Bonerz, Peter

Home Improvement - The Complete Fourth Season

Power up for season four of the Emmy(R) Award-winning hit comedy HOME IMPROVEMENT! Tim Allen is back as Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor a loving husband and father who spends his days as the accident-prone host of the popular television show "Tool Time." The fourth season fires on all cylinders earning five Emmy(R) Award nominations including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Patricia Richardson). The laughs are hammered home for all 26 episodes of this hilarious collection. Season Four contains some of the most memorable moments ever as Jill returns to college Al is named one of Detroit's Most Eligible Bachelors and Wilson goes on his first date in 20 years! Featuring guest appearances by Dave Chappelle Jim Breuer Michelle Williams and Lucy Liu plus new never-before-seen bloopers this collection is an absolute must own for any HOME IMPROVEMENT fan.System Requirements:Running Time 598 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: PG UPC: 786936285918 Manufacturer No: 04037700

In the fourth season of Home Improvement, the Taylor family faces some important milestones. Tim (Tim Allen) turns 40. Jill (Patricia Richardson) is laid off from work and pursues her master's degree. And youngest son Mark (Taran Noah Smith) slowly begins to outgrow precocious middle brother Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas). (Oldest sibling Brad, played by Zachery Ty Bryan, remains pretty much the same confident kid he always was.) As for their inner circle, Tim's Tool Time buddy Al (Richard Karn) gets an ego boost when he's named one of Detroit's hottest bachelors, and little seen but often heard neighbor Wilson (Earl Hindman) goes on his first date in two decades. Add Debbe Dunning, who replaces Pamela Anderson as the new Tool Time girl, and you've got the makings of another solid season. When the ABC sitcom aired during the 1994-1995 TV season, it did well enough to place in the Top 5 for the fourth consecutive year. And aside from some pop culture giveaways (Jill's clothes; Randy's use of a floppy disc to backup his computer), the warmth and humor exuded in this 25-episode, 3-disc set hold up remarkably well.

Like Everybody Loves Raymond minus the screeching mother-in-law, Home Improvement is driven by the classic combination of a sensible wife married to a silly man-child husband who thinks about himself first, even when he doesn't intend to. When Jill wants to go back to school so she can become a therapist, Tim isn't supportive. At first it appears he just doesn't want any changes. But he later confesses he's worried she'll lose interest in him if she returns to school. After she reassures him that this would never be the case, he says, "If your dream is to work with nuts, you should go back to the world of macadamia." Look for an appearance from a very young Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain, Dawson's Creek), guest starring as Brad's makeup-savvy girlfriend who advises him on how to cover up his pimple. As for Lucy Liu (Charlie's Angels, Ally McBeal), her blink-and-you'll-miss-her spot as a woman interested in Al is little more than a glorified cameo. --Jae-Ha Kim

Home Improvement - The Complete Third Season

In its third season, Home Improvement settled into a comfortable and hugely popular groove. Tim Taylor (Tim Allen, The Santa Clause, the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story) banters fondly with his wife Jill (Patricia Richardson, Ulee's Gold) at home, snipes at his assistant Al (Richard Karn, Sex and the Teenage Mind) on his TV show Tool Time, and discusses manly troubles with his philosophical neighbor Wilson (Earl Hindman), while his three sons (Taran Noah Smith, Zachary Ty Bryan, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas, who was the voice of the young Simba in The Lion King) run amok. In just about every episode Tim garbles Wilson's Iron John-esque advice; in just about every episode he mocks Al for being a lonely oversensitive guy, even after Al finds a girlfriend; in just about every episode Tim and Jill tiff over the differences between the sexes...and yet the cast, though sheer warmth and enthusiasm, makes it feel consistently fresh--or if not fresh, cozy.

Not that the season was without a few new faces: Debbe Dunning replaces Pamela Anderson as the Tool Time girl; Al gets a girlfriend, Ilene (Sherry Hursey); several episodes features some new neighbors (Mariangela Pino and Robert Picardo, later the Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager); the great M. Emmet Walsh (Blood Simple) appears as Jill's father; and a number of sports figures, shuttle astronauts, and former President Jimmy Carter make guest appearances as themselves. This is solid sitcom comfort food; dependable and satisfying, familiar but still lively. If you're not a fan of Allen's humor, this season won't change your mind, but many couples will see a little of themselves in Tim and Jill's relationship, and that's not a bad thing. More power! --Bret Fetzer

In its hilarious third season, millions of fans made HOME IMPROVEMENT the #1 sitcom in America. Tim Allen and the cast laid the foundation for one of the funniest series in television history, and audiences everywhere loved it! Also a hit with the critics, season three garnered a Golden Globe nomination for Best TV Series in the Comedy/Musical category, and Tim Allen was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series in the Comedy/Musical category. Now you can enjoy all 25 episodes on this complete 3-disc set. Jill, Wilson, and your other favorite characters are back, and joining them are some new faces -- including the new Tool Time girl, Heidi. With plenty of laugh-out-loud moments plus hysterical bonus features, this collection is a must own for any HOME IMPROVEMENT fan.

