:mad: I just received the I Love Lucy Complete Series today in the mail from Amazon. I would like to ask who in the HECK devised this packaging. It is cheaply constructed, difficult to pull the DVDs in and out of. It just seems way too easy to scratch a DVD. For $200, the packaging should be better..period.

Could you post some photos of the set inside and out?

I will have to get access to a digital camera, but in the meantime, the DVDs are displayed in a sort of accordion-like paper. While it may appear to be easy access, it doesn't do much to protect the DVDs my opinion. The outside is a very flimsy plastic cover with Lucy's pictures. You slide out the cardboard box from the inside and lift the heart up in order to take the discs out.

I will try to post pics, but honestly, for $200 and since CBS/Paramount has already got our money from the individual DVD season releases, they could have treated Lucy fans better with appropriate packaging.

Another thing, Amazon charged $189 for it. I found out today that Target & Costco are selling it for $139. The latter price is more appropriate.

Just as I suspected. Even though I don't have the set, from what I've read here and other Lucy forums the packaging IS similar to The Brady Bunch complete series set. This is a dissapointment. I am craving that bonus disc though. I would really hate to double dip now b/c the packaging is flimsy. Oh well guess I'll just have to wait and see if they release the bonus disc seperate.

The bonus disc is nice. The colorized episode is wonderful! Watching Vivian Vance accept her only Emmy for playing Ethel Mertz is really worth the money, I guess.

:mad: I just received the I Love Lucy Complete Series today in the mail from Amazon. I would like to ask who in the HECK devised this packaging. It is cheaply constructed, difficult to pull the DVDs in and out of. It just seems way too easy to scratch a DVD. For $200, the packaging should be better..period.

That's what I was concerned about. :(

I'm having a "stupid moment" and need to ask.. is this the release everyone is talking about? Just want to make sure I have the right one before I go and buy it :p
http://i21.tinypic.com/otojd0.jpg

I'm having a "stupid moment" and need to ask.. is this the release everyone is talking about? Just want to make sure I have the right one before I go and buy it :p
http://i21.tinypic.com/otojd0.jpg
Yeah, that's the right one. :wave:

Is it worth buying then? :confused:

That's what I was concerned about. :(

I never save the orig. packaging. I always pull the DVDs out and put them into double sided jewel boxes and label the covers. Too much clutter otherwise. When I save my DVDs this way, it takes up a lot less space.

I'm still going to read and research though before I actually take the plunge. But it sounds decent enough. Less than a buck an ep. And if the DVDs are of very poor quality you can complain to the credit card company. I always use a credit card for "big" purchases. This way, if anythings wrong, I can always request a chargeback. And since I almost never do this (only once in 10 yrs, if this were the case with this set, my complaint would probably be taken seriously)

That's what I was concerned about. :(
As was I. I only had the first 2 seasons, and got rid of them once I heard about The Complete Series Set. I can't believe this. I don't think the packaging will bother me too much. The main concern I have is if the discs are safe or not. I don't have The Brady Bunch set, but I think I heard the discs in that set are in some form of paper/cardboard slide cases. Is the Lucy set like that too?

The bonus disc is nice. The colorized episode is wonderful! Watching Vivian Vance accept her only Emmy for playing Ethel Mertz is really worth the money, I guess.
What did Viv say in her acceptance speech?

I would like to take back a little bit about what I said. First, the only real issue I now have with the packaging is the flimsy plastic cover on the outside. However, inside, the box is nice and the discs are stored in a satisfactory sleeve. I guess the packaging is cheaper to make for the cheaper price, too.

Vivian's acceptance speech was brief. She thanked the writers and Lucy, as she put it, "the greatest straight woman in show business." There are some other interesting things said, including Desi's comments at the same ceremony, you will have to see for yourself.

Now, let's hope someone takes up the campaign to get "The Lucy Show" out on DVD now....

Another thing, Amazon charged $189 for it. I found out today that Target & Costco are selling it for $139. The latter price is more appropriate.

