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.
September 2015 was a slow month with only one significant release: The Bold Ones: The Protectors. Alpha Video also released episodes of Stump the Stars and a single episode of The Elgin Hour.
DVD/Blu-ray Releases
The Bold Ones: The Protectors – The Complete Series (TV Series, Shout! Factory, DVD)
Leslie Nielsen and Hari Rhodes starred in this crime drama that ran on for one season on NBC from 1969 to 1970. It was part of the network’s rotating The Bold Ones series and thus aired for just seven episodes (including a pilot telefilm). A review can be found at InsidePulse.
The Elgin Hour – “Sting of Death” (TV Episode, Alpha Video, DVD)
Borlis Karloff starred in this mystery drama, an episode of ABC’s live anthology series The Elgin Hour, which ran for 19 episodes during the 1954-1955 season (alternating weekly with The United States Steel Hour). “Sting of Death” originally aired on February 22nd, 1955. Also included is a 1961 episode of Thriller, hosted by Boris Karloff. Manufacture-on-demand.
Great Celebrity Quiz Shows featuring Stump the Stars (TV Episodes, Alpha Video, DVD)
This single-disc release includes four episodes of Stump the Stars, a revival of the long-running Pantomime Quiz that ran on CBS from September 1962 to September 1963. These episodes are from 1963. Among the regular panelists are Ross Martin, Hans Conreid, Sebastian Cabot, and Beverly Garland. Guests include Julie London, Nanette Fabray, Bert Lahr, and Dennis Weaver. Manufacture-on-demand.
DVD/Blu-ray News
S’more Entertainment’s 4-disc The Great American Dream Machine set will be released on October 29th rather than September 29th as originally announced (TVShowsOnDVD.com).
Streaming/Downloads
Hulu added the original Battlestar Galactica to its streaming service in September. Although not obscure by any means, the 1978-1979 ABC sci-fi series is technically a one season wonder.
Several TV shows and made-for-TV movies were removed from Warner Archive Instant last month, including The Gallant Men, the first two seasons of Sugarfoot, and the 1974 ABC telefilm Wonder Woman starring Cathy Lee Crosby.
Hit the comments with any news about upcoming DVD/Blu-ray releases or additions to streaming services.
