The Twilight Zone - Vol. 28 (1959) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Queen Of The Nile" is the best episode on this 3 story set.I always loved that one."Mute" is ok,but kind of weird actually.I never understood the sheriff character being so cold,and wooden.The teacher character was very,how can I put it....a saddist.Weird,weird,weird.The Car Salesman episode was only so,so,more goofy than anything else.All in all,a skimpy disc(Only 3 skits),but Queen Of The Nile was my favorite,and for $4.99 you can't beat the price at Amazon.com.

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Gunsmoke - The Second Season, Vol. 1 (1955) Review

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(More customer reviews)First these idiots release costly boxes with selected episodes from several seasons, most of them NOT among the best shows and largely chosen for their "big name" guest stars or directors.
Second, after soaking us for those minimalist sets, and waiting until several complete seasons of virtually all other 50s-60s TV Westerns have been released (like "Have Gun, Will Travel"), they FINALLY release the first season of "Gunsmoke," the very best TV Western and the only TV drama to run 20 consecutive years!
Third, they decide to release the second season in multiple installments! What are these characters thinking? No one's going to go for this greedy attempt to squeeze money from "Gunsmoke" fans.
Most of the first 4 seasons were released on DVD through the CBS Video Club years ago. Those of us who bought those DVDs are now being asked to buy the same thing again, in excruciatingly slow increments, and at jacked up prices.
Matt Dillon and his Dodge City friends deserve the most respectful and classy treatment possible. Instead, "Gunsmoke" is among the worst conceived DVD releases to date.
I'll stick with my bootleg DVDs - they may not be perfect, but I can afford them and all 20 years are there.


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Marshall Matt Dillon is responsible for keeping the law and respectability in Dodge City in this western action-drama. Gunsmoke captured the courage, character and spirit of the Western Frontier.

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The Addams Family - Volume 3 (1964) Review

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I so loved the Addams Family growing up. I will always consider the Addams Family America's True First Family no matter who is in the White House. This final season of the Addams Family is truly awesome. I really must give the studio responsible for releasing this series credit. Most studios tend to so completely over price these old vintage collectible gem's that most people pass them up as being way too expensive. Most folk find overpricing of old series an exploitation of the mostly older folk for whom these old TV shows hold the dearest memories.
Most people know that these series were made way back in the 1960's when the residual rights for actors ran out long ago. Even with the cleaning and other incidentals that come with re-releasing a series gone so long the often Huge Preniums most studios demand is outragouse.
NOT SO with this whole Addams Family 3 volume Set where the average per Volume price was kept to just over $20 each. With all the post production cleaning it takes to get a quality DVD set of an old series out of mothballs and ready to be enjoyed by future generations $20 is a pretty good deal!
The Addams Family are endlessly funny without being the least bit tasteless or vulgar. The mother and father are not disfunctional they are just plain straight up normal weird and what I wouldn't give for parents who loved their kids but who were just plain weird was their only quirk. The core message in the whole of the Addam's Family is Wierd is Beautiful because too often what society deems normal is too a prison of mind body hope and spirit. Normality is a good but too much of even a good thing is not best for all concerned thats the message I got from the Addam's Family growing up and it has served me well indeed!

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Topper Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this DVD, because I had a vague recollection that I had loved this television series as a child. I also have always had a great liking for the actor Leo G. Carroll. Moreover, the price of the DVD seemed to be a bargain.
Based upon the characters created by Thorne Smith in his best selling book of the same name, this television series followed on the heels of the success of the Topper films that were made for the silver screen. The television series was also a hit and ran for several years during the nineteen fifties. I am not surprised at its success, given the quality of some of the writing. A number of the episodes were written by Stephen Sondheim, who later went on to greater fame and fortune. Mr. Sondheim's involvement in the television series was something of which I was unaware, until I received the DVD.
The thrust of the story is that the dapper and elegant Cosmo Topper (Leo G. Carroll) is vice-president of a bank. He is married to the sweet but dim Henrietta (Lee Patrick). They live in a house that they bought from the estate of an unfortunate young couple, George and Marion Kirby (Robert Sterling and Anne Jeffreys), who died in a skiing accident after being swept away by an avalanche. Their St. Bernard, Neil, who was unable to rescue them, also died with them. To Cosmo's surprise, his house is haunted by their ghosts and that of their alcohol imbibing St. Bernard. The problem is that only he can see or hear them. This allows for a lot of funny episodes, as the Kirbys tend to complicate Cosmo's life. As soon as I heard the theme song for the series, I was transported back in time.
There are four episodes on the DVD. Everyone one of them is guaranteed to bring a smile to the viewer's face. The role of Topper was perfectly cast, as Leo G. Carroll makes a delightful Topper. Lee Patrick is darling as his well-meaning, sweet and silly wife. Anne Jeffreys is terrific as the beautiful Marion Kirby, and Robert Sterling is great as her freewheeling husband. Of course, our cocktail loving St. Bernard is wonderfully portrayed by Buck. Moreover, the sponsor for the series is Jello and several of the episodes include some of the original commercials, which certainly takes the viewer on a trip down memory lane and provides its own share of laughs.
In terms of the quality of the DVD, well, one gets what one pays for, as the quality of the DVD itself is dreadful. This DVD seems to have been made from an old, dirty print and not remastered or cleaned up in any way, shape, or form. At times, there is some very distracting background noise, as well as visuals that are somewhat grainy, at best. Still, notwithstanding that, I would buy this DVD again, simply because I love this series. While the quality of the DVD rates a two, at best, the content of the DVD rates a high five. I only wish that some television honcho would consider a remake of this wonderful television series.

