CHINA BEACH: THE COMPLETE SERIES -- DVD Review by Porfle

 Originally posted on 11/9/2019

 

I was never a fan of "China Beach", but after taking a long look at Time-Life's CHINA BEACH: THE COMPLETE SERIES (1988-1991), I can only conclude that those who are fans will have a field day with this lavish 19-disc collection of 62 episodes, including the original pilot movie and over five hours of bonus features.

The show's premise, of course, is the odyssey of U.S. Army Nurse Colleen McMurphy (Dana Delany, TOMBSTONE) serving a frantic tour of duty at a combination evac hospital and R&R facility set on a picturesque beach near Da Nang in Viet Nam.

Thus we observe the daily dramas of all the nurses, doctors, soldiers, Red Cross volunteers, and various civilian personnel, most of which are based on the real-life experiences of actual people.  (Not the least of these being former nurse Lynda Van Devanter, whose book "Home Before Morning" was the inspiration for the McMurphy character and her story.)

The show's setting is richly authentic, managing to give those of us with no such experience whatsoever an idea of what life was like there. McMurphy's days and nights are filled with the blood, horror, and tragedy of war, yet she must try to keep herself grounded by maintaining some semblance of normality in her personal life and dealings with friends and coworkers.

We also meet a widely-diverse cast of characters including Dr. Dick Richards (Robert Picardo, "Star Trek: Voyager"), whose playboy lifestyle helps him deal with a deteriorating marriage; SP4 Samuel Beckett (Michael Boatman), who processes dead bodies and thus has a unique perspective on mortality; and Red Cross volunteer Cherry White (Nan Woods), a painfully naive young woman searching for her MIA brother, Rick.

Local prostitute K.C (a stunning Marg Helgenberger, "CSI") is basically there to leech off the servicemen but eventually forms a meaningful relationship with Corporal "Boonie" Boonwell (Brian Wimmer), China Beach's lifeguard and recreation manager.  We also get to know enigmatic recon operative Sgt. Evan "Dodger" Winslow (Jeff Kober, THE BABY DOLL MURDERS), trying to hold onto his humanity after having served in the jungle for too long.

Like "M*A*S*H" before it, everyday moments of happiness or strife are often interrupted by either a sudden influx of wounded G.I.s or harrowing enemy attacks, the worst being an intense episode which occurs during the TET offensive. 

For me, these segments represent "China Beach" at its most compelling. I find it least interesting when it lapses into soap opera, concentrates too much on characters such as USO singer Laurette Barber (Chloe Webb), whom I found obnoxious, or borders on the morally ambiguous, as when McMurphy allows a Viet Cong patient who blew up several G.I.s in a bar to go free and perhaps kill again simply because she feels sorry for her.

The show also tends, in my opinion, to come off as rather sanctimonious, as though basking in its own nobility for being so lavishly well-intentioned. Other viewers, I happily concede, may not get this impression at all.

Indeed, being quite aware of the immense and generally well-deserved popularity of the show, I can heartily recommend CHINA BEACH: THE COMPLETE SERIES to those devoted fans who will fully appreciate having all 62 episodes (not to mention the wealth of featurettes, commentaries, interviews, and bonus booklets) in their DVD collection.

CHINA BEACH: THE COMPLETE SERIES -- DVD Review by Porfle

ROBIN WILLIAMS: COMIC GENIUS (5-DISC SET) -- DVD Review by Porfle

 

 

Originally posted on 10/10/19 

 

Having never been a fan of Robin Williams' stand-up act, talk show appearances, or hit ABC television series "Mork and Mindy", it might be surprising to find that I'm recommending ROBIN WILLIAMS: COMIC GENIUS (Time-Life), a 5-disc chronicle of his astounding stand-up comedy career.

I recommend it mainly to his many, many fans, who should find this collection a treasure chest of joy and laughter along with a bittersweet mixture of other emotions. 

And for those who, like me, never warmed up to his comedy style, it's a fascinating look at a man who gave happiness to others even though his lifelong struggle to find it for himself eventually proved too much for him to bear.

Disc 1 begins with Robin already a known and very popular commodity with HBO's "On Location--Off the Wall" (1978), then shows us how he got to that point in the featurette "Robin Williams--The Early Years." Then follows some of Robin's early TV stand-up performances, his "Dick Cavett Show" appearance, Robin's brief encounter with Frank Sinatra on "Laugh-In", and an interview with Robin's manager, David Steinberg.

Disc 2 features "An Evening With Robin Williams" (1983) along with a variety of featurettes including various stand-up appearances and his stirring patriotic routine "I Love Liberty."

Disc 3 gives us "Robin Williams: An Evening at the Met", one of the most glittering and prestigious showcases of his talent, along with several other featurettes.

Disc 4's highlight is "Robin Williams: Live on Broadway", followed by promos and interviews.

Disc 5 concludes the collection with the 2009 comedy special, "Robin Williams: Weapons of Self-Destruction", which showcases Robin at the height of his comedic powers before a wildly appreciative audience. Finishing off the disc is a selection of featurettes including People's Choice Awards presentations, a taping of "Shakespeare: The Animated Tales", and other items.

