critical praise, with its upscale mix of savvy humor and hot-topic legal drama. Created, produced, and written entirely by the amazingly prolific David E. Kelley, the show immediately found an appreciative audience of women drawn to the title character's frank perspectives on dating, sex, and career objectives, and men lured by a cast full of attractive, outspoken women with vibrant personalities and flattering wardrobes. (If you think that's a sexist observation, you haven't tuned in to the show's brilliant balance of male chauvinism, feminist attitude, and hilariously turbulent office politics.)

This two-disc compilation of episodes from the show's first season is aptly titled, because Ally McBeal--a Boston lawyer played by Calista Flockhart--is defined by her seemingly perpetual singlehood, her sexual and emotional yearnings, her professional passions, and--by one of Kelley's creative masterstrokes--her flights of imagination (often visualized via amusing computer-generated effects) that give the series a constant, unpredictable edge of humor and emotional depth.

These well-chosen episodes offer a comprehensive summary of the first season's major developments, including the emotional history shared by Ally and her now-married colleague Billy (Gil Bellows); the notorious "dancing baby" (in "Cro-Magnon") symbolizing the insistent ticking of Ally's biological clock; the amiable quirks of John "the Biscuit" Cage (Peter MacNicol); and the dubious pearls of wisdom known as "Fishisms." Here we witness the sublime chemistry of the ensemble cast, and each member is given ample time in the spotlight. Regular guest star Dyan Cannon is strongly featured in "Silver Bells," prior to the second-season addition of Nelle (Portia DeRossi) and Ling (Lucy Liu). That leaves plenty of room to establish Ally McBeal as the lively focus of the series--confused, opinionated, sexy, neurotic, frustrated, ecstatic, intelligent, emotional... and never, ever boring. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (58)

Do you want every bit of Ally? Come to the UK!!!
Ally McBeal is an American TV show so I do not understand why Americans have only been given this small bundle of episodes when over in my home country England we have ALL the seasons available with special features!

For you hardcore Ally fans I'll give you some handy advice. Save up for a multi-region dvd player or a computer that plays dvds. Go on over to amazon.co.uk and purchase the season box sets!

Good luck!!!

UPSET!
I love the show Ally Mcbeal, and I am upset that there is only one season released here in the US! I ordered three seasons from the UK website only to get them in the mail and find out that they are not compatible with the systems of the U.S. so either way I am still with out any of the episodes!It cost me $32.00 to send it back to the U.K., and I'm not even sure amazon.uk will refund the cost of the sets! So I am out of over $100.00 trying to buy the series of this wonderful show. I am upset at the entire situation!

What an insult!!
While I might be inclined to believe that the seris was a cult fav, it still was extremely popular. This DVD release is an insult to all the faithful followers and just a tease to those who are unfamiliar with the ironic yet hilarious humor. There is a bit of Ally in all of us. Does Fox even know how frustrating it is to know that Ally is available in just about every country but the U.S.? I had to buy season one off a jerk on ebay and it was burnt and it sucked! I did get season four from a fabulous person in another country. Expensive song rights or not, give your loyal fans what they deserve and make it good with deleted scenes and lots of special features!!!!

ally mcbeal boxed set PLEASE
i am a fan of ally mcbeal and would love to be able to buy the entire series of episodes on dvd. i see sex and the city, friends, buffy, etc...there are so many people that love ally mcbeal, i would LOVE to see this set put out.
becky

Where's the rest of the seasons???
I was planning on buying this cd as a gift for an Ally Mcbeal fan but after reading the reviews I changed my mind! This show was great, I cannot believe the entire collection is not out on DVD, I'm going on amazon.co.uk to see what I find? ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Awesome
The third season on CYE is the best of the four, though all of them are hilarious. But if you buy only one season, make it the third. Ted Danson is a regular character and is very funny, as always. Its a great season of a great show.

The difinative season of Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm
-Season three episode guide:

301- Chet's Shirt (9/15/02)

302- The Benadryl Brownie (9/22/02)

303- Club Soda and Salt (9/27/02)

304- The Nanny (10/6/02)

305- The Terrorist Attack (10/13/02)

306- The Special Section (10/20/02)

307- The Corpse-Sniffing Dog (10/27/02)

308- Crazy-Eyez Killah (11/3/02)

309- Mary, Joseph, and Larry (11/10/02)

310- The Grand Opening (11/17/02)

The first season of Curb Lacks the kind of overall plot connecting the episodes that the most recent three seasons have had. The second season steered Curb in a very "Seinfeld" direction as Larry begins to pitch a TV series (Starring, initially, Jason Alexander, and later Julia Louis-Dreyfus) to several networks, very similar to Seinfeld's fourth season. Finally, it seems, Curb Your Enthusiasm "found itself", so to speak, with its third season. The third season's plot finds Larry investing in a resturaunt along with several other celebrities.

