Topic: Tom's TV Pilots marathon

[Tom]

The Twilight Zone: Season One (1959/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia CBS DVD (United Kingdom) Length: 1163 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
The Twilight Zone's timeless episodes featured stories of the bizarre and unexplained, blended with humour and often with an unexpected twist to the tale. Created by the legendary Rod Serling, its eclectic mix of fantasy and sci-fi has helped to define it as one of televisions most original and celebrated series.


The Twilight Zone
Season 1.01 Where Is Everybody? 02.10.1959
Writer: Rod Serling (Writer)
Director: Robert Stevens
Cast: Rod Serling (Narrator), Earl Holliman (Mike Ferris), James Gregory (Air Force General), Paul Langton (Air Force Colonel), James McCallion, John Conwell, Jay Overholts (Reporter Two), Carter Mullaly, Gary Walberg, Jim Johnson

As this is an anthology series, you cannot really conclude by one episode to the rest of the series. But as a first episode it is a good one. Also it includes a twist ending for which the series became famous for.

Rating:

[Tom]

The Twilight Zone: The Complete Series (2002/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia New Line Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 933 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: DTS 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: English, Spanish

Plot:
Enter a world that will confound, surprise and excite your imagination... Enter the new Twilight Zone. Hosted by award-winning actor Forest Whitaker, this six disc, 43-episode set is your exclusive window into the fantastic stories and amazing performances, updated and inspired by the original classic television series created by Rod Serling. In this thoroughly modern and unforgettable collection, some of Hollywood's most inspired performers tackle some of life's most profound questions. Never predictable... always amazing... The Twilight Zone.


The Twilight Zone
Season 1.01 The Lineman
Writer: Pen Densham (Writer)
Director: Jonathan Frakes
Cast: Forest Whitaker (Host), Jeremy Piven (Tyler), Olivia D'Abo (Shannon), Vincent Laresca (Buddy), Zeljko Ivanek (Doctor), Grace Chen (Angela), Julie Fitzgerald (Nurse), Michael Luckerman (Sleazy Lawyer), Anita Ortega (Hispanic Woman), Daren Flam (Paramedic), Blue Deckert (Older Lineman)

I remember enjoying the revival series when I first bought this DVD set. The first episode started out interesting but it didn't keep my interest throughout. But it wasn't bad.

Rating:

[Tom]

This covers my Ts.

[Tom]

Ultraman: The Complete Series (1966/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia Mill Creek Entertainment (United States) Length: 960 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
When the world is threatened by alien invaders and giant prehistoric monsters, there is only one agency equipped to handle the situation, The Science Patrol, and ultra-sophisticated police force equipped with high-tech weaponry and spacecrafts. Led by Captain Muramatsu, the team defends the planet from the unknown. When all their weaponry can't stop their foes, one of their members, Hayata, transforms into the giant superhero from Nebula M7B...Ultraman!




Ultraman
Season 1.01 Ultra Operation #1

An unintentially funny series. The toy like model shots are a riot. And how it is supposed to be in an old Japanese series, we have a guy in a Godzilla like monster suit. Ultraman also transforms into monster size, and we can see two men in a rubber suit wrestling
Also the title song for some reason is just fun listening to.
This is a Mill Creek Entertainment release. I bought this 39 episode series for just under $10. It contains both an English dub and the original Japanese audio track with English subtitles.

