Description

"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. ... Read more

Reviews (56)

"Lamont, you big dummy!"
Complete first season of the hilarious sitcom about a 65 year old junk dealer, Fred Sanford(Redd Foxx), and his son/partner, Lamont (Demond Wilson) is a classic. The same people (Norman Lear, Bud Yorkin, etc.) who dominated 1970s television comedy by bringing us All in the Family (1971), Maude (1972), Good Times (1974), and The Jeffersons (1975) also did Sanford and Son (1972). Sanford & Son does not play much on TV anymore, so if you havent had the pleasure of seeing it, but are a fan of any of the previously listed shows I highly recommend it. Redd Foxx was a comedic genius and this show features his best work. This DVD set will feature the first 14 episodes (Jan - April 1972), here are the titles:

01) Crossed Swords
02) Happy Birthday, Pop
03) Here comes the bride, there goes the bride
04) The copper caper
05) A matter of life and breath
06) We were robbed
07) A pad for Lamont
08) The great Sanford Siege
09) Coffins for sale
10) The Barracuda
11) TV or not TV
12) The suitcase case
13) The return of the Barracuda
14) The piano movers

Also recommended:
All in the Family: Complete first season 3 dvd set (13 episodes)
The Jeffersons: Complete first season 2 dvd set (13 episodes)

Here Comes The Big One
This first season of Sanford and Son is the best! The episodes are hysterical, with Fred up to his usual old tricks, and Lamont being a big dummy. Get this and enjoy a good laugh.

My all time favorite.
This is the season that changed the face of television. No longer were african-americans placed in the supporting role as Redd Foxx marched the show to the top of the charts with his antics. "Five across your lips" and "This is the big one" soon became household punchlines. Never before has a show impacted television as this program demonstrated life from the ghetto and how people, regardless of race, are really all the same!!!!

i love the 70's
great show. Lamount was annoying with a funny dad who owns a junkyard in california. enjoy the good and bad times of their life

the comedic stylings of Redd Foxx
"Sanford and Son" was an American version of a British show "Steptoe and Son." The premise is the antics of junkman Fred Sanford and his son Lamont. Most of the episodes in the first season were basically adaptations of "Steptoe and Son" episodes.

Nevertheless, you get the entire first season here and it's worth every penny. Obviously, this show was ahead of its time and un p.c. as well. One significant plus with this first season is that you will get each episode in its entirety. TV Land obviously has to edit out certain parts (ie Fred using the N word)for today's audiences.

You also see the evolution of Fred and Lamont, along with Fred's buddy Melvin(played by longtime Redd Foxx partner Slappy White), and see early nemesis' of Fred like Aunt Hazel (Esther didn't appear until season two). All of the episodes are excellent, with my favorites being "Piano Movers", "Happy Birthday, Pop" "We Were Robbed", and "Color TV."

I can't emphasise how important this show was in the realm of pop culture and some of the issues tackled are still relevant today. Nothing like this will ever hit the airwaves again. Pick up the Season 2 and 3 sets as well. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Classic
This is a classic series. I never get tired of watching. My kids love them. Hours of entertainment I never tire of watching.

Redd Foxx is the GREATEST!!!
One thing I could always be sure of no matter what was happening in my life or what I might have been going through, "Sanford and Son" was a sure bet to snap me out of it and make me laugh so hard no matter how many times I had ever seen any particular episode. Foxx was a comic genius with delivery and timing that was unequaled.

Being somewhat of a "Sanford and Son purist", I have to say that I prefer the first three years of the show to the others. It wasn't that Redd Foxx was any less funny in later years, but sometimes the plotlines left something to be desired. Having said that, I would rather watch ANY episode of "Sanford and Son" from any season than much of what passes for comedy today.

What some people may not know is that when you get these DVD's you will get to see the complete, uncut, thirty minute episodes. On television reruns, there is always at least 5-7 minutes cut out of any episode. So if you think you have seen all of "Sanford and Son" you will be pleasantly surprised to see even more hilarious footage that you may never have seen before.

Get these-you won't be disappointed.

Totally Awesome shows to watch over & over again.
Awesome show. Redd Foxx is hilarious to watch over & over again.
Well worth it to have in your own collection.

Favorite show of all time
A definite classic masterpiece that should be in everyone's collection especially since it's not on TV

Go Ahead, you know you want to...
I was watching Sanford and Son on cable the other day, and was surprised to find that they had actually edited the episode that they were showing to remove what are now considered "Politically Incorrect" words or statements. The thought police run amok. If like me, you don't like the thought of someone trying to rewrite or erase a part of history, no matter how distasteful they may now consider it to be, then do yourself a favor and get these dvd's. I bought them separately and paid almost twenty five dollars more that this package deal costs, so it is indeed a bargain. I can't wait for the next season to be released. Get them before someone decides to edit these as well!!! ... Read more

Description

Sample some of the greatest comedy ever aired on television with this side-splitting collection of the best episodes from the legendary, Emmy Award-winning Dick Van Dyke Show! Episodes include: Oh How We Met the Night That We Danced, My Blonde-Haired Brunette, 4*, The Alan Brady Show Goes to Jail. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Laura's Funniest Crying Jag; Don Rickles' 2-Parter; & More!
Are you ready for 4 more funny programs with the Petries and assorted neighbors and friends? If so, this 4th installment of "The Best Of The Dick Van Dyke Show" won't disappoint you.

The four episodes housed on this digital disc are ............

1.) "Oh How We Met The Night That We Danced" (From Season 1; Air Date: 10/31/1961).

2.) "My Blonde-Haired Brunette" (From Season 1; Air Date: 10/10/1961).

3.) "4-And-A-Half" (From Season 4; Air Date: 11/04/1964).

