Gene Simmons Family Jewels: The Complete Season 5 - DVD Review

***SYNOPSIS***
Legendary rock god Gene Simmons returns with his unconventional family for another wildly entertaining season of GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS. From a major health scare for Shannon, to Sophie s high school graduation, to Gene s 60th and Nick s 21st birthdays, SEASON FIVE gives fans an unprecedented look at the many adventures and milestone moments that make the family so cohesive. Plus, with everything going on at home, KISS has been in the midst of a sold-out world tour viewers will get an all-access pass to the tour, meeting up with Gene in several cities. This season also features Nick playing with KISS members Tommy Thayer (lead guitar), Eric Singer (drums) and dad on bass at Comic-Con for the launch of his newest graphic novel, Incarnate, which Nick both wrote and drew; Sophie looking at colleges; Gene touring his roots in New York City; and a very emotional experience at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS: THE COMPLETE SEASON 5 includes the following episodes:

DISC ONE - Shannon the Brave (one-hour episode) / Waiting is the Hardest Part / The Demon Turns 60 / KISStastrophe (one-hour episode) / Like Father, Like Son / Gene Gets Punked

DISC TWO - Don't Mess with the Simmons / Gene the Croc Hunter / Smarty Pants / The Best 100th Episode Ever (one-hour) / Hunks with Hammers / Love Thy Neighbor / Detroit Rock Mommies

DISC THREE Pest Control / The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth / Gene's Evil Twin / For the Love of Rock

BONUS FEATURES - Additional Footage




***MOVIE REVIEW***
After the four seasons that followed I wondered how the show could keep momentum but the season is filled with several highlights. The best is celebrating Gene Simmons 60th birthday and what a hoot that episode was. Just a fun time.8/10


***VIDEO QUALITY***
Another strong presentation in the original aspect ratio of 1.78:1. Colors take center stage here with nice saturation. The transfer is free of any noticeable defects.8/10


***AUDIO QUALITY***
Audio is provided by a crisp and clean presentation with dialogue being the ficus which always comes through clear throughout.7.5

Gene Simmons Family Jewels: The Complete Season 4 - DVD Review

***SYNOPSIS***
Legendary rock god and multi-hyphenate Gene Simmons and his unconventional family are back and better than ever for season four of the hit A&E unscripted series GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS. This season kicks off with Sophie s sweet sixteen party, giving viewers an all-access pass to the landmark celebration. From Gene s appearance on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? and his filming of a Japanese monster flick, to Shannon preparing for a role in a roller derby exploitation film, to Nick getting his own apartment, to Sophie fending off ill-intentioned teenaged boys, follow the Simmons-Tweed clan as they set out to prove, yet again, why they are the most non-traditional, traditional family in America.

GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS: THE COMPLETE SEASON 4 includes the following episodes:

DISC ONE - Sophie s Sweet 16 (one-hour episode) / Memphis Blues / Fireman Gene / Godfather Gene (one-hour episode) / Economic Stimulus / Slumber Party

DISC TWO - The Night From Hell / Who Dunnit / Puppy Love / Grapes of Wrath / Dirty Little Secrets / Movin Out / Derby Queen / Fresh Meat

DISC THREE - Gene the Slacker / Rootin Tootin Gene / Sex & Rock n Roll / Letters Lost

BONUS FEATURE - Additional footage


***MOVIE REVIEW***
The legendary rocker Gene Simmons and his eccentric but sweet family bring you into their life and while some you could argue that they were staged, (what reality show isn't?) I found the season as a whole very enjoyable and worth the time to see the craziness that is Gene Simmons life.7.5/10



***VIDEO QUALITY***
Presented in the original aspect ratio of 1.78:1 this is a quality transfer for a show being shot with mainly handheld video cameras and minimal staged lighting. Gene likes to wear a lot of black and they come through deep here with good primary colors mixed in. No signs of compression artifacts. This is a stable and crisp presentation of the show.8/10


***AUDIO QUALITY***
Audio is provided by a crisp and clean stereo track that represents the dialogue well.7/10

Billy the Exterminator: Season 2 - DVD Review

Billy the Exterminator: Season 2

***SYNOPSIS***
Season 2 of BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR reunites viewers with the one and only Billy Bretherton as he tackles some of Louisiana's creepiest, craziest pest problems.

In the pest management industry for 16 years, Billy runs Vexcon the only pest removal team in the state that handles all types of animal removal with support from his wacky but lovable family: kid brother, Ricky; tough-as-nails father, Bill Sr.; sassy office manager and mom Donnie; and beloved wife, Mary. And pest removal is big business in the swamp-like state of Louisiana. This season Billy and his team attempt to capture a beaver wreaking havoc at a summer camp, search for a rattlesnake slithering around a funeral home, go head-to-head with an angry raccoon trapped in a dumpster, tangle with some ornery water moccasins and wasps, match wits with an alligator in a family pond, and confront the largest roach infestation of their careers. A former U.S. Air Force Sergeant, Billy has taken a militaristic approach to pest control and is emerging a winner.

BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR: SEASON TWO contains the following episodes:

DISC ONE - Funeral Home Snake / Attack of the Trash Can Raccoon / Snake Invader / Backyard Gator / Nursery Room Raccoon / Extreme Gator / Snakes in the Swamp / Bee Relocation

DISC TWO - Raccoon Rescue / Bobcat & Yellow Jacket / Spider Invasion / Attack of the 15 Foot Snake / Squirrels in the Attic / Rattlesnake Combat / Bat Attack / Deadly Snake on the Loose

DISC THREE - 9 Foot Gator! / When Squirrels Attack! / Sprayed by a Skunk! / Python on the Prowl / Billy Goes to the Gulf (one-hour)

BONUS FEATURES Featurettes - About Billy/ Billy s Tips/ Behind-the-Scenes

***MOVIE REVIEW***
Billy and the crew from Vexcon return for another season creature catching and creepy crawly exterminating. If you read my Season One review this second season is another winner that topped the episodes that precede it.9/10

***VIDEO QUALITY***
Another non widescreen transfer that is perfectly fine. Colors are well saturated and overall picture quality was pretty crisp.7/10


***AUDIO QUALITY***
Audio is provided a underwhelming Dolby Digital track. While clear and listenable throughout this is a reality show that would benefit greatly from surround effects.


***SPECIAL FEATURES***
* About Billy – More reflections from the man himself.

* Billy’s Tips – Billy gives some interesting tips on how to rid your home of pests.

* Behind the Scenes – A fun look at how the production crew behind the camera obtains all the footage and also the difficulties and precautions they must endure.

Billy the Exterminator: Season 1 - DVD Review

***SYNOPSIS***
Follow the fearless and funny Billy Bretherton as he attempts to balance life at home with the drama of running one of the busiest pest removal companies in Louisiana.

In the pest management industry for over 15 years, Billy runs Vexcon the only pest removal team in the state that handles all types of animal removal with support from his wacky but lovable family: kid brother, Ricky; tough-as-nails father, Bill Sr.; sassy office manager and mom Donnie; and beloved wife, Mary. Whether it s a giant 8-foot alligator walking down an affluent street, baby raccoons inside the wall of an office, 70,000 bats who call a stadium home, or a wild pet-eating bobcat, Billy and his family get the job done with enough skill, energy and wit to keep even the most squeamish viewers wanting more. A former U.S. Air Force Sergeant, Billy has taken a militaristic approach to pest control and is emerging a winner.

BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR: SEASON ONE contains the following episodes:

DISC ONE - Goth Bees/ Killer Coons / Snake in the Closet / There's A Gator in My Boat / Kitty Corpse Cleanup / Gator Park Swarm / Possums in the Wall / Llama-Eating Gators

DISC TWO - Psycho Raccoon/ Killer Spiders / Raccoon Haunting / Tattoo Rattlesnake / Bobcat Invasion / Extreme Roaches/Busy Beaver / Skunks and Mice and Snakes Oh My /

BONUS FEATURES Featurettes - About Billy/ Billy s Words of Wisdom/ Billy the Storyteller/ Meet the Family/ Donnie




***MOVIE REVIEW***
Billy Bretherton and his charismatic crew of exterminators that join him in his day to day running of Vexcon make this quick, exciting reality series work well. I also enjoyed seeing the hard work they put in to remove wild and sometimes downright venomous creatures away from homes and towns. There is hardly a dull moment and there were even a few touching scenes as well. A refreshingly fun reality series for once. 9/10




***VIDEO QUALITY***
The episodes are shown in a letterboxed format and not utilized for 16:9 HDTV's. That being said the transfer was good due to this being shot very recently. Colors are a nice mix of rich black leathers, camo greens, and several exotic creatures. No major signs of compression were no noticed.7/10.





***AUDIO QUALITY***
Audio is provided by a Dolby Digital track and is nothing worth powering up your speakers and receiver for but the main focus is of course dialogue which was crisp and clear throughout. Hopefully in future releases the sound designers can utilize surround usage to bring a sense of being in the setting Billy is working in.6/10




***SPECIAL FEATURES***
* About Billy – Learn more about the man himself

* Billy’s Words of Wisdom – Billy gives an insiders view on extermination tech and tips.

* Billy the Storyteller – Billy speaks on his craziest extermination jobs.

* Meet the Family – We are shown their two cats, who are like children to them.

* Dangers on the Job – Billy shares some interesting stories from his work.

*Donnie - Donnie speaks frankly on her experience with cancer.