VIZIO 65 Inch Smart TV E650i-A2 65-Inch 1080p Smart LED HDTV

VIZIO 65 Inch Smart TV

I just had a couple of observations about both the tv itself, as well as the process of buying it. First, I want to mention that I ordered this tv on an evening where the price was 1368...or close to it. Sometime during the night, amazon lowered the price to 1299 and this was the price I ended up being charged. To my mind, that's just doing the right thing. Many companies would have just charged the higher price and waited to see if I caught it and called. So, credit to Amazon, well done.

Delivery and packaging was excellent. The shipping company wanted to deliver several days after my expected delivery date. But, upon learning that this was the date given to me by amazon, they quickly amended the ship date. The tv arrived in perfect condition and the crew was pleasant.

I really thought I was going to return this when I first powered it up. The picture was pretty bad and even though the settings are quite far off out of the box, it was more than that. But (and I'm not clear on why), after it hit the two hour mark or so, it really came to life. It focused, and most of the issues were corrected by this brief warm up period. It only happened the first time, and now it's ready to go as soon as you power it on.

The tv itself is pretty solid as a budget led would go. Once dialed in, colors are good, picture overall is quite pleasing. This is a direct lit display coming in somewhere between edge lit and full array. as a result, it has good uniformity throughout and no light bleed on any edges. And, it does have a pretty thin bezel. The downside to the direct lit is the thickness. this tv is thick by todays standards.

I just want to be clear, it's not a high end set. It doesn't have the black levels or motion handling of a plasma but, it does have the advantages of being an led lit LCD panel. You can play games, hook up your computer, forget to turn it off, or pretty much view whatever you want without fear of burn in or image retention. Do plasmas still have burn and ir in 2013? You bet they do, even with pixel orbiters and screen wash. But, it's a use case. I have a Mac mini and an Xbox on it, I needed the led. If it were movies only...it would have been a Panasonic plasma. All that said, for the money, it's a pretty darn good tv.

A few small things worth mentioning. The remote is pretty particular about being pointed right at the lower left hand corner of the set to work. The set can be slow moving through menus. I have not tried the sound as its being fed from a pioneer receiver. Wireless worked great and connected to an apple AirPort Extreme without a hitch. I can't really speak to the apps. I have them on a roku 3, Apple TV 3, oppo 103 blue ray player, and of course the Xbox. So, really...how many times do you even bother setting it up. For what it's worth, the roku 3 is the way to go IMHO.

Product Details :  

• VIZIO Internet Apps - Instantly enjoy online movies, TV shows, music, apps and more
• LED technology for richer colors and more vivid details
• Smart Remote with full keyboard for easy typing and searching
• Slim frame design looks great on a wall or table stand
• Built-In Wi-Fi for easy internet access

More Details about : VIZIO 65 Inch Smart TV

Mohu Leaf Paper Indoor TV Antenna Reviews - Thin Indoor HDTV Antenna - Made in USA with Premium Cables, Premium Connectors and Premium Materials

Indoor TV Antenna Reviews

I am part of a small group of friends who are gadget enthusiasts. One of us was a cable TV technician for 20 years, before that a TV repairman who installed tower TV antenna systems. We find that the best indoor antennas tend to be inexpensive, about $14 tops. There are a lot of makers and retailers of "Amazing digital" indoor antennas that prove to be garbage and cost up to $130. We have tested dozens and in the end end up still recommending $4 RCA units sold by stores like Family Dollar and Dollar General. My favorite has been a no brand flat antenna made in China, sold by Big Lots for $14. With I pick up 9 to 11 digital & HD channels.

Every $30 plus unit I've found recommended by buyer comments, I've ended up returning as the Big Lots unit did as good or better. Then, I ordered the Leaf. I did expect some improvement given the many very high buyer ratings.I was also thinking I may end up returning it. 1st, I was sceptical. As one buyer here put it: "it didn't look like much". Paper thin and paper light sealed in plastic. I thought "what the heck?
I paid $44 for this?" My first placements and tuner scanning left me unimpressed. Then, I read the sheet that came with it. It read: 'best results from positioning it cable down. I recalled one buyer wrote she taped it up, I grabbed a thin tall box and taped the Leaf to it, so the cable could be at the bottom and the leaf hang down. I could move the box around the top of my entertainment system, which permits me to face the Leaf out a window.

