Universal Studios Home Entertainment has taken TV on DVD one step further, preserving and sharing samples of great series whose plugs were pulled far too soon. On May 16, the first two titles in this series will be released...

Brilliant But Cancelled: Crime Dramas
Investigate one episode from each of these four detective dramas, representinh over 40 years of television: Johnny Staccato, Delvecchio, Gideon Oliver, and Touching Evil. If you like shows such as Hill St. Blues, Columbo, and Law & Order, you will love these shows as well, created by the same top-notch TV producers!

BASICS
Price: $19.98
Run Time: 209 min
Video: 1.33:1 full frame
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (English)
Not Rated

Brilliant But Cancelled: EZ Streets
Enter the shadowy world of compromise where "You can only be betrayed by people you trust." Ken Olin (Thirtysomething), stars as Cameron Quinn, a detective falsely accused of a crime, in this unique but short lived drama that blurs the line between criminals and those who are sworn to pursue them. Co-stars Joe Pantoliano (The Sopranos) and Jason Gedrick (Boomtown). This exciting collection features three episodes from the series, including the original 2-hour pilot.

BASICS
Price: $19.98
Run Time: 182 min
Video: 1.33:1 full frame
Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (English)
Not Rated

It appears that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has pushed its initial Blu-ray titles to June. Sony’s first batch had been slated to bow on May 23. These titles, among others, are now slotted for release on June 20. Sony said it reacted to please retailer hopes for a smooth Blu-ray rollout. “Although these titles will be available as scheduled, the majority of our retail base and hardware partners have requested that we reconsider this date to better coincide with the first commercially available Blu-ray compatible hardware,” said Ben Feingold, head of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

The news didn’t come as a shock to retail. The first Blu-ray players won’t hit shelves until June, so it makes sense to coordinate that launch with the software. “They really have got to get on the hardware otherwise the Blu-ray DVDs are worthless,” retailer Mason Goodfellow said. “That’s like selling PlayStation 3 games now. They aren’t going to work on anything.”

Source: Video Business

Unimpressed by our own news coverage, DVD Verdict's crumudgeonly barrister mascot, Justice Payne, has created his own entertainment blog to vent his spleen on everything from film and television to celebrity idiocy.

You can follow his daily rants at Cinematic Justice

Early adopters who bought one of the first two Toshiba high-definition DVD players had mixed comments about the official start of packaged media's high-definition era. Most gave the players high marks -- for quality and value -- but faulted the format's supporters for having just three movies in stores when the machines arrived April 18. Most early adopters interviewed say they also will buy Blu-ray players when they become available in June, though some balked at the higher prices -- despite conventional wisdom that for early adopters price is generally not a factor.

Source: Reuters

GREEN STREET HOOLIGANS

FIGHTS ITS WAY ONTO DVD JUNE 13, FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO

The acclaimed story of an American inside London’s toughest soccer gang stars Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings), Charlie Hunnam (Cold Mountain), and Claire Forlani (Mallrats). Green Street Hooligans was the official selection at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival and the winner of the 2005 South by Southwest Jury and Audience Awards for Best Narrative Feature.

SYNOPSIS
A wrongfully expelled Harvard undergrad moves to London, where he is introduced to the violent underworld of soccer hooliganism.

BONUS FEATURES
* Making-of documentary
* Terence Jay’s One Blood music video.

BASICS
Price: $27.95
Street Date: June 13, 2006
Video: 2.40:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Audio: Dolby 5.1 Surround (English)
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Run time: 108 min
Rated: R (for brutal violence, pervasive language and some drug use)

SYRIANA

EXPLODES ONTO DVD JUNE 20 FROM WARNER HOME VIDEO

Set against the extensive global oil industry network, Syriana unfolds a complex series of interconnecting stories that challenge the morality and integrity of all those involved. From the wealthy oil executives, to the politicians in Washington, and the field worker in Pakistan, no one’s intentions are left unquestioned. Syriana presents the corruption that exists in order to deliver the oil that the world runs on and forces viewers to confront the issue head on.
SYNOPSIS
Big oil means big money. Very big money. And that fact unleashes corruption that stretches from Houston to Washington to the Mideast and ensnares industrialists, princes, spies, politicos, oilfield laborers and terrorists in a deadly, deceptive web of move and countermove. This lightning-paced, whip-smart action thriller grips your mind and nerves with an intensity that doesn't let go for an instant.

BONUS FEATURES
• A Conversation with George Clooney
• Deleted Scenes
• Make a Change, Make a Difference Featurette

BASICS
Price: $28.98
Street Date: June 20, 2006
Video: 2.40:1 widescreen
Audio: Dolby 5.1 Surround (English, French)
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Run Time: 128 min
Rating: R (for violence and language)

Despite rumors that Paramount was planning to deep freeze the Trek fanchise for several years, the studio announced Thursday that J.J. Abrams (Lost, MI:3) will produce and direct the 11th feature feature, for a 2008 release. Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk will co-produce. The script, to be written by MI:3 screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, will center on the early days of James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, including their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and first outer space mission.

