The Lucy Show (1962) Review

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(More customer reviews)Over 50 years ago during the early years of broadcast television, the very inspired talents of Lucille Ball (1911-1989) and her then husband Desi Arnaz (1917-1986) were showcased on their hilarious television show "I Love Lucy". TV execs had initially rejected the plausibility of the show because of Desi and because they intended to tape the shows. However, thanks to the tireless efforts of Lucille Ball and Desi's obvious talents, the show first aired in 1951 and quickly became one of the most successful TV shows during all six of its regular seasons. As Lucy and Ricky Ricardo on "I Love Lucy", Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were joined by William Frawley (1877-1966) and Viviane Vance (1909-1979) as their best-friends/apartment landlords of Fred and Ethel Mertz.
The fifth season of "I Love Lucy" that aired between 1955 and 1956 has 26 memorable episodes:
1. "Lucy Visits Grauman's": With Ethel's help, Lucy steals John Wayne's footprints from Grauman's Chinese Theater.
2. "Lucy and John Wayne": Lucy and Ethel try to return the footprints that they stole, but they break; so Ricky enlists the help from John Wayne (himself) to make a new set. More than one may be needed.
3. "Lucy and the Dummy": After Ricky backs out of a party where Lucy wants her big break, Lucy makes a dummy of Ricky to dance with at the party.
4. "Ricky Sells the Car": After Ricky sells the car, Fred & Ethel think they'll have to ride a motorcycle back to NYC; but Ricky buys train tickets for all.
5. "The Great Train Robbery": Thinking there's a jewel thief on board the train to NYC, Lucy can't stop pulling the emergency brake cord. (Train conductor played by Frank Nelson, 1911-1986.)
6. "Homecoming": Upon returning to NYC, Ricky is a big star, but Lucy initially doesn't share in everyone's worship of him.
7. "The Ricardos Are Interviewed": Ricky & Lucy consider moving and Ricky is to be interviewed on a prestigious show.
8. "Lucy Goes to a Rodeo": After Ricky can't help Fred with a rodeo-themed show for his lodge, Lucy & Ethel volunteer to help.
9. "Nursery School": After Lucy's fear of Little Ricky getting sick at nursery school comes to pass, she is determined to stay with him at the hospital.
10. "Ricky's European Booking": When Ricky can't afford to take Lucy on his European tour, she & Ethel dream up a raffle to help the "Ladies Overseas Aid", which they think is themselves.
11. "The Passports": Lucy can't find her birth certificate so that she can get her passport.
12. "Staten Island Ferry": To help Fred overcome seasickness, Lucy takes him onto the Staten Island Ferry; but she gets seasick herself and may be late to the passport office. (Passport clerk played by Charles Lane.)
13. "Bon Voyage": When the ship leaves port for Europe, Lucy is inadvertently left behind; so she'll have to get to ship via a helicopter. One of the best fifth-season episodes!
14. "Second Honeymoon": Lucy wants the Atlantic cruise to be a second honeymoon, but Ricky is too busy with the band.
15. "Lucy Meets the Queen": After Lucy misses seeing the queen at Buckingham Palace, Ricky gets invited to met the queen, but not Lucy. Of course, when has "no" ever stopped Lucy?
16. "The Fox Hunt": Bragging that she can ride, Lucy gets to show how well she can actually ride a horse in a fox hunt.
17. "Lucy Goes to Scotland": Lucy wants to travel to Scotland to meet her distant McGillicuddy relatives. The dream sequence that unfolds is unforgettable.
18. "Paris at Last": Not having any French currency, Lucy, Ethel & Fred exchange money with a so-called French artist (Shepard Menken, 1921-1999), who turns out to be a counterfeiter. The translation sequence is priceless, as is Lucy's introduction to escargot!
19. "Lucy Meets Charles Boyer": Lucy & Ethel are star-struck when they encounter Charles Boyer (himself) at a sidewalk cafe.
20. "Lucy Gets a Paris Gown": When Lucy goes on hunger strike to force Ricky to buy her an expensive French-designed dress, Ricky & Fred have dresses custom-made out of burlap. (A fantastic episode!)
21. "Lucy in the Swiss Alps": Lucy, Ricky, Fred & Ethel get trapped in an avalanche while mountain climbing until they here "La Cucaracha" being played.
22. "Lucy Gets Homesick in Italy": In this heart-warming episode, Lucy misses Little Ricky during his birthday, so a little Italian shoeshine boy (Bart Bradley) and his friends get to celebrate with her.
23. "Lucy's Italian Movie": In one of the best episodes of all time, Lucy takes "getting some local color" a little literally when she travels to an old-fashioned Italian winery to press grapes to impress an Italian film director. (Italian wine stomper played by Theresa Tirelli, 1907-1989).
24. "Lucy's Bicycle Trip": Lucy has trouble crossing back into France when she can't find her passport.
25. "Lucy Goes to Monte Carlo": When Lucy picks up a chip in a Monte Carlo casino, she inadvertently wins thousands of French franks.
26. "Return Home From Europe": To sneak home a 30-pound cheese, Lucy dresses it up as baby to fly home to NYC; but the passenger (Mary Jane Croft, 1916-1999) next to her flips out when the cheese disappears.
Paramount Home Video's superb job of packaging all 30 episodes of the fourth season of "I Love Lucy" onto 5 DVD's is a good indication as to how they will similarly package the fifth season onto 4. Overall, for superb packaging and a great price, I rate the "I Love Lucy: The Complete Fifth Season" DVD box set with an anticipatory 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it!

