Customer Reviews

Early Edition: The Second Season

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Early Edition was one of the most interesting and entertaining hours on television during its run and after picking up season one, it's nice to see the second season of this fabulous show coming out. The characters were likable, and all too human at times, making them even more likable. Kyle Chandler proved the perfect choice as a regular guy with foibles who at first tries to cash in like any of us would on his good fortune, then realizes the great responsibility which has been laid at his door, quite literally.

Gary Hobson (Kyle Chandler) has been kicked out by his wife and forced to find a hotel. A yellow cat accompanies a newspaper which Gary eventually discovers is quite special. It is tomorrow's news today, and day after day it is delivered to Gary's door. He reacts as most of us would at first but his good nature finally takes over and he realizes there is a reason he's been chosen to receive the paper.

What followed each week was fabulous. One week it was humorous and the next heartbreaking. Shanesia Williams was terrific as his blind pal Marissa, who tried to keep him grounded and lead him towards the right path when the direction seemed unclear. Fisher Stevens was perfectly cast as his pal Chuck, who wanted to take advantage of Gary's windfall but often ended up helping him instead because deep down he was a good guy. It was sort of like Rockford and Angel, just less pronounced. At least in season one.

What helped to make the show special was the Chicago atmosphere and some tightly written shows about delicate choices made from the heart, some of which had grave consequences. The moral dilemmas continued, as in Quality of Mercy. In this episode, Gary saves someone, only to read the "next" paper, and discover that person is now going to kill someone innocent. There was always so much day to day slice of life humor in this show that you bonded with the characters in a way we don't anymore. The drama was human also, particularly so in The Medal, where a Vietnam Vet is racked with guilt.

The affection the writers had for classic movies came across to a great degree in season two. In Romancing the Throne, a Princess from Morania takes a break from her duties with Gary and helps save a couple of lives. It is obviously an homage to Roman Holiday. Where or When takes a page from Hitchcock's Rear Window, as Gary is laid up with a broken leg, and becomes tangled up with what may be a 50 year old murder just across the way. A Bris is Just a Bris is an obvious nod to A Kiss is Just a Kiss from Casablanca, even if the amusing story-line where Chuck starts telling the truth (gulp) and Gary gets tangled up with a klutzy librarian have little in common with the classic film. Anyone who's seen In Old Chicago with Tyrone Power and Alice faye will enjoy Hot Time in the Old Town, in which Gary wakes up two days before the great Chicago fire after a bump on the head!

The show's characters and their interactions had a very real feel and each show had its share of fine moments. Often mixed with humor, but sometimes quite poignant in the end, each week was special. From late September of 1997 to late May of 1998 fans of this show relished the hour spent each week with Gary and his pals.

Season two episodes include: Home--The Medal--The Wedding--Jenny Sloan--Down Sized--Angels and Devils--Redfellas--March in Time--A Regular Joe--A Bris is Just a Bris--A Minor Miracle--Romancing the Throne--Walk, Don't Run--Return of Crumb--Mum's the Word--When and Where--The Fourth Carpathian--The Quality of Mercy--Show Me the Monet--Don't Walk Away Renee-Hot Time in the Old Town--Second Sight

Having purchased season one for someone I love I'm glad season two is now on its way. Early Edition truly stands out as something of quality. Gary and his friends, and that mysterious yellow cat, were welcome visitors each week and this is another fantastic release for the show's many fans.

Glad CBS FINALLY decided to produce these. Now just waiting for seasons 3 and 4. A GREAT show about doing the right thing.

This season is arguably better than Season One in the sense that the characters have been established and the writers were able to focus more on the episodes without having to worry about backgrounds, the "how" and "why" of the paper, etc. But as many after me will probably say, all four seasons were excellent and we're looking forward to the last two seasons being released in the coming year or so.

