Topic: Tom's TV Pilots marathon

[Tom]

Rozen Maiden: Complete Series (2004/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia Geneon (United States) Length: 300 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
This is the story of one young boy who couldn't get along with his classmates and decided to drop out and never return...

This is the story of an exquisite doll who wished to one day become a normal human girl...

This is the story of one young boy and an exquisite doll and their adventures as they strive to help each other in overcoming their fears and the very real dangers of the Alice Game.

However, in order to do that, they must overcome their distrust of each other.


Rozen Maiden
1.01 Fräulein Rose
Writer: Jukki Hanada (Screenwriter)
Director: Kou Matsuo
Cast: Original Japanese Cast), Miyuki Sawashiro (Shinku (voice)), Asami Sanada (Jun Sakurada (voice)), Noriko Rikimaru (Nori Sakurada (voice)), Sakura Nogawa (Hinaichigo (voice)), Rie Tanaka (Suigintou (voice)), Natsuko Kuwatani (Suiseseki (voice)), Masayo Kurata (Tomoe Kashiwaba (voice)), Kyousei Tsukui (Detective Kun-Kun (voice)), Kayo Deguchi (Female Friend (voice)), Kahori Tanaka (Female Friend (voice)), Kunihiro Kawamoto (Deliveryman (voice)), Ryoukichi Takahashi (Deliveryman (voice)), Shinsuke Fukui (Deliveryman (voice)), Kousuke Kobayashi (Deliveryman (voice)), Yuu Sugita (Tomoe's Mother (voice)), Ken Yamaguchi (Madam Pearl (voice)), Daiki Nakamura (Seal (voice)), Yoko Honda (Assistant (voice)), Mayako Nigo (Mrs. Rabbit (voice)), Tatsuhisa Suzuki (Male Student (voice)), Takayuki Hayakawa (Male Student (voice)), Tatsuhisa Suzuki (Flower (voice)), Takayuki Hayakawa (Flower (voice)), Tatsuma Watanabe (Flower (voice)), English Voice Cast), Mela Lee (Shinku (voice)), Mona Marshall (Jun Sakurada (voice)), Minx Lee (Nori Sakurada (voice)), Mia Bradly (Suigintou (voice)), Reba West (Suiseiseki (voice)), Dorothy Fahn (Tomoe Kashiwaba (voice)), David Keifer (Detective Kun-Kun (voice)), Cristina Vee (Female Friend (voice)), Sam Carr (Tomoe's Mother (voice)), Vic Mignogna (Madam Pearl (voice)), Dave Mallow (Seal (voice))

I can see the potential of this series. And I would have thought that I would enjoy it more. But it just didn't really click for me. There is a follow-up series to this, but I never bothered checking it out.

Rating:

[Tom]

RTL Samstag Nacht: Das Beste aus Staffel 1 (1993/Germany) IMDb | Wikipedia (Germany) Length: 800 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
Am 6. November 1993 flimmerte die erste Folge von „RTL Samstag Nacht“ über die Mattscheiben. Die Comedians Olli Dittrich, Wigald Boning, Mirco Nontschew, Stefan Jürgens, Esther Schweins, Tanja Schumann und Sabine Aulmann sowie das Produzenten-Gespann Hugo Egon Balder und Jacky Dreksler präsentierten Deutschlands erste große Comedy-Serien-Show, die über Nacht zum Fernsehkult wurde.

Bei „Zwei Stühle, eine Meinung“ begrüßt Wigald Boning u.a. Boris Becker, Franz Beckenbauer, Michael Jackson, Schumi und Kiezlegende Mike Hansen - alle genial gespielt von Olli Dittrich. Stefan Jürgens und Mirko Nontschew glänzen als Brüderpaar Rudi und Ali Mente. Dittrich präsentiert in „Olliwood“ das Neueste aus der Traumfabrik, z.B. „Schimmel über Berlin“ oder „Kampfhund Galactica“ und Herr Boning lädt ein in „Wigalds Welt“. Die haarsträubenden „Samstag Nacht News“ werden mit dem Neuesten vom „Spocht“ sowie „Wetter Wetter Wetter“ abgerundet.

