Bowab, John

Martin - The Complete Fourth Season

Martin Payne (Martin Lawrence) is a loudmouth whose job as a radio and television personality fits him like a glove. MARTIN focuses on Payne's relationship with his long-suffering girlfriend Gina (Tisha Campbell) his friendships with pals Tommy (Thomas Mikal Ford) and Cole (Carl Anthony Payne II) and the wide variety of crazy characters he surrounds himself with--most of them played by Lawrence. This complete collection of episodes from the show's fourth season picks up after Martin and Gina's wedding in last season's finale. As Payne gets into plenty further mishaps it's clear that married life hasn't reformed him!System Requirements:Running Time: 594 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 883929014026 Manufacturer No: 1000037646

Martin - The Complete First Season

Follows the life of a brash radio personality, his forgiving girlfriend, and the characters he hangs out with.
Genre: Television
Rating: NR
Release Date: 2-JAN-2007
Media Type: DVD

It's a pleasure to be reminded, after years of increasingly lazy movie performances, that Martin Lawrence was once a hungry, crackling young comic. His 1990s sitcom Martin, in which Lawrence played a radio shock jock juggling the demands of his friends and his girlfriend, was nothing new--it's your basic "gee, men and women sure are different" setup with an African-American flavor. But Lawrence threw himself into the show with gusto. In addition to the central character of Martin Payne, Lawrence played Payne's mother, his trashy neighbor Sheneneh, pompous player Jerome, and numerous others, some of whom were integrated into the main stories, some of whom just appeared in stand-alone segments at the opening of the show. (Ironically, many of the show's fans are more enthusiastic about these side characters than about Martin Payne.) No one will ever accuse Lawrence of subtlety, but his reckless energy is undeniable. That, combined with a good supporting cast (including Trisha Campbell as Gina, his long-suffering girlfriend; Saturday Night Live's Garrett Morris as Stan, his penny-pinching boss; and Carl Anthony Payne II, Tomas Mikal Ford, and Tichina Arnold as Martin and Gina's friends), gave the show a solid dynamic that raised it above the often formulaic scripts. Martin: The Complete First Season includes all 27 episodes; the extras, unfortunately, are only a highlights feature and a standard blooper reel. --Bret Fetzer

Martin: The Complete Third Season

No Description Available.
Genre: Television: HBO
Rating: NR
Release Date: 6-NOV-2007
Media Type: DVD

Martin - The Complete Second Season

Wazzup? Superstar Martin Lawrence (Open Season Big Momma's House) is back in 27 uproarious episodes from the hilarious second season of his classic show! Whether he's stepping into the boxing ring delivering a baby or running amok in Hollywood Martin never ceases to amaze and amuse. With his long-suffering girlfriend Gina and core crew of Tommy Cole and Pam by his side as well as an outrageous group of oddballs: back-sassing Sheneneh clueless Jerome and wise-cracking Mama Payne Martin proves that a second helping is even better than the first!Running Time: 810 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 026359365324 Manufacturer No: 93653

The Facts of Life - The Complete First & Second Seasons

A 1979 spin-off from the popular sitcom DIFF'RENT STROKES THE FACTS OF LIFE followed the events in the life of Charlotte Rae headmistress at an elite private girl's school. Though it started on a rocky footing the show went on to become one of the most popular and beloved shows of the 1980s as the girls grew up together graduated and in the final episode embarked on their adult lives. The first season of the show featured seven students but by the second season this number had been cut to four: the spoiled rich girl Blair; the boy-crazy Sue Ann; the gossipy Tootie; and the plump and na ve Natalie. With humor and heart this show dealt with the wide range of issues and challenges facing young women.System Requirements:Running Time 610 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396129795 Manufacturer No: 12979

Before Degrassi Junior High and Seventh Heaven, there was The Facts of Life--a feel-good sitcom where a lesson was learned at the end of each episode. Set in an all-girl boarding school, the series spanned nine seasons, countless hairdos, and an array of cast members and guest stars--some of whom (George Clooney, Helen Hunt, Molly Ringwald) would become very, very famous in the future. But in the 29 episodes that cover the first two seasons, the series introduces TV viewers to characters that represent girls everyone knows--Blair, the rich, spoiled girl; Natalie, the chubby smart aleck; Jo, the rebellious tomboy; and Tootie, the rollerskating tattletale.