Home Improvement - The Complete Fifth Season

Light television comedy about family man Tim Taylor. The show's humor often revolves around cars toys tools hardware shops garages fix-it-up projects and similar themes.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 786936706130 Manufacturer No: 05072800

Animaniacs, Vol. 1

As a splendid homage to the legacy of Warner Bros. animation, the Emmy and Peabody award-winning Animaniacs was arguably the most inventive and deliriously entertaining cartoon series of the 1990s. The series' appeal is at least two-fold: kids will enjoy the wacky characters and easy-to-follow comedy, and grownups raised on "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies" cartoons will love the show's knowledgeable movie spoofs, witty satire, and spontaneous lines of dialogue aimed squarely at an older audience with an appreciation for Hollywood history. Cartoon lovers and film buffs will benefit the most from repeated viewings of Animaniacs since the series was conceived by head writer Tom Ruegger (under the supervision of executive producer Steven Spielberg) as an affectionate tribute to the golden age of Hollywood, with its wild and wonderful cast of cartoon characters led by "Warner Brothers" Wakko and Yakko, and their ever-so-cute Warner sister, Dot, a playful trio of indeterminate species who were (fictionally) created in the early 1930s by the overworked animators of "Termite Terrace" (the actual name given to Warner's animation studios) and wreaked havoc on the Warner Bros. backlot until they were caught and captured in the studio's water tower. Every episode begins with their clever escape, leading to wacky adventures involving the entire cast of Animaniacs, a menagerie of colorful characters worthy of cartoon immortality.

This five-DVD set offers 25 beautifully preserved episodes (out of a five-season total of 99), mostly from the first season (1993), when Spielberg was also enjoying the success of Jurassic Park and Schindler's List. Premiering on the Fox Kids network, the series introduced delighted viewers to Pinky and the Brain; Slappy the Squirrel (a curmudgeonly veteran of decades in show-biz); the Goodfeathers (a pigeon-trio spoof of Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas); Rita and Runt (a dog and cat duo often featured in musical spoofs, the former voiced by Bernadette Peters); and a wide variety of peripheral characters who randomly appeared as part of the series' multi-segment format. Some segments are brief and brilliant (including many original songs that qualify as mini-masterpieces of educational entertainment), while others are cartoon-length adventures like the unforgettable "Bumbie's Mom," a riff on Bambi (and Disney animation) that's one of many first-season highlights. Smart, literate, and totally irreverent, Animaniacs benefited from all the prestige that Spielberg's involvement could bring, including a once-in-a-lifetime voice cast (honored here by disc 3's special featurette "Animaniacs Live," hosted by "Annie"-award-winner Maurice "The Brain" LeMarche) and amazing musical scores (many written or supervised by the late, great Richard Stone) that were recorded in the very same Warner studio where the legendary Carl Stalling scored most of the classic Warner Bros. cartoons. With creative and comedic highlights too numerous to mention, Animaniacs is must-see TV for those who missed it the first time around, and a welcome treasure for established fans who will cherish these DVDs for many years to come. --Jeff Shannon

Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs! The adventures or misadventures of the Warner Brothers, Yakko and Wakko, and the Warner Sister, Dot, who were so crazy that the studio execs locked them away in the water town at the Studio. The witty, slapstick humor with pop culture parodies and cartoon wackiness is on DVD for the first time ever with 25 fantastic Animaniacs episodes.

