[JeffWld]

Just posting a few initial technical observations re: The Doris Day Show release:

1. Despite some initial rumors by enthusiasts of the show, this set has not been struck from original elements. The source material is the Worldvision distribution versions from the 1980s. Each show is time-sped to clock in at approx. 24 minutes which shaves approx. 1:24 off the original running time. This doesn't mean that the program content is cut, only time-sped. This is most noticeable in the opening and closing theme segments where the music has some of the "underwater effect" that usually occurs when time-speeding (aka "The Worldvision Warble").

Those with large-screen fever may find that the frame jitter that is also a byproduct of time compression can be slightly distracting at times.

2. The discs are authored in such a way that each episode is a chapter stop within a single stream of 8 episodes. From the top menu, you can select any specific episode, however your elapsed time display will be cumulative as opposed to specific to each episode.

[JohnMor]

There are a few scene transitions here and there that make me inclined to believe that at least a few episodes are edited. Some prints might be from the late-70's syndication versions.

While I'm disappointed that, contrary to earlier reports, the transfers don't appear to be from the original elements, I'm glad to see the show released at all, however. And I loved Doris' appearances on "What's My Line?" A very nice addition.

Not having seen the shows since about 1978, I didn't remember the first season too much. Overall, I was surprised to see how sweet the performances were, even on the lamer episodes. The two kids were real finds.

[JohnMor]

One thing I just realized, not that it really matters as it's a done deal. The initial reports about the sets being prepared from the original negatives surfaced when Paul Brownstein Productions, Inc. purchased the rights to the show. That's the same company that put out the great Dick Van Dyke Show sets. However, his name appears nowhere on the packaging or the episodes, as it does on TDVDS. Perhaps he sold the DVD rights to MPI (or all the rights) and they decided it wasn't financially viable to strike new prints. It's a bit disappointing, but it's still such a treat to see all the episodes again. Much better than not having them available at all.

[JeffWld]

I think that was another case of the Doris Day enthusiasts getting their facts a little mixed up. Brownstein actually owns the rights to the Doris Day specials, not the TV series. There is currently some discussion that release of these specials is under consideration, however the usual issue of mu$$$$$ic clearances is always the stumbling block.

[JohnMor]

No, it's not about the Doris Day enthusiasts. Several print sources and Paul Brownstein's website itself (www.tvclassics.com) listed The Doris Day Show as one of his properties, separate from the TV specials. Also, the clips of the series used on the "E! True Hollywood Story: Doris Day" clearly said "Courtesy of Paul Brownstein Productions" on them at the time it first aired (I haven't watched it the last few times it aired to see if that's changed).

Quote:

There is currently some discussion that release of these specials is under consideration

It's more than being considered. There is a small "Coming Soon" promo with a brief clip of the first special on the Season One DVDs at the end of one of the discs (can't remember which one.)

[JohnMor]

Here's one of the print sources from the time, Variety's Army Archerd column of 2/4/2002:

Quote:

Variety
Nader's death another sad finale to a glamorous H'w'd life
Army Archerd
Feb 4, 2002

…

AND TALKING ABOUT ROCK HUDSON -- Doris Day is coming back to TV. Well, at least her CBSeries, "The Doris Day Show" -- all 128 shows -- are being transferred from the 35mm negatives on which it was shot to digital video. Producer Paul Brownstein lunched with Doris last week up at Carmel where she and her little friends (orphaned animals) live. He made a deal with Doris's son Terry Melcher to distribute the shows for cable airing. Brownstein said Doris looks -- "like Doris Day -- in other words, fabulous." No she will not appear in the shows or in wraparounds! But she was pleased that the 1968-1973 shows are getting a new life via her longtime company Arwin. William Morris' Ruth Engelhardt agented the teaming as she had with Dick Van Dyke and Brownstein, "The Best of Groucho" and "The Honeymooners." He also had a deal to air (PBS) Doris' 1970 special "The Doris Ann Kappelhoff Special" guestarring Perry Como.

That explains why his name isn't on the DVD set.

[MatthewA]

Well, this DVD set is off my list.

[Joe Lugoff]

Quote:

Well, this DVD set is off my list.

Mine, too. It was ON my list -- now it's OFF. The same goes for the already-announced Season Two, which I assume will be more of the same.

I guess the "reasoning" for these companies is: The loss of sales from the small percentage who know and care that these episodes are time compressed doesn't equal what the expense would have been to do it right in the first place.

Or, to put it another way: The expense of doing it right would be greater than the small increase in sales from people like us who would have bought it, but now won't.

In other words: There just aren't enough people in the world who care or know enough about this subject to ensure that the DVD companies do it right in the first place! And that's the problem.

I was talking online to someone who got "Alf," Season One, and I told him they were cut, syndication episodes. His response: So?

[george kaplan]

I've never seen this, but was going to buy it to check it out. However, I won't buy it if it's time compressed, just like I don't buy dvds with PAL speedup. Oh well, if it's ever done right, I'll check it out then.

[Jon Martin]

My set is already in the mail (I pre-ordered it months ago, before I read about the speed up).

But, is it THAT bad? I realize that they SHOULD be done right the first time, but to be honest, this is a show I have never seen. I've never seen reruns of it or anything. So, I wouldn't even notice any edits.

At least the first season, Doris wasn't even a fan of the show. In her autobiography, she states how unhappy she was with the first season. But then, she took control for the second season, changed the locations and liked it a lot more. Maybe they will do that season correctly.

[JohnMor]

Jon, I don't think it's THAT bad, although I know many people don't like any editing at all, and I understand that.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the episodes again, edited or not. My bigger disappointment was the quality of the transfers. They're not dreadful by any means, but I had hoped they'd look as good as The Mary Tyler Moore Show episodes. The main titles show the most wear, but the episodes themselves look okay, jut not spectacular.

It's a fine set, and the extras are a nice touch.

[Jon Martin]

I got it in the mail today.

If anyone here is a Doris Day fan and are NOT buying it because of the speed up, go out and buy it.

The set is only $27 at Amazon (maybe cheaper elsewhere) and the extras alone are worth it. The What's My Line segments alone are worth the price. Very entertaining. Plus, all sorts of other clips.

And the transfers look fine. The show isn't exactly at the level of MARY TYLER MOORE, but they are perfectly watchable. I didn't notice any speed up.

[Ron Lee Green]

It's great to see this show again. I saw it briefly during the 80s on CBN, but this is definately one show that was not rerun to death like Gilligan or Brady Bunch when I was growing up, so its new to me. It reminds me of one of those quiet, preachy sentimental sitcoms along the vein of "Family Affair," or "The Farmer's Daughter." I also recognized a few character actors that had also guested on other shows, so if you're a fan of 60's sitcoms, than buy it. Also great extras: interviews, and a highlight from season 2. I was never a big fan of Doris Day movies, but I noticed she has peculiar speech patterns. You see, she likes to take long. . .pauses... during the middle... of her sentences. It takes some time. . .getting used to.. .but its kind of. . .charming. Did she talk like this. .. in her films?