Category: DVD

Upcoming DVD Releases

Posted on by Danielle Langer





NOW AVAILABLE (5/5 and 5/19):

* Baptiste – Season 1 (PBS)
$25.99 SRP DVD

—–Retired and restless, Detective Julien Baptiste (Tcheky Karyo, “The Missing”) is visiting Amsterdam, where his daughter has recently given birth. A lunch with old flame Martha Horchner, Amsterdam’s chief of police, turns out to be more than a catch-up on old times: she wants his help finding Natalie, a missing girl who is the niece of Englishman Edward Stratton (Tom Hollander, “The Night Manager”). Martha believes the case is connected to a Romanian sex trafficking gang. Baptiste meets up with Edward and they begin their search, but it’s not long before he realizes that all is not as it seems. Why doesn’t anyone want to talk about the missing girl? Who is the man following Baptiste’s wife? What is the connection between the case and the transsexual brothel whose owner has sent someone to follow them? And who is the mysterious woman who helps the sex industry girls and tells them that Natalie has run away to Germany? As Baptiste starts to uncover some of the truths behind the lies, he realizes there is more to this case than meets the eye. By the time he becomes aware of the danger that he’s been drawn into, his own family is in grave peril.

* Ken Burns Presents The Gene: An Intimate History (PBS)
$19.99 SRP DVD

—–This four-hour documentary from executive producer Ken Burns and senior producer Barak Goodman is adapted from the bestselling book of the same name by award-winning author Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, about how genes impact heredity, disease, and behavior. This program tells the story of the rapid evolution of genetic science from Gregor Mendel’s groundbreaking experiment in the 1800s to CRISPR. It offers the hope that new science that can alter DNA with pinpoint precision could revolutionize the treatment of some of the world’s most complex diseases. Powerful, contemporary personal stories and stunning breakthroughs weave with the fascinating story of the historical search for the human genome and the accomplishments of generations of dedicated scientists and amateur researchers. The science of genetics holds at once the promise of eradicating disease but also the threat of altering the very essence of what it means to be human. The series tackles the daunting ethical challenge these technologies pose for humankind.

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COMING ON 5/26:

* The Trade – Season 1 (Showtime/ViacomCBS)
$24.99 SRP DVD MOD

—–The timely, provocative new five-episode SHOWTIME docu-series THE TRADE spotlights the crisis through the eyes of those most affected: the growers, addicts, cartel bosses and law enforcement hopelessly caught in its web.

* The Trade – Season 2 (Showtime/ViacomCBS)
$24.99 SRP DVD MOD

—–This four-part season follows Central Americans on an odyssey to the United States (and others heading back home after being deported), while also delving into the shadow industries that prey on them every step of the way. The series sheds light on the smugglers and traffickers who take advantage of the migrants’ vulnerability, and law enforcement pursuing them at the border, while providing a look at the rarely-seen underbelly of the migrants’ world and their struggle to survive.

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COMING ON 6/9:

* Head of the Class – The Complete 1st Season (Warner Archives)
$29.99 SRP DVD MOD

—–Laid-back substitute teacher Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman, WKRP in Cincinnati) is expected to do little more than read magazines when he’s assigned to a New York City high school’s Individualized Honors Program. The high IQs of the gifted IHP students are only matched by the high pressures the school’s principal, Dr. Samuels (William G. Schilling), places upon the self-proclaimed geeks. The unconventional Charlie decides to defy expectations and try teaching the kids of the IHP, even though they all seemingly know more than he does. There’s one advantage Charlie has over his charges, however: the courage to take risks and grow. Soon enough, his 10 charges – Arvid (Dan Frischman), Darlene (Robin Givens), Simone (Khrystyne Haje), Alan (Tony O’Dell), Dennis (Dan Schneider), Sarah (Kimberly Russell), Janice (Tannis Vallely), Jawaharlal (Jory Husain), Eric (Brian Robbins) and Maria (Leslie Bega) – begin to exceed expectations on their own.

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COMING ON 6/23:

* Pennyworth – The Complete 1st Season (Warner Archives)
$29.99 SRP DVD MOD; $29.99 SRP DVD Blu-ray MOD

—–Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon), a former British SAS soldier in his 20s, forms a security company in 1960s London and goes to work with young billionaire Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge), years before he becomes Bruce Wayne’s father. With England balancing on the brink of a civil war, the first skirmishes of an undeclared secret war have begun. In this world of secrets and betrayals, we find Alfred Pennyworth. Nine years of training with the SAS have taught him to be a cynical optimist — expecting the worst, but knowing that he can handle it. Now, thrown back into the civilian world, Alfred’s looking for freedom, security…and love. With his SAS mates “Bazza” (Hainsley Lloyd Bennett) and “Dave Boy” (Ryan Fletcher), Alfred’s in search of an independent life and being his own man who doesn’t take orders and never has to kill anyone. That’s easier said than done for a man with his skill set.

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COMING ON 8/25:

* Flash – The Complete 6th Season (Warner)
$39.99 SRP DVD; $44.98 SRP Blu-ray
EXTRAS: “Kiss Kiss Breach Breach – Noir” (Special Episode); “Kiss Kiss Breach Breach – Noir” Commentary by showrunner/executive producer Eric Wallace; The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019; Deleted Scenes; Gag Reel; BLU-RAY BONUS DISC: All Five Epic Episodes of the DC Crossover Event Crisis on Infinite Earths from Supergirl, Batwoman, The Flash, Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow with Special Features: Crisis Past and Present: Kevin Conroy Bat Legend;  Crisis on Infinite Earths: The Architects Return; Crisis Past and Present – Superman vs. Superman; Characters in Crisis: Pariah; Crisis Management; Character in Crisis: The Anti-Monitor; BLU-RAY EXCLUSIVE Digital Copy
—–Last season, Team Flash spent the last year dealing with not one, but two Cicadas, the return of Eobard Thawne, aka Reverse Flash, and the surprise arrival from the future of Barry and Iris’ daughter, Nora West-Allen, aka XS. The stakes were higher than ever during the season five finale. In season six, Team Flash contends with not one, but two all-new villains – Bloodwork and Mirror Master! Containing all 19 electrifying episodes from The Sixth Season, The Flash stars Grant Gustin (Arrow, Glee), Candice Patton (The Game), Danielle Panabaker (Sky High, Friday the 13th), Carlos Valdes (Arrow, Once), Hartley Sawyer (Caper, Glory Daze), Danielle Nicolet (Central Intelligence), and Efrat Dor (The Zookeeper’s Wife, Mayans M.C.), with Tom Cavanagh (Ed, The Following) and Jesse L. Martin (Law & Order).

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COMING ON 9/8:

* Supergirl – The Complete 5th Season (Warner)
$39.99 SRP DVD; $44.98 SRP Blu-ray
EXTRAS: The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019; Deleted Scenes; Gag Reel; BLU-RAY BONUS DISC: All Five Epic Episodes of the DC Crossover Event Crisis on Infinite Earths from Supergirl, Batwoman, The Flash, Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow with Special Features: Crisis Past and Present: Kevin Conroy Bat Legend; Crisis on Infinite Earths: The Architects Return; Crisis Past and Present – Superman vs. Superman; Characters in Crisis: Pariah; Crisis Management; Character in Crisis: The Anti-Monitor; BLU-RAY EXCLUSIVE Digital Copy
—–In season five, Supergirl faces threats, both new and ancient. National City becomes enthralled with addictive virtual reality technologies created by CatCo’s charming-but-secretive new owner, Andrea Rojas. As Kara uses the power of the press to try to expose this danger, she must contend with challenges put up by rival reporter William Dey, renegade Martian Malefic J’onzz, a shadowy organization called Leviathan, and the shocking return of Lex Luthor who – in addition to his plot for world domination – seeks to claim the soul of Supergirl’s best friend (and his sister) Lena. With humanity choosing to lose itself in technology, can Supergirl save the world yet again? The 19 super-powered episodes from season five of Supergirl stars Melissa Benoist (Glee, Whiplash), Mehcad Brooks (About Last Night, Necessary Roughness), Chyler Leigh (Grey’s Anatomy), Katie McGrath (Jurassic World, Merlin), Jesse Rath (Defiance, No Tomorrow), Nicole Maines (Royal Pains), Azie Tesfai (Jane the Virgin), Andrea Brooks (Bates Motel), Julie Gonzalo (Dallas, Veronica Mars), Staz Nair (Game of Thrones) and David Harewood (Homeland).