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LUCY SHOW - DVD Movie

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Sanford and Son - The First Season (1972) Review

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(More customer reviews)Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) and his son, Lamont (Demond Wilson) own and operate Sanford and Son Salvage, where they collect and resell second hand items, antiques and junk. Their hilarious adventures and business dealings set the stage for some classic television comedy.
Sanford and Son ran for five seasons on NBC, earning four Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe for Redd Foxx and the distinction of being the highest rated show on the network for four years.
Since much of the first season was based on previously written material, the series had yet to create many of the great supporting characters we all remember, like Aunt Esther, Grady, Bubba, and Rollo. However, in "The Copper Caper," we meet Officers Smitty and Swanny for the first time. Below is a brief summary of all of the episodes you will get in this set.
1. "Crossed Swords"- When Lamont buys a valuable porcelain statue for $15.00, he auctions it off to make enough money to start his own business.
2. "Happy Birthday, Pop"- Lamont tries to make Fred's sixty-fifth birthday special, but it's not going to be easy to please his dad.
3. "Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride"- It's Lamont's wedding day and he's left at the altar by his bride, who has cold feet. The family gets together back at the house for a "reception," where the main topic of conversation is who gets to keep the gifts.
4. "The Copper Caper"- Another one of Lamont's moneymaking schemes backfires when he and Fred are duped into buying stolen copper.
5. "A Matter of Life and Breath"- Lamont's plan to get Fred to give up smoking crumbles when he joins him for a free test at the Breath Mobile and receives alarming results.
6. "We Were Robbed"- Fred accidentally knocks over Lamont's cabinet of valuable collectibles, so he comes up with a story that he was assaulted and robbed.
7. "A Pad for Lamont"- After Fred scares off yet another one of his son's dates, Lamont decides it's time for a place of his own. Unfortunately, his new bachelor pad is seeing less action than the now available home of "Ready Freddy."
8. "The Great Sanford Siege"- For weeks, Fred has been putting bills he can't pay back into the mailbox. Now he and Lamont are trapped in their house with no heat, no gas, no electricity and an advancing gang of angry bill collectors.
9. "Coffins for Sale"- Lamont sees dollar signs in reselling coffins, but superstitious Fred wants nothing to do with it, sleeping outside until the caskets are sold.
10. "The Barracuda"- Fred decides after 20 years of being a widower, it's time to get remarried. The news doesn't make Lamont happy and he makes his feelings known to both Fred and Donna.
11. "TV or Not TV"- Melvin convinces Fred to ask his son for a color TV set, but there's no money left after Lamont buys a brand new convertible.
12. "The Suitcase Case"- A discarded briefcase containing $70,000 could be the answer to Fred and Lamont's dreams, but it turns into a nightmare when the crook who lost the money shows up to reclaim it.
13. "Return of the Barracuda"- The marriage of Fred and Donna is back on after they've reconciled, but Lamont has a plan to make sure they won't go through with it.
14. "The Piano Movers"- A rich socialite hires Lamont and Fred to remove his ex-wife's grand piano from his high-rise apartment.

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"Elizabeth! I'm comin, honey!" Those were the words oftenheard coming from 9114 South Central, home to Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx)and his son Lamont (Demond Wilson) - known more affectionately to each other as "Pop" and "Dummy" - and their junkyard business.Sanford and Son was the second TV series from Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin, whocreated the groundbreaking "All in the Family" the year before. "Sanford and Son" aired from 1972-1977 and was NBC's most popular prime-time series for four of its five seasons, earning four Emmy nominations and a Golden-Globe Award for Redd Foxx during its run. Enjoy this hysterical first season - or you'll get one across the lip.

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Family Ties - The Complete First Season (1982) Review

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(More customer reviews)Paramount has totally let true fans of classic television down with this much-anticipated release. Due to music issues, a handful of episodes (4 or so) have some original broadcast scenes deleted! This is completely unacceptable. They could have changed the music (which is bad enough in my opinion), but to delete the scene entirely is ridiculous! As much as I loved this show, I can't bring myself to support this set.
To add insult to injury, they still used the word "complete" on the cover! I've noticed in some upcoming Paramount releases that this word is suddenly missing. Check out the cover art for "Happy Days" Season Two and "Wings" Season Four. This leads us to wonder, are these shows truly complete, or will they suffer a fate similar to that of "Family Ties"?
As much as I've always despised music alterations, I've still bought DVD sets that used that tactic since the shows otherwise contained all of the original broadcast footage. But I will NOT buy a set that just hacks away at the episodes like this. If we do support these products, the studios will just keep getting lazier and lazier. Why should they care about putting work into their releases if the public will still gobble up whatever garbage they put out?
I really hate this, because I was looking SO forward to finally owning what I thought was going to be the complete and uncut version of each episode. I guess I should have known better than to count my chickens before they hatched.

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Steve and Elyse Keaton (Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter-Birney), once 1960s radicals, now find themselves in Reagan-Era American trying to raise a traditional suburban family. Son Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox) is an ambitious Young Republican and his sister Mallory (Justine Bateman) is a shallow victim of the corporate culture, obsessed with music, clothes and boys. Their only normal kid is young Jennifer (Tina Yothers), a bit of a tomboy.

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Beverly Hillbillies: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1 (1962) Review

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(More customer reviews)26 newly-restored and unedited episodes with the classic opening and closing theme songs.
Disc 1
Series Introduction, by Linda Kaye Henning
Pilot Episode: The Clampetts Strike Oil (September 26, 1962)
Getting Settled (October 3, 1962)
Meanwhile, Back at the Cabin (October 10, 1962)
The Clampetts Meet Mrs. Drysdale (October 17,1962)
Jed Buys Stock (October 24, 1962)
Trick or Treat (October 31, 1962)
The Servants (November 7, 1962)
Disc 2
Jethro Goes to School (November 14, 1962)
Elly's First Date (November 21, 1962)
Pygmalion and Elly (November 28, 1962)
Elly Races Jethrine (December 5, 1962)
The Great Feud (December 12, 1962)
No Place Like Home (December 26, 1962)
Jed Rescues Pearl (January 2, 1963)

