In real life, the adage is true that opposites attract. Take my wife and me for example. I'm one of those 'thinks-he's-too-smart-for-his-own-good' kinda guys, who spent a good portion of his life acting, doing special effects and generally spending as much time away from other people as humanly possible. I want to live in Maine because you can have heavy winters and don’t have to know the neighbors if you don’t want to. I think dancing (other than theatrically) is incredibly stupid, abhor public gatherings and find that most people, on the whole… are utterly worthless. My wife, on the other hand is one of those 'really-is-as-smart-as-she-thinks-she-is' kinda gals who is totally into family.

She loves meeting people, delights in social gatherings and thinks dancing is the bee's knees. (Well, she'd use that term if she were as incredibly old as I am.) She lives for hot weather and only tolerates the cold for minutes at a time. We're extremely opposite, but we love each other completely.

This idea that opposites attract has been used universally in books, movies and television. It’s a perfect formula that is more often than not used for laughs, and not always just for romantic couples. A perfect example would have to be "The Odd Couple" (a series dreadfully in need of a DVD release), where the fastidious Felix Unger shared an apartment with the slovenly Oscar Madison. More recently however, the series "Dharma & Greg" showed us that love could conquer all when a straight-laced attorney met, fell in love with, and married… all in the same day… a quirky, free-spirited child of the Woodstock Age.

"Dharma & Greg" premiered in 1997 and ran for a full five seasons, picking up an award or two along the way. The lovely and talented Jenna Elfman starred as Dharma, whose view of life rests squarely in the hands of karma. (Hmmmm. Dharma… Karma….never noticed that before…). On the opposite side of the relationship, we have Thomas Gibson as Greg, a rather uptight and stodgy type, prone to thinking things through completely. Well, except this one thing.

The series ran for as long as it did for one reason… it was flat out funny. I only watched it sporadically, as I was not into the habit of watching many shows at the time, but never turned it off once in all the times my channel surfing landed on an episode. Admittedly, when I did watch it, it was more because I was totally nuts for Jenna Elfman, whom I though was far more talented than most of the wannabe actresses inhabiting the sitcoms of the day. I really can't understand why her career in films has been sporadic, and mostly unnoticed. With luck, she'll return to television soon where her talents might be more readily appreciated.

Fox Home Entertainment is releasing the 1st season on DVD this week, offering up 23 episodes, most of which I never saw before. Taking time out last week to watch most of them, I found that the series started off with the comedic bang that kept me tuned in during the later season episodes I caught. I was a little disappointed to see that the transfers of the episodes seemed a little soft, at least in comparison to the cool menus. The picture didn’t look a whole lot better than it could have when the shows originally aired. This is a small nitpick, but a nitpick nonetheless.

On the bright side, the studio did put together a nice set of extra features, which lately has been rare for slightly older series like these. They wrangled up Elfman, Mimi Kennedy and Alan Rachins to do some commentary on three of the episodes ('Pilot', 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father', and my favorite title 'The Official Dharma & Greg Episode of the 1998 Winter Olympics'). These commentaries are extremely funny at times, and highlight even further Elfman's sharp wit. You'll also find a ten minute featurette that features reminiscences from Elfman, Kenney, Rachins, Chuck Lorre, Dottie Zicklin, Susan Sullivan and Mitchell Ryan. Rounding out the set are 11 'vanity card stills from the 1st season and a 10 question quiz. The only thing I found a little strange was the absence of Gibson on the extra features. What's the story there I wonder?

I'm extremely picky when it comes to sitcoms, and though "Dharma & Greg" doesn’t sit extremely high on my list of favorites, it is still on my list nonetheless.

Episodes:
Pilot
And the In-Laws Meet
Shower the People You Love with Love
And Then There's the Wedding
The Ex-Files
Yoga and Boo Boo
Indian Summer
Mr. Montgomery Goes to Washington
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father
The First Thanksgiving
Instant Dharma
Haus Arrest
You Want Fries with That
Old Yeller
The Second Coming of Leonard
Dharma & Greg's First Romantic Valentine's Day Weekend
The Official Dharma & Greg Episode of the 1998 Winter Olympics
Daughter of the Bride of Finklestein
Dharma's Tangled Web
The Cat's Out of the Bag
Spring Forward, Fall Down
Much Ado During Nothing
Invasion of the Buddy Snatcher

Starring: Jenna Elfman,
Extras: 'When World's Collide': The Dharma & Greg Story', Post Show Vanity Cards, 'Reaching Your Inner Dharma' Game, Audio Commentary on Selected Episodes by Jenna Elfman, Alan Rachins and Mimi Kennedy
Specifications: Full Frame, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Sound
Studio: Fox
Release Date: 6/13/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Dharma & Greg: Season 1 a B+.