4.) "The Alan Brady Show Goes To Jail" (From Season 4; Air Date: 11/11/1964).

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The video and audio shine brightly on this 4-episode "Best Of" disc! The black-and-white images are crystal-clear, with very little "noise" or other video distractions.

Menus: An "episode" menu comes on screen right away. There are separate "Chapter" listings for each of the four shows on the disc. A "Play All" feature is also included on this disc.

In addition -- A few special bonus features are also present here. ..... TV footage from the Emmy Awards, cast interviews, and a nifty bonus featuring Dick Van Dyke singing the show's theme song. Plus -- A "Meet The Cast" section of text "bios" and "The Ottoman Tripper" (a cool trivia game that features a funny video clip after answering the quiz question).

Here are some more details about this disc ...............

Subtitles -- None included.
Video -- Full Frame (Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1).
Audio -- 2.0 Dolby Digital Mono (English).
Paper Insert? -- Yes.
Packaging -- Keep Case.
DVD Region Code -- "Zero". ... Read more

Description

Sample some of the greatest comedy ever aired on television with this side-splitting collection of the best episodes from the legendary, Emmy Award-winning Dick Van Dyke Show! Episodes include: 100 Terrible Hours, Uhny Uftz, Never Bathe on Saturday, The Secret Life of Buddy and Sally. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Volume 3 -- Yep, It's Another Winning DvD Compilation!
Volume #3 in Image's "The Best Of The Dick Van Dyke Show" series of five single-disc DVDs digitally dishes up four more hilarious offerings from this landmark TV sitcom, which ran on CBS from 1961 to 1966.

Included amongst this disc's episodes is "Never Bathe On Saturday", which is one of the funniest episodes of any comedy series ever (in my humble opinion that is). :)

Here's this volume's list of programs (with air-date information) ..........

1.) "One Hundred Terrible Hours" (From Season 4; Air Date: 05/05/1965).

2.) "Uhny Uftz" (From Season 5; Air Date: 09/29/1965).

3.) "Never Bathe On Saturday" (From Season 4; Air Date: 03/31/1965).

4.) "The Secret Life Of Buddy And Sally" (From Season 2; Air Date: 11/28/1962).

---------------------------

A nice, funny assortment of Van Dyke Show entries indeed. These value-priced 4-episode "Best Of" discs are great for the Dick Van Dyke fan who doesn't want to necessarily collect *every* single episode via the also-available complete-season compilations offered through Image Entertainment.

These "Best Of" DVDs also contain some supplemental material, which is a pleasant surprise. Some interview footage is included here, as well as a short clip from another TV series starring Dick Van Dyke, "Diagnosis Murder", which has a "Van Dyke Show" tie-in.

Two additional "mini" extras on the disc are: "Meet The Cast" (text-only "biography" feature) and "The Ottoman Tripper" (trivia game).

Some more details & specs regarding this Best-Of volume:

"Play All Episodes" Option? -- Yes.
Subtitles? -- No.
Video Ratio -- Full Frame (1.33:1).
Audio -- 2-Channel Dolby Digital Mono (English).
Is There A Paper Insert? -- Yes.
Packaging -- Keep Case.
DVD Region Code -- "Zero".

If you get all 5 "Best Of" volumes, you'll have 20 of the finest sitcom episodes ever made. However, be forewarned --- purchasing these single-disc volumes will more-than-likely lead to the "I Want 'Em All" Syndrome. It's bound to happen after watching some of these well-written Van Dyke programs! You can try to resist buying them all (via the season sets), but it might prove futile. After all, a Van Dyke Show fan is only human ... right? :-) ... Read more

Description

Sample some of the greatest comedy ever aired on television with this side-splitting collection of the best episodes from the legendary, Emmy Award-winning Dick Van Dyke Show! Episodes include: What's in a Middle Name?, The Curious Thing about Women, All About Eavesdropping, One Angry Man. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Volume 5 Gives Us "Rosebud", A Boat In The House, And More!
Here come four additional "Dick Van Dyke Show" episodes for your edification and scrutiny. And you won't be disappointed. As with the other 4 volumes in this series of "The Best Of The Dick Van Dyke Show" from Image Entertainment, Inc., this fifth installment provides four excellent programs from the endearing TV situation comedy from the 1960s, plus a few bonus features tossed in for good measure.

Here are the episodes you'll see in Volume #5 ................

1.) "What's In A Middle Name?" (From Season 2; Air Date: 11/07/1962).

2.) "The Curious Thing About Women" (From Season 1; Air Date: 01/10/1962).

3.) "All About Eavesdropping" (From Season 2; Air Date: 10/23/1963). **

4.) "One Angry Man" (From Season 1; Air Date: 03/07/1962).

** = This episode is included in the "Season Two" boxed set from Image; but it actually aired during Season 3. It, however, was filmed at the end of the show's season-two production schedule. And, since the Image boxed sets of the series are arranged by "Production Order", it means "All About Eavesdropping" is included in the Season Two collection.

--------------------------

Picture quality reigns supreme on these re-mastered DVD versions of these Van Dyke episodes, and a more-than-adequate audio signal is achieved via the disc's 2-channel Dolby Digital soundtracks (in original Mono).

Bonus Material ...... "Rehearsal Footage" and Emmy Awards footage. A "Play All" feature is also included, along with a text "bio" section ("Meet The Cast") and a short trivia game called "The Ottoman Tripper".

Plus -- There's an additional bonus hiding as an "Easter Egg" on this disc. It's an original TV commercial for "Kent Cigarettes", featuring Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke on the set of the Van Dyke Show. To get to the Egg, go to the Chapter Menu for the episode "What's In A Middle Name?", and "Left Click" while the "Opening Titles" chapter is highlighted. This will take you directly to the hidden TV commercial, without another remote-control keystroke required.

More disc information .................

Video -- Full Frame (1.33:1).
Audio -- English Dolby Digital Mono.
Subtitles? -- No.
Paper Insert? -- Yes.
DVD Region Code -- "Zero".
Packaging -- Keep Case.

These four episodes are all winners in my DvD book. You'll find out why Ritchie's middle name is "Rosebud"; you'll see Laura's "curiosity" produce some hilarious results; and in the classic "Eavesdropping" episode, you'll see the funniest game of "charades" ever filmed! ... Read more

Description

Sample some of the greatest comedy ever aired on television with this side-splitting collection of the best episodes from the legendary, Emmy Award-winning Dick Van Dyke Show! Episodes include: The Sick Boy and the Sitter, Big Max Calvada, Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth, Dear Sally Rogers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

4 Banner Episodes, Including The First Show! Plus The Pilot!
Image Entertainment has produced five single-disc "Best Of" volumes of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" for fans of this timeless 1960s situation comedy who might not want to dive head-first into the more costly full-season DVD boxed sets.

Each one of these five separately-available DVDs contains four Van Dyke Show episodes. Now we all know that these type of "Best Of" dealies are not going to please everybody. Each fan has his or her own "favorites" list. However, in the case of "The Dick Van Dyke Show", it'd be hard to get a "bad apple", in my opinion. Nearly *all* of the 158 episodes during the program's 5-year duration on the air are "favorites" as far as I'm concerned. Overall, I think fans of the show should be pleased with the episodes that Image has selected from the Van Dyke Show archives for these five "Best Of" DVD-Video discs.

This first volume has the following episodes ...........

1.) "The Sick Boy And The Sitter" (From Season 1 [Premiere Episode]; Air Date: 10/03/1961).

2.) "Big Max Calvada" (From Season 3; Air Date: 11/20/1963).

3.) "Coast-To-Coast Big Mouth" (From Season 5; Air Date: 09/15/1965).

4.) "Dear Sally Rogers" (From Season 5; Air Date: 02/23/1966).

---------------------------

Picture quality is virtually perfect for all the above episodes, thanks to the great-looking Film-to-DVD transfers used by Image and Paul Brownstein Productions.

There's even a batch of "Bonus" features on each of these "Best Of" volumes, making these value-priced discs even a better bargain! ..... Extra bonuses for Volume 1 include the complete "Pilot" episode for "The Dick Van Dyke Show", called "Head Of The Family" -- which stars Carl Reiner as Rob Petrie. There are also some interview clips with members of the cast and crew, plus a video clip (in color) from the 1966 Emmy Awards telecast.

Plus: There's a text "bio" feature ("Meet The Cast"), along with a trivia game ("The Ottoman Tripper"). In addition, this disc contains a "Play All" option, for continuous playing of all four episodes back-to-back.

More data about this DVD..............

DVD Region Code -- "Zero".
Subtitles -- None.
Aspect Ratio -- Full Frame (1.33:1).
Audio -- Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (English only).
Insert? -- Yes.
Packaging -- Keep Case.

So, if you have a hankerin' to watch Rob & Laura and the rest of the gang from "The Dick Van Dyke Show", but don't want to invest in the full-season sets, then pick up one or two (or better yet, all five!) of these nicely-done discs featuring "The Best Of The Dick Van Dyke Show"! ... Read more

Description

Sample some of the greatest comedy ever aired on television with this side-splitting collection of the best episodes from the legendary, Emmy Award-winning Dick Van Dyke Show! Episodes include: Where Did I Come From?, That's My Boy?, It May Look Like a Walnut, October Eve. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

"Best Of" Volume 2 = Walnuts, Baby Confusion, And Flashbacks
This second volume in Image Entertainment's "Best Of" series of DVDs serves up four more memorable episodes from one of the greatest TV shows of all-time: "The Dick Van Dyke Show".

Watch the following four eps. in glorious restored and re-mastered Digital clarity ..........

1.) "Where Did I Come From?" (From Season 1; Air Date: 01/03/1962).

2.) "That's My Boy??" (From Season 3; Air Date: 09/25/1963).

3.) "It May Look Like A Walnut" (From Season 2; Air Date: 02/06/1963).

4.) "October Eve" (From Season 3; Air Date: 04/08/1964).

--------------------------

These four episodes are, without fear of (much) argument, four of the all-time best that this great 1960s TV series has to offer. Each one resides in the "classic" drawer, IMO.

Image has even seen fit to include some bonus material here, which consists of: An Emmy Awards video clip; cast interview snippets; a 23-minute "Making Of" featurette focusing on the "Walnut" episode; a "Meet The Cast" section (which consists of text-only "mini-bios" for the cast members); and a cute extra called "The Ottoman Tripper", which is a 1-question trivia game. If you select the wrong answer to the question, you're taken to a film clip from the opening titles of the show where Rob trips over the living-room ottoman. A correct guess affords you a clip of Rob sidestepping the ottoman. A "Play All" option is also included.

NOTE: On Image's season boxed sets, three of these four episodes have Audio Commentary Tracks (all except the "Walnut" ep.). However, those star commentaries have *not* been included for this single-disc version of these episodes. So, if you want to hear any Commentary Tracks, you'll have to get the full-season sets.

Video quality is outstanding for these shows, with the Dolby Digital sound garnering equal praise.

Some additional info regarding this disc .............

Video Aspect Ratio -- 1.33:1 (Full Frame).
Audio -- DD 2.0 English Mono.
Subtitles? -- No.
DVD Region Code -- "Zero".
Insert Included? -- Yes.
Packaging -- Keep Case.