Hi EthelMae. When I go to Target's website, they list it for $189 but its listed by Amazon. So I'm confused. There are 3 targets near NYC so I'm gonna fo there directly & hope I get lucky. For $139 it sounds like a bargain. The best price I could find so far is $162 @ J & R (can't do Costco cause I'm not a member). Have you watched any? As long as quality of DVDs is good, I can life w/o great packagaing. I always put my DVDs into 2 sided jewel boxes anyways. Keeps down on clutter.

I would like to take back a little bit about what I said. First, the only real issue I now have with the packaging is the flimsy plastic cover on the outside. However, inside, the box is nice and the discs are stored in a satisfactory sleeve. I guess the packaging is cheaper to make for the cheaper price, too.

Vivian's acceptance speech was brief. She thanked the writers and Lucy, as she put it, "the greatest straight woman in show business." There are some other interesting things said, including Desi's comments at the same ceremony, you will have to see for yourself.

Now, let's hope someone takes up the campaign to get "The Lucy Show" out on DVD now....YES YES YES! Now that they've MILKED I Love Lucy for every cent they can get from us, let them now focus on The Lucy Show NEXT!

YES! Bring on The Lucy Show next!!! I can't wait for this. To have the first season in a nice restored format, complete and uncut, would be a beautiful thing. I hope they, at least, release the first 4 seasons. I will buy all of them though if they release the entire series. :)

YES! Bring on The Lucy Show next!!! I can't wait for this. To have the first season in a nice restored format, complete and uncut, would be a beautiful thing. I hope they, at least, release the first 4 seasons. I will buy all of them though if they release the entire series. :)
I recently had all my VHS Lucy shows transferred and because one casette was uncopyable, i ended up with 139 out of 156, they are very clear for the most part but you're right, they're cut and it would be so nice to see them as clear as the ILL ones, and you foget how many gems she had on that series also, i loved all six seasons and they were always in the top ten too.

Would you believe I got the set for $66.07?! I am a Barnes & Noble member, and they had an online coupon for %50 off any 1 item. B&N members also get an extra 10% off on all items. I just received it in the mail and I am going up to open it now. I figured that there wouldn't be a lot of support within the set for the actual DVDs because the set is quite compact, especially considering that there are 34 discs inside.

Now I have no idea what to do with the complete series set I bought last year (seasons 1-6 packaged together). It takes up much more space than this new set. I never opened it, either- I tried to send it back where I bought it but they wouldn't accept it. Initially I wasn't going to buy it, but you can't beat 50% off.

I just bought the complete series today from Costco for $139. I actually like how the set is put together. The way how the set is put together reminds me of a filing cabnet. I also really like the bonus disk (good movie). So far I've only watched 2 episdoes (oil wells & job switching) from the complete series. There's so many great episodes, and even though I've seen all the episodes before I still laugh when I watch the episodes. That's one of the great things about the show i love lucy, it never seems to get old. :)

I just bought the complete series today from Costco for $139. I actually like how the set is put together. The way how the set is put together reminds me of a filing cabnet. I also really like the bonus disk (good movie). So far I've only watched 2 episdoes (oil wells & job switching) from the complete series. There's so many great episodes, and even though I've seen all the episodes before I still laugh when I watch the episodes. That's one of the great things about the show i love lucy, it never seems to get old. :)

Right on! You are right. I am still laughing at the same things after 45 years! There are so many episodes you might have to take a week off of work to see them all. Or stretch it out and make it last for a year!

Enjoy and have fun! Please contribute any input you come up with while/after watching. :wave:

I think thats whats so great about I love lucy, it will be loved for many many more generations after us, also so many different age groups like it, i think that this show was way ahead of its time back then! :)

Just bought it from Costco today. I will provide a mini review. I will also try to post pics but there are no promises;)

PACKAGING: I must say that the box looks a lot better in person, it's also bigger than I imagined. The main box (red heart logo w/ blue satin) slides out from the side of the outer clear plastic cover that feature pics of Lucy. As described by ethelmae the outer box is flimsy. I actually don't think it's as flimsy as it is akward. The flaps get in the way, it is hard to put the inner box back in it, and it can scratch the inner box. The inner box is REALLY nice. It is made of a strong glossy cardboard. You lift the heart (Both front and back, connected by the middle piece, it's kind of hard to describe so stay with me lol). Inside there are 2 disc holders. One holds seasons 1-3 and the bonus disc. The next features seasons 4-9. Both are red and shaped almost like a semi cirle (when you put them together they look like the top of the heart logo). The holders are similar to those used in The Brady Bunch set. This one is better though because unlike The Brady Bunch set there is NO glue in between the discs. Also included is an elongated booklet that features disc breakdows and the same episode descriptions as the slim cases of the original sets. Strips of photos are at the bottom of the pages, and photo collages are included on the side of the page for some of the seasons. The paper used for the booklet is pretty flismy. Overall it could have been better but I'm okay with it.

