All In The Family DVD: Some Advice

I need to know something from everyone here who has purchased the first five seasons of this series on DVD. I grew up watching this series in the seventies along with other classic shows such as the Original Star Trek series, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers and MASH. I've been looking at finally picking up the All In The Family DVD sets since Best Buy is now running their buy one get one free TV DVD set offer and I've been hearing problems left and right that some fans have been having with some of the season sets.

These problems range everywhere from blurred video footage from some episodes along with red stripped lines on some of the episodes. These are comments from fans over at the Amazon.com website and while I'm skeptical about those revgiews I'd like to know if anyone here has experienced any distracting problems with any of the sets that they have purchased.

I'm hoiping to pick up some of these sets by end of this week so any comments are welcomed.

All I have to say is that the tape quality of some of the AITF is fair-to-poor. That's not the fault of the dvd producers or the dvd itself; the original air tapes were simply not well cared-for. I am noticing the same blurring as I do when the series is aired in syndication. This is not a constant for ALL episodes, just some. The same problem happens with "Soap," very washed out, blurry episodes.

Other than that, AITF is what it is. I never did notice those red lines; I have no idea what that's about, although I believe those who point out that problem. I don't expect to see any kind of upgrading for this release anytime soon. I think you should go out and buy them if they're on sale. I'm fairly happy with the release as is; really, the problems with poor quality video can't be fixed. If you improperly store an old video it's hell to try and restore it to original broadcast-grade quality...quite unlike film. AITF is still within acceptable viewing limits and to me, it's looked the same as it has for the last 30 years. And how is it, that we got 2 seasons in one month?? And how rare? LOL

This has been discussed in other threads, but here goes.

What was "broadcast quality" when "All in the Family" was shot (on tape) was quite a different thing from what we expect now. Televisions were not nearly as sharp (and I'm not just talking regular def vs. high def -- I mean in general), most people received mediocre over-the-air signals, sound was mono and came from that one tinny speaker. That's just how it is. With filmed shows, you can go back to the original film elements, and if they're in good shape, you can get a DVD of higher resolution than the show was ever shown originally. Not so with videotape.

Because lower quality was acceptable, there are occasional video problems from the original production that are quite visible now -- blur, the occasional reddish dot burned into one of the cameras, etc. I've never seen those lines, either, but I haven't started the fifth season yet.

Even if the show could be magically sharpened, and all the blemishes removed, what would we have as far as audio/video quality? A show that's over-lit, fairly flat looking, and in a dull mono (as the one track is all there is).

And so what? The show is great. I don't mean this as a slight to anybody who simply cares more about other things, but I don't think one would ever watch "All in the Family" for its technical achievements. That wasn't what it was. Somebody on a similar thread said he simply wouldn't get around to watching something that looked bad, and that's fine, but I love this show for the comedy, the characters, the acting... all of which is on fine display, even in lousy video quality.

I think everything I'd say has already been said, so I'd like to support the two previous posts. And in any case, the price isn't all that high for the sets (you might want to check out Amazon.com's deal before you purchase, though).

Bottom line is, I love the show and have had a wonderful time with all 5 seasons on DVD and I look forward to the rest. Quality of certain episodes may vary, but this show has never looked 'great', and it was always a "dingy videotape" affair, even when it was first on television in the 1970s. Some episodes are very nice; some are lacking; ALL are enjoyable. I am usually very concerned with video quality, but I just think some people are severely over-criticizing this DVD series. I hope nobody takes offense to this, but I think it's a shame that some people are so uptight about wanting some kind of sterling quality that will never exist for this show that they're missing the comedy, the actors, the "heart" and feel of the experience of enjoying ALL IN THE FAMILY.

I think that the quality is most likely as good as it will ever be, so if you like the show then get it. I do not regret my purchase.

Me either. I really like looking back. I did watch this show with my parents in the early 70s (go figure; at age 6, I graduated from "Green Acres" to AITF in about a weeks' time). I do vividly recall watching this back in the day. I will say (with some uncertainty) that the colors were brighter and the picture sharper. That's just how I remember it. Other shows like 3's Company look exactly as I remember them. Almost all filmed series look a little worse than I remember them. It's all in how well the films and tapes were preserved over the years. AITF wasn't preserved as well as it could have, but I doubt they thought we'd be watching 35 years later, either.

