Take 4 TV: Oz

Oz: Season Four (2001)

What's Going On?: For those of you not in the know, "Oz" is the nickname for the Oswald Maximum Security Penitentiary...yes, my friends, this is a prison drama, not a series based around munchkins and flying monkeys. Most of the action takes place in the experimental cell block within Oz known as "Emerald City," where prisoners are given much more freedom and responsibility than in other cell blocks. A lot of the fourth season focuses on the new chief officer of "Em City," and his somewhat unconventional practices, while the perpetual feuding between the different factions within Oz becomes more and more escalated.

Leading the Line-Up: On the "officer" side, you have Ernie Hudson, playing the warden of Oz (Leo Glynn), while Terry Kinney plays the "creator" and controller of "Em City," Tim McManus. Also, it would be remiss of me not to mention Rita Moreno, who plays Sister Peter Marie, the nun/psychologist of the prison (and one of the best characters/actors in the series). Among the inmates you have Lee Tergesen, who plays the "everyday guy who makes a serious mistake and finds himself in prison," Tobias Beecher; you have Eamonn Walker, who plays the leader of the Muslim faction, Kareem Said; and you have Harold Perrineau, who plays the wheelchair-bound narrator, Augustus Hill (some of you will recognize him as playing Michael, Walt's father, on the television series Lost). Many, many more folks...too numerous to mention.

Things to Look Out For: Lots of violence and nudity in this, so not for the faint of heart. Oh, and Luke Perry makes a surprise appearance this season, and does a pretty damn good job.

Special Features to Catch: Pretty weak on special features...two of the sixteen episodes have cast/creator commentaries (skip the one on the final episode, but the one with Rita Moreno during Episode Eight is somewhat entertaining, if you feel you must catch one). Also, the final disk has some deleted scenes from throughout the series, but nothing spectacular.

Random Trivia: The arm that is being tattooed in the opening credits belongs to series creator Tom Fontana.

And I Quote: Augustus Hill (narrating): "So, what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom? What makes us so different? We're the only species who put our own kind in cages."

Life Lessons From Oz: 1) If you find yourself near an elevator shaft in prison, and no guards are around...you or someone with you is likely about to bite it. 2) Like in 24, don't get too attached to characters...you never know who is suddenly going to get shanked. 3) "Tits" is prison slang for drugs. Seriously. Who knew.

Curt's Take: "Worth Considering" - Well, it took me forever to get through the first episode...but then it suddenly just grew on me, like a soap opera. Next thing I knew I was on Episode Twelve, waiting for the next disk in the mail. If you can look past all the sex and violence and nudity...it's a pretty gripping drama. Almost Shakespearean. Watch characters rise, fall and come to the end of their rope. There are some prisoners you really want to see succeed, and some staff members you want to see fail and be humiliated. Wouldn't start with this one, though...go back to Season One and catch the first several episodes. Decide for yourself.

On Our Next Episode: Switching over to the BBC...a comedy series where the entire cast of characters if played by three guys. Ah, those wacky Brits.

Take 4 TV: Dead Like Me

Dead Like Me: Season Two (2004)

What's Going On?: When Georgia "George" Lass was killed by flaming debris falling from space (specifically, a toilet seat), life as she knew it ended...but her undeath was just starting. Rather than meet her maker, she became employed into the ranks of the Reapers. Now, her job is to claim the souls of those about to die, in order to ease their transition into the afterlife (while also working part-time at Happy Time, a temp agency, to pay the bills). Her and her new family of Reapers, including a young actress who died on the set of Gone With the Wind and a booze-addicted punk from 1960's Britain, face uncooperative dead folks, mischievous Gravelings, and the ever-burning question of where next month's rent check is going to come from.

Leading the Line-Up: Newcomer Ellen Muth plays George Lass, just one of five main members of the cast. While she was very much the central character in the first season, it truly becomes more of an ensemble piece in the second season. Also of note is Mandy Patinkin, who plays Rube, the head of the group of Reapers (it's his job to assign the others their soul-catching tasks)...pretty much the father figure of the group. And can't forget Jasmine Guy, who plays Roxy...part-time Reaper, part-time meter-maid turned cop. You'll remember her as Whitney from the television show A Different World.

Things to Look Out For: A pretty clever script, a very likeable cast, and some rather twisted deaths.

Special Features to Catch: A few things here. First, a ten-minute "behind the scenes" look at the second season. You can skip this, unless you're curious how some of the people act off-set. Also, a look at the making of some of the special effects. This was kind of interesting, but only marginally. Next, some deleted scenes that weren't all that impressive. Finally, some still photos and previews of other MGM DVDs. All in all, a little disappointing on the Special Features front.

Random Trivia: The series was inspired by the Piers Anthony novel "On A Pale Horse", where a man kills Death and has to take over his job, but works on the notion that there are multiple Grim Reapers working the planet.

And I Quote: George:"I'd say I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not. I excel at not giving a shit. Experience has taught me that interest begets expectation, and expectation begets disappointment, so the key to avoiding disappointment is to avoid interest. A equals B equals C equals A, or...whatever. I also don't have a lot of interest in being a good person or a bad person. From what I can tell, either way, you're screwed. Bad people are punished by society's laws, and good people are punished by Murphy's Law. So you see my dilemma."

Life Lessons From Dead Like Me: 1) When your number's up, your number's up. 2) If you lose one daughter, and your other daughter is convinced that some remnant of her sister is still around...try to be a little understanding. 3) If you are trying to sell a product called "The Kitchen Guillotine," for God's sake, be careful.

Curt's Take: "Worth Considering" - Well, I really liked this series, but then again...Curt digs quirky humor. There's just something highly amusing to me about a group of Grim Repears from different eras sitting around in a booth at Der Waffle Haus getting assigned their reaps for the day on little yellow post-it notes. Definitely unlike any show out there. Unfortunately, I believe Season Two was the final season of this show...and there are so many things left unaddressed. Really hoping they bring it back. But seems unlikely...

On Our Next Episode: Don't drop the soap! We're going to prison...