It's oh so very hard to pick a "Best" among these excellent "Best Of" volumes that Image Entertainment has released for fans of the show who want to collect just *some* of the great shows from Dick Van Dyke's series. But if I were *forced* (at gunpoint) to choose just one of the five discs to buy, I might just have to go with this "Volume #2". Four LOL-inducing episodes, all with a high re-watchability factor built into each one. You can't go wrong when you select any of the shows on this DVD! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Mary Tyler Moore is Fabulous!This DVD Release is a Waste!
I don't own, nor do I plan to purchase this product because I ALREADY own the Complete 1st Season on DVD!What overpaid executive came up with this stupid release?I agree with the other writers, how about a Season 2 preview tape?What good is a preview after the full season has been released?Just a ridiculous marketing plan.

This would be the same as going to the theater and seeing previews of films that were released almost 2 years prior!

Why is Fox so ignorant?
Fox is releasing all these so-called "best of" disks of their shows, only AFTER releasing the first seasons.This is absured and insulting to the fans that have bought the complete seasons and to fans of the shows in general.<>

Four Top Notch Episodes
In a recent effort to get casual fans interested in their TV products on DVD, Fox has released four episode starter sets of several of their shows.Reasonably priced, they tempt the viewer to buy the first season and even provide a coupon for the purchase price of the sampler off the price of the complete first season if offered.The casual fan has little to loose.

And this set offers four of the funniest episodes from the first season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show."Love is All Around" is one of my favorite TV pilots ever, expertly introducing us to the characters we'd grow to love as the series progressed.

"Support Your Local Mother" brings Rhoda's Mom for a visit.With Mary as her host, Mary begins to see why Rhoda has a hard time dealing with her mother.

"Toulouse-Lautrec Is One of My Favorite Artists" finds Mary confronting the realization that she's a height bigot when a charming but shorter man asks her out.

"The Snow Must Go On" places Mary in charge of election night coverage.Vowing they won't go off the air until they get final results, Mary must keep Ted going when they are cut off from any source of news.

Of course, the problem with this disc is that any fan of the show has had two and a half years to get the complete first season by now.But if you are a casual fan, this disc will give you four top notch episodes from the first season of this classic sit-com.

Good but buy the complete season 1 instead
I am rating this 5 stars just because the MTM show deserves 5 stars.Notice that the sales rank of this start up disk is much lower than the complete box set.Good.I want Fox to release seasons 2+ in their entirety.And hopefully this will help.Just a note to the Fox team who is putting out the MTM dvds..... Include the entire cast on the box.The pictures they use nowis making it look like the 'Independent Seventies Woman striking it out on her own' type show which was new at the time but today it's dated.If they include Ted, Lou, Murray, etc. it will appeal to a much wider audience who know and love these characters.

For "Starters", Check Out These Four Terrific MTM Episodes!
On March 22, 2005, Fox Home Entertainment released this "TV Starter Set" DVD consisting of four of the best episodes from Season #1 of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". This one-disc "Starter" Pack is nice for those people who are not at all familiar with the MTM Show (and would just like to see a "sample" from the series), or for those who are already fans of Mary's show, but don't want to dig too deep into their pocketbooks and purchase the full-season, 24-episode DVD boxed set of the first MTM season, which is a compilation which also earns a perfect "Five-Star" rating from this writer.

Unlike the deluxe 4-Disc "Complete First Season" DVD set of "TMTMS", there aren't any special bonus features on this "Starter" disc -- just the four episodes (listed below). But it's still a very good deal, IMO, at the bargain price offered.

The video quality for these four stellar MTM episodes is simply SUPERB! I doubt these shows could look any better. The colors are perfect and vibrant and there's no annoying video "noise" or artifacts (that I can detect at any rate).

Each episode here gets its own "Chapter" sub-menu on the disc, with 10 chapter stops per show! Video is presented in the original TV ratio of 1.33:1; the audio sounds just fine via the disc's English Dolby Digital soundtrack (of the 2.0 Mono variety). There are even two foreign-language tracks included (in Spanish 2.0 Mono and French 2.0 Mono); plus Subtitles in English and Spanish. Unfortunately, there is not a "Play All" feature included.

There's also a very short "Mary Tyler Moore TV Spot" included on this disc. This is not an original 1970 CBS-TV promo for TMTMS, however. It's a brief 15-second ad pitching the 4-Disc "Complete First Season" set of The MTM Show.

A 12-page insert (DVD advertising booklet) also comes with this Starter Set, featuring many ads for other FOX TV-On-DVD products.

And -- You also get a valuable mail-in certificate good for $10.00 off the price of one of FOX's full-season DVD boxed sets. According to this coupon offer, you don't necessarily have to use the discount for the Mary Tyler Moore first-season collection. You can apply the $10 discount to any one of 12 different complete-season sets put out by Fox Home Entertainment -- "TMTMS" Season 1, "24" Seasons 1 thru 3, "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer" Seasons 1 thru 7, or "The Pretender" Season 1. The coupon offer expires December 31, 2005.


Here's a glance at the four episodes that make up this "MTM Starter Set" (with original CBS-TV Air Dates in parenthesis)............

1.) "Love Is All Around" (09/19/1970)
2.) "Support Your Local Mother" (10/24/1970)
3.) "Toulouse-Lautrec Is One Of My Favorite Artists" (10/31/1970)
4.) "The Snow Must Go On" (11/7/1970)

"Love Is All Around" is the debut episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", and does a great job of introducing the viewing audience to "Mary Richards", "Rhoda Morgenstern", "Phyllis Lyndstrom", "Lou Grant", "Murray Slaughter", and "Ted Baxter".

Everybody in this series was first-rate all the way, with the show picking up more steam as the first season progressed; and it got even better in Season #2.

"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was one of the most popular and successful TV comedy series ever aired on network television, accumulating an amazing 67 Emmy nominations during its seven-year period on the airwaves (1970 to 1977). The series won 29 total Emmy Awards, including four during its rookie season.