Disc 3
Back to California (January 9, 1963)
Jed's Dilemma (January 16, 1963)
Jed Saves the Drysdales' Marriage (January 23, 1963)
Elly's Animals (January 30, 1963)
Jed Throws a Wingding (February 6, 1963)
Jed Plays Solomon (February 13, 1963)
Duke Steals a Wife (February 20, 1963)

Disc 4
Jed Buys the Freeway (February 27, 1963)
Jed Becomes a Banker (March 6, 1963)
The Family Tree (March 13, 1963)
Jed Cuts the Family Tree (March 20, 1963)
Granny's Spring Tonic (March 27, 1963)

Bonus features:
Original Cast Sponsor Commercials
CBS-TV Network Promo
Documentary: Paul Henning & The Hillbillies
Vintage Variety Show Appearances by Buddy Ebsen & Irene Ryan
Unaired Pilot with Extra Footage

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Original Music...Newly Restored !!From the creative genius of TV pioneer Paul Henning (The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show, Love That Bob, Petticoat Junction), comes the story of poor Ozark mountaineer Jed Clampett and his kin, striking it rich with oil and headin' for Beverly Hills, California. Join the feistiest Granny of themall, wise Uncle Jed, his critter-loving daughter Elly May and love-crazy Cousin Jethro in their unrefined, legendary quest for an idyllic West Coast existence. Welllll, Doggies! This astounding Ultimate Collection,with rare footage culled from creator Paul Henning's private archive,features 26 newly-restored and unedited episodes with the classic opening and closing theme songs (The Ballad Of Jed Clampett), the complete and never-before-broadcast pilot (The Hillbillies Of Beverly Hills), rare cast commercials, interviews and a heapin' helpin' of behind the scenes footage.

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Father Knows Best: Season One Review

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(More customer reviews)Father Knows Best was a wonderful television program. A review of the show would get 5 stars. These reviews are not supposed to be testimonials or nostalgic trips back to one's childhood; they should be reviews of the product. That is the reason I am awarding this product a single star. There is no excuse whatsoever for a company to give the buying public edited versions of tv shows that have been in existence for so many years. I wrongfully assumed that since the Young family trust gave its blessing to this project that the dvd set would be top notch and first class. Shout Factory could not even present episode number one in its original form. The first show was barely 22 minutes with complete opening sequence and closing credits. The editing to trim the show by the three minutes was done with a hatchet that a child of four could notice. I suppose this is better than no Father Knows Best at all, but not by much. My advice is to check the manufacturer of dvd's and make sure that Shout Factory had nothing to do with it. Otherwise, you will receive less than you hoped for and less than you paid for.

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Copy: Maybe he didn't always know best, but insurance salesman Jim Anderson (Robert Young) of Springfield, Ohio, was America's favorite head of household. Father Knows Best premiered on CBS in October 1954 and has been part of the American cultural fabric ever since. Every week families gathered around the television set to join Jim, Margaret, "Princess", "Bud" and "Kitten" in their very first year as everyone's favorite 50's family. On DVD for the first time ever, this 4-disc set contains the Complete first season. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BONUS FEATURES*New cast interviews*Robert Young's home movies*Rare behind the scenes color footage*24 Hours In Tyrantland - special episode created for the U.S. government.*Window On Main Street pilot episode - Robert Young's very next TV series.

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The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Sixth Season (1960) Review

