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What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

#31
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4/20/08 at 10:32pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Best: Firefly (1st blind buy TV series I ever bought. Loved it, loved Serenity) and Six Feet Under (most expensive blind buy for me, but so worth it...great series)

Worst: Dark Angel, Season 2. Just didn't hold up to Season 1's promise, but Jessica Alba ALMOST made up for it!
--John
"Things you own end up owning you" --Fight Club

You are what you are when no one is looking...
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#32
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4/20/08 at 11:12pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Hmmm best blind buys, Wanted Dead or Alive s1 and s2 and Have Gun Will Travel s1 and s2 both blind buys and I love the shows although the poor decline in video/audio quality half way though S2 with HGWT makes it sadly doubtful I'll buy s3.

worst : s1 of 24 god how did 24 every made to a second season ? massive plot wholes, massive and too numerous count production continuinty errors, the ludicrous repeated kidnapping of his wife and daughter, it really one of the most massive blind buy blunders Ive made. Blech

Q: Why do you care?

A: You'll never know.

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#33
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4/21/08 at 2:20am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryan^H
What did you hate about Benson? I love that show!

I don't know. It bored me. I will admit to being rather depressed at the time it came out though. It may have clouded my judgement.
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#34
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4/21/08 at 5:03am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Best-Futurama Season 1. It was on sale years ago at Bestbuy and I was very happy with the quality. I had only ever seen a very short clip. I have yet to get the rest but certainly want them. 2nd place-can't think of another. I usually research stuff pretty well and often stuff I've never seen doesn't qualify as a blind buy for this reason. Youtube is your friend!

Worst-Dark Angel Season 1. Glad I'm not alone. We were all buying that preeeetty face. Whoever designed that DVD set packaging owes us all $40 each!! 2nd place-The Flying Nun Seasons 1 and 2. I've been warming up to it the more I watch. But Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie it ain't!

I didn't count stuff I watched as a kid like Lost in Space and Buck Rogers, even though I was pretty disappointed in the shows at my current age.

Real Name: Arthur Belling of "St. Looney Up-The-Cream-Bun-and-Jam"

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#35
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4/21/08 at 5:26am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Off the top of my head (and cribbing from previous posts):

Best: Friday Night Lights, Firefly (but I HATED "Serenity"), Son of the Beach, The Larry Sanders Show, Wonderfalls, Dead Like Me, Roswell, Popular, Homicide, The Office (UK), Arrested Development, Alias, Grosse Pointe, Lost, Smallville, and of course, Veronica Mars

Worst (well, let's just say these shows didn't do it for me, but they're not BAD by any stretch): Joan of Arcadia, Angel, The Black Donnellys, and Charmed (though I hear "Charmed" gets beter as the series progresses--I'll hold out for the inevitable Mega-Set)

To the poster that didn't care for the first season of Alias (but has the 2nd season unwrapped): Open it up and enjoy it. It was the best season of the series IMHO.
When she embraces, your heart turns to stone
She comes at night, when you're all alone
And when she whispers, your blood shall run cold
You'd better hide before she finds you...
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#36
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4/21/08 at 5:51am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Professor Echo
WORST Blind Buy: Like many of the posters I've mostly stuck with shows I at least had some recognition of prior to purchase, but one year for Christmas I asked for and received the first season of DANIEL BOONE despite the fact that I had never seen an episode of it. On the whole the show is very good, but the quality of the first season on DVD is awful. A favorable review at DVD Talk mentioned how stellar the transfers were and I based my desire to obtain the DVDs on that... Never trust just ONE critic!

Interesting that you mentioned this dvd, because I almost put it on my "BEST" side. I hadn't seen the show in many, many years and I thoroughly enjoyed that first season set. It's true that the rest of the season sets look better than this one, but the stories are so much better in that first season so I didn't think the less than perfect video lessened my enjoyment of the set. The quality certainly was not as bad as the ROUTE 66 S1, V1 set. Now there's a set to be upset with AV quality about. But I really didn't think the Boone set was that bad.

And for what it's worth, the reviewer you are talking about is the best in the business when it comes to vintage TV, IMHO. I look to him all the time for solid info on sets.

Gary "just my two cents" O.
"Do not challenge supernatural unless armed with sword of truth"
                                             ...CHARLIE CHAN ON TREASURE ISLAND

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#37
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4/21/08 at 10:09am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Best: Doc Martin
Worst: Son of the Beach, I guess
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#38
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4/21/08 at 10:25am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Interesting how "Firefly" gets threads going I didn't mention that one earlier since it was a "blind-view" having borrowed the set from my nephew. Surprisingly I liked this series and the sequel film "Serenity". It wasn't quite enough of a "sell" for me to add it to the collection though, but it came close.