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Legend of the Lone Ranger (1951) (1952) Review

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(More customer reviews)This (Black & White )video is in fact a combination of the first 3 TV episodes from Sept 1949 (Enter the Lone Ranger, The Lone Ranger fights on and the Lone Ranger's Triumph.
It is really for Lone Ranger fans of the fifties who can remember Moore and Silverheels in the TV role. One has to overlook some serious acting shortcomings because this was in the early days of T.V. Moore is careful to pronounce all his "ings" and every sentence seems carefully rehearsed. But then he "is" the Lone Ranger and our childhood hero. Tonto is as we remembered him - the loyal companion with an expressionless voice.
(The story line is as we have been told it many times but today's audience would be critical about how so much happened within a few days and the dialogue seems very primitive).
Some little things to notice - the Lone Ranger has only a one gun holster and Silver's saddle was not the silver saddle and martingale that was used later on.
The action is pretty good even if the acting isn't. Good horsemanship by Moore and Silverheels. The introduction is'nt the same as the TV series but when you see Moore at the beginning galloping along on Silver and the big letters THE LONE RANGER appear, you feel the lump in your throat.
My son bought this video for me as a Christmas gift and I have watched it 3 times. It runs for just over an hour. A must for all you Lone Ranger fans.Good value.

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

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(More customer reviews)Looking at the episodes in season three, I was astounded at how many of my all-time TAGS favorites are from this season (Convicts-at-Large, Man in a Hurry, The Mayberry Band, The Cow Thief, Aunt Bee's Medicine Man, Barney's First Car, A Wife for Andy, and Barney and the Governor). Man in a Hurry is consistently voted as the best TAGS episode by fans. This season also introduced audiences to: Helen Crump, Mayor Roy Stoner, the Darlings, Ernest T. Bass, Malcolm Merrieweather, and the Fun Girls. Here's all you get:
Opie's Rival: Opie is jealous of his father's courtship with a local nurse.
Andy and Opie-Bachelors: While Aunt Bee is away, Andy and Opie are looked after by Andy's girlfriend.
Mr. McBeevee: Andy is convinced that Opie's new friend is only imaginary. I never cared for this episode but it is usually ranked highly with TAGS fans. It shows Andy's faith in his son in that he believed him without the proof of seeing the man who lives in the trees and wears a shiny hat.
Andy's Rich Girlfriend: Barney gets Andy thinking that his rich girlfriend is out of his league.
Barney Mends a Broken Heart: After Andy has a fight with Peggy, Barney arranges a date for Andy and himself with the 'fun girls' from Mt. Pilot.
Andy and the New Mayor: Andy is being closely watched by Mayberry's new mayor Roy Stoner.
The Cow Thief: The mayor doesn't have faith in Andy and Barney to catch a cattle rustler. One of my favorite episodes. One of my favorite lines is when Andy teases Barney about the plaster casts: "I like to put a little eggwhite in mine."
Floyd, the Gay Deceiver: Floyd poses as a wealthy man to impress his pen pal.
The Mayberry Band: The mayor does not approve of the town marching band playing at the state capitol because they are so bad. Andy recruits Freddy Fleet and His Band With a Beat. One of my favorites. The Mayberry Band trying to rehearse "Stars and Stripes Forever" is one of the funniest moments in T.V. history!
Lawman Barney: Two farmers who are illegally selling vegetables in town show little respect for Barney or the law.
Convicts-at-Large: One of the best TAGS episodes of all time! Barney and Floyd are held hostage by three escaped female convicts. Has the best Floyd line: "Maude, Al, if those hamburgers are ruined, I won't be responsible."
The Bed Jacket: Aunt Bee has her heart set on Andy buying her a bed jacket for her birthday. Andy thinks his aunt would appreciate something more practical.
Barney and the Governor: Another favorite of mine. Barney tickets the governor's car and is afraid he will lose his job. Otis spikes the spring water and its soon "Happy New Year" for Barney and the Mayor. Great lines: "put that in his smike and poke it," "bless his heart."
Man in a Hurry: Consistently ranked number 1 by TAGS fans. Mayberry is seen through the eyes of a frustrated businessman whose car breaks down on a Sunday.
The Bank Job: Barney shows the local bank is far from burglar-proof.
One-Punch Opie: Opie's friends are influenced by a tough new kid..
High Noon in Mayberry: Andy is visited by a man he put behind bars. Barney is sure the man is out for revenge.
The Loaded Goat: A local goat has eaten some dynamite.
Class Reunion: At Barney and Andy's class reunion, Andy looks for his old girlfriend.
Rafe Hollister Sings: Farmer Rafe Hollister has the best voice to represent Mayberry in a singing contest but the mayor and his wife think he's too shabby for public display.
Opie and the Spoiled Kid: Opie is taught how to get a bigger allowance but finds out temper tantrums and breath-holding has no effect on Andy.
The Great Filling Station Robbery: Andy plays detective when Wally's garage is robbed.
Andy Discovers America: Andy criticizes Helen Crump's history teaching requirements.
Aunt Bee's Medicine Man: A traveling medicine man comes to Mayberry. Soon Aunt Bee is "feelin' no pain' and singing "China Town." One of the funniest episodes.
The Darlings Are Coming: First appearance of the Dillards. A betrothed mountain girl develops a crush on Andy.
Andy's English Valet: Englishman Malcolm Merrieweather works off a fine at Andy's house.
Barney's First Car: Barney buys a lemon from a sweet little old lady. Another favorite of mine.
The Rivals: Thelma Lou makes Barney jealous when she trues to help Opie get over a crush who is not interested in him.
A Wife for Andy: Barney plays matchmaker for Andy but disapproves of Helen Crump because she cannot cook "Andy's favorite dish."
Dogs, Dogs, Dogs: Dogs accumulate at the courthouse just when an inspector is supposed to arrive.
Mountain Wedding: Ernest T. Bass makes his intentions known to Charlene Darling.
The Big House: Barney's prisoners escape from "the rock."