A spin-off of Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life was designed as a showcase for Charlotte Rae, who played jack-of-all-trades den mother Edna Garrett. But the show's central plots all revolved around the girls. Back in 1979, certain words weren't common on television. So when Blair tries to make a schoolmate feel bad, insinuating that the girl is a lesbian, she uses the word "strange" instead of the "L" word. The series is a coming-of-age story that plays to its target audience of teenage girls. While much of the humor isn't very sophisticated, the homespun messages the show spread are right on target, whether it's dealing with eating disorders, sexual promiscuity, or acknowledging that handicapped people are people, too. From 1979 to 1988, the girls would grow into young women who go to college, get jobs, and lose their virginity (not necessarily in that order). But in the early seasons, there's a sweet innocence that still rings true today. --Jae-Ha Kim

Living Single - The Complete first season

When it appeared on the Fox TV network in 1993, Living Single was one of the first sitcoms to portray the everyday doings of a group of African America friends living ordinary American lives. It also pretty much launched the acting career of rap artist Queen Latifah (who performed its theme song) before she moved onto a thriving profession as a movie star. The format was nothing new, but it quickly became a hit and ran for five successful seasons. The setting was the office of urban-lifestyle Flavor magazine, where Khadijah James (Latifah) was editor, and the New York apartment Khadijah shared with roommates Synclaire (Kim Coles) and Regine (Kim Fields). There were frequent drop-ins by Khadijah's friend Maxine (Erika Alexander) and the duo of bickering best-friends from the apartment upstairs Kyle (Terrence T.C. Carson) and Overton (John Henton). From that formulaic setup came the good-natured storylines that allowed for plenty of Friends-like repartee (although Friends didn't premiere until the next year). It was also a little Seineld-like (which was just hitting stride in 1993), except that Living Single did not adhere to Seinfeld's "no hugging, no learning" policy. In episodes with titles like "Crappy Birthday," "Whose Date Is It Anyway," "Fatal Distraction," and "A Tale of Two Tattles," Khadijah and company engaged in familiar sitcom ensemble wise-cracking, back-stabbing, name-calling, and grudge-holding that elicited plenty of "WOOOOO!" responses from the studio audience, but everyone always went back to being supportive pals for the denouements. The series made it clear that Latifah was a charismatic and charmingly telegenic personality who had no problem sharing screen time with her co-stars. The bickering is most fun in episodes heavy on scenes between the gossip queen Regine and the upscale, quick-witted lawyer Maxine. The Ralph Kramden/Ed Norton dynamic between Overton and Kyle also makes for lively sitcom chemistry. There's no episode commentary on this first season, 27-episode four-disc set. The only extra is a 13-minute documentary, "How Ya Livin'? Season one of Living Single," which features new interviews with series creator Yvette Lee Bowser and some of the cast members (but not Queen Latifah). --Ted Fry

Best friends and "sista-girls" this group of seemingly mismatched women have found the recipe for twenty-something happiness. Enjoy all 27 Season One episodes (plus terrific Bonus Featurette) of the comedy series about four fly women living large and living single. From " round the way" to "Rodeo Drive" Regine (Kim Fields) has a new look (and a new man!) for every occasion. Hard-nosed attorney Maxine Shaw (Erika Alexander) has an appetite for winning both in and out of the courtroom. Sweet cousin Synclaire (Kim Coles) legendary for both her charm...and her naivete. And rounding out the crew is Khadijah James (Queen Latifah) a burgeoning entrepreneur who holds Flavor Magazine and the household together. Smart sassy and single --- now that's Living.Running Time: 567 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 012569733268 Manufacturer No: 73326

Ellen - The Complete Season Four

The first TV vehicle for the many talents of comedienne Ellen DeGeneres came in the form of the half-hour sitcom ELLEN. The show lasted for four years and firmly established DeGeneres in the hearts and minds of the American public. Ellen played a bookstore employee who regularly has to deal with her irritating parents her best friends Paige (Joely Fisher) and Adam (Arye Gross) and a variety of other colorful characters. This release contains the entire fourth season of the show.System Requirements:Running Time 540 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 733961758313 Manufacturer No: AAE-75831

