“It’s Garry Shandling’s Show.”: The Complete Series

SHOUT FACTORY

SHOW A-

SPECIAL FEATURES A-

DVD GEEK FACTOR 9

(OUT OF 10)

Before Seinfeld, and before Garry Shandling’s own The
Larry Sanders Show, there was this gem from the late ’80s. Set up
like a standard sitcom, but with Shandling breaking the fourth wall and
often conversing with the audience, the show mocked the very formula it
was following.

While the show was scripted, the format allowed for improvisation
and just plain goofing around, so it felt nothing like a standard
sitcom. At the time, it was a major trailblazer. Revisiting it 19 years
after it went off the air, however, it feels a little dated. The
improvisational format that was clever at the time has been done
repeatedly since, most notably with Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The Seinfeld comparisons are undeniable: Consider the
apartment setting, the main star playing himself and the wacky
neighbors barging in. The characters of Pete Schumacher (Michael Tucci)
and Leonard Smith (Paul Willson) are early versions of Jason
Alexander’s George and Wayne Knight’s Newman. The list goes on, and
you’ll see the likeness. Not complaining … I’m just saying.

Highlights include the series finale, in which Dan Aykroyd stops by
for a Driving Miss Daisy spoof. Tom Petty plays himself in a few
episodes, including a two-parter in which the gang heads to Vegas for
Leonard’s wedding. Petty actually proves to be rather hilarious,
delivering his lines with a stoned deadpan.

Shandling was a maverick with two groundbreaking series, and while
this one hasn’t aged as gracefully as Sanders, it was well ahead
of its time.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Shandling takes part in numerous
commentaries and retrospectives, although he seems a little tired. You
also get a bunch of outtakes in the 16-disc set. Overall, it’s a very
nice effort, and it’s great to finally get this on DVD.

Trick ‘r Treat

WARNER PREMIERE

MOVIE C+

SPECIAL FEATURES B-

DVD GEEK FACTOR 4.5

(OUT OF 10)

This one attempts to pay tribute to past classics like
Creepshow and other anthology horror projects. In the end, it’s
just a bloody mess.

Writer-director Michael Dougherty tells a series of stories, and he
tries to interweave them in a way that makes little sense. Dylan Baker
plays a principal living a secret life as a serial killer. While the
part about him killing kids and burying them in the backyard is kind of
creepy, his appearance later as a fake vampire in another subplot is
lame.

If you are looking for some good Halloween anthology, get
Creepshow, Masters of Horror or early Tales From the
Crypt. This one has its moments, but it’s a letdown in the end.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Dougherty does a commentary and an animated
short. You also get some deleted scenes and a documentary on Halloween
legends narrated by Brian Cox. The documentary is better than the main
film.

The Shortcut

ANCHOR BAY

MOVIE D-

SPECIAL FEATURES D

DVD GEEK FACTOR 1

(OUT OF 10)

This is the first film from Scary Madison, an offshoot of Adam
Sandler’s Happy Madison production company. His brother co-wrote the
screenplay, and Nicholaus Goosen (of Happy Madison’s awful Grandma’s
Boy) directs. While it’s nice that Adam is getting his buddies
work, and the foray into horror is admirable, the movie stinks.

It starts in 1945. (Memo to Adam: Don’t set part of your movie in
the past if you have no budget.) It then picks up in the present day,
where kids are scared of a shortcut in the woods. A rich family with a
violent son is responsible for disappearances over the years, and a
group of wily kids heads to their house when a dog goes missing.

The movie often feels like something on Nickelodeon—but then
it gets too violent for kids. It wants to have it both ways, and it
fails miserably. Let’s hope the sophomore effort for Scary Madison
beats this one.

SPECIAL FEATURES: A director’s commentary … that is
all.

A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa (Extended Edition)

DISNEY

SHOW B

SPECIAL FEATURES C-

DVD GEEK FACTOR 5.5

(OUT OF 10)

As far as Muppet projects go, this one is pretty good. The plot has
something to do with Kermit and friends trying to personally deliver
letters to Santa, and it’s cute. They got some original tunes from the
ever-reliable Paul Williams, some decent guest stars like Nathan Lane
and Uma Thurman, and a nice overall production. I liked the Swedish
Chef trying to feed Tony Sirico of The Sopranos pizza; while the
jokes are often lame, they are lame in that endearing, goofy Muppet
sort of way. I do love Pepe the Prawn.

Word has it that Jason Segel is working on a script for a new Muppet
movie. That would be cool. They used to be a lot more subversive and
intelligent.

I’m still not used to the replacement voices. I miss Jim Henson.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Deleted scenes.

This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2009.