Simple question: Of your all-time Top 10 favorite TV shows, what's been released on dvd? What's been released, but not finished? What's yet to see a release?
As I was putting together yet another personal "Top 10" favorite shows list (I do this at least once a year and the list always varies just a tad) I thought it would be interesting to see where everyone is at in terms of their collections. I have to say that personally, although there are many, many shows I still want to see released, I've been pretty fortunate in that most of my most highly beloved shows have seen either full releases or at least partial releases. Admittedly, some are stalled out. And others have been destroyed by the insertion of insane background music (one guess as to which show I'm referring to here). And there has been one that's not seen any season set releases at all. But even with all that, I have to say that I feel pretty good about getting what I have.
Here's my breakdown, with one caveat. Other than the show at the top of the list, the rest are not necessarily in order of #2 through #10. I love all these shows almost equally.
1) The Fugitive - this will always be my favorite series of all time and I do lament the fact that the studio screwed this one up - badly! I'll never get over the music subs so while I'm thankful that we will have all four seasons of the show in pristine video quality, I can't rejoice as much as I normally would.
2) Leave it to Beaver - completed and in great condition. Hurray!
3) Rawhide - obviously stalled. But at least I've got 3 seasons worth thus far.
4) Father Knows Best - only one season to go. There have been a few issues with the Shout releases though. The biggest is that the 1st season set had many syndicated episodes. Another slight frustration is that the latest 5th season set cuts off the closing credits. But overall these have been very nice releases.
5) Perry Mason - great, great release. If only CBS/P would hurry this one along I'd be as happy about these sets as any in my collection. The A/V quality is always top notch and there's no worries about syndicated prints or background music score changes.
6) The Andy Griffith Show - completed and in great condition.
7) The Dick Van Dyke Show - complete. Image hit a towering home run with these.
8) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - the biggest snag in my Top 10 by far. No season sets. Probably never will be. All I know about the condition of the individual episodes leads me to believe I will never, ever see season sets. I'm not even sure I'll ever get a chance to see any uncut, pristine episodes - period. Sad situation here.
9) Have Gun, Will Travel - kind of a mixed bag. The first 3 season sets released were not remastered. They are ok to watch, but could have looked much better. Season 4 has been released and I believe Season 5 is coming (in split volumes, of course). I guess I have to take a wait and see approach with this one.
10) Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - so close to completion. My only real gripe is the double-sided discs that Fox used on this series.
Several other shows that get honorable mention include Route 66 (a real mixed bag), The Big Valley (stalled), Hawaii Five-O (no big complaints here), The Flintstones (I know, I know - but I still love watching these) and The Wonder Years (never gonna happen).
As I said, there are many more shows that I'd like to see. I'm not going to start naming them off, but most 50's and 60's shows are on the list. But overall, when I really sit down and think about my all-time favorite shows, I can't complain all that much. As it is, I'd grade my Top 10 Favorite Shows on DVD experience a B -. If only The Fugitive had been done correctly my rating would probably be bumped up to an A -.
Gary "surpisingly talkative today" O.
As I was putting together yet another personal "Top 10" favorite shows list (I do this at least once a year and the list always varies just a tad) I thought it would be interesting to see where everyone is at in terms of their collections. I have to say that personally, although there are many, many shows I still want to see released, I've been pretty fortunate in that most of my most highly beloved shows have seen either full releases or at least partial releases. Admittedly, some are stalled out. And others have been destroyed by the insertion of insane background music (one guess as to which show I'm referring to here). And there has been one that's not seen any season set releases at all. But even with all that, I have to say that I feel pretty good about getting what I have.
Here's my breakdown, with one caveat. Other than the show at the top of the list, the rest are not necessarily in order of #2 through #10. I love all these shows almost equally.
1) The Fugitive - this will always be my favorite series of all time and I do lament the fact that the studio screwed this one up - badly! I'll never get over the music subs so while I'm thankful that we will have all four seasons of the show in pristine video quality, I can't rejoice as much as I normally would.
2) Leave it to Beaver - completed and in great condition. Hurray!
3) Rawhide - obviously stalled. But at least I've got 3 seasons worth thus far.
4) Father Knows Best - only one season to go. There have been a few issues with the Shout releases though. The biggest is that the 1st season set had many syndicated episodes. Another slight frustration is that the latest 5th season set cuts off the closing credits. But overall these have been very nice releases.
5) Perry Mason - great, great release. If only CBS/P would hurry this one along I'd be as happy about these sets as any in my collection. The A/V quality is always top notch and there's no worries about syndicated prints or background music score changes.
6) The Andy Griffith Show - completed and in great condition.
7) The Dick Van Dyke Show - complete. Image hit a towering home run with these.
8) The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - the biggest snag in my Top 10 by far. No season sets. Probably never will be. All I know about the condition of the individual episodes leads me to believe I will never, ever see season sets. I'm not even sure I'll ever get a chance to see any uncut, pristine episodes - period. Sad situation here.
9) Have Gun, Will Travel - kind of a mixed bag. The first 3 season sets released were not remastered. They are ok to watch, but could have looked much better. Season 4 has been released and I believe Season 5 is coming (in split volumes, of course). I guess I have to take a wait and see approach with this one.
10) Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - so close to completion. My only real gripe is the double-sided discs that Fox used on this series.
Several other shows that get honorable mention include Route 66 (a real mixed bag), The Big Valley (stalled), Hawaii Five-O (no big complaints here), The Flintstones (I know, I know - but I still love watching these) and The Wonder Years (never gonna happen).
As I said, there are many more shows that I'd like to see. I'm not going to start naming them off, but most 50's and 60's shows are on the list. But overall, when I really sit down and think about my all-time favorite shows, I can't complain all that much. As it is, I'd grade my Top 10 Favorite Shows on DVD experience a B -. If only The Fugitive had been done correctly my rating would probably be bumped up to an A -.
Gary "surpisingly talkative today" O.