And I notice something else; I figured AITF to be the most dated of all the sitcoms, yet it's not. Most of the feelings and opinions are still being discussed today...! There's plenty of contemporary references (season 5 starts off with a discussion about Watergate), but for the most part, what the Bunkers have to say is still being said.

Indeed. Replace the names and the debates sound disconcertingly current. The more things change...

The strike episodes are a good example of this.

Do shows like Soap, AITF, etc. which were shot on tape look as good as they can on DVD? I've never seen them look great in syndication, so I assume that this is as good as it gets. In that case, go ahead and buy them.

Is the problem really the aging of the tapes or just that the quality was limited in the first place?

I think it's both.

Yes, the video and audio simply are what they are. I don't expect the show to ever look better than it does. But as far as quality of the SHOW (which is what matters most) you simply cannot go wrong with the first few seasons. It does run out of gas in the later years. It, like most long-running sitcoms, simply stayed on too long. Stephanie, anyone ? I didn't think so.

If you want classic television, this is it.

Even with all the problems that some have stated (and I've never noticed red lines), the show looks vastly better than it ever did over the air. I have a LOT of 60's and 70's tv shows on DVD, including all 5 seasons of AITF, and I've watched every episode of this DVD series and enjoyed it. That's more than I can say for most of the other series I have on DVD. I recommend it - thumbs up.

Dan-P

As I noted in the AITF Season 5 thread, the past seasons (and I believe Season 5, also), whatever their visual shortcomings, at least have complete episodes, as opposed to the butchered TV Land versions. I compared my Season 4 DVD episode "Pay the Twenty Dollars" to the version recently run on TV Land. The latter completely edited out the conversation between Archie and George Jefferson in which Archie tells Jefferson to attempt to pass a counterfeit $20 bill in Harlem, where it will wind up "with some white guy who sells purple Cadillacs to your people." Now what's the point of airing All in the Family if moments like that are not broadcast?

Actually, more than the video quality, I am more upset about the lack of any extras - not even clips of Emmy shows, in which this superb cast is rewarded for its work.

In sum, the DVDs present the only way to see full episodes of one of the greatest TV shows of all time. Go for it.

Thanks for all of the helpful advice everyone. I finally broke down and stopped into Best Buy yesterday and picked up All In The Family Season 4 and Season 5 for that Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer and I've already watched through the first two DVD's in the Fifth Season set and I haven't experienced any problems with it.

The colors and video quality were crystal clear. I can't believe I waited this long in picking up this series bgut I'm glad I did. With this special offer I plan on going back and picking up the first three seasons as well.

I, too just picked up some of these sets for the first time, taking advantage of BestBuy's sale and I think they look terrific. Maybe my expectations were lowered after reading about how poor everyone thought they were....I dunno.

I bought seasons two and four to start (they were out of three) and what made me pause was that the Season two episodes are in production, rather than broadcast order, which I find strange. I knew the first episode should have been the second season premiere, the Cousin Oscar episode, but it was "Gloria Poses in the Nude." I checked and they are all out of broadcast order, while Season Four looks to be ordered correctly.

It's a minor quibble, but sort of annoying to flip around to find the right order. Many of the story arcs were designed to flow in sequence, but often shot out of that order.

Other than that I think they're super sets (and you can't beat that two for one deal!!)

I have to admit I had some lowered expectations of some of these sets and I took advantage of Best Buy's sale as well. I purchased Seasons 1-2, 4-5, the Best Buy in my area was completely out of Season 3 as well. What's up with Best Buy? Are they boycotting Season 3 of All in the Family?

At any rate, I only experienced some minor problems with just a few minor episodes aren't too distracting. I have plans on picking up all six seasons of Sanford and Son as well. All that's needed is to stop into Circuit City or Borders and pick up Season 3 of All in the Family.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of these episodes and I'm looking forward to Season 6. Anyone hear anything about its release.

The recent trend has been nine months between releases, so there may be another release later this year.