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(More customer reviews)Season 6 saw major changes to The Andy Griffith Show. The main changes were that the shows were aired for the first time in color, Barney Fife was no longer a regular character, and characters Warren Ferguson (briefly) and Howard Sprague (`til the end of series and Mayberry RFD) would make their entrance. Many fans do not prefer the color seasons (some even refuse to watch them). I want to use this review and the reviews for seasons 7 and 8, to stick up for these seasons. For this review, I want to particularly defend a character who is often maligned: Deputy Warren Ferguson. He replaced Barney Fife for 11 episodes in season six until he was written out of the series (with no explanation) and never replaced. He was played by a very underrated actor, Jack Burns, who went on to be a variety show staple through the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of the comedy duo Burns and Schreiber (having their own show in 1973), and later was head writer for The Muppet Show and script supervisor and co-producer for Fridays in the early 1980s. I thought his Warren character was an excellent addition to the cast and had a main role in a few of my favorite color episodes (A Warning From Warren, Aunt Bee Takes a Job, Girl-Shy, and Otis the Artist). He was also very easy on the eyes for us female fans. The criticism about his "huh-huh-huh" gimmick (used in his routines with Avery Schreiber) is blown up a bit as he didn't say it that often on TAGS. He used it the most in his first episode The Bazaar, where his character was being introduced. If you do a web search for "The Revenge of Warren Ferguson," you will find a tribute I created for him. Give Warren a chance. Now for the season six episodes:
"Opie's Job": Another season begins with an Opie ep. Opie competes with another boy for a grocery job. Andy is disappointed when he finds out his son gave up on the job, until he hears Opie's reason.
"Andy's Rival": It is time for Andy to be jealous for a change. Helen begins working with a handsome teacher who seems the superior to Andy in every way.
"Malcolm at the Crossroads": The last episode for Malcolm Merriweather and Ernest T Bass (I'm not a Ernest T fan, so this was OK by me). When the bicycling Englishman takes Bass' crosswalk job, Ernest T wants to fight him.
"Aunt Bee, the Swinger": Bee wants to impress an old beau who became a politician, and runs herself ragged trying to keep up with, what she believes, is the fast pace he is used to.
"The Bazaar": Warren's first episode. Warren arrests the ladies' auxiliary for illegal gambling (bingo) and the husbands are angry with Andy because who's going to fix them dinner? (can you believe that?! It's called cereal, milk, a spoon, and a bowl).
"A Warning From Warren": Warren believes he has ESP and senses danger lurks for Andy and Helen's planned picnic at Myer's Lake.
"Off to Hollywood": Andy gets a $1,000 check for a movie that is being made about his sheriff without a gun story. Aunt Bee, Opie, and Helen convince him to use the funds on a trip to Hollywood and the townsfolk keep asking Andy for favors (autographs, etc.).
"Taylors in Hollywood": One of the funniest color eps. On location in Hollywood, Andy, Opie and Aunt Bee watch the filming of the movie about them and, Aunt Bee is not pleased with how they and the town are portrayed. Gavin McLeod (Love Boat Captain) plays Andy, and boy is he funny!
"The Hollywood Party": A Helen blow-up episode. Helen sees a publicity photo of Andy (still in Hollywood) and an actress and goes off.
"Aunt Bee on TV": Aunt Bee is a winner on a tv game show while in Hollywood and, when she gets back to Mayberry, her friends get tired of hearing about all the prizes she won.
"The Cannon": A state mobile museum comes to Mayberry for Founders' Day. Warren is in charge of guarding it, but is more interested in the old town cannon nearby.
"A Man's Best Friend": Maybe the silliest TAGS ep. Opie and a new friend (a real sarcastic kid) use walkie talkies to convince Goober that his dog can talk.
"Aunt Bee Takes a Job": Aunt Bee gets a job at a print shop and doesn't realize her employers are counterfeiters. This is one of my favorite color eps. Mr. Clark is a very funny villain ("we're adopting a kid") and Warren trying to dislodge the getaway car from the bumper of the squad car while explaining the benefits of advertising-that's classic!
"The Church Organ": After the church organ goes flat during her rendition of "Love Lifted Me," Clara refuses to play the old organ and Andy, Warren and a group of businessmen try to put a fund together to buy another organ. Things hit another sour note when Andy can't collect on the pledges.
"Girl-Shy": Another classic Helen blow-up episode. Warren is shy around women until he is sleepwalking. In a somnambulistic state, he gets fresh with Helen. Bad move! Hell hath no fury like Helen!
"Otis, the Artist": Another favorite of mine. Warren thinks mosaics might be an appropriate safety valve for Otis to stop his drinking. Give Warren credit; his plan almost works but, for once, Andy gets in the way of success.
"The Return of Barney Fife": Don't worry, Barney appears in this season! In fact, Don Knotts won an Emmy for this episode. He returns for a class reunion and learns something shocking about Thelma Lou.
"The Legend of Barney Fife": Warren thinks Barney is a living legend but his hero worship is put to the test when Barney appears a coward when a convict he managed to capture escapes.
"Lost and Found": Aunt Bee loses an antique brooch and collects on the insurance, only to end up finding the pin. Jack Dodson (later to play Howard Sprague) appears as the insurance man.
"Wyatt Earp Rides Again": The last appearance of Warren. A fellow claiming to be a descendant of Wyatt Earp along with his big-mouth promoter comes to Mayberry and teaches the kids that "the man who can fight is the man who is right," much to Andy's chagrin.
"Aunt Bee Learns to Drive": Andy is worried when Aunt Bee is bent on learning to drive, especially with Goober as her instructor.
"Look Paw, I'm Dancing": Opie dreads going to a school dance because he's got two left feet (so to speak). Unbeknownst to him, this problem was passed down from his father. Watch this episode to hear some REALLY bad music!
"The Gypsies": A gypsy curses Mayberry with a drought after Andy forbids them to sell their wares in town (how often did it rain in Mayberry, anyway? In "Quiet Sam" and I remember Ernest T's "Sweet Romeena" mentioned it had rained during Mrs. Wiley's party).
"Eat Your Heart Out": Goober has a crush on Flora, but Flora has her sights on a certain sheriff.
"A Baby in the House": Aunt Bee takes care of a baby and is saddened because, every time she holds the baby, it cries (maybe the baby knows something about Aunt Bee that we don't).
"The County Clerk": Enter Howard Sprague. Andy and Helen try to fix Howard up with a date but his overbearing mother does not approve. One of my favorites. I like the eps with Howard's old bat mother.
"The Foster Lady": Aunt Bee becomes the Foster Furniture Polish Lady. Trivia: Actual TAGS crew members are members of the commercial crew.
"Goober's Replacement": Flora fills in for Goober at the filling station and her feminine charms increase business.
"The Battle of Mayberry": Opie tries to get info on the famous town battle and, of course, everyone thinks their relatives were the heroes. What really happened was not near as heroic.
"A Singer in Town": Aunt Bee and Clara write a poem "My Hometown" that they try to get set to music.

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Transitional season as the show switches to color, and new characters arrive in Mayberry. This was Don Knotts' last season as a series regular, though Barney Fife would make occasional guest appearances in the years ahead.

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Gilligan's Island: The Complete Series Collection (1964) Review

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(More customer reviews)All 3 seasons in one package! it doesn't get any better than this. These are complete and unedited unlike some sets that are being released with different music, or edited episodes. season 1 is in black and white as originally aired, seasons 2 and 3 are in color as aired. I have watched reruns for years and when i saw that the complete series was available as one set, i couldn't pass it. Bonus footage includes interviews with Russell Johnson and Sherwood Schwartz, also included is the pilot episode with a different 'professor' 'Ginger' and 'Mary Ann' and different opening and closing music. A great treat for fans and someone that wants it all! Quality is excellent! I don't purchase many tv shows on dvd, but this was a must for me! 5 stars without a doubt!!!