PENNYWORTH & HEAD OF THE CLASS on DVD

Posted on by Danielle Langer





Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Releases Two Titles from Warner Archive Collection in June

Burbank, CA (May 19, 2020) – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings consumers the opportunity to own more fan-favorite programming from the past several decades from the Warner Archive Collection. In June, two new titles will be released on MOD via Warner Archive including Pennyworth: The Complete First Season and Head of the Class: The Complete First Season.

More details on both titles and respective release dates are included below.

PENNYWORTH: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON

Available on Blu-rayTM and DVD June 23, 2020

A person holding a sign

Description automatically generated

Alfred Pennyworth (Jack Bannon), a former British SAS soldier in his 20s, forms a security company in 1960s London and goes to work with young billionaire Thomas Wayne (Ben Aldridge), years before he becomes Bruce Wayne’s father. With England balancing on the brink of a civil war, the first skirmishes of an undeclared secret war have begun. In this world of secrets and betrayals, we find Alfred Pennyworth. Nine years of training with the SAS have taught him to be a cynical optimist — expecting the worst, but knowing that he can handle it. Now, thrown back into the civilian world, Alfred’s looking for freedom, security…and love. With his SAS mates “Bazza” (Hainsley Lloyd Bennett) and “Dave Boy” (Ryan Fletcher), Alfred’s in search of an independent life and being his own man who doesn’t take orders and never has to kill anyone. That’s easier said than done for a man with his skill set.

Year: 2019

Run Time: 564:00

Subtitles: English SDH

Audio Specs: DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 – English

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1, 16 X 9 Widescreen

Product Color: COLOR

Disc Configuration: BD 50

HEAD OF THE CLASS: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON

Available on DVD June 9, 2020

A group of people posing for a photo

Description automatically generated

Laid-back substitute teacher Charlie Moore (Howard Hesseman, WKRP in Cincinnati) is expected to do little more than read magazines when he’s assigned to a New York City high school’s Individualized Honors Program. The high IQs of the gifted IHP students are only matched by the high pressures the school’s principal, Dr. Samuels (William G. Schilling), places upon the self-proclaimed geeks. The unconventional Charlie decides to defy expectations and try teaching the kids of the IHP, even though they all seemingly know more than he does. There’s one advantage Charlie has over his charges, however: the courage to take risks and grow. Soon enough, his 10 charges – Arvid (Dan Frischman), Darlene (Robin Givens), Simone (Khrystyne Haje), Alan (Tony O’Dell), Dennis (Dan Schneider), Sarah (Kimberly Russell), Janice (Tannis Vallely), Jawaharlal (Jory Husain), Eric (Brian Robbins) and Maria (Leslie Bega) – begin to exceed expectations on their own.

Year: 1986-1987

Run Time: 517:00

Audio Specs: MONO – English

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1, 4 X 3 FULL FRAME

Product Color: COLOR

Disc Configuration: DVD9

About Warner Archive Collection

Warner Archive Collection (WAC) continues to serve as host to some of the most beloved films, television series and animated entertainment in history – and many are now available on Blu-ray. WAC’s canon runs the gamut from restored and remastered Blu-ray classics such as The Thing From Another World, The Big Sleep, The Thin Man, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Days of Wine and Roses and Yankee Doodle Dandy to adored TV offerings such as The Jetsons and Jonny Quest (on Blu-ray), Step by Step and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (on DVD) to theatrical animation on Blu-ray, including the remastered and restored Popeye The Sailor: The 1940s Volumes 1-3 and Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, to animated TV series headed by Blu-ray releases such as Teen Titans: The Complete Series, Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Young Justice, as well as a wealth of classic animated series on DVD including dozens of Hanna-Barbera classics. WAC offerings can be found via warnerarchive.com and your favorite online retailer.

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.



“KEN BURNS PRESENTS THE GENE: AN INTIMATE HISTORY” AND “MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! BAPTISTE”

Posted on by Danielle Langer





“KEN BURNS PRESENTS THE GENE: AN INTIMATE HISTORY” AND “MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! BAPTISTE” AMONG SEVEN PROGRAMS COMING TO DVD, BLU-RAY, AND DIGITAL THIS MAY
Arlington, VA – May 15, 2020 – This May, PBS Distribution is releasing seven new programs on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital. This slate of releases includes a Ken Burns presentation on the human genome, three new NOVA programs, as well as a Masterpiece Mystery! series. Learn more about the science behind the importance of dogs’ and cats’ relationships to humans, sleep, water, and the polar extremes of our planet. Information about each program is listed below.

Masterpiece Mystery! Baptiste

NOVA: Polar Extremes

H2O: The Molecule That Made Us
NOVA: Cat and Dog Tales

NOVA: Mysteries of Sleep

Ken Burns Presents The Gene: An Intimate History
Relieving Stress With Yoga With Peggy Cappy

MASTERPIECE MYSTERY! Baptiste
Retired and restless, Detective Julien Baptiste (Tcheky Karyo, “The Missing”) is visiting Amsterdam where his daughter has recently given birth. A lunch with old flame Martha Horchner, Amsterdam’s chief of police, turns out to be more than a catch-up on old times: she wants his help finding Natalie, a missing girl who is the niece of Englishman Edward Stratton (Tom Hollander, “The Night Manager”). Martha believes the case is connected to a Romanian sex trafficking gang.

Street Date: May 5, 2020
Run Time: 360 min.
SRP: $39.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Arts: Mystery
Baptiste meets up with Edward and they begin their search, but it’s not long before he realizes that all is not as it seems. Why doesn’t anyone want to talk about the missing girl? Who is the man following Baptiste’s wife? What is the connection between the case and the transsexual brothel whose owner has sent someone to follow them? And who is the mysterious woman who helps the sex industry girls and tells them that Natalie has run away to Germany? As Baptiste starts to uncover some of the truths behind the lies, he realizes there is more to this case than meets the eye. By the time he becomes aware of the danger that he’s been drawn into, his own family is in grave peril.

NOVA: Polar Extremes
Viewers join renowned paleontologist Kirk Johnson on an epic adventure through the current polar extremes of our planet, detailing the history that the terrain has undergone. Following a trail of strange fossils found in odd places – beech trees in Antarctica, hippo-like mammals in the Arctic – Johnson unearths the bizarre past of the poles, from miles-high ice sheets to warm polar forests teeming with life. Throughout the program, Johnson aims to answer questions like what caused such dramatic changes at opposite ends of our Earth?

Street Date: May 5, 2020
Run Time: 120 min.
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Issues/Events: Society
What controls the dial on Earth’s thermostat? Today, the Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else in the world and Antarctica has enough water locked within its ice to raise sea level a terrifying 200 feet. The way the poles will react to our warming climate is one of the greatest unknowns in predicting our climate’s future. Johnson uses history as a cipher to decode what is going on at our polar extremes today, and what the future may bring.

H2O: The Molecule That Made Us
The world’s living ecosystems are alive and thriving because of liquid water. The entire success of the human population is intimately and inextricably linked to our relationship with this simple molecule. However, the growth of our civilization has created a dangerous dependence on this precious resource that might be about to run out. This three-part series explores the astonishing importance of how critical water is to our survival and the challenges that we are facing now.

Street Date: May 12, 2020
Run Time: 180 min.
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Science & Nature: Biology

NOVA: Cat and Dog Tales
In this NOVA series, which combines two programs Cat Tales and Dog Tales, experts examine the science of our favorite animal companions. What can science tell us about the relationships humans have with cats and dogs? Cats have stolen the hearts of many a pet owner and have often came close to breaking the internet, but as we all know cats can be confusing pets: cuddly and playful, yet aloof and uncaring.

Street Date: May 12, 2020
Run Time: 120 min.
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Science & Nature: Animals
People have often raised the question: Did humans ever actually successfully domesticate felines? How can science explain the history of cats and give us insight into their relationships with humans? Dogs have long been known as dependable companions to humans, but that was not always the case. A look at their closest living relative, the wolf, makes everything a bit clearer. Researchers reveal how humans tamed dangerous canines over tens of thousands of years, and how modern dog intelligence and behaviors have made them humans’ best friend.

