'JOHN ADAMS'

With a soaring, period-evoking theme song composed by Joseph Vitarelli, HBO's story of the founding father "John Adams" ($59.99, HBO Video) arrives on DVD just in time for Father's Day. Paul Giamatti stars as the title character in this historical, political drama that occasionally has its dull patches but generally sustains itself over seven parts.

The miniseries is based on the biography by Point Breeze native David McCullough, who gets profiled in the extra "David McCullough: Painting With Words." It previously aired on HBO along with a "Making of John Adams" featurette, which details the amazing number of special-effects shots for a period piece. These effects weren't used to create aliens or explosions, of course, but to re-create a block of homes in 1770 Boston.

The only new extra is "Facts Are Stubborn Things," an optional pop-up set of historical facts that spring from what's happening in the movie. As part six begins, Adams laments the captain of a ship who was captured by the French and subjected to torture. The on-screen note adds, "The French used thumbscrews on the captain in an unsuccessful attempt to gain a confession that he was carrying British cargo."

-- Rob Owen, Post-Gazette TV editor

'MY BOYS: FIRST SEASON'

Even though we don't have a woman as the presumptive nominee in the presidential race this year, we do have some new and interesting roles appearing for women on TV. Breaking out of the doctor, lawyer or aspiring interior decorator roles is PJ Franklin in "My Boys," TBS's sports comedy.

Twentysomething PJ covers the sports beat for a Chicago newspaper that seems to center around baseball. There's a reason for that, which is something you'll find out when you cruise through the nice selection of extra features on this three-disc DVD set ($39.98, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment).

Sports is a way of life for PJ and her gang of five guys. For PJ, being one of the guys can turn into a disadvantage when it comes to the dating scene ... or that might be an advantage. Whichever it is, it's fun to see a woman that doesn't center her life on the latest fashion or an emergency room.

The show's new season premieres tonight at 9:30 on TBS and promises to answer the first-season cliffhanger question, "Who's in the airplane seat?"

-- Liz Gray, Post-Gazette staff writer

'GET SMART: THE COMPLETE SERIES'

After viewing "Get Smart: The Complete Series" ($19.95, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment), it's easy to see why the 1995 reprise of the celebrated 1960s hit was short-lived. As wonderful as it was to see Don Adams on screen again, this version of the TV franchise leaves a lot to be desired.

Many of the gags fall flat, most of the jokes are tired and there's too much Andy Dick and Elaine Hendrix and not enough Don Adams, who now portrays Maxwell Smart, chief of the American spy agency Control, and Barbara Feldon, formerly Control Agent 99, but now a congresswoman.

The best episode of the seven is "Casino Evil" in which Dick, playing Maxwell Smart's son Zachary, has to help foil KAOS' scheme to take million-dollar businesses by ruining their owners through gambling. Dick goes undercover as a wealthy businessman throwing his wealth around. One of the gadgets he uses to ensure success at the slot machines is a magnetic ring. However, the ring affects more than the slots, it also attracts the waitress' drink tray and the helmet of a waiter's Viking costume. Dick struggling to scrape off the tray and to unstick himself from the waiter's head is a hoot.

Still, while the walk down memory lane can be a treat for baby boomers, please reserve your expectations.

-- M. Tinsley-Crabb, Post-Gazette staff writer

'INTERVENTION: SEASON ONE'

You know that feeling of pure giggles and fluff that you get from watching "America's Funniest Home Videos"?

Imagine the exact opposite and you've got the first season of "Intervention" ($14.95, A&E Home Video).

The show follows addicts of all varieties whose families have enlisted a television crew as a last resort to get their loved ones into treatment.

Their stories are bleak beyond imagination: Drug and alcohol addict Alyson is stealing morphine from her dying father, gambling addict Gabe's parents have lost their home in an effort to pay his debts, meth addict Sara has lost custody of her daughter.

Describing Intervention as "reality television" is like calling "The Wire" a buddy cop show. It's not surviving a desert island -- it's surviving real life. And it's not a reality you'd ever choose to actually witness or experience, but it's nearly impossible to turn away from.

In addition to the four original episodes, following six different addicts, the "Intervention" DVD also features four follow-up interviews. The follow-ups were satisfying but short: having gotten such a detailed look at the people at their bottom, I would have liked to have seen a fuller picture of their recovery as well.

-- Anya Sostek, Post-Gazette staff writer