Like the combination of certain celebrities and cosmetic surgery, NIP/TUCK is a television series with an addictive quality. Watching one episode hooks you into the world of two upscale plastic surgeons plying their trade to the beautiful and wannabe beautiful people of Miami. NIP/TUCK stars Dylan Walsh as Dr. Sean McNamara and Julian McMahon as Dr. Christian Troy, the two plastic surgeons, who have had a friendship and successful long term practice together. Despite the years they have spent together, these good doctors couldn’t be any less alike in their personal lives or professional ethics. Sean McNamara is a family man, whose marriage is on the rocks, in addition to his wanting to do something more with his talents than just sucking the fat out of the asses of rich women. On the other hand, Christian Troy is single and seemingly devoted to a hedonistic lifestyle and happy to perform surgery on anyone who can pay for it.

When we first meet our two cosmetic surgeons, they are at something of a crossroads. Sean is facing something a midlife crisis, wanting to take his career in a new direction by doing pro bono work on accident victims, as well as finding a way to reconnect with his neglected wife Julia (Joely Richardson) and estranged teenage son Matt (John Hensley). Running in a completely opposite direction is Christian, who is looking to expand their already lucrative practice by seeking a contract to enhance all of the actresses working for an adult film company. With the partners and long time friends no longer seeing eye-to-eye on which direction their practice should be going, the situation in their office tends to be a bit tense. The season one cast of NIP/TUCK also includes Valerie Cruz and Roma Maffia.

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As a television airing on the FX cable network, it should comes as no surprise that NIP/TUCK is rather graphic in its depictions of cosmetic surgery, not to mention that show also features adult language, strong sexual content and some nudity. NIP/TUCK: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON ($60) comes to DVD in a five-disc set that features the following thirteen episodes that were aired in that first year: Pilot, Mandi/Randi, Nanette Babcock, Sophia Lopez, Kurt Dempsey, Megan O'Hara, Cliff Mantegna, Cara Fitzgerald, Sophia Lopez II, Adelle Coffin, Montana/Sassy/Justice, Antonia Ramos and Escobar Gallardo.

Warner Home Video has made all thirteen episodes from NIP/TUCK: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON available on DVD in a 1.78:1 widescreen presentation that features the anamorphic enhancement for 16:9 displays. In general, the episodes look very good- offering a sharp and nicely defined image. Certainly, the picture isn’t at the theatrical level, but it is pleasing for a television production. Colors appear strong and solid, with appealing flesh tones. Blacks are accurate, whites are clean and contrast can go a bit beyond what is typically found on broadcast. The film elements from which the episodes are transferred appear clean, although one will notice a grain structure in places throughout the episodes. Digital compression artifacts are never much of a concern.

All the episodes that comprise NIP/TUCK: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON are presented on DVD with Dolby Digital 2.0 channel soundtracks, all of which decode to standard surround. NIP/TUCK is pretty much a talky drama, so there is little cause for 5.1 channel encoding and most of the sound tends to be focused in the forward soundstage anyway. There are occasional effects; but music is the only real sonic component to make significant use of the outlying channels. Sound quality seems fine for this type of television production and fidelity is more than respectable on the musical passages. Dialogue is crisp and always understandable. No other language tracks are provided, but English, French and Spanish subtitles have been included.

Full motion video, animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD's interactive menus. Through the menus, one has access to standard episode/scene selection and set up features, as well as the supplements that are included with the set. Deleted scenes are scattered throughout the release and are available in the episode menu from which they were deleted. On disc five one will find the remaining supplemental programming. Giving Drama A Face Lift is a twenty-three minute program that gives on a look around behind-the-scenes. Realistic Expectation: The Practice Of Plastic Surgery offers a seven-minute conversation with actual cosmetic surgeons about the show. Are They Real or Fake?: The Miraculous Make-up Effects Of Nip/Tuck looks at how the show creates realistic depictions of surgical procedures. Also included is a music video for the show’s theme song A Perfect Lie, as is a Gag Reel and teaser for the show’s second season.

NIP/TUCK is an entertaining television series with a positively addictive quality. Warner has done a truly fine job of bringing NIP/TUCK: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON to DVD, so if you are a fan, you’ll want to add this set to your collection. If you have never seen the show, there is no better way of getting acquainted with NIP/TUCK. Recommended.

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Nip/Tuck - The Complete First Season

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THE CINEMA LASER is written, edited and published by Derek M. Germano.