NOVA: Mysteries of Sleep
Like virtually every other animal, humans need sleep to survive, but what do we gain from spending nearly a third of our lives in such a defenseless state? What’s at stake if we sleep poorly? The exact benefits of sleeping have long been something of a mystery, but now scientists are looking deep into the brain to see exactly what happens when we catch z’s. One study has revealed that well-timed bursts of pink noise can nudge a person’s brain waves to extend periods of slow-wave, aka deep, sleep.

Street Date: May 19, 2020
Run Time: 60 min.
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Science & Nature: Biology
Toddlers that are learning new words have a greater chance of remembering information if they take a short nap after learning something new. As for sleeping poorly, studies have shown that interrupted sleep can be just as harmful as missing sleep completely. As scientists are trying to understand the powerful role that sleep – or lack of sleep – plays in everything from memory to trauma to emotion regulation, one thing is obvious: this biological function is as complex as it is crucial.

Ken Burns Presents The Gene: An Intimate History
This four-hour documentary from executive producer Ken Burns and senior producer Barak Goodman is adapted from the bestselling book of the same name by award-winning author Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, about how genes impact heredity, disease, and behavior. This program tells the story of the rapid evolution of genetic science from Gregor Mendel’s groundbreaking experiment in the 1800s to CRISPR.

Street Date: May 19, 2020
Run Time: 240 min.
SRP: $29.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Science & Nature: Biology
It offers the hope that new science that can alter DNA with pinpoint precision could revolutionize the treatment of some of the world’s most complex diseases. Powerful, contemporary personal stories and stunning breakthroughs weave with the fascinating story of the historical search for the human genome and the accomplishments of generations of dedicated scientists and amateur researchers. The science of genetics holds at once the promise of eradicating disease but also the threat of altering the very essence of what it means to be human. The series tackles the daunting ethical challenge these technologies pose for humankind.

Relieving Stress with Yoga with Peggy Cappy
With three out of four Americans regularly experiencing stress, there’s no better time than now to start your yoga practice. Everyone’s favorite yoga instructor Peggy Cappy leads this yogic routine to ease stress and anxiety levels. Viewers will learn about what happens in the body and brain during a yoga class, as well as the various components of yoga that best help with symptoms like tension, tightness, and pain. Her solutions include simple techniques like breathing practices that can easily be used in anyone’s daily practice.

Street Date: May 19, 2020
Run Time: 145 min.
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Health: Fitness
In a special bonus documentary, hear testimonials from Peggy’s students about how Peggy has helped them personally incorporate her practice into their lives – and the positive results that follow.

About PBS Distribution
PBS Distribution, jointly owned by PBS and WGBH, is a leading distributor of public media content around the world. Distribution platforms include: direct-to-consumer subscription video-on-demand (DTC-SVOD) channels– PBS MASTERPIECE, PBS KIDS, and PBS LIVING – all on Amazon Prime Video Channels, with PBS LIVING also available on the Apple TV app, transactional video-on-demand (TVOD), subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) licensing, and physical products on DVD and Blu-ray. Other divisions of the company include: theatrical releasing, educational, non-theatrical, inflight and international licensing.

PBS Distribution offers consumers and educators over 4,000 programming hours of the highest quality factual, scripted and children’s programming, including films from producer Ken Burns, hit dramas from MASTERPIECE, entertaining and educational children’s series and award-winning documentaries from NOVA, FRONTLINE, AMERICAN MASTERS, NATURE, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and many independent producers. For over 20 years, the company has extended the reach of programming beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system, stations and producers.



Upcoming DVD Releases

Posted on by Danielle Langer





COMING ON 5/26:

* Queen Of The South – The Complete 4th Season (Fox)
$29.95 SRP DVD MOD

—–As the fourth riveting season unfolds, Teresa (Alice Braga) expands her empire to the east by taking on the Big Easy—New Orleans. But when new enemies emerge and familial trust is broken, Teresa must make decisions that will shake her to the core. Inspired by Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s best-selling novel “La Reina del Sur,” Queen of the South is one tense, action-packed thrill ride!

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COMING ON 7/14:

* The Magicians – Season 5 (Universal)
$39.98 SRP DVD; $44.98 SRP Blu-ray

—–Season 5 finds Julia, Alice, Eliot, Margo, Penny and the rest of the gang coping with the tragic loss of Quentin as they navigate the return of magic. However, not only is magic back, but now there is way too much of it. The magicians must deal with the repercussions of this new magical surplus as they fight to prevent the literal end of the world. Based on the bestselling novels by Lev Grossman, “The Magicians” stars Stella Maeve, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Hale Appleman, Arjun Gupta, Summer Bishil, Rick Worthy, Jade Tailor, Brittany Curran and Trevor Einhorn.

* The Magicians – The Complete Series (Universal)
$59.98 SRP DVD; $82.98 SRP Blu-ray
EXTRAS: Deleted Scenes; Gag Reels; The World of The Magicians; Behind the Magic
—–Based on Lev Grossman’s best-selling book series, “The Magicians” follows Quentin Coldwater, a highly intelligent but socially withdrawn twenty-something secretly obsessed with a series of fantasy novels he read as a child about a magical land called Fillory. Beyond that, Quentin’s life is dull until he finds himself admitted to a very secret, exclusive college of magic in Upstate New York, where he receives a thorough and rigorous education in the practice of modern sorcery. However, magic doesn’t bring the happiness, adventure, and meaning that he thought it would…until he and his friends discover that Fillory is real. Explore their magical world with the Complete Series!

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COMING ON 7/28:

* NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service – The 17th Season (ViacomCBS)
$55.98 SRP DVD

EXTRAS: DVD comes with all 20 episodes plus DVD-exclusive featurettes
—–Who is the deadly terrorist known only as “Sahar,” and where will they strike next? This central mystery runs throughout Season 17 as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon) and second-in-command Senior Special Agent Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) race against time to identify, locate and neutralize Sahar and save countless lives –including their own. NCIS takes on some of the most intense cases of their careers along the way, from murdered Marines and attacks at Arlington National Cemetery to crashed fighter jets and secrets that threaten to tear their team apart. Co-stars Wilmer Valderrama, Emily Wickersham, Maria Bello, Brian Dietzen, Diona Reasonover, Rocky Carroll, and David McCallum work together to deliver justice all over the world in this thrilling 5-disc, 20-episode collection. Guest appearances by Patrick Duffy (“Dallas”), Daphne Zuniga (“One Tree Hill”), and Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future).
NOTE: artwork for this title is not finalized, and could be subject to change

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COMING ON 8/4:

* His Dark Materials – The Complete 1st Season (Warner)
$24.98 SRP DVD; $29.98 SRP Blu-ray
EXTRAS: Making His Dark Materials; Dafne Keen: Bringing Lyra Belacqua to Life; Ruth Wilson: Bringing Mrs. Coulter to Life; Lin-Manuel Miranda: Bringing Lee Scoresby to Life; James McAvoy: Bringing Lord Asriel to Life; Adapting His Dark Materials; The Daemons of His Dark Materials; Dressing His Dark Materials; Building His Dark Materials; BLU-RAY ONLY: Digital Copy
—–His Dark Materials takes place in a world parallel to our own, where a human’s soul exists outside one’s body in the form of a talking animal called a “daemon.” The all-powerful Magisterium rule over this world where they suppress any knowledge that attempts to challenge its ideas, particularly around the theory that multiple worlds exist. Season One of this compelling HBO series follows Lyra (Dafne Keen), a young orphan who was left as a baby at Oxford’s Jordan College by her uncle Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) and desires a life of adventure beyond the confines of her bookish, scholarly surroundings. But when Lyra’s best friend goes missing, her search for her kidnapped friend uncovers a plot involving stolen children and transforms into a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon known as Dust. Over the course of the season, as she journeys through the different worlds – including our own – Lyra encounters extraordinary beings and dangerous secrets, with the fate of both the living and the dead at stake. In addition to Dafne Keen (Logan, the Refugees) as Lyra and James McAvoy (X-Men, Atonement) as Lord Asriel, the ensemble cast features Golden Globe Winner Ruth Wilson (The Affair) as Mrs. Coulter; Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) as the adventurer Lee Scoresby; Clarke Peters (The Wire, Treme) as The Master of Jordan College; Lewin Lloyd (The Aeronauts) as Lyra’s missing friend Roger Parslow; James Cosmo (Braveheart, Game of Thrones) as Farder Coram and Anne-Marie Duff as Ma Costa, who are part of the boat-dwelling Gyptian community; and Will Keen as Father MacPhail and Ariyon Bakare as Lord Boreal, both ministers for the Magisterium.
NOTE: artwork for the DVD version and artwork for the Blu-ray version use different key art; images of both are included with this week’s Roundup

