TV on Blu-ray Round-Up: ‘The Borgias,’ ‘Archer,’ ‘Jersey Shore’

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CHICAGO – A number of recent TV seasons hit DVD and Blu-ray right after Christmas, hoping to get a share of that gift card balance burning a hole in your wallet. If you have any left, we thought you might want to know the details so you can plan your assault of the local Best Buy or fill your Amazon cart. This is a Round-up feature that serves mostly as information, letting you know the synopsis, tech specs, special features, etc., but if we had to pick favorites, FX’s “Archer” rules. It’s the best of the bunch, but, honestly, all four should satisfy fans (even if “The Borgias” is annoyingly light on special features). Yes, even “Jersey Shore.”

All four titles were released on December 27th, 2011.

“Archer: The Complete Season Two”

Archer
Archer
Photo credit: Fox

Available: Blu-ray and DVD

Starring (the voice of): H. Jon Benjamin, Jessica Walter, Judy Greer, Chris Parnell, Amber Nash, Aisha Tyler, and Adam Reed.

Running Time: 286 minutes

Synopsis: Sterling Archer, the world’s most dangerous spy, and his snarky ISIS cohorts are back for another outrageously raunchy season of international espionage and hilarious inter-office intrigue! When he’s not busy foiling eco-terrorist threats, tracking down mysterious killers, or having sex in x-ray machines, the suave master-spy has his hands full with bikini-clad ninjas, Swiss nymphomaniacs, and paternity suits. Archer searches for the true identity of his father, battles breast cancer, and brings a sexy, ex-KGB agent home to meet his domineering mother. It’s all in a day’s work for the international man of mystery in this uproariously edgy animated farce.

Special Features:
o Archersaurus - Self-Extinction
o Ask Archer
o Semper Fi
o L’Espion Mal Fait
o Isis Infiltrates Comic-Con

“The Borgias: The First Season”

The Borgias
The Borgias
Photo credit: Showtime

Available: Blu-ray and DVD

Starring: Jeremy Irons, Francois Arnaud, Holliday Grainger, Lotte Verbeek, David Oakes, Colm Feore, Peter Sullivan, and Joanne Whalley.

Running Time: 467 minutes

Synopsis: The Borgias is a complex, unvarnished portrait of one of history’s most intriguing families. Oscar®-winner Jeremy Irons stars as Rodrigo Borgia, the cunning, manipulative patriarch of the Borgia family who ascends to the highest circles of power within Renaissance-era Italy. The series begins as Rodrigo (Irons), becomes Pope Alexander VI, propelling him, his two Machiavellian sons Cesare and Juan, and his scandalously beautiful daughter, Lucrezia, to become the most powerful and influential family of the Italian Renaissance.

Special Features:
o House Of Lies Pilot Episode
o Episode 1 Of Dexter - Season Six
o Episodes 1 And 2 Of Episodes

“The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret: Season One”

The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret
Photo credit: IFC

Available: DVD

Starring: David Cross, Will Arnett, John Fortune, Sharon Horgan, and Blake Harrison.

Running Time: 140 minutes

Synopsis: Todd Margaret (David Cross, Arrested Development, Mr. Show) is an office temp who lies his way into becoming the UK sales director for North Korea-made Thunder Muscle energy drink, despite not knowing the first thing about England…or sales. With his assistant Dave (Blake Harrison, The Inbetweeners) only encouraging his bungled efforts and his brash boss Brent Wilts (Will Arnett, Arrested Development) breathing down his neck, Todd’s one bad decision after another causes his future in sales to look grim. But just maybe he’ll be able to sell himself to cafe owner Alice (Sharon Horgan, Pulling) before his career and life fall into ruin.

Cross and Shaun Pye (Extras) created and co-wrote this delightfully awkward series where things for Todd Margaret just get worse and worse and worse.

Special Features:
o Commentaries On All Episodes
o Extended Version Of The First Episode
o Featurettes
o Q&A With Cast And Crew
o Bloopers
o Deleted Scenes

“Jersey Shore Uncensored: Season Four”

Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore
Photo credit: Paramount

Available: DVD

Starring: Jenni Farley, Vinny Guadagnino. Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Snooki Polizzi, The Situation Sorrentino, Pauly D, Sammi Sweetheart, and Deena Nicole Cortese.

Running Time: 528 minutes

Synopsis: When the cast of Jersey Shore goes to Italy, they take a little Jersey with them. And the birthplace of the Renaissance might never be the same. While embracing all that Florence has to offer - great art, food and wine, cobblestone streets and gelato - they’ve manage to remain true to who they are. There’s plenty of GTL, fist pumping and hair gel - it’s just a little funnier when it’s in a foreign country.

Special Features:
o Deleted Scenes
o After Hour Specials
o Reunion Special
o Confessionals
o Jersey Shore: Fashion
o And More!

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

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