So finally, after a hectic albeit funny first and second season, the show settled down and focused on connecting and inter-weaving the episodes in really interesting and unique ways while still leaving each open-ended enough to be enjoyed alone. The time Curb saved slimming down non-plot-essential information went into a good deal of critically needed character development. Remarkably, the deepest character in the first two seasons is Larry's manager, Jeff.

Luckily, Larry and Cheryl are at the core of almost every aspect of the third season. Their family lives are fleshed-out in much greater detail, making both seem infinitely more human. And this character-development allowed Curb Your Enthusiasm, in my opinion, to become truly great.

-Colin George

a very wonderful show
this show has been very funny to luagh at. this series is very funny in alot of ways tat are different from any other show. it looks like live television, and looks unlike another show, buit the context of this show is a fortune. yes there arent many episodes a season, but if you watch to many at one time you will get burned out on it. rent first and see if you injoy then buy later like i did. ... Read more

Description

Seasons 1 and 2 of the 4-time Emmy Award-winning Drama available together on DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Episodes. Not so great extras
The DVD version of this series is dangerous because the story arch is so compelling you'll find yourself sitting and watching episode after episode unable to stop just to see what happens next. If you've already seen the shows you'll watch them in great anticipation of those dynamic character moments contained in each episode (Yo-Yo Ma at the White House, sparing between the Bartletts, the moment when Donna learns of the President's medical condition). It's incredibly enjoyable to spend time with these characters and Mr. Sorkin's writing tickles us and touches our hearts such that we're reluctant to leave this amazing world and these equally amazing people who populate it.

The unfortunate part of the DVD package is the extras. The commentaries are just plain awful. They are stilted, awkward and boring, offering very little insight into the making of the show, backstage with the actors or any technical information - or what we're all hoping for -- some real gossip. In the published scripts of the show, Mr. Sorkin has written introductions which provide fascinating anecdotes about what was going on around the construction of the script and/or what was the inspiration for the story. That doesn't happen on the DVD. The outtakes or gag reel is short and not very satisfying. And where are the taped interviews with the actors and show's creators? I wonder if the departure from West Wing by Mr. Sorkin and Mr. Schlamme (which seemed to happen not be their choice) has created a situation in which pulling together some meaningful documentary regarding this significant television drama undoable.

Buy the DVDs to watch the episodes over and over (and you will, I'm sure). Buy the published scripts for the real "behind the scenes" stuff that adds a bit of color and depth to an already deeply colorful and moving television show.

Fantastic First Season & Superb Second Season
I didn't start watching The West Wing till early in the second season, but it quickly became my favorite show (replacing Aaron Sorkin's other masterpiece, 'Sports Night', which had just been dropped by ABC). It was killing me that I'd missed so many episodes, so I was ecstatic when I heard that Warner was finally releasing the first season on DVD! Having the episodes on DVD is great, even for episodes you've seen. If you've seen The West Wing, you know how rapid-fire the dialogue is; with DVD, it's easy to back up a few seconds to catch a line you missed.

Sorkin is an amazing writer. He is able to weave a compelling and entertaining storyline involving real issues facing our country and world. The characters debate those issues in a way that illuminates both sides of the argument. You'll likely find yourself thinking, 'I'd never looked at it that way', at least a couple times every episode. It may be fiction, but it is fiction that inspires hope that our political system CAN work.

The show is definitely a thought-provoking drama, but that certainly doesn't mean it's dry or boring. There is a huge dose of witty banter and a fair share of light-hearted sub-plots in every episode. Great writing, great acting, great sets and music, all come together to form what has become my favorite TV show ever. Get these DVD's to get caught up on early episodes you missed, or to revisit the incredible beginnings of this masterpiece.

SEASON ONE:
Pilot
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc
A Proportional Response
Five Votes Down
The Crackpots and These Women
Mr. Willis of Ohio
The State Dinner
Enemies
The Short List
In Excelsis Deo
Lord John Marbury
He Shall, from Time to Time
Take Out the Trash Day
Take This Sabbath Day
Celestial Navigation
20 Hours in L.A.
The White House Pro-Am
Six Meetings Before Lunch
Let Bartlet Be Bartlet
Mandatory Minimums
Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
What Kind of Day Has It Been?

SEASON TWO:
In The Shadow of Two Gunmen (Part 1)
In The Shadow of Two Gunmen (Part 2)
The Midterms
In This White House
And It's Surely To Their Credit
The Lame Duck Congress
The Portland Trip
Shibboleth
Galileo
Noël
The Leadership Breakfast
The Drop In
Bartlet's Third State of the Union
The War at Home
Ellie
Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail
The Stackhouse Filibuster
17 People
Bad Moon Rising
The Fall's Gonna Kill You
18th and Potomac
Two Cathedrals

(You can look up an episode guide if you want a quick summary of the plots; I didn't want to spoil any surprises here. My favorite guide is at epguides.com.) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Like its fellow HBO series Sex and the City, this half-hour comedy broke some TV rules and went from critics' darling to an award-winning series in three years. Curb Your Enthusiasm is the brainchild of star-creator Larry David who co-created Seinfeld and was the basis for the easily rattled George Costanza (who was played by Jason Alexander). Like George, David has a tendency to speak too much, blow things out of proportion, and, most often, fail in the end (and often liking it that way). David's new show is also like its predecessor: it's about "nothing" except following the day-to-day ramblings of a sometime writer and comic (this time in L.A.). Eternal questions stemming from universal daily dilemmas are honed to perfect comedic absurdity. A notable exception is the show is only scripted by plot; much of the action is improvised. The first season starts with a one-hour mockumentary following David's return to stand-up for the first time in years; the other 10 episodes follow a more traditional sit-com setup. David plays "himself" (as does his friend, Richard Lewis) although his manager and wife are played by comedians Jeff Garlin and Cheryl Hines. Although this first season is a comedic gem, one can't take more than an episode or two at a time--it's acidic, biting comedy. The episodes are often built like a house of cards, which the irritable David will surely collapse by the end. Like another caustic TV character, Dabney Colman's Buffalo Bill (1983-84), Larry David is not for everybody.

The second season is more of the same, and for fans, that's a good thing. The closest thing to an arc is David's season-long pitch to the networks for a new show starring former Seinfeld stars Jason Alexander and Julia-Louis Dreyfus. Each network is lampooned, especially HBO, which David has a bad history with in this alternate world. Sure to repel those with soft funny bones, Curb's acerbic comedy allows jokes where David is accidentally framed--if ever so briefly--as a child molester, wife abuser, or murderer. But for those who do love his shtick, there are big laughs, especially when we bump into characters as unbridled as David, like a fellow writer who is quite protective over his dad's invention, the Cobb salad. Many comic actors pop up, some as "themselves" (Richard Lewis, Rob Reiner) and others as characters (Rita Wilson, Ed Asner) along with the delights of co-stars Cheryl Hines as David's wife and his affable manger, Jeff Garlin. There are several touchstone bits: what a thong brief can do to a relationship, a run-in with pro wrestler, Larry's first baptism, and one very collectible doll. To pick one episode to capture this second season--and its grandstanding nature--it would be "Shaq," in which the NBA star is accidentally tripped, changing David's usual bad luck with gut-busting results. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you're a lifetime member of the Jennifer Connelly fan club, you'll be in the passionate minority of people (100% male) who won't care that this 1991 comedy is wallowing in its own oily puddle of lameness. The gorgeous Ms. Connelly is conspicuously put on display in this typically lightweight fluff from writer-producer John Hughes. Frank Whaley does his best to liven up the male-fantasy plot about a semi-nerdy teen who gets a night-watchman job in a variety store, only to find himself locked in overnight with the local knockout (Connelly), who's as rich as she is beautiful. She's also really unhappy with her home life and her bully boyfriend (Dermot Mulroney), so it's Frank's big opportunity to make his move as a sympathetic Romeo. Shallow and contrived, the movie does have its standard moments of John Hughes delicacy, and a cameo by the late John Candy scores bonus points for comedy. Still, it's clear that the movie exists primarily to satisfy adolescent lust--and with Connelly as the object of desire, this otherwise tiresome comedy is a triumph of wish-fulfillment casting. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (30)

A movie for all of us who were "outcasts" in High School!!!
I loved this movie!!!! Frank Whaley is an underated actor who gives a very energetic perfomance, and Jennifer Connoly, well...'nuff said. I guess I'm a little biased in this review because I was one of those labeled in high school "Outcast", and I identify with the main character. It's about damn time one of us got the most girl popular girl in high school!!! Sorry that's the pain from High School talking. And which one of wouldn't imitate Jim Dodge's antic's if we were locked in Target for one night!?!?!?!?!

The amazon.com reviewer needs to get his facts straight!
This is a great movie...I think I have a review here or the VHS version...anyhow, I wanted to point out, the movie is not really about Whaley's character lusting after Jennifer. It's more focused on the comedy of it all. Also..Dermot Mulroney does NOT play Connely's boyfriend, he plays the robber/murderer who breaks into Target to rob the place, and runs into Whaley and Connely! You can't write a bad review basically trashing the movie, if you clearly haven't even seen it!

I like it for what it could have been.....
I absolutely love this film- it's strangely endearing. and the best part is, it is most endearing for what it COULD have been. i think that's why i like watching it so much. the film was made during john hughes' fall from grace (his deal with the devil had to run out sometime) and the early 90's weren't as kind or interested in his fantastic dissections of 80's class conflicts and teenagers know best philosophy. career ops does run a tad thin but there was a great deal of potential. i think whaley's performance was really underrated. if the film had kept some of the scenes shown in the teaser trailer in 1991, he would have been even more likable. the problem is, hughes wants whaley to be a cross between Duckie in 'pretty in pink', ferris bueller and even the anthony michael hall char. in 'weird science'. this amalgamation doesn't do Whaley justice in what was probably a sincere attempt to create an original character of his own. His Jim Dodge is actually really interesting- a cool guy that doesn't trust his own coolness, a lower middle class son who doesn't know how to do well in his parent's eyes and an imaginative, articulate guy who can't quite escape midwest america. if the film would have been less about slapstick (please please please shoot whoever decided bringing in the mulroney brothers for their unecessary subplot that just ruins the film) and more about the dynamic between whaley and connelly, it could have been fantastic. connelly, meanwhile, is also let down by someone- the editor. she is fantastic- beautiful, articulate, classy, and graceful, but appears to be acting in a totally different movie than whaley. the scenes both about and with her father border on the uneasy. i have a feeling that in the original script she was really abused by the bullying dad, perhaps both physically and sexually. i could see it as a possibility with that character. we get a hint of this but then the movie shies away from it completely and we never quite get if its a joke or not (although the scene of connelly in profile with the father outside her door always made me nervous.) i really do like she and whaley together but both hughes and the editors don't seem to know what kind of movie they wanted to make- a slapdash comedy in a newly popular chain store, or a character study of a 'much cooler than his town gives him credit for' guy and the genuinely kind and rich girl who befriends him under strange circumstances. for this matter, we also (b/c of the editing) are never quite sure where connelly's afections lie- in liking jim dodge, or in getting the hell out of town. i just have a soft spot for this film and what it could have been if everyone involved in the production had agreed on what they wanted to make. the ending is atrocious and corny but the rest has promise. this is a great film for aspring filmakers and especially WRITERS to watch both for its good points but mostly for its wrong turns. A great deal can be learned from it.

Yes, It Definitely Has Jennifer Connelly In It
I watched this movie for the first time in many years the other day and had to come to this board to see the comments. Just as I thought, a lot of guys oogling Jennifer Connelly. And with very good reason. This movie was the worst in the John Hughes collection, but I can't tell you why because I didn't care a thing about the plot or the lead male character or the robbers or even John Candy, of whom I was a very big fan. I just know that Jennifer Connelly is an absolute doll in this movie, whether it be on roller skates or on a mechanical dime-store horse (especially a mechanical dime-store horse). In fact I think she comes across sexier here than she does in The Hot Spot, where she shows even more of her assets.

Alas, today Jennifer Connelly has gone the way of Calista Flockhart and lost the babyfat and become a serious actress, even carting home an Oscar, but her role in Career Opportunities will be the one remembered by fans years from now.

