The Dick Van Dyke Show: Any Recommendations?

Since I've started buying more classic television shows from the 60's and 70's, I'm thinking about buying the Dick Van Dyke DVD sets from Amazon.com, they are on sale currently for $20 each. What I would like to know is what everyone thinks of these sets?

Any recommendations? Complaints? Are they double sided DVD's? Single sided? I need some kind of recommendation. 

Single sided, the series is one of the best in Sitcom history, the DVD Sets are some of the best in TV on DVD history. Don't think... Buy.

I wholeheartedly second everything Shane said.  This is a must buy if you are even half-way interested!

Gary "these DVDS sets from Image are the cream of the crop in every respect" O.

Hi Mark,
The Dick Van Dyke sets are nothing short of amazing. The packaging alone is almost worth the price of the set (especially at $20. each, a considerable discount from the $80. price tag that these season sets carried for quite a while); each season set's front cover features a holographic image composed of two frames from one of that season's episodes superimposed on an oval television screen (in fact, the outer box is fashioned in the style of an early sixties TV set). These are five one-sided disc sets with an individual plastic case for each disc containing series stills on the outer covers and episode lists (in original broadcast order) air-dates and a brief plot outline for each episode on the inner covers. There are never more than 6 episodes per disc so compression issues are not a factor. The transfers are pristine and the audio is surprisingly strong. Keep in mind the fact that thiese sets were released by Image Entertainment (the same company that produced the Twilight Zone Definitive Edition/Collection sets) so I wouldn't be at all surprised if these prints were transferred from the original 35mm camera negatives (the run-times and video quality would certainly suggest this).
Additionally, each disc contains a rather unique episode menu featuring a traditional channel dial that rotates a full cycle during which the original, primarily instrumental theme music (remember the first much jazzier opening with the congas?) plays in the background. Most episodes in the main menu contain a link to a sub-menu of special features such as cast interviews, audio commentaries by Carl Reiner & Dick Van Dyke, production stills and rare clips from Emmy awards shows from the period (as well as cast appearances on variety and game shows). The season one set (1961-62) also includes the original pilot episode of 'Head of the Family' starring Carl Reiner as Rob Petrie.
Finally, each set comes with a small booklet insert containing some fairly candid behind the scenes info as well as cast biographies)
I have all five season sets and I can say without reservation that this is one of the absolute best classic television releases I have ever encountered (exceeded in my esteem by only the Rod Serling Twilight Zone Definitive Collection). In fact, it was these releases that were responsible for my now completely out of control TV on DVD hobby (obsession is probably a better word for this madness!) The only problem that I have with these Dick Van Dyke Show releases is that they were produced back in 2003 when studios were still releasing primarily high quality box-sets, still under the misconception that consumers would accept nothing less. My expectations were initially over-elevated during this all to brief golden era and I've therefore been sadly disappointed ever since. It seems like every time I turn around the studios are drawing a new line in the corporate sand in cynical anticipation of consumer indifference to their ever-decreasing standards. I'm at once sickened and infuriated by each new by-product of their shameless greed and utter lack of integrity. What was once a market saturated with amazing TV on DVD releases that commonly featured beautiful artwork on high gloss finishes (and on the actual discs) has regressed in a disquietingly short period of time to a multitude of sub-standard, cost-efficient, cheap plastic fold-out releases with generic grey disc labels indistinguishable from one release to the next. And as if this weren't bad enough, now the accepted practice is to alter the content of the episodes by cutting popular songs or in the case of My Three Sons and The Fugitive, excising entire musical scores for the sake of saving a few dollars in overhead.
In my humble opinion, these shows are public trusts and should therefore be released in their original, unaltered form, just as these Dick Van Dyke Show sets were a few short years ago.

At $20. each, they're a steal!

Hope this helps!

Don

I would recommend buying the first season and seeing what you think of it but I think The Dick Van Dyke Show is definitely one of the best sitcoms of all time.

And they're even cheaper (about $17) on Deep Discount DVD right now during their sale.