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Gunsmoke - The First Season (1955) Review

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(More customer reviews)I applaud this release of the entire first season of Gunsmoke on DVD, and hope the remainder of the best TV western ever made will also be released.
Gunsmoke, the longest running western in TV history (or TV drama for that matter at 20 years and 635 episodes), is complex and textured, dealing with mature themes and unforgettable characters that became part of our culture. It was billed as the first `adult western.'
I grew up watching the series, which debuted in 1955 as a half-hour black and white show then progressed to an hour in its seventh season, and began being produced in color in 1966.
The original opening depicted the Marshall in a fast-draw gunfight against a villain he killed, but this was toned down years later after groups complained of violence. As a result, rather than seeing the villain fall dead, the camera instead stayed only on Dillon as he drew his `peacemaker.' In the 70's, the opening eliminated the gunfight altogether and depicted Dillon riding quickly across the range. In the 1960's, early episodes of the series were rebroadcast as `Marshall Dillon.'
The much-honored and beloved show went off the air in 1975. Thirty-nine glorious black and white half-hour shows comprise this incredible set.
Few need to be told what his western depicted: It's the story of Marshall Matt Dillon (played to perfection by James Arness) who tamed the lawless Dodge City, Kansas, in 1873. He did so not only with his six-shooter but with his courage, sense of honor, justice and irreproachable integrity behind the badge.
A radio show predated the TV series and aired from 1952 to 1961. The radio Marshall was voiced by William Conrad (who later portrayed the lead role of the portly private investigator `Cannon' in the 1970's.) When CBS decided to produce a TV series, Conrad wanted the role, but wasn't chosen because of his girth. The rumor that western icon John `Duke' Wayne was offered the pivotal role of Dillon, but he turned it down and instead recommended his good friend Arness, has largely been debunked.
In addition to Dillon, the core characters are Miss Kitty Russell (Amanda Blake), owner of the Longbranch Saloon and Matt's long-time love and lover; the crusty but sensitive Doctor Galen Adams (Milburn Stone); and Deputy Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver). Burt Reynolds also had a recurring role as Quint Asper from 1962-1965. Ken Curtis replaced Goode as `Matthew's' Deputy Festus Haggen, who portrayed the loveable deputy who couldn't read from 1959 through the end of the series. Gunsmith then deputy Newly O'Brien (portrayed by Buck Taylor) moved to Dodge City in 1967 and remained until the show went off the air. Pat Hingle portrayed hard-nosed Doctor John Chapman for six episodes in 1971 when Milburn Stone left briefly for health reasons.
Arness and Stone remained through the series entire 20-year run, while Blake brilliantly portrayed the red-headed Kitty for 19 seasons.
Weekly guest stars represented the cream of the acting crop for decades! Here's an example: Bette Davis, Victor French, Morgan Woodward, Jack Elam, Denver Pyle, Jeanette Nolan, Jim Davis, Warren Oates, Jacqueline Scott, George Kennedy, Ed Nelson, Michael Learned, Forrest Tucker, Paul Fix, Slim Pickens, Bruce Dern, Harry Morgan, Steve Forfest, Richard Kiley, Beverly Garland and Leonard Nimoy.
Here are the episodes included in this boxed set: Matt Gets It (Debut); Hot Spell; Word of Honor; Home Surgery; Obie Tater; Night Incident; Smoking Out the Nolans; Kite's Reward; The Hunter; The Queue; General Parcley Smith; Magnus; Reed Survives; Professor Lute Bone; No Handcuffs; Reward for Matt; Robin Hood; Yorky; 20-20; Reunion '78; Helping Hand; Tap Day for Kitty; Indian Scout; The Pest Hole; The Big Board; Hack Prine; Cooter; The Killer; Doc's Revenge; The Preacher; How to Die for Nothing; Dutch George; Prairie Happy; Chester's Mail Order Bride; The Guitar; Cara; Mr. and Mrs. Amber; Unmarked Grave; and Alarm and Pleasant Valley.


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Marshall Matt Dillon is responsible for keeping the law and respectability in Dodge City in this western action-drama.Gunsmoke captured the courage, character and spirit of the Western Frontier.

