'Picket Fences: Season One' DVD Review

PICKET FENCES: SEASON ONE

(not rated)
MOVIE: *1/2 (out of 5)
DVD EXPERIENCE: *1/2 (out of 5)

STARRING
Tom Skerritt as SHERIFF JIMMY BROCK
Kathy Baker as DR. JILL BROCK
Costas Mandylor as KENNY LACOS
Lauren Holly as MAXINE STEWART
Holly Marie Combs as KIMBERLY BROCK
Justin Shenkarow as MATTHEW BROCK
Adam Wylie as ZACK BROCK

Studio: Fox Television

BY KEVIN CARR

I hate being preached at. Maybe that’s why I don’t go to church all that much any more. So if I won’t go to church for preaching, why would I want to be preached at while watching television?

“Picket Fences” came onto the television world right at the onset of the liberated 1990s. It was the time of “Home Improvement” and “Coach,” where women could do no wrong on television, and men were just grunting human debris that barely could dress themselves every morning. Add to the fact that the show planned on tackling an issue a week, and you’ve got a sermon coming.

Sure, it won plenty of awards, but it was one huge liberal preach every episode. From AIDS-infected dentists to lesbian daughters and animal rights to reproductive rights, I had to brace myself for the social commentary at the onset of every episode. The acting was decent, and the writing was okay when it wasn’t shoving the writer’s political beliefs down your throat, but ultimately “Picket Fences” was a show made for its time alone.

The 6-disc DVD set of the first season comes with all 22 episodes as well as a retrospective featurette that includes interviews with showrunner David E. Kelley and the members of the cast.