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While more cautious fans may want to pick and choose among the previously released individual volumes of Monty Python for their collection, true Pythonites will want to own this definitive, 14-volume DVD-only boxed set that contains all 45 episodes (in chronological order) of Monty Python's Flying Circus. This "persistently silly" collection encompasses three-and-a-half seasons of dead parrots, cross-dressing lumberjacks, loonies, upper class twits, and spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, baked beans, spam, spam, and spam. Click past the occasional clunker and go directly to such signature sketches as the Ministry of Silly Walks, the Spanish Inquisition, the Fish-Slapping Dance, the Dead Parrot Sketch, the Lumberjack Song, the Cheese Shop, the Argument Clinic, and Nudge, Nudge. Taken as a whole, one marvels at how Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam thoroughly subverted television convention with "something completely different," like sketches with no punch lines ("Your average TV viewer isn't going to understand this").

A warning to the uninitiated: there is much "material that some may find offensive, but which is really smashing." Violations of something called the "Strange Sketch Act" are the least of the troupe's offenses, as witness the Oscar Wilde Sketch, the Dirty Vicar Sketch, and the Most Awful Family in Britain Sketch, all of which achieve "the really gross awfulness" all Python fans are looking for. Say no more. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (87)

CHEAP COLLECTION OF FLYING CIRCUS AT COSTCO
I would definitely recommend this to true Pythonites, but I found the set for a whole lot cheaper at Costco. Only 89.99. It's the cheapest I've seen it anywhere. With 14 DVDs, that's about 6.50 per DVD. And there's no shipping or handling costs.

The Best Possible Thing in This Price Range!
Don't Be Scared off by the price. If you decided to look into this item you've probably seen the Holy Grail and either Meaning of life or Life of Brian (or both). If not, go do that. Holy grail is the best thing for the un-initiated. The features are awesome. I love the Useless Tidbits and clips of the Live at the Hollywood Bowl Show (available on Monty Python Live!). Do yourself a favor and buy it. As a follow-up get And Now For Something completely different. Watch each episode from start to finish in order!

It's Only Money!!!
I contemplated buying this set due to the hefty price. But hey, how much is it worth to you to relive all those hilarious memories over & over again! I just watched the parrot sketch with my 11 year old daughter (I'm now pushin' Rolling Stone age) and we had a great laugh together. Plus, if you first saw these shows in your early teens, like I did, you'll pick up on a lot more of the subtle & adult humor presented here; humor you may have missed the first time around. So......you can't take it with you so you might as well spend it wisely. Buy this set and I guarantee you will not regret your decision. Add to cart and don't look back!

Vicious fun with nothing spared with MP humor
This box set of DVD's culled from all the MP shows is literally a treasure. I have so many favorite episodes that it would cheapen it to say one DVD is better than the other (although the episode 21 from second season containing the sketch 'Archeology today' is simply brilliant)... the genius that was/is MP is the acute grasp of what they were trying to portray in intellegent manners in the silliest way possible. You know these folks were very smart, yet they acted so immature and goofy... and linked it all together.

I still find every episode funny, and I never seem to find any of the material boring or overdone.. I can literally watch this set anytime anywhere for any reason at all. Simply a treasure that should not be missed, either new to MP or an old fan like myself.

If you don't want to buy the whole set, you can get them in two packs... but really folks, that is a waste of money since you will most likley get them all. This is worth every penny and then some.

Everyone says it, but it is really true here, this deserves a couple of more stars at least!!!

Have fun.

Who screwed it up, Gilliam?
Naturally this is a must-have. Possibly THE greatest film humor work of the 20th century. I mean it; don't let this go out of production without buying it. One BIG GRIPE, though: I don't know whether it was Gilliam who did the programming or what, but number one, every blinking time you want to watch a particular sketch you have to suffer through a very long, pointless intro of Gilliam's animation (which I'm so sick of at this point I could puke), with the Skip function disabled, and number two, the programming apparently hides some stuff so you only see it if you get to it the right way. That's not humor at all; it's just antisocial. I watch mine far less than I would because of the intro problem, and I'm ripped about it because I love the sketches so. ... Read more

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It feels both inaccurate and inadequate to describe The Office as a comedy. On a superficial level, it disdains all the conventions of television sitcoms: there are no punch lines, no jokes, no laugh tracks, and no cute happy endings. More profoundly, it's not what we're used to thinking of as funny. Most of the fervently devoted fan base watched with a discomfortingly thrilling combination of identification and mortification. The paradox is that its best moments are almost physically unwatchable. Set in the offices of a fictional British paper merchant, The Office is filmed in the style of a reality television show. The writing is subtle and deft, the acting wonderful, and the characters beautifully drawn: the cadaverous team leader Gareth (Mackenzie Crook); the monstrous sales rep, Chris Finch (Ralph Ineson); and the decent but long-suffering everyman Tim (Martin Freeman), whose ambition and imagination have been crushed out of him by the banality of ! the life he dreams uselessly of escaping. The show is stolen, as it was intended to be, by insufferable office manager David Brent, played by codirector-cowriter Ricky Gervais. Brent will become a name as emblematic for a particular kind of British grotesque as Basil Fawlty, but he is a deeper character. Fawlty is an exaggeration of reality, and therefore a safely comic figure. Brent is as appalling as only reality can be. --Andrew Mueller

The second series exceeded even the sky-high standards of the first. Indeed, it ventured beyond caricature and satire, touching on the very edge of darkness.Ricky Gervais is once again excruciatingly superb as David Brent, but in this series, Brent's to-the-camera assertions concerning his management qualities and executive capabilities are seriously challenged when the Slough and Swindon branches are merged and his former Swindon equivalent Neil (Patrick Baladi) takes over as area manager. To compensate, Brent cultivates his pathologically mistaken image of himself as an entertainer-motivator-comedian whose stage happens to be the workplace. Meanwhile, Tim, who can only maintain his sanity by teasing the priggish Gareth, continues to wrestle with his yearning for receptionist Dawn Tinsley (Lucy Davis), a sympathetic character persisting in a relationship with a man about whom she still maintains unspoken reservations. As ever, it's the awkward, reality TV-style pauses and silences, the furtive, meaningful and unmet glances across the emotional gulf of the open-plan office, that say it all here. As for Brent, his own breakdown is prefaced by a moment of hideous hilarity--an impromptu office dance, a mixture of "Flashdance and MC Hammer" as Brent describes it, but in reality bad beyond description. Then, when his fate is sealed, he at last reveals himself in a memorable finale to perhaps the greatest British sitcom, besides Fawlty Towers, ever made.--David Stubbs

The brilliant and devastating comedy of The Office is brought to a satisfying conclusion in The Office Special, originally a two-part Christmas special on the BBC, set three years after the end of the faux-documentary's second season. The former office manager David (Ricky Gervais) now ekes out a desperate existence as an oblivious quasi-celebrity, making awkward, humiliating visits back to the office staff he still believes loves him. Gawky Gareth (Mackenzie Crook) has risen to manager and become a petty tyrant, while the sweet but snide Tim (Martin Freeman) continues to pine for former receptionist Dawn (Lucy Davis), who fled to Florida with her fiance. When the documentary crew pays for Dawn to return for the holiday party, an unpredictable reunion looms ahead. The Office fuses scathing humor and genuine empathy, turning excruciating social discomfort into inspired satire. Fans will find this special rewarding in all respects. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Is it in french too ?
Hi,
i'm wandering what are the languages of these DVD's ?
English of course, but is there a French version too ?

Thanks for your help

One of the best seasons for any show!
I usually don't comment 5/5 on anything, but this season is amazing.