One of the few great TV shows that did not stray into junk to draw viewers. Can't get enough of Early Edition

I nearly didn't make it through this season set because the first two discs contained weak episodes with too much sap and movie-of-the-week type topical stories. Please. I couldn't understand how I'd watched the entire series originally if it had gone this soft-headed in season two. Fortunately I stuck with it and was rewarded in the last three discs with episodes that went back to, and often outdid, the strengths of season 1. Gary Hobson (Kyle Chandler)--the protagonist who gets tomorrow's Chicago Sun-Times today--is not a sap. He tries to do his best and won't turn his back on those who he feels need him, but he is not entirely a willing hero, and he isn't too surprised when his help isn't welcomed. Even more skeptical is his friend and co-worker Chuck (Fisher Stevens), who along with co-workers Marissa and ex-detective Crumb, helps to ground and expand the focus of the show. After the first two discs, the show's humor returns, particular in the wonderful "The Fourth Carpathian" in which four Carpathian brothers, Crumb, and Gary's parents are featured in an episode that is light-hearted but still full of heart. As Crumb says "someone or something is watching over Gary" and I appreciate that whoever is sending the newspaper is kept cryptic. The first two discs veered too close to the worst of 'Touched By an Angel,' (even though I like the best of that show) but the last three discs maintain a good pace and are very entertaining. In honesty, the only episode I strongly remember of the whole run was that in which Gary sees his successor, and I dearly hope that the show will keep being issued so that I can be reach that point again.

I enjoyed this series when it first aired on CBS in the late 90's. When I saw that amazon had it in their DVD section I had to have. The show is really entertaining and if you liked Kyle Chandler in Friday Night Lights you will love this. I hope season 3&4 come out soon. Can't wait.

I can't wait for the third and fourth seasons. The only thing I would like to see more on this is interviews and commentaries by the actors and those responsible for the show. I have no negative comments on shipping, condition, price, etc. Thanks! Would highly recommend this!

This second season boxset played virtually fine (I tested each chapter of all 22 episodes on the five discs).

I remember watching the first season of Early Edition (well most of it) on ITV back in the late 90's and it was a lot of fun and a warm drama. It's just a shame that it only lasted four seasons and didn't last longer.

There was a delay in the UK for the second season. Eventually Sky One premiered it in the UK (along with the third and fourth seasons). I only caught the first two episodes, the season premiere "Home" and "Faith". So I'm glad that CBS DVD have finally released the second season on Region 1 after a twelve month wait.

Fingers crossed they release the third season around the same time next year (around June/July 2010), with episodic promos for all 23 episodes if possible, and the alternative ending to the second season episode "Hot Time in the Old Town" as DVD extras.

Well It's another home run with this second season of Early Edition, Gary and his pals Chuck and Marissa are back at it again in these exciting adventures on this set, packaged as the first season was. Which is fine with me you also get the option again whether you want to see the promos with the episode or not which is nice thanks CBS . You listened to us the fans of the show. The set is as followed: May Be Spoilers Ahead.


Disc. 1 Home - Gary has to find a new home after a fire in his apt in the hotel, also has to deal with greedy land developer that is somehow connected to Chicago's favorite bar and an orphanage


Medal- An awarded Vietnam vet is struggling with a past mistake, that is eating at his soul and conscience. so he's thinking about giving up life. Can Gary talk him out of it, before it too late?

The Wedding- Gary has to save his sweetheart from high school who is getting married, but something is trying destroy one of her family members that about to testify against organized crime, can Gary save them and make sure wedding is still on and keep his sanity?

Jenny Sloan- Gary finds a boy that is running away because he hates the treatments he's going through to cure his illness he has. A local cancer survivor jenny is beating the odds and gary wants her to talk to the boy about keep up with the treatments.

Disc. 2 Downsized- One of Gary's former associates for fearing of losing his job considers update his body to look more youthful for the marketplace, but something lurks that may kill him. Can Gary talk him out of it?

Angels and Devils- A Sister and Gary try to keep a young man on the straight and narrow and away from trouble, the same can not said for his brother that influences him the wrong way. Will the young man make the right choice?


