Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › TV on DVD and Blu-ray › THE DONNA REED SHOW, SEASON 3 - October 20th
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

THE DONNA REED SHOW, SEASON 3 - October 20th

post #1 of 63
8/3/09 at 6:48am
Thread Starter 
Per the info on DVDPlanet found here:

www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_item.asp

Looks like this series is still moving forward.  That's good news!  I know Jeff will agree with me, right? 




Gary "nice turnaround time too" O.
Reply
post #2 of 63
8/3/09 at 10:35am
Hurray!

I am really enjoying season two at the moment!
Reply
post #3 of 63
8/3/09 at 2:03pm
This really surprised me, that they would announce season 3 so soon after season two's release. Sounds like the sets may be selling well. YAY!!!
Reply
post #4 of 63
8/3/09 at 3:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary OS View Post

Per the info on DVDPlanet found here:

www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_item.asp

Looks like this series is still moving forward.  That's good news!  I know Jeff will agree with me, right? 




Gary "nice turnaround time too" O.
 

That's a big 10-4    I needed this news since....I FORGOT TO ORDER S2 during the sale    Is there anyone else on the planet that's done that?  I think it was because it was the only time that I phone-ordered instead of 'net ordered due to a question about a couple of other sets that were incorrectly listed on DD's site.

I guess I'll wait until the next DD sale and get S2 with S3.
Reply
post #5 of 63
8/3/09 at 3:42pm
I never expected Season Three of "The Donna Reed Show" to be released so very soon after it's Second Season Release!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a very pleasant Surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Hula hoop 2  YESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
post #6 of 63
8/4/09 at 5:19am
Keep 'em coming , baby!
Reply
post #7 of 63
9/2/09 at 2:23pm
Here is a link to Season Three of "The Donna Reed Show" which tells about the 'Special Features' that will be included on this Third Season Release...

http://www.virgilfilmsent.com/store/landing.php?table=Television
Edited by Greg2356 - 10/31/09 at 11:11pm
Reply
post #8 of 63
9/3/09 at 8:46am
Excited for the special features!!!! 

By the way -- is this a Michael Jackson banana? 
Reply
post #9 of 63
9/3/09 at 9:31am
YES, it surely is a Michael Jackson Banana!!! Finally somebody realizes that Michael lives on through this Banana Character!!!!! 

       >>>>>  Right On--- Elena!!!!!!!!!!!!!Chess
Reply
post #10 of 63
9/9/09 at 10:49am

Does anyone know why Shelley Fabares left the series after four years ??  I found the show was not as good after her hasty departure.  Was it planned or did she feel she outgrew the series??   One of the best episodes of the series is her debut as a singer.  It was not long  after that she exited the show.  Did she do episodes every season after she left the series and did she show up for the final episode when the series ended ??
Thanks !!!

Reply
post #11 of 63
9/9/09 at 1:01pm
It does appear Shelley Fabares left for loftier opportunities in movies. However, from what I read she did come back to the show periodically.
Reply
post #12 of 63
9/9/09 at 3:02pm
Did anyone replace Shelly as the daughter in the family?  I'm a first-time viewer of the show on DVD.
Reply
post #13 of 63
9/9/09 at 3:05pm
Yes.  Paul's real-life sister played an orphan whom the Family Stone adopted.  Trouble was, she looked *exactly* like Paul, so I think Dr. Stone had some 'splain' to do!
Reply
post #14 of 63
9/9/09 at 4:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob_Ray View Post

Yes.  Paul's real-life sister played an orphan whom the Family Stone adopted.  Trouble was, she looked *exactly* like Paul, so I think Dr. Stone had some 'splain' to do!

Thanks for the info.  Who did they get to play the new character?  How did the show do after Shelly left?  I'm still viewing S1 and one of the reasons this show's one of my all-time best blind-buys, is the "kids" in the family.  Great acting, imo.  The whole cast seemed to have that "rapport" that makes shows great.
Reply
post #15 of 63
9/9/09 at 5:14pm
After Shelley left the series it lost some of it's luster.  It was a huge loss to the show.  Sort of like when Sherry Jackson, left "The Danny Thomas Show".  However, it ran three more years after she left.  No one has answered was she back for the remaining seasons as a guest star. I remember her being there the first year after she left for three or four episodes, but what about the other seasons ??  I will only purchase the seasons she was featured in the series.
Reply
post #16 of 63
9/10/09 at 11:01am
Yes, Shelley Fabares came back in episodes for the Six Season and the Seventh Season. I am not quite sure how many episodes she was in during the Seventh Season. In the Final 'Eighth Season' she didn't appear at all! Donna Stone did mention to somebody in one episode during the Eighth Season that they had a daughter away at college.
Reply
post #17 of 63
9/10/09 at 5:37pm

Well that is a BUMMER that Shelley did not return for the final season and how was the final episode of the show ??
Too bad there was never a reunion !!!
It was a great series the first FIVE seasons.