Season 5 includes: Introduction of Towelie (must i say anymore?)
Yes? OK, this is also the year Cartman redirects his hate for Hippies and Kenny towards Kyle.

And this leads us to Kenny dying and butters' very own episode, which will lead us to season 6 with Butters' and the gang.

Overall, the writing focused more on the boys and less on the school and other characters.That is what is should be> ... Read more

Description

I LOVE LUCY: THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON continues to follow the wild and wacky comical adventures of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo and their infamous neighbors Fred and Ethel as they embark on even more madness in season four.Episodes include such classics as: "Ricky's Movie Offer," "Mr. & Mrs. TV Show" and "Lucy Gets in Pictures." ... Read more

Reviews (17)

I FOUND NO FLAWS IN MY SET!
My set of DVDs are perfectly restored and intact.Perhaps the reviewers got a bad set of DVDs."The Fashion Show" plays perfect for me and as for the rest of the episodes, they are pure gold enhanced by the high quality of the DVD set!This is comedy at its best and I found no flaws on my DVD set.I give this 5 stars and more!!

Uncut? Restored? Hmmmm...not quite.
Adding to what the previous reviewer said about picture quality, I too just watched "The Fashion Show" episode, and there is indeed a jerkiness to the picture quality in this episode. I thought I was seeing things at first, but I am glad it was not just my imagination. I don't think it necessary to put this season of 30 episodes on 6 discs, when the previous two seasons (containing more episodes) fit on 5 discs with excellent quality.

My BIG gripe with this set, though, is that at least four of the episodes were not restored to their original uncut length. Both "Tennessee Bound" and "L.A. at Last" had some dialogue in them, which remain missing in this set, even though the original middle break, and end logos of those episodes have been restored. Additionally, "Lucy Gets in Pictures" is missing a shot of Lucy and Ricky driving the Pontiac through the gates of M.G. M., while "First Stop" is missing a good minute of footage (an extra scene in the car, and a scene when they arrive at the motel, before they actually enter). These pieces of footage remain unrestored and missing on this set, when it would appear that original prints were available to be used. What remains here, on this set, are the same 'uncut' syndication prints that have been around for decades.

I realize that many fans have probably never even seen this missing footage, since it's not been shown since the '50s (and so, may not miss it), but having seen the wonderful degree of care that was put into the previous three season sets, I find it inexcusable that the same care was not taken for this set. This is my favorite season, and I really looked forward to this set. Now, however, I feel (a la Lucy in "Mr. and Mrs. TV Show") gypped.

There's a flaw in this gem
Until now, all the Lucy DVDs have been nothing short of spectacular. The picture is as sparkling as it possibly can be and the sound is clear as a bell.
I just got my Fourth Season I Love Lucy boxed set today and have seen about half the episodes. They are as wonderful as I have come to expect.
Then, I started to watch "The Fashion Show", and was startled by the jerkiness of the video. It looks like watching a mpeg video on the internet, where the number of film frames have been reduced to cut down on the amount of video information. This problem was only apparent in the first hotel scenes of the episode.
On other episodes, try stopping on any frame, and you will see the picture as a clean, clear photographic still. On "The Fashion Show" episode (in the first section), advance the picture one frame at a time. You will find something that looks like horizontal scan lines running through the picture, giving it a "corduroy" effect. This is the reason for the jerky movement. Instead of 24 separate pictures per second, we get twelve (every other frame), and the frames inbetween are "corduroy-blends" of the frames before and after them. It's the video equivalent of diluting Don Perignon with gutter water.
What a shame.
The producers of this series have spoiled us with perfect quality...so much in fact, that now we are more apt to spot any attempts to "cheat". Lucy looks LOUSY, in this jerky-moving format.
I was happy with all the extra goodies on the DVDs--BUT, I would have gladly given them up to have all the episodes looking their glorious best.
It probably happened because CBS DVD-Paramount wanted to squeeze ALL the episodes from Season Four onto 5 discs and had to forfeit quality to do so. I wouldn't care if the last episode from Season Four ended up in the Season Five box, if it meant that ALL the episodes looked as stunning as they have up till now. Lucy on DVD is a testament to its great film quality--I just HATE to see that quality compromised, for any reason. Doesn't "artistic integrity" mean anything anymore?
Shame on you, CBS DVD-Paramount! Please go back to the great quality in the first 3 season boxes, the kind that I would gladly give a five-star rating to.

Extras plus attention to detail
By now, releases of complete seasons of TV Shows fall into a familiar pattern: 22 to 36 shows, usually uncut, with little or no extras.

The I Love Lucy packages have been different.First, an amazing amount of effort has gone into presenting the shows as originally televised...even if that means simply restoring an additional laugh from Ricky or some other relatively minor "trim" made for syndication.

Second, there are lots of extras.There are "flubs", such as Lucy and Ricky's new Pontiac appearing in the process shot behind Lucy and Ricky, as they sing "California, Here I Come."There are biographies of anyone who spoke a line in the show.There are the various different openings (and closings) of the shows.Book excerpts from the original producer, complete radio shows from Lucille Ball's My Favorite Husband series, script excerpts for lost scenes, or from scenes that are not that clear as broadcast.There are even some extra scenes that were shot to frame reruns that ran in-season.In other words, there is lots of stuff not seen or broadcast in 50 years.

And of course, this was a classic season. There are lots of classic bits, and even some less famous sequences are amazing.In Lucy Learns to Drive, for example, Lucy explains to Ethel here disastrous attempt to take the damaged Pontiac to be repaired.Her description of this off-stage event is perfectly timed and hilarious.

Fifty years later, the laughs are all still there.A must for any Lucy, or TV, fan.

The Premiere Season
This is the season that "I Love Lucy" fans have been waiting for on DVD. California, here we come!The Ricardos and the Mertzs travel to the sunny town of Hollywood to persue Ricky's film star dream. The end result is some of Lucy's most hilarious and memorable moments.

In order to star in the upcoming mvie "Don Juan", Ricky is whisked off to California to set his sights on the silver screen, and of course, in tow, brings Lucy, Fred and Ethel. The writer, sensing a goldmine ahead, didn't rush the foursome out to the Golden State right away, but let the momentum build up. The pre-traveling episodes are as rich as the rest of them. A particular favorite is when Ricky buys the car they plan to drive out in and Lucy needs to learn to drive it. Another, Fred packing the car a little too full. Once on the road, the foursome experience many adventures along the way, including a revisit of the hilarious Tennesse Ernie Ford and a visit to Ethel's home town.

Once they land in Hollywood, though, watch out. Viewed together, these episodes are the some of the best in the series. The acting and comedic timing of all four leads is impeccable. The writing is high quality and without fault. The plethora of guest stars that dance through the episodes are some of the brightest in the mid 50's, including a classic episode with Harpo Marx.

