TVSquad

Here are the new TV DVDs, in stores tomorrow.

Hmmm, a bunch of "Best Of" sets are being released this week. I've never liked this idea (most of these sets don't have episodes that I'd like to see, and I'd like a complete collection), though I guess I can understand why they release them. They want to see if fans are interested and aren't sure if it warrants a whole season being released. Though I'm not sure why shows like Banacek and B.L. Stryker are getting "Best Of" sets since they have already had season sets released.

• B.L. Stryker - Best Of
  
• Banacek - Best Of
• Beany & Cecil - Classic Collection, Volumes 1 and 2
• Charles in Charge - Best Of
• The Crow: Stairway to Heaven - Best Of
• Curious George - Sails with Pirates and Other Curious Capers
• Death Note - Vol. 6
• Dirty Jobs - Collection 3
• Entourage - Season 4
• Everybody Hates Chris - Season 3
• Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids - Halloween
• The Golden Age of Comedy
• Heroes - Season 2
• The Honeymooners - Color, Collection 4
• NCIS - Season 5 and Seasons 1-5 sets
  
• One Tree Hill - Season 5
• Robson Arms - Season 3
• The Shield - Season 6
• Shockwave - Season 1
• The Untouchables - Season 2, Vol. 2

AOL Television has compiled a list of the 50 Best TV Comedies -- Ever, this week revealing numbers 50-41. Inspired by what they did, I've decided to list my favorite sitcom sidekicks, those funny foils that oftentimes make the star shine even brighter than you might have thought. Coming up with just a ten-pack hasn't been so easy. Many times, I'd look at a show and think, "No, it's more of an ensemble. There isn't one sidekick." Falling into that category were B.J. and Trapper John on M*A*S*H. Neither were Hawkeye's sidekick, really (any more than Radar was). Same thing with Friends -- they were all each other's sidekicks. Also, on The Odd Couple, Oscar and Felix were equal; neither was a sidekick. Ditto Two and a Half Men and Laverne & Shirley. Also, because it's my list, I decided not to include married couples -- sorry Rob and Laura, Ricky and Lucy, Archie and Edith.

Whew, after all that, here, in alphabetical order, are the ten I love -- within my own parameters! Feel free to comment with your choices, if your favorite isn't on my list.

New York, New York -- a place so big that had to name it twice. Isn't that what they say about the Big Apple? Recently, movie critic Leonard Maltin, host of the ReelzChannel original series Secret's Out named his picks for the 15 greatest New York scenes in movie history. That got me thinking about the television shows that are intimately tied to New York, series that are inextricably New York shows. Whether they are -- or were -- filmed in the city, here's 15 absolutely, positively New York TV shows (in the order in which they debuted!). You don't have to agree with me -- and I may have overlooked one or two (which I urge you to comment and let me know) -- but I have good reasons for every one of my choices!

I'm sure there are a lot of TV fans out there who really don't know Gleason or his work, or if they do know it, it's from his work on The Honeymooners. They don't remember the other TV shows he had (which aren't usually shown anymore) or his work in films like The Hustler, Gigot, and Requiem For A Heavyweight (OK, maybe they're familiar with Smokey and the Bandit). Nor are they aware of his innovative sitcom filming techniques, using multiple cameras to film the show for videotape.

Today is Jackie Gleason's birthday (he was born in 1916), and there's a new official web site up at JackieGleason.com, and it's quite good. Not only do you get pictures and an in-depth career timeline and forums, there are also various video clips to watch, including Gleason as characters such as Joe The Bartender, The Poor Soul, Rum Dum, and, of course, Ralph Kramden.

YouTube also has some classic Gleason clips. After the jump, Ed Norton trying to teach Ralph how to play golf.