Reply
post #18 of 63
9/11/09 at 1:00am
The Final Episode of "The Donna Reed Show" entitled, "By-Line - - Jeffrey Stone" with singer Lesley Gore was a fun episode to watch! The storyline was written by Paul Petersen himself. You could tell during the scene from this episode in which Donna and Alex are in the audience listening to Lesley Gore sing, that Donna Reed is just absolutely beaming!!! I for one believe she looked like this because she knew she was finally going to retire from her series, after doing 275 Episodes. She stated in years previous on a 'Talk Show' that she had been wanting to go off the air, but 'THEY' as she put it, wouldn't let her... 

Actually the episode that aired previous to this Lesley Gore episode seemed to me to be more like the Final Episode from "The Donna Reed Show" that was entitled, "What Price Home?" in which the Stones put their house up for sale, and reminisce about their years there... The scene with Donna Reed and Paul Petersen reminiscing where Donna is in tears, I found to be very touching indeed! Incidentally, The Stones change their mind, and do not sell their home after all... What a Relief!!!!

Yes, it would have been nice if Shelley Fabares could have been included in this episode entitled, "What Price Home?" I could just hear Mary saying in a somewhat hysterical voice, "I can't believe your actually serious about selling this Great House especially with all the wonderful memories we have all shared here together!!!!!" Shelley Fabares would surely have added much to this episode!

As for a Reunion Show of "The Donna Reed Show" it was in the works, and Paul Petersen was going to write it. He was going to make this Reunion Show very dramatic in direct competition to the "Father Knows Best" Reunion Shows. But unfortunately, Carl Betz's untimely death prevented there ever being a "Donna Reed Show" Reunion Episode.










 

Edited by Greg2356 - 9/11/09 at 2:11am
Reply
post #19 of 63
9/11/09 at 5:49am
Thread Starter 
Greg, thanks so much for all that info.  I guess I'm in for the duration of this series, but I've always hated cast changes of any kind in these quaint shows.  It just disturbs the nice little world the family, and audience, lives in for those 30 or 60 minutes each week.  Coming from a divorced home when I was only four, I'm sure one of the draws of these older series is the beautiful sense of security and continuity.  Friends are always there for one another; people resolve their difficulties by the end of the episode; and everyone lives happily ever after.  I know that's not the real world, but I don't watch TV to get more of the real world.  Frankly, I've never understood people that do watch for that reason.  Seems bizarre to me.  Oh well, I digress.

Yeah, it will be a shame to get to Season 5 and not have Shelley there all the time, and it will surely hurt watching those last couple of episodes and not seeing her there.  What a shame. 

Gary "does anyone else hate cast changes for the same reason I do?" O.
Reply
post #20 of 63
9/11/09 at 6:34am

I am with you on cast changes, a few come to mind and the series were never as good after the main character departed.  I am a firm believer in replacing the character on the series.
Some series that were impacted after they left
Victoria Principal on "DALLAS"
Mia Farrow on "PEYTON PLACE"
Barbara Stanwyck on "THE COLBYS"
Linda Gray on "DALLAS"
Barbara Bel Geddes on "DALLAS"
they brought back Patrick Duffy after he was gone for a year on the series !!!
Delta Burke on "DESIGNING WOMEN"
Sherry Jackson on "MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY"

Reply
post #21 of 63
9/11/09 at 8:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary OS View Post

...I've always hated cast changes of any kind in these quaint shows.  It just disturbs the nice little world the family, and audience, lives in for those 30 or 60 minutes each week.  Coming from a divorced home when I was only four, I'm sure one of the draws of these older series is the beautiful sense of security and continuity.  Friends are always there for one another; people resolve their difficulties by the end of the episode; and everyone lives happily ever after.  I know that's not the real world, but I don't watch TV to get more of the real world.  Frankly, I've never understood people that do watch for that reason.  Seems bizarre to me. 