Were I to tell someone who hadn't ever seen one episode of this amazing show, I'd plug them into this season first. Certainly, its a great introduction to one of the greatest series ever. ... Read more

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A smart and savvy (albeit highly stylized) look at the single lives of four thirtysomething Manhattan women, Sex and the City: The Complete Second Season builds on the foundation of its first season with plot arcs that are both hilarious and heartfelt, taking the show from breakout hit to true pop-culture phenomenon. Relationship epiphanies coexist happily alongside farcical plots and zingy one-liners, resulting in emotionally satisfying episodes that feature the sharp kind of character-defining dialogue that seems to have disappeared from the rest of TV long ago. When last we left the NYC gals, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) had just broken up with a commitment-phobic Mr. Big (Chris Noth), but fans of Noth's seductive-yet-distant rake didn't have to wait long until he was back in the picture, as he and Carrie tried to make another go of it. Their relationship evolution, from reunion to second breakup, provides the core of the second season. The fittingly titled and keenly observed episode "Evolution" found Carrie trying to leave a few feminine belongings at Mr. Big's apartment with little success, charting the challenges and limits of intimacy. And the season's finale, "Ex and the City," was a melancholy goodbye for Carrie and Big that took its cue from The Way We Were. It wasn't all angst, though: among other adventures, Charlotte (Kristin Davis) puzzles over whether one of her beaus was "gay-straight" or "straight-gay"; Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) tries to date a guy who insists on having sex only in places where they might get caught; and Samantha (the exquisite Kim Cattrall) copes with dates who range from, um, not big enough to far too big--with numerous stops in between. Through it all, the four actresses cohered into a solid ensemble that played on their complex relationships among themselves as well as with men; in two short years, Parker and company became one of the best TV casts in over a decade. And to top it all off, the second season offers 18 episodes, six more than the first. Sometimes size really can make a difference! --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (140)

An easy addiction!
What's fascinating is the wide appeal of SATC! I know straight and gay men and women of all ages who watched the HBO version, and I found myself hooked on the DVD's.

Parts of each character are realistic, but ultimately there's an element of satire and "over-the-top" that keeps the reader hooked. (...)

And in Season 2, Big comes across as a really decent guy. He accompanies Carrie to a wedding of a couple he doesn't know and to a dinner with her friends. And she comes across as high maintenance. She can't read between the lines to see how much he cares for her so she keeps pushing for more. (...).

I believe the episodes work best when they're light-hearted and playful, such as 20-somethings vs. 30-somethings.

(...)."

Sometimes I think SATC is a litmus test for personalities. Everyone who watches sees something different. Some like Samantha best, others like her least. And some viewers focus on the clothes.

What hooks viewers, I think , is the three-dimensional qualities of the four main characters, and even of Big. They have real flaws as well as great virtues. And they have enough money and career stability to spend all their energies on relationships. Sometimes it's exhausting just to watch the quest, but the writers make sure it's never dull.

Sex and the City-Second Season (a guilty pleasure)
The Sex and the City-Second Season is a great item for those who don't have cable TV (unlike me). I get HBO just to watch these shows. Most of the year I don't have HBO, but when June comes, I rush to get it. I have all of the second and third season on tape, but this is a great gift idea for friends. I will probably buy this for one of my family and friends for birthdays or holidays. The great thing about this show is that every woman can see a little bit of herself in every one of the characters. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) is the character I most relate to because of her fashion sense and her personality (very similar to mine). Samantha (Kim Catrall) is the woman that most women vilify, but wish they were like. She is so bold, daring and downright outrageous. There is a little Samantha in everyone. Miranda is the workaholic of the bunch who seeks perfection in everyone in everything. She is bold like Samantha, but in a different way. Charlotte is the one who you find endearing. Her search for her Prince Charming with a Madison Avenue job and Park Avenue apartment is something to watch. She goes through so many frogs, it is hilarious to watch.

The second season includes Carrie & Big getting back together and breaking up again (can they ever make up their minds?!), Miranda having a real relationship (with Steve, a bartender), Samantha having a relationship (oh my stars!) with the perfect guy (except for one "little" thing), and Charlotte dating so many guys (your head will spin) and not keeping any of them. It is a whirlwind of laughs, a few tears, and more, more, more.

This show has all of the elements that keep you tuning in. This is a must buy for all the non-HBOers out there. Buy it!!!

4 ho's, 5 stars
On the surface, this is the story of 4 floozies who complain that no one wants to marry them. They spend their time jumping in and out of beds with the idea that this is the path to matrimony. Someone should have recommended that they read the book "Who Moved My Cheese?" Somehow, though each of these women are portrayed as smart and successful in the businessworld, they exhibit no inkling over the plain fact that steady, reliable men don't marry ho's. Bed them, yes, but marry them? No.

It then occurred to me after watching a number of these episodes that it is really the story of 4 gay queens looking for a gay partner. At least that is the way it is written. Seen through this prism, the show is actually more poignant. The show -- through its characters -- strives to champion promiscuity as a virtue. And isn't this really at the heart of the gay ideology? But what makes the show so good is that the writers never insert love into the equation. These 4 selfish people constantly indulge in sex, but it is plain that none really have their hearts in it. They bemoan the lack of men who would love them, but they themselves withold their own love. Stingy with offering out their heart, they trade affection for something they do not value, their own bodies.

My first experiance with the show was in 1/2 drops every 6 months or so on HBO. But the DVD format allows one to watch the episodes back-to-back. With my infrequent viewings I was impressed with the glamour and adventurousness of the stars. But with seeing the shows back-to-back, the loneliness, neediness, and desparation exhibited by the ladies pops to the surface. There is nothing glamorous about their lives. Commendably, sex isn't depicted as an answer, but more as a drug to take the edge off of their main concern, their inability to win the heart of a man. Intentional or not, it is this truth that makes the show as good as it is.

Oh, by the way, the show got cancelled because the 4 ladies just got too old for their make-up to hide. They probably stayed on 2 seasons too long, but at least they got out when they did. How long could anyone watch 4 old ho's whine on about how they missed the boat?

great show but. . .the dvd sucks
I LOVE sex and the city I am very sad about the ending of the series, but this DVD is horrible(not the actual show but everything else about it). First, of all the caseing is this flimsy plastic material, which breaks easily. Second, there is not play all function of the discs, so if you are trying to watch the dvd all the way through, you have to choose each episode and click play twice(it goes to a synposis first) Last of all there are no special features at all, how can there be no outtakes? if you like s&c the second season is one of my favorite but the dvd can be very fustrating sometimes

Really sucks you in, then rips your heart in two!
This is the season where you really get drawn into the romance between Carrie and Big. When it works, it's really fun to watch, but when it falls apart....you want to just slap Carrie upside the head for being such an idiot! She really did bring a lot of the problems she had with Big on herself. Couldn't just enjoy a good thing when she had it. Oh well! Eventually I'll have to buy the whole darn series on DVD, but I'm going to pace myself. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Even as it bid goodbye to one of its core characters, Cheers enjoyed a fifth season of high hilarity that still holds up decades later.The cliffhanger at the end of the fourth season began a season-long courting dance between Sam (Ted Danson) and Diane (Shelley Long) in which both want to get married--but never at the same time.They argue, they see a pre-nuptial counselor (an Emmy-winning John Cleese), and then one has to make a final decision.But Sam and Diane weren't the only ones exploring relationships.Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) once again meets Dr. Lilith Sternin (Bebe Neuwirth) and, with the help of Diane, are soon cozily coinhabiting.Woody (Woody Harrelson) gets a visit from his ex-girlfriend (Amanda Wyss), and meets Coach's niece (Cady McClain).Carla (Rhea Perlman) seems finally rid of the sleazy Nick (Dan Hedaya, who was spun off into a thankfully short-lived series called The Tortellis) only to meet a Bruins goalie named Eddie LeBec (Jay Thomas).Then again, there were some non-relationship events, such as Diane's trying out for the Boston Ballet and the gang's classic Thanksgiving dinner at Carla's house (in which we finally get to see Norm's wife, Vera, sort of).But more than anything, the fifth season belonged to Sam and Diane.Their relationship ends in touching flash-forward and a wish to "have a good life." If only the departing actor's subsequent career had been so good.Like the fourth season, the DVD set has no extras.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (7)

I have no reason to give less than 5 stars
I, for one, am in favor of these CHEERS sets being released without extras if it results in a lower price and shorter breaks in between release dates.So even though 5 stars might be too high of a rating for this set (since there are no extras), I can't give it any less because I'm getting exactly what I wanted here - all the episodes in their uncut glory!

"I Do, Adieu," the final episode in the set, includes the shortened opening credits sequence we now see in syndication, but otherwise everything looks to be intact.Some copyrighted music may have been replaced here and there in a few episodes but I can't tell for sure - if it was then it couldn't have been anything crucial to any story or joke.

The picture quality is as near perfect as I could've expected, and I like that the chapter stops are placed at the act breaks.The "play-all" option is a marathon lover's dream come true as well.

Incidentally, this season contains one of my favorite episodes of the entire series, "Simon Says."John Cleese is hysterical and gives Sam and (mostly) Diane a hard time in the most fitting manner possible.Trivia buffs may already be aware that Cleese won an Emmy for this.He is the only guest actor to do so in the history of this series.

Since releasing that first season set of this show, Paramount has really improved their overall presentation.Some might call this bare bones, and perhaps they're right.But that's okay with me since CHEERS may never look or sound this crisp in syndicated reruns.

ONE OF TV'S ALL-TIME GREATS
Cheers was one of the great all time sit-coms that unfortunately seems to have not aged very well with viewers.While other shows like Seinfeld continue to be ratings juggernauts in re-runs, Cheers has lost a bit of that lustre and I'm not really sure why.With great writing and great performances Cheers always delivered the laughs and the ratings.This show finished in the Nielsen Top 10 eight times including SEVEN top 5 finishes.That's really incredible.Season five was notable for one big event which was Shelly Long leaving the show in the last episode of the season, paving the way for Kirstie Alley in Season six.Season Five would begin with dueling wedding proposals between Sam and Diane and end with the pair finally set to marry until Diane gets a book offer.

Favorite season five episodes include:

1) The proposal - Sam finally proposes to Diane romantically aboard a boat.When Diane turns him down Sam makes her walk the plank.

2) Thanksgiving orphans - One of the all-time great Cheers episodes as the gang gathers at Carla's house for Thanksgiving Dinner that takes all night to cook and ends up in a hilarious food fight featuring the only appearance of Norm's wife Vera as she is totally covered in food.

3) Everyone Imitates art.Sam gets a poem published in a magazine that has rejected Diane's work a number of times and she is sure that he stole the poem from somewhere and is determined to find out.

4) Never Love a Goalie - Carla starts dating a Pro hockey goalie named Eddie (Jay Thomas) but as soon as they start dating, Eddie starts playing terribly.

5) Dinner at Eight-ish.Frasier and Lilith invite Sam and Diane over for dinner but things go awry when Lilith finds out that Frasierand Diane used to date.

6) Norm's First Hurrah.Norm brags about getting a great job as an accountant with a top company but when the gang surprises him at work, things are not exactly as norm described.

7) Simon Says - The Great John Cleese plays a noted marriage Counselor who says Sam and Diane are not meant for each other which so upsets Diane that she continues to pester him.Hilarious episode!

8)I do and Adieu - Diane's leaves Sam when they are finally ready to be married.

To be honest I always preferred Kirstie Alley over Shelly long so I was not all that upset to see Diane leave.But there are lots of great episodes in this season that would lead into the final six season which I truly loved.

One of the greatest sitcoms in television history...
One of the greatest television comedies in history, Cheers is an absolute "must see" for anyone who's ever had a regular hangout "where everybody knows your name". The shows centers itself around the friendly neighborhood Boston bar named Cheers. The bar is owned by former Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Sam Malone (Ted Danson). Sam has three employees - bartender Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) and waitresses Carla Tortelli (Rhea Pearlman) and Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). Noted psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammar) and his wife Dr. Lilith Sternin Crane (Bebe Neuwirth) are regulars at the bar (with Grammar later starring in his own series spin-off, Frasier). Regular barflies Norm Peterson (George Wendt) and Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger) round out a strong supporting cast.

The Cheers (Season 5) DVD offers a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere in which the audience discovers that Sam's marriage proposal from the previous year's season finale was directed at Diane. However, Diane feels that Sam is on the rebound from Janet, so she declines - requesting a more romantic setting for their engagement. When Sam proposes on a boat, Diane turns him down again then spends several episodes attempting to get Sam to propose once again. Meanwhile, Carla falls in love with Boston Bruins goalie Eddie LeBec (Jay Thomas) and John Cleese makes a guest appearance as a famous marriage counselor and friend of Frasier Crane. The season ends with Diane leaving Sam at the altar in order to finish a novel a publishing house is interested in...

Below is a list of episodes included on the Cheers (Season 5) DVD:

Episode 96 (The Proposal)
Episode 97 (The Cape Cad)
Episode 98 (Money Dearest)
Episode 99 (Abnormal Psychology)
Episode 100 (House of Horrors With Formal Dining and Used Brick)
Episode 101 (Tan N' Wash)
Episode 102 (Young Dr. Weinstein)
Episode 103 (Knights of the Scimitar)
Episode 104 (Thanksgiving Orphans)
Episode 105 (Everyone Imitates Art)
Episode 106 (The Book of Samuel)
Episode 107 (Dance, Diane, Dance)
Episode 108 (Chambers vs. Malone)
Episode 109 (Diamond Sam)
Episode 110 (Spellbound)
Episode 111 (Never Love a Goalie: Part 1)
Episode 112 (Never Love a Goalie: Part 2)
Episode 113 (One Last Fling)
Episode 114 (Dog Bites Cliff)
Episode 115 (Dinner at Eight-ish)
Episode 116 (Simon Says)
Episode 117 (The Godfather, Part III)
Episode 118 (Norm's First Hurrah)
Episode 119 (Cheers: the Motion Picture)
Episode 120 (A House is Not a Home)
Episode 121 (I Do and Adieu)

The DVD Report

I'm Gonna Miss Diane
I love Cheers. Its my favorite show of all time! The Diane years are my favorite. But the seasons after her departure are classic too, don't get me wrong, but i think Cheers is at its best with Diane. This is her final season, and boy, did she leave it with a bang. An absolutely classic show, and yet another phenominal season of Cheers on dvd. There are too many classic episodes to name, but here's a couple, when Sam councils Dianes' reservations at that expensive restaurant, and takes his date there instead. Hilarious! And when the dog bites Cliff, and he thinks she really likes him, but of course she is just trying to get out of being sued by Cliffie. A laugh riot! There are atleast like 15 more I can think of, but I can't list them all here. I got the first 4 seasons the day they came out, and I'm gonna get the 5th season the day it comes out as well.

Cheers Seasonn Five:funny, entertaining, and timeless
Cheers was one of the best sitcoms of the 80s. It was funny, entertaining, and timeless. My favorite characters are Norm, Diane, and Carla because each was unique and very funny in their own ways.

Here's all the episodes you'll get with Cheers - The Complete Fifth Season:

The Proposal (September 25, 1986)
We find out that Sam's telephone proposal was to Diane. But Diane feels that skirt-chaser Sam is just on the rebound.

The Cape Cad (October 2, 1986)
Diane goes to Cape Cod only to meddle and cause trouble during Sam's weekend with another women.

Money Dearest (October 9, 1986)
Cliff couldn't be happier when he finds out that his mom is going to marry a rich man. But he sings a different turn when Esther's fiance decides to donate all of his wealth.

Abnormal Psychology (October 16, 1986)
Diane assists Lilith so that Frasier will find her more appealing.

House of Horrors With Formal Dining and Used Brick (October 30, 1986)
Cliff helps Carla find a new home which is within her budget. But, the house is haunted! The Cheers gang learn that Carla is scarier than any haunted house.

Tan N' Wash (November 6, 1986)
Norm starts a new business, the Tan N' Wash, which the gang wants to invest it. But the investment is a washout.

Young Dr. Weinstein (November 13, 1986)
Stung by Diane's cold behavior, Sam tries to impress her by getting reservations at the most exclusive spot in Boston.

