‘Extras’ big part of DVDs of TV shows

When it comes to marketing TV shows on DVD, “extras” have become a big part of the package.

Bonus material takes many forms, the most common being commentary by stars and creators, outtakes, and making-of featurettes.

“Las Vegas” creator Gary Scott Thompson has taken this to a new extreme – a fitting one for a series celebrating Sin City.

Thompson inserted titillating shots from strip clubs and wet T-shirt contests where the series filmed. He knew he couldn’t air R-rated material on NBC, but had his eye on a DVD release from the moment shooting started.

“Lost” is another series that has planned ahead for a first-season DVD.

“We started pretty much as soon as (then ABC Entertainment head) Lloyd Braun gave the greenlight to the show,” said David Naylor, president of the DVD Group, which produces TV shows on disc. “We now have close to a hundred tapes of the creation of the show.”

But for older series, it can be a daunting challenge to create bonus material.

“As you get into the older tier of shows, you get into a lot of issues you normally wouldn’t,” says Marc Rashba, vice president of catalog marketing for Sony Home Pictures Entertainment. “A lot of times you don’t have talent that’s alive anymore. Also, a lot of the material is difficult to find.”

Even when veteran stars are available, they are not always cooperative.

“A lot of the talent unfortunately didn’t have the deals talent gets today and they’ll ask you for a lot of money,” says Rashba.