January 2015: The Month in Home Media

The Month in Home Media is a monthly column highlighting short-lived or rare television series, specials, miniseries or made-for-TV movies released on DVD or Blu-ray during the previous month, as well as recent additions to streaming services like Warner Archive Instant. The releases discussed in this column are encoded for Region 1 use in the United States and Canada. The Month in Home Media is published on the first Thursday of each month.

The first month of 2015 was a relatively slow one. There were a few DVD releases, including NBC’s very recent new obscurity Bad Judge and 10 episodes of syndicated drama Waterfront (1954-1955). Also, Warner Archive Instant added The Yellow Rose (NBC, 1984-1985) to its streaming collection.

DVD/Blu-ray Releases

Waterfront – Collection 1 (TV Episodes, VCI Entertainment, DVD)
This syndicated series isn’t a one season wonder but it is forgotten enough that I’m including it. The half-hour drama series ran for two seasons between 1954 and 1956. Preston Fester starred as the captain of a tugboat. A total of 78 episodes were produced. This collection includes just ten, all from the first season. I believe this will be the first time episodes of the series have been released on any format.

Tate – Volume 1 (TV Episodes, Alpha Video, DVD)
This single-disc release includes four episodes of Tate, a short-lived summer replacement series that ran on NBC from June to September 1960. David McLean starred in the half-hour Western as a bounty hunter. Only 13 episodes were produced. Timeless Media Group released a complete series set back in October 2007 that is now out of print. Presumably, these episodes are public domain or else Alpha Video wouldn’t be involved. Manufacture-on-demand.

Bad Judge: The Complete Series (TV Series, Universal Home Video, DVD)
In what may be a record for fastest release of a TV series, Amazon started selling this two-disc set on January 28th. That’s less than a week after the last episode aired on NBC. Kate Walsh starred in the short-lived sitcom as an out-of-control judge in Los Angeles. It premiered on October 2nd, 2014 and was cancelled later that month. NBC aired all 13 episodes. Manufacture-on-demand.

DVD/Blu-ray News

It was another month without news.

Streaming

Warner Archive Instant has added The Yellow Rose to its streaming program. The NBC drama starred Sam Elliot, David Soul, and Cybill Shepherd. It ran for 22 episodes during the 1983-1984 season. A complete DVD set was released through the Warner Archive Collection in May 2011.

Hulu has added NBC miniseries Noble House starring Pierce Brosnan to its streaming offerings. Based on the James Clavell novel, the four-part miniseries aired over four consecutive nights in February 1988. It was released on VHS at one point and on DVD in March 2008. It is also available through Amazon Instant Video.

Hit the comments with any news about upcoming DVD/Blu-ray releases or additions to streaming services.


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2 Replies to “January 2015: The Month in Home Media”

  1. Your Feb. 2014 post listed ‘A Man Called Shenandoah’ and ‘The Rounders’ as two additions to Warner Archive Instant, but they are no longer available for streaming. I remember ‘Bronk’ and ’77 Sunset Strip’ being there, but not anymore. Why does WB do this? Even if a show isn’t popular compared to others, how does it cost them money to keep it available?

    1. I’m assuming it has something to do with licensing/rights. Warner Archive licenses the streaming rights for a set period of time. Since some shows are removed and later returned it may be that Warner Archive is renewing licenses.

      Or it is just shuffling shows around.

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