Source: Variety

CANNES 2006
The official dance card has been released. The festival will kick off with The Da Vinci Code and close with Transylvania. Neither of the two are in competition. Those films vying for respect and glory include The Weakest Is Always Right (d. Lucas Belvaux), Summer Palace (d. Lou Ye), Lights at the Edge of the City (d. Aki Kaurismaki), Flandres (d. Bruno Dumont), Selon Charlie (d. Nicole Garcia), Quand j'etais chanteur (d. Xavier Giannoli), Days of Glory (d. Rachid Bouchareb), The Wind That Shakes the Barley (d. Ken Loach), The Cayman (d. Nanni Moretti), The Family Friend (d. Paolo Sorrentino), Pan's Labyrinth (d. Guillermo Del Toro), Youth on the March (d. Pedro Costa), Volver (d. Pedro Almodovar), Climates (d. Nuri Bilge Ceylan), Red Road (d. Andrea Arnold), Fast Food Nation (d. Richard Linklater), Marie-Antoinette (d. Sofia Coppola), Southland Tales (d. Richard Kelly), and Babel (d. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu). Special Gala screenings include United 93, X-Men: The Last Stand, A Scanner Darkly, and Over the Hedge.

GEORGIA RULE
Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, and Felicity Huffman will star in Georgia Rule. Garry Marshall (Princess Diaries) is writing, directing, and producing. The story centers on a rebellious young woman (Lohan) who has a dysfunctional relationship with her mother (Huffman) and is sent to spend a summer with her grandmother (Fonda).

PARADISE LOST
Legendary Pictures is developing a live-action film version of John Milton's epic poem, Paradise Lost. Scott Derrickson, who studied theology as an undergrad, will direct. Vincent Newman will produce. First published in 1667, the story centers on Lucifer's failed rebellion in heaven and subsequent role in Adam and Eve's fall from grace. Phil DiBlasi and Byron Willinger wrote the adaptation. Stuart Hazeldine and Derrickson will compelte the screenplay. Legendary's Chairman Thomas Tull said there is no target release date, "Given the gravity of the source material, it's really important to get it right. It will be ready when it's ready."

CAMILLE
Sienna Miller and James Franco will star in the indie feature Camille, a mythical love story. Gregory Mackenzie will direct from a script by Nick Pustay.

DRIVER
Rogue Pictures has picked up the rights to writer/director Roger Avary's bigscreen adaptation of Driver, the Atari videogame. The film centers on the world's best getaway driver who's skills put to the test on a job gone bad. Jeremy Bolt and Paul W.S. Anderson are producing.

PREY
Laurence Fishburne has signed on to headline the psychological thriller Prey. The Jerrold Brown script follows a man who sets out on a solo hunting expedition and severely injures his leg, only to be rescued by a mysterious trapper with secretly sinister intentions. James Marsh will direct. Mark Amin, Robin Schorr, and Cami Winikoff are producing. A fall start date is being planned.

JACK OF ALL TRADES
Walt Disney Pictures has acquired the script outline Jack of All Trades, by King of the Hill writers Alan Freedland and Alan R. Cohen. The story revolved around a married dermatologist with a fondness for taking the easy way out. When he hires a handyman to cater to his wife and two children, the doc finds himself squeezed out of the picture. Adam Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot will produce.

GONE, BABY, GONE
Ed Harris has joined the cast of Ben Affleck's directorial debut Gone, Baby, Gone. Ben himself adapted the Dennis Lehane novel, which begins shooting next month in Boston. Harris will play a cop, opposite two private investigators (Casey Affleck and Michelle Monaghan) hunting for an abducted 4-year-old in Boston's underworld.

UNTITLED COMEDY
Director Noah Baumbach has added John Turturro to the cast of his untitled comedy, alongside Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Jack Black. Kidman plays a woman who brings her pre-teen son with her to visit the upstate home of her sister (Leigh) and brother-in-law (Black). Scott Rudin is producing.

Source: Variety

TV GUIDE SCOOPAGE: **SPOILERS** from insider Michael Ausiello
Gilmore Girls -- Contrary to rumors, Rory and Logan do not elope in the season finale.
Rescue Me -- Marisa Tomei may sign on to play Tommy's former sister-in-law-cum-love-interest.
One Tree Hill -- Nathan and Haley will finally have their dream wedding, but a tragic accident will leave one character fighting for his/her life. It will also be revealed that not one, but two characters are preggers.
Charmed -- Someone with sorceress blood coursing through her veins makes the ultimate sacrifice.
The OC -- Kaitlin (Willa Holland) will move back to town full-time, sparking a repopulation of the high-school universe. The older kids will segue into a twentysomething world beyond just the bait shop. Autumn Reeser (Taylor) will be made a series regular.

BIG LOVE
Variety reports that HBO is commiting to another season of Big Love, the polygamy drama from Tom Hanks Playtone Productions. An exact episode count has not been released, but new shows wil begin airing in August 2007 airing. HBO entertainment president Carolyn Strauss said, "It's striking a chord with viewers and critics, so it was a fairly uncomplicated decision to move forward."

Everyone's favorite scoopster, TV Guide's Michael Ausiello, has revealed that the LOST two-hour season finale "is basically one big Desmond flashback."