Knights of the Scimitar (November 27, 1986)
Cliff prods a reluctant Norm to join the lodge and Sam thinks Diane has invented a suitor to gain his interest and get some extra attention.

Thanksgiving Orphans (November 27, 1986)
The Cheers crew all gathers around Carla's table for frozen turkey and wisecracks.

Everyone Imitates Art (December 4, 1986)
Diane becomes obsessed with tracking down a poem that she is certain that Sam stole.

The Book of Samuel (December 11, 1986)
Woody delves into Sam's black book to find a date to impress his former girl friend, who is coming to Cheers to introduce her fiancé.

Dance, Diane, Dance (December 18, 1986)
Diane foolishly decides to audition for the Boston ballet even though she has no dancing talent.

Chambers vs Malone (January 8, 1987)
Again, Same proposes to Diane and ends up arrested when she turns him down.

Diamond Sam (January 15, 1987)
Sam feels bad for buying Diane an imitation ring.

Spellbound (January 22, 1987)
Nick vows to steal Diane away from Sam when Sam defends Loretta's efforts to ditch Nick and start her own career as a singer. This episode aired before the pilot of "The Tortellis" withDan Hedaya (as Nick Tortelli).

Never Love a Goalie (1) (January 29, 1987)
Carla falls in love with Eddie LeBec, a hockey player. Diane is the holdout juror on a murder trial.

Never Love a Goalie (2) (February 5, 1987)
Eddie's career cools down after he starts seeing Carla. The murder defendant pays a visit to Diane at Cheers.

One Last Fling (February 12, 1987)
Diane allows Sam 24 hours for a final fling before their marriage ceremony.

Dog Bites Cliff (February 19, 1987)
Cliff sees dollar signs after a dog bites him while delivering the mail, until he meets the dog's beautiful and very friendly owner.

Dinner at Eight-ish (February 26, 1987)
Frasier and Lilith invite Sam and Diane over for dinner to celebrate their first week of living together.

Simon Says (March 5, 1987)
Diane pesters a noted British marriage counselor into seeing her and Sam for a prenuptial session, then refuses to heed his advice.

The Godfather, Part III (March 19, 1987)
Sam's goddaughter Joyce Pantusso (the late Coach's niece) comes for a visit. Sam asks Woody to show her around town. They hit it off, and Woody and Joyce have a surprise for Sam when they get engaged!

Norm's First Hurrah (March 26, 1987)
Norm elaborates on his new position with a top CPA firm and is caught in his little white lies when the Cheers gang decides to surprise him at his new job.

Cheers: the Motion Picture (April 2, 1987)
The gang tries to reassure a nervous Mr. and Mrs. Boyd back in Indiana that Woody is all right and has wonderful friends in Boston by making a home movie of an average day at Cheers.

A House is Not a Home (April 30, 1987)
Diane is haunted by the memories of the couple who lived a long and happy life together in the home she and Sam have purchased. These people haven't passed away, they are incurable pests who keep dropping in.

I Do and Adieu (May 7, 1987)
Diane goes off with Sumner Sloane (the man that left her at Cheers in the pilot) because he comes back and states that a publisher is interested in one of her manuscripts.







... Read more

Amazon.com

It was a short but sweet fifth season for Sex and the City, as HBO's resident comediennes found themselves affected by forces beyond their control--the pregnancies of both Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie) and Cynthia Nixon (Miranda). A truncated shooting schedule to accommodate the actresses forced this season to be reduced to a mere eight episodes, and indeed, you can tell both actresses are expecting. (Carrie's wardrobe became more outlandish and more concealing than usual.) Still, the actresses and creators forged ahead, creating a handful of episodes that if short in content were long on emotion and laughs. Whereas the fourth season found all four grappling with various relationships, the fifth season focused on the perils of being single, with a new intensity lacking in the previous sexcapades. Carrie and Miranda wrestled with their solitary lifestyles, albeit with new attachments--Miranda had new baby Brady and single motherhood, while Carrie found herself in the world of publishing as the author of a real-life book of her columns. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) wondered if she'd ever find another man, while Samantha (Kim Cattrall) finally got rid of the one that had been vexing her far too much, hotelier Richard (James Remar). If the season as a whole felt less than the sum of its parts, those parts were some of the best comedy in the show's history, from Samantha's anointment as the "Michiko Kakutani of vibrators" to Carrie's stressful, one-degree-from-fiasco book launch party. (And fear not, Chris Noth's Mr. Big does pop up now and again.) The season's climactic episode, "I Love a Charade," found all four at the straight wedding of a seemingly gay pal (Nathan Lane) and contemplating their future with a wry, bemused tone. It was one of the series' best episodes ever, equally touching and funny, and grounded the show in an emotional maturity that announced that after all their wild travails, these women had truly grown up. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Reviews (189)

8 episodes same price as 24
Ok, the folks at HBO publishing are getting greedy. Season 5 was only 8 episodes. So in HBO's infinite wisdom they decided to charge us fans the same list price as a 24-episode season, with no extras worth mentioning. (However they do split it up onto 2 DVD's to make you think you're getting more for your money.)
While the shows are great I have to ding this season with 3 stars because of the blatant disregard for loyal consumers.
In season 5 we have Carrie being free and single, Miranda dealing with the baby and Steve, Samantha dealing with Richard, and Charlotte in life after Trey.
If you're a junky/collector I guess you'll end up purchasing it like me, otherwise send a message to HBO and just rent it.

Sex and The City Season 5 Short but sweet
I like the zillions of others across the world am a huge fan of Sex and The City. Not having HBO, I discovered the series through word of mouth and then via rentals at the video store. Season 5 was short but sweet and with the pregnancies of both Cynthia Nixon and Sarah Jessica Parker, was there much more that the producers could do than offer up eight episodes?! What if they had decided no season at all? God we'd have all been in mini therapy groups! So let's not complain and take what we can get girls cuz eight episodes were better than nothing! WHERE MY CHIEF COMPLAINT does come in is the exorbitantly high price of the DVD set. Come on HBO lighten up a bit! Two discs with only four episodes on each can surely be priced @ $15-$20 tops! As for me,since I've rented season five on DVD, I'll wait until the passing of time and the eventual lower price I'll find in a used copy.

Too expensive!!!!!!!
I am not rating this season low because of content--the content was excellent--and I realize that the pregnancies of Sarah Jessica and Cynthia are unavoidable...but come on! Don't charge us all the same price for less than half of the normal number of episodes!!!

Review on SATC--the MATERIAL--free of whining about $$
I really like Sex in the City. I feel sad that no one has even TRIED to duplicate it--I know full duplication can't be done but since it's leaving I would even have settled for some decent knockoffs of the show (laughter). In no other show/film have sex and relationships from the point of view of women been explored this frankly--it will probably never happen again-at least not in my lifetime. I am in the middle of watching the fifth season. I'm enjoying it. We have all watched these four women for four years now. Are they supposed to remain unchanged in any way for that long? Shouldn't they have different changes and challenges in their lives? I will admit that the fifth season did not come as close to perfection as the others did. (Has your work been almost perfect consistently everyday in everyway 365 days a year for 4 straight years? Mine hasn't-it's called being human.) Season Four in my opinion is still an essential for anyone who really connects with this one-of-kind series. Being that I respect the brave work of this ground-breaking show and because this format is supposed to review the material and the work--(...) Also don't you find it amazing the things people put their passion and rage behind? Homeless mothers who need health care for their children express this level of passionate anger about overpriced prescription drugs-however a person ranting about the cost of a HBO sitcom on DVD-and going on and on like some of these people have here?? I tend to wave that off as "You have some serious issues and buying SATC is probably the least of your problems" Some reviews can be dismissed right away like the ones from misogynists who obviously just hate to see independent women having fun and enjoying sex/relationships/career in the free-wheeling way men always have. They secretly want all women to be like Afghan women were under the Taliban. (...). (...)

We can be so hard on celebs. We love them yet we hate then and we are ultra critical of them. Lastly, I again want to remind you, dear reader, to consider the source and look up any info you can find on a reviewer and weigh that against whatever they write. Also take totally anonymous reviews with a big grain of salt. And again...I enjoyed the fourth season of Sex In The City even with it imperfections!

Sex and the City meets the average girl
As a devotee of Sex and the City, I never wanted to admit that anything was wrong with the show... until I saw Season 5. A lot of people will say that Season 5 is what's wrong with SATC, but I say that Season 5 is what's RIGHT about the show! Season 5 is the most realistic of all six seasons. Playfully dubbed "the season without men" by the show's writers, there are very few long-term (or short-term, for that matter) relationships for the women in this season. Until Season 5, the women of SATC have gone through a seemingly endless string of semi-serious to serious relationships without any real examination of what and who the women are without men. This season forces all of the women to show their true colors without men. Even Samantha's antics are toned down and used more to expose who she is rather than what she does.

Many fans complained that Season 5 wasn't funny enough. Not enough men, not enough sex. Real single women know that Season 5 was the closest of all the seasons to what all of us experience in our daily lives - loneliness, good friends, occasional romantic connections, and a lot of "in between". Season 5 isn't "filler" or a poor season - its real life. Fans of the show who don't enjoy this season are, perhaps, happy to forget about their own lives while following those of Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha. I prefer to think of the women of SATC as myself and my friends - and Season 5 proves that they are. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

They can't release it soon enough
So, this is it. The final episodes of the final season of Sex and the City. Yes, it is expensive buying all of these DVDs, but what fan can afford NOT to relive the experience? It all ends with a trip to Paris that cannot be missed....with a late-breaking return of Mr. Big....or perhaps not? How will it end and who will it be? Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha say goodbye to their fans in these final episodes. This is a must-see DVD--for those who already know how it ends and desperately need to relive it, and more importantly, for those who didn't get to see it the first time around.

A fitting farewell
I think Sex in the City is such good girl-therapy. This series is seriously about how important female relationships are. Guys came and went through the series, but the constant remained...the friendship of Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha. I loved how they didn't always agree with each other, but they were supportive 100% of the time. These DVDs are worth the money...they will supply hours of laughter, tears and hope. It was so fun to see what everyone wore and how many pairs of Manolo's Carrie went through in a season. It was a fun, feel good series....and I will miss it.

A Perfect End To A Perfect Show
I am VERY MUCH looking forward to this last collection. I watched all 8 of the last episodes with sadness and joy.

Carrie continues her relationship with "The Russian" and in the end finds true love where she didn't expect it.
Charlotte finally has the relationship she wants and gets her "baby" in a unexpected way.
Miranda finally settles down with Steve and by the end of the season becomes the beautiful woman we always new she could be.
Samantha deals with cancer and finds true love and monogomy with Smith.
Big finally opens up his heart and goes to drastic measures to get the woman he really loves.

It's a wonderful end and I hope that there will really be a movie that we can go see in the theaters. Here's hoping!!

End of an era
I love all of these DVD sets. I have them all. I started watching them while stationed overseas where I could not get the current seasons and I couldn't stop watching them on after the other. I was deployed during this last part of season 6 and have been dying to see it ever since. I am deployed again and keep checking the internet to find out when it will be released.

I was disapointed that the season was split in two. I bought part I thinking that it was the whole season and refused to watch it until I got to my current location. I was so disapointed that I didn't have the complete season.

So what about the price.. I love these sets and this is the last one.

SATC Season 6; part 2
Look, I moved and lost HBO at the most critical moment... Right before the remaining season 6; part 2 episodes started. I love all of it. Not just for the very funny comedy, incredible fashion, and life antidotes, but for the clear display of social commentary!
I've purchased all seasons 1-6 thus far and I need to complete my collection. The money I've spent is worth the soon-to-be classic television. I don't want it to be lost forever, so please keep your negative comments to yourself! If you don't like it, just ignore it and leave the rest of us SATC fans to our peace! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The third and final season of Seth MacFarlane's late, lamented Family Guy finds television's most dysfunctional cartoon family even more animated than usual. As MacFarlane notes in a bonus segment about the controversial series' censorship battles, he was inspired to go for broke, thinking that the series, already juggled like a hot potato in the schedule (at one point, it aired opposite the mighty Friends), had been cancelled. Just as Spinal Tap walked the fine line between "clever and stupid," so did Family Guy gleefully mock the line between "edgy and offensive." Case in point is this set's holy grail: "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein," not aired during the series' original run, in which clueless Rhode Island patriarch Peter Griffin is convinced that if his lumpen son is to be rich and successful, he must become Jewish.

Like The Simpsons, Family Guy lends itself to multiple viewings to catch each densely packed episode's way-inside "one-percenter" gags (so-called by the creators because that is the percent of the audience who will get them), scattershot pop-culture references, surreal leaps, and gratuitous pot shots at everyone from, predictably, Oprah, Kevin Costner, and Bill Cosby to, unpredictably, Rita Rudner. Also like their Springfield counterparts, this series benefits from a great ensemble voice cast, with surprising contributions from a no-less-stellar roster of guest stars. Yes, that's actually Kelly Ripa as her "real" self, a heart-devouring alien in "Family Guy Viewer Mail #1," and June Foray popping in as Rocky the Flying Squirrel in "Brian Does Hollywood." Family Guy's stock has recently risen with its addition to Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" lineup, a much better fit than prime time. To see Peter invite Charles Manson to a party for Sharon Tate ("but only if you don't embarrass me") is to marvel how much of this ever got on the air. Happily, it is on DVD. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (156)

This Family Rules!
This is a great DVD set collecting the final season of the best animated comedy show to hit the airways since the SIMPSONS. Each episode is jam-packed with more pop-cultural references than a VH1 special. From the DUKES OF HAZZARD to Adam West, the Incredible Hulk to Optimus Prime (yep, he's in here!), series creator Seth MacFarlane manages to masterfully walk that fine line between parody and homage.
The picture quality on the episodes are crystal clear and the sound is sharp. The extras are pretty good this time around(especially compared to the first DVD set). The most talked about addition to this set is definitely the inclusion of the previously unaired episode. I personally didn't find anything offensive about it but I'm sure somebody somewhere can. The deleted scenes are funny to watch considering the animation is unfinished. The best bonus feature is the short pilot pitch that was only shown to FOX executives to sell the series. After seeing this, I have to commend FOX on taking a chance with this SIMPSONS knock-off (there I said it, but who cares? Does anyone care that the FLINTSTONES are a HONEYMOONERS rip-off?!)
So, with all this praise, you might be wondering why I didn't give this 5 stars. The answer is simple...the horrible commentaries! I'm a huge fan of commentaries because they allow the viewer to feel like they're sitting in a room conversing with the very people that are responsible for your entertainment. But the few commentaries on this set are played entirely for laughs, as cell phones can be heard ringing, people walking in on the recording sessions, pointless anecdotes that have nothing to do with the episode, and then annoying long moments of silence where it seems like everyone just wants to go home. Occasionally, somebody might start to say something relevant to the show, but is quickly interrupted by more horse-play. It's great that the crew get along so well, but who wants to listen to people goofing off for a half-hour? These guys should definetly check out the SIMPSONS sets for commentaries with a good mixture of levity and information.
But this is only a minor quibble about an otherwise wonderful box set that's easily one of the best additions to anybody's DVD library.

