Serial - DVD

Inspired by the Cyra McFadden novel The Serial A Year in the Life of Marin County, Serial is director Bill Persky's (TV's Kate & Allie) satirical look at the lifestyles of California's 1970's hippie culture. Viewed through the eyes of Harvey Holroyd (Martin Mull, TV's Roseanne), a man perplexed by the behavior of his wife Kate (Tuesday Weld, Pretty Poison) and their liberal-minded friends, Serial lampoons everything from feminism, free love and sexual politics to cults, motorcycle clubs and the random midlife crisis. The gifted ensemble cast includes Sally Kellerman (MASH), Christopher Lee (Dr. Terror's House of Horrors), Bill Macy (The Holiday), Peter Bonerz (TV's The Bob Newhart Show), Nina Talbot (Night Shift), Tom Smothers (Get To Know Your Rabbit), Pamela Bellwood (TV's Dynasty) and Stacey Nelkin (Halloween III Season of The Witch).

An aging comedian tours the California desert, lost in a cycle of third-rate venues, novelty tourist attractions, and vain attempts to reach his estranged daughter. By day, he slogs through the barren landscape, inadvertently alienating every acquaintance. At night, he seeks solace in the animation of his onstage persona. Fueled by the promise of a lucrative Hollywood engagement and the possibility of rekindling a relationship with his daughter, he trudges through a series of increasingly surreal and volatile encounters.

Les Franken (Michael Rapaport) is a kind-hearted and soft-spoken man who loves reading comic books. He's the type of guy who most people walk by on the street without even noticing; in essence, he's completely average and virtually invisible. However, everything changes for Les the day he is accepted into an experimental drug study. As he begins to take the drugs, an unexpected side effect occurs - he develops special powers. In an effort to use his new talents for protecting others, Les finds himself in a predicament to save himself.