Shout! Factory continues to release awesome titles in all genres for the whole family. Classic TV, comic book heroes , animation, quirky shows, celebrated comedians … they’ve got it all.
Here are some of Shout! Factory’s best titles of 2012, perfect for wrapping in colorful paper and popping under the tree. Hey, gift cards are nice, but people NEED stuff under the tree!
Route 66: The Complete Series Box Set
This 24-DVD box set debuted for the first time on home entertainment shelves on May 22, 2012. Boasting all 116 original episodes spanning four TV seasons from 1960-1964, Route 66 is one of the most highly rated drama series from the era.
Intriguing characters (Buzz Murdock! Todd Stiles!), smart writing, a groovy Corvette, and that Nelson Riddle theme song are just a few of the reasons we love Route 66 in this household. It’s road trip drama at its best.
Bonus Features include a special “value add” Great Cars: Corvette DVD – a thrilling, in-depth look at the legendary sports car and more. Buy it on Amazon.
Steve Martin: The Television Stuff
This 3-DVD box set debuted on Sept. 18, 2012, and features the comedian/actor/banjo-picker’s TV work, much of it largely unavailable until now. The set was made in collaboration with Martin and features his Oscar-nominated short film The Absent-Minded Waiter and the only footage of Martin’s 1970s legendary stand-up acts with his LIVE 1979 show at Los Angeles’ Universal Amphitheatre.
Also included are the 1976 HBO special On Location: Steve Martin, vintage NBC Specials Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy, Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty, All Commercials … A Steve Martin Special, and Steve Martin’s Best Show Ever.
The set also features guest appearances by Dan Aykroyd, Laraine Newman, Lauren Hutton, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Lynn Redgrave, Paul Simon, David Letterman, Carl Reiner and Johnny Cash. Bonus features include a new interview with Martin and a 24-page booklet with an essay by author Adam Gopnik, liner notes and rare photographs. Buy it on Amazon.
Get A Life: The Complete Series
Chris Elliott as America’s most lovable psycho? Yes, please. We lauded this five-disc set when it was released on Sept. 18, and with good reason. All 35 episodes of the show are included, along with an essay written by Tom Shales and bonus features with the cast and crew, including interviews, audio commentary, a Paley Center panel from 2000, deleted scenes and alternate versions of select episodes without the laugh track.
The show is based on the surreal, twisted, gratuitously violent, hilarious misadventures of Chris Peterson — a 30-year-old paper boy with an ever decreasing grasp on reality. Yeah, some days we really identify.
Starring Chris Elliott, executive produced by David Mirkin (The Simpsons) and created by Chris Elliott, Adam Resnick and David Mirkin, Get A Life has earned a rabid and ok, somewhat disturbing, cult following. The show ran from 1990 to 1992 and co-starred Bob Elliott, Robin Riker, Elinor Donahue, Sam Robards and Brian Doyle-Murray. Buy it on Amazon.
All In The Family: The Complete Series
On October 30, Shout! Factory released this 28-disc box set of one the most beloved, groundbreaking, funny and sometimes heartbreaking television shows of all time. The first-ever box set release of the show contains all 213 episodes, uncut and in their original broadcast form. Race, politics, sex … nothing was off-limits.
Bonus features includes a 40-page collectible book with essays by Pulitzer Prize–winning TV critic Tom Shales and USC Media Professor Marty Kaplan, a new interview with Norman Lear, the documentary Those Were The Days: The Birth Of All In The Family, the documentary The Television Revolution Begins: All In The Family Is On The Air, the original All In The Family pilot “Justice For All,” the second All In The Family pilot “Those Were The Days,” and the spin-off pilot episodes of Gloria, Archie Bunker’s Place, and 704 Hauser. Buy it on Amazon.
Transformers Prime: The Complete Second Season
The dynamic second season of Hasbro Studios’ animated hit series contains all 26 episodes and digs deeper into Transformers mythology as both the Autobots and Decepticons uncover clues relating to secret artifacts of Iacon, Cybertron’s capital city. Their discoveries could not only change the balance of power in the war, but also potentially revive their dead home planet.
Bonus features include Optimus Prime: Up Close and Personal Panel with Larry King and Peter Cullen from San Diego Comic-Con International 2012 and brand-new interviews with the series creative team.
Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Josh Keaton, Jeffrey Combs, Kevin Michael Richardson, Ernie Hudson, Markie Post and Steve Blum lend their voices to this series from co-executive producer Duane Capizzi and executive producers Jeff Kline, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.
The four-disc blu-ray collection debuts Nov. 27, 2012 (buy it on Amazon); the deluxe 4-DVD set is sold separately and debuts Nov. 20, 2012 (buy it on Amazon).
The Incredible Mel Brooks – An Irresistible Collection of Unhinged Comedy
What can you say about the amazing Mel Brooks? For 65 years he loomed large in all facets of the entertainment industry. This 5-DVD/1 CD Box Set debuted Nov. 13 and celebrates the director, actor, producer, composer and writer in a big way. And get this: he’s one of only 11 people in history to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award.
In this unique, first-of-its-kind collection, fans of the gifted entertainer will fall joyfully down a rabbit hole into a wonderland of rare archival television footage from throughout his career, including extensive interviews, film clips, documentaries, never-before-seen photos, and special tributes.
It also includes new interviews with Brooks, a 60-page book featuring vintage photos, program notes and essays by Leonard Maltin, Robert Brustein, Gene Wilder and Bruce Jay Friedman. Buy it on Amazon.
Marvel Knights Animation: Astonishing X-Men Blu-Ray Collection
Got a Marvel fan in the house? The Marvel Knights Animation: Astonishing X-Men Blu-ray Collection is the perfect gift — and lucky for us, it debuted Nov. 13.
This multi-disc blu-ray collection boasts all four Astonishing X-Men adventures from Joss Whedon, the mastermind behind Marvel’s The Avengers (and of course, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly!) and award-winning artist John Cassaday.
As one of the most important X-Men stories of all-time, it features more than five hours of engaging animation combined with non-stop action, as well as all-new cover art illustration by Cassaday. Buy it on Amazon.
Power Rangers: Seasons One –Seven
Wow. This 40-DVD Box Set includes all 145 original episodes from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Seasons One, Two and Three, plus the ten-episode series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Alien Rangers.
It also includes Power Rangers: Seasons Four – Seven, featuring all of the original 183 episodes spanning the seasons entitled Power Rangers Zeo, Power Rangers Turbo, Power Rangers In Space and Power Rangers Lost Galaxy.
In-depth bonus content includes a retrospective featurette on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers phenomenon, brand-new interviews with members of the cast and the creative team and much more! Available Nov. 20, 2012. Buy it on Amazon.
Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters – Creatures Unleashed
Featuring an all-star voice cast of Scott Wolf, Freddy Rodriguez, John DiMaggio, Oded Fehr, Phil LaMarr, David Sobolov, Kari Wahlgren and Jason Marsden, this popular action-fantasy series offers an inspiring story about a young hero named Ray who possesses the rare ability to befriend and duel alongside fantastical creatures from a parallel dimension.
It’s up to Ray to master the ancient art of Kaijudo in order to protect both worlds. But wait, there’s more. It’s also a story of friendship, loyalty, and determination, with a powerful anti-bullying message.
Available Dec. 4, the set features five adventurous episodes, an exclusive alternative art “Kenina” playable trading card, and special bonus feature A Look at Kaijudo: Rise of the Duel Masters.
Episodes include:
- The Natural, Part 1
- The Natural, Part 2
- The Natural, Part 3
- Om Nom Nom
- The Hunted
