So after a little bit of confusion on my part (I thought I was doing The Bum's Rush this week--doh!), I'm back on track and ready to offer you my take on this week's Weigh In. I'm a big fan of movies, horror in particular, so I feel like I can offer a column that's not necessarily out of my normal range of knowledge.

I'm a big fan of action and sci-fi television shows and now, with this "let's-release-everything-that's-EVER-been-on-television-to-DVD" trend, I can truly enjoy my favorite shows. But, like the rest of the American public, I can never be satisfied... no, there are still some of my favorite shows that have yet to be released... and I want 'em! So, in this column, I will list just a few of those shows that I can't believe (actually... I can) haven't been released yet.

First up is a little gem from the 1990's that was, up until a couple of years ago, living on in the form of reruns on the Sci-Fi channel. But, like all the other shows I've been horribly thankful for living on in such a way, the reruns came to an end and I can't see it in any way right now. What am I talking about? Viper!

The pilot episode premiered in 1994 and it revolved around Michael Payton (James McCaffrey), a wheelman for a criminal organization known as "The Outfit", who became involved in an accident. Payton, while recovering from injuries suffered due to his accident, had his memory erased and his personality remodeled as police officer Joe Astor. Astor and a scientist named Julian Wilkes (Dorian Harewood), the leader of the Viper Project, took the project, which had been cancelled, and began running it underground against "The Outfit."

Now, the real star of this show was the car, which was a Dodge Viper RT/10 that could morph into a silver, super-car known as the Defender. Astor used this car, which was outfitted with all kinds of cool gadgets, to fight "The Outfit." It may all sound like a generic, updated Knight Rider, but it's really not. Okay, so it does share some similarities, but I hate to toss it out as a rip-off, because it was just so good.

The show survived for a season with Astor, Julian, and their mechanic, Frankie, but the show returned under syndication and sent the Astor character away and replaced him with a different guy; Thomas Cole (James Kaake). They also added a couple more characters in 1996 and the show ran like that until '98 when James McCaffrey returned to the show for its last season. Throughout it all though, the show remained pretty good, but it never returned to the absolute greatness of that first season on NBC; it was classic.

Next up is 1984's "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer," starring Stacy Keach in the title role. Based on Mickey Spillane's popular, hard-boiled private eye character, the show explored his many cases and adventures.

I remember catching a few of these episodes back in the mid-80's... but really, I was more interested in watching cartoons at that time. Later, in the mid-nineties, A&E started showing reruns of the show and I was instantly hooked. I've always loved Stacy Keach, having first seen him in the Civil War epic, The Blue and the Gray, so it was only natural that I'd like him here, in a role that he became synonymous with.

The show was never really your typical, hokey action show. It was so much better than that; it was a grim 'n gritty crime drama that tossed in a few humorous moments and Keach played it perfectly. In 1997, the show was revived as "Mike Hammer, Private Eye," with Keach in the title role again, but I don't think people were as interested in the character: this version lasted on season.

The last show that I'll discuss is 1994's M.A.N.T.I.S., a super hero action show. I remember watching the pilot movie on Fox in '94 and then watching the television show, which was slightly different from the movie. I don't remember exactly what details were different--this was years ago--but I know that I liked the show a lot more than the movie, which is kind of surprising to me, since the movie was produced by none otherthan Sam Raimi.

The premise of M.A.N.T.I.S. revolves around paralyzed scientist, Dr. Mile Hawkins (Carl Lumbly), who develops an exo-skeleton that allows him to walk and gives him various other superhuman abilities.

According to various other people, M.A.N.T.I.S., after the first few episodes, turned into generic crap. I don't necessarily remember it that way, but I was twelve and thirteen at the time and all I wanted was to be entertained. Suspending belief was easier back then, but I don't think I'd have much trouble getting back into reruns of the show now... 'cause I'm good like that.

There are quite a few other shows I'd like to see out on DVD, but I tell ya what; with the release of two of my all-time favorite shows in the past month to DVD, I can say that I'm a pretty happy guy. Of course, I'm talking about "The Flash," starring John Wesley Shipp (Dawson's dad on "Dawson's Creek" for you youngsters) and "Alien Nation," the television show based on the movie of the same name. So, for now, I'll be satisfied... for the most part.

This week's DVD release highlights:
The Adventures of Superman Season 2
Lord of War
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Season 2
Puppet Master vs. Demonic Toys
Take A Hard Ride
Titus Season 3