January 07 2006
So in this episode . . . what show is this again?
Article talks about the current popularity of TV shows on DVD, all the offer, and why people want them. Including the mention of "Joss Whedon for his near-scholarly comments on his own episodes."
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LmR | January 07, 17:32 CET
Derf | January 07, 17:47 CET
MySerenity | January 07, 17:55 CET
I don't see the logic in that, nor is there any evidence to support this contrived theory so abruptly ending an otherwise interesting and amusing article. This just doesn't seem likely or believable to me, that "the public" would have no idea of who writes for their favourite television shows without a DVD release and the requisite special features.
gorramit | January 07, 18:06 CET
Just ask your friends if they know who writes for their favorite shows and you will see what I mean, this is for the non-verse fans.
[ edited by RavenU on 2006-01-08 01:15 ]
RavenU | January 07, 18:13 CET
1. Joss Whedon (Buffy/Firefly)
Joss is insightful, funny, and he talks *a lot*, and always talk about stuff that we really want to hear.
2. David Chase (Sopranos)
Although he lacks the humour of #1, David is a frighteningly brilliant man, and delves *deep* into the episodes he's commenting on. If there's one man who knows every single layer of The Sopranos, it's this man.
3. Michael Imperioli (Sopranos)
Occasionally funny, but always very interestsing. Also, best accent ever!
4. Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David (Seinfeld)
The commentaries from Jerry and Larry are pure laughs, even if they're not saying anything. It's just a thrill to sit down with your favourite Seinfeld-episode and laugh along with the guys who created the series; as if they're in the room with you. :) (Side-note: all the other commentators on these DVD-packs are either boring, just not there (Julia, Jason and Michael rarely say anything) or just plain praise.
5. Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings)
Although this doesn't qualify as television, I felt I should mention it nonetheless. Unlike the cast-commentary for these movies, there's actually some stuff in here that's not "Oh my God. I love these people, and they are so perfect." He has some interesting things to say about the process of making the best movie ever.
Although he hasn't done it yet, I sincerely hope Steven Bochco sits down to do an AC for the upcoming season 3 DVD box set of NYPD Blue.
[wcip]Angel | January 07, 18:44 CET
SoddingNancyTribe | January 07, 19:07 CET
I really enjoyed the Futurama commentaries too, some of them are really very funny.
Ghost Spike | January 07, 19:08 CET
Craig Oxbrow | January 07, 19:10 CET
When a TV writer or exec producer has a new series coming out, be it a spin-off or wholly original creation, it's often marketed as 'from the creators of' whatever his or her previous successes or known commodities may be. For example, take Darren Star: Beverly Hills, 90210, then Melrose Place, Sex & The City and most recently Kitchen Confidential (the latter of which was marketed, in part, as a new series from the creator of Sex & The City). Then there's David E. Kelley: L.A. Law, Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, Boston Public, to name a few.
When Curb Your Enthusiasm was beginning, there was no hesitation on HBO's part to associate it with Seinfeld and raise awareness of Larry David's new show. Even Joss, most notably with Fox's (attempt at) marketing Firefly - there was often a mention of 'from the creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer', as there was with Universal's marketing of 'Serenity'.
Granted, I freely admit that the few names I've mentioned are by no means Hollywood lightweights or great unknowns in their industries, but neither were their names and accomplishments great mysteries until the TV-on-DVD sales explosion of recent years. It's absolutely the lesser-known (for now, at least) talents of folks like David Fury, Jane Espenson and Drew Goddard (among many others on many other shows) that receive greater exposure from audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes and the like, and more power to 'em, I say.
If this issue is a dead horse (or was ever a living horse to begin with), I will beat it no longer; also, I've got a bus to catch. Goodnight all!
gorramit | January 07, 19:27 CET
David Koepp did quite an entertaining and insightful one for 'Stir of Echoes' (writer/directors are usually more interesting - or adaptor/director in this case). The commentaries i'd probably most like to hear (apart from Joss on everything) would be from M. Night Shyamalan but he doesn't seem to do them (presumably for some artistic reason).
Saje | January 07, 19:34 CET
He'd just tell you how clever he is and how he's going to be the next Speilberg (whatever that means exactly).
Oh, wait, he does that in interviews anyway.
crossoverman | January 07, 20:03 CET
zimshan | January 07, 20:17 CET
Sarah Clarke did a commentary for a 24 S3 episode and managed to talk all the time even though she only appears in the last few minutes of it :)
Elo | January 07, 20:50 CET
I'd say that was rare though. So much of the time commentaries are directors gushing about stars or stars gushing about each other. It's rare to find a good commentary that focuses on the craft of making the film - even from good filmmakers.
In fact, it frightens me the number of great filmmakers who can't talk their way intelligently through their films - which gives me even more respect for those who politely decline to do them; at least they aren't wasting my time.
With Joss you get the feeling that he really likes the people he works with.
But can balance his commentaries between intelligent discussion of his craft with that of the actors. Or, in the case of Firefly comms, in concert with other people - Tim or the actors.
Commentaries, back in the days of laserdisc, were a true extra; if a filmmaker agreed to do one, they had things to say about the film. More precisely, only directors that had something to say were even approached to make commentaries.
Now commentaries are everywhere, standard issue. And I'll basically only listen to them if I already know that person can do a good commentary. If I don't know whether they can or not, I'm much more selective; I won't sit listening to a commentary in the vain hope it gets better. More likely I'll skip to scenes where I hope to hear something interesting about them (more often than not, though, these scenes aren't commented on, or nothing is said beyond what I already know).
crossoverman | January 07, 22:45 CET
Alias Season 3 has the TWOP moderator Erin do commentary. Best thing about the box set. I wish they'd get her to do more.
eddy | January 08, 01:58 CET
vampire dan | January 08, 10:38 CET
Ooh, I haven't seen those yet. The only F&G commentary I've watched so far was the one where the two teachers and the guidance counselor commentate - in character. It's hilarious, especially all the stuff about the hotel room in Hawaii.
barboo | January 09, 22:57 CET