Auch Musikalisch wird viel geboten: Esther Schweins moderiert als Kristiane Kacker das Musikmagazin EmTiVie, die Doofen singen „Doof bleibt Doof“, „FKK“ und „Toastbrotbaby“… und Helge Schneider garniert seinen überlangen Auftritt als Doc Snyder mit „Katzeklo“ und dem „Butter-Song“.

5 DVDs - 25 Folgen - 800 Minuten - tausende Lacher - gefickt eingeschädelt

RTL Samstag Nacht
1.01 06.11.1993 (1993-11-06)
Writer: Sabine Aulmann (Writer), Wigald Boning (Writer), Olli Dietrich (Writer), Stefan Jürgens (Writer), Mirco Nontschew (Writer), Tanja Schumann (Writer), Esther Schweins (Writer), Marcus Kecht (Writer), rührei (Writer), Rainer Korn (Writer), Joachim Bartels (Writer), Rillenschlange (Writer)
Director: Gerlet Schieske, Bernie Abt
Cast: Wigald Boning), Esther Schweins), Olli Dietrich), Tanja Schumann), Stefan Jürgens), Sabine Aulmann), Mirco Nontschew), Olaf Kracht)

The German version of Saturday Night Live. This show introduced a new kind of comedy shows in the 90s in Germany. It was really popular. The first episode was okay, but nothing I found worth a laugh.
I am not sure that the kind of jokes here could have been on US television. Especially at the times. One sketch was a talk show where there talked to giant penis.

Rating:

[Tom]

Rumbling Hearts: The Complete Series (2003/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia FUNimation Entertainment (United States) Length: 330 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
Betrayal is a Bitch.

A hypnotic opera where love and loss walk hand in hand, Rumbling Hearts doesn't shy away from the sad song of real life. Fans of the romance genre must surely take note! Tough situations are conveyed with surprisingly realistic emotion, creating a genuine keepsake production for those who know the most intense conflict comes from within. You will be forever changed.

Four high school friends, basking in life's shining promise that everything will be perfect... Until tragedy intercedes. A horrible accident leaves Haruka comatose and her loving boyfriend Takayuri broken by the burden of blame, stumbling in a wounded waking dream. Mitsuki becomes his willing caretaker, but their self-destructive relationship is ravaged by guilt and pain. When Haruka stirs from slumber after three long years, a desperate charade begins. Lips whisper lies and trade secret kisses of betrayal. Some things can never be undone.

Silver linings slip away under every moon. The sunrise is so often bittersweet.


Rumbling Hearts
1.01 Friends to Lovers

This is the first time that I ever saw an episode of this series. Based on it I can say, that this could be a series I might enjoy.

Rating:

[Tom]

This covers my Rs.

[Tom]

Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs (1984/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia (Germany) Length: 100 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
Als das neue Grenzland von den finsteren Outridern überfallen wird, ist das Star Sheriff-Team mit seinem neuentwickelten Super-Roboter Ramrod die letzte Hoffnung für die Siedler...
Doch sind Saber, Colt, Fireball und April den Plänen des gerissenen Überläufers Jesse Blue gewachsen - der noch eine ganz persönliche Rechnung mit ihnen offen hat...?


Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs
1.01 Episode 1

I loved this series as a kid. This was originally a Japanese anime, but it was completely recut and restructure by an American company. Even the names of the characters and the dynamic between them changed. In the original it was not Saber Rider who was the leader, but the young Japanese hothead.

