This is the first Canadian TV-on-DVD Roundup since September 5, 2009.  There are three reasons for this.  One, the TV-on-DVD market is almost dead on its ass.  Two, iTunes and on-demand are sure to take over at some point.  Three, I’ve transitioned to more dedicated news stories.

I don’t plan on continuing the Canadian TV-on-DVD Roundups for too much longer.  They will eventually be replaced by TV-on-Demand Roundups or whichever new trends come down the pike.

I’ve missed out on titles like Wonderful Grand Band due to URBMN’s format shift.  Frankly, Wonderful Grand Band whizzed right past everyone.

Here’s a clip from WGB.  I’ll probably never mention the show on URBMN again, so…here you go.  Mileage may vary depending on how much you like Tommy Sexton.

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Alliance Films Home Entertainment will release a job lot of TV-on-DVD titles this spring and summer.  AFHE is releasing titles originally offered by Koch Vision in the early-to-mid-2000s.

Titles include the following, all Canadian shows or co-productions:

Emily of New Moon: Season 1, Season 2
Lexx: Season 1
Relic Hunter: Season 1, Season 2, Season 3
The Hunger: Season 1, Season 2
The Outer Limits (1995): Season 1, Season 2, Season 3

I’m most interested in The Outer Limits.  It’s uneven, like most anthologies, but the show lasted seven seasons for a reason.  I hope Alliance Films Home Entertainment can continue the series sets, as Koch Vision crapped out after Season 3.

The Hunger is a weird choice, as Koch Vision released the first two seasons less than a year ago.  Seriously, The Hunger is that important that it needs a re-release?

I hope Alliance Films Home Entertainment will bring out more series in the near future.  This is a good time to put out North of 60 season sets.  Not everyone can stand Relic Hunter, you know.

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For the French-speaking Quebecers, Bob Gratton: Ma Vie, My Life has its third season come out on DVD May 18, 2010.

Bob ‘Elvis’ Gratton (Julien Poulin) is a racist, pro-American federalist/Walter Mitty figure.  He’s been an Elvis impersonator, pop star and media magnate.  His creation ties into the late Pierre Falardeau‘s Quebec separatist beliefs.

I list Bob Gratton: Ma Vie, My Life to show that French-speaking Quebec has its own Borat figure.  Hell, Gratton’s been around since 1981.  The man’s a long runner, even after death.

Having said that, I wonder if URBMN readers have ever heard of Gratton.  Well, you have now.  You can’t unremember him, at least not without drinking paint thinner or braining yourself with an I-beam.

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The Best Years‘ second season will come out June 15, 2010 through E1 Entertainment.

The Best Years‘ second season was produced specifically for The N (now TeenNick.)  The late, unlamented E! network aired the second season in April 2009.

Truth be known, I’m surprised The Best Years is out on DVD in its entirety.  The show has a fanbase, but this is Exhibit A of why Canada needs to better schedule its programs.  At least the show hasn’t been off-and-on as much as Paradise Falls…yet.

Canwest Broadcasting and Lone Eagle Entertainment have announced an English-Canadian version of Wipeout.  The Endemol Group format has contestants run obstacle courses that aren’t cribbed from Takeshi’s Castle and Sasuke, oh no.  No further details about Wipeout Canada have been announced, aside from a 2011 airdate.

This isn’t the first version of Wipeout to hit Canadian shores.  Wipeout Québec, which debuted in 2009, currently airs thrice-weekly on V.  This has previously been mentioned by Steve Faguy, who points out the basic flaw in the Wipeout Canada press release.

I have a feeling Wipeout Canada will be cut-rate, given Lone Eagle Entertainment’s game show past.  The company is going from You Bet Your Ass, Inside the Box and Game On to Wipeout Canada.  Wipeout is a far cry from dinky podiums and a slumming Stewart Francis.

Wipeout Canada is a better fit for GameTV, which needs higher-profile shows than Love Handles and, uh, Supermarket Sweep.  GameTV is such a quaint channel.  Reruns of The Mad Dash and Just Like Mom sound far more appealing than a second season of Carlawood.  Maybe it’s just me.