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And Now For Something Somewhat Different…
Perhaps you owned—and wore the grooves down on—the records, like some of us here at Shout! … but did you know that The Secret Policeman’s Ball(s) were actually televised events? It’s true, and now five of the talent-filled balls make their DVD debut in a 3-disc set on January 27. Benefiting Amnesty International, the fundraiser shows were held between 1976-89, no doubt inspiring the wave of charity “Aid” shows that ensued. The box set’s performers include some of Britain’s best comedians, among them Pythons John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Graham Chapman and Terry Gilliam, plus Rowan Atkinson, Dawn French & Jennifer Saunders and Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie. Historic musical performances include guests Pete Townshend, Sting, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Donovan, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Kate Bush and Joan Armatrading. Also featured are rare duets from guitar legends Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler & Chet Atkins. It’s an Anglophile’s dream come true!
Shout! “The TV On DVD” Factory
We’re rolling up our sleeves and digging in deep to properly release a slew of TV gems, many of which have been fondly yearned for over the years:
My Two Dads: The Complete First Season – This beloved, yet strangely premised, 1987 series featured Greg Evigan (B.J. And The Bear) and Paul Reiser (Mad About You) as two potential biological dads who are court-ordered to share the custody of a 12-year-old after her mother—an ex-girlfriend of both men—passes away. Comedy unfolds as the two polar-opposite men struggle to relate to one another and to the young girl. The 4-DVD set includes new cast and crew interviews, a gag reel and more. Look for it on March 3.
The Miracle Worker – This 1979 TV movie starred Little House’s Melissa Gilbert as the blind, deaf and slightly feral “Helen Keller,” and Patty Duke as the patient and compassionate teacher who becomes her savior, “Annie Sullivan.” The classic debuts on DVD on March 10 with closed captioning for the hearing impaired and audio descriptions for the vision impaired.
Mr. Belvedere: Seasons 1 & 2 – The oft-portrayed character Lynn Belvedere—Clifton Webb played him in 1949 and ’51 on the silver screen, and Victor Borge on TV in 1965—returned in 1985 for a good old-fashioned sitcom. Mr. Belvedere starred Christopher Hewett in the title role and Bob Uecker as the head of the Owens household in which he served. Seasons 1 & 2 are included in this 5-DVD set, which also features new cast interviews and a Saturday Night Live parody skit starring Tom Hanks. Available March 17.
Room 222: Season One – The acclaimed 1969 TV series finally arrives on DVD on March 24. The compelling 30-minute program starred Karen Valentine, Lloyd Haynes, Denise Nicholas and Michael Constantine, plus guest stars including Bernie Kopell, Teri Garr and Rob Reiner. Based at a multiracial high school, the series dealt with socially relevant issues such as drugs and prejudice … a full year before America was introduced to Archie Bunker! The set includes 26 episodes on a 4-DVD set.
Returning To The Satellite Of Love – MST3K Style
The 20th Anniversary edition of Mystery Science Theater 3000 was so popular that we decided to release four additional films that have never seen the light of DVD. This round of “masterpieces” includes Mad Monster, Manhunt In Space, Soultaker and Final Justice. However, we didn’t stop there! The 4-disc set also includes four limited-edition mini-posters depicting the individual film’s art, a clip of Mike, Tom and Crow on ESPN’s Cheap Seats Without Ron Parker, brand-new interviews with MST3K faves Joe Estevez (Soultaker) and Greydon Clark (Final Justice) and more. The 20th Anniversary Edition is also still available, so order both!
Pineapple Express = Freaks And Geeks + 8 Years…
Just in case you missed it in the theaters, feature film Pineapple Express just hit DVD, and we’re proud as can be to see Freaks And Geeks alums Judd Apatow, James Franco and Seth Rogen still working together. If you haven’t already, check out the Yearbook Edition of F&G. The 8-DVD set includes the entire series and loads of extras, all in a supremely deluxe hardback book.
The Von Bondies Announce Tour Dates
The new Von Bondies album, Love, Hate And Then There’s You, streets on February 3. Catch the band on tour starting on 2/12 in Canada and winding across the U.S. through the end of March. Click here for their full itinerary and note that new dates are expected to be added.
Shout! Factory is based in Los Angeles ... and for the last week we’ve seen record high temps in the 80s every day. Which of course makes us think of snow. To that end, we are offering a great deal on our winter sports titles, namely the Warren Miller series. There’s no need to pick up snow tires or chains on the way to these slopes; just head over to shoutfactorystore.com to enjoy a 20% discount off these titles. |
