Gottlieb, Lisa

Just One of the Guys

Though marketed as a raunchy teen sex comedy à la Porky's, Just One of the Guys is an amusing and well-acted comic riff on gender roles. Believing that she's lost a journalism contest because she's a woman, high school student Joyce Hyser disguises herself as a boy in order to see how the other half lives. Her investigation leads her to discover some interesting truths about how men and women treat each other in social and romantic situations. The screenplay by coproducers Jeff Franklin (a veteran TV scribe) and Dennis Feldman nicely balances the sex-driven gags with more character-driven material, which is well delivered by Hyser, Clayton Rohner as her eccentric pal, and especially Billy Jacoby as her perpetually aroused brother; the capable cast also includes Sherilyn Fenn and Arye Gross. Eighties music fans should also appreciate the soundtrack, which features tracks by Berlin, Lindsay Buckingham, and the Stooges. --Paul Gaita

She's 18, she's beautiful and she's about to set off an epidemic of comic hysteria when she enrolls in a new high school as JUST ONE OF THE GUYS. Stars Golden Globe nominated actress Sherilyn Fenn ("Twin Peaks").

Dream On - Seasons 1 & 2

One hopes that at the annual HBO characters Christmas party, Larry Sanders, Carrie Bradshaw, and Tony Soprano make a point to raise a toast to Martin Tupper, the hapless hero of Dream On. This groundbreaking 1990 sitcom from future Friends creators David Crane and Marta Kaufman ushered in a bold new era of original cable programming not bound by broadcast network content restrictions. Hence, the profanity and nudity (you didn't see that on Knott's Landing!), which distinguished the series and helped put HBO on the pop culture map. Brian Benben stars as Martin, a New York book editor still reeling from the breakup of his marriage. The show's gimmick is that baby boomer Martin, a member of the first television generation, flashes on vintage TV clips that express his innermost feelings and desires. When his wife, Judith (Wendie Malick), visits Martin in "The First Episode," he fantasizes reconciliation, but she wants him to sign the divorce papers so she can remarry. The scene is punctuated by clips (from an old Twilight Zone episode, perhaps?) in which boxer Lee Marvin is pummeled in the ring and knocked out. But the clips and the language and the sex would get old fast if we didn't like the characters. Benben has the Everyman charm of a young George Segal, and he wears his anxiety to hilarious effect. He is devoted to his young teenage son, and still loves Judith, who is marrying a paragon, never seen, but described at one point as a "Ghandi for our times." His dating relationships spectacularly crash and burn (cue clip of disabled aircraft). In one episode, he comes undone when he discovers his new lover was a porn star. At the office, he is at the mercy of his caustic secretary (Denny Dillon). Dream On is of more than prurient interest. This was one of those lightning-in-a-bottle series blessed with a fresh vision, a seamless ensemble, and smart writing. To finally have it on DVD is a Dream come true. --Donald Liebenson

Boy Meets World - The Complete First Season

Boy Meets World joined the ABC network's successful "TGIF" lineup in 1993, and instantly distinguished itself from the dewy-eyed hokum that passes for much family viewing with its relative sophistication, emotional complexity, and smart, stylish dialogue. In a way, Boy Meets World, starring Ben Savage, picked up where ABC's The Wonder Years (1988-1993), featuring older brother Fred Savage, left off. Both shows looked at the world from the point of view of largely unformed and untested boys as they faced dilemmas concerning love, loyalty, and ethics within their families, among friends, and at school. But where The Wonder Years was an arch and poignant series with nostalgic, grown-up appeal--and which had a young hero often at a loss for words--BMW looked more like a broader, conventional sitcom where chatter never ceased. The show was and is more easily taken for granted, but its unusual gracefulness and wit can't be denied after a couple of viewings.

Boy Meets World lasted seven seasons, and one of the real pleasures of following the series is that its story and character changes are largely organic, rather than forced by cast departures or other pressures. Thus the auspicious first meeting of Savage's 11-year-old Cory Matthews and his classmate Topanga (Danielle Fishel) in season 1 leads, quite sweetly and logically, to a deeper relationship in subsequent seasons. Cory's attachment to his formidable yet compassionate 6th-grade teacher, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels in a tailor-made performance), who also happens to be Cory's neighbor, grows and deepens as Feeny eventually becomes the principal at Cory's high school and a mentor beyond. Season 1 also introduces Cory's likeable father (William Russ), a grocery store manager, and mother (Betsy Randle), a homemaker and realtor, as well as appealing siblings Eric (Will Friedle) and Morgan (Lindsay Ridgeway) and best friend Shawn (Rider Strong). A slightly surreal tone (a little similar to Family Ties) keeps the jokes coming, but BMW is at its most touching when Cory's awareness of and empathy for the needs of others expands. --Tom Keogh

Go back to the beginning with Cory, Topanga, Shawn and all your favorite characters in Boy Meets World's hilarious first season. With the help of his family and his teacher, Mr. Feeny, Cory (Ben Savage) explores life, relationships and the strange, wild world of sixth grade.

Freddy's Nightmares [Region 2]

Across the Moon

A wryly funny, romantic adventure, as sultry as the desert sun. Carmen (Elizabeth Pena) and Kathy (Christina Applegate) are two life-loving mavericks who hit the road in order to build a new life. A buddy movie, road picture and romantic caper all rolled into one, "Across the Moon" is a fun, funky good time.

Cadillac Ranch

Three sisters take to the road in this fast-paced adventure filled with romance, laughs larceny and a talented cast!