Rating:

[Tom]

Undeclared: The Complete Series (2001/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Shout! Factory, Sony BMG Music Entertainment (United States) Length: 403 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
College life as seen through the eyes of Steven Karp, a freshman determined to reinvent himself at a new school. Faced with dilemmas as miserable as being "sexiled" to the rec room while roommates use the bedroom and as dire as confronting a girlfriend's jealous stalker-ex-boyfriend, Steven and his new friends tackle the challenges of higher education. Named one of Time magazine's top ten television shows of 2001 and praised for its "pitch perfect" casting, Undeclared is "one of the cum laude comedies of the new season . . . a sneaky funny hoot with endearingly offbeat characters." (Los Angeles Times)


Undeclared
Season 1.01 Prototype
Writer: Judd Apatow (Original Characters By), Judd Apatow (Writer)
Director: Jake Kasdan
Cast: Jay Baruchel (Steven Karp), Carla Gallo (Lizzie Exley), Charlie Hunnam (Lloyd Haythe), Monica Keena (Rachel Lindquist), Seth Rogen (Ron Garner), Timm Sharp (Marshall Nesbitt), Loudon Wainwright III (Hal Karp), Kevin Rankin (Lucien), Jarrett Grode (Perry), Simon Helberg (Jack), Jenna Fischer (Sorority Girl), Mandy Freund (Red-Headed Woman), Jennifer Shon (Pretty Girl), Tom Welling (Tom), Leroy Adams (Football Player), Alex Breckenridge (Prim and Proper Girl), Lizzy Caplan (Beautiful Girl), Jason Segel (Eric)

This series is made by the same people that made Freaks & Geeks. This time, instead of high school, it plays at a university. And it is not an hour drama, but half-hour comedy. Familiar faces from Freaks & Geeks so far are Seth Rogen and Jason Segel. Like Freaks & Geeks it only lasted one season.
I enjoyed this pilot episode.
There was a small cameo by Tom Welling. It must have been around the time he started his work on Smallville.

Rating:

[Tom]

This covers my U's.

[Tom]

The Vampire Diaries: Season One (2009/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United Kingdom) Length: 889 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: Dutch, English, Swedish

Plot:
Dark, brooding, pulsing with bloodlust and transcendent with romance, The Vampire Diaries - which started as a series of must-read novels by L.J. Smith - has become a must-watch television hit. Season One offers unforgettable characters, living and undead. They are vampire brothers Stefan and Damon, one good and one evil; Elena, a double for the beauty both brothers loved some 150 years earlier; plus Jeremy, Bonnie, Matt and more denizens of Mystic Falls, VA. All are caught up in a spellbinding web of secrets, passion and terror.


The Vampire Diaries
Season 1.01 Pilot
Writer: L. J. Smith (Original Material By), Kevin Williamson (Writer), Julie Plec (Writer)
Director: Marcos Siega
Cast: Nina Dobrev (Elena Gilbert), Paul Wesley (Stefan Salvatore), Ian Somerhalder (Damon Salvatore), Steven R. McQueen (Jeremy Gilbert), Sara Canning (Jenna Sommers), Katerina Graham (Bonnie Bennett), Candice Accola (Caroline Forbes), Zach Roerig (Matt Donovan), Kayla Ewell (Vicky Donovan), Michael Trevino (Tyler Lockwood), Chris William Martin (Zach Salvatore), Steve Belford (Darren), Cindy Busby (Brooke), Ben Ayres (Mr. Tanner), Marci T. House (Secretary), Wesley R. MacInnes (Peeing Guy), Curtis Lum (Peeing Guy #2)

I quite enjoy this series and the pilot is a good introduction to it. What I appreciated with the beginning of this series is, that they take some time until the female lead finds out about her love interest being a vampire. Usually in a series like this it happens in the pilot that the guy his to reveal his origins to the female lead after having to save her.

Rating:

[Tom]

Veronica Mars: Season One (2004/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (Germany) Length: 883 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, German: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Hungarian: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: Danish, English, French, German, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Hungarian

Plot:
A little bit Buffy. A little bit Bogart. A dash of Nancy Drew. Veronica Mars takes the best and brainiest of the American culture of crimesolving and adds a unique vision of its own - brooding, edgy, darkly funny and just plain dark - to become one of the hottest, sleekest series of the new century.

