TV NEWS ON DECEMBER 31

Welcome to the very last post you'll ever see on Digital Digest (and on this blog) for the year 2011! Of course, today is Saturday, so we're here for Digital Digest just as we are each and every week. But just like last year, we also have our seventh annual Sitcoms on DVD Preview, where we look ahead at what is on the horizon for 2012. But before we get there, we have an abbreviated version of our usual news and preview of Tuesday's releases (abbreviated because there just isn't anything new out there this week). Let's get going!

DIGITAL NEWS



We mentioned a few weeks ago that My Living Doll would be coming to DVD in 2012 from MPI, but now we have a few more details, courtesy of TVShowsOnDVD.com. You can expect the two disc set containing eleven episodes of the series on February 28.


Rules of Engagement has had somewhat of a storied broadcast history, often being placed (temporarily) in bizarre timeslots and being used as a midseason replacement, and it has had a similar history on DVD. But now, Rules of Engagement - The Complete Fifth Season is heading to DVD, only it will be a manufacture-on-demand product. Look for the release on February 21 from amazon.com.


For fans of manufacture-on-demand DVDs, though, there is some more great news from Warner Archive. It appears that the sixth season of Night Court is on the way, but no date is known, yet. We'll have more on this once we know more about it, although given the way Warner Archive releases DVDs, this could be released literally at any time, within a matter of days, weeks, or months. In any event, we can't wait!






UPCOMING WEEK PREVIEW

Tuesday (January 3) only has one release, Universal's Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Season Five. We hope to have a review of this set soon.




CLICK OF THE WEEK


Perfect Strangers Online (perfectstrangers.tv) - We've mentioned this site many times in the past, and it is not pure coincidence. Perfect Strangers Online enjoys an unofficial, but amicable relationship with SitcomsOnline.com, and both sites do some cross-promoting with each other rather often. But we thought we'd go one step further this week and tell you about all of the great content that you can find on this website. While you will certainly find all of the basic information that you need about Perfect Strangers, the website does a great job of going much further in-depth and giving you the information that can only be found with careful and diligent research.


As an example of some of the content that you can find on there, there is a dictionary that gives you some definitions of some of the words from the Mypos language--which of course, as any fan would know, is certainly not a language that can be translated by any other website! You can also find articles, print ads, fan fiction, and much more on the website. Of course, no website would be complete without an episode guide, and this site not only has one, but it has very thorough details for the episodes. Honestly, there is enough content on this site that we could break it into several Click of the Week segments, but instead, you can just go there and explore it on your own--just don't get lost!


That is all for Digital Digest for this week... until next time, keep it digital! But until then, we have our special annual supplement, our seventh annual Sitcoms on DVD Preview!


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2012 SITCOMS ON DVD PREVIEW

Welcome to our Seventh Annual Sitcoms on DVD Preview Issue! We will take a look at some of the releases that have been officially announced or rumored to be coming to DVD in 2012. Then we will offer some of our own predictions and shows that are on our wish list.

Making their debut on DVD in 2012 will be Happily Divorced and My Living Doll. We should also see some of this season's new hit sitcoms, such as 2 Broke Girls, New Girl, Suburgatory and Last Man Standing released in the fall. Hopefully we will have news on many more new releases in the upcoming months.

Returning favorites that have been announced include Dennis the Menace, Family Matters, Hazel, Here Come the Brides, Here's Lucy, Hey Dude, Meet the Browns, Nurse Jackie, Rules of Engagement, That '70s Show (on Blu-ray), Webster and Weeds

The links below go to Amazon.com where you can pre-order these titles at some nice discounts. We are an affiliate of Amazon.com and receive a commission for each sale. Please consider ordering through our links. Thanks for your support!