Although I'm a collector of mainly late 50's thru mid 90's shows, I liked Firefly, partly due to the interesting score/soundtrack for the series and the "wild-west" flavor in a SciFi series. That's the only series that I've seen since around '95 or so and the only one in this century Oh well, too many (sports) games on DirecTV and way too much backlog of 60's-80's shows on the shelf for me to watch anything on the networks anyway

"Checkmate King Two Out"   Jeff Willis  "Combat! A Selmur Production"

I'm a 50's - mid-90's TV/DVD Collector. One DVD show since '96: Firefly 

The Fugitive/See Hollywood & Die: [Miles] "What, you think I'm crazy?!" [Kimble] "Next question."

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#39
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4/21/08 at 10:46am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawn_Sm
I don't know. It bored me. I will admit to being rather depressed at the time it came out though. It may have clouded my judgement.

Even Robert Guillaume admits that the show does not hit its stride until the second or third season, which may never come out.

STOP THE MADNESS! STOP THE BUTCHERING AND ABANDONMENT OF TV SHOWS ON DVD!

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#40
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4/21/08 at 10:50am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

I had some other good blind buys:

Fawlty Towers
Three's Company
The Young Ones

I usually don't blind buy TV shows unless it's some popular show I don't actively dislike but never got around to watching, or if I've never heard of it and it looks like something I might enjoy. So far, so good.

STOP THE MADNESS! STOP THE BUTCHERING AND ABANDONMENT OF TV SHOWS ON DVD!

My DVD List at DVD Aficionado, Now Featuring Blu-Ray

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#41
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4/21/08 at 11:21am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Matthew, those are good guidelines for blind-buys that you are using for your buys. Me, I'm probably somewhat over-cautious when it comes to blind-buying, but I've also had good results overall. Matlock's probably going to be my next b/b soon. Also, I hit paydirt with that MacGUYVER series so far (S1 viewing).

"Checkmate King Two Out"   Jeff Willis  "Combat! A Selmur Production"

I'm a 50's - mid-90's TV/DVD Collector. One DVD show since '96: Firefly 

The Fugitive/See Hollywood & Die: [Miles] "What, you think I'm crazy?!" [Kimble] "Next question."

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#42
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4/21/08 at 12:51pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary OS
Interesting that you mentioned this dvd, because I almost put it on my "BEST" side. I hadn't seen the show in many, many years and I thoroughly enjoyed that first season set. It's true that the rest of the season sets look better than this one, but the stories are so much better in that first season so I didn't think the less than perfect video lessened my enjoyment of the set. The quality certainly was not as bad as the ROUTE 66 S1, V1 set. Now there's a set to be upset with AV quality about. But I really didn't think the Boone set was that bad.

And for what it's worth, the reviewer you are talking about is the best in the business when it comes to vintage TV, IMHO. I look to him all the time for solid info on sets.

Gary "just my two cents" O.

Well, Gary, I think my expectations for it were whetted perhaps a bit too much by the glowing review. Don't misunderstand, I think the series itself is excellent and said so in my post, but the quality just wasn't what I hoped and thought it was going to be. At least on my 62 inch screen it did not look very good for the most part, but it's also possible that I am too fussy at times or at least relatively so. As I posted I have had no trouble watching the vintage kinescopes of SUSPENSE, but I was prepared for that quality going in.

I also enjoy that particular reviewer for the most part and he has ALWAYS been very responsive to my E mails except for this one time. I do think he dropped the ball regarding the quality of that set, but such are the risks of any blind buy.

I have not gotten the ROUTE 66 set based on all the negative press about it, but it does indeed sound like the first season of DANIEL BOONE looks like a Criterion DVD by comparison.

You say that the show DANIEL BOONE doesn't hold up as well in the succeeding seasons?
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#43
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4/21/08 at 1:03pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Professor Echo
You say that the show DANIEL BOONE doesn't hold up as well in the succeeding seasons?

It's just that the series moves to a more "family friendly" approach as it progresses along. The first season was a bit more serious and gritty than the later seasons. That's the main difference.

And I agree with everything else you wrote. I wasn't happy with the quality of that 1st Season set, it's just that it wasn't poor enough to make me unhappy either.

Gary "and the reviewer is definitely one of my favorites because he does such a good job with vintage dvd releases" O.
"Do not challenge supernatural unless armed with sword of truth"
                                             ...CHARLIE CHAN ON TREASURE ISLAND

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#44
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4/21/08 at 2:02pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary OS
The first season was a bit more serious and gritty than the later seasons.

You're not kidding about it being serious and gritty. The episode where Jemimah the daughter is kidnapped by the Indians there is a clear indication that she is about to be gang raped by them or at least threatened with same. A very slow dissolve from the situation only increased the assumption and added to the considerable tension therein. It was as much as they could get away with in those days and it packed quite a punch. I was very surprised at its frankness and impressed with its realism for the period and the inherent peril at hand.