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COMING ON 9/1 (available at Walmart early, beginning 6/2):

* Blue’s Clues & You – Vol. 1 (Nickelodoen/ViacomCBS)
$10.99 SRP DVD

EXTRAS: How to Play Blue’s Clues Song; Josh & Blue’s VLOG! (o ABC Song, Hide & Seek + Dancing!; Holiday Shopping, Mailtime, Nursery Rhymes & More!; Garden Sing Along, Touring School & Mailtime with Blue’s Clues!; Soccer Tricks, Gopher Game & Color Song!; American Sign Language Lesson, Nursery Rhymes & Mailtime!; Planets Song, Find The Snail Game & Mailtime!); American Sign Language Word of the Week (Blue’s Clues; Thankful; Music)
—–In the Blue’s Clues & You! DVD collection, fans can help Josh solve games of Blue’s Clues as he tries to figure out what Blue wants for a snack, what present she wants for her birthday, what she would like to do on her playdate and more. Featuring four exciting episodes from the show’s debut season, the series follows beloved puppy Blue and live-action host Josh (Josh Dela Cruz) as they invite a new generation of preschoolers on clue-led adventures, and solve a puzzle in each episode.



HIS DARK MATERIALS: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON COMING TO BLU-RAYTM AND DVD

Posted on by Danielle Langer





WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES HBO’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED

HIS DARK MATERIALS: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON COMING TO BLU-RAYTM AND DVD August 4, 2020

“A Riveting Realization of Philip Pullman’s Magic” – The Guardian

“This is the Adaptation Fans Have Been Waiting Decades to See.” – TV Guide

BURBANK, CA (May 14, 2020) – Lauded by critics as HBO’s new hit original fantasy drama series, His Dark Materials: The Complete First Season will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on August 4, 2020. Adapted from Philip Pullman’s epic trilogy of the same name, which has sold over 22 million copies worldwide, His Dark Materials: The Complete First Season will feature all eight episodes from the debut season along with an exclusive new bonus feature, Making His Dark Materials. This special feature follows the ambitious undertaking of bringing the beloved award-winning book series to life. Available from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, the release will be priced at $29.98 SRP ($39.99 in Canada) for the Blu-ray and $24.98 SRP ($29.98 SRP in Canada) for the DVD.

His Dark Materials takes place in a world parallel to our own, where a human’s soul exists outside one’s body in the form of a talking animal called a “daemon.” The all-powerful Magisterium rule over this world where they suppress any knowledge that attempts to challenge its ideas, particularly around the theory that multiple worlds exist. Season One of this compelling HBO series follows Lyra (Dafne Keen), a young orphan who was left as a baby at Oxford’s Jordan College by her uncle Lord Asriel (James McAvoy) and desires a life of adventure beyond the confines of her bookish, scholarly surroundings. But when Lyra’s best friend goes missing, her search for her kidnapped friend uncovers a plot involving stolen children and transforms into a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon known as Dust. Over the course of the season, as she journeys through the different worlds – including our own – Lyra encounters extraordinary beings and dangerous secrets, with the fate of both the living and the dead at stake.

In addition to Dafne Keen (Logan, the Refugees) as Lyra and James McAvoy (X-Men, Atonement) as Lord Asriel, the ensemble cast features Golden Globe Winner Ruth Wilson (The Affair) as Mrs. Coulter; Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) as the adventurer Lee Scoresby; Clarke Peters (The Wire, Treme) as The Master of Jordan College; Lewin Lloyd (The Aeronauts) as Lyra’s missing friend Roger Parslow; James Cosmo (Braveheart, Game of Thrones) as Farder Coram and Anne-Marie Duff as Ma Costa, who are part of the boat-dwelling Gyptian community; and Will Keen as Father MacPhail and Ariyon Bakare as Lord Boreal, both ministers for the Magisterium.

“Fans and critics alike have been raving about HBO’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy since its debut,” said Rosemary Markson, Senior Vice President Marketing, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. “We are thrilled to release His Dark Materials: The Complete First Season with over an hour of behind-the-scenes extras including an exclusive new featurette for all viewers to enjoy.”

His Dark Materials is produced by Bad Wolf and New Line Cinema for BBC One and HBO. Executive producing the series are: Dan McCulloch, Jane Tranter, Joel Collins and Julie Gardner for Bad Wolf; Philip Pullman, Jack Thorne, Tom Hooper, Otto Bathurst; Deborah Forte, Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for New Line Cinema; and Ben Irving and Piers Wenger for BBC One.

8 ONE-HOUR EPISODES

Lyra’s Jordan
The Idea of North
The Spies
Armour
The Lost Boy
The Daemon-Cages
The Fight to the Death
Betrayal
SPECIAL FEATURES

Making His Dark Materials (**Exclusive to Blu-ray and DVD)
Dafne Keen: Bringing Lyra Belacqua to Life
Ruth Wilson: Bringing Mrs. Coulter to Life
Lin-Manuel Miranda: Bringing Lee Scoresby to Life
James McAvoy: Bringing Lord Asriel to Life
Adapting His Dark Materials
The Daemons of His Dark Materials
Dressing His Dark Materials
Building His Dark Materials

DIGITAL

The first season of His Dark Materials is currently available to own on Digital. Digital purchase allows consumers to instantly stream and download to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital movies and TV shows are available from various digital retailers including Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and others. A Digital Code is also included in the U.S. with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs for redemption and cloud storage.

BASICS

Street Date: August 4, 2020

BD and DVD Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

Run Time: Approx. 460 minutes

Enhanced Content Run Time: Approx. 63 minutes

DVD

Price: $24.98 SRP ($29.98 in Canada)

2 DVD-9s

DVD Audio: English (5.1) DD

DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Complex Chinese, Brazilian Port

BLU-RAY

Price: $29.98 SRP ($39.99 in Canada)

BD Audio: English (5.1) DTS HDMA, French (5.1) DD

BD Subtitles: English SDH, French, Complex Chinese, Brazilian Port. Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.



PBS DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCES A PBS KIDS FIFTEEN-EPISODE COMPILATION

Posted on by Danielle Langer





PBS DISTRIBUTION ANNOUNCES A PBS KIDS FIFTEEN-EPISODE COMPILATION AND VOLUME THREE OF “THE BERENSTAIN BEARS: TREE HOUSE TALES” ON DVD THIS MAY
Arlington, VA – May 13, 2020 – This May, PBS Distribution is releasing the
PBS KIDS: 15 Pet-tastic Tails DVD with multiple episodes from Arthur, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Molly of Denali, Nature Cat, and many other popular PBS KIDS series. In the fifteen-episode (plus one bonus episode) compilation, kids will learn about responsibility and compassion. In addition, The Berenstain Bears third volume has Brother, Sister, and the whole Bear family continuing on their classic, fun-filled escapades. Every purchase supports public television for all.

Families can watch full episodes of PBS KIDS series for free on their local PBS station, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream and PBS KIDS digital platforms, including pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video app.

PBS KIDS: 15 Pet-tastic Tails
From dogs and cats to hamsters and turtles, new friends come in all shapes and sizes. Kids will join their favorite characters as they learn all about responsibility and caring for others. In Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhoos, Daniel and his classmates release their classroom pet named Ducky after he’s grown too big in “Duckling Goes Home,” and in Wild Kratts, Chris and Martin unpack from an adventure, only to discover a wolf pup in their bag in “Little Howler!”