 
I'm with you, Gary, all the way on these cast changes.  Unfortunately, the real world does tend to invade these shows, and not just when people like Shelley Fabares get opportunities to go off and make pictures Elvis.  Bewitched and Petticoat Junction may be the champions here.  Bewitched lost a great deal of its heart when Alice Pearce and Marion Lorne died.  Alice was replaced by Sandra Gould and the writers inexplicably turned her character into a shrew with no audience sympathy.  And Marion Lorne's Aunt Clara was simply irreplaceable.  She was that unique.  Kasey Rogers replaced Irene Vernon as Larry Tate's wife, Louise, and her character morphed from a typically cool, sophisticated executive's wife to a fun-loving gal.    That one didn't hurt the show, but the character was certainly not the same.  And then there was new Darrin.  I found Dick York a bit neurotic, but with a wonderful flair for comic reaction which Dick Sargent couldn't emulate.  Still, the show managed to plow on for eight seasons.

Then there's poor Petticoat Junction.  Two seasons in, two of the three girls left and were recast.  One season later, one of the two was recast yet again.  And death took an awful toll on this series when Smiley Burnette died and then the lovely Bea Benederet who was the very soul of that show.  I felt Petticoat Junction failed it's loyal audience by not stopping and holding tribute shows to Smiley and most especially Bea, with clips from past episodes and either the characters reminiscing or the actors themselves.  It was almost as if the characters never existed.  Petticoat Junction managed to continue on for another year and a half after Bea's death, but it wasn't the same.
Reply
post #22 of 63
9/11/09 at 8:21am
I'm with you guys on the  cast changing in TV shows.  Imo, it's rare when a show improves after a major character cast change.  At the moment, I can think of only 1 show where (for me) there was a cast change that I thought made a show better.  

"Combat!" when Conlan Carter assumed the role as "Doc" after season 1.


As for Donna Reed, I might have a small advantage in that I'm viewing the show for the 1st time on DVD.  I don't have the memories of watching back in the 50's/60's.  That said, I can't picture the show well without Shelly in there as the sister.  From my take on the show so far (still viewing S1 about halfway thru), the chemistry between the kids is great....heck, they're all great in this show.  One of my best blind-buys ever.

Jeff " +1, Gary....I can watch CNN or local news to get a dose of 'reality'" W.
Reply
post #23 of 63
9/12/09 at 1:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary OS View Post

Greg, thanks so much for all that info.  I guess I'm in for the duration of this series, but I've always hated cast changes of any kind in these quaint shows.




 

No Problem Gary, glad you enjoyed the info!

By the way, I don't like cast changes very much either!! I only somewhat accepted Shelley Fabares leaving "The Donna Reed Show" because I have always been interested in, and completely intrigued by Donna Reed herself. Plus the fact, that I didn't start watching "The Donna Reed Show" until it was in it's Sixth Season when it was originally airing in the evenings on the ABC Television Network when I was 10 years old. So I didn't start watching this show at the time when Shelley Fabares was continually featured in it. But, when I was off from school in the summer months, and ABC was also airing Reruns of "The Donna Reed Show" every weekday, I was in heaven! Plus the fact that I had gotten to know the Mary Stone Character much better during these daytime reruns, and enjoyed her very much! So I had watched "The Donna Reed Show" in the daytime during the summer months five days a week with Shelley Fabares featured in it, plus the rest of the Great Cast. And then every Thursday Evening I would watch the Newer Episodes of "The Donna Reed Show" with their Adopted Daughter Trisha, and of course their son Jeff which had also included as well the Stone's Permanent Neighbor Friends, 'Dave & Midge Kelsey!' I loved being able to catch up with the older episodes from "The Donna Reed Show" which I had missed seeing in previous years, and then being able to watch the newer episodes from this continuing great series every Thursday Evening. It was a lot of fun and a great satisfaction for me to be able to do this...

I agree that in today's times, real life is a Bummer to say the least, that is why I don't watch reality shows either! These Classic Shows from yesteryear are truly comforting to me, and most always put me in a Great Mood! I long for the simpler times from the era of when these Great Series had originally been broadcast.