Family Guy, we barely knew thee!
With the release of this boxed set, you can now own the third and final season of the short-lived but outstanding cartoon series "Family Guy." The 22 episodes from this season are, overall, quite hilarious. The commentary is frequently as enjoyable as the episodes, as various members of cast and crew discuss the creation process, animation, writing, censorship, etc. The last two episodes in this set are very memorable. The last aired episode explores three pieces of "viewer mail" -- three bizarre scenarios like wishes from a genie in a bottle, superpowers from toxic waste, and "Little Rascals," Quahog style. The last episode didn't make it on the air. Tasteless but side-splitting jokes about Judaism obviously didn't please censors and network officials. It's well worth it to own all three seasons (two boxed sets) of this show. The writers constantly push the boundaries of taste, tact, and television censorship. Television wasn't ready for "Family Guy," but you should be ready to own every episode!

Best Show Ever
Family guy is the best show ever made. It is the funniest cartoon/television show. Its characters are brilliant, humorous and offensive at the same time, which of course makes for a very enjoyable show. The political references, 70's/80's tv references are hysterical as well as stewie, the diabolical 1 year. I reccomend this to anyone with a sense of humor, and someone who doesn't take offense easily.

THIS SHOW WILL KILL YOU........WITH LAUGHTER
I have yet to find anything, show, movie, or real life, that is at least as funny as Family Guy. After about a year of searching (...) I came up with nada. Family Guy's quick wit, and clever writing offends anyone and everything it can. Basically, if you're watching it you'll be offended whether you know it or not. It has good uplifting moral values for all to enjoy(...). Well actually it has NO values of any kind. This show is probably intended for the viewers who are old enough to understand what's going on in the world. That does not include people over 60! Well, anyway Family Guy is a great buy at any price. (...)

Basically a Bad Show, Getting Better
While FAMILY GUY bombed on Fox (and don't let anyone tell you that Fox tried to kill it; Fox renewed the show twice even though the ratings stunk almost everywhere and the reviews were scathing), it's become a huge success on DVD and cable, leading to the production of new episodes of the show and an upcoming summer run on Fox for these new episodes, where it can bomb all over again.

So what's my problem with it? Well, first of all, almost everything is derivative of other, better shows. And not just THE SIMPSONS, but PINKY AND THE BRAIN (Stewie, the little big-headed megalomaniac, is a direct ripoff of the Brain). Second, the show uses references as a substitute for humor -- which is to say that they'll often refer to some '80s TV show or commercial and expect us to laugh just because we get the reference; there's rarely any satirical point being made about the shows it's supposedly "parodying." Third, the voice acting is often quite poor -- MacFarlane improved as the series went on, but his acting is often stiff and one-note, with none of the interesting vocal inflections that, say, Dan Castellanetta brings to Homer Simpson. (To be fair, MacFarlane is better as Brian the Dog than as Peter.) Fourth, the show doesn't have much variety in its gags; the basic tropes -- sexual innuendoes, parodies, famous historical figures acting inappropriately -- are repeated from show to show. Fifth, the animation is truly terrible; the characters are inexpressive, stiff and immobile. Any episode of The Simpsons or King of the Hill has better animated "acting." And King of the Hill, often denigrated as the unfunny link in Fox's chain of animated shows, actually has character comedy, which means that it is funny even if you don't get a bunch of cheesy '80s references -- King of the Hill or the early Simpsons are genuuinely funny; Family Guy is fake funny, getting laughs by cheap means. It's about as cutting-edge as an episode of "Wayne and Shuster".

But the biggest overall problem is that the characters are just not worth following. The characters are so clearly sitcom stereotypes, and the stories are so minimal (just a clothesline on which to hang the gags) that the greatest joy of a good sitcom -- following interesting characters like a Homer Simpson or a Hank Hill or even an Eric Cartman -- is not there. All that's there is the gags, and eventually they all come to seem the same because they are based on nothing; the characters are too shallow to be humorous. (Stewie was such a one-note character that by the final season, almost every joke involves him acting *out* of character in some way -- a sure sign that a character was ill-conceived in the first place, and a sad contrast with the far superior Brain from PINKY AND THE BRAIN.) Brian is the only character with some depth to him, and the episodes focusing on him tend to be the best.

I will say that by the last season, the writers seemed to be trying to tell more coherent stories and give the characters a bit more life. This bodes well for the new episodes. But the 50 or so episodes that already exist add up to a show with poor writing, poor story structure, poor voice acting, poor animation (Peter's face is so inexpressive that his "happy" face looks about the same as his "sad" expression), and above all weak characters. In other words, a poor show. Its cult success is impressive, but then, we can all name shows that are successful without being any good. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Cue the Henry Mancini music and watch out for Cato--the gist of the Pink Panther series has been gathered in a six-disc boxed set. At the center of it is Peter Sellers's incarnation of inspector Jacques Clouseau, a hopelessly bumbling detective with a genius for resting his hands in the wrong place (on the surface of a spinning globe, for instance) and mangling the English language.

Writer-director Blake Edwards cast Peter Ustinov as Clouseau in The Pink Panther, but Ustinov dropped out just before shooting began. Edwards (who recounts this story in a spotty commentary track included here) and Sellers bonded over their affection for Laurel and Hardy, and immediately transformed the character of Clouseau into a walking sight gag. The first film has a delicious swinging sixties vibe, while jewel thief David Niven, Claudia Cardinale, and Capucine occupy as much screen time as Sellers.Sellers really hits his stride in A Shot in the Dark, an elegantly funny tale of Clouseau sleuthing out a murder investigation. This one introduced Herbert Lom, as the increasingly frazzled Inspector Dreyfus, and Burt Kwouk, as Clouseau's houseboy-nemesis Cato. Sellers and Edwards, whose relationship was stormy, put Clouseau aside for over 10 years, until a trilogy of mid-1970s comedies restored the character to commercial (and dare we say cultural) primacy.

Unfortunately, the very funny comeback picture, Return of the Pink Panther, is absent from this set due to rights issues with the studios involved. The Pink Panther Strikes Again has Dreyfus going bananas and targeting Clouseau; Revenge of the Pink Panther puts Clouseau in a hilarious series of disguises, climaxing in a wonderfully mounted sequence in Hong Kong. (Throughout the series, the calm, classical staging of gags by Blake Edwards reminds you of what a lost art this has become.) Trail of the Pink Panther looks better now than it did when originally released in 1982, shortly after Sellers's death; it's a batch of unused Sellers routines from previous pictures, strung together with a loose plot. In other words, it's a "deleted scenes" extra, and quite funny at times.

Subsequent efforts Curse of the Pink Panther and Son of the Pink Panther are neither included nor mentioned. A half-hour documentary gives pleasant memories from Edwards, but feels incomplete. The cartoon Panther gets his own 11-minute mini-doc, plus six cartoon shorts including the Oscar-winning "The Pink Phink." --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (32)

the best: peter sellers, blake edwards?, not so sure
I loved most of the pink panther films, I own this collection and the movie of Sellers that is left (Return of the...), but what it really fascinate me was the extras, there is a complete documentary about Sellers work and life that it is simply the best of my tv journey, not so funny, except from the abstracts of his movies, but very appealing in order to understand the great comedian and man he was.

About the movies, loved the first two classics (Pink panther and Shot in the dark), Return, which is not included, I dunnot miss, can't say i liked that one; Strikes Again it is one of my favorites, Revenge was worth of a good laugh and about the Trail I didn't see the Edwards necessity to do that films besides the need of money, everyone in this days could have save to see that sort of tribute (there is no real story there) and watch the delightful lost and new scenes (at that time) of Sellers in another extra of this collection, but, what is done is done and I can't really complain, this movies are great fun and this set? one of my favorites.

Fabulous Value, Great Films, Mediocre Extras
The Pink Panther Film Collection consists of 5 Panther films and 1 bonus disc. Only 4 of the films are worthy ('Trail of the Pink Panther' is a train wreck of a film - it's a film made of outtakes and clips from previous films tacked together two years after Peter Seller's death), and it's also missing a major Panther film ('Return of the Pink Panther') which was the first Sellers-Edwards collaboration immediately following the hiatus after 'Shot in the Dark'.

The 4 worthy films, though, shine as comedy classics, fully display Sellers' genius, witness the evolution of the Clouseau character, and feature the talents of Seller's surroundings casts and Edwards' direction. Many can argue which is the best film; I personally prefer 'The Pink Panther' followed by 'Revenge of the Pink Panther'.

The bonus disc has one documentary about the Panther films, one documentary about the Panther animation, and 6 Pink Panther cartoons. The main documentary has some good info about the Panther series, but is not nearly as comprehensive as it could be. There is no mention of the thought process behind 'Trail' and scant detail about the other films.

'The Pink Panther' has audio commentary by Blake Edwards, a trivia feature, a photo gallery, and the original trailer. The other films have only the photo galleries and trailers.

Deep insight into the Pink Panther series is missing in this collection, but it's also an excellent value for four great comedies.

Like Old Friends, They're Always Great To See!
Having been a fan of "The Pink Panther" series from childhood, I was ecstatic that this set was being released, as the films are otherwise out of print on DVD (although luckily I still have my trusty VHS copies in reserve). I am tempted to give the set five stars simply because it is a wonderful day to see these films back in print, but realistically I had to take it down a notch as there a couple of negative considerations, the most obvious of which, of course, is the absence of "Return of the Pink Panther" from the collection, ostensibly because of legal hang-ups. Whatever the cause, the absence of the first of the 1970s-era "Panthers" is sorely missed. The other minor negative is the relative absence of special features on the movie DVDs, although the original "Pink Panther" has a wonderful trivia track. I would have really loved commentary tracks with Blake Edwards and some of the actors. I am somewhat ambivalent on the extremely unusual packaging the set comes in. It is hard to adequately describe the case, but suffice it to say that removing half of the DVDs is annoyingly difficult, although it looks very stylish.

On the positive end, you get four great "Panther" movies and the bodged-together "Trail of the Pink Panther", plus a disk of extras. Some people have dismissed the extras disk as inconsequential, but I rather enjoyed it. I particularly liked the documentary "The Pink Panther Story" which was heavy on interviews and insight. I had no idea that Sellers hated "A Shot in the Dark", whereas I (and many others) think it is a perfect movie in every way. I knew that Sellers could be somewhat Mercurial to work with, but I had no idea, for instance, that he had certain colors that he would not tolerate around him, and in fact made the producers of one of the movies once repaint a train because he couldn't stand the color! Also on the disk is a documentary about the animated Panther, which is quite interesting, as well as several of the short subject cartoons, which seem selected at random. They did include the Oscar winning "Pink Phink", the first cartoon short of the Pink Panther, which was an excellent choice. "Psychedelic Pink" included an annoying laugh track, and "Pinkfinger" was one of the weaker of the cartoons, which I have great recollection of from childhood. Interestingly enough, there are two related subject cartoons, one each of the Ant and the Aardvark, and The Inspector (in a fairly weak episode) to round out the extra disk.

This is a great set overall, with just a couple of things bringing it down to a four rating. I recommend it to all "Panther" fans everywhere, and to anyone who loves to laugh.

great, but what about return of the pink panther?
i think its great they decided to put these classic films into a set finally. but what about return of the pink panther? even though it isnt as popular as the others, its still a part of the series, and i think its a great one as well. as someone else said they should've put all 8 films in a set. that would be awesome, but all the same, this is a must have dvd set.

Massage, anyone?
MGM's "Panther" set wastes no time in showing off its quality once the menu queues up, as the tenor-sax notes of Henry Mancini's eternally cool theme song slink out of the speakers. Director Blake Edwards delivers a delightful solo commentary on the first and best film, "The Pink Panther."

The DVDs' fine (5.1) audio is complemented by the vivid widescreen images on the first "Panther," a gorgeous relic of the swinging '60s. The reproduction allows contemplation of detail such as the amazing topography of David Niven's hair. There's a lot for the Technicolor to take in -- fabulous clothes, beautiful people and to-die-for European locations.

A half-hour docu on the "Panther" films checks in with the series' surviving principals. A brisk DVD documentary tells the tale of the Pink Panther cartoon character, found money for Blake and his partners. A bonus disc collects the Panther's animated adventures.

The five original "Panther" films collected in this set range from the nostalgic pleasures of the first to the sludge of "Trail of the Pink Panther" -- a barely watchable collection of Sellers outtakes borne along by a why-bother story -- but with Peter Sellers onscreen the laughs never completely faded away. DVD viewers are both warned and encouraged. ... Read more

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Season 2 of I Love Lucy includes two of the most famous half-hours in television history. "Job Switching," originally broadcast mid-September of 1952, is the crazy, battle-of-the-sexes episode in which husbands Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) and Fred Mertz (William Frawley) trade roles with wives Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Ethel (Vivian Vance), culminating in the men making a shambles of domestic chores while Lucy and Ethel take disastrous work at a chocolate factory. That's right: This is the show where the ladies have a Chaplinesque experience with a too-fast factory conveyor belt, forcing them to hide candies in their mouths, in their hats, and down their blouses lest a tough forewoman fire them for incompetence. A half-century later, the scene is still so fresh and funny it would grace any current sitcom. "Lucy Goes to the Hospital," which received an amazing 71.7 rating on January 19, 1953, is the historic episode featuring the birth of Little Ricky and a load of wonderful slapstick. Other television series (The Dick Van Dyke Show) and movies (Nine Months) have tried to top Lucy's time-to-go-to-the-hospital shenanigans, but there's nothing like the sight of Ricky and Fred falling all over themselves or Ricky showing up at the maternity ward (direct from a voodoo-themed show at the Tropicana) in witch doctor makeup.

The other 31 episodes included in I Love Lucy: The Compete Second Season have choice moments, too. "Lucy Becomes a Sculptress" finds the ever-ambitious redhead falling for empty flattery at an art-supply store and commencing an ill-advised career working in clay. Ricky agrees to bless this new endeavor if an art critic says she has talent, but Lucy tries to increase her chances by posing as a bust of herself--resulting in mayhem, of course. The usual running themes in I Love Lucy--Lucy's misguided desire to be a part of Ricky's musical career, and her penchant for disguising herself to investigate something--are all over The Complete Second Season. "Ricky Loses His Voice" is a delightful piece in which Ricky's laryngitis inspires Lucy, the Mertzes, and an aging chorus line to put on a Tropicana spectacle, and "Ricky Has Labor Pains" finds Lucy and Ethel going undercover as male reporters to find out what happens at a stag party.Lots to enjoy here, and the special features include bloopers, information about the guest cast, and snippets from Ball's radio show. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I Love Lucy is the best!
I'm sixteen but I absolutly love I love Lucy. I started watching them when the DVD's for the first season came out. I am so excited to be getting the next season all at once and at half the price of season one. Season Two has some of my favorite episodes like Job Switching, Lucy is Enceinte, and Lucy Goes to the Hospital

Here are 32 More Reasons We Love Lucy ...
THE sitcom of all sitcoms -- the one show where you could watch many episodes 1,463 times (as most of us have) -- and they'd still be funny as hell, the Queen Mother of all sitcoms finally gets its 2nd-season release