Slackers, Rejoice: ‘Get a Life’ Returns

Couch potatoes will be in heaven this week with the debut of several sitcoms, Britcoms, sci-fi thrillers and “Masterpiece Theatre” dramas on tape.

Guys who still fondly remember their high school glory days will probably enjoy “Get a Life” (Rhino Home Video, $13 each), an offbeat, often infantile comedy series that aired from 1990-92 on Fox. Chris Elliott of “Cabin Boy” and “There’s Something About Mary” fame stars as a 30-year-old paperboy with a bad case of “Peter Pan” syndrome. This slacker lives in an apartment over his parents’ garage. Elliott’s own dad, Bob Elliott of the comedy team of Bob and Ray, plays his cynical father, who never seems to wear anything but his bathrobe. Elinor Donahue of “Father Knows Best” plays his dippy mother.

Each tape includes two episodes of the series, which also stars Sam Robards and Robin Riker. To order, call (800) 432-0020.

Anglophiles will relish “Bless Me, Father” (Acorn Home Video, $15 each: $40 for the set), a three-volume boxed set featuring nine episodes of the ‘70s British comedy series. “Bless Me, Father” is a charming, light comedy starring Arthur Lowe and Daniel Abineri as two Catholic priests serving a small community outside London. Best to watch with scones slathered in lemon curd. To order, call (800) 999-0212.

BBC Home Video is offering two volumes of the ‘70s comedy “Good Neighbors” ($20 each), starring Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal as a married couple who decide to become self-sufficient. Penelope Keith and Paul Eddington play their greedy, yuppie neighbors. Keith, from “To the Manor Born,” steals the show.

Science-fiction fanatics might want to check out Rhino’s “Alien Voices” ($15 each). Alien Voices is a troupe of actors founded by Leonard Nimoy and John de Lancie who perform live, radio-style dramatic adaptations of sci-fi stories, complete with sound effects and music. Rhino is offering the Alien Voices presentations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Lost World” and H.G. Welles’ “The First Men on the Moon.” These specials originally were seen on the Sci-Fi Channel.

Last month, the Sci-Fi Channel also carried the six-part British sci-fi thriller “Invasion Earth” (BBC Video, $40). Fred Ward, Maggie O’Neill, Phyllis Logan and Vincent Regan star as a band of military pilots and scientists battling to defend the Earth from an alien attack. Though the series was the most ambitious ever produced by the BBC--incorporating 85 custom-built sets--”Invasion Earth” is really much ado about nothing. There are some thrills and chills, but you’ve seen it all done before and done much better.

A&E; Home Video is offering the exquisite 1980 “Masterpiece Theatre” presentation “Testament of Youth” ($60). This four-volume set is based on Vera Brittain’s acclaimed autobiography. Brittain was a strong-willed, brilliant socialite who experienced the loss of everyone close to her during World War I. Eventually she became a novelist, a pacifist and a feminist. Cheryl Campbell is remarkable as Brittain. The series was adapted by Elaine Morgan and directed by Moira Armstrong. To order, call (800) 423-1212.

Arriving Tuesday from Acorn is another 1980 “Masterpiece Theatre” drama, “Disraeli” ($80). Ian McShane is perfectly cast as Benjamin Disraeli, the 19th century novelist and former prime minister of England.

And last but not least, there’s “Tennessee Ernie Ford, Amazing Grace” (White Star, $20), a compilation of 22 hymns sung by Ford on his classic 1956-61 TV series, “The Ford Show.” To order, call (800) 458-5887.