Just as a side note: The episode from "The Donna Reed Show" that really shocked and impressed me at the same time, was an episode from it's Seventh Season in which the Guest Star was Marlo Thomas. I had never heard anybody talk so very rude to Donna Stone. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! You see, Jeff was dating a woman that was quite a bit older than himself that happened to have a chip on her shoulder as well! This woman named Louise played excellently by Marlo Thomas really ripped into the 'Donna Stone Character.' Donna knew that something very  emotionally disturbing was troubling this woman, and just kept on asking Louise just what was bothering her? Then this woman lasses out even more at Donna saying as I recall, "Nothing is bothering me, but I know what is bothering you, your just jealous of anybody who is dating your son since you think nobody is good enough for your son!" And she went on and on in her very rude disrespectful tone of voice verbally attacking Donna! Even telling Donna in an unflattering way that she was Perfect Donna, with Perfect Hair, Perfect Face, etc etc. But Donna in her own temperate way held strong with this woman that Jeff was dating, letting her know that she was the one in complete control of her emotions, much more so than this other woman who was trying so very hard to put-down Donna in which Donna saw right through all this, realizing that this woman that her son Jeff was so infatuated with was merely a very emotionally troubled individual. This woman Louise just couldn't handle the fact any longer that Donna didn't seem to be shocked by anything she threw at her, and came to the realization that she couldn't beat Donna down in anyway shape or form no matter what she said to her... Donna just kept continuing to ask this obviously tortured woman in various levels of Compassionate Tones, "Louise what's Wrong?" Finally when the character Louise absolutely couldn't handle the realization that Donna is such a strong grounded unmovable force, she has a complete Emotional Meltdown right in the Stone's Kitchen in crying rather loudly, and uncontrollably! Donna puts her arms around poor Louise in an attempt to try and comfort her. I won't reveal what was troubling the Louise Character since I don't want to ruin the story for people who haven't seen this episode yet, but it was an episode from "The Donna Reed Show" that I have never forgotten as you can see!

Sorry about the sentences being cut off in mid-line on this post! I tried to correct this problem several times by going back and Re-Editing It, but --  had no luck with it!!!!!

   

Edited by Greg2356 - 9/12/09 at 1:15pm
Reply
post #24 of 63
9/12/09 at 4:18am
Greg,

Echo Gary's "kudos" for your post.  Your story about the daytime "Donna Reed" episodes reminded me of another of my all-timers, "Bewitched".  I also rememer doing the same thing with that one, when it was shown in daytime and the prime-time run was still in progress.

Donna Reed: Thanks for the "spoiler" omission.  I'm one of those new viewers to this one and love the show.  I don't know for myself about getting the entire series on DVD, if the releases continue.  I'll wait for some feedback about the effect on the absense of Shelly from the cast before deciding on the seasons after #4.  I just have a lot of sets on the shelf not viewed and have to watch the TV/DVD budget more than in the past.
Reply
post #25 of 63
9/12/09 at 11:55am
Your in Luck Jeff, Shelley Fabares didn't leave "The Donna Reed Show" until after the Fifth Season!!! So there are plenty of Great Episodes with Shelley Fabares during this Fifth Season as well!!!! I think you may have thought that Shelley Fabares left the series after the Fourth Season because since the 1980's for some reason The Donna Reed Show's Syndicated Package of episodes that were contracted out to various Television Stations that had requested it, were cut down from a 275 Episode Syndicated Package to a 175 Episode Syndicated Package. But now that Donna Reed's Children have won the rights to the First Five Seasons of their Mother's Television Show from Sony Pictures, it has been said that the Fourth Season that hasn't been in syndication for many years will be coming out on DVD as well!

So hopefully, we fans will be able to purchase on DVD, all Five Seasons from "The Donna Reed Show" that featured Shelley Fabares full time! I myself am looking very forward to seeing the Complete Fourth Season of "The Donna Reed Show" that I haven't seen for ages!!!! And the Fifth Season that I have seen a lot of times, is a Great Season with many great Shelley Fabares Episodes before she left the show the following year to do movies, and then Shelley was only included in episodes from the Sixth Season once in a while...
Edited by Greg2356 - 9/13/09 at 8:55am
Reply
post #26 of 63
9/12/09 at 12:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg2356 View Post

Your in Luck Jeff, Shelley Fabares didn't leave "The Donna Reed Show" until after the Fifth Season!!! So there are plenty of Great Episodes with Shelley Fabares during this Fifth Season as well!!!! I think you may have thought that Shelley Fabares left the series after the Fourth Season because since the 1980's for some reason The Donna Reed Show's Syndicated Package of episodes that were contracted out to various Television Stations that had requested it, were cut down from a 275 Episode Syndicated Package to a 175 Episode Syndicated Package. But now that Donna Reed's Children have won the rights to the First Five Seasons of their Mother's Television Show from Sony Pictures, it has been said that the Fourth Season that hasn't been in syndication for many years will be coming out on DVD as well!

So hopefully, we fans will be able to purchase on DVD, all Five Seasons from "The Donna Reed Show" that featured Shelley Fabares full time! I myself am looking very forward to seeing the Complete Fourth Season of "The Donna Reed Show" that I haven't seen for ages!!!! And the Fifth Season that I have seen a lot of times is a Great Season with many great Shelley Fabares Episodes, before she left the show the following year to do movies, and then Shelley was only included in episodes from the Sixth Season once in a while...


