John Ratzenberger's Made in America: Season 1

Produced in cooperation with Reader's Digest, this four-disc set includes 20 episodes (usually covering three or four topics each) of the Travel Channel series hosted by Emmy-nominee John Ratzenberger (Cheers). Exploring Americana in big and small cities across the U.S., Made in America focuses on the histories and behind-the-scenes manufacturing of iconic national products. For instance, the episode “Monopoly” explores the popular Parker Brothers game and factory ($50 billion in game cash is printed annually), visits the Louisville Slugger museum, and takes a—thankfully brief—look at the making of Oscar Meyer hot dogs. “Campbell's Soup” travels to the company's Jersey headquarters (did you know that there are 216 noodles in each can of chicken noodle soup?), and features segments on Crayola crayons and the creation of the cash register. My favorite episode here takes viewers to the “U.S. Mint” in Philadelphia, where we see what goes into making a quarter (the host quips about George Washington's resemblance to former costar Kelsey Grammer), while also including peeks at Goodyear tires and “vile, disgusting” parking meters. A captivating mix of travelogue, history, nostalgia, and technology, this series, as Ratzenberger rightfully says, “couldn't be any more American if I wrapped myself in a flag.” Highly recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)