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Room 222...Could It Be? - Page 4

post #91 of 108
3/30/09 at 10:34am

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

It is unusual when a vintage show is actually better than I remember it, but I think this program is going to be one of those happy occasions. I have only watched the first four episodes, but so far I have been very impressed with the overall quality of the content. The acting and writing are both first rate, and I can see Karen Valentine scored a roll that was perfect for her. The picture quality is a little disappointing, but the show has been good enough that I'm not going to complain about the prints in this case.
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post #92 of 108
3/30/09 at 10:44pm

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tina_H_V
I concur, Brian. My only drawback about the featurette is that Karen Valentine and Lloyd Haynes did not participate, although the latter can not for obvious reasons.

Otherwise, I enjoyed hearing from those surviving principals who did participate. MIchael Constantine and a still-beautiful Denise Nicholas gave terrific insight to what the series was about and what it meant to them. James L. Brooks and the other gentleman were also great as well.

I am going to continue going through this fine box set this weekend. I have only totally seen the first five episodes thus far as to not burn through the entire freshman season instantly as I would have by now, otherwise.

Lloyd Haynes passed away in 1986. I would've loved to see Karen Valentine today. This is one of those vintage shows I never saw much of and am getting because of it's reputation.

I sampled the shows and they simply look just like vintage 16mm telecine just like they would look like syndicated (though the shows are uncut) in the 1970's or early 80's.

Although I would've preferred an up to date transfer, I also enjoy the vintage look of the shows as they are. I have yet to see a full episode though.
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post #93 of 108
3/30/09 at 10:46pm

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

Strange to watch the first two episodes as I did and then see in the end credits the name of Terry Becker as Associate Producer. He had just finished four years as Chief Sharkey on "Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea"!
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post #94 of 108
3/31/09 at 1:41am

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

I would've loved to see Karen Valentine today.

If you're just curious to see what she looks like now, she occasionally cohosts the GSN Live broadcasts on Game Show Network. She looks almost the same now as she did in her Alice Johnson days.
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post #95 of 108
3/31/09 at 7:14am

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

I'm on the second disc right now and I have to say this is one enjoyable ride! It's too bad about the overall picture quality. But, all things considered, I'd much rather have UNCUT beat-up looking prints than syndicated versions with music replacements etc. that might look slightly better. If this was a judgement call on Shout! Factory's part, they clearly made the right decision.

I have to agree with Brian that "Our Teacher Is Obsolete" looks absolutely splendid! It is quite a revelation from a PQ standpoint and demonstrates just how stunning this package could have been if Fox had either provided Shout! with better sources or cared enough about this EMMY winning property to properly restore the program in the first place. Still, kudos to Shout! Factory for bringing out Room 222 in its original uncut form on DVD! If sales are strong and with any luck, Shout! may be able to release second season in the same kind of improved fashion they brought to Father Knows Best season two!
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post #96 of 108
3/31/09 at 8:03pm

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

I concur!!!!!! "Our Teacher Is Obsolete" is one sweet-looking episode!!!!! All the colors from first-frame to last are neat and clean with popping-fresh colors and healthy skin tones. I was also able to see Denise Nicholas' soft blue eyes very clearly!!!!!!!!
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post #97 of 108
4/2/09 at 11:16am
Thread Starter 

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

The last episode on disc 4, Just Between Friends, looks just as good.
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post #98 of 108
4/2/09 at 9:51pm

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Himes
The last episode on disc 4, Just Between Friends, looks just as good.


Looking forward to checking that one out, Brian!!!!!!! I am taking my time in going through the episodes so I can savor them more in a relaxing environment on a glorious Sunday afternoon. I have three more to view closely on Disc Two before moving on to the other case inside the box.
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post #99 of 108
4/3/09 at 5:56am

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

I had a big crush on Karen, back in the day.
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post #100 of 108
4/15/09 at 11:12am

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

I finally completed the first season (I was taking my time and only allowing myself to watch one episode at a time to savor the experience) and I really hope sales a strong enough that Shout! Factory sees their way clear to release the rest of this wonderful series! It's hard to comprehend that prior to 1969 (the year I graduated from high school) Room 222 was only the second program on network TV to feature an African American in a lead role. James L. Brooks and Alan Burns comments (in the brief interview extra included on disc four) were really interesting. According to Brooks, ABC sent him a note and asked him to develop a pilot about a "black school teacher" and with no further guidance, Brooks came up with Room 222. I also enjoyed Denise Nicholas remarks about Gene Reynolds and the Room 222 Scholarship he established and has personally funded every year since the show went off the air. It is awarded to a worthy male and female high school senior at the same high school that was used as the primary location for Walt Whitman High. Pretty classy thing to do as far as I'm concerned!
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post #101 of 108
4/15/09 at 3:38pm