Thanks for that information, Greg!  It explains a lot as to why I always felt I had holes in my memories with this show and especially the later seasons.  Jeff and I were just talking about this recently, and what you've shared helps clear things up for me and my distant memories of watching this show in reruns as a kid in the 70's and again as a teenager in the early to mid 80's.

Gary "guess I'm definitely in for at least 5 seasons" O.
Reply
post #27 of 63
9/12/09 at 2:02pm
Greg, you made my day  Thanks for the info and the S4 news.  I'm still viewing S1 and really like this show.  I watched "Jeff's Double Date" last night.

I'll be in thru S5 as well.  As Gary mentioned, we had thought Shelly exited after S4.  I didn't check IMDB close enough.  I see where Patty Petersen joined the cast in '63 in the 6th season.

Don't know how I missed this one back when it aired as well as syndicaton.  Just one of those things.  There were so many good shows on TV back then and it was long before the home recording age.
Reply
post #28 of 63
9/12/09 at 3:03pm

Quote: 
Originally Posted by Gary OS

Thanks for that information, Greg!  It explains a lot as to why I always felt I had holes in my memories with this show and especially the later seasons.  Jeff and I were just talking about this recently, and what you've shared helps clear things up for me and my distant memories of watching this show in reruns as a kid in the 70's and again as a teenager in the early to mid 80's.

Gary "guess I'm definitely in for at least 5 seasons" O.
--------------------------------------------------------------

Gary, I am very glad that I could shed some light on this subject that concerns "The Donna Reed Show." I really appreciated your Post!

Myself, I have been frustrated for years not being able to see all the episodes from "The Donna Reed Show!" It has been like reading a book with missing chapters! I've written letters to Television Stations over the years inquiring about all these missing episodes that I remember from my Favorite Show. I would get answers back saying something like, ( Wow, you sure must be a Big Fan of "The Donna Reed Show," hopefully we can contract these episodes you talk about in the very near future! )  Nobody could ever really give me a satisfactory answer as to why these episodes weren't aired! I had asked Paul Petersen in 2002 as to why "The Donna Reed Show" hadn't ever been released on DVD like other TV Shows had been... Paul was kind enough to forward the email that I had originally sent to him to Mary Owen, which is the youngest daughter of Donna Reed and Tony Owen. And she in turn sent me an email explaining that her and her siblings were trying to get the Rights to the First Five Seasons of her Mother's Show. She told me that she didn't know that so many of her Mother's TV Shows were missing from syndication until I informed her of this fact. And she wanted me to give her any information I had concerning these missing episodes from her Mother's Show.

It took close to six years from the time that I had received this first email from Mary Owen, for her and her siblings to gain the Rights to the first 'Five Seasons' of her Mother's Television Series. But, I am so 'Very Glad' they did!!!!!  


Edited by Greg2356 - 9/13/09 at 10:37am
Reply
post #29 of 63
9/12/09 at 3:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Willis View Post

Greg, you made my day  Thanks for the info and the S4 news.  I'm still viewing S1 and really like this show.  I watched "Jeff's Double Date" last night.

I'll be in thru S5 as well.  As Gary mentioned, we had thought Shelly exited after S4.  I didn't check IMDB close enough.  I see where Patty Petersen joined the cast in '63 in the 6th season.

Don't know how I missed this one back when it aired as well as syndicaton.  Just one of those things.  There were so many good shows on TV back then and it was long before the home recording age.

Your Very Welcome Jeff! Thanks a lot for Posting!

And your very correct that Patty Petersen officially joined "The Donna Reed Show" in 1963 for the Sixth Season of this series.

Also note that Patty Petersen was in some episodes near the end of The Fifth Season as well, that introduced her Character of Trisha to the audience. The Mary Stone Character became resentful of her in one episode for invading what she called their "Perfect Family" which was a 'Very Good Episode Indeed!!!' entitled, "Three is a Family" featuring both Shelley Fabares and Patty Petersen.
 
Edited by Greg2356 - 9/12/09 at 8:38pm
Reply
post #30 of 63
9/12/09 at 3:57pm
Are you saying they only have the rights to the first 5 seasons?

Would be ashame to see this get to season 5 and then end. The last three seasons, while inferior to the earlier seasons, are still worth watching and something I would think fans of the show would want in their DVD collection.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: TV on DVD and Blu-ray
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › TV on DVD and Blu-ray › THE DONNA REED SHOW, SEASON 3 - October 20th