Street Date: May 12, 2020
Episodes: 16
SRP: $6.99
Format: DVD
Genre: Kids
Plus, “Winter Champions,” a special bonus episode from Molly of Denali is also included. This pet-packed collection also features stories from other beloved PBS KIDS series including Arthur, Let’s Go Luna!, Nature Cat, Peg + Cat, Pinkalicious and Peterrific, Super WHY! and Caillou.

The Berenstain Bears: Tree House Tales Volume 3
Children will join Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Sister and Brother for fun-filled adventures in Volume 3 of Tree House Tales. When Sister must write about a bear she admires the most for a school project in “The Giddy Grandma,” she quickly learns just how many awards and trophies Grizzly Gran won in her younger years. Then, in “Car Trip,” the cubs are excited about going on a family trip – until they find out the destination isn’t Grizzlyland, but instead a tour of Bear Country’s national parks.

Street Date: May 19, 2020
Episodes: 28
SRP: $14.99
Format: DVD
Genre: Kids
Finally, the cubs are sad when they hear that their friends down the street are moving away in “Moving Day.” Brother and Sister learn about the positive side of moving – new adventures and new friends! This jam-packed, lesson-filled DVD collection covers important topics including compromising, helping those in need, and much more.

About PBS KIDS
PBS KIDS the number one educational media brand for kids, offers children ages 2-8 the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, digital media and community-based programs. PBS KIDS and local stations across the country support the entire ecosystem in which children learn, including their teachers, parents and community. Provided by stations, the free PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and live stream is available to more than 95% of U.S. TV households. Kidscreen- and Webby Award-winning pbskids.org provides engaging interactive content, including digital games and streaming video. PBS KIDS offers mobile apps to help support young children’s learning, including the PBS KIDS Video app, which is available on a variety of mobile devices and on platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Chromecast. PBS KIDS also offers parent and teacher resources to support children’s learning anytime and anywhere. For more information on PBS KIDS content and initiatives supporting school readiness and more, visit pbs.org/pressroom, or follow PBS KIDS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

About PBS DISTRIBUTION
PBS Distribution, jointly owned by PBS and WGBH, is a leading distributor of public media content around the world. Distribution platforms include: direct-to-consumer subscription video-on-demand (DTC-SVOD) channels– PBS MASTERPIECE, PBS KIDS, and PBS LIVING – all on Amazon Prime Video Channels, with PBS LIVING also available on the Apple TV app, transactional video-on- demand (TVOD), subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) licensing, and physical products on DVD and Blu-ray. Other divisions of the company include: theatrical releasing, educational, non-theatrical, inflight and international licensing.

PBS Distribution offers consumers and educators over 4,000 programming hours of the highest quality factual, scripted and children’s programming, including films from producer Ken Burns, hit dramas from MASTERPIECE, entertaining and educational children’s series and award-winning documentaries from NOVA, FRONTLINE, AMERICAN MASTERS, NATURE, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and many independent producers. For over 20 years, the company has extended the reach of programming beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system, stations and producers. Follow PBS Distribution on Facebook and Twitter.



Upcoming DVD Releases

Posted on by Danielle Langer





COMING ON 5/12:
* Lucifer – The Complete 4th Season (Warner)
$29.99 SRP Blu-ray MOD

EXTRAS: Deleted Scenes
—–Season Four sizzles with fiendishly clever comebacks! The charismatic, handsome Lucifer Morningstar returns resurrected after Season Three’s wicked cliffhanger. His unofficial partner in crime-solving and in affairs of the heart, LAPD detective Chloe Decker, returns from an extended vacation…after she saw Lucifer’s devil face for the first time and realized he was, in fact, exactly the man he always claimed to be. And, finally, new to the series (but not to the Lord of Hell) comes old flame and original sinner, Eve, whose charms are as tempting to Lucifer now as the serpent’s big, red apple was to her back in the day. Does she want revenge for her expulsion from Eden all those years ago? Or something else entirely? Personal demons get conquered, and crimes get solved. But will things ever get right with Deckerstar? Only time – and ten scandalous new episodes – will tell.
NOTE: the DVD release of this same title, coming out on the same date, was announced in our Roundup posted on February 14th
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COMING ON 5/26:
* Ultraman Ace – The Complete Series (Mill Creek)
$39.98 SRP Blu-ray; $49.98 SRP Blu-ray Steelbook Edition

EXTRAS: Includes 28-Page Episode Guide; Digital Copy (redeem on MCE’s new “movieSPREE!” service)
—–Alternate Dimension Being Yapoolstarted invading Earth with an entourage of “Terrible-Monsters” that were more powerful than ordinary monsters. The Terrestrial Defense Force was annihilated by Terrible-Monster Verokron. Two youngsters, Seiji Hokutoand Yuko Minami, lost their lives trying to save people from the attack of Verokron. Ultraman Ace, who was sent from Nebula M78 Land of Light to stop Alternate Dimension Being Yapool’smalicious ambition, vested his life and power in Seiji Hokutoand Yuko Minami. Hokutoand Yuko, who received a new life, joined the Terrible-Monster Attacking Crew (TAC) that was organized in place of the Terrestrial Defense Force. When the Ultra Rings, the proof of membership of the Galactic Federation, glitter, after performing Ultra Touch, Hokutoand Yuko unite and transform into Ultraman Ace. All 52 episodes fully remastered and restored in high definition in brilliant color: complete, original Japanese broadcast edits with Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio with English subtitles!
NOTE: this title was originally announced for May 12th, but has been pushed back two weeks, to May 26th; art for both the standard Blu-ray package and the Steelbook package (also Blu-ray) can be seen in the attached collage of images
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COMING ON 7/14:
* 12 Monkeys – The Complete Series (Mill Creek Entertainment)
$55.99 SRP DVD; $75.99 SRP Blu-ray

—–Unmake History. A man from the post-apocalyptic future, Cole, uses a dangerous and untested method of time travel to get from 2043 to the present day. He is on a mission to locate and rid the world of the source of the plague that will eventually annihilate the human race. Assisting him is Dr. Cassandra Railly, a virologist who must decide whether to do harm in order to save the world…regardless of the fact that she has taken the Hippocratic oath. The sci-fi series is based on Terry Gilliam’s 1995 film.
NOTE: this title was announced as part of the April 14th edition of the Roundup, but with different artwork. Now the studio has provided updated package art for this release, and it will be one design for the DVD and a different design for the Blu-ray version; both can be seen in the attached collage of images
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COMING ON 8/4:
* When Calls The Heart – Family Matters & In Perfect Unity (Shout!)
$14.98 SRP DVD

—–From celebrated author Janette Oke (the Love Comes Softly series) comes a rigorous and romantic adventure as epic as the wide frontier. Erin Krakow (Army Wives), Jack Wagner (Melrose Place) and Pascale Hutton (Flashpoint) star in When Calls The Heart, a beautiful story filled with “many of the values we all hold precious such as love, family, friendship, community, faith and caring about one another” (Military Press)! In Family Matters, Elizabeth encourages Nathan to investigate a crime for which his father has been jailed, while Hope Valley contends with an outbreak of chicken pox. Next, celebrate the wedding of Clara and Jesse as the town comes together to give the young couple the ceremony of their dreams in the aptly named In Perfect Unity.
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COMING ON 8/11
* Eureka – The Complete Series (Mill Creek)
$75.99 SRP Blu-ray

—–Small town. Big secret. Step into the quirky and seemingly perfect small town of Eureka, where the hidden work of America’s brightest scientists can lead to innovation or utter chaos. Follow Sheriff Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson) as he struggles to keep a sense of normalcy amid the scientific mayhem, big brains and bigger adventure in this unusual little town in the Pacific Northwest. 12-disc set.
NOTE: the Blu-ray edition of this title was originally announced for release on June 9th, but has now been delayed until August 11th
* Neo Ultra Q – The Complete Series (Mill Creek)
$25.99 SRP Blu-ray
EXTRAS: Includes Digital Copy (redeem on MCE’s new “movieSPREE!” service)
—–Ultra Q has returned! Based on the fan-favorite classic ULTRA Q, this 12-episode series tells the story of three brave friends who risk their lives investigating bizarre monster appearances, strange ecological catastrophes and paranormal events.
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COMING ON 8/18:
* Batwoman – The Complete 1st Season (Warner)
$39.99 SRP DVD; $44.98 SRP Blu-ray

EXTRAS: On The Set Featurette; The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019; Deleted Scenes; Gag Reels; Blu-ray Only: Digital Copy; Blu-ray Only: A limited-edition bonus disc featuring all five DC Crossover Event “Crisis on Infinite Earths” episodes
—–Kate Kane never planned to be Gotham’s new vigilante. After Batman disappeared, Gotham was in despair…until she returned. Armed with a passion for justice and a flair for speaking her mind, she soars through the shadowed streets of Gotham as Batwoman. But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, she must first overcome her own demons before becoming Gotham’s symbol of hope.
NOTE: this title was announced in last week’s Roundup, but with early cover art; the package front in the attached collage of images is now finalized
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COMING ON 9/15:
* Succession – The Complete 2nd Season (HBO/Warner)
$24.98 SRP DVD

—–Beginning where season one dramatically left off, season two of this series follows the members of the Roy family as they struggle to retain control of their empire, and while the future looks increasingly uncertain, it is the past that threatens to ultimately destroy them.