This MTM "Starter" disc is a fine supplementary addition to the DVD collection of anyone who loves flat-out good TV shows.

------------------------------

Post-Script / Related News:

MTM SEASON TWO IS COMING TO DVD ON JULY 26, 2005!

This Season 2 news is also confirmed on the Main Menu of this "MTM Starter" disc. At the top of this disc's Main Menu are the words "Season 2 Available Summer 2005". Plus, the Menu screen also provides other informational blurbs as well, letting the viewer know that "The Bob Newhart Show Season 1" is coming soon; and that MTM Season 1 is available now.

This is outstanding news, indeed, for those who have been craving MTM Season Two on DVD ever since the first-season set was released on September 24, 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great - But where's the rest!
It's good to see DVD on DVD. The quality of this DVD is decent, however, I'm not sure how or why they chose the six episodes. "The Night the Roof Fell In" and "Never Name a Duck" are the two best on the DVD. I would have preferred more of the classic episodes such as Ghost of A. Chanz, or Coast to Coast Big Mouth. Looking forward to the entire 158 episode set to be released. In the mean time, this one will do!

great show, poor copy
there's no question that The Dick Van Dyke Show will always be a landmark in Television Comedy. The stories and characters are as timeless today as when the show premiered 40 years ago. Our only complaint about this Canadian DVD is that the quality is not very good. It seems to be copied from 16mm prints, rather than the original film. It's also only 6 episodes. We have heard that the authorized anniversary edition of all 158 episodes is being released soon and it will be great to see DVD on DVD.

Chasin' crumbs of carrots!!!
This DVD is a mere sprinkling of what the actual series has to offer it's fans. Although the quality is far better than the typical VHS copy (from cable) that we are all used to, it's still far from the quality that is possible. It is a real novelty to be able to choose what episode you want with a click from the remote, and not have to edit out commercials etc. Don't expect any extras from this DVD. There are NONE. Then again, this show has always withstood the test of time and technology by having a brilliant story performed by brilliant actors. No glitz, just glamour.

Quality Entertainment
This show never fails to make me smile and any collection would be worth purchasing. I've heard they're going to be releasing all 100some episodes soon, but until then this is the best you can do.

Oh, Rob.......
I agree with all of the reviews, in that I would like to have seen many, many more episodes. The Dick Van Dyke Show is absolutely the best way to get that "feel good" feeling. An added bonus is that I can watch it with my children and not cringe wondering what sexual inuendo will be next. The worst thing "Nick at Night" ever did was removing Dick Van Dyke from it's rosters. THIS is classic television! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

3 Excellent Episodes!
This edition features 2 of the best Mexico episodes, and a superlative Japan episode. "Bet Me A Dollar" starts as a lightheared bet between a bored Kelly and Scott, which becomes a race against time as Scotty must find his friend who has been dosed with anthtrax and has only hours to live. The little boy who guest stars in this one is especially good, and delivers a very strong performance. "Carmelita" is another great one from the Mexico arc as the boys become unwitting babysitters for infant Carmelita as "the opposition" chase after them. (Watch for a cool moment in the teaser as Cosby says a line too early and Culp has to cut him off.) "Tatia" is a very dramatic episode which sees Kelly fall for a beautiful photographer whom Scotty suspects is an opposition agent. A great moment occurs when Scott tells Kelly there's no way he's going out let him out to meet her, and calls down to the lobby to let them know they may hear some loud noises like a fight, but not to worry, it's only a sound effects record. The only drawback to this edition is the video quality of "Tatia" which is a little off, probably due to the source material. But the content more than makes up for it. As usual the other episodes are strikingly clear and beautiful. Remarkable for a series over 35 years old! This is a must have for the I Spy fan, featuring 3 of the best of the series. ... Read more

Description

In the early months of 1965, actor and screenwriter Robert Culp undertook a task that would change his life forever. Secretly working without the knowledge of the show's producers, he wrote several scripts for "I Spy." Ultimately these scripts would become some of the series' most popular and acclaimed shows. Now, for the first time, Robert Culp candidly reveals the intriguing story behind the scenes of "I Spy" in unique and exciting commentaries about this groundbreaking television series. Episodes: "The War Lord" - Assigned to rescue an attractive but impulsive young English girl being held hostage in the back country of Southeast Asia, Robinson and Scott are stymied when she refuse to leave. Co-Starring Jean Marsh. "Court of the Lion" - An Oxford-educated Zulu seeks revenge on white men by selling industrial diamonds to the Red Chinese. Co-Starring Godfrey Cambridge. "Magic Mirror" - Kelly Robinson learns that the woman he loves is linked to an exiled dictator he and Scott are assigned to investigate. Co-Starring France Nuyen and Ricardo Montalban. "Home to Judgement" - Robinson and Scott bungle an assignment and become the hunted rather than the hunters in a deadly cat-and-mouse game across a rugged midwest prairie. Co-Starring Will Geer and Robert Donner.Audio Commentary by actor/writer Robert Culp ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Culp Collection, A Must Have!
The Commentary on this second of the Culp Collection discs is amazing! Even better than the the first one. Robert Culp gets more into the personal relationships on the show, and the material on Sheldon Leonard, France Nuyen and others is nothing less than fascinating. The behind the scenes material is a real treasure, and the technical information on writing for series television is like a university course. If you're an I Spy fan do yourself a favor and get them both. As usual with this Image Entertainment DVD series the show looks breathtakingly beautiful. They did a superb job on these discs. And Mr.Culp, if you're reading this, thank you for all the great work, and there has to be a behind the scenes book in this milestone series! We're dying to read it!

The War Lord
Robert Culp is an amazing man with more talent than I can ever put into words in this review. There are two DVD's that are the "Robert Culp Collection" and I think they contain the best of all the I Spy shows. The War Lord and Home to Judgement have always been two of my favorite episodes and in seeing them again, I remember why I have always felt this way.

Written and performed beautifully, the candy cane inside the pickle on these two DVD's is commentary by Robert Culp.

If you buy no other I Spy DVD's, buy these two.

Great writing for television
Today the raves are for Aaron Sorkin and The West Wing, two decades ago it was Bochco and Hill Street Blues, but some of the writing done on I Spy (most by series star Robert Culp) was every bit as lively, crisp and topical as TV is today.
The episodes on this disk, specifically Magic Mirror and Home To Judgement, are some of the best television scripts ever produced.
This is part of a double-DVD set, with all episodes written by series star Robert Culp. I've read where Culp locked himself away in a secluded house with no phone to write these episodes, and the dedication shows.
Magic Mirror is more than just a cold war thriller, it's plot is a Shakesperean tragedy for the jet set set against the backdrop of a small country being tugged over like a rope caught in superpower's jaws.
Home To Judgement illustrates that television heroes aren't always shaved and well dressed, and that sometimes things do go wrong. The end sequence has Robinson and Scott shooting it out inside a cramped farm house with hoods whose faces you never quite see ... it is quite sureal.
Great series. A big screen movie with Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson is in the works, but I don't think it'll live up to the small screen rendition. ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "Affair in T'sien Cha" - A train bound for Hong Kong disappears, and Robinson and Scott are assigned to solve the mystery. Co-Starring Vera Miles. "Carry Me Back to Old Tsing Tao" - American merchant Charley Haun in Hong Kong asks agents Robinson and Scott to deliver a million dollars in back taxes to the U.S. so he can die honorably in his native village."Danny Was a Million Laughs" - Robinson and Scott do their best to keep their moving target, Danny, from getting killed, but they cannot move fast enough to save Danny's henchmen Sam and Genius. Co-Starring Martin Landau. "A Cup of Kindness" - In Hong Kong, secret agents Robinson and Scott are ordered to kill one of their own colleagues, Russ Conley, who has turned traitor. Co-Starring David Friedkin. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good to see spy series on DVD
I've been an I Spy fan for nearly 30 years, since seeing it in repeats in the early 70s, and the show is hard to find on broadcast television -- cable or otherwise. In short, this is a great DVD for fans of the series, spy genre or action shows. The DVD rocks. It's clear and the color is vibrant. That's not always the case on some DVDs or VHS releases on TV shows. Also, there's no translucent company logo that pops up on the screen. A big plus, because some companies do that too. The release order seems to be following most of the shows from the first season of I Spy. Hopefully, the company will release all the episodes. If there's any drawback it's the lack of "extras" that many DVDs come with, but that's not a true need for something like this, just a nice to have. ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "This Guy Smith" - Robinson and Scott pose as vacationing fishermen at a mountain resort while attempting to ferret out an enemy agent on murder charges. Co-Starring Diana Muldaur. "Turnabout for Traitors" - Kelly Robinson is accused of being a traitor to the United States and is hunted down by his own colleagues, including partner Alexander Scott. Co-Starring Peter Donat and Ross Elliot. "Happy Birthday Everybody" - Robinson and Scott try to thwart a vengeful escaped prisoner's plot to destroy the now-retired agent who arrested him. Co-Starring Jim Backus and Gene Hackman. "Shana" - Theft of a top-secret sample of rocket fuel brings Robinson and Scott to Acapulco on the trail of a beautiful but elusive suspect. Co-Starring Albert Dekker and Gloria Foster. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Masterful Production & Acting
Robert Culp has been my favourite actor since he starred in the Western Series: TRACKDOWN. The chemistry between Culp & Cosby was blessed magic and the series went on to win dozens of top awards including 2 EMMYS and THE GOLDEN GLOBE. It was the FIRST action series on TV to be shot on actual locations from Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Greece, Africa, the U.S. and Las Vegas. Robert Culp gained my admiration not only as a most credible actor, but his talents went far beyond the realm of acting. Mr. Culp has play numerous roles, and Mr. Peter Falk has always spoken honourably of him for the roles he played in Columbo. He even wrote some of the stories for the series of I SPY, even donning dual roles. I SPY was a true, down-to-earth portrayal of the spy business. The ad lib technique of Culp and Cosby engendered a level of talent that has NEVER been equalled. Hats off to the best! Mr. Culp and Mr. Cosby, I hope you see this!!! --wes shrader ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I Spy - So Long Patrick Henry and The Warlord
Since other reviewers have commented on the high quality of the dramas on these two discs, I want to talk about the audio commentary by actor/writer Robert Culp, which is, if you are interested in how series TV was created in the Sixties, reason enough to buy these DVDs. Mr. Culp talks engagingly and personally about the genesis of the series; his troubled professional relationship with producer Sheldon Leonard; his unsuccessful attempts to get Sam Peckinpah hired onto the show as a director; the unadulterated joy of working with Bill Cosby for three years; where his script ideas came from and how they were developed; working with creative collaborators like directors Richard Serafian and Tom Gries; how John Chambers worked, unpaid, for six months to create Culp's make-up for "The Warlord"; how Earl Hagen's scores enriched certain shows -- in short, everything you've ever wanted to know about I SPY. These excellant commentaries -- thorough, entertaining, and well-researched -- add up to the book about I SPY that no one has yet written. Much thanks to Mr. Culp and Image Entertainment for these invaluable discs.

