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Melrose Place: Season Three (TV)
R1 - America - Paramount Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Rob Fields (19th November 2007). |
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The Show
 I remember back in 1990 when a series called "Beverly Hills 90210" (1990-2000) came out. I didn't really pay much attention to it at first. All I knew was that this show, created by Darren Star, was the one people were talking about on FOX at the time. Then, two years later, I saw the commercials about a new series entitled "Melrose Place", also created by Star. While the ads caught my attention in the beginning, for some reason I never did get around to catching most of the episodes of the first season. Towards the end, I started watching it. I didn't find out until later, from my best friend, that "Melrose Place" was actually a spin-off of "Beverly Hills 90210". It was at this point that I started watching 90210. "Melrose Place" also had its own short-lived spin-off, "Models, Inc." (1994-1995), for those of you who are keeping track. Those were the good old days. Each season of "Melrose Place" seemed to get better and better. Season 3 was no exception. Season 3 (1994-1995) picks up where the cliffhangers of Season 2 leave off (obviously). You get to find out what happened in the aftermath of Allison Parker (Courtney Thorne-Smith) leaving Billy Campbell (Andrew Shue) at the altar. Dr. Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro) was hit by a car and left for dead, leaving Sydney Andrews (Laura Leighton) as the suspect in question. Jane Mancini (Josie Bissett), Michael's ex, had met Chris Marchette (Andrew Williams), who seemed interested in her clothing line. During this season you find out what and who else he's interested in. Then there's Jake Hanson (Jake Hanson), the heartthrob who seems to be in and out of one relationship after another. Jo Reynolds (Daphne Zuniga) has to deal with a pregnancy and the many people who are after her baby for one reason or another. Then there's Matt Fielding (Doug Savant), the gay tenant who's still looking for love and seems to keep finding it in all the wrong places. Wait until you see what kind of trouble he gets into here. Sydney, Jane's younger sister, is always in-and-out of trouble and has more than she knows what to do with this season. Of course, we definitely can't forget Amanda Woodward (played by Special Guest Star Heather Locklear), who owns Melrose Place and is always the center of attention, for better or worse. And speaking of attention, keep a VERY close eye on Dr. Kimberly Shaw (Marcia Cross of "Desperate Housewives" (2004-Present)), a woman on the edge. This is also the season that Jack Wagner joined the cast as Dr. Peter Burns, who seems to be the 'good doctor' in the beginning, but has a hidden agenda that is soon enough revealed. But, of course, it wouldn't be "Melrose Place" if there weren't MORE cliffhangers at the end of the season to leave peoples mouths watering for Season 4. All 30 episodes are here spread over the 8-disc set and include: - "I am Curious, Melrose" (44:42) - "It's a Bad World After All" (44:43) - "Inlaws and Outlaws" (44:44) - "Grand Delusions" (44:09) - "Non-Sexual Healing" (44:43) - "No Strings Attached" (45:12) - "The Crook, The Creep, His Lover and Her Sister" (45:03) - "Love Reeks" (43:54) - "Dr. Jekyll Saves His Hide" (44:48) - "And Justice For None" (44:42) - "The Days of Wine and Vodka" (45:18) - "The Doctor that Rocks the Cradle" (44:23) - "Just Say No" (44:43) - "Sex, Drugs and Rockin' the Cradle" (44:59) - "Holiday on Ice" (44:41) - "Bye Bye Baby Baby" (44:41) - "They Shoot Mothers, Don't They?" (1:31:09) - "Another Perfect Day in Hell" (44:29) - "Boxing Sydney" (44:44) - "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" (43:23) - "Breakfast at Tiffany's, Dinner at Eight" (44:34) - "And the Winner Is..." (44:15) - "Love and Death 101" (44:43) - "To Live and Die in Malibu" (44:43) - "All About Brooke" (44:43) - "Melrose Impossible" (44:40) - "A Hose by Any Other Name" (44:29) - "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" (44:44) - "Framing of the Shrews" (45:05) - "The Big Bang Theory" (1:30:16 season finale)
Video
All episodes are presented in their 1.33:1 full screen televised format. It also states at the beginning of each episode that they are 'presented in Dolby Surround'. I don't remember if they were present before each episode originally or if they were just added for the DVD releases, though they do that sort of thing for U.S. TV programs these days. Although there are no chapter menus or options, there are chapter stops for each episode. The quality of the video is average. If you're looking for pixels or scratches, you won't find it here. The colors don't seem to stand out as well when scenes are in the dark (like night or lack of lighting). Either they were light or the scene had grain. The feel is just as if I was watching them on FOX back in the day. In truth, they don't feel like they're on DVD. But then, I'm watching the episodes on an HD television with a DVD player that up-converts SD to 1080i.
Audio
Each episode is accompanied by an English Dolby Digital 2.0 surround soundtrack. There are no subtitles available. There is also the fine print on the bottom of the back of the outer case, in case you're a Melrose fanatic who remembers the original music : "Music has been changed for this home entertainment version. Some episodes may be edited from their original network versions." That's how things work here in the U.S. when it comes to rights and music, be it big-screen movies or small-screen television. Studios have to get the rights to use the music for each format. Yes, the original opening theme is still there (thankfully).
Extras
These extras contain spoilers. Do not watch them before finishing these Season 3 episodes. DISC ONE: The only extras here are bonus trailers for the following: - "Ghost Whisperer: The Second Season" (0:52) - "CBS Dramas" (1:47) - "Charmed: The Final Season" (0:49) Note: You can choose Previews or just go to the Main Menu. The previews are not accessible any other way. DISC SIX: This disc has a featurette 'Melrose Place According to Jake' (19:21). Here, Series Creator Darren Star talks about the character Jake Hanson. Star opens it up by explaining that Jake originally appeared in a few episodes of "Beverley Hills 90210". In fact, he is the only character who came over from that series to be one of the principles who helped make "Melrose Place" worth watching. The featurette covers every aspect from his origins to his relationships to how he's the bad boy with a heart of gold. There are also interview clips with Executive Producer Aaron Spelling and Grant Show, who played the Melrose heartthrob. DISC SEVEN: Featured here is a featurette 'Melrose Place: Seven Minutes in Hell' (7:09). This featurette is just what it says. All you're seeing is one clip right after another of nothing but Season 3's most hellish scenes, including captions of the episodes where they came from. DISC EIGHT: The final featurette is 'Everything You Need to Know About Melrose Place: Season 3' (14:58). Meet Michael Colton and John Aboud, two guys who lived at the apartment complex that would be "Melrose Place" during filming. These guys give you a complete run-down / analysis of what goes on during Season 3. It's worth watching just for the humor they crank out.
Packaging
"Melrose Place: Season 3" is an 8-DVD set with 2 discs to a plastic slim-case, all placed into a single cardboard case.
Overall
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