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Family Guy: Volume Two (Season Three) (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)It is an unfortunate fact that in the politically correct age we live in that edgy comedy is categorized as offensive when it is really just being silly. That is exactly what happened to "Family Guy" a series that laid siege to every one of our sacred cows (religion, sex, violence, race relations, etc.), but did so in such a matter of fact manner, I find it hard to believe that anyone could have taken issue with it. Nonetheless, the series is no more; fortunately, we have the DVD compilations featuring every episode in its uncut hilariousness.
Season Three comprises twenty-one episodes, one of which was never aired on television. Actually, "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein" exemplifies my point about political correctness, as its silly, even complimentary view of Judaism could offend only the most supremely sensitive person. But enough with the negative, as there are some genuinely hilarious episodes on these discs. Moreover, since Fox aired them somewhat sporadically during the final season, it's likely there are one or two episodes that will be new to the viewer. For example, I had never seen "A Very Special Family Guy Freakin' Christmas" or "Road to Europe" both of which feature some of the best parody in the set. Other highlights include "A Fish Out of Water" which features a spectacularly fat Peter, "To Love and Die in Dixie" which is the best "Family Guy" tribute to a TV series with its "Dukes of Hazard" inspired storyline, and "Family Guy Viewer Mail #1" which features three shorts that abandon all pretense of a basis in reality and produce some the best sight gags ever seen during the show's run.
That said, anyone who buys this set probably already knows how funny this show is, but what makes this collection really impressive is the quality of the extras. First off is the packaging itself which features an episode guide on the back of each case, which makes it easy to find that specific episode you're looking for. Or, if you've got more time, the ability to play every episode on the disc consecutively is a great feature. In addition, the commentary which is available on five of the episodes ranges from informative to hysterical. However, the true highlights are to be found on Disc 3, which contains animatics (pencil drawings) of several deleted scenes, complete with dialogue. These are nice not only because they contain new material, but also because they offer some insight into how the episodes evolved into their finished form. Next are two short documentaries, which offer a funny, interesting look into the series' development, the voice talent, how the characters evolved, and ultimately, why the show didn't last. Finally, there is the "Family Guy" pilot that was pitched to the network; again it's interesting to see how these relatively crudely drawn (but well voiced) characters evolved into the show that become such a cult hit.
Ultimately, if you are a big fan of the show, you need this collection, and nothing I say here is going to make you more likely to buy it. However, if you're sitting on the fence, I can't emphasize enough what a great show "Family Guy" is. It is literally funnier than anything on TV today, and over time, I expect it will be even more broadly appreciated for its comic genius. If you want to laugh until it hurts, and aren't offended by humor on the edge, this is definitely a show for you. Finally, I would just like to point out that Seth MacFarlane alludes to a line written for Stewie in an episode that never aired, so let's all hope that there may be yet more to come!
Enjoy!
Jake Mohlman

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Family Guy Volume 2 sees the return of America's most outrageous animated family with all 21 Season Three episodes, plus one never-before-seen episode - "When You Wish Upon A Weinstein" banned from TV, and only available in this collection!In this hilarious final volume, the Griffin family faces all-new dilemmas, including Brian's unintentional foray into directing porn, Stewie's rants on national TV, Meg's date with a nudist and Lois' Yuletide insanity. Meanwhile, Peter is surprised to discover Lois was once a groupie, and his son, Chris, is more "endowed" than he is.

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Adventures in Paradise Complete Collection, 65 Episodes 24 DVD's Review

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(More customer reviews)Out of 64 episodes, we had 3 that were poor quality. One was so dark it was unwatchable. Then 2 others were out of focus. We were nice and gave the sender 4 stars. It probably wasn't his/her fault. We don't want our money back. That has proven a mistake.

