Breaking news from tvshowsondvd.com's website at http://tvshowsondvd.com/n/13293 that two of the 1970s reunion specials will be released on DVD in May!!!!!

The preorder for "The Second Honeymoon" is here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036U0B0K?tag=tvshowsondvdcom&link_code=as3&creativeASIN=B0036U0B0K&creative=373489&camp=211189

The preorder for the "Valentines Special" is here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0036U0B0U?tag=tvshowsondvdcom&link_code=as3&creativeASIN=B0036U0B0U&creative=373489&camp=211189

Between all the Gleason, "Here's Lucy," Lucille Ball specials, "Mothers-In-Laws" series, is it a wonder why I love MPI so much?????

Wow! First the Lucy specials see the light of day on DVD and now we get two Honeymooners specials on DVD. This is great news!

The Valentine Special is showing a run time of 90 mins. on the Amazon listing. Now I know it is early, before any additional information has been announced, but wouldn't it be nice if these included some bonus features. And what kind of bonus would be nice? How about those still-unreleased short "Honeymooners" skits from the 1968-1969 season!

I hope those unreleased Honeymooners sketches are a part of this release. I have both of those episodes from tape trades. I can definitely tell you that both episodes are around 50 minutes long.

I think Amazon.com made a typo. I am assuming all those short sketches are around 15 minutes long. Since there are about 8 short color sketches, one can assume all those short sketches combined would be between 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Amazon may have made a typo. But another possible explanation is that there is 40 minutes worth of extras on this set that we just haven't been told about yet. At least I hope that's the case.

Not Going to complain here because this is indeed BIG BIG BIG NEWS!, but I don't see the reason to release them separately, especially when the first two lucy specials were together, I just think it's harder for someone to buy two, even at a very reasonable price and for us hardcore collectors, it's all about shelf space!...lol.....Thank you though MPI.....now lets get those christmas specials out in dec. 2010. I have "The Second Honeymoon" from 2/2/76 with the original commercials from the united garments workers union (look for the union label!), I actually recorded it myself on a industry professional machine on 3/4 u-matic tape....the tape has held up over the years which surprises me, several years ago, I transferred it to DVD, but yes it does have a slight flicker and some of the color has faded, so I am especially anxious to see it now officially released, but will never get rid of my original broadcast version, now being 34 years old!

Glad to see this happen as I thought MPI was done with the Honeymooners.
The information on TV Shows on DVD is incorrect in that neither Sammy Spear nor the June Taylor Dancers appear on these shows.

Now let's hope we get the two Christmas specials later this year. What would really make me happy is if they could release the Poor Soul Christmas episode.

The timing could be a type on Amazon's part. Then again, if the specials are 50 mins, and a short skit runs 15 mins, and they add 2 per disc, that would equal approx. 90 mins. My guess is that they will release the Christmas shows each on its own seperate disc, which would allow for 4 additional shows. That comes out to 8 possible short skits to be released as bonuses on the discs. It's just what I think could happen, I have no knowledge beyond what was posted on tvshowsondvd.com

I do feel that MPI is trying to "clear" the vaults (so to speak) of Honeymooners-related shows before possibly releasing more Gleason stuff, or even remastered lost episodes. (I would love to see the lost shows get the Live Feed treatment.)

Now let's hope we get the two Christmas specials later this year. What would really make me happy is if they could release the Poor Soul Christmas episode.


:cheers: :woohoo: :yippee:

I 100% agree ... and wouldn't be surprised to see it released sometime in the future.

Awesome news!!! Thanks for posting the links!

Looks like we'll finally see the 7 additional "Color" sketches.

Here is a link to some additional details & the cover art....

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jackie-Gleason-Second-Honeymoon-and-Valentine-Special/13316

Thanks Chris, I just saw notification about this and was thrilled to see it! Whoo hoo!

Yes! Those short sketches are nearly impossible to find. I wonder how many short sketches will be released on both of those DVDs. Hopefully, all 8 of them. Remember there was an eighth one entitled: "Incredible World of Ed Norton."

Any idea if "Incredible World of Ed Norton." is an actual Honeymooners episode or short sketch or was it a special?

Yes! Those short sketches are nearly impossible to find. I wonder how many short sketches will be released on both of those DVDs. Hopefully, all 8 of them. Remember there was an eighth one entitled: "Incredible World of Ed Norton."


Seeing the covers and reading about the extras makes me even more enthused about these specials reaching DVD.

Also excited about the line "new digital transfer from the original masters." Don't know about "The Incredible World of Ed Norton," the only way to find out is to contact MPI.

What was the airdate for this sketch? I had it but can't find it now.

** Update **

Nevermind, I found it. January 17, 1970.

Any idea if "Incredible World of Ed Norton." is an actual Honeymooners episode or short sketch or was it a special?


According to Michael Seth Starr's Art Carney bio, it was a pilot for a potential series with Al "Grandpa" Lewis, Ron Carey, and Phil Leeds. According to the book, it was a disaster and never aired. Does anyone remember seeing it?

