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Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

post #1 of 38
7/13/08 at 4:22pm
Thread Starter 
Originally Posted by Charles Ellis:
"As I suspected, the Smothers are doing a compilation DVD, though I would prefer season sets. On the other hand, I suppose the music fees concerning the great rock acts who appeared on the show (The Beatles, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, etc.) would be a stumbling block."

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD news: Rumors for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on DVD | TVShowsOnDVD.com

I'm starting a new thread for this release because it would just get lost in the general Time Life thread.

Okay, I got an email from Time Life with a coupon code (TLSUMMER) for 10% off, so I thought I'd order this Smothers Brothers DVD which is coming out supposedly on August 1, but if you do a search on the Time Life website, it's NOWHERE to be found.

And if you use this link from the TSoD site, there is no option to input the discount code (though it does offer free shipping). You just put your credit card in. Same with the Smothers Brothers website.

https://www.timelife.com/webapp/wcs/...:MicroSiteView

Anyone know why this isn't listed on the Time Life website yet? And how to use this code? Perhaps just phoning Time Life?
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post #2 of 38
7/13/08 at 6:16pm

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

I received an e-mail that took me right to it. But the Smothers Brothers comedy hour season 3 is at dvd pacific for $32.15. That is where I pr-ordered mine.
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post #3 of 38
7/13/08 at 6:28pm

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Barbara,G
...the Smothers Brothers comedy hour season 3 is at dvd pacific for $32.15. That is where I pr-ordered mine.

The Time Life product is only going to be available to consumers directly from them; they are not selling to any retailers. So I don't see how DVDPacific can be claiming to be able to fulfill any orders.
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post #4 of 38
7/13/08 at 6:38pm

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Dave,

I checked on this one at DVDPacific and the listing looks legit which is interesting. It's showing Time-Life as the source of the product as well. Is the street date 9/16/08 for this one? That's what they're showing for their listing. Check it out here
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post #5 of 38
7/14/08 at 6:40am
Thread Starter 

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Willis
Dave,

I checked on this one at DVDPacific and the listing looks legit which is interesting. It's showing Time-Life as the source of the product as well. Is the street date 9/16/08 for this one? That's what they're showing for their listing. Check it out here

I'm getting a little confused here. A search on DVDPriceSearch shows several retailers selling the season 3 set discounted from a retail price of $49 (not the $69 for the Time Life) and being released on October 14.

DVD Price Check

Lowest Price: $ 31.02 (DVDPacific.com)

DVDPacific.com $ 31.02
Buy.com $ 33.80
CD Universe $ 36.99
Barnes & Noble $ 39.99
Best Buy $ 44.99

Is this the same set? Does Time Life have exclusive rights to release on August 1, then, as soon as October, the retail price goes down and it's fair game to other retailers?

Why would I order from Time Life if I know I can get the same set for $20 less in a couple months? We need some illumination here.
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post #6 of 38
7/15/08 at 8:04am

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hollywoodaholic
I'm getting a little confused here. A search on DVDPriceSearch shows several retailers selling the season 3 set discounted from a retail price of $49 (not the $69 for the Time Life) and being released on October 14.

DVD Price Check

Lowest Price: $ 31.02 (DVDPacific.com)

DVDPacific.com $ 31.02
Buy.com $ 33.80
CD Universe $ 36.99
Barnes & Noble $ 39.99
Best Buy $ 44.99

Is this the same set? Does Time Life have exclusive rights to release on August 1, then, as soon as October, the retail price goes down and it's fair game to other retailers?

Why would I order from Time Life if I know I can get the same set for $20 less in a couple months? We need some illumination here.
The websites listed are billing this as a 3-DVD set. I suspect that it's missing the "Bonus DVD" of the 'Smothered' documentary as well as possibly 1 disc of extras. That would be my guess.
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post #7 of 38
7/15/08 at 8:43am
Thread Starter 

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

The mystery deepens. This link lists a 5-DVD Best of Season 3 product for Time Life, but if you call the Time Life customer service number and try to order the product ... they have no knowledge of the product.

I left voicemail with a Time Life account executive to call and hopefully clarify the situation.

https://www.timelife.com/webapp/wcs/...oKdczKRXcdsyXw

The Smothers Brothers website uses the same link to Time Life.