BONUS DISC: It's orange in color and features a pic of Lucy and Ricky in color from the Scotland episode. The Scotland episode is really cool. Unlike the Bewitched/Jeannie colorized episodes this one is not grainy. There are things that seem a bit off (skin tone, hair color) but the sets and cotumes are great. Very cool. The movie is also fun to see. The opening scene is cool because it has a behind the scenes feel to it b/c Desi talks a little bit about the show and introduces the cast. The wraparound scenes have amazing video quality and blend with the episodes. It runs 1 hour and 20 minutes. Also include is Lucy and Desi on the Ed Wynn Show, Emmy clips, and a rarely seen Phillip Morris commercial with the company's spokesman in the Ricardo living room.

SEASON 1: The newly restored episodes look good and the quality matches seasons 2-9. I did encounter a problem though (and so did someone else on the 'Lucy Lounge' board). Random subtiles pop up in the middle of 3 episodes "Lucy Fakes Illness" on disc 3 and "Ricky Thinks He's Getting Bald" and "Ricky Asks For A Raise" both on disc 6. This is similar to what happened on season 5. Hopefully CBS will send out replacements like they did for seasons 4 & 5. By the way those replacement discs for seasons 4 & 5 ARE included in this set)

Right on! You are right. I am still laughing at the same things after 45 years! There are so many episodes you might have to take a week off of work to see them all. Or stretch it out and make it last for a year!

Enjoy and have fun! Please contribute any input you come up with while/after watching. :wave:

I just got mine at Target today for $139.99--I'm salivating as I speak. I can hardly wait. The Whole Series. Watching this is gonna be fun--I've probably seen all the eps--Lucy was on all the time as I was growing up--but I know there'll be eps I probably haven't seen for 35-40 yrs. I can hardly wait--It's going to take me a while to go thru all 194--but I'm so exciting. ALL OF I.L.L.heart:heart:heart: :jig::crazy::loveya:

:mad: I just received the I Love Lucy Complete Series today in the mail from Amazon. I would like to ask who in the HECK devised this packaging. It is cheaply constructed, difficult to pull the DVDs in and out of. It just seems way too easy to scratch a DVD. For $200, the packaging should be better..period.

Hey there Ethel Mae. Just got & opened mine. Yes it is kind of cheaply packaged. But since I got mine for $140 & as long as the qual. of the eps are of good, I can overlook the cheap pacakaging. Never saw the accordian style way they lay the DVDs out before. Unusual. But My biggest concern is taking good care of the DVDs so they don't get scratched. One nice thing abt it though, which I never knew, that Seasons 7-9 are the Luci Desi Comedy Hrs. To me this is a great bonus, I'd thought I'd have to get these sep. That's at least $30 in savings right there!

154.98 plus tax for me and worth every penny. I agree the packaging LOOKS great and is quite original BUT it's kind of cheaply made, won't last very long. But the BONUS disc is incredible, the I Love Lucy movie is terrific, the Scotland episode i never liked much but it's so glorious in color that it's also fantastic. They tell us they're giving us the show where Lucy and Desi appeared on in '49, the Ed Wynn show, then they only show us a few minutes of it instead of the whole THIN. I just LOVED the '54 Emmy show where they win and mention the writers as they always did. Yes, it's another rip off but i'm sure people will make copies of the BONUS disc and send it to friends, it was really stupid of them to put all the new stuff on the ONE disc, LOL!

I found some packaging shots FINALLY:

http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showpost.php?p=8235752&postcount=24

It looks incredible! Unfortunately the photos just make me want it even MORE, and I can't afford it right now.

