Your picks for best looking classic tv on dvd. (1 Viewer)

[Bryan^H]

Here are mine:

3. Kung Fu. I know the first season isn't correct, but this is one flawless looking series on dvd.

2. Laverne and Shirley season 2. I'm still blown away at the picture quality of season 2. The colors practically pop off of the screen. I'm sure it's the most HD looking classic set I own.

1. The Lone Ranger. A show 60 years old shouldn't look as good as The Lone Ranger does. When I picked up the set containing the first two seasons I was pleasantly surprised.

 

[Ockeghem]

For my own part, I would probably choose Star Trek (TOS), Mission: Impossible!, and Perry Mason.

Addendum: I'd also like to add Adam-12 to my list. I watched three or four episodes from season two last night, and they really did look terrific.

 

[DeWilson]

The MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE not only look good,but sound good too! Season 5 in particular sounds richer and cleaner than the older seasons.

 

[Jeff*H]

STAR TREK: THE ORIGINAL SERIES and HAWAII FIVE-0 get my votes, as they have both undergone digital HD remastering for their DVD releases, and it shows, no matter whether you watch them on a standard DVD player on a 20-inch analog TV, or an upconverted DVD player on a 46-inch HDTV (I have done both). Both look absolutely amazing, far better than their deceased creators could have ever imagined.

 

[Bryan^H]

I haven't seen Hawaii five-0, but yeah Star Trek does look fantastic.

 

[Rob W]

Lucille Ball has been treated very well on DVD, with I LOVE LUCY being as perfect as a black & white filmed-before-an-audience show from the 1950's could possibly look. Since this show has probably set a record for longevity of reruns, the quality of the restored materials is nothing short of miraculous.

Shout Factory's HERE'S LUCY collection is equally as perfect for a color series, which helps make up for the fact that the series is not nearly as funny as old memories suggested.

Fortunately, Lucy's company pioneered the use of filming tv shows on 35mm film which has left them with a better quality source for future preservation & transfers than any show from the 70's or 80's that was only shot on videotape.

 

[Joseph Bolus]

I agree that Star Trek: TOS looks *magnificent* on DVD.

My second pick for best looking classic TV would be:
The Fugitive Season 1. (Both Volumes) Irrespective of the controversy surrounding the replacement of all the underscores for the S2, V1 release, it cannot be denied that Season One was "Classic TV done right". The provided b&w transfers (restored from the original negatives) look pristine; and even hold up well when blown up on my DLP projector. It's far and away the second best looking series from the 60's in my collection (right behind Star Trek).

 

[TravisR]

The definitive editions of The Twilight Zone look amazing. The series set of Twin Peaks looks great too.

 

[HenryDuBrow]

"Hawaii Five-0", "The Streets of San Francisco", and some of the early "Columbo"s.

 

[heathjack]

MINE ARE:
qUATAM LEAP. THE CASES HAS Bright color.it looks like 3d almost
the incdabile hulk- they got all 3d cases expect for season2
family ties.
early Edition
the invisable man
doug seaon one

 

[Jeff Willis]

Joseph, I quoted you on your post since you said it better than I could have

Some others on my list are

The Twighlight Zone Definitive Version series
Time Tunnel series
The Big Valley S1/S2V1 releases
The Bionic Woman (orig series) S1 & 2 R2-4/PAL
Hogan's Heroes series
Mannix S1
Mission:Impossible releases
Perry Mason releases
Rawhide releases
Untouchables releases, particularly the S1 vol's
Wild Wild West series. I liked the S1 B/W release the best
Winds of War Miniseries
[edit]
Can't believe I left off Gary's 2 mentions: Flipper & Voyage.... I remember when I viewed that 1st Flipper episode. Hard to believe that was shot over 40 yrs ago. Voyage was another first-rate Irwin Allen transfer to DVD.

Early surprises for me are:
The Lone Ranger 75th Anniv set. I've only seen the 1st 2 eps so far but the prints are excellent given the age of the show.
Donna Reed Show. Same as the Lone Ranger set. Haven't seen this one except for a few eps in the early 60's. Great show so far.

Combat! series. I put this one on my list since the entire series was released and it's one of my "holy grail" shows. Transfers weren't from the original elements but it's an "honorable mention" for me due to the entire show seeing a DVD release and the extras in the sets.

 

[jdee28]

To me, the film transfers for the Twilight Zone Definite Edition are lacking contrast. They look really muddy; everything is grey; no strong whites. The transfers for the 6 videotaped episodes are a bit of a disaster, but I guess not much can be done since they were originally shot on video and video transfers very poorly to DVD.

I Love Lucy and Perry Mason look the best out of the B&W shows released from CBS/Paramount. The Fugitive is up there too. Not every show is given the same treatment from them. Some, like Gunsmoke, Rawhide, The Untouchables, lack the finishing touch that Perry Mason & I Love Lucy have, especially when it comes to grain reduction.

 

[Gary OS]

Two that I haven't seen mentioned yet have to be considered, IMHO:

1) Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Those prints are fabulous.

2) Flipper. I can't express just how impressed I was at that 1st Season set. The video is incredible on this one.

Gary "I agree with Jeff's picks as well" O.