Topic: Tom's TV Pilots marathon

[Tom]

Andy Richter Controls the Universe: The Complete Series (2002/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia CBS DVD, Paramount Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 417 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles:

Plot:
The rules of comedy are about to be broken in Andy Richter Controls The Universe, one of the funniest sitcoms in TV history. A bored writer of instruction manuals, Andy spends his office hours daydreaming about what his life could, should and ought to be. Starring in his outlandish fantasies are his unlucky-in-love boss Jessica (Paget Brewster), best buddy Keith (James Patrick Stuart), quirky pal Byron (Jonathan Slavin) and Andy's secret object of desire, Wendy the receptionist (Irene Molloy). Featuring the Emmy®-nominated series' 14 episode run – plus 5 that were never shown on network TV – this it cutting edge lunacy at its irreverent best, a mirth-quaking 10 on the Richter scale!

Andy Richter Controls the Universe
1.01 Pilot
Writer: Victor Fresco (Created By), Victor Fresco (Writer)
Director: Andy Ackerman
Cast: Andy Richter (Andy Richter), Paget Brewster (Jessica Green), Irene Molloy (Wendy McKay), Jonathan Slavin (Byron Togler), James Patrick Stuart (Keith), Rick Hoffman (Arnich), John Bliss (Mr. Pickering), Jonathan Tipton Meyers (Co-Worker), Jordan Anita Moseley (Little Girl)

I liked this series since I first saw this pilot when it originally aired and was sad to see the series cancelled so soon.
Here is my review of the season set.

Rating:

[addicted2dvd]

See.. now Tom... you are making me want to hit my pilot thread again! 

[Tom]

See.. now Tom... you are making me want to hit my pilot thread again! 

I see that you up to "P". I hope I get that far. Hopefully, of course, even finish it.

[Tom]

Angel: Season One (1999/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (United Kingdom) Length: 905 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: Dutch, English, French

Angel
1.01 City of Angels (1999-10-05)
Writer: Joss Whedon (Created By), David Greenwalt (Created By), Joss Whedon (Writer), David Greenwalt (Writer)
Director: Joss Whedon
Cast: David Boreanaz (Angel), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), Glenn Quinn (Doyle), Tracy Middendorf (Tina), Vyto Ruginis (Russel Winters), Christian Kane (Lindsey McDonald), Jon Ingrassia (Stacy), Renee Ridgeley (Margo), Sam Pancake (Manager), Josh Holloway (Good Looking Guy), Gina McClain (Janice), Michael Mantell (Oliver Simon (uncredited))

A good start to the series. Back then I was a little skeptical that a Angel series could work, but this episode had shown, that this series has potential.
Maybe a little too much exposition forced into it, to get new viewers up-to-date.
But what is with the ugly and strange vampire make-up in this episode? I don't remember if this new make-up was just an experiment in the beginning of the series, or if it was actually used throughout the Angel series like that.
I have just read on Wikipedia, that they tried a new vampire look in this episode, but were unhappy with it and returned to the vampire look known from Buffy.

Rating:


Even though I watched it now for this marathon, my review is a repost.

[Tom]

Aoi & Mutsuki: A Pair of Queens! (1999/Japan) (United States) Length: 325 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
Aoi was raised as a normal boy on Earth. Little did he know he was the heir apparent to Mito, the Queen turned Space Pirate of an alien race that chooses their sex at puberty. Aoi fell in love with Mutsuki, the policewoman who was chasing Mito, and the three of them saved the Universe. The only side effect was that Aoi had blossomed into a beautiful young woman. Now a malevolent entity calling herself the true Queen of the Universe appears with enough power to destroy entire planets. Aoi must defend her new throne, but she needs Mutsuki's help. Mutsuki must come to terms with her own feelings for Aoi so they can defend Earth together and become the galaxy's first royal pair of queens.

Mito no Daiboken: Futari no Jou-sama
1.01 The Queen Has Risen!
Writer: Fumihiko Shimo (Screenwriter)
Director: Takashi Watanabe
Cast: Tomoko Kawakami (Mito (voice)), Soichiro Hoshi (Aoi Mitsukuni (voice)), Kyoko Tsuruno (Mutsuki Nenga (voice)), Yumiko Kobayashi (Masatsuki Nenga (voice)), Sakiko Tamagawa (Sobo (voice)), Motoko Kumai (Sabu (voice)), Yuu Asakawa (Shin (voice)), Omi Minami (Kafuko (voice)), Machiko Toyoshima (Miyako Okubo (voice)), Takayuki Okada (Tendo (voice)), Masashi Yabe (Sega (voice)), Chiemi Chiba (Konami (voice)), Sayaka Ohara (Hiroko (voice)), Mikako Takahashi (Azuki (voice)), Saori Higashi (Ota (voice)), Ayako Kurasaki (Shizumi (voice)), Takayasu Usui (Nandabu (voice)), Taro Masuoka (Nibaul (voice)), Hidenari Ugaki (Kishu (voice)), Takuma Suzuki (Owari (voice)), Hideyuki Hori (Lanvan (voice)), Kazuhiko Inoue (Kagero Mitsukuni (voice))

