Oh, one more thing I did during my vacation was finally finish watching my SCTV DVD box set.
The DVD release of easily one of the greatest shows in the annals of sketch comedy (and that?s not just my opinion folks) was something I had waiting for a very long time. In fact, I can say with complete confidence that SCTV is my favorite show of all time; while most kids grew up wishing they were really in the Star Wars universe, I wanted to be in Melonville. But only now, after watching those shows for the first time in years, have I been able to fully realize what a profound effect it had on me. I can?t even begin to describe the extent of it all, but a great deal of my sense of humor, as well as personality, was shaped by that show.
But the sad part is, I?m afraid unless a person grew up watching the show, most will find the humor terribly dated (well, it is). But still, it ranks up there with other classic ensemble shows like Monty Python and Kids in the Hall, where it was all about the performance and the acting, and creating a scene, a real moment in time, and not pandering to the audience or overusing stupid catch phrases, which is how SNL, even when it?s been good, often does (hey, that?s the nature of live, pre-scripted, televised comedy, so it?s not something to be ashamed of). And it was truly gratifying to hear Conan O?Brien, who hosted the SCTV reunion show, talk about what the show means to those who ?get it”.
The DVDs themselves are decent. Since I?m watching them on my eMac, I?ve noticed the registry is rather way off to the right, though perhaps it?s not at all noticeable when viewed on television. At least there?s a good deal of extras (more so than I expected to be honest) which included some really insightful interviews with the majority of the cast. The set covers the NBC Network 90 run, since I guess they own the right to them, or partially. While I would have love to have the entire show?s run in chronological order, the Network 90 is widely regarded as their best work, so that?s okay. And it?s especially nice to know that a second set is on its way towards a October release.
In fact, it?s practically the ?Golden Age of Television? all over again, at least for me; quite a few shows I obsessed over while growing up are finally seeing the light of day again thanks to DVD, even ones I had assumed were long lost. I had totally given up hope on ever seeing Millennium again, and never in a million years did I expect there to be a Sledge Hammer collection. The other day, I picked up the entire run of the Storyteller, another cherished childhood favorite, and I pray one day we?ll one day get the entire run of the Jim Henson Hour as well. That and Ducktales (which doesn?t makes as to why it?s not out now; it would surely do well and Disney?s pretty hard up for cash these days). Also, Pete & Pete (especially since I don?t have Noggin/The N anymore).
I also just recently got the second half of the second season of Transformers (finally) which is next on my “to watch” list, and will hopefully get the rest of the series (Generation One only, of course) by the end of this year. I?m actually in the process of doing some hardcore DVD shopping, and on the top of the list is filling out all the series which I only have volume 1s, which for the most part are comedies. But the problem is, most have yet to release the entire run, and it looks it may never happen for most. I?m pretty bummed that 2nd and 3rd seasons of the Upright Citizens Brigade may never come out, but I?m especially miffed about Strangers With Candy since it only has one season to go (the 3rd). And hell, Kids in the Hall only has one season available (the 2nd and 3rd were my favorite of the 5 and a half). At least Mr. Show has it entire run available.
Plus I still have to get Monty Python, Freaks & Geeks, certain seasons of X-Files (up till five), and a few others. I?d include Twin Peaks, but I know the pilot is not included, so really, what?s the point? Also, there?s this Canadian comedy called Trailer Park Boys which I?ve just gotten into. The concept, which is the exploits of two dead beat, degenerates amongst other pieces of white trash is about as clich?d as they come, but the show is positively brilliant. It?s also from Canada, which automatically makes it funny by default. And I know this sounds nuts, but I may actually get the season one collection of Knight Rider simply for the bonus disc, which is the Knight Rider 2000 movie, and the only reason I want that is for the awesome intro (which I remember watching so much as a kid, the tape actually broke).
You see, collecting classic television shows is actually fun. Whereas collecting films have been nothing but headaches, mostly due to multiple edits, plus I?m really into foreign flicks, so with that comes juggling multiple regions. That or dealing with bootlegs, which can lead to a whole world of messiness. There?s nothing more annoying that going to Chinatown to scope out the best Korean bootleg of a Japanese flick.
Oh, and one last thing about TV on DVD; where the fuck is my Night Court?!?!?!
