One of my pet peeves for DVDs of classic television: Volumes. It's a code word for "incomplete season."
It's happened again this week, with the release of part of Season 2 of "The Love Boat." Other popular series, including "Perry Mason" and "Ironside," have been released in this haphazard (and, given the economy, increasingly expensive) manner. (Note: Full seasons of "Ironside" are also available.)
"The Love Boat," which was produced by Paramount, is currently overseen by Paramount's parent company, CBS/Viacom, even though it was an ABC show. Perry Mason is distributed by CBS/Paramount, and the only explanation for the split I can see is that the series was made at a time when television shows could conceivably produce 30-35 episodes a season. It's still poor form when CBS/Paramount has done a great job releasing "Hawaii Five-O," "Mannix," "JAG" and "Mission Impossible," among others.
Go to Amazon.com and check on the distribution studio. Those are the people to complain to.
See you next week. Until then, Happy - and full-season - viewing!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Week Of Jan. 23: If You're Feeling Presidential.....
Still feeling the glow of Barack Obama's swearing-in? Here are a few suggestions for classic programs from network television about both real and fictional presidents:
*Backstairs at the White House--Available on DVD, this four-part miniseries, originally shown on NBC in 1979, featured a cast of numerous well-known television names in this story of the staff that served Presidents William Howard Taft through Dwight Eisenhower and their families. It was based on the memoirs of one of those staffers, Lillian Rogers Parks.
*Eleanor and Franklin AND Eleanor and Franklin, The White House Years--Jane Alexander and Edward Herrmann would play the Roosevelts in both of these productions, done for ABC during the mid-1970s. The first one won 11 Emmys, the second one seven. They are available on DVD.
*Eleanor, First Lady of the World--Even though this was done for CBS, this film starring Jean Stapleton (All In the Family) is an excellent sequel, as it covers Eleanor Roosevelt's work at the United Nations after her husband's death. Sorry to say, this has not yet been released on DVD. How about it, CBS?
*George Washington AND George Washington: The Forging Of a Nation--These CBS miniseries, which made me fall in love with Barry Bostwick when they aired in 1984 and 1986, haven't been released on DVD, either (MGM/Sony may have distribution rights.). Bostwick played Washington from almost-youth to the first president of the United States, with Patty Duke playing Martha Washington.
*The West Wing--It's never a bad time for this classy drama, which aired on NBC from 1999-2006 and starred Martin Sheen as President Jed Bartlet. All seven seasons are available on DVD, both individually and as a box set.
Here's a look at the series' final scene, from the episode of the same name - Tomorrow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh3CT6JWPik
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
*Backstairs at the White House--Available on DVD, this four-part miniseries, originally shown on NBC in 1979, featured a cast of numerous well-known television names in this story of the staff that served Presidents William Howard Taft through Dwight Eisenhower and their families. It was based on the memoirs of one of those staffers, Lillian Rogers Parks.
*Eleanor and Franklin AND Eleanor and Franklin, The White House Years--Jane Alexander and Edward Herrmann would play the Roosevelts in both of these productions, done for ABC during the mid-1970s. The first one won 11 Emmys, the second one seven. They are available on DVD.
*Eleanor, First Lady of the World--Even though this was done for CBS, this film starring Jean Stapleton (All In the Family) is an excellent sequel, as it covers Eleanor Roosevelt's work at the United Nations after her husband's death. Sorry to say, this has not yet been released on DVD. How about it, CBS?
*George Washington AND George Washington: The Forging Of a Nation--These CBS miniseries, which made me fall in love with Barry Bostwick when they aired in 1984 and 1986, haven't been released on DVD, either (MGM/Sony may have distribution rights.). Bostwick played Washington from almost-youth to the first president of the United States, with Patty Duke playing Martha Washington.
*The West Wing--It's never a bad time for this classy drama, which aired on NBC from 1999-2006 and starred Martin Sheen as President Jed Bartlet. All seven seasons are available on DVD, both individually and as a box set.
