'SNL,' 'Mission Impossible,' others out on DVD
FIRST SEASONS
"Saturday Night Live: The Complete First Season" (Universal, 1975-76, eight discs, $69.98). The original Not Ready For Prime Time Players in this initial season of the live New York-based show (referred to as "NBC's Saturday Night") were Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd (with a mustache), John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris and Laraine Newman. (Chase would leave in the middle of the second season; Bill Murray would come on board for the third season.)
It's really a kick to see these 90-minute live shows (each runs about 65 minutes here) restored to their full-length glory after all those one-hour versions (with commercials) on the Comedy Central cable channel. And it will become quickly apparent to fans of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" that producer Lorne Michaels was "borrowing" heavily from that British comedy series.
The first episode is hosted by George Carlin (who does four monologues, including his classic football-baseball semantics routine) and features Andy Kaufman (who does his "Mighty Mouse" bit), with two songs each from Janis Ian (including "At Seventeen") and Billy Preston (including "Nothing From Nothing"), the "adult" Muppets that were part of the show for several years, and a faux documentary short film by Albert Brooks.
With all that going on in the first show and with the second having a heavier emphasis on music (Randy Newman, Phoebe Snow, host Paul Simon and his reunion with Art Garfunkel) it's hard for the new comics to show their stuff. But as the season progresses, they gain their footing and start churning out many of the memorable characters and skits for which they are still remembered.
Among other hosts this season are Rob Reiner, Candice Bergen, Richard Pryor, Peter Cook & Dudley Moore, Buck Henry and, no kidding, Anthony Perkins.
Extras: Full frame, 26 episodes, original screen tests, interview with cast (taped the day before the first show); 36-page booklet
"Mission: Impossible: The Complete First Season" (CBS/Paramount, 1966-67, seven discs, $54.99). Forget the Tom Cruise movies this is the real deal, the original series that begins with a secret agent receiving an assignment (should he choose to accept it) from a tape recorder, which then burns itself up.
That agent is played by Steven Hill (who went on to play the D.A. in the first decade of "Law & Order"), and his team includes Greg Morris, Martin Landau, Barbara Bain and Peter Lupus. (Peter Graves would take over from Hill in the second season.)
Comments
- Death near Rockville suspicious 7:46 p.m.
- Attempted murder case refiled 7:46 p.m.
- Family Fun Day kick off Days of '47 7:42 p.m.
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal 7:25 p.m.
- 'Drop Dead Diva' is frothy fun 6:14 p.m.
- Look for face of God in others 6:14 p.m.
- Bishop on a mission 6:14 p.m.
- Vail's mountain cross inspiring 6:14 p.m.
- Religion briefs 6:14 p.m.
- Teachings on adultery after Sanford 6:14 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Letters: Palin mistreated
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
138 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - LDS seminary principal arrested
122 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
92 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
71
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