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Item Name: Gilligan's Island - The Complete Series Collection; Studio:Turner Home Ent

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The Andy Griffith Show - The Premiere Episodes (Season One, Episodes 1-8) (1960) Review

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(More customer reviews)Paramount Home Video gives fans of the forever-entertaining "Andy Griffith Show" a good taste of that series' very funny rookie season with the release of this single-disc DVD featuring the first eight "TAGS" episodes.
For those who haven't yet taken the plunge and purchased the "Complete First Season" DVD set of this classic TV show, this budget-priced one-disc release is probably the next best thing. And after watching these eight humorous installments of the series, any self-respecting TAGS fan is certainly going to be longing to pick up the whole 32-episode first season (and probably Seasons 2 through 5 as well).
The video quality of all these Andy Griffith programs is positively outstanding. I don't think these episodes, which were all filmed in the year 1960, could possibly look any better than they do on this DVD. Even on a large-screen television, the crystal-clear nature of these DVD transfers shines through brilliantly.
The eight black-and-white episodes on this single-sided disc are presented in their original TV ratio (Full Frame; 1.33:1), along with crisp Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono audio. A "Play All" tool is included for marathon viewing of all 8 shows back-to-back. The Main Menu is non-animated and music-free. Chapter stops have been integrated into each episode.Here's a look at the episodes contained on this disc (along with a glance at what each program is about, plus some funny quotes from the shows):
1.) "The New Housekeeper" (Original airdate: October 3, 1960) .... The premiere episode of "TAGS" is just about as perfect a TV debut as I can think of. When Andy and Opie's housekeeper ("Rose") leaves to get married, "Aunt Bee" comes to live with the boys in Mayberry. But when Opie doesn't take a liking to the new housekeeper, Bee wants to leave. She doesn't get far, however, because Opie decides that Aunt Bee needs him -- after all, "she doesn't know how to do anything, like play ball, fish, or catch frogs; she'll be helpless". :)
That line of dialogue I just mentioned above, spoken by little Ronny Howard (one of the finest kid actors you'll ever see, in 1960 or any other year), places a perfect cap on this first TAGS episode; and the performances by Howard, Frances Bavier, and Andy Griffith in this debut program set the tone of love and mutual caring that would often show up in many later episodes of the series as well.
Another Funny Quote -- "Pretty soon people will be jaywalking all over the place and disregarding 'keep-off-the-grass' signs and everything! Why Mayberry is gonna turn into a regular SIN town!!" -- Bernard P. Fife
And be sure to keep an eye on Andy while Barney is blowing his stack via the dialogue shown above. Andy seems to be mouthing the words as Barney (Don Knotts) is saying them. The hick-sounding Andy Taylor is hysterical throughout this whole first season of TAGS, which makes these episodes all the more enjoyable to watch.
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2.) "The Manhunt" (October 10, 1960) .... Deputy Barney Fife has got some "big!" news for Andy in this second episode of the series. An escaped convict is headed for Mayberry, which has normally-idle Barney all keyed up. But when the State Police take over control of the manhunt, Mayberry's lawmen are left out in the cold. But Andy's beat-up fishing boat and a nifty little crook-catching scheme cooked up by the local "sheriff without a gun" soon make the State boys sit up and take notice.
Watch for 70-year-old Cheerio Meredith (as "Emma Brand") in "The Manhunt". Cheerio appears in several of the episodes on this disc, in fact. And she's always given some very funny lines to read too. Her character's last name was changed from "Brand" to "Watson", for some reason, in later episodes.
Funny Quotes -- "You know, this morning when we was fishing, I sure didn't enjoy having a hole in that boat. But I tell you the truth, right now I wouldn't take a dollar and a quarter for it." -- Andy Taylor
"Well, now that's a dandy little item there! Lookie there, a little button that just sticks there {to the bulletin board} and don't fall off! I'll be dogged! We're still using pins." -- Andy (as he marvels at the State Police map, which features the miracle of magnets). LOL.
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3.) "Guitar Player" (October 17, 1960) .... James Best puts in his first of two appearances as "Jim Lindsey" in this TAGS offering. Lindsey is a talented guitar player, but he's not getting very far in tiny Mayberry. That's where Handy Andy (Taylor) comes in. Andy schemes to get Jim an audition with a band travelling through Mayberry ("Bobby Fleet And His Band With A Beat").
The lively musical number performed at the jail near the end of this episode really rocks the joint! It's quite good indeed.
Funny Quote -- "I'm a mean man when I get riled; it takes some doin', but you can bring out the bear in me!" -- Barney
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4.) "Ellie Comes To Town" (October 24, 1960) .... Elinor Donahue makes her first appearance as the likable (but "by-the-book") new "lady druggist" ("Ellie Walker"). This is one of my very favorite TAGS episodes, which has Cheerio Meredith putting in another funny appearance. Emma Brand (Meredith) can't get that new female druggist to sell her any pills without a prescription. This forces Emma to her sick bed. But by episode's end, Ellie caves in and sells Emma her 10-cent (sugar) pills.
Funny Quotes -- "I always did think that {ten cents} was kind of a low price for a miracle drug." -- Andy
"Come Christmastime, don't expect me to buy my cotton balls from YOU!" -- Emma Brand
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5.) "Irresistible Andy" (October 31, 1960) .... Andy gets it into his head that Ellie Walker is out to trap him into marrying her. This motivates Andrew into putting Ellie "on the scent of other game" (i.e., potential male suitors). ~wink~
Funny Quotes -- "You see what kind of a dance she trapped me into?! Not a Legion dance, not a Chamber of Commerce dance, not an Uplifter's dance -- a CHURCH dance! Kinda gettin' me used to the location." -- Andy (all in a dither about what he believes is Ellie's underhanded matrimonial scheme; once more, Andy Griffith is a howl here as the thick-accented sheriff from North Carolina).
"If I wasn't absolutely, positively sure before, I am now! That ice cream ain't no present -- it's a down payment on a husband!" -- Andy (via another "Ellie's A Desperate Determined Hunter" Tirade). ~ROFL!~
"What's that Barney? The pickpockets, they're yours, all yours?" -- Ellie
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6.) "Runaway Kid" (November 7, 1960) .... This cute episode has Andy getting his "breeches caught on his own pitchfork" just prior to solving a problem as only Andy can (with a good deal of love and compassion). The "problem" in this case being a "runaway kid", who has run away from home and wants to stay with his friend Opie at the Taylor house in Mayberry.
To make matters worse, Andy has just given Opie a lecture on "not going back on your word". And when Opie promises the runaway boy he wouldn't tattle on him or tell where he lives, it puts Andy on a spot. But Andy employs some child psychology to soon convince young "George Foley" that running away ain't all it's cracked up to be. Why, just the thought of lugging around all those sandwiches needed for his long journey is enough to make George think twice.
Funny Quote -- "That's twice in one day you've run afoul of the law! You keep this up and I'm gonna have to draw your face next!" -- A very upset Barney Fife :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
7.) "Andy The Matchmaker" (November 14, 1960) .... This ep. has Andy trying to build up Barney's morale (a common theme throughout many TAGS episodes). Barney is sick and tired of having no crime to fight in sleepy ol' Mayberry. And Andy stages a $24 fake robbery at Ellie's drugstore to give Barney a case to solve.
Actress Amzie Strickland (who passed away of Alzheimer's Disease on July 5, 2006) plays "Miss Rosemary" in this episode. She serves as an early first-season love interest for Barney, prior to "Thelma Lou" (Betty Lynn) joining the cast.
Funny Quote -- "There once was a deputy called Fife, who carried a gun and a knife; the gun was all dusty, the knife was all rusty, 'cause he never caught a crook in his life." -- Poem written on the wall of the Mayberry Bank (Andy's reaction when Barney reads this poem to him is also hilarious). :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
8.) "Opie's Charity" (November 28, 1960) .... This hilarious episode is really sort of two episodes in one, so to speak. There are two distinct plotlines that play out in "Opie's Charity". One has Opie refusing to give more than "three measly pennies" to a charity fund at his school (which doesn't please father Andrew at all). And the other storyline involves "Tom Silby" seemingly rising from the dead to return to his hometown of Mayberry after Tom's wife had him buried at a fake funeral two years earlier.
The "Tom Silby" plotline springs forth several funny moments, especially when Andy first encounters ol' Tom on the street one day --- "Tom, you can't come back after you're gone -- it just ain't decent!" (LOL.)
More Funny Quotes -- "Are you sure you don't want to make that four cents, Opie? It's tax-deductible, ya know!" -- Andy
"Andy, all I did was go down to Charlottesville." --> "Well, Tom, we all thought you was a lot further 'down' than that!"
----------------------------------------
Every one of the above Andy Griffith shows contains large doses of Mayberry humor. So pick up this disc and introduce...Read more›

