sugar ray
05-19-2007, 10:20 PM
Well guys! Atleast Universal has met our requests and has released the first 2 seasons of this underated sitcom.
However, much of the disapointment from season 1's release has filtered over to season 2.
Once again we get a stale "MONO" audio release instead of stereo. The main menu screen (like season 1) looks cheezy. Easy to navigate episode selection screens set up in the exact same fashion as the first release. A harsh critic may be more impressed with motion menus for the episode selection screens.
The average fan may look at these as minor complaints, but being a videographer, i guess im allowed to critique my favorite show release.
After confirmation from universal themselves (hopefully your sitting down while reading this) there are several episodes of the season 2 release that are ACTUAL WORK PRINTS. Meaning there are a few episodes that weren't 100% completed. All the video is in tact, however several places contain missing audio. EX: episode "curly O'brien award" right at the very end of the episode just before the credits come up, the audio is completely dropped mid sentence! Same episode at the beginning while zooming in on the cabin the audio is non-existant. The Original broadcast release contained soundtrack during these scenes. Several other examples of this can be found throught season 2 episodes.
I do in fact have several original broadcasted episodes on VHS. I went back to compare notes with these original episdoes. Lone behold my fears were true.
Which brings me to my next question? why release work printed episodes? where is the original final cut?
Again no bonus features exist. Most sitcom releases have good bonus features. Cast interviews or how about an out take reel??
The packaging is very nice. 2 discs in a nicely constructed artform box. A nice improvement from season 1 packaging.
With no bonus material (isnt that one of the biggest advantages of the dvd format) and work printed episodes combined with MONO audio, i would say its NOT universal's best effort by any stretch of the imagination. It just doesnt seem like much effort or thought has been put into these releases. Comparing it to some of the excellent releases they have had like Knight rider. A bang up job there! Loads of extras, beautiful menu screens and superb restored picture.
I could be wrong or overly critical, but universal just seems to be content with throwing these coach seasons together.
It is very nice that the episodes are NON-syndicated or edited. Very enjoyable to watch the show without missing clips from USA networks syndication. With all this in mind. I hope everyone grabs a copy of season 2 so sales will warrant a 3rd release and so on...........
as for my friends at universal............"come on boys! who are you kidding? workprinted episodes for an official release?? lets beef up the extras, and lord please........were NOT asking for a coach 5.1 soundtrack, but atleast a stereo release would be great! MONO was in the 70's lets leave it there!"
:wave:
However, much of the disapointment from season 1's release has filtered over to season 2.
Once again we get a stale "MONO" audio release instead of stereo. The main menu screen (like season 1) looks cheezy. Easy to navigate episode selection screens set up in the exact same fashion as the first release. A harsh critic may be more impressed with motion menus for the episode selection screens.
The average fan may look at these as minor complaints, but being a videographer, i guess im allowed to critique my favorite show release.
After confirmation from universal themselves (hopefully your sitting down while reading this) there are several episodes of the season 2 release that are ACTUAL WORK PRINTS. Meaning there are a few episodes that weren't 100% completed. All the video is in tact, however several places contain missing audio. EX: episode "curly O'brien award" right at the very end of the episode just before the credits come up, the audio is completely dropped mid sentence! Same episode at the beginning while zooming in on the cabin the audio is non-existant. The Original broadcast release contained soundtrack during these scenes. Several other examples of this can be found throught season 2 episodes.
I do in fact have several original broadcasted episodes on VHS. I went back to compare notes with these original episdoes. Lone behold my fears were true.
Which brings me to my next question? why release work printed episodes? where is the original final cut?
Again no bonus features exist. Most sitcom releases have good bonus features. Cast interviews or how about an out take reel??
The packaging is very nice. 2 discs in a nicely constructed artform box. A nice improvement from season 1 packaging.
With no bonus material (isnt that one of the biggest advantages of the dvd format) and work printed episodes combined with MONO audio, i would say its NOT universal's best effort by any stretch of the imagination. It just doesnt seem like much effort or thought has been put into these releases. Comparing it to some of the excellent releases they have had like Knight rider. A bang up job there! Loads of extras, beautiful menu screens and superb restored picture.
I could be wrong or overly critical, but universal just seems to be content with throwing these coach seasons together.
It is very nice that the episodes are NON-syndicated or edited. Very enjoyable to watch the show without missing clips from USA networks syndication. With all this in mind. I hope everyone grabs a copy of season 2 so sales will warrant a 3rd release and so on...........
as for my friends at universal............"come on boys! who are you kidding? workprinted episodes for an official release?? lets beef up the extras, and lord please........were NOT asking for a coach 5.1 soundtrack, but atleast a stereo release would be great! MONO was in the 70's lets leave it there!"
:wave: