September brings DVD releases for serious fans of TV series
If it’s the fall TV season, then get ready to be deluged with a slew of new TV on DVD releases. Following is a roundup of some September releases, as well as a look ahead.
• “Boston Legal: Season Four” ($59.98, Fox, available Tuesday): This five-disc set has all 20 episodes from the fourth episode of David E. Kelley’s courtroom series, plus the behind-the-scenes featurette “The New Kids on the Courtroom Floor.”
• “Brothers & Sisters: The Complete Second Season” ($59.99, Disney, available Tuesday): Join the Walker family in this five-disc set with 16 episodes, deleted scenes, bloopers, commentaries and featurettes. An envelope inserted in the DVD set has “Nora’s Favorite Family Recipes,” such as Nora’s Mango Peach Salsa and Rebecca’s Pasta.
• “Cashmere Mafia: The Complete Series” ( $ 29.95, Sony, available Tuesday): OK, this is one show that isn’t returning this fall. But you can still enjoy the seven episodes about four high-society gal pals (Lucy Liu, Frances O’Connor, Miranda Otto and Bonnie Somerville). The two-disc set has four mini-featurettes showcasing a pivotal moment for each character.
• “Desperate Housewives: The Complete Fourth Season — Sizzling Secrets Edition” ($59.99, Disney, available now): Visit Wisteria Lane in this five-disc set that has deleted scenes; bloopers; “couples commentaries” in which couples on the series lend their observations to various episodes; and the feature “Getting Desperate From Beginning to End.” A foldout booklet called “Fairview Realty” looks like a “real” real estate guide showcasing the houses from the show with ads for businesses like Scavo’s Pizzeria.
• “Dirty Sexy Money: The Complete First Season” ($39.99, Disney, available now): Revel in the scandals and secrets of the super rich in the 10 episodes of this freshman drama. Featurettes include “The Road to Excess: Making Dirty Sexy Money,” “Enter the Penthouse: A V. I. P. Set Tour” and “Haute Couture: Dressing the Darlings.” Deleted scenes, bloopers and an audio commentary are also included.
• “Eli Stone: The Complete First Season” ($39.99 , Disney, available now): Jonny Lee Miller stars as the title character, an attorney with divine inspiration. This four-disc set has an extended pilot episode with commentary, “Eli Oops!” bloopers, deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes featurettes, including “Acting on Faith: Eli and George Michael.”
• “Grey’s Anatomy: The Complete Fourth Season — Expanded” ($59.99 five-disc DVD, $96.99 four-disc Blu-ray; Disney, available now): Will Derek and Meredith finally be together? Who knows? Look back at the 16 episodes from the fourth season, plus go for a behind-the-scenes tour with hunky docs Patrick Dempsey and Eric Dane. Other extras: extended episodes, bloopers, deleted scenes, commentaries and more featurettes
• “Life: Season One” ($29.98, Universal, available now): Damian Lewis stars as a cop returning to the job after being wrongfully imprisoned. The three-disc set has deleted scenes, bloopers, commentaries and featurettes like “Fruits of Life” and “Life’s Questions Answered.”
• “The Office: Season Four” ($49.98, Universal, available now): Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton office is always good for a laugh. Show stars Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer and B. J. Novak are among those giving commentaries to select episodes. Deleted scenes, gag reel, outtakes and a visit to “The Office” convention are also included in this four-disc set.
• “Private Practice — The Complete First Season: Extended Edition” ($39.99, Disney, available now): Addison goes off on her own in this “Grey’s Anatomy” spin-off. The three-disc set has commentaries; bloopers; deleted scenes; two extended episodes; plus features on star Kate Walsh and a look behind the scenes. A foldout “Map to the Docs” is included.
• “Pushing Daisies: The Complete First Season” ($29.98 DVD, $39.99 Blu-ray; Warner Bros.; available now): This magical series comes in a three-disc collector’s set with an interactive “Pie Time — Time for Pie” feature that includes an interview with engaging star Lee Pace.
• “Samantha Who? The Complete First Season” ($29.99, Disney, available Tuesday):Christina Applegate’s performance as a woman who emerges from a coma and can’t remember her life won over fans and critics alike. This two-disc set comes with deleted scenes, bloopers, commentaries and a small booklet “written” by the characters on “The Good & Bad of Love, Life & Career.”
• “Ugly Betty: The Complete Second Season” ($59.99 DVD, Disney, available now): There are 18 episodes on this five-disc set, along with “Betty Bloops,” deleted scenes and features on Wilhelminia Slater (the show’s villainess, played by Vanessa Williams) and a set tour with best buds Marc and Amanda (Michael Urie and Becki Newton).
• “Will & Grace: Season 8” ($44.98, Lionsgate, available now): The four-disc set comes with a gag reel, behind-the-scenes footage from the final episode, cast interviews, audio commentary on the finale and the featurette, “The Last Bow.”
• “Will & Grace: The Complete Series Collection ($249.98, Lionsgate, available now): An early entry for the holiday shopping list, the whopping 33-disc set comes in a fun, cubed-shaped box and has commentaries on the pilot episode, a “favorite episodes” commentary, themed featurettes and an episode book.
Coming soon: Upcoming TV shows on DVD include: “Ax Men: The Complete Season One,” Sept. 30 (A&E); “ Gangland: The Complete Season One,” Sept. 30 (A&E); “ How I Met Your Mother: Season Three,” Oct. 7 (Fox); “30 Rock: Season 2,” Oct. 7 (Universal); “Back to You: Season 1” (Fox); “Rules of Engagement: The Complete Second Season,” Oct. 14 (Sony); “The Unit: Season Three,” Oct. 14 (Fox); “According to Jim: Season One, ” Oct. 21 (Lionsgate); “Bones: Season Three,” Nov. 11 (Fox); “Scrubs: The Complete Seventh Season,” Nov. 11 (Disney); and “Lost: The Complete Fourth Season,” Dec. 9 (Disney).
Coming Tuesday: “High School Musical 2: Deluxe Dance Edition” (Disney), “L. A. Confidential” (Warner), “Sex and the City” (Warner),“Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat” (Lionsgate), “ Leatherheads” (Universal)•
DVD Extra: "HORATIO HORNBLOWER: COLLECTOR’S EDITION": All eight feature-length Hornblower films starring Ioan Gruffudd are here, plus interviews, biographies, a photo gallery, interactive 3D naval cannon and other featurettes. ($59.95, A&E Home Video. Available Tuesday.)
