New on DVD: 'SNL' season five

"Saturday Night Live: Season Five"

The fifth season ran from October 1979 to May 1980, and the DVD set includes 20 episodes with terrific guest hosts, many funny sketches and a wide variety of musical guests. John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd had left at the end of the previous season, and the show hired new writers along with new cast members. Fans of the show know that this was the final season for cast members Jane Curtain, Laraine Newman, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Garrett Morris and others.

Some of the guest hosts were Steve Martin, Eric Idle, Martin Sheen, Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Bob Newhart and more. Musical guests, meanwhile, included Paul and Linda McCartney, The Grateful Dead, James Taylor, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Paul Simon, Chicago, Blondie and many others.

"The Jazz Singer: 30th Anniversary Edition"

Neil Diamond stars in the second remake of the Al Jolson 1927 classic musical. The basis of the story follows a cantor's son who wants to become a pop singer despite the wishes of his father.

Yussel Rabinowitz (Diamond) is a young cantor at the synagogue of his father (Laurence Olivier). He is devoted to his faith, but on the side, writes songs for a black singing group. When a member of the group gets ill, he fills in and becomes a hit. He decides to leave his family in New York and heads to Los Angeles to make it in the music business. He meets an agent (Lucie Arnaz) who helps him become successful. His wife and father come to see him, and they both disown him. Meanwhile, he has a baby with his manager, and there is a moral to the story about love and family. The best part of the film is the music - songs like "America," "Love on the Rocks" and "Hello Again." The soundtrack became one of Neil Diamond's best sellers.

"America's Railroads: the Steam Engine Legacy"

If you like anything about trains, you will love this six-disc set that includes more than 12 hours of programming. The set lets us watch the history and glory of America's golden age of locomotives come alive. Highlights include the mighty Santa Fe making a classic 18-day journey from Los Angeles to Chicago, and the Union Pacific Challenger taking the rails for the 50th running of the Santa Claus special bringing gifts and candy to children in Kentucky and Tennessee mining towns. We get six promotional films, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at classic equipment and operations.

"One: The Movie"

Ward Powers was watching the Joseph Campbell series on PBS and was deeply moved. He had never made a film before and decided to make a documentary involving people from all walks of life.

The theme of the project was that we are all one, and in a divided world, the power of oneness is longing to emerge. Over the following two years, Powers gained access to leading figures of spiritual thought. Many gave their time and energy while sharing their wisdom. The excellent program includes the thoughts of everyone from the homeless to well-known thinkers like Deepak Chopra, Robert Thurman and others.

Available next week

• "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"

• "Jerry Lewis Show Collection"

• "Julie & Julia"

• "Leonard Bernstein: Omnibus-The Historic TV Broadcasts"

• "Michael Jackson: the Life and Times of the King of Pop"

• "Public Enemies"

• "Sherlock Holmes Double Feature Collection"