Though there are a few traditional sitcoms on the air these days that are filmed in front of a live studio audience, like CBS' "Two and a Half Men," the three-camera format is more the exception than the rule.
These days, the majority of comedies on both the broadcast networks and cable are not studio-bound and are shot in the same method as a drama series -- they are filmed over several days without an audience.
Two of these new-wave comedy series -- NBC's "30 Rock" (Universal, $50) and FX's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (Fox, $40) make their DVD debuts today.
Tina Fey from "Saturday Night Live" is the creative voice -- and frequent writer -- of the snappy, sophisticated "30 Rock," in which she stars as Liz Lemon, the harried producer of a live musical variety show who butts heads with the new network executive (Alec Baldwin) when he interferes with her series by forcing her to add a crazy comic actor (Tracy Morgan) to the cast.
Despite being nominated for five Emmys, including best comedy series, "30 Rock" struggled in its premiere season to find an audience. Thankfully for fans, NBC decided to renew the farce for a second season.
Extras, though, are a mixed bag. The wrap party gag reel is truly a hoot, but the faux talk show featuring the eternally sunny page Kenneth (Jack McBrayer) becomes old very quickly.
"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," which will be returning this month for its third season, is a darkly comedic ensemble piece about four friends (Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Glenn Howertown and Kaitlin Olson) who run an Irish pub in the City of Brotherly Love. Danny DeVito joined the cast last year as the loudmouthed father of two of the characters.
Extras on the first and second season set include a look at the series' genesis, Olson's audition tape, a lackluster gag reel, a Fox Movie Channel featurette on how the series had to cope with DeVito's narrow window of opportunity to film and R-rated commentary with the cast.
Also new
"Georgia Rule" (Universal, $30): Probably the best -- and maybe only reason -- to check out the DVD of this poorly received dramedy starring Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan and Felicity Huffman is for director Garry Marshall's commentary. The reason? Fonda sums it up in the behind-the-scenes documentary -- that for an Italian, he's a mensch. Marshall is gregarious, funny and larger than life.