Smothers Brothers Home Page

Again, I've got a call into Knave Productions there to see if they can illuminate the situation.

Meanwhile, there are several online and B&M sites listing a 3-DVD version of the product available September 16 for $49 retail ($20 less than the Time Life product), and selling as low as $32. Here's a Barnes & Noble listing:

Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Season 3, DVD - Barnes & Noble

So, basically, I would say hold off ordering this product from anywhere until we find out what's up.
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post #8 of 38
7/15/08 at 12:43pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

I spoke with the rep from the Smothers Brothers company which put the DVD together and have an agreement with Time Life to release it and they were very surpised to hear that Time Life customer service had no knowledge or listing of the product.

The Smothers company doesn't have the product in hand yet, but they said the 5-DVD version of the Best of Season 3 was indeed scheduled for release on August 1. But perhaps the best place to order it from to be sure is the SmothersBrothers.com website itself, since the Time Life phone order takers don't seem to know.

The rep also didn't know anything about the 3-DVD release in a couple months or what exactly is on it and why retailers other than Time Life are offering it. Possibly it's the same release minus the documentary and bonus features. But what the arrangement is with the retailers offering it (none have a picture yet), and how this squares with Time Life's agreement is not clear.

Perhaps if the Time Life account executive calls back, we can get more information on that.

But there IS a 5-disc product scheduled for release on August 1, and this is still the best place to order it (but, alas, no discounts or free shipping):

http://www.smothersbrothers.com/sbdvdseason3.asp
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post #9 of 38
7/16/08 at 7:49am

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Does anybody know if the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD scheduled for release on August 1 will have a segment on it where Jim Morrison and The Doors were featured playing "Touch Me"? Thanks...
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post #10 of 38
7/16/08 at 8:20am
Thread Starter 

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by phil*
Does anybody know if the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD scheduled for release on August 1 will have a segment on it where Jim Morrison and The Doors were featured playing "Touch Me"? Thanks...

I can confirm that the Smothers Brothers rep told me this release does include The Doors performance in Season 3 of the show, if that's the song in question. I asked her if it also included the famous performance by The Who, where Keith Moon used too much dynamite on his drum set and blew out Pete Townshend's eardrum as he slid past playing guitar and she said that performance was in season 2 ... which they are preparing.


For some reason, they decided to release Best of Season 3 first. Maybe it's because of The Doors.
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post #11 of 38
7/16/08 at 10:08am

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hollywoodaholic
For some reason, they decided to release Best of Season 3 first. Maybe it's because of The Doors.

It was because the third season was the most controversial and, presumably, the best-remembered.
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post #12 of 38
7/16/08 at 10:33am
Thread Starter 

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyMcKinney
It was because the third season was the most controversial and, presumably, the best-remembered.

Jim Morrison singing "Touch Me" and then maybe doing it himself would definitely add to the controversy.
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post #13 of 38
7/25/08 at 6:23pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hollywoodaholic
The mystery deepens. This link lists a 5-DVD Best of Season 3 product for Time Life, but if you call the Time Life customer service number and try to order the product ... they have no knowledge of the product.

I left voicemail with a Time Life account executive to call and hopefully clarify the situation.

https://www.timelife.com/webapp/wcs/...oKdczKRXcdsyXw

The Smothers Brothers website uses the same link to Time Life.

Smothers Brothers Home Page

Again, I've got a call into Knave Productions there to see if they can illuminate the situation.

Meanwhile, there are several online and B&M sites listing a 3-DVD version of the product available September 16 for $49 retail ($20 less than the Time Life product), and selling as low as $32. Here's a Barnes & Noble listing:

Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Season 3, DVD - Barnes & Noble

So, basically, I would say hold off ordering this product from anywhere until we find out what's up.

TSoD clears up the mystery ...

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD news: Announcement for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour - The Best of Season 3 (Retail 4-Disc Release) | TVShowsOnDVD.com

Though, it's still a little confusing. But I have the documentary, so I'll wait for the September 16 version.
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post #14 of 38
8/10/08 at 1:16pm

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

DeepDiscount.com has the September 16 4-disc version for $30.36, best price I've seen yet.
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post #15 of 38
8/10/08 at 4:35pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by GlennH
DeepDiscount.com has the September 16 4-disc version for $30.36, best price I've seen yet.

Thanks for the price heads up. I see the Time Life 5-disc version has been delayed until August 25 (originally scheduled for August 1). I wonder if this will affect the September 16 release date of the doc-free version? I will probably wait until that version is actually out in stores and use a 40% off Borders coupon as soon as one pops up after. But if the Deep Discount price is less, that's the ticket.
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post #16 of 38
8/10/08 at 7:04pm

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

DVD Pacific has it for $29.34.
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post #17 of 38
8/13/08 at 10:49am

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Can somebody please tell me why this dvd is apparently not available for sale in Canada?
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post #18 of 38
8/13/08 at 12:08pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by phil*
Can somebody please tell me why this dvd is apparently not available for sale in Canada?

Maybe they're afraid stoned Viet Nam draft dodgers still hiding out might freak out if they saw Tommy and Dick on the cover and think it's still 1969.

Sorry, bad joke, but in the spirit of the show.

But seriously, it's not out in brick & mortar stores yet and only available after August 25th through online or phone order from Time Life which, I'm sure, will be happy to sell to Canada or anywhere else.

The 3-disk street version hits on September 16th, and that should be available at your local retailer. If not, Amazon has it. See some of the posts above for links.
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post #19 of 38
8/25/08 at 9:57am

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Anyone order this from Time Life or smothersbrothers.com? Seems that this is delayed yet again.
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post #20 of 38
8/25/08 at 10:17am

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Does anyone know exactly which shows will be on the set? I'm personally hoping on the "acoustic" episode from '68 with Donovan and Jennifer Warren a.k.a. Warnes- for me, that was the best episode in the entire series!
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post #21 of 38
8/25/08 at 11:17am
Thread Starter 

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles Ellis
Does anyone know exactly which shows will be on the set? I'm personally hoping on the "acoustic" episode from '68 with Donovan and Jennifer Warren a.k.a. Warnes- for me, that was the best episode in the entire series!

From what I understand, it's not going to be entire episodes from the Third season, but highlights and extended sequences. Also, it's only the third season and those musical performances from that same season. The Who and possibly that Donovan performance are from the first. But in talking to a rep from the Smothers Brothers official website, the second and first season are in the works, in that order.

I'll be anxious to hear from anyone receiving this set from Time Life how it looks and what exactly is on it (it was scheduled for August 25th). I will pick up the non-exclusive version next month that doesn't also include the documentary (I already have that).

Awaiting reviews.
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post #22 of 38
8/26/08 at 1:39pm

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Time Life is now listing a 8/28 shipping date for this. I hope that's true as I'm jonesin' for a Smothers fix!
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post #23 of 38
9/10/08 at 10:31am
Thread Starter 

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Here's a review from Billy Ingram's Classic TV Blog ....

DVD REVIEW
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour: Season 3

This superb DVD release is a Paul Brownstein production so you know going in it will be the best possible product; this one's is no exception. You get 11 third season Smothers Brothers Comedy Hours including the one that CBS ever aired, the episode that got them fired in 1969, supposedly because David Steinberg's sermonette routine was deemed offensive.

That episode also contains some interracial romance between Tommy and Nancy Wilson and a shout out to Martin Luther King's dream at the end of the show that surely would have been considered edgy in and of themselves.

While CBS cancelled other highly-rated series (like the Jackie Gleason & Red Skelton shows) at the time, that was an attempt to drop programs that attracted a primarily older audience. Demographics was the hot advertising buzzword in 1969 and the Smothers, with a top 20 show, had the coveted 18-34 age bracket locked in. Renewal from a business point of view was a no brainer, the contracts signed when CBS abruptly dropped the show.

(How serious CBS was that Steinberg's bit had crossed the line is undercut somewhat when you consider the network gave Steinberg his own summer variety show 3 years later where he did more sermonettes.)

If you're expecting to be shocked at how controversial the series was you may be slightly disappointed, by today's standards they never got really far out, the network muzzle was very tight. That the Smothers were poking fun of the establishment at all is what was amazing and the firing undoubtedly sent a chill and a strong message to other television producers to avoid anything that smacked of political satire.

And, indeed, with minor exceptions, it wasn't until The Daily Show debuted in 1996 that political satire returned to television. Even Saturday Nite Live, which owes a huge dept to the Smothers, rarely ventured into any real biting political satire outside of the Weekend Update segments.

The Smothers sued CBS for breach of contract and won but their career was irreparably damaged.

These episodes come with the wonderful intros and outros filmed for the E! Network in the early-1990s and there are extended interviews with the show's personnel, folks like David Steinberg, Bob Newhart, Allan Blye, Bob Einstein, and others included.

I can't recommend this amazing collection more highly, it's a fabulous trip back to a time that seems so far away, so long ago, yet so fresh as reflected in this series.

Sadly, the episodes aren't all complete. On one show, musician John Hartman is listed as a guest but there's no Hartman, which is odd since he was a Smothers regular and it couldn't have been that expensive to get the rights to the tune he performed.

Tom Smothers has stated that he doubts these shows will appeal to the modern audiences. I found the experience a rich and highly enjoyable one and can't wait for the best of season 2 collection which is reportedly in production.

You get 11 episodes of the Comedy Hour on 3 discs while the fourth disc is devoted to Pat Paulsen with the very funny (and trippy) Pat Paulsen For President special along with the comic's standup act, public appearances as he was running for office at various times, some hilarious outakes from the special, and more cool stuff.

There are tons of other extras - new audio intros by Tom Smothers, 2 show promos, excerpts from the Smothers' 1969 press conference after their firing, hundreds of network & government memos, and more. This one's a treasure]

TVparty TV Blog / Classic Television Blog / TV Blog
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post #24 of 38
10/4/08 at 11:19am
Thread Starter 

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

I'm thoroughly enjoying this set. The Smothers themselves can often slow the proceedings down, but the stuff in between is often priceless:

Three performances from the musical "Hair." Notice a very young with glasses Jennifer Warnes in the cast.

The two minute edited clip of the history of the United States matched to the drum beat.

Bob Newhart peforming in a musical sketch to the song "I Wonder What Would Happen If?" that poses ideological wish lists ... and one of the skit punchlines is that the black man driving ... is the President.

The Doors singing "Wild Child" and "Touch Me" along with brass and strings. Notice during "Touch Me" that Robby Krieger has taken off his sunglasses and he has a huge black eye. Wonder what the story is behind that.

George Carlin with hair on top of his head instead of his face.

Harry Belafonte singing a song "Don't Stop the Carnival" over flim clips of riots at the '68 Democratic Convention. (A piece that was actually cut from the broadcast version of the show).

Great stuff.
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post #25 of 38
10/4/08 at 10:16pm

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charles Ellis
Does anyone know exactly which shows will be on the set? I'm personally hoping on the "acoustic" episode from '68 with Donovan and Jennifer Warren a.k.a. Warnes- for me, that was the best episode in the entire series!

Yes, that 3rd season classic is the first episode on disc 2... George Harrison, Dion, Jennifer Warren, and Donovan.
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post #26 of 38
10/6/08 at 8:42am

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

I got an email from smothersbrothersdvd.com or whatever it is saying that they lost my cc information in a computer crash and asking me to resubmit. Screw that. I don't trust these people.
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post #27 of 38
10/6/08 at 8:54am

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hollywoodaholic
Three performances from the musical "Hair." Notice a very young with glasses Jennifer Warnes in the cast.
Hollywoodaholic,

Did you happen to note which works from that musical were performed? I would assume at least the title track, and maybe The Flesh Failures. By chance, was Frank Mills one of the three? Thanks.
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post #28 of 38
10/6/08 at 11:47am
Thread Starter 

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

No Frank Mills. Trying to remember the titles of the actual songs is tough, but Hair was in there, Manchester, England, I believe, and the finale leading to Let the Sun Shine. It was almost 10 minutes worth.
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post #29 of 38
10/6/08 at 11:51am

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hollywoodaholic
No Frank Mills. Trying to remember the titles of the actual songs is tough, but Hair was in there, Manchester, England, I believe, and the finale leading to Let the Sun Shine. It was almost 10 minutes worth.
Hollywood,

Many thanks!
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post #30 of 38
11/18/08 at 11:47am

Re: Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour DVD

FYI. Currently on sale at Amazon for $24.99 (50% off).
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