DwarfCast 157 – Re-Disc-overy: Series 1

The first Red Dwarf DVD was released twenty years ago today.
Yes, we regret to inform you that you're old. The fourth of
November 2002 is a date indelibly printed on the brains of fans
who spent months being teased and tantalised into a frenzy. Kids
today with your YouTubes and your Netflixes and your Ministry of
Sound may not appreciate just how big of a deal it was for Dwarf
to join the digital revolution in such a wholehearted way, so
gather round and listen to your Uncles Cappsy, Danny and Ian as
we kick off a new series of DwarfCast retrospectives. For each
edition of Re-Disc-overy, we're going to be sharing our memories
of each DVD release, looking back on the media and fandom
landscapes of the time, and of course revisiting and reassessing
the many, many special features. Plus, we've picked out one extra
per series to receive the commentary treatment, and this time it
could only be Launching Red Dwarf. So get that lovely red box off
your shelf, remove the dust from your ageing DVD player and join
us as we discuss Red Dwarf's greatest unsung hero, unicycling
jugglers, embarrassing Dimension Jump memories, the glory of
Woolworths and much much more.


Show notes


"Because the Red Dwarf movie's happening at the moment, we
thought now would be an ideal time."

Ian's contemporary review, published on the day of release

Cappsy's contemporary review, published 26 days after
release. Just saying.

The Series 1 extras don't have subtitles, because Doug Naylor
hates deaf people. So Danny has compiled subs for Launching
Red Dwarf if anyone wants them.

The TOS archives aren't conclusive about whether or not the
commentaries and Launching Red Dwarf interviews were recorded on
the same day, but note that none of them are wearing the same
things in the doc as they are in these pictures from the
commentary session.

A double page spread from the Making Of book, the
context of which will become clear when you listen. Maybe.

Eeeeeeggs dot com

The link between Red Dwarf's menus and the "follow the white
rabbit" feature of The Matrix DVD originated on TOS's Easter Egg
guide

Original BBC Two continuity, courtesy of Jim Lynn

Sixteen-year-old Ian's entirely pointless but time-consuming
analysis of the Drunk featurette

The old Lee & Herring website is still online, as is Rob
Sedgebeer's Mudhole - Ian just misremembered the URL.