So according to a report posted on TVShowsonDVD.com, the I Love Lucy Season 1 Bluray is going to retail for $129.00! WTF? Is this some kind of joke or are the powers that be at CBS/Paramount insanely greedy? I don't know about you fans, but I'm not that stupid to shell out that kind of money for one season when it's in B&W too. I mean why the hell upgrade for that kind of money when the show is already in HD on DVD and you can pay as $9.99 for one season! They're saying this is going to be the Ultimate Collection? Well for that kind of money, every episode better be colorized and perhaps in 3-D. I mean honestly, I can see $129.00 for the ENTIRE series on Bluray and giving you the option to watch every episode in color too, but there is no way I'm going to be paying that much money for a bluray upgrade when it already looks great remasterd in HD on DVD! Shame on CBS/Paramount to spoil the long, awaited good news!:o

$129.99 is the suggested retail price and that's usually very high compared to the actual retail price. Amazon had a pre-order up for $90.99 but they took it down. Even at that price, it's WAY too much for a single season of any show in any format. I could see initial pricing around $50, maybe even $60 but that is just unreasonable.

The Dick Van Dyke Show suffered the same fate when it debuted on Bluray last year at a whopping $315 for the complete series. Like a week after it's release the price was slashed to $150 and never went back up - probably cuz nobody was buying at that ridiculous price. So I'm fairly confident it will come down to earth sooner rather than later. Unfortunately classic sitcoms have become a niche market and we'll likely be dealing with very few Bluray releases with very high prices.

Totally agree with both of you; those prices sound like highway robbery. I bought the ENTIRE series on DVD for $130 about 5 years ago - and that includes the hour long shows.

I know many go gaga over Blue Ray but to me regular old DVDs are still awesome. Also to start going blue ray I'd have to chuck my analog TV and get a new burner since the one I have now can only burn to DVD. Not worth it to me. Besides, something so-called bigger and better than blue ray will eventually come along. And then you have to shell out $$$ all over again. A racket if you ask me.

(The only upgrade that was worth it to me was going from VHS cassettes to DVD. I converted 99.5% of what I have to DVD, and all the space I saved, plus the other advantages made the upgrade worth the hundreds of dollars.)

I was going to place my order but the link doesn't work now. Maybe they're fixing the price---haha! Just imagine if a box set comes out...it'll cost $600 or $700. I really want this but I will buy them season-by-season so it's not such a chunk of change all at once.

This release will be like all other blu-ray issues, it will start at a price that is outrageous and then it will eventually drop to a more affordable one. The MSRP for this set is absolutely ridiculous and I can't believe that anyone would be foolish enough to pay it.

Oh yes, there are certainly fans who will pay that price and CBS/Paramount knows this, however if we can all pass the word around to all Lucy fans NOT to buy it when it first comes out, then CBS/Paramount will immediately bring it down to a reasonable price!

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I bought I Love Lucy on VHS in the mid-late 80's from Columbia House,Three episodes apiece 'themed' in no particular order. I believe I paid about 35.00 each. Then the first DVDs while in order had only 4 maybe 5 episodes apiece,Then came the season DVD sets...Then again the season sets in slimmer cases.I also purchased 'the movie' DVD.I DO Love Lucy as much as anyone but I'm THROUGH buying anymore sets.Hopefully I'll live long enough to see blu-ray become passe' and a couple formats after that. ! ;)

I can understand the need to upgrade from VHS to DVD, but really what's the point to go to Bluray when the last set that came out was already remastered in HD! For me to buy it and at a reasonable affordable price, no more than $40.00, it would have to be colorized and some real good extras like lost interviews with the cast on talk shows. I just don't see the logic spending over $100.00 on one season when it's fine the way it is on DVD! I mean how much better can it look in B&W on Bluray?

I can understand the need to upgrade from VHS to DVD, but really what's the point to go to Bluray when the last set that came out was already remastered in HD! For me to buy it and at a reasonable affordable price, no more than $40.00, it would have to be colorized and some real good extras like lost interviews with the cast on talk shows. I just don't see the logic spending over $100.00 on one season when it's fine the way it is on DVD! I mean how much better can it look in B&W on Bluray?

