The first season DVD set (not currently available in Blu-ray) has quite a few bonus features. There are 20 minutes of deleted and extended scenes, and the essential gag reel. The broadcast "Pilot" has a commentary track with series creator Greg Garcia (My Name is Earl), Neff, Plimpton, and Dillahunt, who talk about the constantly changing babies in the episode. The original, unaired version of "Pilot," with a different actress playing Sabrina, and featuring Micucci as a cousin that lives with the Chances, is also included. Additionally, there is an extended version of the season finale, "Don't Vote for This Episode," with three minutes of cut footage inserted back in.
As far as featurettes go, "Adorable Stars: Meet the Hopes" gives viewers more than six minutes of focus on the adorable twins that play the titular baby. Fans get a look at their personalities, and their work environment. "Moments with Mrs. Chance" is a package of clips from the first season featuring Virginia in many of her best, and funniest, moments. It's an apt choice, considering Plimpton's vast talent, but one hopes that other performers will be featured similarly in later releases.
"Taking Chances: Shooting the Season Finale" spends only a little bit of time talking about the season's last episode, but gives lots of attention to the usual environment on the set, and how everyone gets along. It also has Neff and Plimpton complaining of
Garcia's (My Name is Earl) alcoholism and sexcapades on set. Garcia argues in his own interview that he doesn't usually start getting drunk until at least 9 a.m. One assumes this is all a joke, but it is filmed in Hollywood, so you never know. But yeah, pretty sure they are kidding.
Buy Raising Hope The Complete First Season, on sale now.






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