Ellen: The Complete Season Four includes a significant moment in television history: the first time the central character in a situation comedy stepped out of the closet and announced she was gay. The widely-seen "The Puppy Episode Part 1" and "Part 2," closely followed by "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah," were among the final episodes that season. All dealt movingly and comically with the anxiety Ellen Morgan (Ellen DeGeneres) experiences as she tells her friends, parents, and the world she is gay, a distress quickly washed away by relief. Helping celebrate the event are a number of famous faces in co-starring or cameo roles, including Oprah Winfrey as Ellen's therapist, Laura Dern as a gay woman who helps Ellen come to terms with the truth, Billy Bob Thornton as a grocery clerk in a nutty dream, Bonnie Raitt, k.d. laing, Gina Gershon and others. Part of the fun of watching the 25 episodes on The Complete Season Four are discovering little signs along the way that DeGeneres is planning something big, including a sight gag where Ellen literally steps out of a closet. But there are other tumultuous (yet funny) storylines unfolding in Season Four, including Ellen's agonizing decision to sell her bookstore in order to raise money to buy a house. Ellen remains as manager, working for an executive (Bruce Campbell) who takes over her office with hunting trophies and a desire to cut dead weight—namely Joe (David Anthony Higgins), the attitude-impaired clerk whom Ellen considers a friend. Meanwhile, cousin Spence (Jeremy Piven) navigates a competitive medical residency while romancing Paige (Joely Fisher), and squeaky-voiced Audrey (Clea Lewis) becomes infatuated with a deaf actor who is more attracted to Ellen. Between these big strokes, however, is an endless stream of DeGeneres' hilarious takes on the simplest things: brushing teeth, waiting to get to the bathroom, drinking too much at a wine-tasting party. An heir to Lucille Ball, DeGeneres is also enough of an actress to convey real angst and sorrow when Ellen's parents announce a breakup, or when hopes for love fall through. One gets it all here: great comedy and emotional truth. --Tom Keogh

Ellen - The Complete Season One

The first television season of Ellen was actually called These Friends of Mine, and while the series sought to define itself through various tones and shades of comedy, the best episodes captured a middle ground between Seinfeld and Friends. Ellen DeGeneres is both a brilliant centerpiece and generous ensemble player, constantly finding fresh ways to mine laughs from her ever-rambling, guilt-ridden, and perpetually dissatisfied heroine. As Ellen Morgan, bookstore employee and platonic roommate of semi-loser Adam (Arye Gross), DeGeneres finds plenty of opportunity to explore humiliation. In the pilot episode, Ellen's unhappiness with her bad photo on a driver's license prompts an obsessive (and unsuccessful) quest to beautify her ID. "The Promotion" finds Ellen and her posse (besides Gross, costars in these first 13 programs include Maggie Wheeler and Holly Fulger) trying to figure out how to bribe Ellen's boss into giving her a job boost, a futile adventure that ends (don't ask how) in a bad way at the Mexican border.

Among the best episodes is the Seinfeld-ian "The Mugging," starring Mariska Hargitay as a gorgeous woman mugged on her way to Adam and Ellen's front door. A cowardly Adam saw the crime and not only fails to help, he won't admit being an eyewitness lest he lose his shot at romancing the victim. Along those same black-comedy lines, "The Anchor" finds Ellen neurotically pursuing a friendship with a woman she can't stand, simply because the latter heard Ellen speaking badly of her. The 13 shows in this set are presented out of season one's chronological order, but that makes little difference to the best material here. --Tom Keogh

Cast/Crew: Ellen DeGeneres Description: The first TV vehicle for the many talents of comedienne Ellen DeGeneres came in the form of the half-hourly sitcom ELLEN. The show lasted for four years, and firmly established DeGeneres in the hearts and minds of the American public. Ellen played a bookstore employee who regularly has to deal with her irritating parents, her best friends Paige (Joely Fisher) and Adam (Arye Gross), and a variety of other colorful characters. This release contains the entire first season of the show, with all 11 episodes offering a wonderfully comedic look at the world. Release Notes: DVD Features: Region (unknown) Keep Case Full Frame - 1.33 Additional Release Material: Audio Commentary 1. Holly Fulger 2. Arye Gross Biographies 1. Cast Interactive Features: Interactive Menus Scene Access

Ellen - The Complete Season Two

Ellen: The Complete Season Two is a little less populous than season 1 (there's a net loss of one cast member). But in every important respect the 1990s ABC sitcom starring Ellen DeGeneres as bookstore owner and adorable neurotic Ellen Morgan carries on the show's familiar charm and intelligence. Fans will surely notice the unmentioned departure of Ellen's buddies Holly (Holly Fulger) and Anita (Maggie Wheeler), as well as the out-of-nowhere appearance of new best gal pal Paige (Joely Fisher). But Arye Gross provides strong continuity as returning second banana and platonic friend Adam, the underachieving photographer who moves out of Ellen's apartment in season 2's eighth episode ("Adam's Birthday"), yet never seems to be gone afterward.

