'KNOTS LANDING: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON'

The 1980s was a decade when evening soap operas came into their own. One of the most popular was "Knots Landing," a spin-off of the hugely successful "Dallas," whose pilot episode was written before "Dallas" was even created.

"Knots Landing," which aired 1979-93, was the original "Desperate Housewives." It chronicled the drama of Gary and Valene Ewing and four other suburban families who shared a cozy California cul-de-sac.

"Knots Landing: The Complete First Season" (Warner Home Video, $39.98) provides a case study of how far television and society have come in 27 years. What then passed for drama, dirt and dish -- and how scandal was presented -- pales in comparison to current nighttime TV dramas.

The five-disc set includes all 13 episodes, plus two with cast commentary by Ted Shackelford (Gary) and Joan Van Ark (Valene). Their fly-on-the-wall observations alongside the regular dialogue seem aimed at adding an insider, rearview-mirror perspective. But after a few minutes, you find yourself wishing they would just shut up.

Another extra is an interview with Shackelford and Van Ark on a park bench in the neighborhood where the show was filmed. A few tears fall as they reminisce about filming the show over 14 years. Their conversation at times comes across as a little overscripted, and Van Ark appears to have aged at a fraction of the rate of Shackelford. But the up-close look at the two stars, who clearly remain fond of each other more than a decade after the show ended, is footage fans will appreciate.

-- LaMont Jones, Post-Gazette staff writer

'THE ANDY MILONAKIS SHOW: SEASON ONE'

Andy Milonakis is a man who defies definition. As he says in his theme song: He's got bees on his head. But don't call him a beehead. Or perhaps he means behead. No matter. Leave the definitions to Mr. Milonakis.

Eight episodes of his eponymous show, featuring the 30-year-old Milonakis playing himself as a teenager whose primary skillset seems to be the ability to out-Tom Green Tom Green, have now been cataloged and preserved for future generations of would-be street comedians.

Bundled with numerous extras, the two-disc set ($26.99, MTV Home Entertainment) includes the "Andy goes to Hollywood" featurette, 25 unaired skits, extended scenes and one of the most unique commentary tracks in the DVD world featuring Milonakis and his neighbors cracking jokes and rapping -- freestyle rapping, at that, over each episode.

"People are always coming up to me," he offers over one episode, "saying Andy, I saw your show. ... I like it kinda. But it's so dumb."

But then, that's the whole point.

-- Philip A. Stephenson, Post-Gazette staff writer

'ROBOT CHICKEN: SEASON ONE'

A couple of years back, apparently having too much time on his hands, Wizard magazine contributor Matthew Senreich seized on a bit of pop trivia and took a shot in the dark. After he heard that Seth Green (of Mike Myers' "Austin Powers" and most recently NBC's "Four Kings") was a big comic book fan, he pitched him his idea for a show.

That show became "Robot Chicken" ($29.99 Warner Home Video), a stop-motion sketch comedy show that features animated toy dolls ranging from the show's writers to Yoda, to a Jesus Christ action figure.

"Robot Chicken: Season One" features 20 of these mini-episodes, which, at 11 minutes each, are a bit short in length but long in terms of ironic irreverence and politically incorrect humor. Extras include alternate audio takes, the originally pitched sketches, commentary tracks, deleted elements, and "wire comparisons" -- also known as story boards.

The best feature by far is Green's live inset commentary, much of which has our son-of-a-Dr. Evil sporting both a mohawk and a probable caffeine overdose.

-- Philip A Stephenson, Post-Gazette staff writer