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January 2012:



01/10 - Dennis the Menace - The Final Season (Season Four)

The FINAL SEASON, all 38 original uncut episodes in a 5-disc set, first time available on any home entertainment format! Airing on CBS from '59-'63, Dennis the Menace is a TV series based on the popular and iconic Hank Ketcham comic strip of the same name. The show follows the lives of the Mitchell family: Henry, Alice, and their only child, Dennis. Dennis is an energetic, well meaning, but trouble prone boy and sometimes a mischievous child. He often tangles with peace-and-quiet-loving neighbor, George Wilson. Stars: Jay North, Herbert Anderson, Gloria Henry. From Shout! Factory (News)



01/17 - Webster - Season Four (Shout! Select)

After Seasons One-Three were regular retail releases sold in stores, Season Four will be a Shout! Select online exclusive from Shout! Factory. It should also be available from some Amazon Marketplace sellers at some point. All 23 episodes from the fourth season will be included. Guest stars include Ron Reagan (son of President Ronald Reagan), Geoffrey Scott, legendary musical group The Four Tops, and boxing champ "Iron" Mike Tyson. (News)



01/24 - Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns - Season 4 - Episodes 61-80

You never expect the guy in the loud, mismatched leisure suit to have sage advice. But Mr. Brown has a knack for stirring up controversy and then stumbling upon the higher road. Must be those neon patent-leather shoes that light the way! Cast: David Mann, Tamela Mann, Lamman Rucker, Denise Boutté, Juanita Jennings. Director: Tyler Perry and others (including Kim Fields, Alfonso Ribeiro, Mark Swinton, Chip Fields).

Lionsgate Entertainment's 3-Disc set has a running time of 440 minutes and has a $29.98 SRP. (News)



01/31 - Hey Dude - Season 2

Yippee-kai-aie! Shout! Factory is set to release all 13 episodes of Hey Dude: Season 2 on DVD on January 31! In Season 2, city-born rancher Benjamin Ernst (David Brisbin) and his herd of teenagers return to the Bar None Ranch for another summer of desert dustups and adventures, which include a plane crash, ghost stories, romantic turmoil, a treasure hunt and even an alien sighting.

Hey Dude Stars Christine Taylor as lifeguard Melody, David Lascher as senior staff member Ted, Kelly Brown as horse trainer Brad, Joe Torres as Hopi Indian native Danny, Debrah Kalman as ranch hand Lucy and Josh Tygiel as Ernst's son Buddy.

Hey Dude ran on Nickelodeon from 1989-1991, and has since become a cult sitcom favorite. So wrangle your boots, bandanas and cowboy hats, because the Bar None Ranch is open for business in Hey Dude Season 2!

Produced by CineTel Films, Hey Dude has been sub-licensed for home video distribution to Shout! Factory by Paramount Home Entertainment and Nickelodeon. (News)



01/31 - Leave it to Beaver - 20 Timeless Episodes

One of the most popular series in TV history, Leave it to Beaver (1957-1963) stood out from the flock during TV's golden age. While many contemporary shows were star-driven vehicles in which the kids were merely supporting players, Beaver's action centered on the children: seven year Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver and his 12-year-old brother Wally. Though the show went off the air in the '60s, it continues to charm new generations even today. This incredibly valued 2-disc set with great content and a low price will be irresistible to "impulse" shoppers. Featuring 20 favorite and beloved episodes starring Jerry Mathers, Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, and Tony Dow. From Shout! Factory. (News)


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February 2012:

02/07 - Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide - Season 3

The long delayed Season 3 finally arrives on DVD from Alliance Films Media of Canada. It's available for pre-order from Amazon.ca . It should be available from Amazon Marketplace sellers in the U.S. after it is released. (News)



02/14 - Family Matters - The Complete Second Season

Get your geek on with Steve Urkel, the ultimate nerd and annoying neighbor of Carl and Harriette Winslow and their multigenerational Chicago clan. Urkel's irrepressible spirit, not-so-smooth moves, and undying love for Laura Winslow cause the family constant aggravation and occasional delight. And whether he's burning down the café where he works, sharking the local pool hall, or proving the existence of Santa, the Urkman's got what it takes to turn any situation into memorable family fun. What was hilarious and heart-warming then is classic comedy now in all 25 Season Two episodes of Family Matters! Warner Home Video's 3-DVD set has a MSRP of $29.98 . (News)



02/21 - Hazel - The Complete Second Season

Oscar and Emmy Award-winner Shirley Booth returns as Hazel, the sassy and energetic live-in maid who runs her employers’ household with a little havoc, a lot of style and lot more laughter!