AITF was aired from 1971-1979. If anyone here has seen the Elvis 1968 Singer Comeback Special then you'll know just how great video shot in 1968 can look today, if the DVD producers spend money to restore a shows quality. That show looks like it could've been shot yesterday. The bottom line however, is that there's quite a difference in spending the money to restore 1 quality 1 hour special, as opposed to 210 classic episodes. I'm sure if they wanted to restore every episode and pass the cost on to us consumers, we could expect to pay thousands of dollars for the complete and restored AITF on DVD.

Well, all in all, and after watching the four seasons that I bought at Best Buy and the fact that Best Buy stores obviously are boycotting Season 3 of All in the Family I was quite pleasantly pleased with these sets. But, where it concerns newer shows I do expect a better level of video quality on the DVD's, if you know what I mean. I plan on picking up Season 3 from Circuit City, who is their direct competitor which is also nestled across the street from Best Buy so adios.

I haven't, but it's of no consequence. These shows were shot differently, lit differently, made use of different cameras, stored differently... they're not the same. In other words, this is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Both "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Attack of the 60-Foot Centerfold" were shot on film, but that doesn't mean any amount of restoration could make the latter look like the former.

For myself, I haven't had any problems with the quality of All In The Family. The show has always had that 'bland' color sceme and look to it. Nothing was ever 'bright.' Now The Jeffersons, the color just jumps out at you. I've been very, very pleased with All In The Family. I just wish the release schedule could be a little faster.

Well, after these past few weeks and taking full advantage of Best Buy's Buy 1 Get 1 Free sale I've finally gotten the chance to watch all five seasons that are currently ouot and I'm pleasantly pleased with the sets. I haven't had any problems with these sets although I would have prefered an exterior slipcase box for Season 1 as they did with Sanford and Son.

Yeah, I agree with you there, though it was Columbia TriStar's first TV-DVD set, so I can forgive them at that point.

Just curious,

Why is Best Buy boycotting Season 3 of AITF?

Jack

I bought Season 3 at Best Buy.

As did I.

They were out of them at my store, so I bought 1 & 2 and 4 & 5. Still great price. But I thought it was odd, they were also out of #3 for the King of Queens! Go figure...

Re: All In The Family DVD: Some Advice

I just saw a newly repackaged AITF:S1 set at Costco (with the other sets currently available.) It's now packaged with an outer case sporting the new Sony label. I believe they were priced at $13.88 each.

Re: All In The Family DVD: Some Advice

New to this thread....

I have all 6 thus-far-reloeased seasons of AITF and have watched them each at least 10 times. Having grown up watching AITF on a black & white TV, with snow and interference (Reception was via an antenna, 60 miles from the broadcast signal origin)- all I can say is that I have no complaints with the DVDs and the show looks better than ever!

Today, there seems to be such concern with video quality. It's almost as if the shows that are produced are of such little substance, that viewers derive more pleasure from the appearance of the images on the screen, than they do from the actual content of the show.

With many of the classic shows, like AITF and the Honeymooners, the actual appearance of the images was only a secondary concern- an enhancement, if you will. The shows were so good, that you really don't notice or care about the details of picture quality, because you actually enjoy the content of the show, and they make you think and fantasize.

I have a home-made copy of a short-lived series called It's Your Move, which I was elated to get. The picture quality is horrible! (Looks like the person who recorded it also had the old antenna....likely the same one I had in the 70's!) but I enjoy the show anyway.

And while I'd consider the AITF discs of good quality (and I don't see the red lines that others mention...), they are not up to what I'd imagine current shows look like (I haven't watched broadcast/cable TV since '92, so I can only imagine).

In fact, I think a lot of these classic shows would lose something if the picture quality was as pristine and homogenized as modern shows. The discs accurately represent the broadcast quality of the time (a little diminished throu87gh neglectful storage- but still better than what we actually saw at the time through an antenna.) and IMO, the shows look "realistic". (The lighting and super-high resolution of modern shows make them look detached from the real world- whereas these older shows look more natural).

My AITF sets are the pride of my collection...and I just watch them over and over and over! (Been watching that show since it debuted in '71, when I was 9)