Ugh!
Little did I know as I watched this movie that Jennifer Connelly would be a huge star or that a Target would acutally open in my neighborhood in the years to come. But even that doesn't mitigate the bad taste I still have in my mouth from this movie.Try not to watch it if you're in a career slump or in between jobs or depressed! I was all of the above at the time, and watching this was the worst punishment I could have inflicted upon myself.This was surely the last hurrah of 20something-bashing, you know, the kind of uneducated diatribes in which this demographic was perceived as lazy, unambitious, boring, and jaded. In reality the 20somethings were in a slump in the early 90's because of a recession and a poor job market, not because of any lack of ambition on their part. But you wouldn't know it to watch this movie. It does great injustice to GenX. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It's more of the same for Larry David's sitcom from HBO, and for fans, that's a good thing. The show--largely extemporized--follows suit of David's former series, Seinfeld: it's a show about nothing, just the everyday life of the star going about his pseudo-real world. But David's show has far more edge (thanks, in part, to airing on cable TV) with all the bad luck, embarrassing situations, and dreadful behavior as its premiere season. The closest thing to an arc is David's season-long pitch to the networks for a new show starring former Seinfeld stars Jason Alexander and Julia-Louis Dreyfus. Each network is lampooned, especially HBO, which David has a bad history with in this alternate world. Sure to repel those with soft funny bones, Curb's acerbic comedy allows jokes where David is accidentally framed--if ever so briefly--as a child molester, wife abuser, or murderer. But for those who do love his shtick, there are big laughs, especially when we bump into characters as unbridled as David, like a fellow writer who is quite protective of his dad's invention, the Cobb salad.

Many comic actors pop up, some as "themselves" (Richard Lewis, Rob Reiner) and others as characters (Rita Wilson, Ed Asner) along with the delights of co-stars Cheryl Hines as David's wife and his affable manger, Jeff Garlin. There are several touchstone bits: what a thong brief can do to a relationship, a run-in with pro wrestler, Larry's first baptism, and one very collectible doll. To pick one episode to capture this second season--and its grandstanding nature--it would be "Shaq," in which the NBA star is accidentally tripped, changing David's usual bad luck with gut-busting results. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Seinfeld... Part II
If you loved Seinfeld, you will love Curb Your Enthusiasm. Like Seinfeld, this show is mostly about nothing. While it does have situations mixed into the fold, the core laughs come from throwing the characters into everyday situations and picking apart the day-to-day things that we all can relate to.

It has been common knowledge that Larry David, the co-creator of Seinfeld was the real-life version of Jason Alexander's character, George Costanza. When you watch this show, you can't help but see the similarities.

One of the more interesting things about this show is that the dialogue is totally unscripted. This adds a freshness to the show that is very unique.

The show features a lot of cameos from Larry David's circle of Hollywood friends who generally play themself.

My only complaint is that there are only 10 episodes per season. I can't get enough of this show. It's clearly the funniest show on TV today!

THE TOP 10
Like the arguement of the grassy knoll, the 10 episodes that make up Season 2 of CURB are the some of the best ever seen on either network or cable. Larry David is on an amazing genius run. No one is spared: Jason Alexander, HBO, Starbucks, The WWF...Enough cannot be said about these 10 classics. Is that Jewell (or her little sister) performing in the talent show? And yes, Richard Lewis' sweater is cashmere (albeit a blend).

Nowhere near as funny as the first season
Don't get me wrong...I don't regret the purchase. It's just that the first season was consistently laugh-out-loud funny and this one just isn't close to that level.

Enthusiastic About Season Two
Curb Your Enthusiasm is the hilarious HBO series starring Larry David as himself. The series have no solid plotlines, they are basically set up as shells, with the actors improvising most of the lines. Mr. David may well be the funniest actor on television. He is a crotchity, acerbic guy who is constantly getting himself into trouble by saying or doing the wrong things at the wrong time. Season two features one of the series' best ever episodes, Shaq. Larry is bemoaning his perpetual bad luck when he gets courtside seats to a Lakers game. During the game, he accidentally trips Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal, sending Shaq to the hospital with an injury. Of course Larry is blamed for the injury and is ostracized by all his friends and hated by everyone. But Larry hits a good luck streak, where everything is going his way for a change. He even starts hanging out with Shaq in his hospital room, but in the end, Larry screws it up and his bad luck returns. Season two features the usual compliment of guest stars including Mr. David's former Seinfeld cohorts Jason Alexander & Julia Louis-Dreyfus, good buddy Richard Lewis and the usual stellar support from regulars Cheryl Hines & Jeff Garlin.

Still superior to all other TV comedy series...
I rated this four stars relative to the series as a whole; in relation to every other comedy currently on the air, it really warrants the full five stars. In short, I have to agree with other reviewers who feel Season Two is probably the weakest in the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" series. Still, this is worth the price of admission for the "Doll Head" episode alone, maybe the funniest 30 minutes ever aired in television history, even if the rest isn't quite up to the usual Larry David standards. And while I'm not generally a fan of DVD extras, shelling out 35 bucks for a no-frills five-hour's worth of viewing seemed a tad inflated compared to similar DVD sets on the market (really, all the HBO series DVD's are over-priced).

