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Police accuse bank robbery suspect of gobbling up note (with dashcam video)
Victim of beating in Kent last week is declared dead at Akron hospital
Akron man killed in crash on his street
Can DNA tests free ex-Akron captain?
Browns find another way to lose
2 men shot during party in Fairlawn
After 30 years at the helm of Akron Children's, Considine still looks to future
Akron Circle K store robbed for second time this month
Dad accused of forcing son into field, killing him
Blogs:
Pets:
Cat-loving chihuahua suckles seven abandoned kittens
The Heldenfiles:
Sunday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Browns sick after sick loss in Detroit
Akron Zips:
No. 1 Akron to play Stanford next
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Post-game defensive quotes
Kent State Sports:
Kent State defeats Rochester College, 63-44
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Buckeye Blogging:
OSU – Michigan college football rivals meet in Baghdad
Varsity Letters:
Four area football teams play tonight
All Da King's Men:
The Onion, By Any Other Name…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Will Health Care Reform Pass?
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (70) Savings in Medicare Advantage
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
TIME TO GET YOUR COLLECTOR CARS WINTERIZED
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Faye Dunaway to be Evicted?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Monique asks how to get tickets for the Polar Express.
Sound Check:
Steely Dan Plays "The Royal Scam" at E.J. Thomas Hall
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – You are All Wrong About Jobs, or the Lack of Jobs, Being the Reason People Do Not Live in NEO
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
Newspaper show gets it, 5th season DVD on way. 'Dave's World' is OK
By Rich Heldenfels
Beacon Journal popular culture writer
Published on Sunday, Aug 10, 2008
One of the few things that John McCain and Barack Obama agree on is that they both like The Wire.
In separate interviews, each has praised the show, which brilliantly created memorable characters and examined various aspects of urban despair in the bleak landscape of modern Baltimore.
It was widely but not universally acclaimed. Emmy nominators, for one thing, have given it a total of two nominations in its five seasons. That's the same number as According to Jim. But it was for the most part remarkable; you should see the first four seasons, and pick up the final one when it lands on DVD on Tuesday.
The Wire: The Complete Fifth Season (HBO Video, 10 episodes, four discs, $59.99) not only wraps up the show, it tackles the issue of how newspapers work in an era of cutbacks, marketing focus and the occasional reporter who puts ambition ahead of ethics.
There was considerable controversy over its rendition of newspaper work — even though series creator David Simon is a former newspaperman. But after more than 30 years in the business, and with friends at papers around the country, I can tell you that Simon nailed it.
The DVD package includes commentaries on six episodes, a retrospective segment about the series and a second piece about the state of mass media.
A couple of '90s sitcoms hit DVD on Tuesday in Dave's World: The First Season (CBS/Paramount, 23 episodes, three discs, $24) and Caroline in the City: The First Season (CBS/Paramount, 24 episodes, three discs, $42.99).
Both sets include notes that ''music has been changed for this home entertainment version'' and that ''some episodes may be edited from their original network versions.''
I wasn't a fan of either show during their network runs. I have softened a bit about Dave's World. Based on the writings of columnist Dave Barry, it starred Harry Anderson as Dave and focused on his home life. That included wife Beth (DeLane Matthews) and two sons, as well as his friends Kenny (Shadoe Stevens) and Shel (Meshach Taylor). While it's sometimes predictable, the show was willing at times to let its characters just be themselves, instead of making nonstop jokes; it could also show some sharp edges. No DVD extras.
I am hard-pressed to come up with things I like about Caroline in the City, which starred Lea Thompson as cartoonist Caroline Duffy. OK, so the drawings — actually by artist Bonnie Timmons — were amusing. And Amy Pietz, as Caroline's best friend Annie, could wring some amusement out of a one-note part. But the show was so bland that, in this first-season DVD, the big fun comes from guest stars like Kathy Griffin and NewsRadio's Vicki Lewis. The lone DVD extra consists of promotional spots for episodes.
DVD notebook
The way you get to see movies and TV is, of course, rapidly changing. You can find an increasing amount of current and classic TV fare online, for one thing, not only through individual networks' Web sites but at places like Hulu (http://www.hulu.com).
Sales and distribution of titles at places like iTunes has led to speculation about the future of the hard disc — CD or DVD. And marketers are trying to appeal to all kinds of consumers.
Kiss of the Spider Woman, the marvelous feature film starring William Hurt and Raul Julia, has finally made it to home video — but it's aiming at the online crowd first. The two-disc special edition (from City Lights Home Entertainment) will be available from most retailers on Oct. 21.
But it is being offered now as an exclusive at http://www.Amazon.com, for $34.98; the company adds the Blu-ray version on Tuesday for $28. And Amazon is offering the movie as a download for rent ($2.99 for three days) or purchase ($9.99).
More marketing
MTV on Monday will air the musical movie American Mall, relentlessly touted as ''from executive producers of High School Musical.'' The next day, Tuesday, it will be out on DVD (MTV/Paramount, $19.99). The DVD has commentary by the director and cast, deleted scenes, bloopers, extended performances and music videos.
I expect better
The movie Smart People has a solid cast, including Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church and Juno's Ellen Page. There are even moments in it that are quite enjoyable. But when watching it on DVD ($29.99 in standard format, $34.99 in Blu-ray), I found my attention wandering from its tale of a college professor (Quaid) at a low point in life. Smart cast, maybe, but not so smart a movie. DVD extras are outtakes, a director commentary and deleted scenes.
Down the DVD road
A special 10th-anniversary set of the TV series Sports Night, with many extras promised, will be released on Sept. 30. . . . The first season of According to Jim will hit DVD on Oct. 21. . . . The Donna Reed Show: The Complete First Season is due on Oct. 28. . . . A special edition of the Paul Newman classic Cool Hand Luke will be on standard DVD and Blu-ray on Sept. 9.
Rich Heldenfels writes about popular culture for the Beacon Journal and in the HeldenFiles Online blog at http://www.ohio.com. He can be reached at 330-996-3582 and rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com.
One of the few things that John McCain and Barack Obama agree on is that they both like The Wire.
Get the full article here.
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