The Amazing Race: Season One

The Amazing Race, which recently dropped its first season on DVD, is one of these types of shows. Ostensibly, it’s about a race around the world, but when one watches the show (and it IS incredibly addictive), one finds an examination of just how “ugly” Americans can be when they travel…

The Office (U.S.): Season One

The new show has had the rough edges of the British version sanded down just a bit. It’s no longer quite as difficult to watch in bits. Perhaps this is because Ricky Gervais’ David Brent is devastatingly real while Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott is a bit of a buffoon. The UK Office always lets us believe this is all real and really happening. The American version, despite copying the original’s “reality show” trappings always…

Las Vegas: Season 2

Las Vegas, about the security staff at a casino primarily and secondarily about the other workers at that casino, offers none of that. It’s just another attempt at empty TV escapism, designed to numb minds after a hard day at the office. It’s popcorn TV…

SCTV: Volume 4

SCTV, though, has a higher batting average than most sketch comedies. The latest DVD set chronicles one of the series’ later years, but it’s still got plenty of laughs. There is the occasional skit (or episode) that completely falls dead, but most of these pack enough laughs still to merit your viewing.

Columbo: Season 3 & The Dick Cavett Show

The advent of season-by-season television on DVD was a beautiful thing. Indeed, it has sparked a minor revolution in the way people watch TV and they way they view it. If anything, the ability to to devour a season of television at your own pace like a good (or not-so-good) novel has led…