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Includes the first eight episodes from the first season.

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The Dick Van Dyke Show - Season Two (5 Disc Box Set) (1961) Review

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(More customer reviews)These terrific DVDs are enhanced by vintage clips -- promos and commercials with the stars; a half-hour cast guest spot on "Stump the Stars"; Carl Reiner and company gleefully receiving some of their 15 Emmys. Hidden features show the cast selling cigarettes for Kent, a loyal sponsor.
Stars of the time such as Joey Bishop, Lucille Ball, Sebastian Cabot, Bob Crane and Jane Wyatt pop up, making the sets delightful time capsules.
Dick Van Dyke and Reiner do leisurely commentaries on a handful of key episodes, spending a lot of time on what happened to the cast and crew -- especially who is "still with us," and who is not. They swap a few great stories, and have vivid memories of making the episodes. "Stan Laurel should have sued me," Van Dyke says as he watches himself do a bit. "If only life could be so simple," Reiner sighs as one plot unfolds.
Co-star Rose Marie, ex-child actor Larry Mathews and "neighbor" Ann Morgan Guilbert chat over a few other shows. In one case, Rose Marie plows ahead with a hilarious story long after the episode has ended.
While the audio commentaries are new, other recollections come via footage from what must have been a terrific 1994 TV special about the show. Executive producer Sheldon Leonard and "human joke machine" Morey Amsterdam, both of whom have since passed away, have their say in these clips.
Images and sound are surprisingly good. The restored video has decent contrasts over a pleasing gray scale, with minor wear surfacing here and there. The look falls comfortably between flat and silvery. The 2.0 mono ably conveys dialog, canned laughter and Earle Hagan's bouncy theme music.
The first DVD set includes "Head of the Family," Reiner's flat, almost surreal 1960 pilot for the show, in which he played the lead against a different cast. No network was buying. "The reason Carl Reiner's show failed was Carl Reiner," hot-handed producer Leonard recalled in 1994.
The world-famous ottoman pratfall appears on season 1's cover, in one of those almost 3-D moving photos. Trivia comes in segments called "Ottoman Trippers."

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DICK VAN DYKE SHOW:SEASON 2 - DVD Movie