I am glad I didn't buy this set and glad I didn't have the money or interest to as it seems very badly put together. I am happy with the individual seasons that I have. I'm sure they will release the bonus disc with the I LOVE LUCY movie on it, someday by itself so yeah I'll wait for that. :)

I am glad I didn't buy this set and glad I didn't have the money or interest to as it seems very badly put together. I am happy with the individual seasons that I have. I'm sure they will release the bonus disc with the I LOVE LUCY movie on it, someday by itself so yeah I'll wait for that. :)

If you already have all the seasons, then its definitely not worth buying. I only had the first two seasons, and 1 out the 13 eps for Seasons 7-9. So for ME it was worth it. Also, now I can rid of the VHS duplicates I have.

I think my boyfriend got me the DVD complete set for Christmas. :jig: :cheer: I see the gift all wrapped up and from the size and so forth, I think it is!!!! WHOO HOO!!!!!!!!

I think my boyfriend got me the DVD complete set for Christmas. :jig: :cheer: I see the gift all wrapped up and from the size and so forth, I think it is!!!! WHOO HOO!!!!!!!!
Well, what the heck's the matter with you? Unwrap it, watch the bonus disc and then rewrap it. Then fake a surprise the way Lucy and Ricky did with the golf clubs and fur piece, LOL!

Well, what the heck's the matter with you? Unwrap it, watch the bonus disc and then rewrap it. Then fake a surprise the way Lucy and Ricky did with the golf clubs and fur piece, LOL!
OMG!!! :brent :rofl:

OMG!!! :brent :rofl:
Well, i mean REALLY, did you learn nothing from the series? LOL!

Well, i mean REALLY, did you learn nothing from the series? LOL!
:rofl:
I learned A LOT! There has been a few times I resorted to "Lucy behavior". ;) Hell, I have even made her faces many times.

Like this:

Ever try and retrieve mail you sent out by mistake? Ever work on an assembly line? Ever try and break into show business? Ever try and pull one over on your mate? Just a few of the sensible practical ordinary moves of the average every day common man or woman, LOL!

Ever try and retrieve mail you sent out by mistake? Ever work on an assembly line? Ever try and break into show business? Ever try and pull one over on your mate? Just a few of the sensible practical ordinary moves of the average every day common man or woman, LOL!
No can't say I have. BUT! I have tried playing matchmaker. I feigned illness to gain sympathy. I climbed into an old tv set when I was young when it had the picture tube removed...:rofl: Oh yeah and the one I continue to do to this day...STICK OUT MY TONGUE TO MY BOYFRIEND, BEHIND HIS BACK! :lol:

Oh i think we've all pulled a LUCY at some point or other in our lives, life certainly would be a lot duller if we never did, LOL! I was telling my office mates one this morning. I decided to take a bath, instead of a shower. I had the water pouring in but when i tried to shut it off, it was stuck and would not shut off, similar to the ep in the shower for the girls on the Lucy show. So, as the water kept filling up the tub, and was close to spilling over, i was on the second floor, i panicked and got a bucket to empty the water into the toilet as quickly as possible. I was emptying bucket after bucket instead of just PULLING THE STOPPER OUT of the drain, which would let the water escape normally, until i got the faucet turned off. I felt like a complete idiot. Then, watching a Merv Griffin show with Burt Reynolds, (who dated Lucie Arnaz at one point, have to keep this on the main subject) and he was telling the story of being in a bath, on valium and falling asleep, his then girlfriend, country singer Tammy Wynette, came in and frantically tried to keep his head above water, instead of just pulling out the plug. So i thought to myself, OH GREAT, I HAVE THE BRAINS OF A BLONDE COUNTRY SINGER! That was one of my Lucy moments, LOL!

Oh i think we've all pulled a LUCY at some point or other in our lives, life certainly would be a lot duller if we never did, LOL! I was telling my office mates one this morning. I decided to take a bath, instead of a shower. I had the water pouring in but when i tried to shut it off, it was stuck and would not shut off, similar to the ep in the shower for the girls on the Lucy show. So, as the water kept filling up the tub, and was close to spilling over, i was on the second floor, i panicked and got a bucket to empty the water into the toilet as quickly as possible. I was emptying bucket after bucket instead of just PULLING THE STOPPER OUT of the drain, which would let the water escape normally, until i got the faucet turned off. I felt like a complete idiot. Then, watching a Merv Griffin show with Burt Reynolds, (who dated Lucie Arnaz at one point, have to keep this on the main subject) and he was telling the story of being in a bath, on valium and falling asleep, his then girlfriend, country singer Tammy Wynette, came in and frantically tried to keep his head above water, instead of just pulling out the plug. So i thought to myself, OH GREAT, I HAVE THE BRAINS OF A BLONDE COUNTRY SINGER! That was one of my Lucy moments, LOL!