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

Quote:
Originally Posted by pitchman
I finally completed the first season (I was taking my time and only allowing myself to watch one episode at a time to savor the experience) and I really hope sales a strong enough that Shout! Factory sees their way clear to release the rest of this wonderful series! It's hard to comprehend that prior to 1969 (the year I graduated from high school) Room 222 was only the second program on network TV to feature an African American in a lead role. James L. Brooks and Alan Burns comments (in the brief interview extra included on disc four) were really interesting. According to Brooks, ABC sent him a note and asked him to develop a pilot about a "black school teacher" and with no further guidance, Brooks came up with Room 222. I also enjoyed Denise Nicholas remarks about Gene Reynolds and the Room 222 Scholarship he established and has personally funded every year since the show went off the air. It is awarded to a worthy male and female high school senior at the same high school that was used as the primary location for Walt Whitman High. Pretty classy thing to do as far as I'm concerned!


I also finished the set and thoroughly enjoyed it. I think there well be more sets released.

I also noticed in the interview that they said Room 222 was the second program on netowrk TV to feature an African American lead. This is not actually correct though. I'm assuming they were refering to Julia as the first which premiered in 1968. I Spy, however, featured Bill Cosby in a leading role, and that premiered in 1965. Nonetheless, Room 222 was a show that continued to break barriers.
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post #102 of 108
4/16/09 at 4:07am

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

Quote:
Originally Posted by TV_Fan
I also noticed in the interview that they said Room 222 was the second program on netowrk TV to feature an African American lead. This is not actually correct though. I'm assuming they were refering to Julia as the first which premiered in 1968. I Spy, however, featured Bill Cosby in a leading role, and that premiered in 1965. Nonetheless, Room 222 was a show that continued to break barriers.

And if you go back to the early 1950s, there were African American leads in the comedy shows "Amos 'n' Andy" and "The Beulah Show."
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post #103 of 108
4/16/09 at 9:57am

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

I suppose the definition of the phrase "to feature an African American in a lead role" is paramount. I too thought of the shows mentioned by a few posters above, as well as the role of Greg Morris as Barney in Mission: Impossible!. But I do think of Diahann Carroll (Julia) and Bill Cosby (I Spy) more so than I do of Greg Morris (supporting role?) when I think of 'lead role.'

BTW, I loved Julia during its original run.
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post #104 of 108
4/18/09 at 12:10pm

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

I Finally got the First Disk from Blockbust and it is a pretty sad quality to these disks I have seen Public Domain stuff look better. You would think that in 2009 we could do better than this.
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post #105 of 108
4/18/09 at 3:26pm

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Scarpa
I Finally got the First Disk from Blockbust and it is a pretty sad quality to these disks I have seen Public Domain stuff look better. You would think that in 2009 we could do better than this.

Dave,

I agree with you. I bought the set and rate it an A+++ for the show itself but it's sad to see this transfer Q these days from what I consider to be one of the better major Independents. I realize that perhaps that's all Shout was given to work with (ie no access to the master prints) but we know on this Bd that this isn't always the case with these older shows. Occasionally a studio will release a set such as this one when they had access to the masters.

Due to the xfr Q, It'll take some time to get through the set but imo, the show itself sure holds up well for me having seen it in its original airings.
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post #106 of 108
4/18/09 at 4:26pm

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Willis
Dave,

I agree with you. I bought the set and rate it an A+++ for the show itself but it's sad to see this transfer Q these days from what I consider to be one of the better major Independents. I realize that perhaps that's all Shout was given to work with (ie no access to the master prints) but we know on this Bd that this isn't always the case with these older shows. Occasionally a studio will release a set such as this one when they had access to the masters.

Due to the xfr Q, It'll take some time to get through the set but imo, the show itself sure holds up well for me having seen it in its original airings.

I Can't watch these on my Bravia LCD it actually fatigues My Eyes, I'll be looking for a Cheap copy at some point and I'll encode them to Divx and Watch them on my Portable Player where the bad quality won't be as noticible
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post #107 of 108
5/6/09 at 11:21pm

Re: Room 222...Could It Be?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Scarpa
I Can't watch these on my Bravia LCD it actually fatigues My Eyes, I'll be looking for a Cheap copy at some point and I'll encode them to Divx and Watch them on my Portable Player where the bad quality won't be as noticible

They look like what they are - 16mm films that were transferred to tape around 25 or 30 years ago. They may not look great but the show is great.
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post #108 of 108
8/19/09 at 7:43am
I've watched the first seven episodes from this memorable series. The issues raised on the show are fun and thought-provoking, and the characters (the four primary and numerous secondary) are very interesting and at times a bit quirky.  Bernie hasn't really taken off yet, although Helen, Richie, and Jason have been granted a lot of air time thus far.

I think the four principles have some really good on-screen chemistry. I hadn't seen the show in almost forty years before I purchased this DVD release.  The quality leaves something to be desired in the earlier episodes, but these are still watchable.  I've been watching one or two of these each night, followed by an episode of season two of The Mod Squad. :)
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