(This is an update of yesterday's story regarding Universal's announcement of problem discs. Seems that they would rather address the problems with Public Relations spin instead of Quality Control.)

Universal's new DVD of Monty Python's Meaning of Life: Special Edition is defective - yet ANOTHER defect in a Universal title. Only Disc One (the movie disc) is affected, but it's definitely a defect in the authoring of the disc. It appears that the software "flags" on the disc that allow progressive scan DVD players to de-interlace the video signal have been screwed up. As a result, the 3-2 pulldown is incorrectly done on almost all progressive DVD players, resulting in constant jagged edges throughout the film. We have confirmed this on our own equipment. This is a defect of ALL copies of the disc, but you'll only notice the problem on progressive players. So you folks with the best technology are screwed.

Universal seriously needs to get its act together with regard to it's Quality Control department. Judging by the many e-mails Digital Bits has been getting, readers are getting pretty fed up with having to send in discs for replacement. In any case, call Universal's Meaning of Life customer service (Ha! They're funny to the end!) hotline at 1-800-433-4673 to arrange to have your copies replaced... by sometime in mid to late November (with any luck).