The Best Episodes Ever!
Robert Culp saved "I Spy" from being just another spy show during the James Bond craze of the early and mid-sixties. He saved it by writing intelligent scripts that were long on characterization and tight, swiftly-moving plots, a stark difference from the wincingly trite bill of fare offered up to us on shows like "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." and others. Culp's scripts showed us that Robinson and Scott were a couple of CIA working-stiff operatives with plenty of heart, rather than comic book superheroes in tight pants. Kel and Scotty sweated and suffered through their jobs, and the episodes on this first volume of the Robert Culp collection were amongst their finest hours. Honestly, this is arguably the among the finest television that came out of the sixties, certainly in the spy genre, if not in television as a whole. We owe a great deal to Robert Culp for raising the bar in television drama to establish a standard of excellence that is still recognized today. All three episodes are cases-in-point, but if I had to pick one out of the lot, I would say that "The Loser" is the finest. This episode covers an incredible amount of ground in 51 minutes and never-not once-meanders into the absurd. An excellent plot and moving, relevant dialog make for one hell of a fine viewing experience, and even the most discriminating audience will be pleased. Incidentally, the commentary tracks (there are three) are informative and entertaining, too. Thanks, Bob, for all of your hard work on "I Spy" and all of the other shows on which your talent and heart showed through. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the 1960s audiences were crazy for secret agents, and two of the coolest guys to go undercover were found on television's I Spy. Robert Culp and Bill Cosby played a pair of American agents whose cover story was that they were a pair of happy-go-lucky globetrotting athletes following the "tennis circuit." The show was considered something of a milestone in the 1960s for having an African American in a lead role, but when viewed decades later what's remarkable about the show is simply how much fun it was. In the four episodes in this package Culp and Cosby run around Hong Kong and Tokyo, looking totally cool in blazers, sneakers, and sunglasses, and their battles with agents working for "the other guys" always seem to involve beautiful women. The assignments given the unlikely agents, such as finding a foreign agent who is to be traded for an American spy plane pilot, or stopping "Red China's top scientists" from waging germ warfare, are utterly implausible. But who cares? What counts is that the agents engage in flashy martial arts slugfests with enemy agents, have gun battles in back alleys, and must always ponder the motivations of the aforementioned beautiful women. These programs epitomize escapist entertainment. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Tag You're It
This DVD contains my all-time favorite "I Spy" episode, "An American Empress," featuring France Nuyen, who was Robert Culp's wife at the time. I looked it up and it was originally broadcast on Christmas Day in 1967. I happened to catch the rerun in August just before the show was cancelled by NBC.

This episode was shot on location in San Francisco and includes Culp and Bill Cosby at their best in terms of the rapport between the two. There's also a catchy jazz theme throughout.

4 Unforgettable episodes- Spy School!
The first three episodes on this wonderful DVD are set in San Francisco. In "An American Empress", Robinson & Scott take a beautiful Chinese heiress (Frances Nuyen) on a tour of the city, only to discover that she plays an unwitting part in a plot to gain control of the government of China. The 2nd episode is one of the best of the entire series: "Anyplace I Hang Myself Is Home"; After Alexander Scott mysteriously tries to take his own life, a series of flashbacks show Scott & Robinson's early days in spy school, including their very first encounter with one another, in which both consider the other "helplessly square"!! In "Tag, you're It", our heroes return to spy school for a training exercise that goes badly wrong (look for our boys hiding out in the Haight-Ashbury district dressed as Hippies!); and in "A Few Miles West Of Nowhere", the pair investigate the killing of a fellow agent in a small town in which local vigilantes make them less than welcome. ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "Chrysanthemum" - Assigned to recover stolen documents, agents Robinson and Scott are ordered to assist Maximilian D'Brouget, an eager but hopelessly confused counterspy. Co-Starring Marcel Hillaire. "Dragon's Teeth" - Robinson and Scott are being introduced to George Serengi, fiance of hostess Alicia Cavanaugh, when Serengi drops to the floor, apparently poisoned. Co-Starring Mike Faulkner and Joanne Linville. "No Exchange on Damaged Merchandise"--In Hong Kong, agents Robinson and Scott seek double agent Erik Thorsten, the only person the Communists will trade for a captured American pilot. Co-Starring Kurt Kreuger and Sue Randall. "A Time of the Knife"--Missing microfilm is involved in the untimely death of agent Michael Fane in Kyoto, Japan, and places his bereaved fiancee, Jean Dillard, in great danger. Co-Starring Madlyn Rhue and Warren Stevens. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I Spy, I Like!
One of my favorite old TV series is "Man from UNCLE". With actors Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, how couldn't I like it? So when I found this DVD I though I'd try it out. And I though "I Spy" was fantastic! Robert Culp and Bill Cosby are good! There are four episodes in one DVD:

"Chrysanthemum": Agents Telly Robinson (Robert Culp) and Alexander Scott (Bill Cosby) are forced to work with Maximilian D'Brouget (Marcel Hillaire), a very eager yet not very bright counterspy.* Most boring episode of all four episodes. Very slow, I wince every time I see D'Brouget mess up, which he does quite often.

"Dragon's Teeth": While in Hong Kong, Robinson's old friend, Alicia Cavanaugh (Joanne Linville) introduces him and Scott to her fiance, George Serengi (Mike Faulkner). But while at a party, Serengi dies mysteriously.* Makes up for "Chrysanthemum". The ending was so surprising I at first couldn't believe it!

"No Exchange Damaged Merchandise": Again in Hong Kong, Robinson and Scott look all over for Eric Thorsten (Kurt Kreuger) to exchange him for a captured American pilot from the Communists.* Another good episode. Culp and Cosby's banter is very funny!

"A Time of the Knife": When Robinson's friend, Michael Fane (Warren Stevens) is killed in an accident, he and Scott are sent on a mission to find some missing microfilm with the help Fane's fiancee, Jean Dillard (Madlyn Rhue).* Culp and Cosby are really good at judo! They actually do a lot of it. But the most interesting thing about the episode is that it takes place in Japan. I live in Japan and has been to most of the places, though it's much more modern now than it was before.