This series is a sequel to another series, which I haven't seen. At the end of that series, one of the characters is transformed into a girl. This series now is about that character and also his relationship with a girl, which I think was his love interest in the first series. So the premise sound interesting. But the series itself is boring, as it is mostly about some crazy and ridiculous stuff going on and not so much about the relationship.
The best thing about it is the opening theme.

Rating:

[Tom]

Arrested Development: Season One (2003/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 489 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Plot:
In this critically acclaimed hit sitcom, you'll meet the suddenly penniless, and equally clueless, Bluth family. Accustomed to their wildly affluent lifestyle, they can't seem to grasp the fact that now the head of the family (Jeffrey Tambor) is in the slammer for shifty accounting practices–and he's loving every minute of it. Even worse, since the family assets have been frozen, they may actually have to go out and get jobs! The only one who understands the seriousness of their predicament is Michael (Jason Bateman), who realizes it's up to him to guide his eccentric family into this new chapter of their lives: Chapter 11.

Arrested Development
1.01 Pilot
Writer: Mitchell Hurwitz (Writer)
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Cast: Jason Bateman (Michael Bluth), Portia de Rossi (Lindsay Bluth Fünke), Will Arnett (George Oscar "Gob" Bluth II), Michael Cera (George-Michael Bluth), Alia Shawkat (Mae "Maeby" Fünke), Tony Hale (Byron "Buster" Bluth), David Cross (Tobias Fünke), Jeffrey Tambor (George Bluth Sr./Oscar Bluth), Jessica Walter (Lucille Bluth), Ron Howard (Narrator (uncredited)), John Beard (Himself), Jonathan Schmock (Captain), Hira Ambrosino (Executive), Paul Mendoza (Enrique), Stacey Grenrock Woods (Trisha), Chad Einbinder (Birthday Part Man), Andy Morrow (Teen Magician), J. Hunter Ackerman (Protestor), Channing Chase (Saleswoman)

I watched the extended cut of the pilot. It was always a fun show, but not one I was dying to watch the next episode. The actors were great. Especially fun were David Cross, Tony Hale and Jeffrey Tambor.

Rating:

[Tom]

At Last the 1948 Show (1967/United Kingdom) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 172 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 1 Subtitles:

Plot:
This historic, wildly silly series triggered a revolution that changed the face of TV comedy forever.

Bursting onto Britain's small screens in an explosion of outrageous and ofter surreal sketches. 'At Last The 1948 Show' featured John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Marty Feldman and Tim Brooke-Taylor. Produced in 1967, this recently discovered collection launched the Monty Python phenomenon and much like the effects of the Beatles on music, the world of comedy has never been the same.

This 2 DVD set features the recently discovered 5 episodes of the classic 'At Last The 1948 Show' series and a Comedy Family Tree poster booklet.

At Last the 1948 Show
1.01 Episode 1
Writer: Tim Brooke-Taylor (Writer), John Cleese (Writer), Graham Chapman (Writer), Marty Feldman (Writer)
Director: Ian Fordyce
Cast: Tim Brooke-Taylor), John Cleese), Graham Chapman), Marty Feldman), Aimi Macdonald), Jo Kendall), Dick Vosburgh), Barry Cryer), Dick Holmes)

An early show with John Cleese and Graham Chapman. I think it's only worth to check it out for curiosity sake. Though I only can base my opinion on this first episode. It's the first time that I ever saw any of them. This set has been in my unwatched pile for five years now.

Rating:

[Tom]

Azumanga Daioh: Class Album (2002/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia ADV Films (United States) Length: 650 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English

Plot:
In Miss Yukari's English class, every day is an adventure.

First off, there's the airhead teacher herself. She may have graduated from high school, but she sure hasn't left. And with the arrival of two transfer students - a ten-year-old prodigy and a space cadet - it's going to be an intersting class! Between handling enormous assignments, dodging murderous volleyballs, and eduring endless rivalries, summer vacation should serve as a welcome break for the weary student - unless your teachers come with you! Getting through three years alive with this motley crew is going to be an adventure!