Just read that they filmed a pilot. Makes sense now. Hopefully we will se that then.

They updated the extras & it looks like we'll still have to wait for the 7 additional "Color" sketches.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jackie-Gleason-Second-Honeymoon-and-Valentine-Special/13477

They updated the extras & it looks like we'll still have to wait for the 7 additional "Color" sketches.

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jackie-Gleason-Second-Honeymoon-and-Valentine-Special/13477


Bummer. I was getting used to the idea of having the complete 60s sketches in my collection. These look like fun, but they're not what I had hoped to see.

According to the update posted

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jac...-Special/13477

At least 1 of the Christmas TV specials is coming at the end of the year.

Maybe the 7 additional sketches will be included then.

The back of the boxes say "Christmas specials" so I am laying good money that both 1970s Christmas shows will get released. However, I wouldn't be surprised to seem both released together since they have a common theme of Christmas. Just my thought and opinion, though I will admit that I enjoy the 1977 special with Gale Gordon more than the 1978 show, even though I do like the '78 special.

The back of the boxes say "Christmas specials" so I am laying good money that both 1970s Christmas shows will get released. However, I wouldn't be surprised to seem both released together since they have a common theme of Christmas. Just my thought and opinion, though I will admit that I enjoy the 1977 special with Gale Gordon more than the 1978 show, even though I do like the '78 special.


The 1978 show is significant in that it is the last original Honeymooners, but I seem to remember enjoying the 1977 special more in that it had a greater tie to Christmas. The lottery in the 1978 show could have been held any time of year.

I enjoyed the '77 special more too. Only for the Christmas play scene with all those mishaps as well as the inside jokes like Ralph's boss (Gale Gordon) saying this about Ed: "I once had a secretary like him. Her name was Lucy. A REAL screwball" as well as Johnny Olsen saying at the beginning of the play: "Mooreritee (sp?) the Undertaker says take advantage of my year-end clearance. Go now and save. GO ON DOWN."

The 1978 show is significant in that it is the last original Honeymooners, but I seem to remember enjoying the 1977 special more in that it had a greater tie to Christmas. The lottery in the 1978 show could have been held any time of year.

As I seem to recall the only real connection to Christmas in the 1978 show was when Alice has the tree and says something about putting it in the bedroom because she knows it is cold in there!

I agree with Frank ... the inside jokes on the 1977 show are just great. But the one thing that gets me about that and the Valentines show is the echo in Gusman Hall. I don't know why it seems to be that way, and maybe once the new versions are released it won't be as bad. And of course, nothing screams Christmas more than the Dixieland arrangement of "Melancholy Serenade" that opens the show!!!

(Has anyone heard the audio sample online to Gleason's 1961 talk show that replaced You're In The Picture?" The same arrangement of "MS" is used on that, too. I'll see if I can find a link and post it. And speaking of this short lived talk show, does anyone else agree that if the shows still exist that that would also be a great release for MPI to have as well?)

As I seem to recall the only real connection to Christmas in the 1978 show was when Alice has the tree and says something about putting it in the bedroom because she knows it is cold in there!

I agree with Frank ... the inside jokes on the 1977 show are just great. But the one thing that gets me about that and the Valentines show is the echo in Gusman Hall. I don't know why it seems to be that way, and maybe once the new versions are released it won't be as bad. And of course, nothing screams Christmas more than the Dixieland arrangement of "Melancholy Serenade" that opens the show!!!

(Has anyone heard the audio sample online to Gleason's 1961 talk show that replaced You're In The Picture?" The same arrangement of "MS" is used on that, too. I'll see if I can find a link and post it. And speaking of this short lived talk show, does anyone else agree that if the shows still exist that that would also be a great release for MPI to have as well?)


Ben, I'd love to hear that audio sample if you can find it. I think that Art Carney was one of the guests on that talk show, so it would be great to see the two cavort out of character. The only other time I saw them speak spontaneously was when Carney did a walk-on during Gleason's monologue on the American Scene Magazine. (I don't count the Dean Martin Roast since the jokes were scripted.)

As for Alice's Christmas tree in the 1978 special, I believe she tells Trixie that she's putting it in the bedroom because "it's colder in there than it is outside." :)

Ben, I'd love to hear that audio sample if you can find it. I think that Art Carney was one of the guests on that talk show, so it would be great to see the two cavort out of character. The only other time I saw them speak spontaneously was when Carney did a walk-on during Gleason's monologue on the American Scene Magazine. (I don't count the Dean Martin Roast since the jokes were scripted.)

The page is here, it's sample # 24:
http://www.atvaudio.com/Audio_Sampler_ATA.php

On the main page there is a sample from Gleason "The Big Sell" special as well.

As for Alice's Christmas tree in the 1978 special, I believe she tells Trixie that she's putting it in the bedroom because "it's colder in there than it is outside." :)

That's what the quote was!!! Thanks! :)