This time when I ran 'scan channels' I was amazed. My TV found 14 channels! I was seriously impressed as I sampled the channels. I got 19 channels and three more (two of them analog) that do not work well. I cannot wait to connect a low power amplifier. With that I am sure I will get 22 channels, all with small indoor antenna. I cannot wait to see what happens when I position the Leaf to pick up stations to the North of me. I live in Canton, Michigan, an hour from Toledo, Ohio. I would not have believed it, if a nieghbor told me he could get one Toledo channel with an indoor antenna. I am getting three! I am also getting Canada's CBC 9, an analogue channel.

NOTE. I find many times buyers blame on an antenna, a fault I never see mentioned in buyer "reviews". I am surprised neither antenna sellers or makers educate buyers about this very real possibility, namely not all tuners are the same, not all tuners in the same TV model line work properly. For instance, I bought a Haier 10" portable as a gift recently. When I tested it, the TV worked fine. I bought another one a week later as a gift. The second Haier had a defective tuner. It finds only 2 to 3 channels with the same antenna and same locations and positions where I tested the first Haier I bought. The first TV found 9-11 channels and play them well, except for one or two. Also, the second tuner came up with different results each time I ran scan.

When you find your results with a highly buyer rated antenna is poor, you want to make sure the problem isn't your tuner, not your antenna or your location, the electronics near the area, your house construction, etc. I point this out because people mention every possibility beginning with sorry antenna and including where their home is, walls in their home, etc., but NEVER suspect the tuner (Or a neighbor's overpowered poorly tuned illegal CB radio station). Consider also Solar activity & atmospheric activity, at the time. that may deflect TV signals.

Product Details :  

• 30-mile range to access Over-the-Air TV channels without a cable or satellite subscription (NOTE: Enables access to free channels only - does not enable access to paid channels such as ESPN/Fox News)
• The original paper-thin indoor antenna; The Leaf 30 is derived from advanced U. S. military technology.
• Paintable to match any decor and Reversible: No "pointing" needed. Comes with included 10 ft. high performance cable
• DISCLAIMER: Channel reception varies based on what is broadcast in your area, your distance from broadcast towers, and any geographical obstructions between you and the towers. Before you buy, visit http://dtv.gov/maps to see what channels are available in your area.
• Comes with 1 Year warranty 

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Netgear NeoTV Streaming Player (NTV200) (Old Model)

Netgear NeoTV Streaming Player

The NTV200 is exactly what I was looking for in a media player except for one large issue that I have not been able to resolve. The set up and connection to my router and TV were easy and went as I expected. Pandora, VUDU, UTube, all work as advertised. However I bought this unit primarily to stream from Netflix and I have not been able to resolve the problems with movie playback. I can select Netflix from the Home page and it loads normally. I can search for movies and vue the que as well. When I select a title to play however, I get a pixilated green screen, audio appears normal. I called Netgear who told me this was a Netflix problem. They had me change the hdmi cord and restart the cable modem and router to no avail. They told me the problem was with Netgear not them and recommended I call Roku who may actually make the box. Roku went through some of the same steps but was unfamiliar with the product and sent me back to Netgear. Netgear again told me it was a Netflix problem and demonstrated a very poor understanding of their own product. This thing has the potential to work well and I assume there is some sort of compatiblity issue with my Sony Bravia TV or the Netgear router or some problem with the firmware. If I can't resolve this on my own in the next few days I will be returning the product to Amazon.

First thing first, I was part of the beta test program for this device and I received this device for free for testing purposes. My thoughts and opinion on this device are strictly my own based on my needs and use of the device and are non biased.