Based on the original cartoons in The Saturday Evening Post, Season Two finds Hazel mixing it up at a bowling tournament, looking for a missing mailman, joining a protest against a developer and contemplating a marriage proposal from an old flame!

Starring Academy Award-winner Shirley Booth (Best Actress, Come Back, Little Sheba, 1952) with Don DeFore (The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet), Whitney Blake (Strange Homecoming), Bobby Buntrock (The Virginian) and Maudie Prickett (Andy Goes Wild). All 32 original episodes.

Shout! Factory's 4-disc set has a SRP of $34.93 . Guest stars include Harold Gould, Forbidden Planet's Robby the Robot, Jamie Farr, James Doohan, Dick Sargent, and William Schallert. No special features will be included. (News)



02/21 - Nurse Jackie - Season Three (Blu-ray)

Still high and mighty! Emmy winner Edie Falco stars in the third season of Showtime's hit series about a drug-addicted nurse in a New York City hospital. The Showtime hit series "Nurse Jackie" ended season two with the ugly truth closing in on super-nurse Jackie Peyton. Jackie's best friend and husband put the pieces together about her pill-popping ways and confronted her about her addiction. But if the people in her life think one little intervention is going to stop her, they don't know Jackie. The great white liar returns for another hilarious season of 12 episodes. (News)

Special Features:

• Cast and Crew Commentaries
• "Inside Akalitus" Featurette, highlighting the career of Anna Deavere Smith
• "Jackie's Guys" Featurette with Paul Schulze and Dominic Fumusa
• Gag Reel
• Deleted Scene

02/21 - Rules of Engagement - The Complete Fifth Season

TV's funniest cast is back and better than ever in the hilarious fifth season of RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. Married couple Audrey (Megyn Price) and Jeff (Patrick Warburton) run into surprising hurdles while attempting to have a baby via a surrogate. Meanwhile, Adam (Oliver Hudson) and Jennifer (Bianca Kajlich) are still planning their wedding - with a little help from Timmy (Adhir Kalyan). Eternal bad boy Russell (David Spade) continues his shenanigans as a single guy on the prowl, but may have finally met his match. Guest stars include Sara Rue, Jaime Pressly, Joan Collins, and Criss Angel. Newly remastered.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is releasing the fifth season, but it won't be available in stores. This will be a manufactured on demand DVD-R release that will be available at various online sites, including Amazon.com . (News)



02/21 - Weeds - Season Seven (Blu-ray)

New York, New High! After serving 3 years in the joint, the onetime suburban soccer mom is making a fresh start in New York City and going back to doing what she does best...selling pot. But when some old friends return, they could send everything up in flames. Season 7 of this critically acclaimed series reaches new highs and is more addictive than ever. Includes all 13 episodes and is loaded with special features! Season 7 guest stars include Jennifer Jason Leigh and Martin Short. Cast: Mary-Louise Parker, Kevin Nealon, Justin Kirk, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould. Director: Jenji Kohan. (News)

Special Features:

• Cast and Crew Commentaries
• "Uncle Andy’s Tricks of the Trade" mockumentary with Andy's wisdom and advice for fans.
• "Puff Puff Pass" Q&A with Jenji Kohan, Justin Kirk and Kevin Nealon
• "Born Botwin" featurette with Hunter Parrish and Alexander Gould discussing how their characters have inherited their dubious nature.
• Gag Reel
• Deleted Scenes
• Multi Screen Comparisons