Rating:

[Tom]

Sabrina: The Teenage Witch: Season One (1996/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 525 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles:

Plot:
Pretty teen witch Sabrina Spellman (Melissa Joan Hart) lives with her two otherworldly aunts, Hilda (Caroline Rhea) and Zelda (Beth Broderick), along with Salem, their talking black cat (voice of Nick Bakay). The Witches Council long ago ordered her aunts to teach Sabrina witchcraft once she turned sixteen. Now she can be in Paris for lunch...and make it back in time for biology! The show that found its way into the hearts of millions of viewers each week brilliantly combines the supernatural world of magic with the average life of a teenage girl.

Join Sabrina, cute crush Harvey (Nate Richert), best friend Jenny (Michelle Beaudoin), and rival Libby (Jenna Leigh Green) at their favorite pizza hangout, The Slicery. That is, when they aren't frustrating their teacher, Mr. Pool (Paul Feig). Here on DVD for the first time ever are all 24 Season One episodes of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch®!


Sabrina: The Teenage Witch
1.01 Pilot (1996-09-27)
Writer: Archie Comics (Original Characters By), Nell Scovell (Screenwriter), Barney Cohen (Original Material By), Kathryn Wallack (Original Material By)
Director: Robby Benson
Cast: Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina), Caroline Rhea (Hilda), Beth Broderick (Zelda), Nate Richert (Harvey), Jenna Leigh Green (Libby), Michelle Beaudoin (Jenny), Paul Feig (Mr. Pool), Nick Bakay (Salem (voice)), Teller (Skippy), Deborah Harry (Cassandra), Robby Benson (Edward), Penn Jillette (Drell), Melissa Murray (Cee Cee), Bridget Flanery (Jill), Ren Woods (Mrs. Hecht), Shaun Weiss (Male Student), Jim Greenall (Puppeteer), Sandey Grinn (Puppeteer), Jim Boulden (Puppeteer), Thom Fountain (Puppeteer)

I enjoyed this series. Though I never finished watching it. I lost interest after the third season, when my favorite character (Valerie played by Lindsay Sloane) left. But I have all the episodes on DVD and I plan to finish it. I am thinking about watching the fourth season now.
I have seen the series finale though, when it originally aired, out of curiosity.

Rating:

[addicted2dvd]

Reading your posts in this thread so much lately has been making me want to attempt mine again. But I have gotten so many series added to my collection since then... and I do want my reviews in order... so I think I will re-do my thread from scratch. But to make it go quicker... the ones I reviewed for my original thread I will just transfer over to the new thread instead of re-watching them.

[Tom]

 

[Tom]

Sam & Max: Freelance Police: The Complete Animated Series (1997/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Shout! Factory (United States) Length: 300 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
The adventures of 'SAM & MAX: FREELANCE POLICE!!!' is an edgy and often irreverent, impudent, insolent, impious and silly series about a pair of likeable law enforcement types who don't take crap (oops! we mean guff) from anybody. It's about the timeless struggle between good, evil and snacktime; the weekly mishaps of a six-foot dog-Sam and a three-foot rabbity-thing (though he prefers the term 'lagomorph')-Max-who have a mirthful time trying to resolve only the weirdest criminal cases of the day. Really.

For your own good, and the good of mankind, enjoy 'SAM & MAX: FREELANCE POLICE!!!'

Based on Steve Purcell's enormously popular underground comic. Original package illustrations by Steve Purcell.


Sam & Max: Freelance Police
1.01 The Thing That Wouldn't Stop It (1997-10-04)
Writer: Steve Purcell (Created By), J. D. Smith (Writer)
Director: Steve Whitehouse
Cast: Harvey Atkin (Sam (voice)), Robert Tinkler (Max (voice)), Tracey Moore (Geek (voice))

The 1993 "Sam'n'Max: Hit the Road" PC game is one of my all-time favorite games. I played it through countless of times, just because of the characters and the humor.
This TV series has partly the charm of the game. It is worth a watch. The first episode I didn't enjoy as much as some of the others though.