Now that that is out of the way I will say this is a great little feature packed device. It is packaged in a small form factor roughly 4X4 or 5X5 inches in size, has a HDMI connection as well as a port for Ethernet hookup. It's setup is rather fast and effortless, once you turn the device on for the first time you go through a series of screens to help you get the best streaming capabilities out of the device. One thing I like is that no matter what resolution your TV has, this device can output in any of them. I found that AUTO resolution worked best and this is great if you are unsure of the resolution of your TV as it will set it automatically for you. You can even setup the internet while on these main screens, you can choose wireless of direct connection with Ethernet cable. I have tried and used both and found that the connection is strong and doesn't require a lot of buffering when watching online content. Whichever connection method you choose, be aware that if you switch between sources really fast you need to allow and make sure the device connects to the internet if using wireless. There have been times when I do this and find that I cannot connect cause of dropped connection, so make sure you are connected.

This device allows you to connect to Netflix, Hulu +, Vudu, among others. There are games you can play, view online photos, even connect to facebook, making this a real all around media device. For those looking for a strictly streaming only device this is IMO one of the best, very fast and user friendly. But, if you are looking to connect to network devices then it is best to look at other netgear devices as this will not do it.

Even though I have received this device for free initially, I purchased 4 more of these devices because its very easy to use and allows us to stream content in almost every room of our house. I find this to be one of the best streaming devices and am happy to recommend this to others as well as family members.

On a side note, check out the remote application on the I-phone and Android market. You may find yourself using its remote more often than the one that came with the device as its much easier to use.

Product Details :  

• Stream Netfix, Vudu, CinemaNow, and YouTube Leanback to your TV.
• Experience Wireless N 300Mbps speeds, others typically only go up to 150Mbps.
• Use your iPhone or Android Smartphone as a remote control with our app (standard remote control also included).
• Up to 1080P HD and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound.
• Hundreds of entertainment channels and more being added constantly.

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Who Makes Sceptre TV X320BV-HD 32-inch 720p 60Hz LCD HDTV (Black)

Who Makes Sceptre TV

Received my new TV today. Amazon refunded me the difference between the 299 price and the 244 memorial day price at a major dept store. So, it was a very good price. As for the TV, I was expecting something to meet basic needs in a home office. I don't have an HD box in the room so I started out just connecting to cable and seeing what the QAM tuner could find. I didn't count the channels but...there's a lot. The major channels are coming in HD and the picture is nice - bright and clear - color is nice. I'm not extremely picky so if you are a videophile: 1) don't take my word for it 2) why are you looking at a bargain basement 32 inch TV? But if you are looking for a basic set, seems fine to me. Doesn't seem as crisp as my panny plasma or mitsu dlp but...so. Remote is basic, but fine. Sound is fine. I see lots of picture and sound adjustment options but haven't played with them yet. There are no weird bars on the right side and no pixels wrapping around to the other side (in other words I didn't get a faulty set). And for the person who wrote a review based on different TVs they bought 4 years ago...no, this one doesn't have that problem either. I can't speak to longevity for obvious reasons. If I run into a problem in a few months I'll try to remember to come back here and update. If you are like me and were looking for an inexpensive set to do a basic job, I don't think you will be unhappy. I'm tempted to give it 5 stars based on the fact that it is everthing I wanted/expected it to be but...it didn't change my life or anything. And that's my story.

It's a 32" tv that has clear picture, and sound, with ports to spare. After comparing it to my 32" Vizio E322VL tv, it is more pixelated when viewing it at a close distant. But at a proper viewing distant, it presents a clear image that looks nice with HD channels. it's also as bright as the Vizio. The stand doesn't tilt up and down, but it can be turned left and right if needed. All and all, for 250$ (what I bought it for) its a great bargain for a no name brand. 

I had never heard of the Sceptre brand before, but after researching (thank God for the internet, huh?), I see it is made by Hitachi, which is a reputable brand. I had been following the price of this TV, and it has continued to come down; I wound up getting it for $229 with free shipping; so the price was outstanding, to say the least. I unboxed it, hooked it up to my DirecTv HD receiver, and was watching it in fifteen minutes. If you have a newer DirecTv remote (RC65R), there is a Sceptre code for it (apparently older remotes use a Sony code to program), and I programmed mine on the first try. I watched a football game right after powering it up, and I was simply BLOWN AWAY by the picture quality; my 50 inch Samsung in the living room has NOTHING on this inexpensive Sceptre. The menu is very easy to navigate, and since the speakers are not top quality (what do you expect for $230), you will need to get into the audio mode and modify the factory settings, or use external speakers as others have said. It has an internal equalizer, so making the speakers sound more than tolerable was very easy. I've only had this TV for a month, so it remains to be seen if it is of good quality, and lasts a long time. So far, I can't say enough good things about this little gem; the picture quality for the price paid is out of this world.

