Less Than Perfect – Season One (2002 – 2003/ABC/Lionsgate DVD)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Episodes: D

 

 

There are so many cable channels with nothing memorable, than a marginal show, even a boring one, can become a hit for a few seasons and go by hardly noticed.  A good example of that is Less Than Perfect, which managed to survive for four seasons before ending.  Sara Rue is Claude Casey, a woman who started in the mailroom of a TV news organization and is now at the anchor desk.  This would-be comedy is about those who are miserable with her and the jobs around them, but as this Season One set proves, Sports Night this is not.

 

The cast is also mixed, including Andy Dick (once of the superior NewsRadio) staying out of trouble enough to essentially play another variant of himself here.  A pre-“Chuck” Zachary Levi is also here, as is a badly cast Eric Roberts and perennial TV sitcom guy Patrick Warburton, resulting in a too-safe, boring show few remember.  We get 22 half-hours over four DVDs and unless you are a diehard fan or have diehard curiosity, skip it.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image was shot in HD video of some kind, is soft throughout and is likely early 1080i (if not 720p?) and not very impressive, while the Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo fares better, but has weak surrounds if you try to retrieve any.  There are no extras.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo