The Danny Thomas Show - Season 6

Joe Lugoff · 07-04-2007, 09:53 AM

At last, some good news for lovers of classic (i.e., 1950s and 1960s) television.

We remember the disappointing "Make Room for Daddy" (correctly, "The Danny Thomas Show," starting that season) Season 5 of a few years back, from Questar -- disappointing because they used the syndicated prints. (I didn't even bother to buy it.)

Now TVShowsOnDVD is reporting that S'more will be releasing Season 6 -- and, since S'more knows what they're doing, they're promising the original network prints, not the syndicated ones this time around.

This 1958-59 season will be of interest to fans of "I Love Lucy," because in one of the episodes Lucy and Desi appear as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo.

It's also of interest to baby boomers, because a great Boomer Icon -- Annette, no less -- was a regular for part of the season.

DeWilson · 07-04-2007, 10:19 AM

I'm thrilled that "The Danny Thomas Show" is finally getting the proper treatment on DVD.

Hank Dearborn · 07-04-2007, 10:37 AM

This really is one of the great sitcoms of all time. Too bad the Thomas family won't ever let out the first four seasons of the show but at least it will be nice to get this season and maybe more in it's original form and running time. Other than Ozzie and Harriet, I believe MRFD had the most episodes in sitcom history.

JohnOPR · 07-04-2007, 12:57 PM

Why won't the Thomas family allow the first four seasons to be released?

docdoowop · 07-04-2007, 01:45 PM

Rusty Hamer had the greatest comic timing of any child actor on TV. He was also given some great lines.

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Tom.W · 07-04-2007, 04:01 PM

More good news for fans of classic 60s tv this holiday. I did pick up the 5th season from Questar because it didn't look like this show was on the radar from anywhere else. Sounds like S'more is doing its part in the sitcom area for boomers. Extras sound good - an interview with the lovely Marjorie Lord, and Sid Melton. It would be nice to hear from Sherry Jackson and Angela Cartwright too.

BTW, about a season's worth of pre 5th season Danny Thomas Show episodes are presumably in pd. One or more religioius stations have aired them during the last few years. Also found a few eps put out by a company called Television Classics.

Joe Lugoff · 07-04-2007, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docdoowop

Rusty Hamer had the greatest comic timing of any child actor on TV. He was also given some great lines.

He was very good as an actor, but the people who worked with him don't have many good things to say about him as a person. He apparently was the ultimate spoiled brat. Angela Cartwright said he would trip her when she wasn't looking. Sounds charming. Of course, he had a very tragic end.

Hank Dearborn · 07-05-2007, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnOPR

Why won't the Thomas family allow the first four seasons to be released?

No one has ever said but it's assumed that Jean Hagen left the show and Thomas was probably not very happy about it. The last time these episodes ran legitimately was on NBC's late afternoon schedule in the early 60s. They have not be syndicated since. Neither has the 10th or 11th season been in syndication for many, many years. The package for at least the last 30 years has only consisted of seasons 5-9.

Joe Lugoff · 07-05-2007, 12:32 AM

The 10th Season (1962-63), Danny and Kathy went to Europe, and were only in something like every fourth episode. The other episodes starred Sid Melton and Pat Carroll and the kids. If they continue with season sets, I'll be surprised to see the 10th season make it to DVD.

I seem to have a dim memory that in the 11th Season, the Williamses moved to the country, like the Ricardos had done, but maybe I'm wrong.

Bert Greene · 07-06-2007, 07:26 PM

It had been quite a while since we'd heard anything from S'More, and it's great news to learn they're going to tackle "Make Room for Daddy." It's a sitcom that well deserves the care and treatment that S'More will provide. I was rather disheartened by the severely chopped-up prints that the 5th-season set delivered, and after three years, thought the prospects for the series on dvd were pretty dead in the water. The potential extras sound great. Marjorie Lord came out with a little autobiography a couple of years ago (I bought a copy of it from her at a show she attended), but it didn't really cover much about the Thomas show. Hope the S'More folks are able to entice some interesting anecdotes/memories out of her.