It is about freaking time! Serenity now, serenity now… Seinfeld is finally coming to DVD and in a big way as Columbia TriStar Home Video announces that all 40 episodes making up the first three seasons along with a boat load of special features will make up the first release of Seinfeld on DVD set for a November 23 release date.
The ultimate show about nothing will be presented in high definition and will be available in either two volumes or as a deluxe holiday Gift Set (not to be “re-gifted”), which includes a limited edition script with handwritten notes from Larry David, exclusive “Monk’s Diner” salt & pepper shakers and collectible playing cards. Volumes 1 and 2 will be sold individually at the suggested list price of $49.95 each and the gift set at $119.95.
Seinfeld will look and sound better than ever. To provide the best picture and sound quality possible, Castle Rock Entertainment, which produced the show, returned to the original film elements and spent many months digitally remastering every episode in high definition; the original analog audio tracks went through a similar process. Seinfeld: Volume 1 includes all 18 episodes of seasons one and two on four discs and Seinfeld: Volume 2, also on four discs, includes all 22 episodes from season three. Each volume will be loaded with approximately 12 hours of exclusive special features from the creative talents behind the show, including a full- length documentary, extensive creator, cast and production commentaries, bloopers, deleted scenes, exclusive never-before-seen Jerry Seinfeld stand-up comedy footage and trivia pertinent to each season. Both releases feature the original NBC network versions, 1-2 minutes longer than the syndicated versions and not seen since their original broadcast runs. Additionally, Volume 1 features two versions of the original pilot episode.
The Extra Features: Each Volume contains the following extra features, tailored to the episodes included in the particular set.
- Inside Looks: Interviews with the cast and creators about what was happening behind the scenes as the episodes were created and filmed.
- Yada Yada Yada: Audio commentaries from the cast remembering the making of these episodes.
- In the Vault: Saved from the cutting room floor… deleted scenes – never seen!
- Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That: Never-before-seen-outtakes and bloopers.
- Master of His Domain: See Jerry in exclusive stand-up comedy footage, shot for the show but never used.
- Sponsored by Vandelay Industries: Original NBC promotional ads and trailers.
- Notes About Nothing: Behind-the-scenes scoop and production notes.
Additional features include:
VOLUME 1
- How It Began: An hour-long look at how Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David first came up with the idea for the show, how it almost didn’t get made and how they emerged with the show that changed the face of television forever.
- Tonight Show Footage
VOLUME 2
- Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo: If you thought Cosmo Kramer was hilarious, wait until you meet the real Kramer…Kenny Kramer!
Seinfeld, which aired on NBC for nine years, focuses on four single friends living in New York. At the core of the group is Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), a stand-up comedian whose professional path includes a shot at creating a network sitcom, a guest spot on the “Today” show, a wealth of other experiences gone awry and a personal life rife with an endless parade of never-quite-right girlfriends. His childhood best friend, George Costanza (Jason Alexander), could be deemed the quintessential loser: he can never hold on to a job or a girlfriend… although he has more than enough schemes for trying to make both happen. Jerry’s ex, Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) offers her own string of bad dates and worrisome workplace sagas. And lastly, there’s curiously-coiffed Cosmo Kramer (Michael Richards) — Jerry’s over-the-top, offbeat and often mysterious neighbor, with no visible means of support and an uncanny knack for opening doors to opportunities he has no business being near.
One only has to mention Superman or the Soup Nazi, Jujyfruits or Junior Mints, Festivus or Manziers or Low- or Close-Talkers to be reminded of the show’s peerless plots, quips and characters. Seinfeld was also noted for coining many phrases that have since come into commonplace usage: “Master of your domain,” “Yada, yada, yada,” “Sponge-worthy,” “Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” “Double-dipping,” “Re-gifting” and “manhands,” among countless others.
Seinfeld changed the landscape of TV forever, leaving the air in 1998 as the number one Nielsen-rated show in both comedy and drama. Nominated for an incredible 57 Emmy Awards®, Seinfeld won a total of 13, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. TV Guide ranked it #1 on its list of “50 Greatest Shows of All Time.”
We will keep you up-to-date as preorders begin, but for now you can check out the official Seinfeld site for a little bit of fun about the show, just click on the image of the gang at the final episode below.