But I digress.... Back to the topic!
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#45
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4/21/08 at 2:35pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Best blind buy? Well, I'd only seen one episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (it was from the Sci-Fi era, which had yet to have any its episodes released on DVD at the time) and the MST3K movie when I first the MST3K DVD of Eeegah. And technically I had seen only a handful of Futurama episodes (which I had loved) before I started buying the DVDs, and Futurama is one of my all-time favorite shows, so I guess it qualifies as a very good blind buy. I had never seen a single episode of the original George of the Jungle TV series (only the live-action movie) before I got the DVD, and that turned out good (how could you go wrong with a show by Jay Ward and Bill Scott?)

Also, most of the Japanese TV animated series I own on DVD, I had not seen on TV beforehand.

And I had seen only a few episodes of Space Ghost: Coast to Coast and even fewer of Aqua Teen Hunger Force before buying the DVDs.

In the middle would be Captain N: The Game Master. I had only seen a few episodes online. I thought the show was okay. I'd also stick He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (the 1980s version by Filmation) in the middle. I'd never seen a single episode, and had heard some rather mixed opinions on the show, so the Best 10 episodes collection was a great way to get of (the most well-received episodes of) the show without having to pay a good amount of money. Also, I had seen very few Harvey Birdman epsiodes before I bought the DVD, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about the show, sometimes it's funny, other times it's just crude and awkward.

Worst blind buy would probably be the 1960s King Kong cartoon series by Rankin-Bass and Toei Animation. It was so bad, the live-action movie based on it (King Kong Escapes, from Toho Studios, the makers of the Godzilla series) was much better the cartoon (ironic, isn't it?)

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#46
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4/22/08 at 5:53am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I have not gotten the ROUTE 66 set based on all the negative press about it, but it does indeed sound like the first season of DANIEL BOONE looks like a Criterion DVD by comparison.

You say that the show DANIEL BOONE doesn't hold up as well in the succeeding seasons?

Well, I surely have no wish to disagree with Gary OS, whose taste in vintage TV is excellent, but I for one have not found the ROUTE 66, VOL. 1 set to be all that bad in A/V quality (I'm certainly in the minority in this opinion, admittedly).

I had pre-ordered the set before all the dissing about its quality started, and it ended up sitting on my shelf unwatched for months. But I've recently got around to watching the first 3 discs and was surprised at all the complaints. Do the shows look great? No. As I mentioned earlier, we're not talking THE FUGITIVE caliber here. But most of the shows look fine enough (with a couple of exceptions, notably "The Berylium Eater") and several look very good indeed, such as "Man on a Monkey Board" and "The Strengthening Angels." I'd certainly put most of the eps on a par or higher than many in the HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL sets in terms of A/V quality.

Just MHO, of course, and I may be more forgiving of the show never having seen the apparently sparkling prints on offer on past cable TV showings and also just plain digging the content so much. Probably most were dismayed that the show's unique abundance of exterior filming -- much of it in striking locales -- was not done the service it deserved.

And I second (third?) the kudos for Paul Mavis of DVD Talk. He's a great reviewer, esp. when it comes to vintage TV show history and content.
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#47
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4/22/08 at 11:25am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Best: The West Wing- Never watched it while it was on, but so far I have worked my way through the first three seasons and enjoyed them very much.

Gilmore Girls- My sister kept telling me it was the greatest show ever but I just never checked it out. I came across the 1st season very cheap in a second hand store and decided to give it a try. I ended up blasting throught the first four seasons in record time and became a regular viewer for the rest of its run.

Worst: Smallville- not terrible but I did not make it through the first season set. For some reason I just did not get into it.
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#48
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4/22/08 at 12:33pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

By far my best blind buy TV purchase was Friday Night Lights.
After not watching season 1 on TV but reading accolade after accolade from critics and viewers, I purchased the dvd set the day it came out. Went through the season in about 3 days. LOVED IT.
Now I'm a devout watcher and I am so excited DirecTV will be airing season 3 starting in October.
BTW, season 2 should be on my front porch by this afternoon.
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#49
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4/22/08 at 8:12pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

I've been really fortunate with blind buys (I'm also surprised that I made this many - I would have guessed 2 or 3!).

Best:
Battlestar Galactica (new version; finally trying it after all the reviews)
Fugitive (thanks to this forum)
The Avengers (Emma Peel era box)
Undeclared (based on love of Freaks and Geeks)
Firefly (due to intense fan support)
Sports Night (thanks to Amazon recommendation; thinkers' sitcom)
All Creatures Great and Small (loved the books, outstanding adaptation)
Wonderfalls (another Amazon rec; fast and quirky)

I've enjoyed season one of Alias (borrowed) and if not for the dismal problems with the complete series box, it would be a semi-blind buy. Likewise, if not for the issues with Route 66, the discussion here has me interested enough to blind buy.

