Now One of My Dreams Has Come True: The Mothers-in-Law on DVD! - Page 4

Thanks Rob for the great review! And thanks Rick for the heads-up---$18.99?? That's cheapola! I'm ordering it as we speak!

Continuing to explore the bonus extras on “The Mothers-in-Law:  The Complete Series,” I watched the unsold pilot, “The Carol Channing Show.”  Needless to say, how much you like it depends on how much you like Carol Channing.  It’s the same broad, slapstick comedy that’s found in “The Mothers-in-Law” so fans who buy this set may be inclined to look more favorably on this show than a general audience would.  It’s terribly silly, with the old gag of two people sharing a living space without realizing the other person is there.  (Carol has been given the key to Jane Dulo’s apartment when old friend Jane finds the aspiring actress living on a park bench in Central Park.  Carol is told not to wake Jane’s policeman husband played by Richard Deacon, hence the situation of two people in an apartment not knowing that the other is moving about.)

 

The networks were smart to pass on this one, of course, as Carol Channing is a bit much to take on a weekly basis and this sort of slapstick was considered old hat by 1967, when this appears to have been shot.  “The Mothers-in-Law” got picked up only because of the network’s fondness for Eve Arden from her years as “Our Miss Brooks.”  By the way, “The Lucy Show’s” Jimmy Garrett appears in the first park bench scene.

 

Doing some research in the L.A. Times’ online archive, I found an interview with Richard Deacon from 1968, at the time that he took over the role of Roger Buell.  He claims that he was the original choice for Roger but was committed to this Desilu companion pilot “The Carol Channing Show” and was thus out of the original running for the role.  When Roger C. Carmel left the show in a salary dispute the following season, Deacon was finally given the role.  According to Deacon, he was asked to wear a handlebar mustache resembling Carmel’s and get rid of the glasses, to which he adamantly refused.  He made the role his own, turning it into more of a Fred Mertz.

 

Kaye preferred Carmel’s interpretation, as it was more in tune with hers and less stereotypically Fred Mertz-ish.  Also of interest was the fact that Carmel was only 35 years old.  Kaye was about 41 and Jerry Fogel, playing her son, was 31.  Richard Deacon was about 47 when he took over.

If anyone has an early copy of this DVD, can anyone tell me who the copyright holder on the show is, and the companies involved?

er, MPI Home video is putting this out. So why don't you contact them and ask them :)

http://www.mpihomevideo.com/Store/Detail.asp?ProdID=10660

http://www.mpihomevideo.com/Contact/

Well, since no one, especially reviewer Rob, will tell me, I had to use logic and research and updated the Wikipedia entry on this show and hopefully the issue of rights will be settled for all of you.  If I'm wrong, let me know.

Oh, yeah.

 

I usually don't pre-order so early, but I figure I should lock in that price now.

 

Plus, even if it goes down even further for some reason before release day, Amazon usually refunds the difference.

I just saw your request today.  When I get home, I'll take a look at the box, but, generally speaking, it was a Desi Arnaz Production Company product, so I would think that the bulk of the rights are owned by Desilu, Too, although I'm told that Kaye Ballard and Eve Arden's estate own pieces of the pie.  I'll get back to you after checking the box.

Here's the DVD's copyright notice:  Copyright Desilu, Too LLC.  All Rights Reserved.  Packaging and Design copyright 2010 MPI Media Group.

Thanks, man.  Now we know the legal fate of this great series.  The Wikipedia article will be updated accordingly.

I pre-ordered this one and it is about the closest to a blind buy I've ever done for a TV DVD set. 

I've seen maybe 2-3 episodes at the most of this one. But with this cast, plus Desi making guest appearances and that superb price--could not pass this up!

I just took a quick look at the beginning of episode 1.
The NBC peacock color logo opens the show then a real treat, the brought to you by is intact complete with the actual product.

Only problem is the play all feature is not include.

i can't find this set stocked any where at all retail wise, so I will have to order it online.

 I just finished the first disc . I have enjoyed it more than i thought i would . I knew i'd like it . But i have liked it much more than i expected . Eve Arden is great . But  my memories of Kay Ballard weren't that great . But they sure have changed . She is a riot . Deborah Walley is adorable . And the guest appearance of Desi Arnez is very funny . And little Desi keeps popping up in the background . Once driving a cart and another time as a drummer .

 MPI has done a nice job with this show . 56 episodes on 7 discs and a bonus disc with all kinds of goodies and two Desi pilots that didn't sell . One called Lands End. Very pleased so far .

I'm really enjoying this one a LOT and am limiting myself to one show per week, on Sunday evenings.  Last night I watched "Career Gals" which was one of the best ones yet.  I'm sad the Roger C. Carmel didn't agree to come back for a second season.  He's created a unique character as Roger, whereas Richard Deacon made him into Fred Mertz.

 

At the time, I too didn't appreciate Kaye Ballard's talents because, for me, it was all about Eve Arden, whom I knew from old movies and "Our Miss Brooks."  But now, I see that she is enormously talented and plays off Eve very well.   

 

The material is hit and miss, but the stars' talents shine in every episode.  Their impersonations of "Doris Day" in "Career Gals" are hilarious.

A great treatment for this show-  I too have enjoyed watching this again!

 

Finally got my copy online...they didn't have it stocked anywhere I looked in the Albuquerque area...It was great to see this show again. It WAS very Lucy-ish...why not??? Desi produced it.

That Carol Channing Pilot was interesting..as was a special performance by Eve Arden and Cyd Charisse from 1959, hosted by none other than the late James Mitchell (Palmer Cortlandt of All My Children). I'm very satisfied with the whole package, but wonder why Jerry Fogel was not included in the extras???...he and Kaye Ballard are the only surviving cast members.