For the most part, season 2's scripts, like season 1's, are both urbane (in the Friends mold) and classic-TV silly (in the I Love Lucy tradition). The season premiere, "The Dentist," has some great moments for the series' highlight reel when Ellen's attraction to a dentist gets out of hand after inhaling laughing gas. "So Funny" finds Ellen jealous over Adam's friend Theresa's quick wit, while "Mrs. Koger" has a timeless plot in which our heroine chews out a crusty and unpleasant old neighbor, only to discover the latter died moments afterward. (Ellen's penchant for babbling is particularly funny during a post-mortem conversation with a cop.) The Lucy influence is especially strong in "Ballet Class" (Ellen gets a little too ambitious) and "The Spa" (a massage turns brutally slapstick). Despite these strong storylines, at least half of every episode is concerned with light subplots, such as Adam's near-flirtatious efforts to reach out to Ellen's employee Joe (David Anthony Higgins) when he realizes he has no guy friends. No matter what's going on, DeGeneres finds a way to endear herself every scene. --Tom Keogh

America's indisputable Queen of Comedy, Ellen DeGeneres, returns for another high-spirited season of ELLEN, the Emmy Award®-winning ABC sitcom that skyrocketed her into the pop-culture stratosphere! ELLEN stars DeGeneres as Los Angeles bookstore owner Ellen Morgan, a good-humored bachelorette whose loose-lipped outbursts often land her in outrageous situations. With her best friends Adam (Arye Gross), Paige (Joely Fisher), and wacky co-worker Joe (David Anthony Higgins) along for the ride, Ellen flirts with her dentist under the spell of laughing gas, masquerades as an exercise trainer, becomes a contestant on American Gladiators, and dates a whole parade of Mr. Wrongs! Featuring all 24 episodes from its critically acclaimed second season, ELLEN: THE COMPLETE SEASON TWO boasts show-stopping cameos by Bob Saget, Harry Shearer, Mary-Kate Olsen, Seinfeld's Patrick Warburton, Sister Act's Kathy Najimy, and the voice of Connie Stevens! DVD Features: Commentary with Joely Fisher and David Anthony Higgins on the episodes "Mrs. Koger" and "The Trainer"; Cast Biographies; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

Gimme a Break - Season One

Nell Carter shines as Nellie Ruth Nell Harper the role that twice earned her Emmy® and Golden Globe Award nominations and helped redefine the meaning of family. Available for the first time ever on DVD Gimme a Break! is the funny hip and sometimes poignant portrayal of the Kanisky family: widowed Police Chief Carl; his three daughters Katie Julie and Samantha; and their unflappable housekeeper-turned-surrogate mother (Carter). This 3-disc set includes all 19 episodes from Season One as well as a preview from Season Two bonus episodes from the smash-hit sitcoms Kate and Allie and Charles in Charge and a special featurette that takes a look back at other great TV shows of the eighties. Featuring renowned guest stars such as Danny Glover Rue McClanahan and Helen Hunt Gimme a Break! is the beloved sitcom that delivers both love and laughs.System Requirements:Running Time: 468 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 025192941320 Manufacturer No: 29413

Actress-singer Nell Carter provided the heart and soul for this much-loved NBC family series (1981-1987) about a black woman who cares for a white police chief's daughters after the death of their mother. Though some of the show's humor was derived from jibes about Ms. Carter's size and the clash of parenting styles between the no-nonsense Chief (stage veteran Dolph Sweet) and Carter's warm, sassy Nell Harper, Gimme a Break also addressed more serious and emotional subjects with surprising warmth and drama. The debut episode, "Katie the Crook" (which is featured on this three-disc set, along with the other 18 episodes from the 1981-82 season), does a fine job of touching on the tougher issues, as the Chief's three daughters (Kari Michaelson, Lauri Hendler, and Lara Jill Miller) each react to the mother's untimely passing in realistic manners. Other episodes in the first season offer a good blend of humor and pathos, including "Mom's Birthday" (in which Nell allows the family to celebrate their mother through home movies), "The Emergency" (a rare TV storyline about teen birth control), "Your Prisoner Is Dead" (the Chief is traumatized after killing a drugstore burglar, and considers retirement), and "Nell Goes Home" (Nell is rejected by her ailing father during a trip to Alabama). Much of the credit for the show should go to the cast, especially Ms. Carter and Sweet (both who have since passed away), though veteran character actor John Hoyt deserves mention as the family's grandfather; their enthusiasm for and skill behind the roles is undoubtedly a large reason why Gimme a Break still enjoys a following. The first-season set includes a preview of the show's second season (the episode "Nell Goes to Jail"), as well as episodes from Charles in Charge and Kate and Allie, two other popular family sitcoms from the '80s. A 30-minute featurette on '80s TV (the same one featured on the Charles in Charge first-season set) rounds out this fan-pleasing set. -- Paul Gaita