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The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series (1961) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're looking for a super-sensational, tantalizingly-terrific, and spectacularly-massive DVD set containing some of the greatest comedy moments in TV history, then look no further than this colossal 25-Disc DVD set containing every last episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show", the multiple Emmy Award-winning CBS-TV comedy series which ran from 1961 to 1966.
This Complete-Series mega DVD collection houses all five seasons of the very funny and perpetually-entertaining Van Dyke Show, encompassing 158 total episodes, all restored and remastered by Image Entertainment and Paul Brownstein Productions, with each episode exhibiting darn-near perfect video and audio quality. And every single episode is complete and unedited. Not a single second of any show has been cut out. Average running time per episode is a shade more than 25 minutes.
All 158 shows have been bundled together here to form one gigantic and money-saving 'Complete-Series' collection. Each of the twenty-five discs gets its own individual "ThinPak" (slimline) plastic case. Each case has unique and nicely-designed cover art (featuring a different publicity still photograph on every one of the 25 cases). Additional photos grace the back cover of each case, as well as more Van Dyke Show pictures (and a complete "Scene Selections" list for each of that platter's 6 or 7 episodes) on the inside of every case. (These plastic cases are the "clear" type, so you can read the "Scene" listing on the inside front covers right through the plastic.)
The back of each of these slim cases provides quick at-your-fingertips info about each show on that disc -- such as: Full episode titles; Film dates; Original CBS-TV air dates; Brief episode descriptions; Plus some crew credits ("Written by" and "Directed by" notations). The 158 episodes are arranged here by "Production" (or "Film Date") order, instead of an "Air Date" chronology.*
* = With one (very wise) exception being Episodes 157 and 158. "The Gunslinger" was actually the last (158th) Van Dyke episode to be filmed; with "The Last Chapter" being the final episode that was aired, in June 1966. So, for proper continuity sake, Image Entertainment has flipped the order of these two episodes on the last disc of Season #5 -- with "The Last Chapter" being presented as the final show of the series.
More Packaging Notes -- The 25 individually-cased discs in this Mega-Set are placed side-by-side inside a large outer "slipcase" box.
Image Entertainment distributed five separate season-by-season "Dick Van Dyke Show" DVD boxed sets in 2003 and 2004, with each of those five sets featuring a 5-Disc slipcase box. However, those individual seasonal slipcases from each of the previously-released Van Dyke seasons are NOT included in this Mega-Set.
Many, many supplemental bonus features are also included on these twenty-five Digital Discs, including: Audio Commentary tracks for many episodes, along with cast interviews, original TV commercials, Emmy Award snippets, documentaries, featurettes, photo galleries, behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage, Easter Eggs, trivia games, CBS-TV promos, and gobs of other little interesting extra tidbits besides! A 12-page booklet, packed with interesting info about the series, is also a part of this Dick Van Dyke Show bonanza too.
There are even full-length TV-show bonuses included on selected discs, including a complete episode of "The Danny Thomas Show" (which has Van Dyke Show character "Buddy Sorrell" popping up).
Other complete TV-show extras include the original "Pilot" episode for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (called "Head Of The Family"); plus a full-length 46-minute CBS-TV documentary made in the mid-1990s ("The Dick Van Dyke Show Remembered"); and an absolutely-outstanding and ultra-fun-to-watch TV game show entitled "Stump The Stars" (aka: "Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz"), which has several Van Dyke Show cast members playing a lively charades game. Great, great fun!
If you want to know the full details regarding each and every little bonus extra you can expect to find on these 25 discs, you can seek out my extensive reviews for each of the separate Van Dyke Show boxed sets here at Amazon.com. If you type in "VAN DYKE SHOW SEASON" while searching under "DVDs" here at Amazon, you'll get a convenient and handy search result that places links to all five of the Van Dyke seasonal sets on just one webpage for easy reference.
Pull out any one of these 25 discs and you'll have some great shows, including all of Rob Petrie's inimitable physical comedy bits -- not to mention Dick Van Dyke's unsurpassed ability to act out a "one-way telephone conversation" (which always amazes me when I see him do this -- and there are many such "telephone" moments during the series). Then, too, via this amazing boxed set, you'll also get every one of Laura Petrie's (Mary Tyler Moore) "crying jags", plus all the standout "Rob & Laura dancing and singing" scenes. And don't forget about all those "Buddy insults Mel" gags (which must number in the hundreds over the course of the series).
Just suffice it to say that I love this television program. .... Its humor is timeless. The characters seem "real" and "non-phony". And the writing is remarkable. And you'll be able to see why when you pop in any of these wonderfully-restored Digital Versatile Discs.
"THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW: THE COMPLETE SERIES" DVD collection is, without fear of argument, a "complete treasure".

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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 co-workers and nutty neighbors. Consistently ranked among the top TV comedies of all time and renowned for its top-notch cast and stellar writing, this groundbreaking series is now available in one special collectible box set, presented fully restored and uncut!All Episodes Digitally Remastered for Unsurpassed Video and Audio Quality!

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

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(More customer reviews)I have included a complete episode list for season five of "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Carl Reiner starred in several episodes as the hilariously conceited and egotistical Alan Brady, including the memorable "Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth" episode. This show is truly wonderful, and I eagerly anticipate the release of season five, even though the series' final episode was quite disappointing. It's still a great show!
128-"Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth" Laura blurts out a top secret on a national television game show: comedian Alan Brady wears a toupee.
129-"Uhny Uftz" Rob sees a flying saucer and tracks it to its lair: the office above his own.
130-"The Ugliest Dog in the World" Rob and Laura try to find a permanent home for an ugly little mutt from the dog pound.
131-"No Rice at My Wedding" Rob and Laura recall their courtship days, when Rob almost lost Laura to another man.
132-"Draw Me a Pear" Rob and Laura enroll in an art class, and the beautiful female instructor has designs on Rob.
133-"The Great Petrie Fortune" Rob's elderly uncle dies and leaves him an old desk and a riddle that supposedly contains the key to a fortune.
134-"Odd But True" The freckles on Rob's back are shaped like the Liberty Bell.
135-"Viva Petrie" Rob and Laura have an unusual houseguest, a bullfighter named Manuel who installs himself as a handyman. 136-"Go Tell the Birds and the Bees" When Richie spins a few fantastic stories for his friends, his parents wind up in the school psychologist's office.
137-"Body and Sol" Rob recalls the time he defended his title as middleweight champion of the Army camp.
138-"See Rob Write--Write, Rob, Write" Rob and Laura become rivals when each writes a story for children.
139-"You're Under Arrest" Rob goes out to cool off after a quarrel with Laura and winds up in trouble with the law.
140-"Fifty-two Forty-five or Work" Rob recalls the time he was out of work with a new home, no furniture, and a pregnant wife.
141-"Who Stole My Watch?" Rob loses his friends as well as his watch when the friends learn they're all under suspicion.
142-"Bad Reception in Albany" While out of town for a cousin's wedding, Rob has to locate a television set to watch a special show, creating confusingly hilarious results.
143-"I Do Not Choose to Run" Rob can't make up his mind when asked to be a candidate for the city council.
144-"The Making of a Councilman" Rob agrees to run for office but realizes he'd prefer to vote for his brainy opponent.
145-"The Curse of the Petrie People" Rob's parents give a family heirloom of hideous jewelry to Laura, who accidentally drops it in the garbage disposal.
146-"The Bottom of Mel Cooley's Heart" When Mel Cooley takes Rob's advice and stands up to Alan Brady, he is promptly fired.
147-"Remember the Alimony" Rob and Laura recall the time they filled in an application for a $10 divorce.
148-"Dear Sally Rogers" Sally advertises for a husband on a national television show as a gag and is flooded with fan mail.
149-"Buddy Sorrell--Man and Boy" Symptoms and evidence indicate that Buddy is either seeing a psychiatrist or having an affair, when in fact he is merely preparing for his belated Bar Mitzvah.
150-"Long Night's Journey Into Day" Laura spends a harrowing night alone in the house when the rest of the family goes off on a fishing trip.
151-"Talk to the Snail" Believing that comedian Alan Brady plans to cut down his writing staff, Rob applies for a job with a ventriloquist.
152-"A Day in the Life of Alan Brady" The Petries' anniversary party for the Helpers turns into a television documentary for Alan Brady.
153-"Obnoxious, Offensive, Egomaniac, Etc." Rob and his writers are in big trouble for adding insults to an Alan Brady script that is accidentally delivered to Alan's office.
154-"The Man From My Uncle" The Petrie home becomes a command post when government agents put a neighbor's home under surveillance.
155-"You Ought to Be in Pictures" Rob is cast opposite a gorgeous Italian actress in a low-budget film and turns out to be the screen's worst lover.
156-"Love Thy Other Neighbor" Rob and Laura are dismayed by Millie Helper's jealousy of their new neighbors.
157-"The Last Chapter" Rob's autobiography conjures up scenes from the past and leads Alan Brady to buy the book for a television series.
158-"The Gunslinger" The Petries and their friends are transported to the Wild West when Rob dreams he is a frontier sheriff.
Note: These episode descriptions and more for the other four seasons can be found on www.dickvandykeshow.com.

