Greg the Bunny: Independent Film Channel version (1 Viewer)

[Will_B]

A DVD release of the Independent Film Channel's "low tech" version of Greg the Bunny is coming in early 2006! But first, for those who do not subscribe to the Independent Film Channel, those who may have thought that the Fox series was all there ever was of Greg, some background from the Greg the Bunny FAQ written by series creator Dan Milano that will help explain what the new DVD is.

On a personal note, I'll add that the Independent Film Channel's version of Greg is not at all like the Larry Sanders-esque show that was on Fox. These IFC parodies are more shocking, rather brief, and the low-tech look takes some getting used to. Voices are different. Greg and Warren are still voiced by Dan Milano, but different nonetheless -- Milano explained in an interview that "the voices were different on the network than they were on IFC. Greg sounds a lot more like me and Warren lost a lot of his higher pitch." Milano also now does the voice for Count Blah. They also went back to the original "looks" of the puppets.

Also, as a fan who loved Tardy the Turtle, I was sorry to see that Tardy is not in the IFC series. "Fox gave us the rights back to Count Blah, Warren the Ape and Greg, who we brought to the show," Milano told TV Zone, but not (thus far) Tardy, who I'd like to imagine is off having adventures of his own.

 

[Will_B]

Both Greg and Warren have blogs on MySpace, by the way. Check out Warren's - it's totally offensive.

 

[AndyMcKinney]

Bah, I was originally excited when I heard Greg was coming back to IFC with new episodes, but I guess I got so used to the Fox sitcom format that I much preferred it to the IFC version. Asphalt was a big disappointment for me, though the one where Greg and Warren do "puppet porn" got a few laughs.


According to the DVD release of the Fox show, the Tardy puppet (along with Susan the Monster) was apparently stolen anyway, so even if Dan and Co. did get the rights back to Tardy, they'd have to build a new one.

 

[Rick P]

so frustrating.. I was so happy to get the FOX Greg on DVD... and now.. it's showing on HDNet... in WIDESCREEN (the FOX DVD is 4:3)

 

[AndyMcKinney]

This show was broadcast in both4:3 and 16x9, so the show had two aspect ratios.

Has it ever been stated by the production staff what the intended aspect ratio is? Maybe the show's true aspect ratio is what we got on the DVD and the 16x9 version is simply "widescreen safe."

I know a lot of Buffy fans got bent out of shape because those releases weren't widescreen, but the show's creator responded and said the show's intended ratio was 4:3. Even this didn't please some widescreen advocates.

Just because it's the wider picture doesn't always make it the correct picture (takes you back to the pan-n-scan days, doesn't it?).

Don't get me wrong: if a show was originally composed for widescreen, then by all means, that is what we should get, but just "opening up the sides" on a picture composed for a square shape isn't any more right than opening up the mattes on a widescreen movie for a "fullscreen" presentation.

HDNet

Isn't everything widescreen on these HD channels, whether they were originally widescreen or not? I know a lot of old TV shows, when being remastered for HD, are also being cropped to "fit the rectangle." Some of these travesties are even making it to DVD (Dark Shadows and the first season of Kung Fu, for instance). Let's hope this doesn't become more widespread (at least, not on home video formats).

 

[Ethan Riley]

Everybody knew Greg would be cancelled because Seth Green was in it, and Seth Green always gets shows cancelled. Greg's better off without him.

 

[Rick P]

Well, the widescreen version looks better composed to me, less crowded more 'balance'.

 

[Antony James]

Can't wait to see this G the B IFC DVD...being down under, we don't get the channel, and it's not being offered on any of those 'less than reputable' avenues. Not that I've been able to find, at least.

But that reunion special from late 2005 was great, so I want more, MORE!

 

[Ric Easton]

So any word on the availability of the "Fur on the Asphalt: A Greg The Bunny Reunion Special"? I couldn't quite get it from the link.

I laughed my ass off at that and would love to get it on DVD.

 

[Will_B]

Ric, it is not clear if "Fur on the Asphalt: A Greg The Bunny Reunion Special" will be part of the upcoming IFC Greg the Bunny DVD or not.

I hope it is, too!

 

[Will_B]

This is not the list of episodes planned for the DVD...but it is what IFC showed on Thanksgiving Day in a marathon of eps:

01: 2001 Space and Stuff
02: Bunnie Hall
03: Daddyhood
04: Dead Puppet Storage
05: Martian Serum 7 from Mars
06: Naturally Sewn Killers
07: Sex, Button Eyes and a Video Ape
08: Sleazy Rider
09: The 13th Step
10: Addiction
11: The Blues, She is My Friend
12: God Pappy
13: You Know, For Kids
14: Blah

Probably a good idea to watch all the original films these were based on. Addiction is that vampire film with Grace Slick, I think.

 

[Will_B]

Evan Shapiro, General Manager of the Independent Film Channel, has an update at ifc channel. He did not answer the question about whether the special will be included.


I believe the reference to season two does not mean that they intend to add season two to the planned DVD. I think he just means that IFC renewed Greg the Bunny for a second season so Milano and gang are busy. Not sure. Unclear wording.

 

[Will_B]

Did I say Milano? I mean Greg. Greg is busy. And fuzzy.

 

[Will_B]

I picked up on ebay a promo DVD from the IFC called "IFC: 3 New Shows, One Deranged Hour" that contains one episode of Greg the Bunny, one episode of Hopeless Pictures, and one episode of some other show. FYI the episode of Greg the Bunny is "The Godpappy". This version is the aired tv version, which is shorter than what will appear on the upcoming season set, but it was still very good.

There's some odd temporal noise reduction on this promo DVD which causes some lingering of images, but no matter, it is still a nice preview of sorts. It also reminded me how good Hopeless Pictures is, too.

This promo DVD is evidently the three shows that TiVo offered when TiVo began testing broadband video downloads last August, previewing "Greg the Bunny," "Hopeless Pictures" and "The Festival" before they debuted on the Independent Film Channel.

 

[Will_B]

There's a new message from Greg over at his MySpace journal, in which he updates the situation on the upcoming DVD release of the first season of the Independent Film Channel show:

"Posted: April 14, 2006 9:35 AM

We're still puttin' the finishin' touches on the new IFC dvd and they say it should be on the shelves sometime by the end of the summer! You're not gonna believe some of the extras that we are sneakin' on this hehehehe

'Til then, just keep checkin' my site or my myspace for more up-to-date info! Gotta go...lot's of pals to write back to.

~Greg"

 

[Will_B]

Pic of the incredibly lame cover art is up at tvshowsondvd.com:

http://tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=5972