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.
October 2016 was yet another quiet month. Two recent obscurities were released on DVD Constantine (NBC, 2014-2015) and The Grinder (FOX, 2015-2016). Constantine was released on Blu-ray as well. Also, Cain’s Hundred (NBC, 1961-1962) has been added to Warner Archive’s streaming service.
DVD/Blu-ray Releases
Constantine – The Complete Series (TV Series, Warner Archive, DVD & Blu-ray)
Constantine ran for 13 episodes on NBC during the 2014-2015 season. I’m not sure why the series is only now being released on DVD and Blu-ray. Matt Ryan starred as John Constantine, a demon hunter with occult powers. The set includes several bonus features, including a Q & A from the 2014 Comic-Con.
The Grinder: The Complete First Season (TV Series, Twentieth Century Fox, DVD)
Sadly, FOX cancelled The Grinder after its first season. So this release should properly be called The Complete Series. Rob Lowe and Fred Savage starred in the sitcom about an actor (Lowe) who moves in with his brother (Savage) and starts trying to help out at the family law firm. Mary Elizabeth Ellis, William Devane, Natalie Morales, Hana Hayes, and Connor Kalopsis rounded out the cast. The set includes all 22 episodes. NOTE: This is a manufactured on demand release.
DVD/Blu-ray News
Warner Archive will release Sam Benedict (NBC, 1962-1963) on DVD on November 22nd. The legal drama starred Edmond O’Brien, Richard Rust, and Joan Tompkins. It ran for 28 episodes (TVShowsOnDVD.com).
Recent one season wonder American Gothic will be released on DVD on December 13th. The drama ran for 13 episodes on CBS this past summer (TVShowsOnDVD.com).
As I reported late last month month, rarely-seen 1950s sitcom How to Marry a Millionaire is coming to DVD at some point. No release date has been specified.
Streaming
Warner Archive relaunched the website for its streaming service in September and I didn’t notice. The service used to be called Warner Archive Instant but apparently has been rebranded as simply Warner Archive. There’s now only one section for TV rather than separate pages for TV series and TV movies.
How this single page is sorted remains a mystery to me; it’s not alphabetical or chronological. TV series, TV seasons, and TV movies are mixed together. It’s difficult to tell what, if anything, has been added recently. I believe Cain’s Hundred (NBC, 1961-1962) is new.
Also, two recent obscurities were added to Netflix last month: The Grinder (FOX, 2015-2016) and Containment (The CW, 2016).
Hit the comments with any news about upcoming DVD/Blu-ray releases or additions to streaming services.