Though "Man from UNCLE" is my forever favorite, I would still like to get more of the "I Spy" DVDs. People who like old movies and TV series will like "I Spy"!

Early Episodes - Work in Progress
The early episodes, in Hong Kong especially, have a certain poignancy, but they're too trite and corny and sometimes stilted to really love.

Chrysanthemum introduces "Scottie's Theme" and other tunes that were a staple of the show. Besides on-site camera work - for the most part (you can see the LA coastline in some of the scenes) the show was a vehicle for Earle Hagen's music. This episode was a Pink Panther rip-off but its saving grace was the "goodness" of the two heros and they're love of other people, their loyalty to Max, regardless of how ridiculous he is.

Dragon's Teeth is an attempt at an Agatha Christie story. You get a look at a young James Hong, playing an old man, what else? For the most part it's slow and Alicia Cavanaugh's make-up is hideous.

No Exchange ... about half-good. Has themes that are echoed in future episodes, and the heroes start to look hip.

Time of the Knife - now we're getting there. The scenery is great but the story has a tendency to limp, and the music is not well integrated. Nevertheless, worth four stars - the dialog works in nearly every scene. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Nice first effort.
"That Girl" was a groundbreaking TV program. The source of this program's appeal is of course Marlo Thomas, in the role that defined her acting career. Thomas as the perky Ann Marie, and Ted Bessell as the handsome, logical Donald Hollinger made perhaps the perfect sixties TV couple, rivaled in popularity perhaps only by Don Adams and Barbara Feldon of "Get Smart". Show-stealer Lew Parker is also outstanding as Ann's crusty dad, a restaurant owner with a machine gun style of delivering dialog, who thinks that every guy who dates his daughter is just a "bum". These episodes are, to use an overused term, "classic TV", and should not be missed by any true aficionado of 60's television. Hopefully this is the first of many releases for this wonderful program, which still seems fresh after 35 years.

This first collection of episodes is an attempt at capturing an overview of the series. While this effort is for the most part successful, it could have been arranged better. Anchor Bay should be applauded for including nine episodes of "That Girl" on this first release. Total runtime is a whopping 225 minutes. Compare that to Star Trek's standard two episodes per DVD. Instead of being arranged in chronological order, the episodes are subdivided into three thematic groups, which may not have been the best idea.

The series first aired in 1966, and ended in 1971. During that time, the characters, particularly Ann and Donald undergo significant changes in appearance and wardrobe. There is no mistaking the Ann of 1966 with the Ann of 1971. By not following chronological order, we see the characters changing appearance significantly between some episodes, disrupting continuity. Also, two consecutive episodes feature instances of Ann's employer making a pass at her. Once again, a little more thought could have gone into how the episodes were arranged. These are minor quibbles, but as a result, the overall flow of the episodes is somewhat uneven, and doesn't feel quite right. For any future releases, I suggest that the episodes be arranged closer to chronological order.

The fact that there are no bonus materials is also a major disappointment, especially as this is the first collection of episodes to be released. The printed booklet is a good start, but this series deserves much more. A series retrospective would have been nice. An interview with Ms. Thomas, the only member of the principal cast who is still with us, would have been appropriate. Anchor Bay should be aiming to build the audience for the forthcoming releases. Overall video quality is very good, although focus does suffer at times.

Despite these criticisms, "That Girl" is not to be missed. Take a trip back to a world far removed from today. The signature hairstyle, the music, the bowling ball stuck on the toe, and Ann dancing in a chicken suit, are all waiting for you. Experience the charm of "That Girl".

Can't wait for Volume 2.

Which episodes?
Here is a listing of the episodes of "That Girl" included on this disc:

1. Don't Just Do Something, Stand There 2. Anatomy of a Blunder 3. Counter Proposal 4. Call of the Wild 5. Nobody Here But Us Chickens 6. The Snow Must Go On 7. This Little Piggy Had a Ball (Rob Reiner and Teri Garr have a cameo) 8. Pass the Potatoes, Ethel Merman (guest starring -- you guessed it -- Ethel Merman) 9. Those Friars (Milton Berle and Danny Thomas guest star)

As for my opinion on the disc itself, I think it's a nice, well-rounded grouping of some of That Girl's best moments. Watching this disc, I like the show even more now than I already did. It was interesting seeing how Donald met Ann Marie, and the very funny episode where Donald is supposed to meet Ann's parents for the first time, but a run of bad luck seems intent on ruining any good first impression he might make on them. The episode where Donald finally proposes to Ann is included on here as well. Another thing I found interesting was seeing how much fashions changed during the show's run.

What's on the 2nd tape?
Can anyone tell me the title of the 2nd tape in the "That Girl Box Set -VHS", and which episodes tape 2 includes? I don't see any mention (or picture) of the second tape.

Thanks!

LOVE 'THAT MARLO'
I never missed an episode when the show originally aired! Ann Marie was a role model to me at a time when few good ones were to be found; and Marlo Thomas represented all the same admirable qualities in real life. I quickly bought every episode available on VHS and, later, the only DVD that, to date, has been issued. When will we see more on DVD? Is Anchor Bay Entertainment listening? There are many of us waiting for more!

Complete Seaon DVD Boxsets Would Be Good!
I was only a year old when That Girl was first shown on TV but I do remember watching the show when I was a little girl probably about 4 or 5 years old and thinking the show was pretty funny and I think I was about 7 years old when they first started showing reruns and I remember liking how perky and spunky Marlo Thomas's character Ann was and I also liked Ted Bessell who played Donald and I remember having a crush on him. I like that they have episodes of the show on DVD and I would love to see every episode put on DVD and I think complete season boxsets like they did with Mash would be really nice. ... Read more