Info:
DVD Release Date: October 3, 2006 (Koch Entertainment)
B&W / 1953-54
MSRP: $39.98
Number of Discs: 5
Number of Episodes: 26
Running Time: 800 Minutes
Running Time of Special Features: approx 2 hours
Languages: English
Subtitles: Not available / Not Closed Captioned
Special Features: Lou Costello's Rare Home Movies,
Interviews with Chris and Paddy Costello, Encore of
The Abbott & Costello short "10,000 Kids and a Cop" as
well as the complete 7-minute "Who's On First"
routine.
Introduction:
Abbott and Costello are back in this five-disc 100th
Anniversary Collection set, featuring all 26 episodes
from the show's second and final season. The episodes
are completely uncut and restored in honor of Lou
Costello's 100th Birthday. Also included on this
spectacular set are never-before seen home movies of
Lou Costello and his family, as well as interviews
with Lou's surviving children, Chris and Paddy, all of
that plus an encore of "10,000 Kids and A Cop" as well
as the complete 7 minute "Who's on First" routine.
This is a set full of fun, so be sure and pick up your
copy!
Episodes Included / Notable Guest Stars:
Episodes this season are "The Paperhangers," "Uncle
Bozzo's Visit," In Society," "Life Insurance," "Pest
Exterminators," "Killer's Wife," "Cheapskates," "South
of Dixie," "From Bed To Worse," "$1000 TV Prize,"
"Amnesia," "Efficiency Experts," "Car Trouble," "Wife
Wanted," "Uncle From New Jersey," "Private Eye," "The
Tax Return," "Public Enemies," "Bank Hold Up," "Well
Oiled," "The Pigeon," "Honeymoon House," "Fencing
Master," "Beauty Contest Story," "Fall Guy," and
"Barber Lou."
Packaging:
The main cover design is the same as Season 1, but
it's a nice shade of red along with a different
picture of Lou and Bud on the cover. The back of the
box features a nice description of the set, as well as
a list of the episodes and a list of the bonus
features. The set is a slip sleeve type of set,
meaning each disc is in its own slip sleeve case.
Those cases have the same design as the main art.
The discs, meanwhile, are red in color and feature
different shots of Abbot & Costello taken from the
episodes. Disc 1 contains episodes 1-6. Disc 2
contains episodes 7-12. Disc 3 contains episodes
13-18. Disc 4 contains episodes 19-24 and Disc 5
contains episodes 25-26 along with the entire bonus
features included on the set.
Menu Design and Navigation:
The menu is more or less the same as Season 1. It
features a ton of pictures floating before you before
settling into the menu, which is shaped like those
cartoon talk bubbles. The menu is a nice red in color.
Selections include "Play All" or "Episode Selection."
The episode selection sub-menu lists the episodes. And
like Season 1, there is the silent-movie type music
playing in the background. On Disc 5, the menu
includes the bonus material selection.
Video and Audio Quality:
Again, the episodes are definitely restored -- and
uncut. The video itself is good, but at the same time,
there is obvious snow and grain, although they appear
to have done the best they could in restoring the
episodes. The audio is great as well; nothing to be
worried about here. And again, the episodes are most
definitely unedited, running 25 to 26 minutes in
length. Chapter skips are available, kind of. You can
jump between episodes but you can't jump between
scenes.
And unlike when I reviewed Season 1, I have a new DVD
player that lists the episode duration when I select
the episode, so I can now include running times for
each episode!
DISC 1
1- The Paperhangers (25:52)
2- Uncle Bozzo's Visit (25:52)
3- In Society (25:49)
4- Life Insurance (25:55)
5- Pest Exterminators (25:58)
6- Killer's Wife (25:11)
DISC 2
7- Cheapskates (25:45)
8- South of Dixie (25:58)
9- From Bed to Worse (26:02)
10- $1000 TV Prize (25:54)
11- Amnesia (25:55)
12- Efficiency Experts (26:03)
DISC 3
13- Car Trouble (25:43)
14- Wife Wanted (25:59)
15- Uncle from New Jersey (26:00)
16- Private Eye (26:05)
17- The Tax Return (25:58)
18- Public Enemies (25:43)
DISC 4
19- Bank Holdup (26:01)
20- Well Oiled (26:01)
21- The Pigeon (25:59)
22- Honeymoon House (26:06)
23- Fencing Master (25:47)
24- Beauty Contest Story (25:50)
DISC 5
25- Fall Guy (26:00)
26- Barber Lou (25:56)
Special Features:
- Chris & Paddy Costello Interviews / Lou Costello's
Home Movies (approx. 1 hour and 35 minutes)
Interviews (segments that Chris and Paddy discuss)
include: "Change of Season" in which Chris and Paddy
discuss Season 2. "When Dad Met Mom" in which we learn
how Lou met his wife. "Dad's Mom & Dad" features Lou's
parents. "When Bud Met Lou" featuring how Bud met Lou.
"Universal Appeal", "End of an Era," "Winsome, Lou's
Sum" "I Pledge of Allegiance," "Cops & a Kid" and
"What Might've Been."
Sections from the Home Movies include: "Intro to Home
Movies" "A Costello Christmas" (1946), "A Costello
Easter" (1947), "Lou and Baby Chris" (1947-1949), "A
Costello Easter" (1949), "Chris's 2nd Birthday"
(1949), "Paddy's 13th Birthday Party" (1949), "9,000
Kids & a Mom", "A Costello Christmas" (1950), "Chris's
4th Birthday" (1951), "Hawaiian Memories," and
"Paddy's Wedding" (1953).
- Special Encore Presentation of Lost 1948 Short
"10,000 Kids & a Cop" (approx. 20 minutes and 8
seconds)
This includes an introduction by Paddy Costello and is
the same featurette as on the season 1 disc.
- Complete "Who's On First" (1953) Routine (approx. 8
minutes and 3 seconds) -- the Complete routine from
"The Actors Home" episode.
Final Comments:
Once again, Koch/Passport has done it. A very polished
set that boasts uncut episodes as well as loads of
bonus features. You couldn't ask for more in a set! I
was very pleased to review this show, having barely
seen it in syndication. It's downright hilarious and
even if you aren't a fan of black and white shows,
this one is worth checking out. The special features
alone will make any fan of this show salivate, so
don't even hesitate, go out and get this set!
Final Numbers (out of 5 stars - How our point system works)
Video Quality: 4/5
Audio Quality: 4/5
Special Features: 4/5
Menu Navigation/Design: 4.5/5
Overall: 4/5
-- Reviewed by TVJunkie101 (Shawn Eaton) on 10/05/06
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