So...Collection 2...

[Bill S.]

Anybody pick it up? What are your thoughts? I'm still waiting for my copy from Amazon.

[VIDEOWACK]

Anybody pick it up? What are your thoughts? I'm still waiting for my copy from Amazon.

Rec'd mine.....excellent quality in both audio and video. It's apparent though, that they used network "re-run" prints as the copyright dates on most or all are 1968, plus there are some minor edits during a couple of the curtain calls. One of which is where Jackie reminds everyone to "watch the Super Bowl tomorrow on my favorite network, the Columbia Broadcasting System, it's gonna be something else!". Naturally, if this episode was broadcast the following season at a different time of the year, CBS would cut it out. That is the version we see here. One interesting note: During the opening Glea Girls announcements of "Riffifi, Brooklyn Style", they announce and show the companies that are sponsoring that night. One is Marlboro cigarettes and the other a vacuum company, Hoover I believe. I thought maybe they may have left all the ads in, but they didn't. The end of "King Of The Castle" goes directly from the fade-out of the final scene to the credits, no curtain call at all, just as it aired when the "Trip-To-Europe" shows were briefly syndicated (in which "King Of The Castle" was included) back in the 80's and when Goodlife (American Life TV) aired it. Overall, a very good collection with fine quality.

[HelloLarry]

I got this collection last week and do have a question. They skipped an episode and I'm not sure why. Ironically, it is the episode I was really looking forward to seeing because Gleason and Carney do a Laurel and Hardy imitation. It is called "Life Upon a Wicked Stage" and it technically would be the 9th episode on this collection (airdate-wise, airing before the "Rififi" episode). I don't have the American Life channel so I'm not sure if it's aired on there and my possibly be included on a future volume.

That being said, I think they hit their stride more with these episodes. The format takes a bit to get used to but with the "Trip to Europe" episodes, they seemed to be a little ill at ease IMO. With this set, they seem more comfortable. These are of more interest to me than the 'lost' episodes and it's kinda weird to see a heavier Norton in these (kinda like the later Abbott and Costello movies where Abbott at times looks as heavy as Costello). Carney had some personal issues around that time and it does look like there are some eps that he is just walking through. He did an episode of Batman the same week that one of these eps aired and it was pretty uninspired as well. He really seemed like such a good guy so it's a little sad to see him in some of these.

Does anyone know how far they are going to go with the series? What year/episode??

[MrBand]

Hello, Larry, (sorry, couldn't resist)

We suspect that much of the musical content in "Life Upon A Wicked Stage" (including a cameo by Robert Goulet singing a few bars of "If Ever I would Leave You") caused it to be deleted. Either the music licensing could not be obtained or the fee was higher than MPI was willing to pay for the rights. It has aired on American Life with everything except the June Taylor Dancers (standard procedure for all the Color Honeymooners aired on that channel).

I agree that Art Carney was certainly not as slim or even carefree as in the 50s and that his Archer appearance was sub-par, but he was older and as a Batman fanatic, I'm not certain anyone could have saved that script. It was a big letdown from the excellence of the first season. Stilll, I think Carney delivered in the color episodes.

Having said that, I just received my set yesterday and intend to screen one ep every Saturday night...just like the old days. I have seen them in their GoodLife run, but these are uncut and as close to the original airings (wow, sponsor tags in the intro!) as we'll see...certainly more colorful than their original airings!