Short-lived but still memorable, cult favorite sci-fi series The Time Tunnel (1966-67) remains one of writer/producer Irwin Allen's best-loved creations. Even so, his work on more popular shows of the era (including Lost in Space and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea) is perhaps what he's best known for---not taking away from his work on films like The Sea Around Us (1952) and The Towering Inferno (1974), of course. Though The Time Tunnel never lived past its first season of 30 hour-long episodes, the show's combination of history, drama and suspense ensured the viewing public would remember it long after the final episode aired.

Part of the reason The Time Tunnel worked so well from the start was the show's simple yet effective formula, which centers around doctors Tony Newman (James Darren) and Doug Phillips (Robert Colbert) and their continuing adventures through some of history's most important events. Dr. Newman's trip begins when "Project Tic Toc", a top-secret, $7B time travel experiment, is investigated by the U.S. Government for not producing enough bang for the buck. To prove the project's worth, Dr. Newman simply tries it out on himself without the consent of his colleagues...and ends up aboard The Titanic less than a day before its destruction. Naturally, no one heeds his warnings about icebergs and such.

Of course, it's this paranoid behavior that gets young Dr. Newman hauled away to the brig (after all, he's an electro-physicist, not a rocket scientist), so Dr. Phillips volunteers to go back in time and save his colleague from certain doom. Unfortunately, the Time Tunnel---a cave-like machine that doubles as a portal and viewing screen---isn't prepared to handle both travelers at once, so our heroes are doomed to drift through the highs and lows of history until they figure out a way back. Here's hoping they packed a few Snickers bars (which, incidentally, were first produced in 1930).

The Time Tunnel's run of 30 episodes introduce us to plenty of faces and places---from Pearl Harbor to Napoleon---but one thing remains clear in every time period: history can't be changed, though our heroes try anyway. Though the history isn't always accurate (the Titanic captain's first name is wrong, for example) and the series suffers from low production values and plenty of logical pitfalls, The Time Tunnel remains entertaining even if the fashion and technology stand out like sore thumbs. In many ways, it's comparable to Star Trek: The Original Series, which premiered the same year: if you grew up watching it, chances are you'll still enjoy every minute. If you're new to the series, though, you'll have to be in the correct mindset to get the most out of it. Here's what included:

Presented by Fox Home Entertainment, The Time Tunnel has garnered quite a respectable debut on DVD---and for you Irwin Allen junkies, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea will be released later in February. For now, though, it's The Time Tunnel's chance to shine: the series looks and sounds better than ever, while Fox has even scoured the vaults for a few interesting bonus feature to sweeten the pot (including an extended version of the pilot episode). If you've been counting down years in anticipation, don't worry: this is a solid package that fans should really appreciate.

Plain and simple, The Time Tunnel looks excellent on DVD. The original source elements are in great shape: all 15 broadcast episodes boast strong color and clarity for their age and budget, especially when viewed in comparison to vintage promotional materials included with this set. Digital problems, such as edge enhancement and compression, don't seem to be an issue in the least. Overall, it's one of the better classic TV treatments on DVD and will look much better than you remember. Fans will be thrilled to have these episodes in such great condition.

The audio presentation is crisp and simple, as the original English 1.0 mono mixes have been preserved instead of resorting to gimmicky surround presentations. All 15 broadcast episodes include French and Spanish dubs and subtitles, as well as English captions for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The rest of the extras are scattered around elsewhere. On Disc Three, Side B, there's an assortment of nine Promotional TV & Radio Spots, including a series of trailers and a clean version of the opening credit sequence. Disc Four, Side B holds the last of the goodies, including a curious FX Camera Test of the Tunnel in action (1:49) and a set of five anamorphic Still Galleries highlighting concept art, production, merchandise (above right: the card game!), a virtual tour of the comic book and a few storyboards. Unfortunately, there's at least one missed opportunity: not included in this collection is the relatively unseen 2002 Time Tunnel pilot episode, an updated project never picked up by networks. Whether a new television series would've been successful with modern audiences or not is unknown, but it would've been nice to have on board (though it could possibly make the cut for the second and final volume). Other than that, a retrospective documentary or interview would've been a nice inclusion.

It certainly hasn't aged as gracefully as most fans would like, but there's no doubt that Irwin Allen's The Time Tunnel is a long-awaited cult favorite that's finally been given new life on DVD. The technical presentation is well above average, while the vintage bonus features give viewers a unique opportunity to step back in time themselves. Overall, it's a very well-rounded package that fans will enjoy from top to bottom---but for those new to the series, a rental should be in order first. Long story short: if you've got fond memories of Irwin Allen's short-lived but memorable The Time Tunnel, you'll certainly want to add this solid release to your TV-on-DVD collection. Recommended.