Where to from here? (1 Viewer)

[MattPeriolat]

My fiance and I are just starting to seriously sink our teeth into classic television, partially by my efforts to get away from more current stuff.

The good news? We've got the complete series for I Love Lucy and Adventures of Superman and just scored the complete set of Twilight Zone for my birthday.

Bad news? Not sure where to go next. I've floated Outer Limits as a bridge eventually to Star Trek, but also am looking at Perry Mason. Any other vintage shows that might be worth our time and money? Also need to retain interest long term and rewatchability?

Thanks for any tips.

 

[FrosteyV]

If you like oaters, the complete "Wanted Dead or Alive" series starring Steve McQueen is available, probably less than 50 dollars if you can find it at Sam's or Costco. The Untouchables, The Fugitive, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space, I Spy, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. are others that are either available in complete sets, or are in the process of completing complete sets.

 

[Peter M Fitzgerald]

Cool that you're looking to expand into more classic TV on DVD! I was always a fan of THE OUTER LIMITS, and am enjoying the original STAR TREK over the last year, since the retail price on the standard DVD releases of its three seasons have dropped considerably.

Three classic (defined here as pre-1970) series that I'd recommend without hesitation:

THE FUGITIVE
THE AVENGERS (the Emma Peel Mega-Set)
RAWHIDE (even those who normally dislike westerns should give this show a try)

Others you might enjoy (depending on your likes/dislikes):

THE HONEYMOONERS
THE WILD WILD WEST
THE UNTOUCHABLES
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (the first 3 seasons, anyway)
THE INVADERS (especially if you like THE FUGITIVE)
SECRET AGENT / DANGER MAN
THE PRISONER
THE ADDAMS FAMILY
LEAVE IT TO BEAVER
DRAGNET
MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS
ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS

 

[Kenneth V]

Dick Van Dyke Show is available complete-a true classic!
I Dream of Jeannie will have the final season release in July.
Get Smart is complete through Time-Life
Man From U.N.C.L.E. complete through Time-Life

 

[Joe Tor1]

Just my two-cents on my favorite stuff from my own collection:

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

The Invaders

Time Tunnel

Lost In Space

The Wild Wild West

And if you want a well-written classic show outside of the Science Fiction realm, try Perry Mason.

If you like classic cartoons, try:

Any Looney Tunes Golden Collection -- Great cartoons and amazing extras

Woody Woodpecker sets from Universal.

Popeye sets from Warner Bros.

Disney Treasures Chronological Donald Duck sets.

Happy viewing!

 

[MattPeriolat]

Well, the posts here reminded me that we have another "show" sort of speak in Disneyland, since I have both the Disney Treasures, clips from other DVDs and shows taped off the Disney CHannel back in the day.

One thing I should have mentioned is the fiance doesn't care for Westerns and we're trying to go easy on the sitcoms. Perry Mason is an absolute given, even though 9 seasons when all is said and done is huge.

She wishes for Dennis the Menace or a complete Mr. Ed though. Also considering Route 66 and Naked City as potentials.

Keep the advice coming, it's very welcome!

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

For co-ed viewing with a fiance I would definitely second the recommendation on:

The Avengers: Emma Peel Megaset It's a Nick and Nora Charles-style detective mystery adventure series where Diana Rigg kicked a**, and wore the latest fashions from Carnaby Street to leather. Women loved her kicking a**, and men just loved her black leather catsuits.

Also, when my wife was still my fiance we watched:

Route 66 an adventure series shot on location around the United States and featuring a former rich preppy, Tod, and his beatnik street buddy, Buz, as the romance their way through an interesting array of great female character actors. And the writing is tops.

Not exactly classic era, but we also loved watching Twin Peaks together. It goes great with Martinis or Champagne and popcorn (but none of that microwave crap - fresh-popped and custom-seasoned with grated Parmesan). Enjoy!

 

[ahollis]

For fun see if you can find the Shout video collection The Best of Here's Lucy. While not as funny as I Love Lucy, this collection does give the best from the five years of the show. My personal favorite is Lucy Meets Lawrence Welk.

Also Father Knows Best and of course the great Burke's Law. Burke's Law is full of great actors from the early 60's TV and film. It wasn't until Love Boat came along that there were so many names in an hour show.

There is an Ozzie and Harriet Best of Volume 1 out and coming out soon is Ozzie and Harriet - Best of David and Ricky.

Have fun. You will soon be able to program better than TV Land.

 

[Gary OS]

I'd definitely recommend:

THE FUGITIVE is simply the best show ever done, IMHO. You can't go wrong with this one.

PERRY MASON you already know about. Great show.

RAWHIDE is a western, but it's more than a western and I highly recommend it.

THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW is a classic sitcom that's smartly written.


Gary "going on vacation for about 2 weeks - take care everybody" O.

 

[MattPeriolat]

Better then Twilight Zone? That sets a personal standard for me as classic television.

I'm making a list based on this post and on what's available. FKB, Beaver and Danny Thomas appeal to me for the family sitcoms. Also coming off Twilight Zone, Suspense has got my attention also, along with Alfred Hitchcock.

For me, myself and I, I might check out Gunsmoke too since I do like some Westerns.

Oh and as for TV snacks, gotta be careful. Diabetes puts a real crimp in what I can eat.

 

[David Lambert]

I can relate to that! I've had to be rather creative since I was diagnosed a bit under a year and a half ago, and make sure my snacks are low-carb, and that they fit in with my eating schedule and carb limits. If I wanna stay up late and watch something, great...but no snacking (and I have to make sure I take my evening meds on time, and test the ol' blood sugar on schedule).