02/28 - Here Come the Brides - The Complete Second Season

All the romance and adventure of the classic TV show is back! Set in the mid-nineteenth century, this classic TV series - which ran on ABC prime-time for 2 seasons from '68-'70 - revolves around The Bolt brothers (Brown, Sherman and Soul) who own a mountain and logging camp in the rugged landscape of Seattle. As the area's only employer, the brothers borrow money and head east to bring back a shipload of lovely ladies to boost morale. But if any of the women leave Seattle within a year, the Bolts lose their mountain to the man that lent them the money. Stars: Robert Brown, Bobby Sherman, David Soul, Joan Blondell. Producers were inspired by the hit movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers; this Season 2 DVD was heavily requested by fans on message boards and Shout Factory site! Shout! Factory's 6-disc set contains the final 26 episodes of the series and has a SRP of $44.99 . (News)



02/28 - Here's Lucy - Season Five

The legendary queen of television comedy, Lucille Ball, is joined by her real-life daughter, Lucie Arnaz, in her third long-running sitcom success.

Ball plays Lucille Carter and Arnaz plays her daughter Kim. Lucy works for her brother-in-law, played by Gale Gordon, who owns Carter's Unique Employment Agency, leading Lucy into endless predicaments and hilarious hijinks.

The complete fifth season of HERE'S LUCY (CBS-TV) features all 24 episodes uncut and digitally remastered for superior quality, plus a wealth of new and never-before seen special features.

Guest stars include Don Knotts, Donny Osmond, Eva Gabor, Joe Namath, Petula Clark, Lloyd Bridges, Ruth Buzzi, Robert Cummings, Totie Fields, Ricardo Montalban, Elsa Lanchester, Jim Bailey, John Davidson, Craig Stevens and Desi Arnaz, Jr. From MPI Home Video. (News)


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March 2012:



03/06 - Happily Divorced - Season One

Meet Fran Lovett (Fran Drescher), an L.A. florist whose husband Peter (John Michael Higgins) came out of the closet, but couldn't afford to move out of the house. Now after 18 years of marriage, Fran is back on the singles scene looking for Mr. Right… and so is Peter! Can they remain "Happily Divorced" while juggling new relationships, and living under the same roof?

TV Land and Paramount Home Entertainment's release will include all 10 episodes on 2 discs (approx. 220 minutes). They will be in widescreen video, with English 5.1 Surround Sound, and English subitles. Special features will include cast interviews, a "Cancer Schmancer" PSA, and more. (News)



03/06 - Cheers - Fan Favorites: The Best of Cheers
03/06 - Frasier - Fan Favorites: The Best of Frasier
03/06 - Happy Days - Fan Favorites: The Best of Happy Days
03/06 - Hogan's Heroes - Fan Favorites: The Best of Hogan's Heroes
03/06 - The Honeymooners - Fan Favorites: The Best of The Honeymooners
03/06 - The Odd Couple - Fan Favorites: The Best of The Odd Couple

CBS Home Entertainment is releasing these single-disc sets. They will contain 8 episodes of each series and run roughly 200 minutes. (News)

03/06 - That '70s Show - Season 1 (Blu-ray)

Mill Creek and Casey Werner are releasing Season 1 in high definition on Blu-ray. It will include new special features that are unique to the Blu-ray set. (News)



03/20 - My Living Doll - The Official Collection - Volume One

Iconic actress Julie Newmar may be best-known as the original feline villain Catwoman in the 1960s Batman television series. However, her cult-classic, small-screen career was cemented with the CBS-TV sitcom MY LIVING DOLL.

Newmar portrays Rhoda the robot, a top-secret project of the U.S. government's space program, who is placed under the supervision of agency psychiatrist Dr. Bob McDonald, played by Robert Cummings (The Bob Cummings Show/Love That Bob).

