Need a laugh? Me, too! Let’s take a look at some of the new DVD and blu-ray releases in the comedy category.
How I Met Your Mother: The Complete Season 7 (Oct. 2, DVD & blu-ray). I haven’t been consistent with this show over the years, and what I saw of season seven wasn’t particularly phenomenal. Isn’t there a “thing” with TV shows and season sevens? Isn’t that where they either find a way to make things fresh and new to catapult the show forward?
I’m not sure, but even in its not-phenomenal state, How I Met Your Mother is still way better than most shows on TV right now.
Season seven saw Marshall and Lily moving away (and back) to start their family, Ted continuing to search for the woman of his dreams, Robin revealing a shocking secret, and wedding bells ringing for confirmed bachelor Barney (in a ducky tie). Oh, and Katie Holmes joining the fun in the long-awaited return of the Slutty Pumpkin.
Modern Family: The Complete Third Season (Sept. 18, DVD & blu-ray). This show continues to ratchet things up a notch with each new season, which is why it’s the winner of 16 freakin’ Emmys. Totally family-friendly, too – read more about the third season’s tightropes and dude ranches here.
Get a Life: The Complete Series (Sept. 18, DVD). Ok, now we’re talking. Before all the crazies and psychotic characters ended up on HBO and Showtime, there was Chris Elliot on Get a Life, released in its complete un-special, non-anniversary glory by Shout! Factory.
Nathan Rabin did an excellent walk-through of this show over at AV Club, and I’m not even going to try and one-up it, so hop over and read co-creator David Mirkin’s take on the cult classic. I especially love the visuals he paints of having 70-some-year-old Bob Elliot waiting around all day to shoot a scene at 3 a.m.
I will say this, though. If you only know Chris Elliot from his more recent gigs on David Letterman and the above-mentioned How I Met Your Mother, you need to Get a Life. Yeah, I just said that. This set includes all 35 uncut episodes plus all-new bonus features with the cast and crew (lovingly done with no expectation of payment).
Family Guy, Vol. 10 (Sept. 25, DVD). I won’t say I’ve always been onboard with this show, but I’ve been forced to watch it with my son over the years, and you know what? Now I get it. It’s funny. Ruthlessly, perilously, bitingly, politically-incorrectly funny. Despite the fact that every time I hear Seth MacFarlane’s voice, I see Andrew Rannells on The New Normal (hey, they could be twins), you have to hand it to MacFarlane for taking no prisoners and putting it all out there. It’s like he just doesn’t care. And that’s awesome.
This set includes 14 episodes, in which Peter needs a new kidney, Lois becomes a boxing champ, Chris finds a new hobby, and Brian and Stewie unravel the space-time continuum in an effort to save the universe. It’s like they’re living our lives.
Fan Favorites: The Best of the Odd Couple (March 16, DVD). Yes, this actually came out in March from Paramount, but I don’t think I included it in any round-ups, and for that I am mortified. It’s one of my favorite shows ever — and that includes both classic and modern shows. Re-runs aired after school, and I used to rush home from the bus stop, grab some Pop-Tarts, and go watch it on my brother’s little black-and-white TV in his room.
Paramount also released fan favorite sets for Frasier, Cheers, Happy Days, MacGyver, Hogan’s Heroes and The Honeymooners. Loved all these shows.
This set includes eight episodes, which is a good sampling if you’ve never watched the show (or weren’t born when it first aired) or if you want to revisit some of the funniest stuff ever to air on the tube with the greatest mismatched pair of Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. The episodes include:
- The Blackout (Season One, Episode 13): Oscar is accused of stealing money from the poker pot during a blackout.
- Security Arms (Season Two, Episode 15): After relocating to a more secure building, Oscar and Felix have a hard time abiding by a new set of rules.
- I’m Dying Of Unger (Season Three, Episode 6): Felix takes Oscar to the woods to help him recover from writer’s block. It’s too close for comfort!
- Password (Season Three, Episode 11): Our mismatched pair make an appearance on the TV game show Password. Betty White!!
- Take My Furniture, Please (Season Three, Episode 22): A decorating war as Oscar responds to Felix’s new ultra modern decor by countering with garish thrift store selections.
- The Murray Who Came to Dinner (Season Three, Episode 23): Murray moves in after a fight with his wife. Three most certainly is not company.
- Cleanliness is Next to Impossible (Season Four, Episode 15): Oscar tries to emulate Felix’s neat ways when his current girlfriend brands him a slob.
- The Insomniacs (Season Four, Episode 20): Felix’s sleeplessness starts to drive Oscar insane.
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