A Few Commentaries or Commentary Minis?

[90'sCartoonMan]

I got around to going through some of the commentaries on the South Park box set. Anyone who owns the set knows that they don't give full commentaries over the whole episode, but Trey Parker and Matt Stone talk forthe first few minutes of each episode. Being a huge South Park fan, I'd prefer them to do full commentaries for every episode (like, say, The Simpsons do).

Then I thought about some of the other box sets I have, like Batman The Animated Series, which has full commentary but only for a few episodes. So you get commentary on every part of the episode, but some episodes are left completely untouched.

So given the choice between the two, would you rather have commentaries on every episode that only last a few minutes or complete commentaries on only some of the episodes?

(man I hope no one already made a thread about this)

[The Penguin]

(man I hope no one already made a thread about this)Not that I can recall. I like this question.


Anyway, I would have to say that given the choice, I think it would be cool to have a introduction of sorts (be it before or over the first little bit) on all the episodes to get a feel for what the creator(s) thought of each one. You used B:TAS as an example and while they group on those talk the whole time and keep it interesting, they usually end up at some point discussing the show in general because it's just hard to talk about a cartoon for a half hour. I'd like to hear a little about a lot than a lot about a little (you gave me an in between choice though so I went with that one).

[Simpler Simon]

Hard question. I like it too.

If we're going to use BTAS sets as a reference point, then a few volumes ago I might have preferred mini-commentaries, as Timm, Dini and co. seemed to talk in generalities. But they've gotten a lot better lately, and a mini-commentary would drop a lot of the wisecracks and asides they slip in (check out the "ninja farmer" bit on the critters commentary on BTAS vol 4 :p ).

I know a few flicks give commentary minis from the stars, but let you jump to scene-specific points rather than just playing it from the episode's start. I think that would be the best way to handle these smaller bundles.

[Noukon]

I prefer full commentaries on a few episodes, but only if those episodes are chosen well (good example: the Babylon 5 sets).

[90'sCartoonMan]

Anyway, I would have to say that given the choice, I think it would be cool to have a introduction of sorts (be it before or over the first little bit) on all the episodes to get a feel for what the creator(s) thought of each one. You used B:TAS as an example and while they group on those talk the whole time and keep it interesting, they usually end up at some point discussing the show in general because it's just hard to talk about a cartoon for a half hour. I'd like to hear a little about a lot than a lot about a little (you gave me an in between choice though so I went with that one).
Yeah, that in-between choice was kind of a cop out. Introductions, as you say, are sort of "meh". Like from what I've seen of Greg Weisman's on Gargoyles, they're not nearly as informative as Trey and Matt's (who always have an interesting story on how they got the idea for the episode).

If we're going to use BTAS sets as a reference point, then a few volumes ago I might have preferred mini-commentaries, as Timm, Dini and co. seemed to talk in generalities.
Maybe BTAS compared to South Park wasn't that great...I should've said The Critic, since that only has a few. On BTAS, though, I really liked "Read My Lips" as they could react to everything scene by scene. But then I'd really want to hear something about...uh...man, I can't think of any episodes, but I know there were some that I would've like to see addressed, even mini.

I prefer full commentaries on a few episodes, but only if those episodes are chosen well (good example: the Babylon 5 sets).
Do any hour long shows have full commentaries on every episode? (I know Buffy and Angel are more like Babylon 5)

[Duke]

Do any hour long shows have full commentaries on every episode? (I know Buffy and Angel are more like Babylon 5) Not every episode, but the Stargate (SG-1 & Atlantis) have commentaries for at least 90% of the episodes (post-Season 3). (I really wish there was a commentary for "Before I Sleep") In addition, the Atlantis sets have special featurettes for specific episodes which basically goes into how specific episodes were made.

I personally prefer as many commentaries as possible, but only if the people doing the commentaries know how to do them well. No way I want 20 boring commentaries on my DVD set.

[Dirtbag]

I've never been a big fan of commentaries. I think it was ATHF volume 1 that ruined it for me. Most of the commentaries they have on there are so irrelavant to the episode that it seems pointless, even if it is funny. And anyway, I don't have enough time to watch the commentraies for the most part. I buy the movie/show and by the time I watch it once I've picked up something new.

[Noukon]

Do any hour long shows have full commentaries on every episode? (I know Buffy and Angel are more like Babylon 5)
Farscape has commentaries on just about every episode... sometimes more than one commentary on an episode. It's to the point where I don't watch them because it would simply take up too much time.

[MGFanJay]

The Dead Zone has commentary for every ep. I prefer full commentary tracks. Mini-tracks just seem like a tease.

[DarthGonzo]

The only thing I dislike about the SP commentary minis is when you KNOW that Trey and Matt could go on for several more minutes about a given episode, yet they suddenly realize they've gone over the time limit they've set for themselves and quickly wrap things up. Drives me crazy.

[Simpler Simon]

Is it a time limit set by themselves or is it imposed by the DVD production budget?