Well, I know what the Dick Van Dyke Show is. I used to watch it all of the time back during the early 70's.  I was just curious about the quality of the sets because Best Buy lists the disks in a strange way,

Anyone know if these sets include the Public Domain episodes? 

Ditto on all of Don's post.  I have the complete series set and it ranks among my best in TV/DVD sets. 

Mark, as far as I know the Image sets don't contain any PD (or PD quality) episodes.  I've only viewed thru early Season 3 episodes in tthe set so far, but I''ve not seen any signs of sub-studio-std transfers.  I'd rate these xfrs as very good but they're not as good as the TZ Definitive Version xfrs.  That said, they're easily better than many other TV/DVD sets out there.

Okay, this might get a little confusing...

Yes, the "public domain" episodes are included on the Image sets. Every episode of the Dick Van Dyke Show is on the 5 image sets.

But, no episode is included in crappy PD Disc quality. They've all been remastered and such, and look great.

I hope the PD episodes are on these sets. I just finished watching the episode, The Bank Book, a Public Domain episode that was posted on YouTube, a very hilarious episode. I'm still in love with Laura, after all of these years, and I'm hoping that they are indeed on these sets.

Everyone has been a great help and after seeing how the sets are packaged (I saw a couple of used sets at FYE today), I plan on ordering all five season sets from Amazon before this week is over.

I've been buying mostly older TV shows and have shied away from newer shows. At any rate, I'm looking forward to digging my hands into this show since I've only seen an episode or two here and there and I recall very little about these episodes from my childhood.

Of course they're on them, its the complete collection. :) 

Being public domain isn't something that would hold up their inclusion.

You're not the only one. I have been doing just that myself. Matter-of-factly, my purchases have generally been of much older series (older, as defined by me, is '60's, '70's, and '80's; your definition may be different); I have not touched one '90's or '00's series.

The Dick Van Dyke shows (all 5 seasons) were the very first TV on DVD sets I've purchased. It's been about 5 years now.  I believe they were Image.  The quality was excellent. Everything was.  I thought it was a  well put together show. Great cast.  And yes, I do love Mary Tyler Moore.  There may be a tv set or two in my collection  that I could release for any reason; but The Dick Van Dyke Show will not ever be one of them.  If you don't have these sets...Get Them.  Life's too short not to laugh.

I'm 42 so my view on classic shows are the same. It's sad that not a lot of those classic shows have been released. At $20, this is just a great opportunity to grab the entire series at a very low price.

I wasn't a big fan of the first season of Dick Van Dyke. There is a greater emphasis on little Ritchie in these eps, and to be honest I think the child actor that played him was insufferably bad. I hate to dump on a little kid, but he played 'cute' in very self conscious way, and it frequently came across to me like the show would stop briefly to indulge his adorable antics. Another similar aspect in the early eps I disliked was the tendency of some of the character to basically stop the show to perform lame vaudeville routines (this usually takes the form of "I know what will liven up this  party...Hey Buddy! Hey Sally! Remember that old bit we used to do? It went something like this....") . I chalk both these elements to the show getting it's footing. This is why I prefer the later seasons where the humor is more closely tied into the complications of the plot, rather than being self conscious 'bits' dropped in to pad the show out.
For me, the show only got better the longer it went on. I would probably start with Season 5 and work backwards, or in the middle with season 3.

I agree though that the job Image did with these set is superlative. That goes for the Twilight Zone Definitives too. They are both some of the best produced TV sets ever made, and a steal at what they are going for now (BTW late last summer DD had these in a B1G1 sale- Dick Van Dyke sets came out to $12 each and the TZ's $18 each- unbelievable. It's sales like that, which explain why I have so many unwatched sets laying around. You just can't pass up a deal like that)

Episode $33 (IIRC), Bank Book #6565696 (or thereabouts). It's on the season 2 box set.

Don't worry about missing episodes. There were 158 DVDS Episodes produced, and there are 158 episodes on the 5 box sets, plus the Pilot episode with Carl Reiner as Rob Petrie.

I also agree that the series got better as it progressed, and the addition of Persky and Denoff as writers/producers in the third season helped even more. DVDS had a great stable of writers besides Carl Reiner. Why, even Garry Marshall was writing for the show.