It was still worth it in the end, as nothing makes me laugh harder than watching this poor shlub stammer his way through ridiculous situations of his own making. Priceless moments this season include an uncomfortably realistic bit with Jason Alexander suffering the slings and arrows of post-Seinfeld Costanza-typecasting; Ed Asner's hysterical turn as a gruff and horny old geezer on his last legs; and a horrified Larry encountering his shrink sporting a package-revealing thong at the beach -- not to even mention the nightmarish water bottle incident in the "Doll Head" episode.

This is "Curb Your Enthusiasm" undergoing growing pains, unsuccessful in fully re-capturing the spontaneous greatness of Season One and not yet on the reliably steady legs that will later hallmark its prime. While the writing and guest spots improve markedly in subsequent years, this series is still superior to everything being served up by the networks, even in its weakest hour. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

What Could Have Been...
I would have started out this review by saying that "LaserLight" should be ashamed for putting something like this out, but then I realized I have never heard of "LaserLight" and DVDs of this quality may very well explain why. I am a closet Wonder Years fan, and I was eagerly anticipating this "Best of" compilation. Unfortunately, all the reviews before mine accurately sum up every one of the faults of this DVD. The disc only has one episode on it, with a "Highlights" section preceding this lonely episode to round out the paltry 71 minutes of material. Admittedly, I found that the editing done during the "Highlights" portion was accomplished reasonably well, with no harsh jumps or obvious transition flaws. The section does not, however, lay any type of background down about the show or its characters before sending the viewer off to the Series Finale. Tech. wise my biggest complaint was the audio, it was atrocious. A TV show of this caliber deserves so much more and I can only hope that at some point (in the near future?) a company goes back and does it justice, for this DVD surely doesn't.

Awsome Show
I used to watch this show when i was a little kid, right before it ended. I really felt that this show was an accurate depiction of life issues and i really feel that alot with what i am going through in high school is shown in this show with great accuracy.

Great Show, Fair DVD
The visual side of all The Wonder Years DVDs are certainely good enough for the average viewer. The audio, however, for some reason does not contain the original WG Snuffy Walden score music. I'm sure it had something to do with licensing but its very unfortunate. The original score was so seamless and powerful, I hated to see a cheesey replacement used instead. Maybe someday we'll have a newly remastered entire series on DVD like we finally go for My So-Called Life.

The best of the wonder years
This is the last 2 episodes of the series, the end of such a great TV show. Also some good highlights from all of the shows. If you have watched all the TV episodes, Im sure at some point in your life you have experienced The Wonder Years.

I have lost my copy of this great DVD and urgently require it.
...

The Wonderful Wonder Years
I seriously miss this show, and this DVD lets me watch my favorite episodes (114/115). I was always dissapointed with the way the show ended, but I love the show and feel deeply connected to it. ... Read more

Description

Hang on for a wild ride! In this fast-paced romantic comedy, Charlie Dunlap (Sports Night's Josh Charles) always dreamed of being traffic reporter# but when he lands his perfect job in L.A., his relationship with the girl of his dreams takes a turn for the worse. Not even his mentor, famed radio personality Alan Davenport (Monsters Inc.'s John Goodman) can help him, and now he's got to put the pedal to the metal to chase after his one chance at true love. Christine Lahti (Chicago Hope), Anne Heche (Donnie Brasco), and Peter Riegert (National Lampoon's Animal House) co-star in this hilarious comedy about life, love and hot pursuit! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Charming
This is one of those delightful movies that gets overlooked by critics and viewers. But it is one of my favorites because it is so charming and sincere. I love the fact that it's about traffic engineering- something that I've always wondered about myself when driving through congested streets. I would think about the optimal way to time the lights so that less people would be stuck in traffic. The other reason why this movie is special to me is because of the memories it brings back of the time when I first saw it in 1996, with my ex-girlfriend, on HBO on a lazy Friday night. The scenes with the beautiful lighting in the apartment yard or the hilarious scenes of Christine Lahti as the horny landlord sort of meld into the memories and impressions I have of that ecstatic time in my life. I love the way movies or music can do that. So I guess we all have our personal movies that do that to us.