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Gunsmoke-Season 3 Vol. 2 (1958) Review

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(More customer reviews)Gunsmoke Season 3 Vol 2 will be released on May 26th 2009. It will be about a 523 minutes running time, Full screen,Englsih mono audio 3 disc set with the remaining 20 episodes of Season 3 of Gunsmoke. These episodes are:
1. Claustrophobia
2. Ma Tennis
3. Sunday Supplement
4. Wild West
5. The Cabin
6. Dirt
7. Dooly Surrenders
8. Joke's on us
9. Bottleman
10.Laughing Gas
11.Texas Cowboys
12.Amy's Good Deed
13.Hanging Man
14.Innocent Broad
15.The Big Con
16.Widow's Mite
17.Chester's Hanging
18.Carmen
19.Overland Express
20.The Gentlemen
After posting this review last month, I have been reading the other reviews and have noticed that many are giving these DVD's one or two stars due to the releases of Gunsmoke being split seasons. That is nonsense! I would rather have split seasons of Gunsmoke on DVD rather then no seasons of Gunsmoke on DVD!. Yes, I would love to have them released as full seasons, but that is not going to happen and I'm fine with that since I know I and millons of other Gunsmoke fans are lucky enough to have Gunsmoke being released on DVD in the first place. Keep up the complaints and CBS/Paramount might just say enough and stop with the releases. Just accept them the way they are being released and enjoy them! (Oh and as for the reviewer saying that they messed up Season 2 vol. 1 and we are paying for the mess up, that is bull. I have that season along the with the rest of the sets that were released and Vol. 1 of season 2 as well as the other sets have no such problems. All episodes are all there and are in order!)
5-3-2009: I have just found out thanks to another reviewer, who pointed out what to look for, that there is a mess up on Season two, volume 1. One episode "How to cure a friend" was replaced with "How to kill a friend" I apologize for not seeing it in the first place and saying that there was no mistake. I still give Gunsmoke and each season volume set that has been released five stars despite this very small mess up and I still say that people should not give it a one or two star ratings due to it being split seasons and they should just stop complaining. All the season sets released are great to watch and I am looking foward to buying season 3 vol. 2 in about three weeks.

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Adventures of Superman: The Complete Second Season (1953) Review