Through it all, we see hours upon hours of Robin Williams performing at a lightning-fast pace with comic improvisations pouring from his imagination, his frenetic style both profane and childlike, as his audiences respond with utter delight and affection. 

ROBIN WILLIAMS: COMIC GENIUS gives us this utterly unique, once-in-a-lifetime comic superstar at his most happy and content, onstage and basking in the shared experience that only charged him to go farther, faster, and funnier.


Also available in 12 and 22 disc sets

(Portions of this review appeared in our look at the 12-disc version as seen HERE)

Disc 1: Off The Wall


    HBO On Location: Robin Williams—Off the Wall
    Original Air Date: October 27, 1978

    Featurette: Robin Williams—The Early Years

    The Second Annual HBO Young Comedians Show
    Original Air Date: September 24, 1977

    The Great American Laugh-Off
    Original Air Date: October 22, 1977

    Robin Meets Mr. Sinatra
    Original Air Date: November 2, 1977

    The Dick Cavett Show
    Original Air Dates: May 16 and 17, 1979
    
    Interview with David Steinberg, Robin’s Manager


Disc 2: An Evening with Robin Williams


    An Evening with Robin Williams
    Original Air Date: March 12, 1983
    
    Featurette: San Francisco—Where It All Began
    
    Director Howard Storm Demo Taping with Robin
    Taped 1982
    
    Comedy Celebration Day
    San Francisco: 1982, 1984, 1990

    I Love Liberty
    Original Air Date: March 21, 1982

    Catch a Rising Star’s 10th Anniversary
    Original Air Date: September 30, 1982

    The Comedy Store 10th 11th Anniversary
    Original Air Date: July 17, 1983
    
    The Comedy Store 15th Year Class Reunion
    Original Air Date: November 23, 1988

    Robin Remembers the Comedy Store
    Taped 2001


Disc 3: An Evening at the Met


    Robin Williams: An Evening at the Met
    With Introduction by Lewis Black
    Original Air Date: October 11, 1986

        HBO Press Interview
    
        Promo Taping
    
    “Beverly Hills Blues” with Bobby McFerrin
    Taped March 4, 1986
    
    The Young Comedians All-Star Reunion
    Original Air Date: November 15, 1986
    
    Superstars and Their Moms
    Original Air Date: May 3, 1987
    
    Interview with David Steinberg, Robin’s Manager
    
    Interview with Lewis Black


Disc 4: Live on Broadway

    Robin Williams: Live on Broadway
    With Introduction by David Steinberg, Robin’s Manager
    Original Air Date: July 14, 2002

        Interview with Robin and Director Marty Callner
    
        Noises
    
        Explicit Language
    
        HBO Promos
    
        HBO Promos Rough Cuts
    
        Robin’s Promo Riff
    
    E! Press Room after Robin’s LIVE 2002 Grammy Win
    Original Air Date: February 23, 2003


Disc 5: Weapons of Self Destruction


    Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction
    With Introduction by Lewis Black
    Original Air Date: December 6, 2009
    
        A Backstage Pass
    
        A View from the Director’s Chair
    
        Local Highlights
    
    Mrs. Doubtfire Toasts Richard Pryor
    Taped 1993
    
    People’s Choice Award for Favorite Actor in a Comedy Motion Picture
    Original Air Date: March 8, 1994
    
    People’s Choice Award for Favorite Comedy Motion Picture
    Original Air Date: March 8, 1994
    
    E! Press Room after Robin’s People’s Choice Wins
    Original Air Date: March 8, 1994
    
    Shakespeare: The Animated Tales—HBO Promos
    Taped August 25, 1995 

 

ROBIN WILLIAMS: COMIC GENIUS (5-DISC SET) -- DVD Review by Porfle

THE BEST OF HARVEY KORMAN -- DVD Review by Porfle

 

Originally posted on 7/25/17

 

A lot of people these days only know Harvey Korman from his Mel Brooks movies ("That's Hedley!"), but there was a time before that when his star shone brightly as the Emmy-winning second banana on TV's legendary "The Carol Burnett Show."

Time-Life's DVD release THE BEST OF HARVEY KORMAN assembles four complete (more or less) nostalgia-heavy episodes from 1969-71, three of which haven't been seen in 40 years, and they serve as a real time machine back to the way variety shows looked in those days.

Watching them now, the show's comedy is as incredibly corny as it can be, with paper-thin writing and forced punchlines, but also with a laidback informality (the performers break character often to either ad-lib or crack up at each other) that continues to appeal.

Production-wise, it often looks almost like a local TV production even though it was a top-rated show on a major network.  Strangely enough, this also adds to the show's charm--it didn't need a big budget with such likable performers to keep audiences happy.

Chief among these of course was Carol, that lovable, rubber-faced genius of physical and verbal comedy who always came across as the superstar next door.  She was a bundle of sparkling personality, especially during the celebrated Q & A segments with the studio audience.

Korman was second only to her in versatility, playing everything from henpecked husbands to weaselly lotharios (as in the lengthy and tedious Latin lover sketch) and everything in between. 

Rounding out the cast was cartoonishly handsome Lyle Waggoner, forever goodnaturedly spoofing his own manly image, while a sweetly callow Vicki Lawrence was the perennial "kid sister" before her eventual breakthrough as "Mama."