Here's a look at the series' final scene, from the episode of the same name - Tomorrow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh3CT6JWPik
See you next week. Until then, Happy Viewing!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Week of Jan. 16: Goodbye To Four
It's been a tough week and a half for lovers of classic television. Four men who played important roles in their respective series have died.
*Last week, we heard about the death of Harry Endo, who played the lab genius Che Fong on "Hawaii Five-O." Contrary to what was reported by the Associated Press, Endo did not originate the role, though the character was a part of the show from almost the very beginning. In fact, Endo, who was a bank executive in real life, would also play one on the Season 2 episode, "Which Way Did They Go?" The very next episode, "Blind Tiger," was the first time he played Che Fong, and he would continue to do so in more than 140 episodes, through the Season 10 episode "Up the Rebels."
Through Season 5, the show (except for the suppressed Season 2 episode "Bored, She Hung Herself) is available on DVD. CBS.com has assorted episodes from Seasons 1 and 2; Endo can be seen on the Season 2 episode "Nightmare Road."
*Patrick McGoohan had a most unusual career, featured in "Secret Agent" and "The Prisoner," two shows not seen much in syndication (although the "Secret Agent" song "Secret Agent Man" became a big hit) and working in a number of character roles. Both shows are available on DVD. Here's the introduction to "The Prisoner":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14eUKogPF7s
*Ricardo Montalban.....There is no question about his television success, as the star of ABC's "Fantasy Island" (Episodes are available at Hulu.com and early seasons are on DVD.) and a number of guest starring roles, including as Kahn on "Star Trek." He was also successful as a pitchman for Chrysler during the 1970s; the world will always think of him and "soft Corinthian leather" in the same vein:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIL3fbGbU2o
Some obituaries mentioned what Montalban did to raise the profile of Hispanic actors and actresses. There was little mention, however, of Montalban the humanitarian, the man who worked until recently to raise money for many charities, including the fight against cancer.
*Don Galloway will forever be known as the handsome Sgt. Ed Brown on "Ironside." The first two seasons are available both on DVD and Hulu.com.
This is from a newspaper in his home state of Kentucky, showing there was more to him than a famous face:
http://www.maysville-online.com/articles/2009/01/12/local_news/553galloway.txt
Thank heavens for video, DVD, Webcasting and any future technologies that preserve their performances for us all.
See you next week.
*Last week, we heard about the death of Harry Endo, who played the lab genius Che Fong on "Hawaii Five-O." Contrary to what was reported by the Associated Press, Endo did not originate the role, though the character was a part of the show from almost the very beginning. In fact, Endo, who was a bank executive in real life, would also play one on the Season 2 episode, "Which Way Did They Go?" The very next episode, "Blind Tiger," was the first time he played Che Fong, and he would continue to do so in more than 140 episodes, through the Season 10 episode "Up the Rebels."
Through Season 5, the show (except for the suppressed Season 2 episode "Bored, She Hung Herself) is available on DVD. CBS.com has assorted episodes from Seasons 1 and 2; Endo can be seen on the Season 2 episode "Nightmare Road."
*Patrick McGoohan had a most unusual career, featured in "Secret Agent" and "The Prisoner," two shows not seen much in syndication (although the "Secret Agent" song "Secret Agent Man" became a big hit) and working in a number of character roles. Both shows are available on DVD. Here's the introduction to "The Prisoner":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14eUKogPF7s
*Ricardo Montalban.....There is no question about his television success, as the star of ABC's "Fantasy Island" (Episodes are available at Hulu.com and early seasons are on DVD.) and a number of guest starring roles, including as Kahn on "Star Trek." He was also successful as a pitchman for Chrysler during the 1970s; the world will always think of him and "soft Corinthian leather" in the same vein:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIL3fbGbU2o
Some obituaries mentioned what Montalban did to raise the profile of Hispanic actors and actresses. There was little mention, however, of Montalban the humanitarian, the man who worked until recently to raise money for many charities, including the fight against cancer.
*Don Galloway will forever be known as the handsome Sgt. Ed Brown on "Ironside." The first two seasons are available both on DVD and Hulu.com.
This is from a newspaper in his home state of Kentucky, showing there was more to him than a famous face:
http://www.maysville-online.com/articles/2009/01/12/local_news/553galloway.txt
Thank heavens for video, DVD, Webcasting and any future technologies that preserve their performances for us all.
See you next week.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Week of Jan. 9: The Real Frost-Nixon and Ode To "Mannix"
I recently saw the movie "Frost/Nixon," with Frank Langella as former President Richard Nixon and Michael Sheen as interviewer David Frost. Good moviemaking about the 1977 interviews, but here's some real-life detail.
-David Frost had a talk show in the United States during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was hardly a lightweight at interviewing political leaders; he interviewed them on his show - including Richard Nixon during his 1968 presidential campaign.
By the way, here's the real-life context of the line from Nixon - "When the president does it, it's not illegal" that got so much attention during the interview. It's not the way it was portrayed in the movie:
http://www.landmarkcases.org/nixon/nixonview.html
Since the 1977 Nixon interview, Frost has established himself as a stellar interviewer of newsmakers, including two excellent series for PBS of interviewing presidential candidates. He has interviewed every president since Nixon; presumably Barack Obama is also on his list.
Currently, Frost works for Al Jazeera English. He has interviewed almost everybody who is anybody as a newsmaker in the world.
Here's a recent turn of the tables, with Frost being interviewed by Barbara Walters and company on the ABC program "The View":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsczE48JKoQ
Here's more of the real-life Frost-Nixon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f80oje3kRM&feature=related
*******************************************************************************
Joe Mannix is one of the eternally cool television characters, and CBS has just released Season 2 of "Mannix," starring Mike Connors, on DVD. It's the season that really puts the show into its known format, since it's the first that features Gail Fisher as Mannix's secretary, Peggy, who would win an Emmy for best supporting actress in a drama. The show ran from 1967 to 1975 on CBS.
Connors was born Krekor Ohanian, and celebrated his Armenian heritage on the show as well.
Here's a link to a nice fansite about the show:
http://www.jmannix.net/
And, of course, there's Lalo Schifrin's stellar theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHwv91NiiCs
That's all for now. Until next week, Happy Viewing!
-David Frost had a talk show in the United States during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was hardly a lightweight at interviewing political leaders; he interviewed them on his show - including Richard Nixon during his 1968 presidential campaign.
By the way, here's the real-life context of the line from Nixon - "When the president does it, it's not illegal" that got so much attention during the interview. It's not the way it was portrayed in the movie:
http://www.landmarkcases.org/nixon/nixonview.html
Since the 1977 Nixon interview, Frost has established himself as a stellar interviewer of newsmakers, including two excellent series for PBS of interviewing presidential candidates. He has interviewed every president since Nixon; presumably Barack Obama is also on his list.
Currently, Frost works for Al Jazeera English. He has interviewed almost everybody who is anybody as a newsmaker in the world.
Here's a recent turn of the tables, with Frost being interviewed by Barbara Walters and company on the ABC program "The View":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsczE48JKoQ
Here's more of the real-life Frost-Nixon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f80oje3kRM&feature=related
*******************************************************************************
Joe Mannix is one of the eternally cool television characters, and CBS has just released Season 2 of "Mannix," starring Mike Connors, on DVD. It's the season that really puts the show into its known format, since it's the first that features Gail Fisher as Mannix's secretary, Peggy, who would win an Emmy for best supporting actress in a drama. The show ran from 1967 to 1975 on CBS.
Connors was born Krekor Ohanian, and celebrated his Armenian heritage on the show as well.
Here's a link to a nice fansite about the show:
http://www.jmannix.net/
And, of course, there's Lalo Schifrin's stellar theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHwv91NiiCs
That's all for now. Until next week, Happy Viewing!
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