Veronica (Kristen Bell) is an outcast in a trendy SoCal beach town. Once she ran with Neptune High's in crowd. But she's on the outside after her best friend is murdered and her sheriff father accuses the wrong man as the perp: the dead girl's billionaire father. Dad loses his job, Veronica loses her popularity and both struggle to build a detective agency and new lives. E-mail scams, cults, car thefts - you name it, Veronica investigates it. But her obsession is the murder of her friend. And she'll take any risk to solve it.



Veronica Mars
Season 1.01 Pilot
Writer: Rob Thomas (Writer)
Director: Mark Piznarski
Cast: Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars), Percy Daggs III (Wallace Fennel), Teddy Dunn (Duncan Kane), Jason Dohring (Logan Echolls), Francis Capra (Eli "Weevil" Navarro), Enrico Colantoni (Keith Mars), Michael Muhney (Sheriff Don Lamb), Corinne Bohrer (Lianne Mars), Amanda Seyfried (Lilly Kane), Lisa Thornhill (Celeste Kane), Kyle Secor (Jake Kane), Daran Norris (Cliff McCormack), Brandon Hillock (Deputy Sacks), Brad Bufanda (Felix), Patrick Wolff (Hector), Tom McCafferty (Fireman Bill), Duane Daniels (Vice Principal Clemmons), Kirk Fogg (District Attorney), Benito Paje (Phuong), Randy Seidman (Clown), Ruth Stehle (Mrs. White), Linda Castro (Teacher #1), Jonathan Chesner (Corny), Mark Styles (Boy at Keyboard), Zac Henry (Mouth), Elvin Lai (Favorite Band Sucks T-Shirt), Nicole Monica (Dance Team Advisor), David E. Taylor (Steve), Seraina Jacqueline (Inga), Amber Ojeda (Cat In The Hat Raver), Chris Wiley (Band Dork), Heather Brittany (Pep Squader), Joshua Levine (Pencil-necked Geek), Annie Hinton (Judge), Jon Epstein (Stunt Coordinator), Scott Barry (Tony), Christian Clemenson (Abel Koontz)

A good introduction to an uneven series. The first season was very good. The second not so much. The opinion on the third and final season is split, but I enjoyed it more than season two.
The main character always reminds me of Chloe from Smallville.

Rating:

[Tom]

Voyagers! The Complete Series (1982/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Universal Studios Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 972 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 1 Subtitles: English

Plot:
Journey back in time with all 20 episodes of Voyagers! The Complete Series. Join former pirate Phineas Bogg (Jon-Erik Hexum) and 12-year-old orphan Jeffrey Jones (Meeno Peluce) on their amazing, action-packed adventures through history, guided by the mysterious Omni device. From rescuing Cleopatra to saving the Founding Fathers and joining Robin Hood's merry men, these intrepid travelers do whatever it takes to make sure past events happen the way they're supposed to. Popping up throughout their adventures are such timeless guest stars as Ed Begley Jr., Miguel Sandoval, Shannen Doherty, Mako and more.


Voyagers!
Season 1.01 Pilot
Writer: James D. Parriott (Writer)
Director: James D. Parriott
Cast: Jon-Erik Hexum (Phineas Bogg), Meeno Peluce (Jeffrey Jones), Ed Begley, Jr. (Wilbur Wright), Donald Petrie (Orville Wright), Sondra Currie (Agnes Spence), Peter Frechette (Eddie Rickenbacker), Faye Grant (Mary), Jeanie Bradley (Aunt Elizabeth), Terrence O'Hara (Tom)

This is the first time I ever saw an episode of this series. It was a blind buy. I am not aware if this ran on German television. I enjoyed this first episode. I like time travel and this is why this series made it into my collection.

Rating:

[Tom]

This covers my V's.

[Tom]

The Weird Al Show: The Complete Series (1997/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Shout! Factory (United States) Length: 295 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
Ever since his 1983 self-titled breakthrough album, "Weird Al" Yankovic has been unsurpassed as a proven purveyor of parody and musical satire. His classic film, UHF, a string of Grammy® Awards and an avid (if not rabid) fan following made his 1997 television series, THE WEIRD AL SHOW, a cosmic inevitability.

Yankovic's signature warped comedy, original songs, TV and movie spoofs, offbeat animation and ability to attract a wonderful and motley collection of special surprise guests are what make the 13 episodes of this CBS Saturday morning show a treasure chest of all things Al.

As an inventor living in a secret subterranean workshop, Weird Al's world includes his pet (Harvey the Wonder Hamster), his superhero neighbor (The Hooded Avenger), the twisted animated "Adventures Of Fatman" and a roster of friends and guests, including: Drew Carey, Dick Clark, Dr. Demento, Stan Freberg, Teri Garr, Gilbert Gottfried, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Michael McKean, Bill Mumy, Patton Oswalt, Dick Van Patten, Emo Philips, Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Judy Tenuta, John Tesh, Fred Willard and Dweezil Zappa.

Plus live musical performances by Barenaked Ladies, Hanson and of course, Al himself make THE WEIRD AL SHOW a must-have, timeless delight for all his fans.

The Weird Al Show
Season 1.01 Bad Influence
Writer: Al Yankovic (Created By), Heidi Atherton (Writer), Mark O'Keefe (Writer), Ron Weiner (Writer), Al Yankovic (Writer)
Director: Peyton Reed
Cast: Al Yankovic (Al), Brian Haley (The Hooded Avenger), G. Le'Roi Gray (Bobby), Stan Freberg (Papa Boolie), Donavan Freberg (Baby Boolie), Beau Weaver ("Channel Hopping" Announcer), Billy West (Show Announcer), Kevin Weisman (Spike), Patton Oswalt (Seymour), Julie Brown (Herself), Barenaked Ladies (Themselves)

This series was a hard thing to do for Weird Al Yankovic. He wanted to do something for adult audiences, but had to do a show for kids. The result is an undercurrent of a constant parody of a kid show. If you look at this show like that, you has some fun moments.
Highlight of this first episode is the "Harvey the Wonder Hamster" song and the musical guests "Barenaked Ladies".

Rating:

[Tom]

Weißblaue Geschichten (1983/Germany) IMDb | Wikipedia EuroVideo (Germany) Length: 965 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 1 Subtitles:

Weißblaue Geschichten
Season 1.01 Der Kurpfuscher / Der Seemann / Der Kraftprotz
Writer: Michael Baier (Writer)
Director: Alfred Vohrer
Cast: Gustl Bayrhammer (Doktor), Lisa Fitz (Bäuerin), Anton Feichtner (Flori), Fritz Strassner (Bauer), , Gustl Bayrhammer (Briefträger), Erni Singerl (Maria), , Gustl Bayrhammer (Pfarrer), Kathi Leitner (Anna), Renate Muhri (Zenzi), Georg Einerdinger (Gastwirt), Udo Thomer (Franz)

"Weißblaue Geschichten" (lit. "White-and-blue stories", the colors of the Bavarian flag) is an anthology series with Bavarian slice of life stories. It has aired since 1984. The star of this series was Gustl Bayrhammer until 1993 (the year he sadly died).
This was one of the series I loved to watch as a kid and I still enjoy it. The first episode contains three separate stories. All of them enjoyable.

Rating:

[Tom]

Weißblaue Wintergeschichten (1994/Germany) IMDb Euro Video (Germany) Length: 704 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: German: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Weißblaue Wintergeschichten
Season 1.01 Folge 1
Writer: Rolf-René Schneider (Writer)
Director: Peter Weissflog
Cast: Gerhart Lippert, Karin Kienzer, Andrea L'Arronge, Nicola Tiggeler, Martin Halm, Michael Fitz, Svenja Pages, Peter Weck, Rosel Zech, Karl-Heinz Vosgerau, Hans Clarin, Oliver Grobeer, Kathrin Strauss, Andreas Schwaiger, Gerd Fitz, Hans Bergmann, Bernd Helfrich

This is a kind of spin-off of Weißblaue Geschichten. The stories told here are all set in the winter. Mainly in skiing locations. I never saw this series before. I liked the first episode, but not as much I enjoyed watching "Weißblaue Geschichten".

Rating:

[Tom]

Welcome to the N-H-K: Collection Part One (2006/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia FUNimation Entertainment (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:
Some people's lives get stuck in a rut and others go through a few rough patches. Sato's life, on the other hand, seems to be going to hell in a hand basket filled with cheap takeout dinners! Between dropping out of college, never going outside and living on a diet of internet porn, Sato's slowly turning into a human fungus. But what if it's not his fault? What if it's actually a dark and sinister conspiracy on the part of the television networks? And what if all those adorable images of cute anime girls are actually part of an insidious plan of brainwashing designed to turn viewers into jobless, social recluses? Can Sato overcome the horrible plot that has been hatched by the nefarious N-H-K? Will he fight for his future, get a job and even meet girls in order to counter this evil organization? The battle is on in Welcome to the N-H-K!


Welcome to the N.H.K.
Season 1.01 Welcome to the Project!
Writer: Tatsuhiko Takimoto (Original Material By), Kendi Oiwa (Original Material By), Satoru Nishizono (Screenwriter)
Director: Yusuke Yamamoto
Cast: Chris Patton (Sato), Greg Ayres (Yamazaki), Stephanie Wittels (Misaki Nakahara), Luci Christian (Hitomi Kashiwa), Monica Rial (Megumi Kobayashi), Luci Christian (Additional Voices), K. C. Jones (Additional Voices), Monica Rial (Additional Voices), John Swasey (Additional Voices), Serena Varghese (Additional Voices), David Wald (Additional Voices), , Yutaka Koizumi (Tatsuhiro Sato), Yui Makino (Misaki Nakahara), Daisuke Sakaguchi (Kaoru Yamazaki), Sanae Kobayashi (Hitomi Kashiwa), Risa Hayami (Megumi Kobayashi), Rumi Shishido (Pururin), Kimiko Saito (Misaki's Aunt), Katsui Taira (TV), Ryo Sugibayashi (Refrigerator), Yasushi Miyabayashi (PC), Asuka Ideno (Air Conditioner), Hikari Yono (House Wife), Akiko Matsuzaki (House Wife), Kaoru Katagai (House Wife), Mari Orito (Female High School Student)

Overall I enjoyed this series, but this pilot episode is a little bit of a slow start.

Rating:

[Tom]

Who's the Boss?: Season One (1984/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 455 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
3 Disc Set Includes All 22 Episodes From The First Season

When an injury forces baseball star Tony Micelli out of the major leagues, he finds himself penniless an without any job prospects. Swallowing his pride, Tony, along with daughter Samantha, become a live-in housekeeper for Angela Bower, a busy ad executive who has little time to look after her home or her young son, Jonathan. Now, Tony's got a full-time job and Angela's household is back in order. Only one question remains: Who's The Boss?


Who's the Boss?
Season 1.01 Pilot
Writer: Martin Cohan (Writer), Blake Hunter (Writer)
Director: Bill Persky
Cast: Tony Danza (Tony Micelli), Judith Light (Angela Bower), Alyssa Milano (Samantha Micelli), Danny Pintauro (Jonathan Bower), Katherine Helmond (Mona Robinson), Dennis Holahan (Grant Paxton), Rhoda Gemignani (Mrs. Rossini)

This is a series I watched in the 90s, mainly because there was nothing else on at the time it was aired. I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't say it is a must-see. I really found Alyssa Milano attractive towards the end of the series and she was the main reason I stayed with the series.
The pilot is a good introduction to the series.

Rating: