Rating:  -
So I've been awaiting these DVDs forever, ever since the show was cancelled, and I've had them for a little over a month now. I had my pre-order in since the day it was available, and for the most part I could not be happier. The show still holds up today, despite all the great shows that have popped us since then, it still holds its own. The main actors play their characters amazingly well with all of their quirks and intricacies. A very funny, extremely well written, and tragically short-lived piece of comedy genius.
But enough about the show, by now you either know if you will like it or not I hope, what I really wanted to talk about is the DVDs. Now don't get me wrong, I'm glad these are out and I don't have to keep watching my downloaded copies on my computer screen, but I do have a couple gripes.
First off, the picture is cropped down from the original. Like Pan & Scan in reverse. Instead of cutting down a widescreen image to fit an old-style squarish TV screen, they cut down the original squarish picture of the TV show to fit today's widescreen TVs. So the bottom part of the original image and sometimes the top are chopped off. Not a huge problem, because obviously it was done in a way where you can still see what's going on all the time, but a bit annoying having about a third of the picture missing.
Secondly, (something that "N. Smith" touched on a little) is that some of the original music from the series was changed. Instrumental snippets of songs like "Teenage Riot" by the Ataris and "Cyclone" by the Dub Pistols were used to great effect in some episodes but now they've been replaced by generic pieces of music that convey vaguely the same feeling. Most people won't miss them, but it's just something I noticed while watching. The music that was specifically written for the show is great on its own, the other songs just added to that.
So there you go, a couple things that I didn't like, but which by no means drop this to less than a must-buy for me. 5 Stars, no doubt.
"Wow, we're really making a killing. Can't wait to go home, put on seven aprons and a couple of wigs and enjoy a highball out of a chipped State Bird glass."
Rating:  -
Finally have every episode of ARCtU. I almost bought a bootleg version a few months ago. I am a little disappointed that there are not more extras. Two commentaries and two talking head docs. I guess I was expecting the cast and people releasing the DVDs loved the show as much as I did (like the phenom set for Freaks & Geeks).
Still worth it for any Andy Richter fan (or Vick Fresco). Glad to have Better of Ted airing on ABC for now (the half brother of ARCtU).
Rating: -
Unfortunately, I don't find the show as brilliant as most people seem to. I loved Andy Richter on Late Night (and I've had a slight crush on Paget Brewster since she was on Friends), and absurdist comedy is right up my alley, but ... somehow this all feels like I've seen it before. I get Herman's Head flashbacks all the time.
There are certainly worse shows to spend your time with, but it didn't "grab" me like, say, 30 Rock did.
Rating: -
I stumbled across the pilot episode of this show way-back-when and absolutely fell in love! What a great cast! What a unique (and much copied since) premise! I even regularly posted to the FOX ARCU blog. I was absolutely devastated when it was cancelled. Believe it or not, Andy was in many ways the straight man character in this comedy, surrounded by characters we not only enjoyed laughing at but came to love. I felt like a friend has died when it was cancelled. That's how much I loved it. When we were supposed to be comforted by the premiere of "Andy Barker: PI," I thought, "What? No Jonathan Slavin? No Paget Brewster? HOW will I ever enjoy this show like I did ARCU?" I am SO thankful that this has finally been released on DVD. Better late than never (a la "Dr. Katz" and "Freaks & Geeks"). I can't wait to share ARCU with my teenaged stepson, who has a warped sense of humor like me. This has set us up for a hilarious summer!
Rating:  -
To me this is one of the funniest shows ever. If you liked the show when it was on Fox, Buy It! If you haven't seen the show but like Andy Richter, Buy It! My one issue with this release is the transfer. The video looks like it was dupp'd on a VCR once in a while. Why not raise the price a couple of $$ and do a good job?
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