Just unleashed from Universal Studios Home Video is over a half-dozen new TV on DVD releases.

Favorites both new and old making their way to stores on August 24th are the classic chillers The Munsters: The Complete First Season and Night Gallery: The Complete First Season, both of which are three-disc sets with 4:3 full screen transfers, Dolby mono tracks and no extras. Retail will be $39.95 a pop. Also due on the 24th is a horror of another kind, the Donald Trump-fest The Apprentice: The Complete First Season. Featuring 4:3 full screen transfers and Dolby 2.0 stereo tracks, extras will include new interviews with Trump and the contestants, deleted scenes, audition tapes, unseen footage from the taxi rides, job advice from aides George and Carloyn, and a Apprentice Season Two sneak peek.
 
Next up on September 7th is another mystery classic, Columbo: The Complete First Season, which joins Magnum PI: The Complete First Season, also making its DVD debut. And more Law & Order will also hit the format on the 7th: Law & Order Criminal Intent: Season 3, Law & Order Special Victims Unit: Season 5 and Law & Order: Season 14. All are presented in 4:3 full screen and Dolby mono, except the Law & Order installments, which will be presented in Dolby 2.0 surround, and Law & Order SVU, which boasts 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfers. None include extras, and retail will be $59.95 per set.

Father Knows Best - 11:56pm

As a neurosurgeon, he's a hero. As a father, he's a zero. But that is changing, because tragedy will turn Dr. Andrew Brown into a single parent to his two children in the magical world of Everwood: The Complete First Season. Warner Home Video will release this four-disc box set on September 7th. Complete with 4:3 full screen transfers and Dolby 2.0 surround tracks, extras include audio commentary on four episodes with the show's creators and cast and crew (including Treat Williams and Gregory Smith), deleted scenes, the "Everwood Casualties" and "In Search of Everwood" featurettes, and a gag reel. Retail will be $59.95.

Where Will You Be? - 11:56pm

Coming from Lion's Gate/Artisan (or whatever they are calling themselves this week) is a rather large slate of new theatrical, catalog and TV on DVD releases.

The rather silly epic miniseries 10.5 kicks things off on August 24th, preceded by the television "classic" Alf: Season One, Conan O'Brien 10th Anniversary Special and a Triumph the Insult Comic Dog compilation on August 10th. All are presented in 4:3 full screen and Dolby 2.0 stereo (except 10.5, which will rumble in full Dolby 5.1) with no extras. Retail will cost you $19.95 a pop, except for Alf, which will cost $39.95.

Next from Artisan comes a new Stir of Echoes special edition on August 17th, which includes an anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track, plus a mix of extras new and old: audio commentary with stars Kevin Bacon, Kathryn Erbe and Illeana Douglas, the "Hypnotism," "Special Effects" and "Screen Tests" featurettes, additional screen test clips, deleted scenes, storyboard comparisons, and theatrical trailers. List price will retail for $19.95.

Also sure to provoke controversy is Lar Von Trier's already-infamous Dogville, starring Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman. Due for release on August 24th, this one includes an anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby 5.1 track, along with the acclaimed "Dogville Confessions" documentary by Sami Saif, on the intense behind-the-scenes drama that went into the making of the film. List price will be $26.95.

Last but not least, Lion's Gate will release a wave of cheapie $14.95 B-movies on August 10th: Huck & the King of Hearts, A Million to Juan, Cheerleader Camp, Dead Above Ground and the guilty pleasure Chopping Mall (aka Killbots). All are in full frame only and include no extras.