OMG what a pain that was for you. :eek: In that moment of panic, you couldn't think rationally and just did what I am sure most of us probably would have done. :rofl: At least you can laugh abt it now.

I remember that story abt Burt Reynolds. I actually read abt it when it came out in some magazine. I love how you kept the I LOVE LUCY theme going in that story. ;) :lol:

That's my problem, i usually find a way to work Lucy in in any story i tell, LOL! Here's another one: I worked at the Worl's Fair here in Montreal in '67, remember Lucy and her Lucy show about people staying with her because of the New York world's fair? Well, i finished at 2 am and would have to walk this long walk to the subway on the site, so my friends told me, when the monorail comes by a station at that time, it keeps moving as the site is more or less closed, so find an opened cart and HOP ON. It was 2 am and i was very tired, so i went up there and waited for one i could HOP ON and did. It went around the pavilions and underneath water falls and up and up to the French pavilion at the highest point on the 1000 acre site and promptly STOPPED FOR THE NIGHT. So there i was, up seven flights with the wind shaking the cart and the St Lawrence river on my right and i can't swim and cement on the other side, seven floors below. Now doesn't that sound like a Lucy episode? When some tourists came by, i frantically yelled for them to get help, hope it wasn't that nosy couple from Grauman's. A worker had to climb over every series of trains between the next station and where i was and it took me an hour to get off as he started every train as he went along, as i came off and he was yelling at me in French, i pretended, in Lucy Ricardo fashion, to be a tourist from New York who had no idea one could not board it at night and got off without a trip to the pokey. Being a Lucy fan can come in very handy you know!

Geez Splain! 2AM? What were you, about 12? How scary.

What irks me is that us who bought each season as it came out one by one miss out on the many special features found only in the complete set. This is just wrong. Especially to us who bought the individual volumes of Season One way back when. I spent alot more than $200 for the complete series and have fewer special features to show for it. So what should we do...wait six years for all six seasons of The Lucy Show to come out then go buy the box set and get some extra goodies and save some money? (Of course I am being sarcastic here but you get the drift.)

I was 17 Lodee, but the mental capacity of an eight year old, LOL! Getting back to the set, i repeat, what they'll probably do is wait for sales to die down and then issue the ONE special bonus disc that has everything on it as a single like they did for MASH.

I was 17 Lodee, but the mental capacity of an eight year old, LOL! Getting back to the set, i repeat, what they'll probably do is wait for sales to die down and then issue the ONE special bonus disc that has everything on it as a single like they did for MASH.
Oh, okay. 17 isn't that bad. I couldn't picture your mother letting her 12 year old travel alone at 2 am.

I received this set as a Christmas gift, and am watching "Lucy Makes Room for Danny" as this is being typed. I was, though, a bit concerned by a disclaimer that is all too prevalent with Paramount TV releases these days. On the bottom of the elongated box, where they no doubt hope that you won't see it, is a disclaimer.

Am quoting from memory now, as the outer packaging is neatly under the tree, but it says something to the effect of, "Some music has been changed for this home entertainment version. Some episodes may be shortened from their original network airings." Does anyone have an idea which episodes might be affected?

I have no idea, i just watched the BONUS disc and never touched anything else, we have it all already. Great, another thin to worry about!:(

I have the day off, and spent some time searching Google, hoping to find an answer...but have come up empty, for the most part.

There are apparently edits in some of the hour specials, based upon user reviews at Amazon.com, but I can find nothing about music deletion or substitution. The disclaimer at the bottom of the packaging for the complete series set is the only tipoff.

I do love the bonus disc, by the way. The colorized episode is the first program that was viewed last night, and the "I Love Lucy Movie" kept me entertained this afternoon.