Product Details :  

• Model: X320BV-HD
• Sceptre X320BV-HD 32" LCD TV X320BV-HD LCD Flat Panel TVs
• 32" Black LCD HDTV/Monitor
• 3 x HDMI Ports, 1 x VGA input
• Response Time: 6.5 ms
• Resolution 1366x768
• Brightness 420cd/m2

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Magnavox TV Reviews 39MF412B/F7 39-Inch 60Hz LCD TV (Black)

Magnavox TV Reviews

We purchased this TV to replace a smaller non HD one we had in our bedroom and are pleased with it. It's a simple to work TV and we don't seem to have some of the issues others are having. This is our 2nd HD LCD TV and compared to our Vizio it's pretty basic, but that's not saying it's a bad TV at all.

*Sound - For a large room I can see turning this up higher and the sound quality going down, but in a bedroom at around 15-20 ( the setting goes up to 100 which we would never have a need to ) it works just fine. Due to previous experience with our other TV we learned that some of the "sound issues" people are having could be from the True Surround ( ON -kicks out a little more sound. OFF -sound is a little flat) or the Auto Volume Leveling ( ON -seems to lower the volume drastically, we had the TV set to 12 and it was fine but when we turned this feature on the sound was equal to 5-6. This feature was introduced a while back to combat the jerk commercial makers that have their commercials broadcast at higher volumes because they figure if they talk louder we will want to buy whatever it is they are selling. It's kind of like someone talking louder and slower to someone that doesn't speak the same language as they do....it doesn't really change the fact that they don't understand your words. There has been talk about something being passed to make it so this can no longer be done with commercials. OFF -you get more sound but may have to deal with annoying commercials being louder. There is a digital coax output in back to connect to a theater system and a standard headphone jack.

I am pleased with this TV and would recomend it to someone looking for a 1080p TV that's not tiny or huge for a bedroom.

*Picture is crisp and can be viewed as well as you can see yourself from the side. The image does not fade out.

My only complaint is the remote layout. The arrow selection buttons are at the bottom of the remote and the source button is clear at the top. I feel the source button should have been by the arrow buttons for quicker and more natural use. Three extra source buttons would have been nice ( HDMI, TV, Component) to quick select source options. This bugs me but it's pretty minor and if you are using a universal remote you may not have this problem at all.

Product Details :  

• LCD Full HD 1920x1080p Display
• TV Formats Supported: 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p, 480i
• 3 HDMI Inputs
• PC Input via VGA and HDMI Ports
• Touch Sensor Keys

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Compitable Mitsubishi TV Lamps 915P049010 Lamp for Mitsubishi DLP TV

Mitsubishi TV Lamps

After replacing 3 lamps in my original Mitsubishi housing I decided to purchase this complete housing-lamp assembly. The first thing I noticed is the filter screens are much coarser. Especially the 5/8" x 2" small air intake filter screen for bulb cooling. The old housing had an ultra fine screen that would clog over with dust in a month or two blocking all the cooling air. Hot bulb means short life. This will not be a problem with this new housing. This one is perforated metal with .076" holes, a huge improvement to avoid clogging. The bulb is an Osram not an offbrand, that's good. The housing screws are not the large thumb screws like the original but I don't see a problem. The housing is an exact fit to match the original and installs easily. I won't know if the new more open screens will improve bulb life but I am optimistic.

I have a 65" HDTV and the replacement bulb from Mitsubishi was $249, but a friend told me about Amazon and his savings, so I checked it out. He was right!!! I saved almost $150 for the exact same bulb with the housing. It came with intructions right in the box on how to change out the old and new bulds. It took only minutes and we were once again watching our big screen. Just in time for all the bowl games and college basketball. I plan on shopping more from Amazon!!!! 