Rating:

[Tom]

Samurai 7: The Complete Series (2005/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia FUNimation Entertainment (United States) Length: 600 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English

Plot:
Set in a futuristic world that has just witnissed the end of a massive war, scores of villages are terrorized by Nobuseri bandits. But the Nobuseri are no normal bandits. They were once Samurai, who during the war integrated their living cells with machines to become dangerous weapons now appearing more machine than man. Absolute power corrupts, and their reign of terror is increasing its hold on the countryside. But one group of villagers has had enough, deciding to hire samurai to protect their village. Kirara is a young priestess who travels to the city seeking out protection. One by one, she encounters brave samurai that the war has left behind. These man of skill and valor are each unique and not without their quirks. But can they come together as one to defend the helpless village?


Samurai Sebun
1.01 The Master
Writer: Akira Kurasawa (Original Material By), Atsuhiro Tomioka (Screenwriter)
Director: Toshifumi Takizawa
Cast: English Cast), Colleen Clinkenbeard (Kirara (voice)), Luci Christian (Komachi (voice)), R. Bruce Elliott (Kambei (voice)), Sean Michael Teague (Katsushiro (voice)), Christopher R. Sabat (Kikuchiyo (voice)), Duncan Brannen (Shichiroji (voice)), Kyle Hebert (Mosuke (voice)), Grant James (Yohei (voice)), J. Michael Tatum (Rikichi (voice)), Christopher Bevins (Gosaku (voice)), Mark Stoddard (Manzo (voice)), Jeremy Inman (Extra (voice)), Andrew Haskett (Extra (voice)), Julie Erickson (Extra (voice)), Jerome 57 (Extra (voice)), Jamie Marchi (Extra (voice)), Troy Williams (Extra (voice)), Egg Nebula (Extra (voice)), Mike McFarland (Extra (voice)), Daniel Katsük (Extra (voice)), Z. Charles Bolton (Extra (voice)), Lauren Goode (Extra (voice)), Japanese Cast), Masaki Terasoma (Kanbei (voice)), Gongu Kuwata (Kikuchiyo (voice)), Romi Paku (Katsushiro (voice)), Toru Kusano (Shichirouji (voice)), Fumiko Orikasa (Kirara (voice)), Chiwa Saito (Komachi (voice)), Tadahisa Saizen (Rikichi (voice)), Ikuo Nishikawa (Gisaki (voice)), Atsuko Mine (Setsu (voice)), Naoki Makishima (Manzo (voice)), Kenichi Mochizuki (Yohei (voice)), Yohei Obayashi (Gosaku (voice)), Takehiro Murozono (Mosuke (voice)), Masafumi Kimura (A Burglar (voice)), Eri Ono (A Lady (voice))

A sci-fi anime based on the Seven Samurai. The series looks good and as far as I remember it is critically acclaimed, but it never really clicked with me. I started watching it three years ago, but didn't get past the first disc.
But I think anyone who likes samurai stories, should give this a try.

Rating:

[Tom]

The Sarah Silverman Program.: Season One (2007/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 132 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
In this first season of the critically acclaimed 'The Sarah Silverman Program', Sarah gets hepped up on cough syrup, takes in a homeless man and poops her pants. With her unique perspective on life and her ability to turn just about everything into a song, find out why Sarah Silverman is an American treasure. An offensive, filthy-mouthed treasure.


The Sarah Silverman Program.
1.01 Officer Jay (2007-02-01)
Writer: Sarah Silverman (Writer), Rob Schrab (Writer), Dan Sterling (Writer)
Director: Rob Schrab
Cast: Sarah Silverman (Sarah), Laura Silverman (Laura), Brian Posehn (Brian), Steve Agee (Steve), Jay Johnston (Jay), Laura Hayes (Old Woman), Kelli Dawn Hancock (Crack Whore 1), Chris Tallman (Weatherman), Rachel Germaine (Crack Whore 2), Tanjareen Martin (Crack Whore 3), Karen McClain (Large Woman), Rob Schrab (Neighbor (voice))

I have been a fan of Sarah Silverman since I first saw her in the Star Trek Voyager two-parter "Future's End".
This series may not be for anyone. Sarah Silverman's character is as politically incorrect as they can get away with.

Rating:

[Tom]

Saturday Night Live: Season One (1975/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Universal Studios Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 1594 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
Nicknamed the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players," the original cast of Saturday Night Live ignited a comedy revolution with their mix of irreverent characters and satirical impressions of political figures and pop culture icons.

From the premiere of this groundbreaking sketch comedy show on October 11, 1975, live from historical Studio 8H in New York City's Rockefeller Center, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner launched themselves into instant stardom and were often referred to as "The Beatles of Comedy."

Created by Lorne Michaels over three decades ago, few other shows have had the cultural impact and relevance of Saturday Night Live.

Nowhere else can you see the complete first season of SNL, featuring hosts George Carlin, Rob Reiner, Lily Tomlin, Richard Pryor, Elliott Gould, Candace Bergen, or original musical performances by Simon & Garfunkel, ABBA, Patti Smith, Jimmy Cliff, and Carly Simon. And if you're curious as to how the original cast was hired, check out the DVD bonus features that include the screen tests of each performer.


Saturday Night Live
1.01 10/11/1975 (1975-10-11)
Writer: Anne 'Bud' Beatts (Writer), Chevy 'Bud' Chase (Writer), Al 'Bud' Franken (Writer), Tom 'Bud' Davis (Writer), Lorne 'Bud' Michaels (Writer), Rosie 'Bud' Michaels (Writer), Garrett 'Bud' Morris (Writer), Michael 'Bud' O'Donoghue (Writer), Herb 'Bud' Sargent (Writer), Tom 'Bud' Schiller (Writer), Alan 'Bud' Zweibel (Writer)
Director: Dave 'Bud' Wilson
Cast: George Carlin), Janis Ian), Billy Preston), Albert Brooks), Jim Henson's Muppets), Jane Curtin), Garrett Morris), Laraine Newman), Gilda Radner), Dan Aykroyd), John Belushi), Chevy Chase), George Coe), Michael O'Donoghue), Valri Bromfield), Andy Kaufman)

The first ever SNL show. George Carlin is the host here, with some hit and miss jokes. My favorite part of this episode is the now famous Mightly Mouse skit by Andy Kaufman.

Rating:

[Tom]

Seinfeld: Seasons One, Two and Three (1989/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia (United Kingdom) Length: 904 min. Video: Audio: Subtitles:

Seinfeld
1.01 The Seinfeld Chronicles (Pilot)
Writer: Larry David (Writer), Jerry Seinfeld (Writer)
Director: Art Wolff
Cast: Jerry Seinfeld (Jerry), Michael Richards (Kramer), Lee Carlington (Claire), Jason Alexander (George), Pamela Brull (Laura)

The pilot episode has some differences to the actual series. For one thing there is no Elaine yet. Another is the different restaurant they eat in. Also Kramer's hair is normal
But still I think this episode is already quite funny. I always enjoyed this series.

Rating:

[Achim]

Sarah Silverman's character is as politically incorrect as they can get away with.

I still think her humor is right up my alley and keep being tempted to buy the complete series.

The pilot episode has some differences to the actual series. For one thing there is no Elaine yet. Another is the different restaurant they eat in. Also Kramer's hair is normal
But still I think this episode is already quite funny. I always enjoyed this series.

I think I own a double pack of season 1 & 2. For famously being a show "about nothing" it is always highly enjoyable to me and would like to buy one or two more season sets.

[goodguy]

Since a couple of German shows popped up during your marathon I've been meaning to ask if you have seen Im Angesicht des Verbrechens (In Face of the Crime)? I heard some good things about it and that it's helmed by Dominik Graf definitely has me slightly curious. On the other hand, crime shows are usually not my thing.