Cute
Hey, sometimes it's great to see a simple movie. This one is no great genius, and it's pretty predictable, but it IS perfectly adorable. An entertaining 2 hours.

a quirky, fun movie about traffic and naked people
One of my favorite new actors teams up with Anne Heche to produce a fun, wacky view of live traffic reports and interpretive dance. I was hooked the first time I saw it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Best Show EVER!
Read some of the other reviews.This was the BEST show on television!It was WAY ahead of its time...probably why it only made it 6 episodes on FOX!Thank GOD F/X showed all 13 episodes the following summer.Place your e-mail and let Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (wwwDOTspheDOTcom) know that we NEED this on dvd!Also go to wwwDOTtvshowsondvdDOTcom and vote for a season release.GOD was this the best show!

THEY BETTER RELEASE THIS ON DVD!
this is the greatest show ever!if you haven't seen it, you're really missing out.PLEASE enter your email address so maybe it will be released!!my vhs copies taped off tv are starting to wear out so PLEASE RELEASE THE DVD SOON!!!

This unparalleled TV comedy should be on DVD by now !!!
So I'm reviewing a DVD that doesn't exist (yet). The main reason I'm writing anything at all is to urge anyone who stumbles upon this to enter your email address above, requesting to be informed by Amazon should this title ever actually make it to DVD. There's no obligation to buy, but entering your email address will count as a vote toward convincing the studio to release this incredibly clever, outrageously funny and stingingly accurate TV show from 1999 (Fox). The 13 half-hour episodes, plus a few bonus features, would fit nicely on 2 discs. Starring Jay Mohr and an outstanding ensemble cast, plus some big Hollywood names playing, and satirizing, themselves, it's as good as any TV comedy I've ever seen. I've been a huge fan of The Honeymooners, Barney Miller, Taxi, Cheers, Bosom Buddies, Seinfeld, Friends, Sports Night, Arrested Development, Scrubs and, recently, The Office (the Steve Carell version - haven't caught the British original yet). If your TV comedy tastes are even remotely close to mine, you will absolutely love Action. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I want this so much
I really loved this show and it deserved better marketing and a steady place on Fox because it should not have been cancelled.I will always remember the episode with the piece of pie. =(

The Suspense Builds...
When will this be out on DVD?It is wonderful to see the placeholder in Amazon, but I hope the release comes.

Andy Richter Controls the Universe will appeal to fans of Newsradio and Arrested Development.They all make use of an ensemble cast, any one of which would, by themselves, carry any normal sitcom (I can easily see "The Byron Show"), but when put together have an amazing affect as everybody plays off everybody else and funny scenes just keep building.Unfortunately, like Newsradio and now perhaps AD, this show died an early death due to network malice.Its one thing to ignore a show entirely and put it on some strange time *and keep it on*, but the network continued to shift times, run multiple replays of the same episode (not that they weren't funny a second or fifth time) and pre-empt with specials.Then they were shocked that it wasn't an immediate hit and cancelled it.

All of the characters were really quirky and funny, even the minor recurring characters (look for Sean Gunn as a recently graduated Frat brother of Andy).And yes, as another reviewer mentioned, Irene Molloy is beautiful and funny (even when she goes on medication).The "Irish" episode is legendary, but there were certainly other winners, such as the dead guy and the trip to Milwaukee.I cannot believe that FOX didn't even bother to air five filmed episodes.I hope these make the DVD.

Well, I've waited six years for Newsradio, I can wait a few months for this...

Fans of "Arrested Development" and "Family Guy" would love..
Like "Arrested Development," this offbeat office sitcom featured a talented cast of character actors, a wicked streak of black humor, a soundtrack devoid of canned laughs, and an indifferent patron in FOX, who re-ran the same episodes over and over and eventually killed the show just when the cast was at their creative peak.Unfortunately, "Andy Richter" did not utilize the kind of stunt casting "Arrested Development" has shrewdly used to stay alive, though there were great guest spots from Erik Estrada (CHiPS), Beth Littleford (Daily Show), Lola Glaudini (Sopranos), June Lockhart, Conan O'Brien, Amy Weber and others.Check out the episode guide at http://www.tvtome.com/AndyRichterControlstheUniverse/guide.html.There were 19 episodes produced, and five of those went unaired!Andy Ackerman (Seinfeld, Frasier, Cheers), John Fortenberry (Arrested Development), Bryan Gordon (Freaks And Geeks), and Will Mackenzie (Everybody Loves Raymond) directed many of the episodes and Tom Blacha (TV Funhouse), Michael Shipley (Family Guy), and Jim Bernstein (Family Guy) were among the writers.In fact, fans of "Family Guy" will appreciate the frequent cartoonish non-sequiturs that were a staple of this show, while "Arrested" fans will appreciate the stellar cast, documentary-style direction (like "Arrested," the show was shot on film), and truly warped sense of humor.If this doesn't appear in a DVD box (and I mean, come on, FOX, you released "Greg The Bunny" and "Undeclared"), maybe we'll at least get reruns at 2am on Comedy Central or something.