Upcoming DVD Releases

Posted on by Danielle Langer





NOW AVAILABLE (4/21):
* World On Fire – Season 1 (PBS)
$39.99 SRP DVD; $49.99 SRP Blu-ray

—–Summer 1939. Harry, a translator at the British Embassy in Warsaw, is falling in love with Polish waitress Kasia. When German tanks roll into Poland, and Britain declares war on Germany, Harry and Kasia face terrible choices. With her life in grave danger, can Harry help her…and if he can, how will he ever explain himself to Lois Bennett, the girl he left behind in Manchester? As the Nazi threat spreads across Europe, Kasia must choose between love and fighting for her country, Harry must find his place in the world, and Lois must seize new opportunities the war presents. The conflict overturns everything for Harry’s snobbish mother Robina; for Douglas, Lois’ pacifist father; and for her younger brother Tom, who joins the Navy and finds himself under fire in one of the first major battles of the war. In Berlin, outspoken American journalist Nancy risks her life trying to help her neighbors; while in Paris, Nancy’s nephew, medic Webster refuses to leave the city and the man he loves. World on Fire traverses the first year of WWII, from ordinary life in England to the beaches of Dunkirk, diving deep into the hearts and minds of those living their lives during this extraordinary time as they grapple with the unthinkable: a world in flames.
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COMING ON 5/1 (TODAY!):
* The Smith Family – The Complete Series (VEI)
$24.99 SRP DVD
—–Oscar winner Henry Fonda (“12 Angry Men,” “On Golden Pond”) is Sergeant Chad Smith, a Los Angeles police detective officer, husband and father to three. While trying to solve case-after-case, it seems inevitable that his wife and children become involved. A light-hearted comedy for the entire family, “The Smith Family” also stars Janet Blair (“The Fuller Brush Man”), as Smith’s wife, and Ron Howard (“The Andy Griffith Show”), Darleen Carr (“The Jungle Book”), Michael-James Wixted (“The Swiss Family Robinson”), as the Smith children. The series aired for two seasons beginning in January 1971 on ABC. The Smith Family DVD features all 39 episodes. The first season theme song, Primose Lane, which rose to the #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Season 1: Sergeant Chad Smith works as a Los Angeles police detective, working to solve burglaries, arson cases and murders. At the same time, he tries to balance the ups and downs of being a husband and father to three in stride. Season 2: On the job, police detective Chad Smith faces bad guys and bad situations. At home, he faces the trials, tribulations and happenings that come with a worried wife, two teenagers and a young son.
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COMING ON 5/5:
* Kidding – Season 2 (Showtime/ViacomCBS)
$24.99 SRP DVD MOD
—–With his beloved Mr. Pickles’ Puppet Time off the air for the first time in 30 years, Jeff Pickles must find a way to communicate with his many fans who still need him. Jeff creates a new and controversial method to talk directly to children across the world only to become the target of animosity for the first time in his career. As Jeff navigates the most complicated moral gray areas of his life, he discovers a new side of himself. 2-disc set.
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COMING ON 6/2:
* Harley Quinn – The Complete 1st Season (Warner)
$24.98 SRP DVD
—–IT’S TIME TO DO IT HARLEY’S WAY! Harley Quinn has finally broken things off once and for all with the Joker, and attempts to make it on her own as the criminal Queenpin of Gotham City. Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco lends her voice to Harley in this half-hour, adult, animated, action-comedy series. With the help of Poison Ivy and a ragtag crew of DC castoffs, Harley tries to earn a seat at the biggest table in villainy: the Legion of the Doom. She’s on a lunatic mission of ambition, and nothing can stop her…except maybe Gotham’s law enforcement, Batman, or her jealous, deranged ex. But don’t worry – she’s got this. Or does she? So strap in for this non-stop, demented thrill ride!
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COMING ON 6/16:
* Project Blue Book – Season 2 (History/Lionsgate)
$24.98 SRP DVD
—–As the Cold War deepens and new political threats loom for Project Blue Book, Dr. J. Allen Hynek and Captain Michael Quinn must delve further down the UFO conspiracy rabbit hole in their dangerous quest for the truth. Soon, cover-ups from the past (including at Roswell) collide with new UFO cases in the present (including at Area 51), forcing our duo to not only question the broadening global conspiracy, but the very nature and origin of UFOs themselves in an increasingly unstable world. Inspired by the personal experiences of Dr. J. Allen Hynek, the series is based on the true, top secret investigations into unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and alleged extraterrestrial encounters conducted by the U.S. Air Force from 1952–1969, and blends UFO theories with authentic historical events from one of the most mysterious eras in United States history. Starring Aidan Gillen, Michael Malarkey, Neal McDonough, Michael Harney, Laura Mennell, and Ksenia Solo.
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COMING ON 6/30:
* Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears (RLJ/Acorn)
$24.99 SRP DVD; $24.99 SRP Blu-ray
EXTRAS: Behind the Scenes; Q&A with Adrian Dunbar, Sophie Petzal and Jonathan Fisher; Interview with Sophie Petzal and Jonathan Fisher
—–Glamorous lady detective Phryne Fisher (Essie Davis, The Babadook) returns in a cinematic sequel to the wildly popular television series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. With her trademark wit, impeccable style, and trusty pearl-handled revolver, Phryne fights injustice on an international scale in this globe-trotting adventure.
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COMING ON 7/21:
* Castle Rock – The Complete 2nd Season (Warner)
$24.98 SRP DVD; $29.98 SRP Blu-ray
EXTRAS: ANNIE WILKES: Mother of Sorrow (New Featurette); Digital Copy (Blu-ray version only)
—–Stephen King’s multiverse, Castle Rock, is a place which combines the mythological scale and intimate character storytelling of the best-selling author’s best-loved works. In season two, a feud between warring clans comes to a boil when budding psychopath Annie Wilkes (Lizzie Caplan, Masters of Sex), Stephen King’s nurse from hell, gets waylaid in the small town of Castle Rock. Local businessman Reginald “Pop” Merrill (played by Academy Award-winning actor Tim Robbins – Mystic River) is dragged into the fight, when Pop’s nephew, legendary bully John “Ace” Merrill (Paul Sparks, House of Cards), stirs up trouble. It’s another eerily unforgettable season of Castle Rock, as the mysterious town’s ongoing epic saga continues to unfold. Season Two of Castle Rock also stars Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips) as Abdi Howlwadaag, Yusra Warsama as Dr. Nadia Howlwadaag, Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade) as Joy and Matthew Alan as Chris Merrill (Snowfall, 13 Reasons Why).
NOTE: this title was originally announced for release on May 19th, but has now been delayed until July 21st.
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COMING ON 7/28:
* Wonder Woman: The Complete Series (Warner)
$64.99 SRP Blu-ray
—–Save the world? That’s a man’s job! Then along comes star-spangled Wonder Woman, with her bullet-deflecting bracelets and golden lariat, to set everyone straight. Former Miss USA Lynda Carter stars as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. Season One features adventures in Wonder Woman’s original World War II era. Seasons Two and Three whoosh forward to the disco-loving ’70s. Times change. The need to smash evil, calamity, and injustice does not. Now available on Blu-ray!
NOTE: this is the title’s debut on Blu-ray Disc format. It has been available on DVD format since 2007.