More than half of my TV buys have been blind (unexpected!). No "worst" so far!
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#50
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4/23/08 at 11:10pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Wors: The Outer Limits(the original series). What a piece of crap that show was! I was expecting it to be like the Twilight Zone. Boy...was I off by a mile on that one!

Best: Well...uh..I don't usually buy blind. Although i did buy season 1 of Baretta(Robert Blake cop show)- it wasn't really a blind buy- as I watched and loved the show as a kid....but not having seen it since i was a kid was almost like buying blind- I hated it as an adult!
They're NOT typos...my fingers just have Tourettes!
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#51
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4/24/08 at 3:17am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Best - Coupling Season 1, The Tudors Season 1 and The Shield Season 1

Worst - The BBC version of the Office Season 1. Just wasn't my thing.
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#52
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4/24/08 at 4:30am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by RichieMagoo
Wors: The Outer Limits(the original series). What a piece of crap that show was! I was expecting it to be like the Twilight Zone. Boy...was I off by a mile on that one! ....
I'll take that one off your hands.... eerrrrrr, if you don't want it anymore. say yes please say yes please say yes

Real Name: Arthur Belling of "St. Looney Up-The-Cream-Bun-and-Jam"

BEAR: 1992?-2007.
GOLDIE: 1997-2008.
Still mourning my girls.

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#53
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4/24/08 at 8:47am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Best: "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, Private Eye". The 1997 series with Stacy Keach, Tango Entertainment.

Most disappointing: "Good Morning World", the 1967 "comedy" with Joby Baker, Ronnie Schell and Goldie Hawn. Despite its sterling credentials (exec-produced by Carl Reiner & Sheldon Leonard) this is distinctly UN-funny. From S'More Entertainment.
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#54
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4/24/08 at 9:49am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by RichieMagoo
Wors: The Outer Limits(the original series). What a piece of crap that show was! I was expecting it to be like the Twilight Zone. Boy...was I off by a mile on that one!
If you end up wanting to get rid of this series, PM me. I'll gladly take it off your hands. (Or, as I read Radioman's post above in response to your post -- I may have to split the series with him--LOL.)
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#55
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4/24/08 at 1:57pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

I don't have any true blind buys. I have to have some passing familiarity with the show to shell out the bucks.

My best buy would be all the Hawaii Five-0 sets. They look absolutely stunning on my 52" HDTV. Crisp and clear. Beautiful.
The other would be the first season of Mission: Impossible. I had only ever seen one or two episodes with Steven Hill in them. That's the closest to a blind buy I have ever made.

The worst? Don't really have one. Slightly disappointing I guess would be the Space:1999 set. The video transfers are pretty nice, but the audio is very tinny and hasn't been re-mastered at all. I knew that going in, but it was still a bit of a downer that the quality wasn't as good as it could have been.
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#56
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4/24/08 at 2:16pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

The only blind buys for TV shows I have done were Sopranos and Weeds. I don't get the premium channels. Both were very good... though Sopranos was the best of the two.
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#57
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4/24/08 at 6:43pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Best blind buys:

Joan of Arcadia S1&2
Dick Van Dyke Show (Complete Series)
Waterfalls
Firefly
Magnificent Seven

Worst blind buys:

Here Come the Brides
The Omega Factor

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#58
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4/24/08 at 6:46pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Best: The Prisoner

Worst: Probably The Saint, although it wasn't really that bad, just not my thing.

Lay down your law books now, they're no damned good -- The Eagles

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#59
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4/24/08 at 8:30pm
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Best: Hawaii Five-0

It's even better than I remember.

Worst: Battlestar Galactica (new one)

I don't see what the hubbub is about. Seemed rather slow and dull. Of course my friends react strongly to my suggestion that the emperor isn't wearing any clothes.

p.s.: I can't stand this decade's TV cliche of muted colors and talking in monotone semi-whispers. Another one like that is Law and Order. I got annoyed at the courtroom scenes. Its so dimly lit. People in the courtroom would be thinking "WTF...why doesn't someone turn on the lights in here?."

Thaellar

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#60
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4/25/08 at 4:05am
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Re: What Is Your BEST & WORST Blind Buy TV On DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ockeghem
If you end up wanting to get rid of this series, PM me. I'll gladly take it off your hands. (Or, as I read Radioman's post above in response to your post -- I may have to split the series with him--LOL.)
I'll take the right half of each DVD.

*gets out machete*

Real Name: Arthur Belling of "St. Looney Up-The-Cream-Bun-and-Jam"

BEAR: 1992?-2007.
GOLDIE: 1997-2008.
Still mourning my girls.

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