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(More customer reviews)"The Adventures of Superman - The Complete Second Season" is an essential for fans of the original series, it's star, the unforgettable George Reeves, and anyone who would enjoy seeing a series 'at the top of it's game', when it was a genuine national phenomena!
The back story is truly amazing; the first season, filmed in 1951, had taken two full years to finally reach the entire country (television, at that time, was still in it's infancy, and just beginning to spread throughout the nation, as the FCC issued licenses for new stations, from coast to coast). "The Adventures of Superman", syndicated and sponsored by Kellogg's, was a fresh, exciting series that many of the new stations picked up to help promote themselves, and sell televisions...and the series began an astonishing climb to a level of popularity that no one involved had ever anticipated.
Certainly, none of the cast was prepared for what happened; in the two-year hiatus, Phyllis Coates, the 'Lois Lane' of the first season, assuming the series was finished, took on other acting assignments, and was no longer available when the call went out for the second season to be filmed (her role was filled by the 'Lois Lane' of the 40s movie serials, Noel Neill, 33, who saw the role toned down considerably from the aggressive, feisty newspaperwoman of the first season). Jack Larson, 20, who had felt misgivings about the role of Jimmy Olsen from the beginning (only agreeing to the part when his agent joked that "nobody will ever see it, anyway") discovered himself typecast in the role, and his privacy lost...a situation even more acute for the series' star, George Reeves, now 39. During the series' hiatus, he had gotten a juicy supporting role in the blockbuster, "From Here to Eternity", only to see the role edited down to an unbilled cameo, as the producers feared a film featuring 'Superman' would lose it's impact as a 'serious' film. Reeves would only appear in three feature films during the series' entire run, and one film, afterward, all in supporting roles...with no film work at all, the last three years of his life...which provided 'motive' that his 1959 death was suicide (despite evidence of foul play).
Knowing what the future held for Reeves makes the second season of AOS a bittersweet experience, as he is so wonderful in the role! Still youthfully handsome, he projects even more confidence and ease than he had in the first season, and was far more 'kid friendly', as his fight scenes were toned down (as was all the violence, as Kellogg's responded to parents' concerns). With the national Superman 'craze' in full swing, he took special pains to remind children that "only Superman can fly", and his portrayal of the Man of Steel reflected his increasing sense of responsibility of being a good role model to a generation of children who adored him.
If the series lacked it's earlier grittiness, the second season offered spectacular compensations, especially in "Panic In the Sky", the most famous and popular episode of the entire series. As a huge asteroid plunges toward Earth, Superman launches himself into space, in a last-ditch effort to save the planet. Slamming into the gigantic rock head-on, all he can accomplish is to change it's course, temporarily...while being knocked into a state of amnesia by the encounter! With Earth's destruction imminent, can Superman regain his memory in time...AND find a way to stop it? Despite some primitive FX, the episode is STILL riveting, after a half-century!
This is DEFINITELY a 'Must-Have' collection!


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Studio: Warner Home VideoRelease Date: 01/17/2006Run time: 683 minutes

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Adventures in Paradise Volume 1, 24 Episodes 8 DVD's Review

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(More customer reviews)I gave this set of Adventures In Paradise 2 stars only because it is a hard to find series and so having it is better than not having it at all BUT the quality deserves 1 star only. The video has not been restored at all and the audio is low and scratchy in many of the episodes. Also, the episodes are not even in chronological order! You watch an episode from season two then one from a previous season and the mix up goes on and on. That makes no sense to someone who wants to see the series from the beginning in the original broadcast order. Is that too much to ask for??
A classic, well respected series such as Adventures In Paradise deserves better. Hopefully, someone someday will release a professionally restored version of this great series. In the meantime, unless you are a die hard fan, pass up this particular set.

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Cimarron City Review

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(More customer reviews)If you asked fans of old TV western series to recall the names of 5 or even 10 series from the heyday of the era in the late 50's ,early 60's it is unlikely thatCimarron City would be one of those mentioned. Not because it was bad series, more likely because it ran only one season of 26 episodes at a time when the airwaves were dominated by over 20 westerns per week. It is also sometimes confused with the later Stuart Whitman series `Cimarron Strip'
Surprising, but welcome therefore, that Timeless Media have released a dozen of those episodes along with several other western series recently.
Cimarron City appeared in the 50 minute format from 1958/60. Starring George Montgomery, an excellent western hero from many features in the late 40's/50's.
It was a `Mont Production' indicating Montgomery had a hand in the production.
Montgomery played Matt Rockford cattle rancher & mayor of Cimarron City in the 1890's. His father had been the founder of the town & Rockford was anxious for it to grow & prosper. Also in the regular cast were Audrey Totter as hotel owner Beth Purcell & John Smith (later star of Laramie) as Deputy Sheriff Lane Temple. Also appearing was Dan Blocker of Bonanza fame who had a recurring role as Tiny Buddinger, a townsman & slight comic relief. Curiously in an early episode Blocker played a villain of the same name.Montgomery does not appear in every episode.
Cimarron City was very much an adult western. relying on strong plotlines & characterisation rather than fights, chases & gunplay. Numerous guest stars included Fred MacMurray in the pilot (sadly not included in this set) the always menacing Dan Duryea, Elizabeth Montgomery, Dorothy Provine & J Carrol Naish. Seasoned western aficionados will also spot Don Megowan & the ever sneering Robert Wilke in familiar roles. Interesting plots include the tracking of a mysterious beast & the outbreak of bubonic plague, along with the usual western fare.
The episodes in this set comprise
2Terror Town
3 To Become a Man
5 Medicine Man
6 Hired Hand
8Beast of the Cimarron
10The Bloodline
13The Bitter Lesson
18Beauty & the Sorrow
19 Return of the Dead
22The Ratman
23Have Sword, Will Duel
26The Evil One It appears that the deal struck between Timeless Media & NBC relates only to the `rights' to issue these series, not the supply of original prints which apparently are very costly to remaster. Accordingly Timeless have to track down their own prints which seem to come from 16mm sources. They do seem to have found some decent masters here & although they are not as sharp & detailed as studio prints, are still quite clean & clear. Do not expect the same quality obtainable from some other black & white series such as `Gunsmoke' or `Rawhide' currently available from Paramount. There are the odd flecks & scratches & they are not as `sharp as some but perfectly watchable. Sound seems fine & quite distinct.
There are 3 discs (4 episodes per disc), each in its own case in an outer slip case.
If you prefer the `Roy Rogers' style western with lots of action then these may disappoint, on the other hand if you like `Gunsmoke' with its more involved storylines then I'm sure this will appeal. I think TV western fans familiar with the genre should enjoy.
I was unsure whether to award 4 or 5 stars, based on the print quality, but all things considered & knowing the problems involved I have given it 5. It is pleasing that Timeless have released Cimarron City as the major studios would never consider it & it is probably the only opportunity we will get to revisit some of these vintage shows.