Still, I've lost weight and my A1C's dropped tremendously so I guess I'm doing something right. Best of wishes that you see the same result, as I'm sure you will since you are obviously taking it seriously. Good luck!

 

[Bryan^H]

This may not be considered a classic tv show(from 1974/75) but I feel strongly that it's worth anyone's time. Planet of the Apes tv series. Great fantasy, escapist tv that's very rewatchable. You can probably find the complete series for $20 or less

 

[The Obsolete Man]

I was thinking about this yesterday, and taking out most sitcoms and things that have already been mentioned (though I do think everyone should try out the Dick Van Dyke Show), here's what I can think of...

Emergency!. Can't go wrong with a Jack Webb show, plus it's an interesting hollywood look into the early days of paramedics.

Incredible Hulk. Pretty much an anthology show with the only recurring characters being a big green guy, his little alter ego, and a reporter. But really, everyone knows the Hulk (and not to make him angry), so I don't have to explain it that much.

Quantum Leap. Granted, it's a newer show than most but it's complete on DVD, And is one of the beter sci-fi shows of the past 20 years. Just beware season 2, and try to get a region 2 copy if you're set up for it... music editing ruins one of the pivotal moments in the series on the S2 DVDs.

Also, if you're definitely going to buy Perry Mason, why not give season 1 of Matlock a try? I've been waching that recently, and from what I can see, Matlock is Perry Mason updated into the late 80s, with a folksy southerner as the lawyer... that's it.

Oh, and season 1 of the 1985 Twilight Zone series wasn't too bad. But seasons 2-3 were a mixed bag.

 

[Regulus]

I'll put my two cents worth and Recommend:

F-TROOP

FAMILY AFFAIR

GILLIGAN'S ISLAND

(All of these are Complete Series)

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Seasons 1-4

Classic Television from the 1960s!

And when you have kids make sure you get them the Gerry Anderson "Supermarionation" Shows
(THUNDERBIRDS, CAPTAIN SCARLETT, JOE 90 and others) and Any Hanna-Barbera Animated series (THE FLINTSTONES, JOHNNY QUEST, SPACE GHOST/DINO BOY, BIRDMAN & THE GALAXY TRIO, etc.) They are definately better than the stuff they try to pass off as "Kids Shows" these days!

 

[Gary OS]

In my opinion, absolutely. And that's no casual statement because I do love THE TWILIGHT ZONE. But THE FUGITIVE is simply a cut above the rest, IMHO. You owe it to yourself to at least try out the first volume. If you aren't hooked by the time you finish the first 5 episodes, I'll eat my hat (of course that's a figure of speech, you know - I have to watch my diet too).

Love the sitcoms you listed. I would add "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "The Andy Griffith Show" to those listed, but that's just my personal tastes.

Gary "see everyone in about 2 weeks" O.

 

[MattPeriolat]

I have to take it seriously. Type 1 onset in November of last year. I had no clue I was even sick aside from a sore throat and sleeping a lot. Finally got sent to the emergency room, then up to ICU. Find out I was within 24 hours of going into a coma and dying.

My last A1C about a month ago showed zero risk of complications, but my numbers have been high lately. Probably due to a lay off of exercise in the summer. Gotta start doing that more.

ANYWAY... THAT bit of grim news aside, any more recommendations I may have missed? I figure I need to speak with the pocket book now to get more classic TV later.

 

[MattPeriolat]

Hulk scared me to death as a kid, but with the new movie coming up and nearly everything out on DVD, I may give it a shot, although it is a can to kick down the road for a bit since I'm trying to focus more on the 50s and 60s TV, simply because it IS rarer and quite frankly, of a different quality then the 70s, 80s etc. Not that the later stuff is bad... sometimes... just different.

We actually do have a complete run of QL already as my fiance is a MONSTER fan of the show. I'm quite fond of it too and would like to get Voyagers to compliment it. Someone earlier mentioned Time Tunnel which I swear I saw late one New Year's Eve... two guys sent back in time to the battle of Troy... sound right?

 

[MattPeriolat]

And it would be a blind buy as I've only seen a bit of The Fugitive when CBS aired an episode or two in connection with the movie release back in the 90s. It's on my horizon though based on recommendation, be sure.

Thanks for the other sitcom tips. Now... if only we could get Universal going on Beaver again...

 

[Charles H]

THE FUGITIVE is #1 I agree, THE UNTOUCHABLES, BURKE'S LAW is a hoot and a half, PERRY MASON (but you might want to start with the 50th Anniversary sampler), NAKED CITY, ROUTE 66 once the straighten out the first season fiasco, THE OUTER LIMITS, COLUMBO, WILD, WILD WEST, HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL, CHEYENNE, WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE. I notice that COLUMBO is the only color show although WWW had its last three seasons in color. Frankly black and white shows have a grittier, noirish quality. THE FUGITIVE (and NAKED CITY) are the most compulsive series on dvd.

 

[heathjack]

I would buy Quatam leap, the incdabile hulk, if you get the hulk now you get a free movie ticket to see the new hulk movie. its also two season for 40 doallors at best buy.

Other calassic shows
the hooneymooners classic 39 their aresome lost epdieos if you can find them. their also color hooneymooners but its not the same as classic 39.
welcome back ,kottoer
family ties
perfect strangers
Gave me a break
Renagde
the greatest american hero
the lucy show usual their different epsiodes
My favorite martian

if you want classic cartoons geT:
the jetsons
top cat
honk kong phooney
he-man master of the univsers
spider-man the 1990's cartoon. only slingled dvd but its worth it
the real ghost busters all singled dvd but i only paid 3 doallors for them
teeange mutant ninja turtles i got the older ones and the new versions