Comedy skits alternate with often cringe-inducing song and/or dance numbers, with the first episode in the set giving Lyle and Vicki solo songs that are less than memorable. Even veteran performers such as Bernadette Peters, Nancy Wilson, and Diahann Carroll can't do much with the tacky arrangements they're given. (A pre-"Jeffersons" Isabel Sanford appears briefly as a housekeeper in one segment.)

As for Korman, his appearances in the set are sporadic--the episodes seem pretty much picked at random and don't really showcase his best work at all.  The fact that he's in them seems enough to qualify them for inclusion here.

A skit in which he appears in drag seems to be the collection's highlight. Other points of interest are "The Old Folks" (Harvey and Carol as a doddering elderly couple), a solo comedy song emphasizing Harvey's vanity, Harvey as Richard Nixon, and a guest appearance by future castmember Tim Conway who would become Harvey's most frequent comedy foil. 

While not exactly THE BEST OF HARVEY KORMAN as the title suggests, it's fun to watch these episodes again after all this time and relive those decades-old memories.  Still, viewers who aren't seeing these creaky old skits and corny musical numbers through a golden haze of nostalgia might wonder what all the fuss is about.


PROGRAM INFORMATION
Format: DVD/Single
Running Time: 178 minutes
Genre:  TV DVD/Comedy
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audio: Stereo

THE BEST OF HARVEY KORMAN -- DVD Review by Porfle

THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES -- DVD Review by Porfle

 Originally posted on 10/20/2018

 

If you're already an ardent collector of Stooge-iana, you may have most or all of this material in your collection. But for the Stooge fan who doesn't yet have it all, or for new fans just wanting to get started, Time-Life's new three volume, 13-disc DVD collection THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES might be a good bet for big Stooge entertainment.

The eight discs in volumes one and two are from Sony's "The Three Stooges Collection" and contain the first 87 Columbia Stooge shorts--namely, all of the Curlys save for the last ten or so--from 1934 to 1945 (ending with "Micro-Phonies.")  For those who don't own the entire Columbia short subjects output from Sony this would be a good place to start.

For those who do have all the shorts on previous discs as I do, the five discs in volume three contain the really interesting stuff.  Disc one features the Stooges made-for-TV biopic from 2000 co-starring Michael Chiklis as Curly, as well as three vintage Columbia cartoons from the 30s and 40s in which the boys pop up as guest stars.  Since I don't remember ever seeing any Columbia cartoons before, this was of special interest to me as a fan of vintage animated cartoons in general.

Volume 3 disc 2 is a gold mine of Columbia shorts including 14 solo appearances by Shemp, 10 Joe Besser shorts, and 4 Joe Derita shorts.  Shemp either stars or plays back-up to the great Andy Clyde (later to join William Boyd as Hop-a-Long Cassidy's comedy sidekick) and is in his zestful prime here, adding extra zing to even the most pedestrian scripts.

Besser, meanwhile, plays his usual prissy self in some amusing entries which share some gags and even storylines with familiar Stooges comedies.  An acquired taste, perhaps, I find Joe Besser fun and entertaining whether playing third Stooge as he would later or headlining his own shorts as he does quite well here.

After that comes something really interesting, namely seeing a young Joe Derita himself (with hair!) in his very own comedy shorts. I'd never seen him in any non-Stooge films before, so I was surprised to see this relatively bland comedian with little or no discernible comic persona starring in his own series of films.

Unlike Shemp and Besser, Derita goes about the usual Columbia-style slapstick gags and destructive physical comedy by rote, bringing little personality to his onscreen character save for a general passivity and namby-pamby attitude.  With his constantly perplexed expression, he displays little comic timing or finesse, merely playing his character well enough to get the job done.

Be that as it may, I found these shorts fascinating to watch and an indication of his later incarnation as perhaps the least-liked third Stooge.  The Bessers are equally fascinating, albeit much more entertaining.

Stooge regular Christine McIntyre is a most welcome co-star much of the time, and several other Stooges stock players show up here and there.  It's interesting to see how the Columbia shorts without the Stooges lack that extra zippy, cartoonish quality, and it quickly becomes apparent that Columbia's best short subject output was definitely the Three Stooges comedies.

The real treasure in this disc, though, is the collection of Shemp Howard shorts.  Seeing this seasoned, highly-talented, hilarious, and all-around lovable comic superstar at work on his own before being absorbed back into the Three Stooges as Curly's replacement is a real pleasure.

Volume 3 disc 3 contains three of the Stooges' feature films, HAVE ROCKET WILL TRAVEL, THE OUTLAWS IS COMING, and ROCKIN' IN THE ROCKIES. The latter is an earlier one with Curly in which the boys appear sparsely as guest stars in a western-tinged romp.

HAVE ROCKET WILL TRAVEL and THE OUTLAWS IS COMING were among those feature films from Columbia (with Joe Derita as third Stooge) made to cash in on the explosive success that resulted when the Stooge shorts were released to TV and became a sensation.

HAVE ROCKET WILL TRAVEL is an endearing spoof of 50s rocket expedition thrillers ending with a 10-minute party sequence that very much resembles one of their early Columbia shorts.