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The Dick Van Dyke Show - Season Four (1961) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Season-Four boxed set of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" from Image Entertainment lives up to the excellence of its siblings -- smart and stylish in every respect.
There are 32 splendiferous episodes on tap in this 5-Disc DVD set (all of the shows being presented "uncut", as originally aired in 1964 and 1965). Some of the many funny-bone-tickling episodes that await you in Season #4 include: "The Ghost Of A. Chantz", "4-And-A-Half", "Pink Pills And Purple Parents", "The Impractical Joke", "The Case Of The Pillow", and the hilarious "Never Bathe On Saturday", which features Laura Petrie getting her toe stuck in a bath spout.
This DVD set comes handsomely boxed in comparable eye-appealing packaging to that of the previous entries in the series from Image. The outer box looks like an old 1960s television set, with a 3D "motion" type insert card placed inside the "TV" on the box.
Season 4's slipcase picture shows Laura Petrie (Mary Tyler Moore) struggling with the inflatable fishing boat that's contained in a package she "accidentally" opens in "The Curious Thing About Women" (which is an episode from Season #1).
Individual slim-type ("ThinPak") plastic cases are used to hold each of the set's five discs (with each disc's label displaying unique and attractive artwork). Ample episode information is provided on the cover of each case (episode numbers and titles, synopses, air dates, film dates, and chapter selections). Very nice photos adorn the case covers as well. The discs are "Region Free" (i.e., Region "Zero").
VIDEO .... Like the Dick Van Dyke season sets before it, Season 4 boasts of A-1, Grade-A type digital transfers. These black-and-white programs never looked so fine. You'll still run into an occasional bit of dirt and/or grainy image, but overall these shows look terrific on these DVDs!
The very good video detail within these shows is the result of the remastering and clean-up that was undertaken here, with imagery exhibiting a sharpness that you'll never see on any VHS release of this TV series. These shows are a joy to watch on DVD, again and again.
AUDIO .... The sound comes through clean and clear via each disc's quite acceptable Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono soundtrack.
MENUS .... An easy-to-navigate Menu system is employed here. The Main Menu allows access to any of that disc's six or seven different episodes, with separate Sub-Menus offered for each program. Each Sub-Menu displays that program's Chapter Selection, plus an "Extras" area, which will take you to any applicable "Bonus" features for the episode in question. A "Play All" feature is also included from the Main Menu. Unfortunately (for many people), no subtitles or captions of any kind have been included here (or on any of the other Dick Van Dyke Show sets issued by Image).
BONUS FEATURES....................
>> Two episodes have Audio Commentary Tracks attached to them. Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner gab and reminisce during their commentaries for the episodes "Baby Fat" and "Never Bathe On Saturday". Good stuff here with Dick & Carl.
"Baby Fat" actually has two separate Commentary Tracks, in fact -- one by Dick and Carl; plus another audio track featuring the voice of writer Garry Marshall.
>> The complete, uncut CBS-TV documentary "The Dick Van Dyke Show Remembered" (made in 1994). Many clips from this same program are used throughout the different Van Dyke Show boxed sets that Image has released. But here you can see the whole documentary all at once. A darn good program too. Running time -- 46:35.
>> Video clip from TV-Land's animated program, "The Alan Brady Show" (length -- 1:15).
>> Cast Photos and "Proofs", taken by actor Roddy McDowall (length -- 0:48).
>> Clip from the "DVD Exclusive Awards" (2003), where Image's boxed set of "The Dick Van Dyke Show Season One" took home the award for "Best Overall DVD for a TV Program". This clips lasts 3:13, and features Dick Van Dyke and disc producer Paul Brownstein accepting the award. Dick provides some funny ad-libbed comments during this entertaining video bonus.
>> Dick Van Dyke sings the Van Dyke Show's theme song at The Hollywood Bowl (in August 2001). Mary Tyler Moore also appears in this video clip, which lasts 2:26. Dick (and the other singers who join him to belt out this cute tune) sound pretty good too.
BTW, if you've got the Season-Three Image boxed set of "The Dick Van Dyke Show", you can hear Dick (solo) singing this very same ditty at the end of one of the Commentary Tracks for a third-season episode.
>> Clip from the TV series "Diagnosis Murder", in which Dr. Sloan (Dick Van Dyke) encounters "Rob Petrie". This inventive 35-second video snippet features "Rob" as a disc jockey in the episode "One Hundred Terrible Hours" as "Dr. Sloan" passes by him in the hallway. It's a cleverly-conceived way of putting both Sloan and Petrie in the scene at the same time.
>> Photo Galleries for 29 of the 32 episodes.
>> One Emmy Awards clip (length -- 2:58).
>> Two "Tune In To Part 2 Next Week" CBS-TV Network Promos (integrated into the episodes themselves).
>> 4-Page Booklet with info about the show's 4th season. This pamphlet also contains photos, trivia, and a bio on Morey Amsterdam.
>> Easter Eggs .... There are six total "Eggs" to be found amongst these five discs (one per DVD, except Disc #5, which has two). Like the third-season DVD-on-DVD set, all of these Easter Eggs contain short "Nick At Nite" ads featuring "spokesman" Dick Van Dyke. You can find them in the "Chapter" Sub-Menus by "Left-Clicking" on a chapter title (usually the "Opening Titles" chapter, but not always). If there's an "Egg" there, the cursor will move to the upper-right corner of the screen, highlighting the picture (drawing) of Mr. Van Dyke. Pressing "Play" or "Enter" at this point will access the ads.
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Below is a complete Episode Guide for the 32 programs that can be found inside this sleek-looking, 5-Disc set of "The Dick Van Dyke Show: Season Four". This episode list reflects the order in which the programs are presented within this DVD collection (with one minor exception -- four of the seven eps. on Disc #2 are laid out slightly out of order on the disc).
The episodes are arranged in sequence by "Production Date" (the date of filming the show), which does not always necessarily match the "Air Date" chronology. The original CBS-TV air dates are listed in parenthesis. In addition, some episode details and humorous quotes have been sprinkled into the guide too......
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THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW -- SEASON #4 (1964-1965):
96. My Mother Can Beat Up My Father (First Aired: 9/23/1964) .... The Season-Four opener has Rob tangling with a stuffed monkey -- and losing the battle. .... "Boy, you're really dying to let me have it, aren't you Rob?!"
97. The Ghost Of A. Chantz (9/30/1964) .... This hilarious episode has the gang staying at a "haunted" cabin and having the collective daylights scared out of them. .... "A live ember in a dead bulb?!"
98. The Lady And The Baby Sitter (10/7/1964)
99. A Vigilante Ripped My Sports Coat (10/14/1964)
100. The Man From 'Emperor' (10/21/1964)
101. Romance, Roses And Rye Bread (10/28/1964)
102. 4-And-A-Half (11/4/1964) ** .... Don Rickles puts in a very funny appearance as "Lyle Francis Delp", a rather inept hold-up man, who robs the Petries in an elevator. .... "You mean you've held up people in elevators before?" --> "No, I held 'em up in front of a police station, dum-dum!" :)
103. The Alan Brady Show Goes To Jail (11/11/1964) **
104. Three Letters From One Wife (11/18/1964)
105. It Wouldn't Hurt Them To Give Us A Raise (12/2/1964) .... "Did you know that Alan Brady's mother-in-law pays the band?"
106. Pink Pills And Purple Parents (11/25/1964) .... This is one of the best shows from Season #4, as a few pink pills have Laura acting very strangely when she meets Rob's parents for the very first time. MTM is a riot in this one. .... "I think there's something wrong with that girl." --> "Well, could be. But she's worth straightening out." .... "One for moo-moo!" .... "Vivian Fogel is a fink!" :-) .... "Pink Pills" Footnote: This episode is mis-titled on the DVD (on both the packaging and the on-screen menus). For some reason, the makers of these discs seem to think the episode is called "Pink Pills FOR Purple PATIENTS". Strange.
107. The Death Of The Party (12/9/1964) .... Dick Van Dyke's considerable talents in physical comedy are on full display in this funny episode. Rob tries his best to hide the fact he's very sick the same night Laura is giving a family dinner party. .... "Al Jolson, the Jazz Singer!!!"
108. Stretch Petrie vs. Kid Schenk (12/30/1964)
109. The Impractical Joke (1/13/1965) .... Buddy enlists a friend (played perfectly by Lennie Weinrib) to play a funny phone gag on Rob. In the days that follow, Buddy is worried sick that a whopper of a joke is about to come his way in retaliation. He's right too -- but not from the person he expected. A great episode. .... "Sometimes the lead and terminal wires become unhooked, or 'loose', as we say." .... "Now there may be a little dust on your 'loud-soft'." :)
110. Brother, Can You Spare $2500? (1/6/1965) .... "Excuse me, is that the 'Louie Wexler' water fountain?" --> "I don't know; but ANYBODY can drink from it."
111. Stacey Petrie - Part 1 (1/20/1965) **
112...Read more›