As a huge fan of bluray, I'll also be the first to admit that it's simply not for everyone. If you are a videophile/perfectionist/home theater enthusiast who values presentation as much as the content itself then bluray is for you. In all my journeys and conversations with people I'd estimate this is a meager 5% of the viewing public at most. The fact is the majority of people truly can't tell the image is better or simply don't care if it is. And even to that small minority, the biggest outlier in "being better" on bluray is how good of a job they do on the transfers (already done for ILL) and subsequent encoding to disc. A show like Lucy that was shot on B&W film and the negatives still exist has the potential to look tremendous - and gauging from it's treatment in the recent past it will indeed be a reference-quality bluray.

So yes, I fully agree the DVD sets are perfectly fine for most people especially considering the amount of work and care that was put into them. They were gold standards in television DVD releases when they first came out. They still are.

As far as the notion of something better than bluray eventually coming along, that isn't necessarily true. There are many indications that bluray will likely be the last physical format we see. The world is trending towards streaming their video content or downloading it. The music industry went through this same sea change over the past 10-15 years and look at it now: hardly anyone buys CDs anymore.

As much as I want the Blu release, I think I'm going to hold off on it (and The Andy Griffith Show Blu-rays as well) until the price comes down to at least $40-$50 a season. $90-$130 is just too high for one season, I don't care how classic the show is, it's not worth that especially when I already own the seasons on DVD. But don't worry Lucy...I still love you! :)

I can understand the need to upgrade from VHS to DVD, but really what's the point to go to Bluray when the last set that came out was already remastered in HD! For me to buy it and at a reasonable affordable price, no more than $40.00, it would have to be colorized and some real good extras like lost interviews with the cast on talk shows. I just don't see the logic spending over $100.00 on one season when it's fine the way it is on DVD! I mean how much better can it look in B&W on Bluray?

Exactly. Although I would NEVER want a vintage show from the 50s in color. For me, it would destroy the feeling of authenticity. But I know there are some who go apes**t over any original B&W transformed into color. For those, Blue Ray would pick up a lot of the fine nuances I suppose. But my B&W I.L.L. DVDs work fine for me.

So the question still remains..... why the high price???? We saw the article in TV guide stating the fans will be blown away by this set...... we still have no indication what that means. If there are substantial features and differences from this set and the first season DVD set.... I will buy it. We all know holding out could affect anything else from being released.

I do remember Greg Oppenheimer mentioning season one never had the proper remastering done... he remastered season one DVDs on some adobe program for CBS. I think the remastering may be a part of it but..... don't think it would drive the price so high..... so what is??? Maybe color?

I would pay $130 for COLORIZED sets, but honestly, Blu-Ray? Over it. Unless it is an action movie, there is not benefit to movies or TV shows in Blu-Ray.

The frustrating thing is that there's going to be new extra material on Blu Ray that you otherwise won't be able to have. That's how they're going to lure in the true Lucy fans!

So? The Extras mentioned are still not worth the outrageous price! The price will eventually come down six to eight months later for the Holiday Season when they don't sell! Why should anyone in their right mind just throw away a lot of money and make the crooks at CBS/Paramount even more richer than they already are? Besides, someone will end up putting the extras on YouTube for free so everyone should just hold off from buying this set because the more people that buy it at that price, then will have to shell out the same price for the other seasons! No thanks!!

So? The Extras mentioned are still not worth the outrageous price! The price will eventually come down six to eight months later for the Holiday Season when they don't sell! Why should anyone in their right mind just throw away a lot of money and make the crooks at CBS/Paramount even more richer than they already are? Besides, someone will end up putting the extras on YouTube for free so everyone should just hold off from buying this set because the more people that buy it at that price, then will have to shell out the same price for the other seasons! No thanks!!

I'm with you - those prices are highway robbery. MyEntire B&W I.L.L DVD set works FINE for me. And for those who really want all the bells and whistles--the prices will probably come down--if you can get yourself to wait for them.

Season 1 Blu-ray is now $74.96 on Amazon. Hopefully it will go at least $10 cheaper before release day.

