Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Many (not judging by Nielson Ratings) were saddened to hear of FOX’s decision to pull the plug on "Arrested Development". In an unrelated (but no less horrifying) move, ABC has picked up "Freddie", the (I use the term loosely) sitcom starring Freddie Prinze Jr, for a full season. The net effect? Broadcast TV just got a lot crappier. With a few notable exceptions, the only show on network prime time worth watching is "Lost". Luckily, to fill up all that dead air, there are plenty of TV shows being released on DVD this week:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Chosen Collection The entire series on 39 discs. Also included in the set is a signed letter from creator Josh Whedon, a booklet with episode listings and quotes, and a bonus DVD that includes:

* Introduction by Joss Whedon
* Back to the Hellmouth: A Conversation with Creators and Cast
* Cast and Crew: Favorite Episodes
* Buffy: An Unlikely Role Model
* Breaking Barriers: It’s Not a Chick Fight Thing
* Love Bites: Relationships in the Buffyverse
* Evil Fiends

Note, that is all in addition to including 39 discs of Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy. (Seriously, what does she see in Freddie Prinze Jr? I can’t believe she is still married to him. I’m sure he didn’t even watch "Swans Crossing", as I did.)

Perhaps, I have said too much.

Moving on...

Friends - The One with All Ten Seasons (Limited Edition) The entire series on 40 discs. No information is available on any bonus features. Also available tomorrow is Friends-Season 10, which includes:

* Commentary on three episodes by the producers
* Friends Final Thoughts: The cast and producers reflect during their final days at work and after series production ends
* Multiple-season gag reels
* Friends of Friends: video guest book part IV includes Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd and Aisha Tyler
* "Joey Joey" a music video with Matt LeBlanc

If you thought the cast of Friends wasn’t good looking enough, fear not, the complete third season of The Golden Girls is due out November 22. That Bea Arthur is a sexy, sexy woman.

If you prefer your friends younger, and your climate colder:That 70’s Show -Season 3 contains 25 episodes on 4 discs. The set includes episode introductions by cast members (except for Ashton Kutcher (busy with Demi), Topher Grace (busy with Spider-Man 3), and Laura Prepon (hopefully busy getting her hair back to red)) and commentary on eight episodes by Director David Trainer and writer Patrick Kienlen.

For fans of actual 70’s television there is Fantasy Island - The Complete First Season, starring Herve Villechaize and the macho Ricardo Montalban. It includes all the episodes of the first season, the pilot, and the television movie that started the series.

Coffee or Beer? Seattle or Boston? Original or Spin-Off? Cheers or Frasier? You can decide as both series’ complete seventh seasons are released tomorrow, both in four-disc sets. No bonus material information is available.

Finally, a sitcom reminiscent of Arrested Devlopement, in that it is funny and always seems in danger of being cancelled, the complete second season of Scrubs contains:

* Johnny C. Keeps Talking - one on one with John C. McGinley
* Secrets and Lies - the truth about gossip, jokes and stories revealed
* The Musical Stylings - find out how songs are chosen and enhance the show
* Practice, Practice, Malpractice - Scrubs outtakes
* Scrubbed Out - deleted scenes
* J.D.’s Imagination Gone Wild - cast gives exclusive insights into dream sequences
* Commentaries with the cast and creators

None of this really makes up for the loss of a quality comedy like Arrested Development (though, take it from me, lots of Buffy helps ease the pain). For that, fans can only take solace in the DVDs of Seasons One and Two, enjoy the remaining episodes of this season, and hope that some other network (paging HBO?) picks it up.