The raucous THE OUTLAWS IS COMING pokes fun at westerns with co-stars Adam West and Nancy Kovack, and showcases as its trigger-happy outlaws an array of well-known TV kid show hosts known for airing the Stooge comedies to much acclaim.  The disc itself is identical to one contained in an earlier Mill Creek DVD collection.

Besides the Columbia solo shorts, my favorite part of this set is volume 3 disc 4-5's wonderful 9-part documentary series, "Hey Moe! Hey Dad!", hosted by Moe's son Paul.  This densely-packed presentation is several hours long and loaded with choice photos, film and TV clips, home movie footage, audio interview segments, and other treats.

Paul Howard's engaging narration distills the best of the Three Stooges books such as "Moe Howard and the Three Stooges" (Moe's autobiography), "Three Stooges Scrapbook", "Curly: An Illustrated Biography of the Superstooge", and others, some of which were co-written by Moe's daughter, Joan.

Appearing onscreen along with Paul and Joan are other important figures such as Don Lamond, Curly's daughter Marilyn, cartoon voice artist Billy West, and other close relatives and friends.

The documentary series starts at the very beginning with the infant Horwitz brothers, takes us through their showbiz beginnings with top banana Ted Healy, and then recounts the Stooges' rise as stars of the Columbia shorts, their fall when the short subjects department was closed, their re-emergence as global superstars with the success of their comedies on TV and subsequent Columbia feature films, and their continuing posthumous popularity.

The documentary takes its time and examines each phase of their lives in exhaustive detail, and should prove incredibly engaging to anyone who loves the Stooges.  Finally, the set contains an illustrated booklet with Stooge biographies and other info.

THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES lives up to its name, at least in part, since the Curly shorts included here are indeed among their best, and the 9-part documentary is surely the best of its kind. That, along with the wonderful solo shorts, cartoons, and features, make this a cornucopia that Stooge fans will want to indulge in.



AVAILABLE NOW, EXCLUSIVELY AT THREESTOOGESDVDS.COM
DVD SRP: $99.95

THE BEST OF THE THREE STOOGES -- DVD Review by Porfle

THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON: JOHNNY AND FRIENDS FEATURING STEVE MARTIN, ROBIN WILLIAMS & EDDIE MURPHY -- DVD Review by Porfle

 

Originally posted on 6/22/17

 

"Will you welcome..." Johnny would usually say when introducing his next guest.  Over the years there were countless "Will you welcome"s on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", some who would remain in relative obscurity, and others who would parlay their once-in-a-lifetime chance at fame all the way to stardom.

Time-Life's 3-disc DVD collection THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON: JOHNNY AND FRIENDS FEATURING STEVE MARTIN, ROBIN WILLIAMS & EDDIE MURPHY is about three of those who became superstars in the field of comedy--Steve Martin, Robin Williams, and Eddie Murphy--thanks in large part to their early exposure with Johnny on his classic late-night talk show which is now such an integral part of television legend. 

Johnny, of course, was no stranger to either television or comedy, having labored in both fields since the 50s as host or co-host of various comedy, variety, and game shows such as "Carson's Cellar" and "Who Do You Trust?" before finally replacing Jack Paar as host of "The Tonight Show" in 1962.

Each show began with an opening monologue, which was basically a new stand-up routine every night.  It was here that Johnny really proved himself, getting more mileage out of bad jokes than most comics do with hilarious ones. In fact, his style was to willfully tell bad jokes--even telegraph them as being bad, building audience expectation--and then mine their groaning response for humor until he had them rolling in the aisles. 

It was a totally unique comic style and sensibility that set Johnny apart from all other stand-up comics, and he excelled at it night after night.  His loyal announcer and sidekick Ed McMahon, of course, played along beautifully, adding dry asides here and there in order to invite a sarcastic response from Johnny (often a mock threat to terminate his employment).  To which Ed would respond, naturally, with his trademark belly laugh.

The show was, importantly, for everyone, regardless of their political persuasion.  Johnny did get in some topical jabs here and there, but they weren't really all that caustic and he generally kept things goodnatured, unlike the profane, rabidly partisan hacks of today's late night shows. In other words, Johnny had something called "class", a quality in short supply on TV these days.

During the nine new-to-retail episodes in this Time-Life set, Johnny gives us old viewers some of our favorite bits such as "Stump the Band" and "The Mighty Carson Art Players." (Alas, there are no visits from either Art Fern, Karnak the Magnificent, or Aunt Blabby.)  Flamboyantly-dressed bandleader Doc Severinsen and his sometime stand-in Tommy "Mr. Excitement" Newsom come in for their usual ribbing, while Johnny and Ed play off each other like the seasoned pros that they are.

Disc one features three appearances by Steve Martin, beginning in 1976 with a stand-up that lets us see young Steve in his banjo-playing, "happy feet" prime.  A 1982 show finds movie-star Steve pushing his film DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID, and in 1991 a slightly more staid, reserved Martin talks about his starring role in FATHER OF THE BRIDE.  Each appearance is loaded with plenty of comedy in his familiar style. 

Other guests include the always beloved James Stewart, a spaced-out Karen Black, Sylvester Stallone (circa ROCKY III), comic Cathy Ladman, and singer Leon Redbone.  Some of the classic commercials of the era (if you choose to watch them--the DVD gives us a choice) include "Coke Adds Life", the "NesTea Plunge", and the little guy who wants to talk to us about...diarrhea.  In a 1982 segment Johnny jokes about upcoming TV shows such as "Silver Spoons" and "Knight Rider."

 

Disc two is a trio of hit-and-run appearances by the always hyper-frenetic Robin Williams, who would blow into the studio like a gale force wind and never let up.  Whether in 1984 or in his two 1991 shows, Robin is a non-stop whirling dervish of gags, voices, and flailing physical comedy that dominates not only his time with Johnny but that of the other guests as well.  It was as though he had no "off" switch, and was always dialed up all the way to eleven. 

Even fellow kooky improv comic Jonathan Winters barely gets a word in while sitting there with Robin. Other guests don't stand a chance, including good sport Phyllis Newman, dulcet-toned Steve Lawrence, and southern-fried Park Overall.  While Johnny does manage to converse with them in minimal terms, their presence is pretty much just another excuse for Robin to go wild.  His fans will be ecstatic, of course.

Disc three finds breakout "Saturday Night Live" player Eddie Murphy on his blazing rocket to fame, with all three appearances occurring in 1982 but already plotting a quick trajectory to superstardom. 

Eddie's first shot on the show is brash but in a controlled way--his ego has yet to become overinflated, and there's still a hunger in his clearly ambitious attitude.  He's already at ease and in his element in the stand-up spots, wowing the audience with his sharp humor and confidence.  He handles his time talking with Johnny well, too, easily getting laughs and charming both host and audience without breaking a sweat.  (Not that we can see, anyway.)

His second appearance is much more confident, and his stand-up features a bold use of the "N" word in an innovative and borderline abrasive way that has the audience in a tizzy of laughter.  By now, Johnny's regard for him has clearly grown, and by his third show, the cocky, brash, super-confident Murphy is getting a "superstar" ovation from the audience.

Other guests on this disc include McLean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers of TV's "MASH", boxer Randall "Tex" Cobb, Albert Hague of "Fame", and singer Angela Bofill. 

Watching this 3-disc set, I can't help but be filled with that old warm glow of nostalgia for a time when we could turn on the TV and watch Johnny and company every weeknight.  THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON: JOHNNY AND FRIENDS FEATURING STEVE MARTIN, ROBIN WILLIAMS & EDDIE MURPHY gives both old and new fans of the show a chance to relive those times, courtesy of some of Johnny's funniest and most outrageous guests, and tune in to that unique vibe all over again. 


PROGRAM INFORMATION

Format: DVD/3 Discs
Running Time: 499 minutes
Genre:  TV DVD/Comedy
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audio: Stereo
Original Commercials: On/Off

Street Date: July 4, 2017

Read our original coverage

THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON: JOHNNY AND FRIENDS FEATURING STEVE MARTIN, ROBIN WILLIAMS & EDDIE MURPHY -- DVD Review by Porfle

THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW IN COLOR: DELUXE EDITION -- DVD Review by Porfle

 

Originally posted on 5/3/18

 

One of my favorite variety shows as a kid was "The Jackie Gleason Show."  It was bright, colorful, funny, and fun, one of the best of a TV genre that is pretty much obsolete now but kept whole families entertained back in the 60s. 

I'm happy to say that a fresh look at twelve episodes from the show, thanks to Time-Life's 3-disc DVD set THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW IN COLOR: DELUXE EDITION, finds Gleason's brand of comedy just as funny and appealing today as it was then, and perhaps even moreso since it now comes with a bracing blast of pure, blissful nostalgia. 

The sets and costumes are a blast of color all by themselves (after all, more and more people at the time were buying color TVs) but it's Gleason's deliciously down-to-earth wit and breezy interplay with his guests, made up of the top names in comedy at the time, that make these shows such a delight to watch.

Each show kicks off with Gleason's crowd-pleasing catchphrase "How sweet it is!" and his jokes about bandleader Sammy Spear's outrageous attire (a bit Johnny Carson would repeat nightly with Doc Severenson), after which he entertains the live audience by bringing out each guest one at a time, trading uproarious comedy barbs with them for awhile, and then leaving them alone to perform their acts.

These guests include such names as Groucho Marx, Jack Benny, George Burns, Milton Berle, Phil Silvers, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons, Nipsey Russell, Sid Caesar, Jackie Vernon, Alan King, Jack E. Leonard, and Jan Murray. 

Also appearing with their stand-up routines are comics such as a very young George Carlin, Slappy White, Victor Borge, and some I've never even heard of.

Musical guests aren't as frequent on the show as the comics, but the ones we do see include the likes of Tony Bennett, Florence Henderson (pre-"Brady Bunch"), Frankie Avalon, Edie Adams, Robert Goulet, and Frank Sinatra, Jr.

Best of all, Gleason's late-60s variety show was the home of the classic color episodes of "The Honeymooners", with Jackie as blue-collar bus driver Ralph Kramden, Art Carney as his sewer-worker friend Ed Norton, Jane Kean as Norton's wife Trixie, and Sheila MacRae ably taking over the role of Ralph Kramden's loyal, long-suffering wife Alice. 

This DVD set offers seven "Honeymooners" sketches which haven't been seen since first aired--"Six Months To Live", "Alice's Birthday", "Lawsuit", "Hot Tip", "The New Bowling Ball", "Norton Moves In", and "The New Manager."  Each one is a prime example of the show's great writing and acting, resulting in some truly groundbreaking comedy, tinged with heartfelt pathos, that's still amazingly good.

The picture quality is fine considering the age of the shows.  Completists may chafe at the fact that all of the numbers by the June Taylor Dancers which normally opened each show have been snipped as well as anything else that might impede the comedy and songs.  The first disc was previously released as a single-disc DVD which we reviewed HERE.

Whether you're looking back in fond nostalgia or just discovering these shows for the first time, THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW IN COLOR: DELUXE EDITION is a laugh-packed jaunt down Memory Lane that you're sure to get a kick out of. 


THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW IN COLOR: DELUXE EDITION
Type: DVD/3 Discs
Running Time: 496 mins.
Rating: N/A
Genre: TV DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (4:3)
Audio: Stereo
Captions: English

THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW IN COLOR: DELUXE EDITION -- DVD Review by Porfle

RICHARD SIMMONS: SWEATIN' TO THE OLDIES: 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION -- DVD Review by Porfle

Originally posted on 11/2/17

 

I didn't grow up with Richard Simmons, but somehow it seems as though the eternally cheerful and preternaturally flamboyant fitness guru in the sparkly tank tops and short-shorts has always been around, exhorting his overweight followers to dance their way to weight loss and a happier, healthier body.

Apart from his "Deal-A-Meal" diet plan informercials and some raucous appearances on Letterman, Richard is best known for his "Sweatin' To The Oldies" tapes, now available on DVD.  All five of them, plus a bonus motivational program called "Love Yourself and Win: Six Steps to Personal Self-Esteem and Permanent Weight Loss", have been collected in Time-Life's 6-disc DVD set RICHARD SIMMONS: SWEATIN' TO THE OLDIES: 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION.

Richard released his first "Sweatin' to the Oldies" VHS tape in 1988 and it became a big enough hit to warrant four sequels over the years, each featuring his trademark method of turning dance (to his favorite hit singles from the 50s and 60s) into fitness routines, with a different colorful theme for each entry in the series.

The first takes place (after a funny anti-piracy warning in which Richard has his own mother arrested) in a fantasy "High School Prom" setting where the ebullient fitness guru and about twenty of his chosen students of various body types go through ten routines set to non-stop song covers (a live band appears onstage).  The exercises are strenuous but fun, and hardly the kind of boot-camp workouts that some fitness DVDs inflict on the more hardcore viewer. 

Most of them consist of Richard's patented choreography that owes more to Broadway than anything else (he likes to envision his programs as song-and-dance theatrical presentations) with a healthy dose of period dance moves (the Twist, the Pony) mixed with shouts of "Egyptian Walk!" and "Hallelujah Hands!"

His back-up dancers are totally into it, being that most of them are students who themselves are losing or have lost considerable poundage doing this stuff.  Having gone through the same experiences himself, Richard's empathy for their feelings and desire to better their lives gives them a connection that's glowingly evident whenever we see them joyfully moving together to each catchy song. 

Production values are colorful and eye-pleasing, with very good camerawork, direction, and editing helping to make each series entry watchable not only for those participating but for passive viewers as well.  The cover bands are terrific--various individual members occasionally wander down off the stage to jam with Richard for awhile--making these DVDs pleasant background noise even when you don't feel like exercising. 

Mainly it's Richard's warm and engaging personality, along with the obvious care he has for his students and friends (which is clearly mutual), that set the "Sweatin' to the Oldies" series apart.  While he does occasionally engage in some of the cartoonish antics he's known for, most of the time we're seeing Richard just being his unique self within his very own comfort zone, which he shares with his deeply enthusiastic cast.  

Their joy is evident in the final dance line portion of each show in which individual students show off their moves while a graphic tells us how many pounds they've lost under Richard's tutelage.  Not only is this a fun way to wrap up each entry, but it also gives viewers yearning to shed some pounds themselves a little incentive.

Disc two takes place in "Pop's Diner", a disco-fied neon version of a 50s soda fountain.  Disc three has the most fun and inventive setting, "Sweatin Land Amusement Park", a brightly-colored fantasy backdrop with everything from a carousel to a mock ferris wheel.  Disc four is the "Saturday Sock Hop", and Disc five takes us "Downtown" with a Sesame Street-type city scene.  The live band is featured in all but the last one. 

Disc six is Richard's motivational presentation "Love Yourself and Win: Six Steps to Personal Self-Esteem and Permanent Weight Loss", which eschews the previous frivolity to get to the heart of the matter.  Here, his own history of being overweight and depressed gives him the empathy to connect to his listeners and help them find hope and optimism enough to improve their own lives. 

The first four discs contain numerous bonus features (approximately 100 minutes worth). The always-interesting Richard appears in several interview segments, as do some of his long-time students who give their testimonials and success stories both individually and as part of a roundtable reunion. Topping it off is a 20-page booklet packed with fun pics and a full list of the more than fifty songs heard in the collection.

I won't lie--I didn't exercise a bit while watching RICHARD SIMMONS: SWEATIN' TO THE OLDIES: 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION.  But I enjoyed it anyway, and if I ever do make the commitment to start sweatin' off a few pounds, this is the first place I'll do the "Egyptian Walk" to. 


SWEATIN' TO THE OLDIES: 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Type:  DVD/6 Discs
Running Time: 440 mins.
Rating:  N/A
Genre:  TV DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (4:3)
Audio:  Stereo

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RICHARD SIMMONS: SWEATIN' TO THE OLDIES: 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION -- DVD Review by Porfle

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME: IN CONCERT -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle

Originally posted on 4/15/18

 

The best way to get a bunch of famous entertainers together, it seems, is to hold a big self-congratulatory ceremony full of gushing tributes in their honor and start throwing awards at them.
 
Time-Life's new 2-disc Blu-ray set ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME: IN CONCERT is a document of four such awards shows from 2014-2017, and sure enough, there are tons and tons of famous musicians seemingly coming out of the woodwork to be there to speechify and perform.

Each of the dozens of inductees, both groups and solo artists, gets one of those gushing tribute speeches from a fellow musician/fan and then performs a selection of their best songs.  Those who have passed on or couldn't make it have their songs reverently interpreted by others. 

Needless to say, it's a grab-bag of goodies and not-so-goodies, and your enjoyment of these four celebrity-packed events as a whole will depend on how eclectic your musical tastes are.  But no matter what you're into, you're likely to find at least some of it here.

One of the main attractions is the fact that some of these bands are reuniting for the first time in years and feature members from different lineups who haven't performed together before.

And some of the sets have special guests joining in to form impromptu all-star bands with various frontmen, lead guitarists, etc. all combining their considerable forces.

My favorite segment is when one of my all-time favorite bands, prog-rock pioneers Yes, finally gets their long-overdue accolades.  After an introductory speech by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush, Lee takes the late Chris Squire's place on bass for a kickass rendition of "Roundabout" followed by "Owner of a Lonely Heart", with members from most of the group's incarnations represented.

Another favorite is the (again long-overdue) induction of Ringo Starr by Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney himself. I love Ringo and it's great whenever he gets his time in the sun as he does here, performing with one of those all-star bands including Paul, Joe Walsh, and more.

Other artists honored include Electric Light Orchestra, Peter Gabriel, Nirvana, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan (brother Jimmie performs in his place),Lou Reed, Deep Purple, Cheap Trick, NWA, Bill Withers, Joan Baez, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Chicago, Journey, Green Day, Cat Stevens, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Tupac Shakur, and Pearl Jam.

As one might guess, the fawning induction speeches are a seriously hit-or-miss proposition.  Some are rather charming, as the one for ELO by George Harrison's son Dhani, and McCartney's for Ringo. Most are insufferably boring. A few, such as Miley Cyrus' monologue on Joan Jett, are downright obnoxious. 

The often-rambling acceptance speeches run the same gamut, albeit with much more thanking of wives, children, lifelong musical influences, etc. My favorite, surprisingly, was that of Yes keyboard whiz Rick Wakeman, whose speech took the form of a hilariously off-color stand-up comedy routine ("I think my wife's in a coma, but I'm not sure--the sex is the same, but the wash is piling up.")

If you're like me, you'll be hitting the fast-forward button to get past a lot of this and on to the music--and even skipping through much of it as well.  But those with wider tastes than mine, who scan the above list of performers and can't wait to sample most or all of their performances, will be in hog heaven throughout most of ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME: IN CONCERT.


ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME IN CONCERT, 2014-2017

Type: DVD (4 Discs)/Blu-ray (2 Discs)
Running Time: 674 mins.
Genre: Music
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 (16 x 9)
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1/Stereo 2.0
Bonus: illustrated program booklet
Release date: 4/24/18

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME: IN CONCERT -- Blu-ray Review by Porfle

THE BEST OF CAROL BURNETT: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION -- DVD Review by Porfle

Originally posted on 8/5/19

 

If you were watching CBS one night 50 years ago, chances are you saw the premiere of "The Carol Burnett Show." And if you were like me, you loved it and her, even though you probably didn't suspect that it would go on for another eleven years (1967-1978) and that 50 years later you'd be able to watch it all over again on DVD.

Time-Life's 21-disc boxed DVD set THE BEST OF CAROL BURNETT: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION allows us to do just that, with 60 episodes on 21 discs that also contain a wealth of bonus features, along with two illustrated menu booklets and a collectible memory book offering a colorful text history of the show.

The box contains three separate volumes, the first being THE BEST OF THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW (10 discs). This one gives us a chance to relive that first fateful episode and then takes us on a trip through the rest of the series with selected highlight episodes.

The early Carol is a delight as she has her first question-and-answer session with the live audience to open the show--which would become a revered tradition (as would her patented "Tarzan yell")--and wins them over with her easy charm, humility, and bubbling sense of humor and fun. 

