Sci-Fi TV classics on DVD

We have one copy of each of these terrific boxsets to giveaway… We will pick 4 people at random and send them the first DVD we put our hands on.

All you have to do is email universal [AT] sci-fi-london.com and tell us Mr Munster’s first name. Easy

The Munsters

Back in the mid-Sixties there were two shows of a similar ilk, The Munsters and The Addams Family. The Munsters looked like they were straight of a Lon Chaney movie, but acted like a normal suburban family, whereas The Addams Family looked reasonably normal but were decidedly creepy and kooky. Like most things in childhood, everything was black and white, and I don’t mean the TV broadcasts. Generally, if you liked The Munsters you didn’t like The Addams Family and vice versa. For a younger generation The Addams Family are probably better known from the Barry Sonnenfeld films but The Munsters are practically unknown.

Now, thanks to Universal Playback, a new generation can enjoy the comedic exploits of the irrepressible, bolt-necked, and hare-brained, Herman (Fred Gwynne) and his family; Lily, his wife, their son Eddie, the werewolf, Grandpa, the vampire, and the poor unfortunate Marilyn. These are great fun, in a naïve 60s way. The box set of the first series features all 38 episodes, plus an unaired colour pilot episode, spread over 6 discs.

Available now.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

From 1979 to 1981 Buck Rogers (played by Gil Gerard) was the sci-fi hero to watch on TV. Created by Glen A Larson (Alias Smith and Jones, Battlestar Gallactica, Knight Rider) it is based on the classic comic book and movie character (played by Buster Crabbe), about astronaut William “Buck” Rogers, who returns to Earth after being in suspended animation 500 years, because of a time/space anomaly. The skin-tight white suits lend it a certain kitsch, which makes it fun, but not as much fun as Duck Dodgers. (Mel Blanc, who did the voices of Daffy and Porky also did the voice of the robot Twiki in the first Buck Rogers season.)

All 13 episodes of the second season are being released on a four-disc box set. Look out for Dennis Haysbert (24’s President Palmer) in some of the episodes.

– click here for the trailer

Released 31 October 2005

Quantum Leap

A decade after Buck Rogers graced the small screen, Quantum Leap, starring Scott Baukla (Enterprise’s Captain Archer), as Dr Sam Beckett and Dean Stockwell as Al, was enthralling viewers. Trapped in the past, after stepping into the Quantum Leap accelerator, he has to face mirror images that aren’t his own, Beckett leaps from life to life, driven by an unknown force to put right what went wrong, hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home. This original take on the time travel paradigm was extremely popular at its time and the second season gets the DVD box set treatment. All 22 episodes, making up over 16 hours of viewing, are spread over six discs.
– click here for the trailer
Released on the 31st October
Season Three will be released on 12th December.

Sliders

More time-travel, or more precisely dimension sliding, with boy genius Quinn Mallory as he slips from world to world with Wade, Colin and Rembrandt ‘Crying Man’ Brown as they try to get back to the earth they know. In its day, this show had a fan base that rivalled Star Trek, particularly among teenage audiences looking for something without too many spaceships. Sliders: Season Three now released as a six-disc boxset, containing all 24 episodes (over 16 hours of programming).

– click here for the trailer

Released on 31st October

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

The celebrated anthology Alfred Hitchcock Presents will be released on an epic 6 disc, 39-episode box-set with the complete series of the legendary TV show that transformed Hitchcock from celebrated film director to TV personality. Each episode sees Hitchcock presenting a short story (by writers such as Dahl and Ambrose Bierce and guest stars including Charles Bronson and Lorne Greene) in his recognisable dry, macabre style – a real treat for Hitchcock fans!

Released on 7th November.

These and more can be found at Universal Playback’s website http://www.universal-playback.com