Animaniacs, Vol. 1-3

Ensemble cast of off-the-wall Warner Brothers characters appearing in a wide variety of roles. Wakko Yakko and Dot Warner are WB Studio creations who were just too "zany" to be of any use to the studio. Pinky and the Brain are two mice bent on world domination. Rita and Runt are a cat and dog team who get into perilous situations every episode put always seem to find time to sing a song. Bobby Pesto and Squit are the Goodfeathers part of a New York mob of pigeons who worshipFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: NR UPC: 085391127871 Manufacturer No: 112787

Murphy Brown - The Complete First Season

Candice Bergen stars as Murphy Brown an outspoken TV journalist who along with her hilariously quirky cohorts of the top-rated newsmagazine show FYI struggles to handle personal and professional problems with humor and insight.Running Time: 535 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 012569596450

The DVD release of Murphy Brown is particularly newsworthy. There had never been anyone on primetime quite like Murphy, the star investigative reporter for the Washington, D.C.-based television news magazine F.Y.I. As created by Diane English and embodied by Candice Bergen, Murphy was, in English's words, "Mike Wallace in a dress." On camera, she was tough, smart, and relentless. Off camera she was intriguingly flawed. In the pilot episode, her character returns to work following a stay at the Betty Ford Clinic. Over the course of the season, her sobriety is supremely tested by the chaotic goings-on inside the funniest newsroom since WJM on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Murphy must contend with an unending parade of ill-suited, stressed-out secretaries (a running joke throughout the series' 10 years), new 25-year-old producer Miles Silverberg (Grant Shaud) whom she rudely dismisses ("While I was being maced at the Democratic Convention in '68, you were wondering if you'd ever meet Adam West"), and new co-anchor Corky Sherwood (Faith Ford), a former Miss America ("by default") with no journalistic background. Murphy is over 40 and prickly, with a penchant for vindictive practical jokes against her colleagues. In short, in the words of a lampooning cartoonist in the episode "Funnies Girl," dynamic, "pain-in-the-butt," Motown-loving Murphy is "a veritable fountain of material."

With its smart and sophisticated writing and seamless ensemble, Murphy Brown instantly established itself as one of television's gold standard series, earning four Emmy Awards for this inaugural season, including Outstanding Lead Actress for Bergen and Outstanding Writing for English. Colleen Dewhurst was also honored for her guest appearance as Murphy's equally intimidating mother in the episode, "Mama Said." A cast and crew retrospective and commentaries by Bergen and English for, respectively, the pilot and classic flashback episode "The Summer of '77" earn this set R*E*S*P*E*C*T. --Donald Liebenson

Animaniacs, Vol. 3

Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs! The adventures or misadventures of the Warner Brothers Yakko and Wakko and the Warner Sister Dot who were so crazy that the studio execs locked them away in the water town at the Studio. The witty slapstick humor with pop culture parodies and cartoon wackiness is on DVD for the first time ever with 25 fantastic Animaniacs episodes.Running Time: 750 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: NR UPC: 085391122432 Manufacturer No: 112243

Animaniacs, Vol. 2

Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs! The adventures or misadventures of the Warner Brothers Yakko and Wakko and the Warner Sister Dot who were so crazy that the studio execs locked them away in the water town at the Studio. The witty slapstick humor with pop culture parodies and cartoon wackiness is on DVD for the first time ever with 25 fantastic Animaniacs episodes.Running Time: 531 min.System Requirements:Run Time: 531 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: NR UPC: 012569824621 Manufacturer No: 82462

Just Shoot Me - Seasons One and Two

STOP THE PRESSES! High fashion goes lowbrow as TV's cleverest comedy shoots from the hip: JUST SHOOT ME - THE FIRST AND SECOND SEASONS compiles (31) classic episodes from this long-reigning (1997-2003) fixture from NBC's Must-See-TV line-up. Nominated for six Emmy Awards® and five Golden Globes® (including Best Comedy) this acclaimed ensemble comedy was a critical and audience favorite during its seven-season run spanning the hilarious gamut from catwalk to casting couch. Set in the bustling editorial offices of fashion rag Blush JUST SHOOT ME chronicles the daily grind of the magazine's quirky staff as lovesick columnist Maya Gallo penny-pinching publisher Jack Gallo acid-tongued beauty editor Nina Van Horn in-house photographer Elliot DiMauro and power-hungry assistant Dennis Finch serve up all the laughter that's fit to print. Arriving on digitally remastered DVD for the first time JUST SHOOT ME: THE FIRST AND SECOND SEASONS reminds us that razor-sharp wit never goes out of style.System Requirements:Starring: David Spade Laura San Giacomo George Segal Wendie Malick Running Time: 689 Min. Copyright Sony Pictures Home Entertainment 2005Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396039971 Manufacturer No: 03997

When Just Shoot Me debuted on NBC on a Tuesday night (following Frasier) in 1997, the spirited sitcom had the feel of an instant winner. The casting alone was an inspired blend of talent from uniquely interesting sources: George Segal, the veteran actor best known for comic performances in such 1970s film classics as Blume in Love and California Split, was certainly overdue for a hit. Laura San Giacomo, a strong and intriguing presence for a decade in a number of key movies (sex, lies, and videotape, Pretty Woman) promised good things as the series' lead player. Wendie Malick, the former model turned ubiquitous supporting player on the likes of NYPD Blue and Seinfeld, had left an especially indelible impression on HBO's long-running comedy series Dream On. Finally, David Spade, fresh from his great ride as a Saturday Night Live cast member, brought a version of a popular SNL character (Dick Clark's supercilious receptionist) to Just Shoot Me, playing the haughty assistant of Segal's magazine publisher.

The show's premise was fresh, too, and the nice thing about revisiting JSM's first two seasons is realizing how well the whole enterprise holds up. Giacomo stars as serious-minded journalist Maya Gallo, fired from her job as a television newswriter after sabotaging a clueless, on-air anchor. Desperate for work, Maya turns up at the offices of Blush, a women's fashion monthly published by her estranged father, Jack (Segal). Maya reluctantly takes a job writing sex quizzes and similar dreck for Blush, but it's the snippy and vainglorious crossfire between the magazine's staffers, and between Maya and Jack, that makes JSM so much fun. Malick's aging diva, Nina Van Horn, alternately lashes out and unburdens her soul in a failing bid to remain vital in a youth-obsessed culture. Self-centered Jack offers Maya a father's long-delayed love--albeit on his terms. Spade's Dennis Finch chases leggy supermodels around the office like a pathetic loser in junior high. Another cast member, Enrico Colantoni, is very good as the likable but impulsive, womanizing photographer Elliot DiMauro, who becomes an increasingly important player as he and Maya develop feelings for one another in season two. Somehow Just Shoot Me never quite lit up NBC's primetime stable of hit sitcoms, but it did respectably well and now looks even better divorced from its television competition. --Tom Keogh

Archie Bunker's Place - The Complete First Season

Welcome to ARCHIE BUNKER'S PLACE the best spot in town for sidesplitting laughter and comedy. Join Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor) his wife Edith (Maureen Stapleton) niece Stephanie (Danielle Brisebois) and new business partner Murray Klein (Oscar®-winner Martin Balsam 1965 Best Actor in a Supporting Role A Thousand Clowns) at the funniest saloon in Queens. The colorful cast also includes Allan Melvin Jason Wingreen Bill Quinn and Anne Meara. Look for appearances from guest stars Sammy Davis Jr. Andy Garcia Sheree North Estelle Parsons Jerry Stiller and more. This Emmy®-nominated first season includes the two-part Thanksgiving Special featuring the return of Mike (Rob Reiner) and Gloria Stivic (Sally Struthers)!System Requirements:Run Time: 590 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 043396128644 Manufacturer No: 12864

Archie Bunker's Place followed Norman Lear's long-running hit sitcom All in the Family with a largely new cast of characters surrounding Carroll O'Connor's beloved bigot from Queens, Archie Bunker. Jean Stapleton, reprising her role as Archie's wife, Edith, occasionally appeared in the new show for continuity's sake, but was gone by the second season. (Archie Bunker's Place ran from 1979 to 1983.) Seen much more often was young Danielle Brisbois as Archie's feisty niece, Stephanie, who moved into the Bunker home toward the end of All in the Family's duration.

The "place" in the series title is not, in fact, Archie's house but rather the saloon he bought into with barkeep Harry Snowden (Jason Wingreen), a development that also happened toward the conclusion of the previous series. Happy to have his own business, Archie still finds plenty to grouse about, not least of all the opinions and private affairs of his regular patrons (as well as Harry). Among the faces one is likely to find at Archie Bunker's Place at any time of the day or night are old pal and neighbor Barney Hefner (Allan Melvin) and Mr. Van Ranseleer (Bill Quinn), whose blindness seems to intensify his focus on surrounding conversations. (He's good at inserting the uninvited zinger in other people's dialogue.) The Complete First Season begins with something unexpected, however: Harry wants to sell his stake in the bar. Unable to raise the cash, Archie watches with great discontent from the sidelines as Murray Klein (Martin Balsam), a complete stranger, buys Harry out and becomes a partner. Archie and Murray's initially rocky relationship becomes more stable over time, and the two even develop a bond of trust and shared insight. Other highlights of the season include an episode in which kindly Edith takes a job helping patients at a psychiatric hospital (much to Archie's chagrin); a two-part Thanksgiving tale featuring daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) and her husband Mike (Rob Reiner), who pay a visit following Mike's dismissal from his teaching job in California; and stories starring Estelle Parsons (as Barney's sexy ex-wife) and Sammy Davis Jr. in a follow-up to one of the most popular All in the Family episodes. --Tom Keogh