* The Outsider (HBO)
$29.98 SRP DVD; $39.99 SRP Blu-ray
EXTRAS: EL CUCO. THE BABA YAGA. THE OUTSIDER – All New Featurette; Invitation to Set; Stephen King and The Outsider; Jason Bateman and The Outsider; Adapting The Outsider; Analyzing Holly Gibney; The Outsider: Inside Episodes 1-10
—–Based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel of the same name, The Outsider is a new drama series that follows a seemingly straightforward investigation into the gruesome murder of a local boy. When 11-year-old Frankie Peterson’s body is found mutilated in the Georgia woods, police detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) sets out to investigate – with eyewitnesses and physical evidence pointing to Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman), a popular high school teacher, Little League coach, doting husband and father. While the case appears ironclad, Ralph is baffled by the emergence of contradictory evidence that places his suspect in a neighboring city at the time of the murder. The mysterious set of circumstances surrounding this horrifying crime leads Ralph, a seasoned cop still grieving the recent death of his own son, to bring in unorthodox private investigator Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo), whose uncanny abilities he hopes will help explain the unexplainable.
NOTE: this title was originally announced for release on June 9th, but has now been delayed until July 28th. ADDITIONAL NOTE: the pre-order listing at Amazon for the Blu-ray version of this item says that it includes a Digital Copy of the title. However, no other information elsewhere confirms this information.
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COMING ON 8/18:
* Batwoman – The Complete 1st Season (Warner)
$39.99 SRP DVD; $44.98 SRP Blu-ray
EXTRAS: On The Set Featurette; The Best of DC TV’s Comic-Con Panels San Diego 2019; Deleted Scenes; Gag Reels; Blu-ray Only: Digital Copy; Blu-ray Only: A limited-edition bonus disc featuring all five DC Crossover Event “Crisis on Infinite Earths” episodes
—–Kate Kane never planned to be Gotham’s new vigilante. After Batman disappeared, Gotham was in despair…until she returned. Armed with a passion for justice and a flair for speaking her mind, she soars through the shadowed streets of Gotham as Batwoman. But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, she must first overcome her own demons before becoming Gotham’s symbol of hope.
NOTE: box art and list of bonus material may not be finalized, and could be subject to change



“WORLD ON FIRE” Plus a Full Slate of New Series on DVD and Blu-ray Available Now

Posted on by Danielle Langer




ACADEMY AWARD®-WINNER HELEN HUNT AND SEAN BEAN STAR IN “WORLD ON FIRE” PLUS A FULL SLATE OF NEW SERIES AVAILABLE NOW

Arlington, VA – April 27, 2020 – PBS Distribution released eight new programs on DVD and Blu-ray last month. This slate of releases included an extraordinary performance from Helen Hunt and Sean Bean in “World on Fire,” new additions to the critically renowned Frontline series, as well as a Ken Burns presentation and two new Nature programs. Learn more about global landmarks, American wildlife, public housing, and the diabetes epidemic, among other topics. Information about each program listed below. Every purchase supports public television for all.

Masterpiece: World On Fire

Summer 1939. Harry, a translator at the British Embassy in Warsaw, is falling in love with Polish waitress Kasia. When German tanks roll into Poland, and Britain declares war on Germany, Harry and Kasia face terrible choices. With her life in grave danger, can Harry help her–and if he can, how will he ever explain himself to Lois Bennett, the girl he left behind in Manchester? As the Nazi threat spreads across Europe, Kasia must choose between love and fighting for her country, Harry must find his place in the world, and Lois must seize new opportunities the war presents.

The conflict overturns everything for Harry’s snobbish mother Robina; for Douglas, Lois’ pacifist father; and for her younger brother Tom, who joins the Navy and finds himself under fire in one of the first major battles of the war. In Berlin, outspoken American journalist Nancy risks her life trying to help her neighbors; while in Paris, Nancy’s nephew, medic Webster refuses to leave the city and the man he loves.

World on Fire traverses the first year of WWII, from ordinary life in England to the beaches of Dunkirk, diving deep into the hearts and minds of those living their lives during this extraordinary time as they grapple with the unthinkable: a world in flames.

Street Date: Available now
Run Time: 420 min.
SRP: $39.99/$49.99
Format: DVD/Blu-ray, Digital
Genre: Arts: British Drama

Ken Burns Presents: East Lake Meadows

In 1970, the Atlanta Housing Authority opened East Lake Meadows, a public housing community on the edge of the city. Over the next 25 years, many thousands of low-income Atlantans, mostly African American, would call it home. Shoddy construction and a lack of funding left the project and surrounding landscape in disrepair and led to a rapid decline in the quality of life. As public housing in America became increasingly stigmatized, and a crack epidemic overwhelmed East Lake Meadows, the neighborhood became nearly uninhabitable, but residents nonetheless found ways to overcome violence and neglect, raise kids, find work, and create moments of joy. In the mid-1990s, Atlanta bulldozed East Lake Meadows to make way for new mixed-income housing, as government and philanthropic funds poured into the area in an effort to create a thriving community.

Through the stories of the former residents, East Lake Meadows: A Public Housing Story gives voice to some of the most marginalized people in our society and raises critical questions about how we have created concentrated poverty and limited housing opportunity for African Americans, and what responsibility we have as a people to ensure decent housing for our most vulnerable citizens.

Street Date: Available now
Run Time: 105 min.
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Issues/Events: Domestic

Earth’s Sacred Wonders

­The earth’s architectural landscape, throughout history, has largely been sculpted and inspired by faith. Today, more worshippers than ever are flocking to these sacred structures and global landmarks. For some, these places are settings to quietly contemplate, but for others they are sites to find extraordinary acts of worship, dangerous challenges, and remarkable deeds of devotion, rarely seen by outsiders. Earth’s Sacred Wonders takes viewers on a journey, set against the most breathtakingly stunning backdrops this world has to offer, to discover the lengths that people will go for their faith. Filmed across 5 continents in 12 different languages, filled with compelling stories, this program showcases how some of the most profound sites of worship are places of powerful spiritual significance and human drama.

Street Date: Available now
Run Time: 165 min.
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Science & Nature

Niall Ferguson’s Networld

In this groundbreaking new series hosted by Niall Ferguson and based on his bestselling book The Square and the Tower, Ferguson visits network theorists, social scientists and data analysts to explore the history of social networks. From the Reformation and 17th century witch-hunting, through the American Revolution and to the nightmare visions of Orwell’s 1984, Ferguson explores the intersection of social media, technology and the spread of cultural movements. Reviewing classic experiments and cutting-edge research, Ferguson demonstrates how human behavior, disruptive technology and profit can energize ideas and communication, ultimately changing the world.

Street Date: Available now
Run Time: 165 min.
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Issues/Events: Society

Blood Sugar Rising

Diabetes is hidden epidemic that affects over 100 million people in the US, costing close to $350 billion each year. It’s now predicted that one in three children born in this century will likely develop the disease.

Blood Sugar Rising puts human faces to these statistics, presenting intimate stories of Americans living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and personal voices from the battle against the disease. Their struggles and successes showcase the dramatic impact of this national public health crisis. The two-hour special also reveals new hopes for diabetes management and prevention–from the rise of new medical treatments to exciting discoveries about lifestyle and environmental factors–and asks a provocative question: Why isn’t there a war on diabetes?

Street Date: Available now
Run Time: 120 min.
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Health: Medicine/ Nutrition

Nature: Wild Florida

Florida is well-known for its beaches, blue water and year-round sun, but it also has a surprising wild side. It is home to pine forests, coral reefs and the Everglades wetland, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Here, manatees swim in crystal-clear rivers, baby alligators practice their hunting skills and miniature deer roam free. But every year, this state faces the full forces of nature: from wildfires to flooding to powerful hurricanes. Now, a growing human population, climate change and abandoned exotic pets, like the Burmese pythons that can eat alligators, are also threatening this wild paradise. With the help of pioneering scientists, can Florida’s ecosystems continue to weather the storm?

