Category: TV

“Kidnapped”

Jae-Ha Kim

All 13 episodes of this NBC series–which aired during the 2006-2007 season–are included on this three-disc DVD set. And unlike many shows that are canceled within a year, “Kidnapped” offers viewers closure and a finite ending. While the first few episodes dealing with the kidnapping are gripping, the show layers on some subplots that fail. Is Ellie having an affair with a prominent politician? Did Conrad kill his ex-mistress? Neither character is particularly likeable, so the viewer doesn’t really care.

“Galapagos: The Islands that Change the World”

Jae-Ha Kim

While its title may be superfluous, “Galapagos: The Islands That Changed the World” is a beautifully filmed journey into “the islands of the tortoise.” Located due west of Ecuador, the Galapagos islands are full of gorgeous scenery and exotic wildlife. And this 150-minute documentary shows it all, thanks to stunning cinematography shot from all viewpoints–the air, sea and, of course, land.

“Dancing With the Stars: Cardio Dance”

Jae-Ha Kim

Each era has its own defining exercise video–or in this age, DVD. “Dancing With the Stars: Cardio Dance” isn’t going to go down as the 21st century’s answer to Jane Fonda’s exercise tapes, but it’s not a bad way to learn a few basic steps, thanks to instructions from some of the professional dancers from the ABC hit series “Dancing With the Stars.”

“The Loop”

Jae-Ha Kim

Take a pair of bumbling brothers and mix in a couple of hot female roommates, and you’ve got “The Loop,” a sitcom that hopefully isn’t representative of how immature the average twentysomething is these days. The seven episodes from the comedy’s debut mini season–which aired from March to April 2006–focuses on the haphazard life of Sam (Bret Harrison), a brilliant, young airline executive referred to by his boss as “Thesis” because of his uncanny ability to remember everything there is to know about airplanes and the airline industry.

“Girlfriends” — Season 1

Jae-Ha Kim

On the first season of “Girlfriends”–which aired during 2000-2001–we are introduced to a comely group of women. There’s Joan (Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of Diana Ross), a sensible attorney who’s unlucky in love; her sassy assistant Maya (Golden Brooks); Joan’s happy-go-lucky roommate Lynn (Persia White); and their man-eating friend Toni (Jill Marie Jones).

“The Hills” — Season 1

Jae-Ha Kim

Fans of “Laguna Beach” will love the first season of The Hills, which follows Laguna’s Lauren Conrad as she attends fashion school in Los Angeles and works as an intern at Teen Vogue magazine. OK, so that’s the premise for this quasi-reality MTV series. But in reality, the show is an excuse to watch pretty young people make out, break up, get back together, and break up some more.

Must love travel: When actress Jordana Spiro takes five, she heads for exotic destinations like Vietnam

Jae-Ha Kim

During her recent three-week trip to Vietnam, actress Jordana Spiro made do with just one backpack. “Really, there’s almost nothing you can’t buy there if you need it,” she says. “It’s a completely amazing place and I’d go back in a second.”

“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” — Season 3

Jae-Ha Kim

One of the few spin-offs that actually equals the original in terms of quality, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has another stellar season in its third year. Detectives Olivia Benson (Emmy winner Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) continue to investigate sexually-based crimes with compassion and vigor.

“Jamie Kennedy’s Blowin’ Up”

Jae-Ha Kim

A reality series in the loosest sense of the genre, “Jamie Kennedy’s Blowin’ Up” delves into the world of hip-hop by way of comedy. It’s not a bad effort either. The MTV series is equal parts ad-libbed and scripted, but the actors on the show are so good that you’d swear they were just a couple of clueless knuckleheads trying to become rap stars.

“Flavor of Love”: Season 2

Jae-Ha Kim

Flavor of Love goes through the motions of being a real reality show, but it doesn’t try that hard. It’s obvious Flav is taking advantage of his popularity while he can and that the women are hoping their participation will help launch their modeling/acting/singing careers. But no one in their right mind actually believes that Flav will marry any of these unusual women.

“Bones” — Season 1

Jae-Ha Kim

A taut series filled with drama as well as great chemistry between its two lead stars, Bones is a strong addition to Fox’s television lineup. Debuting in 2005 to favorable critical reviews, the series shares an audience of fans with the CSI franchise. Smartly written and well-acted, the first season of Bones focuses on the collaborations between FBI special agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz, Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel), whom Booth somewhat sarcastically nicknames “Bones.”

“NCIS Naval Criminal Investigative Service” – The Complete Second Season

Jae-Ha Kim

NCIS takes the CSI formula, throws in a good dose of JAG, and comes up with an entertaining series that takes advantage of the actors’ likeability. The season begins with the introduction a couple new regulars–agent Timothy McGee (Sean Murray) and assistant medical examiner Jimmy Palmer (Brian Dietzen). And one cast member departs the show by the end of the season. The six-disc set includes all 23 episodes, which aired on CBS during 2004-2005.

“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” — Season 6

Jae-Ha Kim

A perennial Nielsen ratings topper, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation shows no signs of losing creative momentum in its sixth season. The 24 episodes are taut, fascinating, and gruesome. That killer combination fulfills the promise this CBS series has shown since its inception. In its sixth year, the show delves into the characters’ personal lives more so than in previous seasons, adding more dimension and truth to the roles. We see the looks exchanged between head investigator Gil Grissom (William Petersen) and his underling Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) and learn the true nature of their relationship.

“Wings” — Season 3

Jae-Ha Kim

A well-written sitcom that infuses romance with slapstick humor, “Wings” takes off in its third season with the inclusion of series regular Tony Shalhoub (Monk), who plays immigrant cab driver Antonio Scarpacci. Some of the funniest storylines in this 22-episode collection revolve around Antonio and his quest to stay in the United States.

“CSI: New York” — Season 2

Jae-Ha Kim

The CSI franchise continues to thrive with the second season of “CSI: NY,” which aired on CBS during the 2005-2006 season. The kickoff episode is filled with lots of drama–but not much suspense–as the investigators delve into the death of a jewelry designer who is found wearing an $8 million diamond bra. The other case involves the shooting of a thrill seeker who is killed while climbing up a skyscraper.