Already an experienced performer (she'd just come off "The Garry Moore Show", where I first became a fan as a kid), we get to see her initial awkwardness work in her favor as she gradually becomes a more and more seasoned performer, as do beloved cast regulars Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, and Lyle Waggoner. (Frequent guest Tim Conway would later join as well.)

Her audience rapport and sense of fun in the skits and musical numbers to follow establish Carol's ability to relate to viewers on a personal level with no barrier between them.  She also proves willing to improvise and ad-lib her way through the skits, giving the show an enjoyably casual atmosphere where anything can happen.

The skits themselves are a hit-and-miss affair, some screamingly funny while others either don't quite click or are absolute clunkers.  But there are just so many of them that we're always entertained, especially when we get to see favorite continuing characters such as Mr. Tudball and Mrs. Wiggins, The Old Folks, Carol and Sis (lookalike Vicki Lawrence often played Carol's younger sister), and the blackmailing Girl Scout.

There's also the insufferably nagging wife, the soap opera spoof "As The Stomach Turns", Tim Conway's "The Oldest Man", and of course "The Family", with Carol and Harvey as Eunice and Ed Harper and Vicki Lawrence really coming into her own as Eunice's grouchy and eternally disapproving Mama in some of the show's most brilliant and memorable scenes.

In addition to the continuing segments are a wealth of commercial spoofs, Broadway and movie tributes, and other one-shot skits that range from yawners to side-splitters. Most of them are delightfully lowbrow, willfully unsophisticated, and packed with silly fun.  Not only that, but the cast delight in making each other burst into helpless laughter, especially when Tim and Harvey get together. 

Like most variety shows of the time, there's also a resident dance troup who perform semi-weekly song and dance numbers that viewers who appreciate such things will no doubt enjoy. As for me, these are excuses to exercise my chapter-skip button, something I wish I'd had when I was a kid and wanted to get back to the comedy.

I love the mischievous air that pervades the show, with the cast often playing on-air pranks on each other. One episode occurred during a musicians' strike so everyone has to hum the show's incidental music. 

Carol's all-star guests are a stellar line-up of actors, singers, and comedians who represent some of the best and most popular names in the entertainment industry at the time. These include Rita Hayworth, Bernadette Peters, Soupy Sales, Ella Fitzgerald, Sid Caesar, Andy Griffith, Mel Torme', Imogene Coca, Martha Raye, George Gobel, Ken Berry, Cass Elliot, Diahann Carroll, Nanette Fabray, Ray Charles, Carl Reiner, Roddy McDowall, The Jackson 5, Steve Lawrence, Dinah Shore, Ben Vereen, Neil Sedaka, Rock Hudson, and Carol's favorite guest, Jim "Gomer Pyle" Nabors.

The second 10-disc volume in the set, THE BEST OF THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW: 11 YEARS, TOGETHER AGAIN, is another wonderful collection of 27 shows from Carol's 11-season run on CBS. This time guests include Lucille Ball, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, Eddie Albert, Nancy Wilson, Chita Rivera, Burt Reynolds (who performs an amazing stunt gag), Don Adams, Lesley Ann Warren, Flip Wilson, Vicki Carr, Carol Channing, Ruth Buzzi, Jack Jones, Lily Tomlin, The Pointer Sisters, Dick Van Dyke, Sammy Davis, Jr., Madeline Kahn, Stiller & Meara, Eydie Gorme, and Hal Linden.

The third volume, THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW: THE FINAL SHOW, is Carol's sentimental swan song, which, in addition to the live-audience performances, also features taped reprises of some of the show's highlights over the years.

Mr. Tudball and Mrs. Wiggins appear for the last time as they prepare to move to a new office, while the final "Family" segment shows Mama disrupting Eunice's much-needed session with her therapist.

There are outtakes, TV and movie parodies, and appearances by such guests as Liza Minelli, Perry Como, Bob Hope, and several more. The sudden appearance of a surprise guest, Jimmy Stewart, gives Carol one of her biggest thrills of the show's entire run.

After a tearful goodbye rendition of the show's theme song performed by Carol's beloved "Charwoman" character, she's surprised by a procession of past well-known friends of the show including Harvey Korman, who had left the show sometime before.

Bonus features consist of a cast-reunion featurette, "The End of 11 Years: Saying So Long" and an interview with Carol.

Several of the other discs in the collection also include bonus features too numerous to mention.  These include all manner of outtakes, cast and guest interviews, and a variety of informative featurettes of interest to fans of the show.

Not all of the episodes are complete--some have shorter-than-average running times, but the deletions are probably limited to some of the show's less exciting dance numbers. Pictorially, the shows are in very good condition.

THE BEST OF CAROL BURNETT: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION is a gold mine of entertainment for fans of the show and a great introduction for those who've never seen it before. And as good as the skits and musical numbers are, it's those times when Carol just stands there visiting with the audience in her friendly and totally unassuming way that really make this set a joy to watch. It reminded me of why I've loved her for the last fifty years.


TECH SPECS:

Type: DVD (21 Discs)
Running Time: 58 hours, 51 min.
Rating: N/A
Genre: TV DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (4:3)
Audio: Stereo

THE BEST OF CAROL BURNETT: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION -- DVD Review by Porfle