Product Details :  

• Product Dimensions: 12 x 14 x 9 inches ; 1 pounds
• Brand New replacement Lamp 
• Installed in a Brand New Housing

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VIZIO E550i-B2 55 Inch Vizio Smart TV 1080p Smart LED HDTV (2014 Model)

55 Inch Vizio Smart TV

Pros:

1. Vivid and very clear picture, especially with native 1080P content. The Smart Dimming (active LED zone dimming) feature does make a subtle improvement to the picture, so I recommend leaving it on.
2. Smart TV dock with common applications such as Amazon Instant Video, NetFlix, Hulu Plus, and more. Also may be customized.
3. WiFi and Ethernet connectivity. Ethernet is the preferred way since WiFi can be unreliable.
4. Nearly borderless.
5. 3 HDMI connections and a whole host of analog connections. Digital audio out (optical).
6. 120 Hz. I have not noticed significant judder.
7. Almost effortless picture tweaking by selecting "Calibrated" mode. This produces the best and most natural picture for a well-lit room without over-blowing the colors.
8. Blacks are very deep, and much better than my older 42" CCFL backlit Vizio TV.
9. Remote is very nice and feels sturdy. Buttons are on the small side, however.

Cons:

1. Picture is not going to rival a $1,500 Sony or Samsung, but the picture is still very good.
2. Viewing angles are OK for this set, but don't expect to get too far from front and center. Washout of the colors will occur starting at more than 20 degrees from head-on horizontally, and about 40 degrees vertically.
3. No ability to adjust how the motion compensation feature works. Older Vizio TVs allowed you to select the degree of aggressiveness of the feature. The user's manual shows the option, but the option is not actually found in the TV menu system.
4. WiFi is only 2.4 GHz. This is a major problem in my book. If you intend to stream and are in a place congested with 2.4 GHz networks, you really need 5 GHz. In my case I am using Ethernet, so it is not an issue.
5. I do notice slight judder, especially with upconverted and streaming content. Not major, but if you look for it you will find it.

Conclusion:

I am very happy with my purchase. It was a worthy upgrade from my 42" CCFL Vizio set. I am not using the TV internal speakers since I have sound piped out through digital optical to a sound bar.

My picture settings are as follows, and I highly recommend them since I have had time to fiddle with TV:

1. When initially setting up the TV, select "Home" mode. DO NOT select Retail.
2. Go into the menu, Picture settings, and then select Calibrated. Although you will be tempted to fiddle with other picture settings....resist the temptation. I learned changing this one thing is the only adjustment you need make.

Remember that you will need to select Calibrated for all inputs. It will default to Standard picture mode (very dim and not all that vivid) when you first switch to say another HDMI port for your BluRay player. Once you switch over to the different input, go ahead and make the change and it will remember the changes for each input. DON'T FORGET to also make the change for the Smart TV streaming hub "input" as well. It will default to Standard for that too until you change it. I would be happy to answer questions.

Product Details :  

• VIZIO Internet Apps Plus -Instantly enjoy the latest hit movies, TV shows, music and even more premium apps straight from the Internet to your TV.
• Full-Array LED -Distributes LEDs across the entire screen delivering superior light uniformity and picture performance.
• Active LED Zones x12 -Dynamically adjusts the LED backlight per zone creating deeper, pure black levels and higher contrast.
• Built-in Wi-Fi -Connect with high-speed wireless for easy, clutter-free Internet access.
• 120Hz effective refresh rate enhanced with backlight scanning -Enjoy clear fast action scenes.

More Details about : 55 Inch Vizio Smart TV

Monk TV Show Cast: The Complete Series - Limited Edition

Monk TV Show Cast

I just watched Monk from start to finish, 8 seasons, one season a week for the past 8 weeks. It has to be the best -- or one of the very best -- TV shows ever produced, IMO. Terrific acting, great humor bordering on slapstick sometimes, good drama, fantastic character development. Tony Shalhoub is simply outstanding. Not to be missed.

Sherlock Holmes, Columbo, Hercule Poirot -- genius detectives are usually a bit quirky. But no other is as quirky as Adrian Monk, the obsessive-compulsive detective -- and "Monk: Complete Series " compiles every episode of this funny, likable little mystery series. Tony Shalhoub shines as title character, solving the case with his gift/curse and his willingness to go anywhere... that doesn't have germs.

