Home Entertainment : Videos to Get That Exercise Plan Moving
It’s the same old story. One of your new year’s resolutions is to lose weight, but you lack the motivation to get off the sofa and exercise. This year, though, there are plenty of new exercise videos available to help you achieve your goal.
Get down and get funky with “The Grind Workout: Fitness With Flava” (Sony Music Video, $13), a nifty follow-up to the platinum-selling “The Grind Workout: Hip Hop Aerobics.” This time Eric Nies, host of MTV’s “The Grind” and former “Real World” roomie, and the “Grind” dancers are joined by Janet Jackson’s principal choreographer, Tina Landon, for bouncy exercise routines at all levels set to funky music.
You’ll really work up a sweat with the fast-paced “Weight Watchers Workout Series” (Paramount, $13 each), a three-tape series designed to provide fat-burning and muscle-shaping fitness routines led by super-perky aerobic champion Aileen Sheron.
Due for release Jan. 30 is “For Women Only” (BodyVision, $15 each), a three-tape series about and for women, which includes a breast self-exam lesson. Proceeds will go to various charities. Fitness expert Tamilee Webb is joined by three beefcake instructors--Staffan Perman, Pepper Von and Monty Cassel--who lead viewers through a lower body workout, an upper body workout and an abdominal workout. To order call (800) 241-2300.
If you get a kick out of boxing, check out the fitness and self-defense video “Cardio Kickboxing” (Sport Karate, $20), which offers an aerobic workout as well as demonstrating the basics of the sport. Frank J. Thiboutot, who has been involved in the martial arts for the past 30 years, is the instructor. To order call (800) 270-KICK.
Unfortunately, you may be lulled into a deep sleep with “Discovering Chi” (Triple Triangle Company, $25), a lackluster, poorly produced tape on the traditional Chinese energy exercise. Host Linda Modaro is on the dull side. To order call (800) 808-3114.
For yoga buffs there’s the re-release of actress Dixie Carter’s popular “Yoga for You: Unworkout II” (MCA/Universal, $15) and “Jan Smith’s Complete Yoga Workout” (Hart Associates, $20), an OK tape that features two easy-to-follow yoga routines. To order “Complete Yoga Workout” call (419) 893-9600.
Television: Oh, Lucy! CBS Video is offering four one-hour episodes of “The Lucy & Desi Comedy Hour” ($10 each): “Lucy Goes to Sun Valley,” “Lucy Goes to Mexico,” “Lucy Makes Room for Danny” and “Lucy Goes to Alaska.” Fernando Lamas and Danny Thomas are among the guest stars.
Anchor Bay Entertainment is releasing two volumes of the endearing Emmy Award-winning ABC comedy series “The Wonder Years” ($13 each). Each volume contains two episodes from the premiere 1988 season. Included is the premiere episode.
MTV’s popular sketch comedy series “The State” (Sony Music Video, $13) makes its home video debut with “Skits and Stickers* (*no stickers included).” Included are numerous hit-and-miss sketches, some of which have never aired on MTV.
Do not adjust your dial. MGM/UA Home Video is controlling the vertical and the horizontal with the release of “The Sandkings,” the premiere episode of Showtime’s award-winning new version of the thriller anthology “The Outer Limits.” Beau Bridges, son Dylan and father Lloyd star.
Killer Bs: A huge mutant rat starts devouring the members of a scientific study in “Alien Terminator” (New Horizons), a loopy, derivative Roger Corman thriller.
The best way to watch Playboy’s “Playback” (Paramount) is by hitting the fast-forward button. George Hamilton, Shannon Whirry and Tawny Kitaen star in this numbingly bad erotic thriller.
Documentary: Everything you ever wanted to know about “Trucks” (A&E; Home Video, $20) can be found in this uneven documentary, which includes truck experts and rare footage. The first half of the documentary on trucks’ early history is fascinating, but the program runs out of gas by the conclusion.
From Sidney: Columbia/TriStar is offering a new Sidney Poitier gift set ($25) featuring the Oscar winner’s two big hits from 1967: “To Sir With Love” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”
New This Week: Sandra Bullock is a computer nerd in the thriller “The Net” (Columbia/TriStar).
Linus Roache stars in the controversial drama “Priest” (Miramax). Also new: “Bhaji on the Beach” (Columbia/TriStar); “Above Suspicion” (HBO); “Martha & Ethel” (Columbia TriStar); “Moving the Mountain” (Hallmark); and “Captured Alive” (Arrow).
