Brian Himes
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2004
- Messages
- 1,651
- Real Name
- Brian
This is what will be the first of an ongoing review of each desc in the new complete series set of Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.
I was very, very excited about getting this series on DVD and when it arrivbed I eagerly popped in the first disc to start viewing. Then my excitement turned to disappointment and frustration.
I have finished the first disc and things are not good. Episodes 1, 2, 3 and 7 are edited versions of the episodes. They each have a run time of about 19:45. The correct openings are used. I didn't notice the date on the ending so I don't know if they are correct. I will have to check on that. All four of these episodes are missing the tag after the song and the reprise of the song. Not good. I can't believe that 100% intact episodes could not be located.
Episodes 4, 5, and 6 are complete except they all have the wrong openings and closings. These openings and closings are from the later 80's The Adventures of Fat Albert. They do, however, all have a run time of over 21 minutes and appear to be complete with the tags and song reprise at the end.
Additionally, episode 1 has a different structure then the rest of the shows that follow. The song in the episode comes in the beginning before we even see the actual story that inspired the song. Seemed a little strange. I don't recall if I actually saw this episode when I was a kid, but it certainly doesn't match the structure of the rest of the disc one episodes.
So far, I'm not thrilled with this set. The packaging is great. It looks really cool on the shelf. The picture is really clean and crisp. A few of the live action segments do have a bit of dirt, but this seems to be a part of the original source material. Maybe it couldn't be removed. The sound was clean and clear. I didn't have to turn the TV up too loud to hear everything clearly. I just wish that the episodes were 100% complete and uncut. I hope the rest of the set proves to be a bit better. Maybe only the first season shows will be this way. I hope so. I'd hate to think that after waiting for this for over a year that it's all going to be a huge disappointment.
I was very, very excited about getting this series on DVD and when it arrivbed I eagerly popped in the first disc to start viewing. Then my excitement turned to disappointment and frustration.
I have finished the first disc and things are not good. Episodes 1, 2, 3 and 7 are edited versions of the episodes. They each have a run time of about 19:45. The correct openings are used. I didn't notice the date on the ending so I don't know if they are correct. I will have to check on that. All four of these episodes are missing the tag after the song and the reprise of the song. Not good. I can't believe that 100% intact episodes could not be located.
Episodes 4, 5, and 6 are complete except they all have the wrong openings and closings. These openings and closings are from the later 80's The Adventures of Fat Albert. They do, however, all have a run time of over 21 minutes and appear to be complete with the tags and song reprise at the end.
Additionally, episode 1 has a different structure then the rest of the shows that follow. The song in the episode comes in the beginning before we even see the actual story that inspired the song. Seemed a little strange. I don't recall if I actually saw this episode when I was a kid, but it certainly doesn't match the structure of the rest of the disc one episodes.
So far, I'm not thrilled with this set. The packaging is great. It looks really cool on the shelf. The picture is really clean and crisp. A few of the live action segments do have a bit of dirt, but this seems to be a part of the original source material. Maybe it couldn't be removed. The sound was clean and clear. I didn't have to turn the TV up too loud to hear everything clearly. I just wish that the episodes were 100% complete and uncut. I hope the rest of the set proves to be a bit better. Maybe only the first season shows will be this way. I hope so. I'd hate to think that after waiting for this for over a year that it's all going to be a huge disappointment.