'SNL,' 'Mission Impossible,' others out on DVD

Published: Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006 6:10 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Lots of TV shows land on DVD this week, just in time for holiday gift-giving.

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.

Story continues below

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

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

The contract offered to Milsap is similar to the original one the Jazz gave...

Millard County van rollover kills boy, injures 7

ate carol/kuya rey....We are really sad of what happened...but one thing for...

Hate to break it to ya, Blauch, but every time Memo leaves the floor Boozer...

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has no room for these silly myths. This is the...

paul is a good player but i say see ya get rid of loozer and ak i would...

My family is devastated! We know the Pratts personally and have loved their...

I think all of us grew up hearing these myths. I'm glad Mckay Copins had the...

This makes me so sad! He was a great teacher, it was the only time i ever...

Good job Brother Coppins. Thanks for being a source of moderation and...

at a Martial Art finals in Oklahoma City one year and thoroughly enjoyed the...

Advertisements