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Guns, Germs, and Steel (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)First, if you taped this documentary off of PBS, keep your tape as the "extras" here are little more than a few facts spiffed up graphically over a world map.
Diamond's thesis in "Guns, Germs, and Steel" is that geography, which governs climate which, in turn, governs indigenous species, is the reason for the unequal distribution of wealth in the world today. In short, Diamond is focused on why the Europeans conquered so much of the world.
There are 3 one-hour episodes in this series. The first is concerned with why agriculture took hold in parts of the world and hints at the benefits it bestowed in developing large, complex societies. The second episode is concerned with how these large complex (European) societies were able to develop weapons (guns and steel) to conquer much of the rest of the world. Germs were an unintended weapon against indigenous people that may have been the most beneficial. The last installment is concerned with another way to test the "guns, germs, and steel" hypothesis using the European march into Africa as test material. Here, climate (created by geography) creates indigenous germs that the Europeans can't handle. Nevertheless, guns and steel (apparently) still win the day.
This documentary is a reasonable, though somewhat superficial, overview of Diamond's thesis. The problem is, however, that it is somewhat glib and fails to get to the "Ken Burns" gold standard. There is much repetition of the "guns, germs, and steel" theme from episode to episode so that, even within the 3 hours, there should have been room to hint at some speculation on simple questions that the thesis itself invites. For example, there is essentially no mention of China (except the standard reference to gunpowder being developed there). If China had a complex civilization, why did they end up in isolation? It is never mentioned, for example, *why* the Chinese, having developed gunpowder never used it in conquest. (The neglect of China is particularly interesting as Diamond does deal with some of these issues in his book.) Another example is the tropic climate theme: the Americas had a tropical climate as well, complete with tropical germs and yet that did not slow the spread of European conquests there. Finally, geography is presented on a primarily 2-dimensional world map scale, not accounting for crucial issues like climate changes at altitude or rapid transportation as a result of internal rivers within a continent.
Lastly, while this is really Diamond's show, it would have been valuable to have a few scholarly, dissenting opinions on why Diamond's theories haven't been universally embraced. As it is, the documentary presents the "guns, germs, and steel" theory so forcefully, one is left to wonder why it took 30 years for someone as smart as Diamond to come up with a set of seemingly simple ideas. The elegance of Diamond's theory is precisely because it shows how simple issues relate to the complexities of human history, but the documentary completely neglects competing ideas in this arena (and there are many).
It's nice that National Geographic is introducing these provocative ideas to the public at large, it's just a shame that such weighty material didn't produce a deeper program.

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Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book and national best seller, Guns, Germs, and Steel is an epic detective story that offers a gripping expose on why the world is so unequal. Professor Jared Diamond traveled the globe for over 30 years trying to answer the biggest question of world history. Why is the world so unequal? The answers he found were simple yet extraordinary. Our destiny depends on geography and access to: Guns, Germs, and Steel. Weaving together anthropology and science with epic historical reenactments, Guns, Germs, and Steel brings Diamond's fascinating theories to life, and moves beyond the book to bring his ideas into the present day.

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I Love Lucy - Season One (Vol. 2) (1951) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have watched "I Love Lucy" in syndication for many, many years; but I have never seen the episodes with as much clarity, and restoration as provided on this DVD, and I have seen every single episode multiple times!
Since broadcast TV and cable TV (especially broadcast) are prone to noise, watching "I Love Lucy" on DVD is probably the clearest it has ever been seen, except for audience members who watched the show taped live in the 1950's. Also, broadcast & cable TV stations never show the episodes in their entirety anymore, since they cut scenes in order to make more time for commercials. With this 2nd Volume DVD, you can watch 4 episodes from the first season ("Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying To Murder Her," "The Quiz Show," "The Audition," and "The Seance") commercial-free, completely clear and completely restored!
One of the many bonuses on this DVD is being able to have the bloopers from each episode highlighted, and I hadn't noticed many of them before since I was usually too busy laughing! Another added bonus is being able to hear Lucille Ball on the radio-show "My Favorite Husband" with the actor Richard Denning, that she did prior "I Love Lucy", which I had never heard prior to purchasing this DVD and Volume 2 contains 2 radio-show episodes. Other bonus material includes guest actor information, still photos taken during filming, lost scenes, and the original show introduction!
Before purchasing this DVD, I had some misgivings because I didn't know if it would be worth owning since I have seen all of the "I Love Lucy" episodes so many times; but after watching it (and Volume 1), I was more than pleased and I now plan to purchase the rest of the DVD's for the entire series!
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz may have had their problems in real life, but their comic performances in "I Love Lucy" (as well as the performances of Vivian Vance and William Frawley) have brought billions of people to laughter the world over!
I am so glad that purchased this DVD, as well as Volume 1, and I plan to purchase the other volumes as they become available. My one and only complaint is that entire seasons are not being offered in boxed sets, but that won't prevent me from getting the other volumes.

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I LOVE LUCY:SEASON ONE VOL 2 - DVD Movie

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