Product Details

• Actors: Dana Delany, Jeri Ryan, Nic Bishop, Joanna Cassidy
• Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: ABC
• DVD Release Date: September 20, 2011
• Run Time: 387 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003UD7J26
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,690 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Body of Proof: The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The always-welcome Dana Delany makes a vivaciously prickly return to television in this entertaining medical whodunit, which finds its groove after a fairly shaky start. Creator Christopher Murphey's premise draws inspiration from both Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels and the origin of Marvel comics' Dr. Strange: after injuring her hands in a car accident, an arrogant former neurosurgeon named Megan Hunt must adapt to a new life as a medical examiner in Philadelphia. As Hunt applies her knowledge to a steady stream of unsolved murders, her unconventional methods put her at odds with the police (John Carroll Lynch and The Wire's Sonja Sohn) as well as her lab mates (including Jeri Ryan and Geoffrey Arend, who gets to meet cute with real-life wife Christina Hendricks in one episode.) Although the first few episodes struggle to balance Hunt's caustic bluntness with the character's more endearing qualities, Delany's innate likability soon comes to the fore, developing a strong female character whose ferocious smarts sometimes serve as a stumbling block. Once the characterizations fall into place, Body of Proof offers up a dependably enjoyable procedural: a lower-key take on CSI's trademark wild demises (well, except for the one poor sod who ends up having body parts scattered all over the city, that is) combined with an unusual amount of respect for the cadavers. Even when the effects are at their gooshiest, Delany and Co. do their part to convey the tragedy that makes their job necessary. Extras include the by-now-standard blooper reel, a look at the show's costume designer, and a behind-the-scenes featurette that suggests the cast and crew now have a firm handle on what makes their central character abrasively tick. --Andrew Wright

Product Description

Step into the world of ABC's compelling new drama starring Dana Delaney as a sharp-witted, headstrong medical examiner with unorthodox crime-solving methods and strained relationships with the living. Dr. Megan Hunt (Delaney) was second to none -- a brilliant neurosurgeon in a class all her own -- but when her life-saving gift is destroyed in a career-killing car accident, she reinvents herself as a medical examiner. Armed with keen instincts and vast medical knowledge, Dr. Hunt uses the victims' bodies to tell the stories of their lives and untimely deaths. Relive all the twists and turns of each case as Dr. Hunt seeks justice for every victim while also embarking on a journey of personal redemption. Own each thrilling episode of Body of Proof: The Complete First Season, including never-before-seen bonus features, in this 2-disc set.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 71 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars If the Formula Is Not Broken, Don't Tamper With It! Yet Another TV Procedural--But It's Good To Have Dana Delany Back May 26, 2011

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

In a television landscape littered with so many procedurals, it's hard to get too excited about yet another. Face it, if you're honest, dozens of TV's top rated programs are exactly the same in vibe, tone, and execution if you trade out the often likable casts. It's like comfort food, easy to digest. There's just enough wackiness of plotting, just enough eccentricity of character--most exist and thrive for the sole reason of providing escapism. When ABC announced "Body of Proof," two thoughts went through my mind. (1) It's good to see Dana Delany. Delany has been underserved, in my opinion, by many of her post "China Beach" roles. At one time, she seemed poised to be a break-out star but never successfully transitioned into feature films despite her undeniable talent and fearlessness in performance. And (2) the show would take the very conventional and expected routes of its crime drama precursors. I knew exactly what the show was going to be, but I watched anyway. I was proven right in my assumptions, but I was also entertained.

If you don't know the premise of the show, it's fairly straight forward. Delany plays a brilliant medical examiner who has taken the post after her career as an even more brilliant surgeon was shortened due to a health related crisis. As an ambitious surgeon, Delany alienated herself from the world and saw her marriage as well as her relationship with her daughter dissolve. She is so hard-edged and confrontational, especially in the early episodes, it's hard to imagine her building constructive work bonds. She, of course, is so much smarter than everyone else in the show and often does the job of the police in recovering crime scene evidence, interviewing potential witnesses, and solving major murders. She's truly a one man show. In reality, her antics would get her sanctioned regularly and probably fired--but this is TV. Instead of hating her, the wacky crew of supporting characters come to form a grudging respect and all unpleasantness is kept in a playful light.