Azumanga Daioh
1.01 Miss Yukari
Writer: Kiyohiko Azuma (Original Material By), Ichiro Okouchi (Screenwriter)
Director: Hiroshi Nishikiori
Cast: English Vocal Cast), Jessica Boone (Chiyo Mihama (voice)), Kira Vincent Davis (Ayumu Kasuga (voice)), Mandy Clark (Tomo Takino (voice)), Nancy Novotny (Koyomi Mizuhara (voice)), Christine Auten (Sakaki (voice)), Luci Christian (Yukari Tanizaki (voice)), Tiffany Grant (Kaorin (voice)), Hilary Haag (Chihiro (voice)), Andy McAvin (Mr. Kimura (voice)), Chris Patton (Male Student 1 (voice)), Greg Ayres (Male Student 2 (voice)), Monica Rial (Additional Voice (voice)), John Gremillion (Additional Voice (voice)), Allison Sumrall (Additional Voice (voice)), Bubba Callahan (Additional Voice (voice)), Sami Mikasa (Additional Voice (voice)), donaldo (Additional Voice (voice)), Japanese Vocal Cast), Tomoko Kaneda (Chiyo Mihama (voice)), Yuki Matsuoka (Ayumu Kasuga (voice)), Chieko Higuchi (Tomo Takino (voice)), Rie Tanaka (Koyomi Mizuhara (voice)), Yuu Asakawa (Sakaki (voice)), Akiko Hiramatsu (Yukari Tanizaki (voice)), Sakura Nogawa (Kaorin (voice)), Koji Ishii (Mr. Kimura (voice)), Akane Omae (Chihiro (voice)), Hiroyuki Yoshino (Ohyama (voice)), Naoki Yanagi (Male Student (voice)), Ryoko Nagata (Female Student (voice))

One of my favorite anime series. The first episode is a good introduction to the characters. And this series gets better and better later on.
You can find my series review here. This review is a little outdated though. I mentioned having only read one manga so far. This is not true anymore. I have read a lot more now. I also mention that my current avatar is based on a character from this series. This is still true. I still use it to this day.

Rating:

[Tom]

I am through with my A's!! 

[Tom]

Babylon 5: The Gathering (1993/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (Canada) Director: Richard Compton Writing: J. Michael Straczynski (Writer) Length: 95 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Michael O'Hare as Jeffrey Sinclair
Tamlyn Tomita as Laurel Takashima
Jerry Doyle as Michael Garibaldi
Mira Furlan as Delenn
Blaire Baron as Carolyn Sykes

Plot:
The Gathering: Alien envoys come to the giant space station in the pilot that launched the five-year TV Series.

Awards:
Nominated:

Hugo Award (1994)

Dramatic Presentation

Extras:

• Commentary
• Scene Access

My Thoughts:

This TV movie serves as the pilot of the series. They are some changes between this one and the series. Some of the cast changed and also some of the characters behaved a little different than we are used to in the series. I think it was a good choice to replace the doctor. I never liked the acting of the one in the pilot. As for the replacement of Takashima with Ivanova: I love Ivanova and Takashima was a little wooden here. But you never know. She could have worked out also.

Rating:

[Tom]

Babylon 5: The Legend of the Rangers: To Live & Die in Starlight (2002/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United States) Director: Michael Vejar Writing: J. Michael Straczynski (Original Characters By), J. Michael Straczynski (Writer) Length: 86 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Dylan Neal as David Martell
Andreas Katsulas as Citizen G'Kar
Alex Zahara as Dulann
Myriam Sirois as Sarah Cantrell
Dean Marshall as Malcolm Bridges

Plot:
THE RANGERS, an order of warrior-priests, have wandered the darkness between the stars for over a thousand years, protecting a hundred worlds from invasion and destruction. But now a new alien threat appears on the event horizon of the Interstellar Alliance, a force more ancient and powerful than anything previously encountered. The only obstacle in the way of this new race: a single broken-down Ranger ship, under the command of David Martel (Dylan Neal), whose sole orders were to escort Ambassador G'Kar (Andreas Katsulas) to an interstellar conference. Alone, barely armed, they must defeat an enemy unlike anything they have seen before.

Extras:

• Closed Captioned
• Scene Access

My Thoughts:

Another Babylon 5 TV pilot movie. I still remember being excited about the possibility of a new Babylon 5 series. Sadly it got no chance for this because of a football game which was on at the same time as this pilot which hurt the ratings.
This movie showed promise and I could very well imagine a TV series on this. There was only one thing which did bother me: The virtual fighting chamber thingie. But I very much think that this would have been the first thing dropped if the series would have been picked up.

Rating:

[Tom]

Skipping the mini series "Band of Brothers". I haven't watched this one since I first bought it in 2003. I really had enjoyed it then and was planning to revisit it again at some point but I never got around to it.

