October 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.

October 2015 saw the release of satirical PBS series The Great American Dream Machine on DVD as well as four episodes of early syndicated wildlife series Osa’s Big Game Hunt. Also, Warner Archive Instant added one season wonders Sam Benedict (NBC, 1962-1963) and Logan’s Run (CBS, 1977-1978).

DVD/Blu-ray Releases

The Great American Dream Machine (TV Episodes, S’More Entertainment, DVD)
A press release for this 4-disc set declares it “includes nearly every hilarious, unforgettable and trenchant moment from the show’s two season run – nearly 13 hours of peerless and thoughtful comedy and opinion.” However, according to a DVD Talk review, the set contains a mix of highlights and complete episodes, which is disappointing. The satirical variety show aired on PBS from 1971 to 1972. Additional reviews can be found at InsidePulse and BlogCritics.

Sci-Fi Cartoon Classics, Volume 2 (TV Episodes, Alpha Video, DVD)
Back in February, Alpha Video released four episodes of syndicated cartoon Space Angel. It was was offered in five-minute segments that could be stripped Monday through Friday or bunched together to create a half-hour episode. That set included one episode that was not included in earlier DVD sets. This new single disc release, however, features four episodes that have already been released on DVD. Manufacture-on-demand.

Osa’s Big Game Hunt, Volume 1 (TV Episodes, Alpha Video, DVD)
Four episodes of early wildlife series The Big Game Hunt (also known as Osa’s Big Game Hunt and Osa Johnson’s Big Game Hunt) are included in this single disc release. The half-hour syndicated series aired in syndication during the 1952-1953 season. The 26 episodes included footage from African expeditions led by explorer Osa Johnson and her husband Martin. Osa introduced some of the episodes but passed away before production could be completed. Ivan Sanderson hosted the remaining episodes. Manufacture-on-demand.

DVD/Blu-ray News

Mill Creek Entertainment will release short-lived UPN western adventure series Legend on January 5th, 2016. The series starred Richard Dean Anderson and John de Lancie and ran for just 12 episodes between April and August 1995 (TVShowsOnDVD.com).

Streaming/Downloads

Warner Archive Instant added Sam Benedict (NBC, 1962-1963), Logan’s Run (CBS, 1977-1978), and telefilm They Only Come Out at Night (NBC, 1975) to its streaming service last month.

Legal drama Sam Benedict starred Edmond O’Brien, Richard Rust, and Joan Tompkins. It ran for 28 episodes.

Logan’s Run was a spin-off of the 1976 film of the same name and ran for just 14 episodes. It starred Gregory Harrison and Heather Menzies. The complete series was released on DVD in April 2012.

They Only Come Out at Night originally aired on April 29th, 1975. Jack Warden starred as a detective on the trail of a serial killer who targets elderly women. The telefilm served as the pilot for a short-lived 1976 TV series called Jigsaw John also starring Warden.

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


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