From Deseret News archives:
'Roseanne,' 'Hearts Afire' among new releases
"Roseanne: The Complete First Season" (Anchor Bay, 1988-89, not rated, $39.98, four discs). You either like Roseanne or you don't, but this show was a huge hit, striking a nerve with blue-collar TV-watchers who hadn't had anything that reflected their lifestyle in some time.
Roseanne isn't much of an actress, though she isn't required to do much beyond making wisecracks. But John Goodman is the perfect choice as her husband, and he brings some grounding to the proceedings.
Based loosely on Roseanne's stand-up routines, the show has them alternately battling and embracing their kids and Roseanne's sister (Laurie Metcalf), along with tackling various social issues. And it's sometimes quite funny.
Extras: Full frame, 23 episodes, new interviews (with Roseanne and Goodman), bloopers, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"Hearts Afire: The Complete First Season" (Image, 1992-93, not rated, $39.99, four discs). The late John Ritter stars as legislative assistant to a male-chauvinist Southern senator (George Gaynes) in this Washington, D.C.-based sitcom. In the pilot he hires a new press secretary (Markie Post) and spars with his best pal (Billy Bob Thornton, before he won an Oscar and got skinny) and tries to keep the senator from embarrassing himself. (Ed Asner shows up as Post's father.)
Ritter and Post and Thornton are all good comic actors, and this show is an enjoyable romp, although some of its political gags are dated. It also bears no small resemblance to "Spin City," which came later.
Extras: Full frame, 23 episodes, bloopers, chapters.
"House, M.D.: Season One" (Universal, 2004-05, not rated, $59.98, three double-sided discs). This medical show is also something of a mystery program, as grumpy Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) continually comes up against some strange deadly dilemma he must resolve unconventionally.
After a time, that aspect gets a little predictable, but Laurie is great, the show has a dark sense of humor and the cast is first-rate, especially guest stars Sela Ward, Chi McBride and Joe Morton, who show up late in the season.
Extras: Widescreen, 22 episodes, making-of featurettes/interviews, compilation of House's quips, subtitle options (English, Spanish), chapters.
"Married . . . With Children: The Complete Fourth Season" (Sony, 1989-90, not rated, $39.95, three discs). More misadventures with the crass Bundy family, highlighted (if that's the word) by the two-part "It's a Wonderful Life" take off — "It's a Bundyful Life," with bombastic stand-up comic Sam Kinison as an angel. Note that Peg's new husband in this episode is Ted McGinley, who will replace David Garrison as the husband of Marcy (Amanda Bearse) the next season.