[Tom]

Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad: The Complete Series (2004/Japan) IMDb | Wikipedia (United States) Length: 635 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Subtitles: English

Plot:
Music is Life
Koyuki Tanaka was feeling the rut, though he's only a teenager. Between the sheltered and stifling grind of school and the girls that spend their time not noticing him... Every day was just another day of being a total nobody. Enter Ryusuke: a local rock n' roller haunted by a shady reputation. Together they form Beck, a dynamic band that just might be the salvation of the stagnant music scene. Sure, it's going to take hard work and obsession to make it, but there's something special in the sound. If the guys can stay true to their vision, the world awaits. Music can change their life, sometimes against your will. Just remember... When it's live, anything can happen.

Beck
1.01 The View at Fourteen

Beck is a good coming-of-age story about a boy who joins a rock band which dreams to become big in America. This first episode is slow but fitting introduction into the series.

Rating:

[Tom]

Becker: Season One (1998/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Paramount Home Entertainment (United States) Length: 370 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Subtitles:

Plot:
Take two aspirin before you see the doctor! Anchored by the hilarious performance of television star TED DANSON (TV's Cheers™), BECKER™ arrives on DVD for the very first time! Dr. John Becker, who operates a small medical practice in the Bronx, is annoyed with his patients, co-workers, and practically everything else in the world. But don't let the curmudgeonly demeanor fool you. As his blind newsstand friend Jake (ALEX DÉSERT) and beautiful diner owner Reggie (TERRY FARRELL) would tell you, the rants of the outrageous physician mask a softer side, which he only occasionally displays to his nurse Margaret (HATTIE WINSTON) and wacky office worker Linda (SHAWNEE SMITH). This 3-disc set contains all 22 Season One episodes of the immensely popular series BECKER™, TV's most outrageous physician!

Becker
1.01 Pilot (1998-09-02)
Writer: Dave Hackel (Created By), Dave Hackel (Writer)
Director: Andy Ackerman
Cast: Ted Danson (Dr. John Becker), Terry Farrell (Reggie), Hattie Winston (Margaret), Shawnee Smith (Linda), Alex Desert (Jake), Amy Aquino (Bev), Robert Bailey, Jr. (M.J.), Davenia McFadden (Annette), Bill Capizzi (Mr. Capelli), Rocky McMurray (Customer), Michael Reid Mackay (Man)

A perfect introduction to the characters, especially Becker. This pilot shows that even though he acts like real ass, Becker has a good side to him when it comes to his profession.

Rating:

[Tom]

The Ben Stiller Show: The Complete Series (1992/United States) IMDb | Wikipedia Warner Home Video (United States) Length: 299 min. Video: Full Frame 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Plot:
THE BEN STILLER SHOW
SEPTEMBER 1992 - JANUARY 1993

The Los Angeles Times called it "Rip Roaring Hilarious." Entertainment Weekly called it "SCTV with Better Hair." The Fox Network called to cancel the show after twelve episodes.

Now for the first time on DVD you can see all twelve episodes of the Emmy® Award winning The Ben Stiller Show as well as an originally unaired thirteenth episode AND nearly an hour of unaired sketches, outtakes and rare, behind-the-scenes footage with commentaries by the entire cast and writing staff.

So sit back and watch as Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, Andy Dick and Bob Odenkirk lead an inspired array of sketches and deft parodies with guest stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Dennis Miller, Flea, Garry Shandling, Susan Anton, and many, many more.

The Ben Stiller Show – you will wish it had survived an entire season.

The Ben Stiller Show
1.01 Episode 1
Writer: Judd Apatow (Writer), Robert Cohen (Writer), Brent Forrester (Writer), Jeff Kahn (Writer), Bruce Kirschbaum (Writer), Bob Odenkirk (Writer), Sultan Pepper (Writer), Dino Stamatopoulos (Writer), Ben Stiller (Writer)
Director: John Fortenberry
Cast: Ben Stiller (Host/Regular Performer), Andy Dick (Regular Performer), Janeane Garofalo (Regular Performer), Bob Odenkirk (Regular Performer), Roseanne (Herself), Tom Arnold (Himself), Dave Madden (Mr. Kinkaid), Garry Shandling (Himself), Melissa Justin (Video Diary Girl), Jeff Kahn (The Edge), John F. O'Donohue (The Officer), Harry O'Reilly (Video Diary Boyfriend), Jeanne Tripplehorn (The Wilson Woman)

I haven't seen this show for a long time. I don't remember much about it. Going by this first episode, it looks like it could have potential having a great cast. But I just didn't find it funny.

Rating: