Reba: The Complete First Season

Reba: The Complete First Season finds country singer Reba McEntire an able and appealing sitcom star. The WB show, represented here with all 22 episodes from the debut 2001 season, focuses on the aftermath of a family meltdown and gradual rebuilding of relationships, with McEntire playing Reba Hart, a homemaker and former teacher who put her husband, Brock (Christopher Hart), through dental school and shared 20 years of marriage and three children with him. Now, Brock is divorcing Reba and marrying his pregnant mistress, Barbra Jean (Melissa Peterman), a shock that is doubled when the eldest Hart child, Cheyenne (Joanna Garcia), a high school senior, announces she's also with child by her football hero boyfriend, Van (Steve Howey). Reba's upended life begins to take on a new shape and responsibilities as she finds common ground with Brock, reconciles herself to Barbra Jean's presence, and helps Cheyenne and Van figure out their future. Balancing laughs and poignancy, Reba is hardly must-see TV, but the show has developed a loyal fan base that will surely welcome this three-disc boxed set, nicely packaged with a variety of extras, including three episode commentaries, a trio of featurettes, deleted scenes, bloopers, and outtakes. A strong optional purchase. (T. Keogh)