Dec 212009
Wow, it’s like Christmas come early!
Both DVD and Blu-ray versions will be available March 23rd. That is really, really early. Typically the disks haven’t hit until about three weeks prior to the new season. We’ll have lots of time to play with the extras; commentaries, pieces on Medgar Evers, the March on Washington, Mad Men Illustrated (featuring Dyna Moe!), and other coolnesses.
10 Responses to “S3 DVD and Blu-Ray date is set”
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Wow, that's really early in comparison to last year. Mind you, this is good, because then there's more time to get people up to speed who aren't caught up with the series before Season Four starts.
Oh my God! Early!
Sounds like a great opportunity for that West Coast Basketcase get-together we discussed some time ago …
YESSSS! Excellent news!
Whoa, that is early! And the Mad Men DVD collections never disappoint, always stacked with extras.
I hope the early release date doesn't mean they won't do the double commentaries for each episode. I really enjoy having one with the actors and some with Matt, and one with directors/writers, which also includes Matt sometimes.
Excellent! This could mean an earlier start for season 4. As long as Weiner provides some commentary tracks for most of the S3 episodes, I`ll be fine. It`s not like the actors were bursting with insight on the commentary tracks included with the prior two DVD sets. (And, anyhow, why would there not be time for them to devote a few hours of their day to provide some play-by-play?)
I bet that the rising amount of hype surrounding the show, along with the early confirmation of S4, have precipitated the release date.
As much as all the other reasons, I would guess that the fact that this time they are comfortably in the middle of a two-year AMC contract which surely included specifics about DVD extras and let them plan ahead, having figured out in previous years what they wanted to put in, plus some sort of marketing plan leading up to the next season, probably accounts for the earlier release date. My only two previous full-series DVDs – West Wing and Sopranos – indicates that commentaries gradually reduce in number as time goes on, though probably not yet. In particular, Matt Weiner seems to love talking about the show. As long as he's willing to do a commentary for virtually every episode, there will be a lot to go on. Many of the writers and directors seem to go at it with gusto, but with them it may depend on their contracts. Same with the actors, though lots of them seem to really get into it too, especially Jon Hamm and Elizabeth Moss, who are really good at it.
If season 4 turns out to be a re-configuration of the world of Mad Men – what with Don`s divorce and the creation of a smaller, more intimate agency – this early release date will also be useful in giving fans some separation between enjoying the DVD and witnessing the new beginnings of these characters in July-August 2010.
The moment I saw the announcement that Amazon was accepting pre-orders for MM Season 3 I did so. That was 19 November 2009. Just last weekend Amazon sent me an e-mail asking if I still wanted Season 3 on Blu-Ray. Of course I replied that I for sure wanted my MM.
Now anticipating the set in March instead of late July is even better. So much happened there must be more than usual to discuss in commentaries.
Perhaps Robin and Kater will not be invited to record comments, but maybe they will. It would be interesting to hear from Abigail Spencer, Sunny Mabrey (Stew Shelly) Ryan Cutrona (Gene Hoffstadt) Christopher Stanley (Henry Francis) and especially Chelcie Ross as Conrad "Connie" Hilton
Oh, for sure keep me informed about any West Coast MM events.
Carroll
I'm a spring baby, and this DVD set comes out near my birthday. No need to think before someone asks me what I want this year. Thanks for the update.