Bob moves the beautiful Rhoda into his apartment and begins the task of training her how to function in the human world while keeping her secret from being discovered, a situation complicated by his interfering sister (Doris Dowling) and his love-sick neighbor Peter (Jack Mullaney).

This collection offers 11 complete episodes of MY LIVING DOLL which have not aired on television in decades and make their official DVD debut. A wealth of special features is also included. From MPI Home Video. (News)


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Other Sitcoms Expected on DVD in 2012:

Car 54, Where Are You? - According to information posted on our message board, Season 2 is coming in February from Shanachie Entertainment.

Tyler Perry's House of Payne - Volume 9 was scheduled for a January 24 release, but there is no listing for it on Amazon.com yet.

My Favorite Martian - Season 3 is in the works for a U.S. release from MPI Home Video and Chertok Productions. Many new special features are planned. It could be available in the spring.

The New Adventures of Old Christine - As we first reported in the 12/24 Digital Digest, Warner Archive is working on a manufactured-on-demand release for Season 5.

Night Court - As we first reported in today's Digital Digest, a manufactured-on-demand release for Season 6 is on the way from Warner Archive.


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Special thanks to the fine folks at TVShowsOnDVD.com for the artwork and information in compiling this preview. Thanks also to our own Skees for our weekly Digital Digest. Preview compiled by Todd.


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2012 Predictions and Wish List:

These are my 2012 predictions and opinions only. Some of them probably have slim to no chance of ever being available, but I still have them on my wish list. None of these titles have been officially announced.

Some current shows that I expect to see more seasons of or debut on DVD (some are already available for pre-order) include The Big Bang Theory, Community, Cougar Town, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Game, Happy Endings, Hot in Cleveland, How I Met Your Mother, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Last Man Standing, The League, Melissa & Joey, The Middle, Mike & Molly, Modern Family, New Girl, The Office, Parks and Recreation, Raising Hope, Suburgatory, 30 Rock, Two and a Half Men, 2 Broke Girls and Up All Night.

