The
Comeback: Limited Series (2005, 2014/HBO DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: C+ Episodes: C+
Lisa
Kudrow's HBO series The Comeback debuts in its 21 Episode
entirety on DVD from HBO entertainment featuring the first and second
seasons of the show (a third season has been greenlit). The
series initially follows Valerie Cherish (Kudrow), a veteran sitcom
actress (sound familiar?) who has been out of the spotlight for more
than a decade as she attempts in 2005 to return to the industry that
made her famous with often hilarious results. Valerie lands a role
on a new network sitcom called Room and
Bored, but struggles with the matter
of being an aging, non-influential performer in an increasingly
youthful Hollywood, while her every move on and off the set is being
documented for a companion reality show.
Season
Two takes place in 2014, where she is cast as a fictionalized version
of herself in an HBO series entitled Seeing
Red, which chronicles the career of
the sitcom writer/producer who tormented her nine years earlier. A
documentary film crew captures her second career resurgence as it
threatens to destroy her personal life. The show also stars the
beautiful Malin Akerman, Robert Bagnell, and Laura Silverman. Expect
some cameos of interest throughout as well.
Season
1 episodes include The Comeback, Valerie
Triumphs at the Upfronts, Valerie Bonds With The Cast, Valerie Stands
up For Aunt Sassy, Valerie Demands Dignity, Valerie Saves The Show,
Valerie Gets A Special Episode, Valerie Relaxes in Palm Springs,
Valerie Hangs With The Cool Kids, Valerie Gets A Magazine Cover,
Valerie Stands Out On The Red Carpet, Valerie Shines Under Stress,
and Valerie Does Another Classic Leno.
Season
2 episodes include Valerie Makes a Pilot, Valerie Tries To Get
Yesterday Back, Valerie Is Brought To Her Knees, Valerie Saves The
Show, Valerie Is Taken Seriously, Valerie Cooks In The Desert,
Valerie Faces The Critics, and Valerie Gets What She Really
Wants.
Presented
on DVD with an anamorphic 1.78 X 1 widescreen transfer and a lossy
5.1 Dolby Digital Track, the show looks as good as it can on the DVD
format but doesn't quite catch the clarity of Blu-ray. Sound is
well-recorded and mixed enough with the time gap between the two
seasons not bad.
Extras
include Season 2 Commentaries, Deleted Scenes, and a Featurette:
Valerie Backstage at Dancing With The Stars.
If
you enjoy peeking in the lives of would see celebrities in Hollywood,
then I would definitely suggest this comedy series. While aimed more
towards an older audience, there are many quotable moments and
interesting cameos that add to the show's realism.
-
James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films