Working as a combination of pre-existing shows (most notably House, Quincy, and CSI--but many others as well), the show is in the mystery of the week format. There is never any doubt that things will be tidied up by the end of an episode. I liked most of the supporting cast, but this is really Delany's show. If you like difficult Delany, then you like the show--and I did. The most interesting character, to me, besides Delany is her ex-husband played by Jeffrey Nordling. The interplay between the two is the series' most real feeling sub-plot as they try to work together to reestablish trust for the sake of their daughter. Season One consists of 13 episodes. All are pleasant enough, if not particularly distinguished, with certain peripheral storylines veering toward unnecessary silliness. It's not really about solving anything, but more about the journey to the conclusion. You can turn off your brain, get comfortable, and enjoy the banter. Lighthearted entertainment, but despite being a ratings hit--no big revelation in the world of TV fare. KGHarris, 5/11.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Short first season; not for the squeamish or those who know Philly September 12, 2011

By Steven I. Ramm TOP 100 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

Body of Proof was a mid-season replacement show for ABC so this two-disc DVD set contains the nine episodes that comprised "the Full First Season", making it easy for those who want to catch up before Season Two starts soon.

It's a "medical mystery" series, which means there is usually one dead body at the beginning of an episode (episode 6 had two non-related dead people) and Dana Delaney - as a Medical Examiner (not the Chief however) and former surgeon in Philadelphia - and her team try to figure out who killed the dead person. There is an emphasis on MEDICAL here, with lots of graphic footage. Not only do the medical stay "play" with brains and livers, but also nearly every episode shows the chest of the victim being sliced open. In one episode, Delaney saves a patient by shoving her fist inside the incision!. If the description I just gave makes you uncomfortable the images on the screen are sure to make you feel worse.

The plots are interesting and I like how they deduce the killer but I could use a bit less graphics.

There's another issue I had with this show (though I'll still watch it). It is set in Philadelphia, but for some reason they decided to film the scenes (other than quick images of Center City Philly (where I live) and a few street images) in Providence Rhode Island! So the buildings won't look familiar - and the river is in in the wrong location. But the scriptwriters wanted to seem like Philly so they mention real places like Wynnefield and Narberth (suburbs) and Manayunk. That's fine. But then they create fictional names for streets and create things like Liberty Mall (what's wrong with Independence Mall?). And the creditability went out the window when, in one episode, a significant clue revolves around "rent control". New York may have rent control but Philly never did. There are other shows like Cold Case and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia which only have exterior scenes show here but at least they don't mix fictional locations with real ones. This issue will probably only affect those who know Philly well but it is annoying.

The package includes a few "bonuses". First up is a 10-minute "featurette" on the making of of the show with lots of emphasis on the medical consultants who helped with the script. We also hear about the makeup artists and set design, though it's only the interiors that are discussed. Next comes a five-minute featurette on the costume designer, which is totally irrelevant unless you really care how high the heels are on Delaney's character. And then there is the requisite "blooper reel" (3 ˝ minutes). Add a "preview" of Season Two and you've got your bonuses.

If it wasn't for the intriguing story lines, I'd probably pass on this series but it did get me hooked. If you have a strong stomach for seeing body parts, you can raise my rating to four stars. But if seeing an open wound disturbs you, look for another series to get involved with.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 Show with a 4 star Dana Delaney--Good Potential but Needs Work June 27, 2011

By carol irvin TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

The concept is tired so we find ourselves with yet another crime show which pivots around the pathologist but this time for Philadelphia. However, Dana Delaney did a first class acting job on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES so I was willing to give her a try on her own show. The character had problems with her hands so had to change specialties from neurosurgery to pathology. This is quite a step down both in status and money in the medical world but she was left with little choice. So she is very over qualified to do autopsies. Hence, she horns in on every one else's job because she gets bored with just cutting up dead bodies. This the detectives find very annoying as she inserts herself into their cases.

Delaney is very good but everything else on this show needs work. The show especially needs a foil for Delaney. Although they are trying a host of characters with her as colleagues, plus a daughter and ex-husband, there is no one who qualifies as her foil yet. She is a Scully looking for Mulder or a Spock looking for Kirk.

The cases are good but they don't stand out from the enormous amount of other pathology crime shows presently overstuffing American tv. So somehow this show needs to get distinguished from all of these other shows with some scintillating episodes.

I think this has potential and, if not with this show, Delaney is certainly qualified to be the lead on some vehicle.