Classic Shows Predictions and Wish List:
According to Jim - Seasons 3-5 were released in 2011. Could we see the final 3 seasons released in 2012?
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - A project is ongoing by Sam Nelson to get the show restored and complete on DVD.
Alice - A Christmas episode was released on the Classic TV Christmas Collection in 2010. I think it would be an ideal on demand title from Warner Archive.
Archie Bunker's Place - We could start seeing more seasons now that All in the Family has been completed.
Becker - The series seems to be stalled, with the last release in January 2010.
Blossom - I'm surprised that it hasn't been available as a Shout! Factory Select title like Mr. Belvedere. Seasons 1-2 were released way back in January 2009. Mill Creek released a "best of" set in October 2010.
The Bob Newhart Show - The Complete Fifth and Sixth Seasons are available for pre-order on Amazon.com . Will they finally be released this year?
Brooklyn Bridge - There were rumors of a release in 2010 by the show's creator Gary David Goldberg, but it never materialized.
California Dreams - Only Season 5 remains to be released.
Coach - Season 4 was released in March. Maybe we'll see another season this year.
The Courtship of Eddie's Father - Season 1 was released in September by Warner Archive. Hopefully we'll see the remaining two seasons this year.
Designing Women - Season 5 was released this month. Only Seasons 6-7 are left to be released to complete the series.
Diff'rent Strokes - Shout! Factory picked up the rights to The Facts of Life and released 2 seasons in 2010. I hope they do the same with this show.
8 Simple Rules - We are still waiting for the third and final season.
The Facts of Life - Seasons 4 and 5 were released in 2010. Shout! Factory is releasing many lesser known series, so it has to be a rights issue between them and Sony.
Family Matters - Season 2 is finally coming in February. Hopefully it won't be that long of a wait for more Urkel and company.
Family Ties - Season 5 was released way back in March 2009. This series appears to be stalled, but let's hope CBS DVD/Paramount have some interest in releasing the rest of the series.
Fish - Shout! Factory included the first season in the Barney Miller - The Complete Series release. It would be great to see the second season as well.
George Lopez - It remains a big draw on cable, but only Seasons 1-2 have been released on DVD.
Growing Pains - The second season and two reunion movies were released in 2011. Hopefully Warner Home Video will continue to show us that smile.
Happy Days - Season 5 was released way back in December 2008, but it seems many CBS DVD/Paramount series have been stalled. The new Fan Favorites: The Best of Happy Days release could be a good sign.
Hazel - If Season 2 sells well, maybe we'll see more seasons later this year.
Here's Lucy - Only the sixth season will be left to complete the series after season five is released in February.
The Hogan Family - Music clearance issues seem to be the reason for no DVD releases at this point.
Hope & Faith - Season 1 was released several years ago, but we are still waiting on Seasons 2-3 from Lionsgate.
I'm Dickens...He's Fenster - It seems likely we'll see the second volume of this lost gem sometime in 2012.
It's Your Move - It would make an ideal 3-disc set from Shout! Factory. A cult classic that would be a popular release.
Laverne & Shirley - Another stalled series from CBS DVD/Paramount. Season 4 was released way back in April 2008.
Less Than Perfect - Season 1 was released in September 2010. Hopefully this underrated series will have more seasons available in 2012.
The Lucy Show - Only the sixth season is left to complete the series.
Mad About You - Seasons 6-7 are still needed to complete the series.
Mama's Family - A Christmas episode was released on the Classic TV Christmas Collection in 2010. Season 2 would be nice to see through Warner Archive.
Mr. Belvedere - We're just waiting on Seasons 5-6 to complete the series.
Mister Ed - Season 5 was released as a Shout! Select title in 2011. Only Season 6 remains to complete the series.
Mork & Mindy - Mork calling CBS DVD... come in CBS DVD... We only need the fourth season to complete the series.
My Three Sons - Only Seasons 1-2 have been released. Unfortunately, many CBS DVD/Paramount series have been stalled for years.
My Two Dads - Only the third season remains to be released to complete the series.
My Wife and Kids - Only Seasons 1-2 have been released.
Night Court - Season 6 is in the works. We'll only need Seasons 7-9 after that to complete the series.
Out of This World - Volume 1 was released in Germany in November. Will we see a U.S. release at some point?
Parker Lewis Can't Lose - Seasons 1 and 2 have been released. We're just waiting on the third season to complete the series.
Perfect Strangers - Warner Bros. has a "best of" collection available on the On Demand service at Amazon.com . This could be a good sign that we'll eventually see the second season on DVD or maybe as part of WBShop's on demand store. We desperately need more Balki!
The Phil Silvers Show/Sgt. Bilko - We're still waiting on the second season.
Please Don't Eat the Daisies - I remember watching this series and The Coursthip of Eddie's Father on WWOR. It would be a nice release for Warner Archive.
Rhoda - It's frustrating to be missing only one season for a number of series.
Silver Spoons - It would make a great Shout! Factory Select title.
Small Wonder - Seasons 1-2 have been released. Seasons 3-4 are still needed to complete the series.
Welcome Back, Kotter - An episode was released on the Classic TV Christmas Collection in 2010. The remaining seasons would be fantastic to see.
Webster - Seasons 1-4 were released at a brisk pace. Only Seasons 5-6 are left to complete the series.
The Wonder Years - The first season had only six episodes. It could be given a trial run. Music licensing rights are a major issue, but hopefully a company like Shout! Factory could work on this set. It has been the #1 most requested unreleased show at TVShowsonDVD.com by a wide margin for many years. While we wait for the DVD, you can watch it on The Hub, Netflix and Amazon.com .


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What are your predictions for 2012? Which new releases are you most excited about? What are your most wanted unreleased sitcoms? Post your comments on our Facebook page.


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