Elvis
CBS (Sun., May 8, 9 p.m. ET and Wed., May 11, 8 p.m. ET)
Asked in 1992 which Elvis Presley they wanted on a stamp, Americans said skinny, not fat—simple as that. But this workmanlike miniseries tries to be more balanced, celebrating his sensational ascent without ignoring his creative stagnation and personal decline. Too bad Elvis lacks the stomach to follow him all the way down.
Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays Elvis from 1952, when he's bursting with energy and ambition, to 1968, as anxiety grips him moments before the taping of a comeback TV special. Though he overdoes the patented Presley sneer, Rhys Meyers sustains the seductive drawl and projects the animal magnetism that drives girls wild. He remains believable when the King turns bored, petulant and jealous of usurpers like the Beatles.
Women figure prominently in Elvis's life, particularly his fretful mama (a convincing Camryn Manheim) and young love Priscilla (Antonia Bernath). But the key relationship here is with manager Tom Parker, portrayed as a greedy gasbag by Randy Quaid. When the story cuts off nine years before Elvis's death, we're left with the impression that his inability to escape Parker's clutches made the superstar's sad end inevitable. Maybe so, but I wonder if the filmmakers just wanted to keep Fat Elvis out of the picture.
COMEDY
DAWSON'S CREEK: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON Series:
The gang's moved to Boston. Fortunately they didn't leave all the drama behind in Capeside. These 23 momentous episodes make a smooth transition to the college years with one exception—a standalone hour in which Joey (Katie Holmes) is robbed at gunpoint. Even more criminal is the absence of extras in the four-disc set.
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON Series:
Their bubblegum pop is still catchy ear candy, but what's truly timeless in this 70s ABC sitcom about a mom-and-kids band is Susan Dey's ethereal beauty. Extras: Fun features on the show's history and music; two episodes from an ugly cartoon spinoff.
STAR TRK ENTERPRISE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON Series:
Scott Bakula does a capable job of helming the pre-Kirk Enterprise in this fifth Trek series. The rest of the cast, however, barely makes an impression—except when they cut loose in the outtakes featured on disc 7. Extras: Episodes with text commentary make for stellar viewing.
JOAN OF ARCADIA: THE FIRST SEASON Series:
CBS's surprise hit about a 16-year-old who has conversations with God. Despite a bit too much teen angst, Joan stays watchable with subplots about her police-chief dad and wheelchair-bound brother. Extras: They include an intriguing "God Gallery"—showing God in all his forms, at least as he appears to Joan—from a punk teenager to a slick news anchor.
ENTOURAGE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON Series:
This HBO series is a ringside seat on hipster Hollywood. When megastar Vince Chase brings three buddies from Queens, N.Y., to LaLa Land, the posse takes on agents, the club scene, groupies, and too much money in too little time. Extras: Executive producer Mark Wahlberg says the story isn't exactly his, "but close."
