Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Television Video Editor, Jenny Brown FEATURED IN THIS E-MAIL: * Word for Word: "The Rat Pack" * New Releases for Sale: "Bob and Margaret," "The Real World You've Never Seen: Hawaii," and "An American Love Story" * Amazon.com Presents the Best of the Century * This Month's Top Picks--Network Miniseries: "Centennial," "Masada," "Roots," "Shogun," and "The Thorn Birds" * Monty Python from A to Z * The Subjective Realities of Ross McElwee * Advance Orders: Coming to your home soon! WORD FOR WORD: "THE RAT PACK" ***************************** "The whole world is drunk and we're just the cocktail of the moment. Someday soon, the world will wake up, down two aspirin with a glass of tomato juice, and wonder what the hell all the fuss was about." --Joe Mantegna as Dean Martin in "The Rat Pack" "The Rat Pack" starring Ray Liotta, Joe Mantegna, and Don Cheadle; directed by Rob Cohen http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0783114176/entertainmentsit NEW RELEASES FOR SALE ********************* "Bob and Margaret" (NR) starring Bob and Margaret http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6305513392/entertainmentsit She's a chiropodist (go look it up in the dictionary) and he's a dentist. They're a little boring, a little normal, a little weird, but don't blame them--they're just drawn that way. "Bob and Margaret," of Comedy Central fame, appear in their second collection of episodes, which includes such treasures as "The Burglary" and "Trick or Treat." "The Real World You Never Saw: Hawaii" (NR) starring Ruthie, Amaya, Kaia, Colin, Matt, Justin, and Teck http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738920444/entertainmentsit The nudity, the travel, the nudity, the deep conversations, the nudity, the camaraderie--OK, we know what you're looking for in this video. And let's get one thing straight: you don't see anything. Obscured films hide all the privates, but that doesn't diminish the fun of "The Real World You Never Saw: Hawaii." With a cast that brought some life back to the MTV series, this video features raunchy conversations, bodily noises, and camera-man flubs. "An American Love Story" (NR) starring Bill Sims, Karen Wilson, Cicely Wilson, and Chaney Sims; directed by Jennifer Fox http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0767019873/entertainmentsit In the tradition of the Loud family, Bill Sims and Karen Wilson allowed filmmaker Jennifer Fox into their lives. For a year and half, Fox followed the couple and their two biracial daughters, Cicely and Chaney, as they experienced the ups and downs of everyday life with the additional challenge of dealing with the stereotypes and prejudices of the outside world. This 10-hour documentary is well worth the time investment, as it not only provides an eye-opening look at multiculturalism in the U.S., but tells a touching story of a family you can't help but like. AMAZON.COM PRESENTS THE BEST OF THE CENTURY ******************************************* As the century comes to a close, Amazon.com takes a look at the landmarks in books, music, and video of the past 100 years. Selected by our editors, our lists take you decade by decade from the turn of the century all the way to the end of the millennium. But don't just take our word for it; cast your vote for the best book, video, and CD in our best-of-the-millennium poll for your chance to win our customers' 300 favorite music, book, and video titles. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=subst/features/c/century/video-best-of-century.html THIS MONTH'S TOP PICKS--NETWORK MINISERIES ****************************************** The rerelease of "Centennial" and "Masada" has spurred interest in some of the great network miniseries of the past. Is it the quality of the productions or the charm of Richard Chamberlain? Here's Amazon.com's picks of the best that network TV has to offer. "Centennial" (R) starring Richard Chamberlain, Robert Conrad, and Raymond Burr; directed by Harry Falk and Paul Krasny http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0783215126/entertainmentsit In typical James Michener style, "Centennial" focuses on one city for a couple hundred years. Following the destiny of the city and its people, this ambitious series tackles the issue of how poorly Native Americans have been treated, and it also features a murder mystery that takes a century to solve. It's a testament to the well-produced series that "Centennial" remains engrossing for more than 26 hours. "Masada" (NR) starring Peter O'Toole, Peter Strauss, and Giula Pagano; directed by Boris Sagal http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0783222823/entertainmentsit In A.D. 72, the Jews of Jerusalem revolted against their Roman oppressors. Outnumbered and overwhelmed, the Jews escaped to the fortress of Masada, where they were able to defend themselves well enough to force the Romans into negotiations. This production features a strong cast--Peter O'Toole as the Roman commander and Peter Strauss as the Jewish Zealot leader--and persuasive action and sets. "Masada" was remarkable when it first aired in 1981, and it holds up just as well today. "Roots" (NR) starring John Amos, LeVar Burton, and Ben Vereen; directed by Marvin J. Chomsky and John Erman http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6302571251/entertainmentsit ABC was originally reluctant to show "Roots," which was considered extremely controversial in 1977, so they aired it in the downtime of January, screening the entire series in one week. As is now well known, "Roots" was a huge success; three out of every four TVs in America tuned into the program. Based on Alex Haley's novel, the miniseries traces the history of an African American family from the kidnapping and enslavement of patriarch Kunta Kinte (LaVar Burton) in Africa through several generations to the freed slave "Chicken" George (Ben Vereen). Decades later, "Roots" still has tremendous power and the ability to enlighten. "Shogun" (NR) starring Richard Chamberlin, Toshiro Mifune, and Nobuo Kaneko; directed by Jerry London http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6300214141/entertainmentsit Richard Chamberlin stars as John Blackthorne, a 17th-century English captain whose ship wrecks on the coast of Japan. There he finds himself caught in the war between Toranaga and Ishido as they fight for the title of Shogun. This stunning miniseries, based on James Clavell's book by the same name, opens viewers to the world of feudal Japanese culture. "Thorn Birds" (NR) starring Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, and Barbara Stanwyck; directed by Daryl Duke http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6302150620/entertainmentsit This dashing series covers 60 years in the life of the Cleary family, after they move to Australia from New Zealand to care for an aunt's ranch. The heart of this story is the love felt by Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward) for the family priest (Richard Chamberlain). This TV version remains faithful to the complex story woven in Colleen McCullough's novel of the same name. MONTY PYTHON FROM A TO Z ************************ Despite the warning from the BBC announcer--"We interrupt this program to annoy you and make things generally irritating for you"--Monty Python will have you laughing over the most patently absurd things you've ever seen on the small (or large, for that matter) screen. Amazon.com contributor Donald Liebenson provides a simple glossary to help you decipher the never-straightforward world of "Owl-Stretching Time" and lumberjacks in women's clothing. Confused? Read on. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=ts/feature/1074 THE SUBJECTIVE REALITIES OF ROSS MCELWEE **************************************** Many of us have become slaves to the media, spying on other people's lives through the evening news, special bulletins, and 24-hour cable channels. Documentary filmmaker Ross McElwee takes a look at some of the folks willing to put their lives on display in the face of tragedy in his latest documentary "Six O'Clock News." McElwee speaks with Amazon.com's Jenny Brown about the many versions of reality he encountered with "Six O'Clock News." http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=ts/feature/2596 ADVANCE ORDERS ************** "Saturday Night Live: The Best of Adam Sandler" (NR) starring Adam Sandler and the cast of "Saturday Night Live" http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1573627240/entertainmentsit "Sloppy joe, slop, sloppy joe," Cajun Man, Opera Man, "O.J. Simpson--not a Jew!"--c'mon, you know you can't get enough of the biggest of all daddies, Adam Sandler. Available October 26. "Aristocrats" (NR) starring Jodhi May, Geraldine Somerville, and Serena Gordon; directed by David Caffrey http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JSJ6/entertainmentsit Based on the bestselling novel by Stella Tillyard, this Mobil Masterpiece Theater, airing on PBS in October, follows the true stories of the aristocratic Lennox sisters in 18th-century Britain. Available October 26. "Teletubbies: Merry Christmas" (NR) starring Tinky Winky, Laa-Laa, Dipsy, and Po http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001IVFH/entertainmentsit Big hugs and merry Christmases. What more could you possibly want for our roly-poly Teletubby pals? Available November 2. ****** Give the Perfect Gift, Get the Perfect Gift Does Aunt Ida send polka CDs when you'd prefer pop? Create an Amazon.com Wish List and save everyone the agony of the unwanted gift. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=subst/wishlist/wishlist-portal.html Clueless as to what to get your Kentucky cousin for Christmas? Send him an e-Card and tell him to set up an Amazon.com Wish List so you can easily find and send him his heart's desire. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=entertainmentsit&path=tg/cards/browse-cards/-/228225/1 ****** You'll find more great videos, articles, and interviews in Amazon.com's Televsion & Documentary Video section at Television & Documentary
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