Adrian Monk's wife Trudy was killed in a car-bombing, and the devastated detective fell apart completely. Years later, Monk (Tony Shalhoub) is partially recovered, but he still is obsessive-compulsive and has dozens of phobias. The only way he manages is with his assistant Sharona (Bitty Schram) -- and later her successor Natalie (Traylor Howard) -- babysitting him.

Courtesy of his friend Captain Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), Monk is called in for dozens of bizarre, baffling cases. His excellent memory and his OCD ("It's a gift.... and a curse") allow him to see patterns and details where other people see nothing.

Among Monk's cases are going undercover at a prison, a killer dentist, a deadly Christmas gift, an elephant used as a lethal weapon, a billionaire mugger, saving Willie Nelson from a murder rap, trapping a black widow, the death of a 115-year-old man, the Mafia, garbage strikes, rock concerts, a cult, real estate, a murder on a sub, a voodoo curse, UFO sightings, martial-artists, murdered models, and a guy who leaped out of a plane -- and died by drowning.

But as quirky and bizarre as the cases is, it never stops hitting the heartstrings. Monk becomes attached to a little boy and a murder victim's dog, and it's a credit to this show's writers that the ending of those episodes aren't maudlin or sappy. And he is still passionately devoted to his dead wife, and his quest for her killer is a story that stretches across the whole series.

"Monk" is the sort of show that usually gets cancelled after five episodes -- it's well-written, amusing, and smart. So by TV standards, lasting eight seasons is nothing short of miraculous. Like any long-running show it has its duds ("Mr. Monk Takes His Medicine" always makes me cringe), but overall it's a brilliant series.

There are gunfights and SWAT teams, like on any cop show, but the main focus here is on detecting. And the writers are skilled at coming up with all sorts of bizarre or unsolvable crimes, which only Monk could unravel. Not to mention the dialogue, which leans heavily on dry humour ("So you're saying the opposite of a spider is a tall building?")

But the series wouldn't be what it is without Tony Shalhoub. He played weird roles in movies like MIB and "Galaxy Quest," and so he knows how to balance out Monk's weirdness and genius without leaning too heavily on either. When told to sit on the ground, he says nervously, "I can't. Animals do things on the ground. Terrible, terrible things."

Schram and Howard are both good as his assistants, and they're similar without being TOO alike -- one was a hardened New York gal, and the other is a rebel rich girl with a checkered employment past. And Levine and Jason Gray-Stanford round off the cast as genial cop Stottlemeyer and his earnest (if slightly goofy) sidekick Disher.

"Monk: The Complete Series" shows us all of this excellent show, with its uniquely appealing hero. It's a gift... and a curse.

Product Details :

• Actors: Tony Shalhoub, Bitty Schram, Ted Levine, Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford
• Format: Multiple Formats, Box set, Color, Limited Edition, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Subtitles: French, Spanish
• Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English 

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Ridiculousness TV Show: Season 1

Ridiculousness TV Show

Ridiculousness is one of my favorite shows on MTV and every time it comes on, I have to watch it. Anyway here's a real brief review.

The good is that all the episodes from season 1 are intact. The shows with Johnny Knoxville, Jeff Tremaine, Big Black & Dingos two appearances, to Biker Fox, Travis Pastrana and others are all here. Also included are the bonus clips originally found on MTV's website.

The bad, though it may be considered a nitpick (but still worth noting) is that like most DVD's that are from tv shows, the music IS changed up. Specifically the theme song in the intro has been replaced by another rock song. It's okay but the original stands out more. So if you're expecting the song by Devo, you might be a tad disappointed.

Unlike other reviews I've read, the DVD's I purchased play back just fine. They are all in sync and the audio is good. If you're a fan of the show, these DVD's are worth having in your collection. Hope this review helps.

It is a funny to watch, always a good long laugh. They should expand the video and guest selection though.

Product Details :

• Actors: Rob Dyrdek, Chanel West Coast, Sterling "Steelo" Brim
• Format: NTSC
• Language: English

More Details about : Ridiculousness TV Show