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Early 'Seinfeld' episodes coming to DVDLOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- The first three seasons of "Seinfeld" are coming to DVD November 23, just in time for Festivus.
The episodes will be available in two four-DVD volumes as well as combined in a boxed gift set. Each volume will include about 12 hours of new content and have a suggested list price of $49.95, said the set's Sony-owned distributor, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.
The gift set will have a list price of $199.95 and will include such quirky extras as a limited-edition script from co-creator Larry David, "Monk's Diner" salt-and-pepper shakers and collectible playing cards.
In all, 40 original episodes are included in these releases, including such notables entries as "The Chinese Restaurant," "The Pez Dispenser" and "The Boyfriend" two-parter featuring Keith Hernandez.
Amid recent reports that key cast members Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards and Jason Alexander might not participate in the added content of the DVDs, negotiations "lasted about two minutes," said "Seinfeld" executive producer Howard West. He said they agreed to take part in the project in exchange for participation in the profits of future DVDs.
Columbia TriStar president Ben Feingold said "Seinfeld's" marketing budget "will be enormous and will be similar to any of the big feature films released in the fourth quarter this year."
"We've been working on this for a couple of years," Feingold said, adding that the episodes have been newly enhanced in high definition for the DVD release. "We're continuing work on the entire property, including subsequent seasons."
Extra features on the releases include audio commentaries from cast members, deleted scenes and never-aired stand-up comedy footage of Jerry Seinfeld, who created the series with David.
West said promotional partners on the DVD-only releases would include America Online, Microsoft, Coca-Cola and Regal Theatres in addition to such mass retailers as Wal-Mart and Target. Regal will feature onscreen ads for the DVDs beginning in November. He added that the studio also plans to cross-trailer "Seinfeld" on the DVD release of "Spider-Man 2."