Yet another brilliant show canceled in its prime.
When Andy Richter Controls The Universe premiered on FOX in 2002, it was a breath of fresh air. Instead of endless, nameless reality shows (and this was three years ago!) and whiny sitcoms about twenty-somethings whining ad nauseum about their date du jour, ARCTU dealt with an everyman (Andy), and the wacky situations he finds himself getting into, along with Family Guy-esque sequences and flashbacks. The characters were likable (my favorites being the VERY cute Wendy, and the neurotic, nebbish Byron), the writing was top-notch, and it was easily the kind of show you'd actually plan on watching Tuesday night. It carried on Seinfeld's tradition of "No Hugging, No Learning", it had no moral value, it didn't make you think about the plight of society, and I and every other fellow fan of the show would have it no other way. It just made you laugh!

Of course, this is FOX we're talking here (the same rocket scientists that canceled Family Guy, but at least that's coming back), so the second they shifted the time slot all over the place, I knew it was in trouble. Then, of course, inevitably, because it was simply too good for prime time, it got canceled in 2003. It hasn't been seen on regular cable TV since.

First, about FOX. Who the hell makes the decisions there? They leave generic, powder-puff crap and boring reality TV on, but cancel shows with actual MERIT? Let's face the facts: FOX is done. FOX has jumped the shark. I guarantee you, friends, the day the Simpsons ends (don't get me wrong, though, I love the Simpsons) is the day that FOX ends.

Now, about this being released on DVD. I'm very happy to see the Amazon page up, that gives me hope, but it still says that the studio is not working on it. So I say: GET THIS DVD OUT!!! ASAP!!! If Arrested Development gets its own set, why not ARCTU? Come on, 20th Century Fox, get cracking!

If you want to see ARCTU hit DVD, go to www.petitionspot.com/petitions/andyrichtercontrolstheuniversedvd, and sign the petition!

Come On Already!
This was one of the funniest shows of all-time to be cancelled before its prime.FOX, just put it on DVD for us already, and make the world a better place! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

the end of a great show
Season 5 of the West Wing marked the end of Aaron Sorkin as a writer and Tommy Shlamme as a producer of the show. This season suffers greatly from the change.The show used to be about the day to day workings inside a fictional White House.This season is all about dealing with crisis, from the resulution of the kidnapping of Zoey to the death of of a long time character, to the shutting down of the federal government.etc. etc.While some of these storylines were entertaining and some downright awful(documentary ep.), it wasn't the least bit believable and seemed very similar to all the other dramas on network tv.This is clearly the weakest season of once great show, they got things going in the right direction again during season 6, but the glory days are behind us unfortunatly.

West Wing Season 5
Being from the UK I already own this DVD,
We do get them earlier than the US does, on average it's about 6 months earlier, however the US versions get extras when they are released, whereas the UK and other parts of the worlds versions do not get any.(Also ours tend to be about twice as expensive!)
So it's a tough decision wether to get it early without extras or wait and get them.

As far as the season goes, sure it is different from the first four, it was always going to be after Aaron Sorkin left.
The season opener is fantastic, the piece of music at the end will give you that same feeling as any of the best moments of the last four years.

Over all that are some great moments in this season; there are some weak moments too, but this is still the best written, best acted, witty, intelligent and engrossing piece of television around at the moment. (Oh yeah, the moment with big bird is hilarious)

Amazon UK has it!!!
Why is it that Amazon UK has already released this title but Amazon US hasn't???

Worth it!
In my opinion, this season was really the end of the decent episodes of west wing. Shortly after the first few, aaron Sorkan left, and WW has spiraled downword until it has reached the point that it has for season 8. I would love to get the 5th season, especally for the beginning where Bartlet's daughter was kidnapped (well the conclution from the cliffhanger season 4)
I and many more West Wing fans agree. We would love to see this season on DVD in the near future.

best tv seris.!!
watch all the other 4 seasons, when ever i start, i'll have to finished all before i can funtion to other thing,that's how the show track me to it,please relases the season 5 asap,or even better,relases all of it,please!! ... Read more