The Corner Penthouse

Warner Brothers recently released the Spenser: For Hire: The Complete Series DVD. Read on to find out more about it...

[ SYNOPSIS ]

In the shadows of Boston, Spenser (Robert Urich), a former cop with a poet's soul and a fighter's fists, solves crimes in his own uniquely stylish way. A true Renaissance man, he faces danger head-on, backed by his formidable ally Hawk (Avery Brooks) and contacts inside the police department. While he's unstoppable on the streets, his love life stalls as his longtime love (Barbara Stock) refuses to marry a man whose life is a constant dance with death.

[ EPISODES ]

The 16-disc set includes all 65 episodes of the 1985-1988 three-season ABC series. There isn't an episode list printed on the case interior, or on any of the disc faces, which makes finding an episode more of a chore than it needs to be.

[ SPECIFICATIONS ]

The show is presented in a 1.33:1 aspect ratio in proper 4:3 fullscreen DVD format. The show is Not Rated. Audio languages include English. There are no subtitles.

[ SPECIAL FEATURES ]

There are no special features.

[ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ]

No digital copy code voucher is included. However, this set uses the thick, clear Epik Pak DVD case instead of individual season cases. This is the crappy case where the inside part that holds the discs isn't attached to the outside, and the discs are hard to get out because the clasps that hold them in place have zero give to them.

[ NOTES ]

Spenser: For Hire: The Complete Series is available on DVD. It is a Manufacture On Demand (MOD) repackaging/reprinting of the discs from the three individual season sets. Depending on when those sets were originally released, they may not be playable now. Although the packaging does not have the "DVD Video" logo, and has all of the usual DVD-R notices (such as "This disc is expected to play back in DVD Video 'Play Only" devices..."), I can confirm that the first print run are FACTORY-PRESSED DISCS. YAY! I suspect that may not be the case for future printings, so if you don't want DVD-R discs, get this NOW!

The spin-off series, A Man Called Hawk (1989), is not officially on DVD. However, the four sequel movies starring Urich and Brooks - Spenser: Ceremony (1993), Spenser: Pale Kings and Princes (1994), Spenser: The Judas Goat (1994), Spenser: A Savage Place (1995) - were released on the Spenser: The Movie Collection DVD. Sadly, it is out of print and going for high prices on the aftermarket.

This item has been provided by Warner Brothers for review on this site.