ER - Pilot (1994)

Warner Brothers' "TV Premiere DVD" Series - Cheaply-Made & Over-Priced

This is not a review of this specific title, but rather of Warner Brothers' "TV Premiere DVD" series as a whole. I would like to make you aware of my issues with features that are apparently prevalent in ALL of the titles in this series, based upon my purchase of one of these titles ("The Flintstones - The Flintstone Flyer").

Although the list of issues below was written specifically for The Flintstones DVD, I highly suspect that most (if not all) of it applies to this and all of the other titles in the "TV Premiere DVD" series. Be sure to check out The Flintstones page to see the photos that I uploaded which better illustrate the packaging and disc printing issues mentioned below.

-- The disc does not come in a plastic case, but rather in a cardboard sleeve which opens on the side. I've purchased $1 public domain DVDs from no-name companies that came in plastic slim cases, so it's appalling that a $6 DVD from a big-name company would be done so cheaply. Also, the sleeve has a hole at the top in the center where the peg would go for it to be hung on a rack like an action figure or toy. The hole has been edited out of the promo photos that Warner Bros. gave Amazon to display for the DVDs.

-- The text on the disc is very faint and hard to read - another way Warner Bros. skimped on production costs.

-- The cheapness doesn't stop at the packaging. The DVD does not contain a menu, not even a plain one. Because of this, there's an interesting glitch that happens if you let the DVD play past the episode. You see, after the episode plays, it goes to a FBI Warning on title 3, which then goes to the non-existent menu, so the player just hangs on a black screen.

-- They were even cheap in the placement of the chapters marks, which are placed every ten minutes (0:00, 10:00, and 20:00) no matter if it makes sense in the episode content for one to be there or not.

-- From what I've read, most (if not all) of the titles in the "TV Premiere DVD" series were originally released on VHS and/or laserdisc, with these DVDs being done from the VHS and laserdisc masters. The quality of The Flintstones DVD definitely appears to be better than VHS, so either it came from a laserdisc master, or not all of the titles were done from old home video masters.

Although at first I didn't mind paying $6 for one 26 minute Flintstones episode, that was before I knew that the DVD didn't even come in a plastic case. Now that six dollars really seems like a rip-off.

Warner Bros. "TV Premiere DVD" Series (10 titles)
* The Flintstones - The Flintstone Flyer
* The Jetsons - Microchip Chump
* ER - Pilot
* Babylon 5 - The Gathering
* Taboo - Tattoo
* Gilligan's Island - Two on a Raft & Home Sweet Hut
* The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest - Escape to Questworld
* Gilmore Girls - Pilot
* The Waltons - The Foundling
* Kung Fu - Pilot April 5, 2007

Takes me back

This sure takes me back to why I loved and still love ER!! I have the first season also and have really enjoyed going back to the first episodes. This is a great pilot and series. March 8, 2007

ER the pilot

I love ER but don't waste your money on this pilot issue if you've got season 1. This is just the same as the first two hours of season 1. Yes I did waste money on it because I read here that the pilot was different from the first show. December 26, 2005

The First Episode of "ER" ....how different back then.

Greetings...I just got done watching this video for the first time. I had been a fan of "ER" off and on since it started, but have recently given up watching the show because they killed off several characters that I was rather fond of, and it kind of spoiled the show for me after that. This video makes it clear that ER was, in it's glory days, the best drama on T.V. Anyone who buys this tape will see that, even if they aren't familiar with the show. Watch for an unusual performance by Miguel Ferrer as a patient reacting to his awful diagnosis...Miguel would go on later to a starring role as Dr. Garret Macy on "Crossing Jordan".
Diehard fans of ER will be interested to see how all the characters evolved from this starting point, way back in 1995. I gave it 5 stars! January 4, 2005

ER shines in this Brilliant Masterpiece

ER was brilliant. I was just sitting there without taking my eyes off the T.V. If you love the drama and suspense this is your show. It was so real unlike other shows where you know where all the gadgets and computer animation was done, it was like you were right there next to the doctors and looking at the patient. ER shows the truth behind being a doctor in the hospital its turns, ups and downs and consequences. Although we know none of its real, all fiction it is very alive and realistic. Watching it over and over never got boring for me, it was just better. It was very interesting getting to know the crew and its begginning. I give ER the best ratting five out of five. January 5, 2003

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