VIDEO A LOOK AT SOME SMALL-SCREEN GEMS.

Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor

The big-screen DVD/video releases this week are overshadowed by some offerings that began on the small screen. In fact, there has been a surge of various television series being put on disc recently. The ones generating the most interest are the ones like ``The X-Files'' that have some mythology underpinning them. While I'm sure, say, ``The Golden Girls'' had its fans, there probably isn't much demand out there for the first complete season on DVD.

``Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and ``Twin Peaks'' are another matter, however. Both have legions of fans. In fact, David Lynch and Mark Frost's eerie soap opera ``Twin Peaks'' still generates conjecture on the Internet over what it all means. Essentially a mystery, it concerns an FBI agent (Kyle MacLachlan, who starred in Lynch's ``Blue Velvet'') who is sent to the Pacific Northwest town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), a popular high school student and daughter of a prominent businessman. But what is, on the surface, an all-American town, complete with cherry pie and ``damn fine coffee,'' is, underneath, a myriad of bizarre behavior with hints of depravity.

If you've seen ``Blue Velvet,'' you know that this is ground that Lynch has been over before, but ``Twin Peaks'' was a chance for him to explore it in an ongoing way. As he and Frost did, however, the ratings for the series - not great to begin with - began to drop. ABC pressed the duo to find an ending, which they did - but not to the satisfaction of many.

Lynch, who currently is getting acclaim for his ``Mulholland Drive,'' went on to make a feature prequel to the series, ``Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.'' (By the way, in the second season, ``X-Files' '' David Duchovny guest starred as DEA Agent Dennis/Denise Bryson.) If you didn't see it then, you'll have to wait for the release of season No. 2.

``Twin Peaks'' was one of the most innovative and fascinating shows ever on a big-three network. Today, a cable network like HBO would probably have to greenlight it. Ironically, ``Mulholland Drive'' was also created for the small screen but was rejected, probably deemed too odd. Unfortunately, ``Twin Peaks' '' first-season DVD set does not include the the 113-minute pilot episode that began with the lines, ``She's dead. Wrapped in plastic'' - even though it refers to it. Nevertheless, I can't remember ``Twin Peaks'' showing up in syndication, so having it on DVD is a treat.

``Buffy'' was originally a mildly amusing 1992 feature movie written by Joss Whedon - with Kristy Swanson as the slayer - which Whedon took to the WB. (It has since moved to UPN.) What sets ``Buffy,'' starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as the ``chosen one,'' apart is that it cleverly puts the agonizing years of high school into a fantastic setting, yet still manages to be relevant.

While other WB youth programs like ``Dawson's Creek and ``Felicity'' are considered more serious, ``Buffy'' covers the same ground, only with monsters as characters rather than metaphors. But the trials and tribulations of growing up, falling in love and dealing with inner demons (plus other demons) was dealt with in as sophisticated a manner - and often more amusingly. In a way, ``Buffy'' is the opposite of ``Twin Peaks'' - underneath its horrors are the ordinary worries of teens.

TWAIN YOUR CHILDREN WELL: Even at four hours, Ken Burns' documentary of Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain doesn't really capture the man, but it goes a long way to helping give viewers the importance of the man and his ironic wit. Playwright Arthur Miller and novelist Russell Banks are two who try to bring some insight into the author and explain how he continues to be an influence today. The documentary, which began Monday on PBS, is available on DVD and, like all of Burns' work, is worth having.

CRUSTY THE CLOWNS: There are two movies out that are the yin and yang of teen genres - ``American Pie 2'' (the gross-out sex comedy) and ``Jeepers Creepers'' (the horror flick) - something ``Buffy'' can do in an hour episode (more tastefully). Both ``Pie'' and ``Jeepers'' are above average. Considering the average, make that way above average, but that's not saying a whole lot. Nevertheless, they deliver what they're supposed to - laughs and thrills.

ON THE 'ROAD' AGAIN: Two '80s sci-fi films, ``Mad Max'' and ``Buckaroo Bonzai,'' have been released on DVD. ``Max'' is the lesser-known first of the George Miller trilogy that helped make Mel Gibson a star. While the two subsequent films - ``Road Warrior'' and ``Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome - were more developed in their scope, ``Max'' has a visceral punch to it. ``Bonzai,'' actually titled ``The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension,'' is an acquired taste, but I enjoyed this offbeat combination of sci-fi, mysticism and comedy about a plot to destroy the world through another dimension. It stars Peter Weller, John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin and Christopher Lloyd and was directed by W.D. Richter.

``Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete First Season'' (Fox) is $39.90 on DVD for the three-disc set of 12 episodes. It includes commentary by Joss Whedon on episodes one and two and interviews with Whedon and David Boreanaz, who plays Angel.

``Twin Peaks - The First Season: Special Edition'' (Artisan) is $59.90 on DVD on four discs. It includes commentary by directors, contains episodes one through seven (complete first season except the pilot).

``Mark Twain - A Film Directed by Ken Burns'' (PBS) is $29.90 on DVD.

``Mad Max: Special Edition'' (MGM) is $19.98 on DVD. It includes commentary by designer Jon Dowding, cinematographer David Eggby, special-effects designers Chris Murray and Tim Ridge, and the documentaries ``Mel Gibson: The Birth of a Star'' and ``Mad Max: The Film Phenomenon.''.

``The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension: Special Edition'' (MGM) is $19.98 on DVD. It includes commentary by W.D. Richter, rare prologue, deleted scenes, a making-of documentary and Easter Eggs.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Sarah Michelle Gellar may have been the second Buffy, but she's the one featured in a special new DVD set.

(2) Kyle MacLachlan, left, and Michael Ontkean were the stars of David Lynch's landmark TV series ``Twin Peaks,'' the first season of which is now out on DVD.