Street Date: Available now
Run Time: 60 min.
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Science & Nature: Animals

Nature: The Mighty Weasel

Discover the truth about the infamous weasel family, often portrayed as villains and associated with unsavory behavior. We “badger” people, “ferret” out the enemy and “weasel” out of things. Do these critters deserve their bad reputation? To find out, follow the adventures of first-time weasel mom Bandita raising her kits in a unique garden, and meet tiny but mighty orphan weasel Twiz on her journey back to the wild. New, ground-breaking science uncovers the problem-solving abilities of the honey badger, the secrets behind the ferret’s legendary flexibility and the wolverine’s remarkable sense of smell. Step into the world of weasels where their real nature is revealed.

Discover the truth about the infamous weasel family, often portrayed as villains and associated with unsavory behavior. We “badger” people, “ferret” out the enemy and “weasel” out of things. Do these critters deserve their bad reputation? To find out, follow the adventures of first-time weasel mom Bandita raising her kits in a unique garden, and meet tiny but mighty orphan weasel Twiz on her journey back to the wild. New, ground-breaking science uncovers the problem-solving abilities of the honey badger, the secrets behind the ferret’s legendary flexibility and the wolverine’s remarkable sense of smell. Step into the world of weasels where their real nature is revealed.

Street Date: Available now
Run Time: 120 min.
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Issues/Events: Society

Frontline: Amazon Empire: The Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos build a business empire that is unprecedented in the history of American capitalism–delivering endless products, entertainment services and technology innovations to customers with just a click of a button. But what is the cost of Amazon’s convenience?

FRONTLINE examines Amazon and Jeff Bezos’ ascent to power–and his ability to shape everything from the future of work, to the future of commerce, to the future of technology. From award-winning filmmakers James Jacoby and Anya Bourg (The Facebook Dilemma), the documentary draws on interviews with current top executives and former insiders, as well as regulators and critics, raising tough questions about Bezos and the empire he built. Through these interviews, Jacoby and Bourg’s investigation presents an inside look at who Bezos is, and how he transformed a tiny company run out of a garage into a staple of American consumerism that critics contend is willing to dominate the market at all costs.

Street Date: Available now
Run Time: 120 min.
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD, Digital
Genre: Issues/Events: Society

About PBS DISTRIBUTION
PBS Distribution is a leading distributor of public media content around the world, reaching audiences through multiple platforms and formats including direct-to-consumer subscription video-on-demand (DTC-SVOD), transactional video-on-demand (TVOD), subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) licensing, and physical products on DVD and Blu-ray. In addition, the company operates three streaming channels – PBS MASTERPIECE, PBS KIDS, and PBS LIVING – all on Amazon Prime Video Channels, with PBS LIVING also available on the Apple TV App. Other divisions of the company include: theatrical releasing, educational, non-theatrical, inflight and international licensing businesses.

PBS Distribution offers consumers and educators the highest quality factual, scripted and children’s programming, including films from producer Ken Burns, hit dramas from MASTERPIECE, entertaining and educational children’s series and award-winning documentaries from NOVA, FRONTLINE, AMERICAN MASTERS, NATURE, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and many independent producers. For over 20 years, the company has extended the reach of programming beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system stations and producers.



Upcoming DVD Releases

Posted on by Danielle Langer





COMING ON 4/28:
* Ackley Bridge – Series 3 (RLJ/Acorn)
$39.99 SRP DVD MOD

—–Timely and entertaining, this “feel-good” (New York Times) British drama from the writers of Shameless follows the raucous happenings at a racially integrated school. In Series 3, headmistress Mandy (Jo Joyner, EastEnders) deals with a hotheaded new teacher (Robert James-Collier, Downton Abbey), while star student Nasreen (Amy-Leigh Hickman) applies to Oxford. “Must-watch show” Radio Times. 2-disc set.
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COMING ON 5/5:
* Humans – Complete Collection (RLJ/Acorn)
$69.99 SRP Blu-ray

—–In the near future, humanoid servants called synths have been created to help busy people simplify their lives. But will these perfect servants stay compliant forever? When the Hawkins family acquire synth Anita (Gemma Chan, Crazy Rich Asians), they get drawn into a dangerous mystery that could transform synth technology…and humanity itself. Pulse-pounding and provocative, this “ultimate A.I. thought experiment” (The Atlantic) blends cinematic action with piercing social commentary and emotional depth as it explores the intersection of man and machine. This complete collection of the hit sci-fi series also stars Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd), Tom Goodman-Hill (Mr. Selfridge), Colin Morgan (The Fall), Emily Berrington (24: Live Another Day), Ivanno Jeremiah (Black Mirror), Ruth Bradley (Primeval), Will Tudor (Game of Thrones), and Sam Palladio (Nashville), with season-long guest stars William Hurt (A History of Violence), Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix trilogy), Mark Bonnar (Catastrophe), and Letitia Wright (Black Panther). 6-disc set.
NOTE: this title is Blu-ray only; no DVD version was announced. Acorn’s press release describes this as featuring the uncut UK edition of these episodes.
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COMING ON 5/26:
* Silicon Valley – The Complete 6th and Final Season (HBO)
$19.99 SRP DVD MOD

—–The sixth and final season of Mike Judge and Alex Berg’s hilarious, Emmy-nominated HBO comedy finds Pied Piper more successful than ever. After years of false starts, the company has become a legitimate presence in Silicon Valley, rising above the competition with its pledge not to mine user data. But the Pied Piper guys soon come to learn that staying true to their values comes at a price in this cutthroat business. While they deal with the stress of managing a growing organization, Silicon Valley heads toward a conclusion that’s funny, smart and fitting for our forever-awkward tech heroes. Single-disc title.
* The Deuce – The Complete 3rd and Final Season (HBO)
$24.99 SRP DVD MOD

—–It’s 1985 and the party of the ’70s is slowing down. 42nd Street has deteriorated into a world of crime, seedy video stores and peep shows; VHS has overtaken film as porn’s primary medium; and the AIDS epidemic has had a devastating impact. Welcome to the third and final season of “The Deuce,” the gritty HBO series that follows the interconnected lives of barkeeps, prostitutes, pimps, the police, mobsters, and adult film actors and producers in Times Square. As the story of the explosive rise of the NYC porn industry comes to its denouement, the stakes are higher than ever in these eight climactic episodes. Starring James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Carr, Margarita Levieva, Lawrence Gilliard, Jr., Dominique Fishback, Emily Meade, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Chris Bauer, Natalie Paul, Chris Coy and more. 2-disc set.
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COMING ON 6/9:
* Power – The Complete 6th and Final Season (Starz/Lionsgate)
$34.98 SRP DVD

EXTRAS: “Power Confidential” 20+ minute recaps of the episodes from the cast
—–“Power”: Season 6 follows James “Ghost” St. Patrick as he seeks vengeance, aims to get even with Tommy, builds the Queen’s Child Project to consecrate Raina’s legacy, and works to achieve a legitimate lifestyle. Cast: Omari Hardwick, Lela Loren, Naturi Naughton, Joseph Sikora, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Rotimi Akinosho, Alani “La La” Anthony, Monique Gabriela Curnen, Mike Dopud, Michael J. Ferguson, Jerry Ferrara, Evan Handler, Shane Johnson, and Michael Rainey Jr. 3-disc set.
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COMING ON 7/28:
* Deadwater Fell – Series 1 (RLJ/Acorn)
$34.99 SRP DVD

—–David Tennant (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) and Cush Jumbo (The Good Fight, The Good Wife) lead “terrific performances across the board” in this “complex and fascinating mystery” (Radio Times, UK). Respected physician Tom (Tennant) and his schoolteacher wife, Kate (Anna Madeley, Patrick Melrose), have a seemingly perfect life in their small Scottish community with their best friends, Jess (Jumbo) and Steve (Matthew McNulty, Versailles). Until one night, when a fire ravages Tom and Kate’s home, and Steve makes a disturbing discovery while attempting to save them. With evidence building that the fire was deliberate and perpetrated by a local, mistrust and suspicion begin to tear the town apart, forcing Jess and Steve to question everything they know about their friends. 2-disc set.