Little House On The Prairie (DVD) Review

Nominated for 17 Emmys, including one Golden Globe for Best TV Series - Drama, Little House On The Prairie is one of the most popular shows in television history. Based on the autobiographical series of "Little House" books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the show explores the inner-workings of a small town and family on the 19th Century American frontier. Director/Co-Executive Producer Michael Landon (of Bonanza and Highway to Heaven fame) also wrote one-third of the episodes (in addition to playing a lead role as the family's father, Charles, when the actor originally cast for the part failed to show). Charles would go on to become one of the show's most popular characters, and Little House On The Prairie would become an American favorite, boasting ten successful seasons to its credit… Little House On The Prairie follows the lives of the Ingalls family as they settle on the banks of Plum Creek in the township of Walnut Grove, Kansas during the 1870's. A true pioneer family, the story is seen through the eyes of the Ingalls' middle-daughter, Laura (Melissa Gilbert), who experiences all the normal growing pains and emotions of a young girl growing up on the prairie. Carpenter Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon) and his former school teacher wife, Caroline (Karen Grassle), head up a family of three that includes two additional daughters, Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) and Carrie (Lindsay & Sidney Greenbush). The town also includes a loveable cast of supporting characters, such as Walnut Grove School teacher Eva Beadle (Charlotte Stewart), town doctor Hiram Baker (Kevin Hagen), pastor Robert Alden (Dabbs Greer), family friend Isaiah Edwards (Victor French), the wealthy Oleson family, and a host of other characters… The Little House On The Prairie DVD features a number of dramatic episodes including the series premiere in which the Ingalls family travels from Big Woods, Wisconsin to the more open and fertile lands of the Kansas prairie. Along the way, they make friends with Mr. Edwards (who helps them settle), have a run-in with some Indians, and fight a dangerous fire… Other notable episodes from Season 1 include "Ma's Holiday" in which Charles and Caroline decide to go on a second honeymoon, and "Circus Man" in which a traveling salesmen tries to hoodwink the people of Walnut Grove into the notion that he possesses magic healing powers… Below is a list of episodes included on the Little House On The Prairie (Season 1) DVD: Episode xx (Pilot) Air Date: 03-30-1974 Episode 1 (Harvest of Friends) Air Date: 09-11-1974 Episode 2 (Country Girls) Air Date: 09-18-1974 Episode 3 (100 Mile Walk) Air Date: 09-25-1974 Episode 4 (Mr. Edwards' Homecoming) Air Date: 10-02-1974 Episode 5 (The Love of Johnny Johnson) Air Date: 10-09-1974 Episode 6 (If I Should Wake Before I Die) Air Date: 10-23-1974 Episode 7 (Town Party, Country Party) Air Date: 10-30-1974 Episode 8 (Ma's Holiday) Air Date: 11-06-1974 Episode 9 (School Mom) Air Date: 11-13-1974 Episode 10 (The Raccoon) Air Date: 11-20-1974 Episode 11 (The Voice of Tinker Jones) Air Date: 12-04-1974 Episode 12 (The Award) Air Date: 12-11-1974 Episode 13 (The Lord is My Shepard) Air Date: 12-18-1974 Episode 14 (Christmas at Plum Creek) Air Date: 12-25-1974 Episode 15 (Family Quarrel) Air Date: 01-15-1975 Episode 16 (Doctor's Lady) Air Date: 01-22-1975 Episode 17 (Plague) Air Date: 01-29-1975 Episode 18 (Circus Man) Air Date: 02-05-1975 Episode 19 (Child of Pain) Air Date: 02-12-1975 Episode 20 (Money Crop) Air Date: 02-19-1975 Episode 21 (Survival) Air Date: 02-26-1975 Episode 22 (To See the World) Air Date: 03-05-1975 Episode 23 (Founder's Day) Air Date: 05-07-1975

Seinfeld (DVD) Review

The preeminent show of the 1990's decade, Seinfeld grew from an idea of "a show about nothing" into a sacred pop culture icon - not that there's anything wrong with that... The show follows the life of comedian Jerry Seinfeld and the exploits of his "short, quirky, bald guy" best friend, George Costanza (Jason Alexander), Jerry's neurotic neighbor Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards), and Jerry's ex-girlfriend Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Through the years, they're joined by a loveable cast of characters that includes Newman, Uncle Leo, the Soup Nazi, Frank and Estelle Costanza, the Bubble Boy, and countless others… The Seinfeld DVD (Seasons 1 & 2) offers the very first glimpse into the world Jerry, beginning with The Pilot (episode 1) which was originally titled The Seinfeld Chronicles. The first scene involves Jerry commenting to George about a button on his shirt (the same conversation later takes place in the last scene of the series finale). These opening episodes provide insight into the development of the show's four primary characters with conversations that range from George's initial admission that he'd like to be an architect (episode 2) to Kramer's propensity for get rich quick schemes like a make-your-own-pizza pizzeria (episode 4). From day one, Seinfeld established itself as "must see TV," creating such memorable episodes as "The Stock Tip," "The Pony Remark," "The Deal," and "The Chinese Restaurant". Interestingly, in the pilot episode of Seinfeld, Elaine's character does not yet exist, and Kramer's character (not yet named Kramer, but Feldman) is more of an unemployed, pathetic, shut-in neighbor than the usual quirky and energetic Cosmo. Playing the role of the female in George and Jerry's life is a wisecracking waitress named Claire (Lee Garlington) who never appears in later episodes.< Nevertheless, this initial episode exhibits the flashes of brilliance that made Seinfeld a cultural phenomenon. The show is essentially about nothing. George and Jerry do some laundry… Jerry and his neighbor watch some TV… George and Jerry have some coffee… During that time, the dominant topic of conversation is a girl that Jerry met while taking his comedy act on the road. She's coming to stay at his place, but he doesn't know whether he should pull out a mattress for her or not. Feldman (Kramer), George, and Jerry debate the topic endlessly until the woman arrives and Jerry learns that it's all irrelevant because she's engaged… Below is a list of episodes included on the Seinfeld (Seasons 1 & 2) DVD: Episode 1 (Pilot: Good News, Bad News) Air Date: 07-05-1989 Episode 2 (The Stakeout) Air Date: 05-31-1990 Episode 3 (The Robbery) Air Date: 06-07-1990 Episode 4 (Male Unbonding) Air Date: 06-14-1990 Episode 5 (The Stock Tip) Air Date: 06-21-1990 Episode 6 (The Ex-Girlfriend) Air Date: 01-23-1991 Episode 7 (The Pony Remark) Air Date: 01-30-1991 Episode 8 (The Jacket) Air Date: 02-06-1991 Episode 9 (The Phone Message) Air Date: 02-13-1991 Episode 10 (The Apartment) Air Date: 04-04-1991 Episode 11 (The Statue) Air Date: 04-11-1991 Episode 12 (The Revenge) Air Date: 04-18-1991 Episode 13 (The Heart Attack) Air Date: 04-25-1991 Episode 14 (The Deal) Air Date: 05-02-1991 Episode 15 (The Baby Shower) Air Date: 05-16-1991 Episode 16 (The Chinese Restaurant) Air Date: 05-23-1991 Episode 17 (The Busboy) Air Date: 06-26-1991