Redfellas- Gary wakes to his regular paper gone but one that is written Russian What? As he try to figure it out, clues start to form around a past father and a famous violinist. Will he figure it out?

March in Time- friction starts to rises against a town and a media hungry white supremacist that is going to march in a town that doesn't care for him and want him out and gone from their fair quiet town. Can Gary prevent a town and people in the march from getting hurt or killed? And stop hate.

Disc. 3 A Regular Joe- Gary has to convince an aging football player to give the sport before it's too late,Can he?

A Bris Is Just a Bris- Chuck falls in love with a beautiful rabbi and starts tells the truth, Gary being a hero isn't what it's crack up to be. He got an admirer out of it,Oh boy.

A Minor Miracle- a little girl goes disappearing after looking for a pet, Gary become prime number 1 in her disappearance , chuck runs into someone that could help in finding her .

Romancing the Throne- A princess stows away in Gary's car and causes a monkey wrench in Gary's plans temporarily.


Disc. 4 Walk, Don't Run- Gary agrees to be temporarily congressman to get a street light for neighborhood, but soon realizes how dirty the water is in politics and state government. Will he get that light and keep his principles and character intacted?

Return of Crumb- Gary Learns that his friend Det. Crumb is being framed by a crooked cop for crime he had nothing to do with.

Mum's the Word- an exhibit is about to open, somebody steals something from it and gets a curse from it. Can Gary save them by get the stolen stuff back and stop the curse from spreading from one to another?

Where or When- In the style of Hitchcock's rear window,Gary starts having dreams of the past and must figure out what the clues mean in time to save someone.

The Fourth Carpathian- Gary gets trapped in building while doing good, so his parents take over his duties and try to find him.


Disc. 5 The Quality of Mercy- a con is let out and go after the person that put him behind bars. Will Gary be able to stop this crime in time?

Show Me the Monet- Gary is help by a kind English man, only Gary finds out about his past that is less then stellar a copier of fine works of art and his past is catching up with him fast. He agrees to go straight and honest after one last job to correct a wrong from the past, to make it right.

Don't Walk Away, Renee- Gary runs into a childhood friend and she's in trouble.

Hot Time in the Old Town- trying to save something Gary is knock out and sent back to the past to right a wrong .

Second Sight- Marissa sees something , chuck witness a murder of an associate at a business and fears for his safety. Will Gary be able to help Chuck and Marissa?

This set is excellent like last time and packaging is great Keep It Up CBS. Although I may have notice a small edit on one of scenes of the first episode on 5th disc it's so minor it's not really worth writing about , I don't think anyone would notice. Other than that this set is uncut and well worth the money. I just can't wait for the next season. i like all of the episodes don't really have a favorite, i can't believe how many i remember.

But remember CBS my warning to you.

A NOTE TO CBS EXECS: Please don't jip or screw over the Early Edition fans when you release Season Two or any of the other Seasons coming up, like you did with the poor Fugitive Fans on Season Two Vol.1 and remove anything critical stuff like music/scenes. As I stated before Leave as is CBS, if it takes alittle longer to release the second or any other seasons, we the fans we'll understand and will wait, we don't want a shoddy product with music or scenes removed or missing. We want an excellent DVD Release Of Early Edition Seasons Like this First Season Release, which is Excellent, so please Leave, as is CBS. Release the Seasons like we saw them on TV Please. Your doing good so far so don't blow it on the next ones. A Fan.

I didn't get to see all of the episodes of Early Edition when it was aired on CBS TV starting in 1996, but loved the premise of getting tomorrow's newspaper to help people. What a great show to exemplify how people should behave- Love one another unconditionally and try to help others. Kyle Chandler is a very likeable, average, good-looking, easy going guy with two good friends, one with a conscience and one without which makes for the perfect dynamic and knowing that tomorrow's news is within reach and could help with financial issues. But the lesson is that the paper isn't coming for personal gain. Excellent lesson. Great acting, great stories, great characters. Wish this show was still running. It should've made at least 10 years. I look forward to the release of seasons 3 and 4.