1st season of new 'NCIS' is among DVD releases

Several DVDs of TV shows have been released this week, including the first season of the new "NCIS" series that debuted last fall.

"NCIS: Los Angeles: The First Season" (CBS/Paramount, 2009-10, six discs, $64.99). LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell make an appealing crime-busting team in this spinoff of "NCIS," which includes a pair of crossover episodes featuring the original show's quirky forensics wizard Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette).

Aside from its L.A. setting, this one sets itself apart by allowing O'Donnell and Cool J to go undercover, infiltrating various criminal enterprises to protect national security. And in support is the fabulous Linda Hunt as their operations manager. ("You still shoot the ducks; I just row the boat," she tells O'Donnell at one point.)

This set also includes the two episodes of "NCIS" that introduced O'Donnell and Cool J's Los Angeles-based characters.

Extras: widescreen, 22 episodes, 24 episodes, audio commentary, featurettes, two episodes of "NCIS," music video, promos, trailers

"Brothers & Sisters: The Complete Fourth Season" (ABC, 2009-10, six discs, $45.99). This prime-time soap opera goes off in a wide array of offbeat directions this season, some of them interesting, some of them dull and some downright irritating.

But the lead players — Sally Field, Calista Flockhart, Rob Lowe, Rachel Griffiths and Patricia Wettig — certainly make it worth watching most of the time. (Although Lowe's character, who was in a car crash in this season's cliffhanger, likely won't be back when Season 5 begins; he's moved on to the sitcom "Parks and Recreation.")

Extras: widescreen, 24 episodes, deleted scenes, featurettes, bloopers, trailers

"Marple: Series 5" (Acorn, 2010, four discs, $49.99). Julia McKenzie's bright-eyed interpretation of Agatha Christie's oft-filmed amateur detective is complemented by the excellent production values for these episodes, set in the 1950s and adapted from Christie stories: "The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side," "The Secret of Chimneys" and "The Blue Geranium."

Extras: widescreen, three episodes, documentary: "Agatha Christie's Garden," text interviews/filmographies

"Cactus: Live, Loud & Proud" (MVD, 2010, $19.95). The band is captured performing live on stage during its 2006-07 tour, following the release of its album "Cactus V."

Extras: widescreen, 13 songs, featurettes, music video

"iCarly: iSpaced Out" (Nickelodeon/Paramount, 2010, $16.99). The title episode of the tween-based series is one of six included here.

Extras: full frame, six episodes, trivia, episode of "Victorious," trailers

"Diego's Ultimate Rescue League" (Nickelodeon/Paramount, 2010, $16.99). These "Go, Diego, Go!" episodes focus on animal rescue efforts and environmental concerns.

Extras: full frame, three episodes

e-mail: hicks@desnews.com