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Pratfall-prone Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) and his plucky wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), along with wisecracking co-workers Sally (Rose Marie) and Buddy (Morey Amsterdam), captured America's hearts in this TV favorite that irresistibly combined wit and slapstick. EPISODES: My Two Showoffs and Me / My Mother Can Beat Up My Father / Ghost of A. Chantz / The Lady and the Babysitter / The Vigilante Ripped My Sports Coat / The Man from Emperor / Romance, Roses and Rye Bread / 4 ½ / The Alan Brady Show Goes to Jail / Three Letters from One Wife / It Wouldn't Hurt Them to Give Us a Raise / Pink Pills for Purple Patients / The Death of the Party / Stretch Petrie vs. Kid Schenk / The Impractical Joke / Brother, Can You Spare $2500? / Stacey Petrie # Part I / Stacey Petrie # Part II / The Redcoats Are Coming / Boy #1 Versus Boy #2 / The Case of the Pillow / Young Man with a Shoehorn / Girls Will Be Boys / Bupkiss / Your Home Sweet Home Is My Home / Not Now, Anthony Stone / Never Bathe on Saturday / 100 Terrible Hours / A Show of Hands / Baby fat / Br-room, Br-room / There's No Sale Like Wholesale

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The Dick Van Dyke Show - Season One (5 Disc Box Set) (1961) Review

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(More customer reviews)I just bought this set (along with Season 2) and can't say enough good things about it. First, when Image says the episodes are "restored" -- they mean it! Picture and sound quality are excellent. Next, these are the FULL-LENGTH episodes, completely unedited. The first episode I played had a scene in the middle of the show that I'd never seen before (not on TV Land, not on Nick at Nite, not in local syndication). Running time of each episode is at least 25 minutes & 30 seconds -- wow. Another episode I played even had the original network footage at the beginning, with Dick Van Dyke saying, "Welcome to our new time slot." Amazing. Then there are the bonus features -- audio commentaries (interesting ones!) and new interviews and original TV commercials and Emmy Awards footage and more. Finally, the packaging is very sleek and looks great. Do yourself a favor and buy this. Do ALL "Dick Van Dyke Show" fans a favor and buy it so that Image will release Seasons 3 through 5.

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Trip into the living room of comedy writer Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) along with his lovely wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), wisecracking coworkers and nutty neighbors.Winner of 15 Emmy Awards, this groundbreaking series is consistently ranked among the top TV comedies of all time and renowned for its topnotch cast and stellar writing.Now enjoy the first season's entire 30 episodes, each digitally remastered to its original full-length version.
30 episodes on 5 discs: The Sick Boy and the Sitter, The Meershatz Pipe, Jealousy, Sally and the Lab Technician, Washington vs. the Bunny, Oh How We Met the Night That We Danced, The Unwelcome Houseguest, Harrison B. Harding of Camp Crowder MO, My Blonde-Haired Brunette, Forty-Four Tickets, Tell or Not to Tell, Sally Is a Girl, Empress Carlotta's Necklace, Buddy Can You Spare a Job?, Who Owes Who What?, Sol and the Sponsor, The Curious Thing About Women, Punch Thy Neighbor, Where Did I Come From?, The Boarder Incident, A Word a Day, The Talented Neighborhood, Father of the Week, The Twizzle, One Angry Man, Where You Been Fassbinder?, The Bad Old Days, I Am My Brother's Keeper, The Sleeping Brother, The Return of Happy Spangler.

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