3rd Rock From the Sun Season 1 Review

3rd Rock From the Sun
SEASON ONE

ANCHOR BAY PRESENTS

Release Date: July 26th 2005

MSRP Price: $39.98 (MSRP)
Amazon Price: $27.99
Costco Price: $28.99
Wallmart: $26.99 Introductory Price

20 Episodes from 1996
Format: full-Screen
Studio: Paramount Television
Run Time: 442 minutes
Number of Discs - 4
Sound - Dolby Digital 2.0

3rd Rock From the Sun Season 1 Rating: "B"
Video: B
Audio: B
Content: A
Acting: A
Bonus Material: A
Overall: B

STARS: John Lithgow, Kristen Johnson, Jane Curtain, French Stewart, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt

This stupid off the wall series took the airwaves by storm. It was fresh, funny, and entertaining. I was amazed that a show based on idiot aliens landing on Earth and taking human shape to study humanity would be taken in by viewers. Not since Mork and Mindy has this style of work been done. And for six seasons 3rd entertained so very well.

John Lithgow was made for the part of Dick Solomon, the High Commander. The pompous ass leader of a band of idiots could make you double over with laughter for the entire half-hour. The entire cast kicks some ass together.

3rd Rock From the Sun was a mid-season replacement on NBC and not expected to do that well. The series was an instant success. It went on to earn 8 Emmy awards and 31 total nominations.

Fans of the series will enjoy having 3rd Rock on DVD. It's amazing it took them this long to get the set to the public. Especially with stuff like Punky Brewster or Green Acres hitting shelves first.

It's gust busting humor watching someone act like an alien and they understand nothing about humans or the planet. 3rd Rock kicks ass and you will have a great time with it. All I can say is... enjoy.

PACKAGING
Anchor Bay has stuck with their standard fold out digipack which works really well. Images used on on the fold out are cast photos - very cool. The cardboard designer sleeve looks nice. Also included is an interesting booklet with odd tidbits and includes the first season episode list.

VIDEO:
The 1996 digital transfer looks fair. Dirt and debris are minimal and there's no pixelation problems. Anchor Bay has stuck with the single sided disc format. In general most of the episodes are colorful and bright. There are a few episodes that seem a bit faded, but most viewers will not even notice. Each disc does have the "Play All" feature. The menus are designed like the opening credits and look ok.

AUDIO:
The Digital 2.0 sounds decent. More than enough for a comedy television series. The bass in the opening segments feels a bit weak. The voices are sharp and crisp. There's no buzzing or muddle in the sound.

BONUS FEATURES:
Anchor Bay has continued as the king of Bonus Material. They have added a cool gag real, interviews with the entire cast, some TV spots and a behind the scenes featurette.

Blooper Reel
3rd Rock: Behind the Scenes
Interviews with the entire cast and crew
Season One Highlights
TV Spots
16 page collectible booklet
DVD-Rom Teleplays

SUMMARY:
3rd Rock is a fun series. The first season on DVD rocks and the following sets will be just as good if not better. The humor is through and through on every episode. The sneezing scene with Kristen Johnson is gut busting. The first kissing scene with Dick and Dr. Albright was awesome.

What's on the Discs?

Disc 1:

Brains & Eggs; Post-Nosed Dick; Dick's First Birthday; Dick is From Mars, Sally is From Venus; Dick, Smoker; Green-Eyed Dick

Disc 2:

Lonely Dick; Body & Soul & Dick; Ab-Dick-Ted; Truth or Dick; The Art of Dick; Frozen Dick

Disc 3:

Angry Dick; The Dicks, They are a Changin'; Dick Like Me; Assaults With a Deadly Dick; Father Knows Dick

Disc 4:

Selfish Dick; See Dick Run & the Bonus Features.

Disc 5:

Fusion; Rogue Planet; Acquisition; Oasis

3rd Rock Season 1 Rating: B

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