That's cool. I'm placing an order for two of the sets today and by Friday, I'll order the rest. 

Mark,

As all have said, this one's a sure thing on DVD.

Sorry for my mis-information on your "PD" question earlier.  I'd have bet the farm that there weren't any PD episodes in this set but as Shane mentioned, the episodes in this set are definitely not PD quality.

iWOULD get it at deepdisocunt .com  their having a sale for 22 precnet offf.  it just 22 doalors. buyt you don't  have to pay for shiipping so its free shipping all the time. pluse its 25 precut off through August 2-09

Why would I buy them from Deep Discount? Amazon's customer service is better and the sets are cheaper at Amazon as well as having free shipping.

Actually, they are cheaper from what I am seeing at DD during the sale @ just under $17 a piece, so a savings of about $2.50 a season. But overall I agree Amazon's CS is better if there are any issues. Personally, these are sets I would feel comfortable getting from DD while sets like Star Trek TOS I'd rather get from Amazon because they are more prone to damage.

A good deal either way you go. I remember seeing these types of prices back in late December (I believe) and wishing I had jumped on it because they went back up to around $35 a season after that. Then late Spring it seemed like all the Image sets were discounted again (TZ, Combat, and DVD) so I picked them up then. It's appearing like Image likes to put these on sale about evet 6 months.

Mark and Brad are right (imo) about Amazon vs DD Cust Svc.  I rarely use DD except during their semi-annual sales.  I've had several issues with DD's CS that I've never had at Amazon, primarily in mailing back a DVD set for exchange.  The last time, DD lost my returned DVD and I never got the exchanged item.  Fortunately for me, it was a single movie DVD.  I used their free PDF file mailing label since their normal return labels that are included with the orignal order ppwk is not a free mail/return label.  DD said they didn't receive my returned movie so it's possible that it was lost in the mail.  However, that's never happened at Amazon with me.  Considering the amount of business that I did at DD in earlier years, it was disappointing to me that they would not just exchange the movie and take a customer's word for mailing back the original item.

At Amazon, they have sent their exchange sets to me before receiving my returned item and they also have exchanged TV/DVD sets long after the 30-day return window had expired.  The real convenience for me is their online printable free mailing return forms.  At DD, as far as I know, you have to ask for their free PDF file to get free return shipping.

This sale, I only have 3 items so I'm gambling on DD again only for the sale.

If I didn't already have the Dick Van Dyke set, it would be a tough call for me to go thru DD again.

Well, I have to say that the only things I order from Amazon are season boxed sets. I usually end up with one damaged disk in the set and Amazon allows you to wait until you receive the replacement before sending it back so if you end up getting a damaged disk with the second set, you can swap the disks so that none of them are damaged.

I've never had a complaint regarding Amazons Customer Service and they're one of the best.

At any rate, I ordered all five season sets of the Dick Van Dyke show and I can't wait to get them. Next on my list will be to pick up the I Love Lucy Season Sets.

http://Dick-Van-Dyke-Show.blogspot.com

Don't spam the topic. 

^ He's posting a link to his thoughts on the show. That's a little different than a link saying "Bye alL 5 seasons of Dick Vandyke Show on 8 Dee Vee Dees for $17 from BootlegTVDVDS.com"

I'm just saying that self-promoting your own website should be against the rules, if it isn't already. At the very least, he should have posted an excerpt of his review of the series, then, while including the link. 

Well, to be fair, he did start a long DVDS thread here a while back, so I think all of his thoughts would've been in that thread a couple pages back. Why bother re-typing?

www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/289355/the-dick-van-dyke-show-the-complete-series-a-personal-review

That's odd. I thought this was a Van Dyke Show thread.

What on Earth for? That's just plain silly. I'm not selling or advertising bootlegged DVDs or anything of that nature.

This thread is about the Image Entertainment DVDs of "The Dick Van Dyke Show". And the site I linked to is all about the Image DVDs of "The Dick Van Dyke Show".

What's wrong with that type of "FYI" linkage?


Edited by David Von Pein - 7/28/2009 at 08:15 am GMT