Season 1 Blu-ray is now $74.96 on Amazon. Hopefully it will go at least $10 cheaper before release day.

Still VERY pricey imo

Still VERY pricey imo
Yes, it is but I really want this. Since Blu came out I've always said that Lucy needed to be released on Blu and it's finally happening! This is one of the few shows that'd I'd even consider buying or re-buying on Blu.

Yes, it is but I really want this. Since Blu came out I've always said that Lucy needed to be released on Blu and it's finally happening! This is one of the few shows that'd I'd even consider buying or re-buying on Blu.

Well, I can understand how you could feel that way about I.L.L. , the best show ever, with Lucille Ball's genius physical comedy. I guess it comes down to how patient you're willing to be. If you're really into Blu then maybe it might be worth the splurge.

As for me, relative to most others, I'm a slow adapter. I still have an analog color tv with a converter box, so Blu ray would be lost on me. Frankly, I'm still wowed by DVDs, even though they are becoming an older technology. And it would feel funny to me to see I.L.L. in anything but B&W. I only have five complete shows and I.L.L. Is one of them. But I gotta say if I ever evolve to Blu Ray, Lucy would be the show I'd watch on it. Maybe it's just being older (late 50s) but I don't feel compelled to have all the cutting edge stuff. (Like I said, DVDs still impress me)

Well, I can understand how you could feel that way about I.L.L. , the best show ever, with Lucille Ball's genius physical comedy. I guess it comes down to how patient you're willing to be. If you're really into Blu then maybe it might be worth the splurge.

As for me, relative to most others, I'm a slow adapter. I still have an analog color tv with a converter box, so Blu ray would be lost on me. Frankly, I'm still wowed by DVDs, even though they are becoming an older technology. And it would feel funny to me to see I.L.L. in anything but B&W. I only have five complete shows and I.L.L. Is one of them. But I gotta say if I ever evolve to Blu Ray, Lucy would be the show I'd watch on it. Maybe it's just being older (late 50s) but I don't feel compelled to have all the cutting edge stuff. (Like I said, DVDs still impress me)

I totally understand what you're saying. I'm in my 30s and there's still some technology (digital downloads, the cloud, etc.) that I haven't even adapted to yet...and really don't plan to because I like my goods to be physical.

This has been delayed. New release date is 5/6/14.

Extras revealed for Blu-ray:

http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Love-Lucy-Season-1-Blu-Extras/19489

Off Topic, but it makes me wonder how much a Blu Ray of Season 1 of WKRP (with the music intact) would cost if I Love Lucy costs so much.

Off Topic, but it makes me wonder how much a Blu Ray of Season 1 of WKRP (with the music intact) would cost if I Love Lucy costs so much.

WKRP was shot on videotape (and even won an Emmy for Videotape Editing) and thus would receive almost no benefit from Bluray without very expensive remastering. If they ever bother to release the show properly with the original music, it will most likely be on DVD.

WKRP was shot on videotape (and even won an Emmy for Videotape Editing) and thus would receive almost no benefit from Bluray without very expensive remastering. If they ever bother to release the show properly with the original music, it will most likely be on DVD.
I was thinking the same thing.

And, ILL is hugely popular and people (some people and huge fans) will be willing to pay the high Blu-ray price. I dont think WKRP would sell well enough on Blu-ray to even fool with it. For WKRP, DVD will be what we get...if we even get that.

My copy mailed today from Amazon for $87, but I noticed Amazon is currently selling it for $74. I hope I get a $13 credit.:confused:

Season 1 Blu-ray is now $74.96 on Amazon. Hopefully it will go at least $10 cheaper before release day.


I found it for $59.99 and The Andy Griffith Show as well. I am still looking for a cheaper price for The Honeymooners. I want all three although I have ILL and TAGS already on DVD.

I found it for $59.99 and The Andy Griffith Show as well. I am still looking for a cheaper price for The Honeymooners. I want all three although I have ILL and TAGS already on DVD.

I did get it from Amazon for $74 but they charged me an additional $13 for tax & shipping (I hate CA for that!) But wish I had shopped around before and found the $59.99 price.

$129 dollars is a bit steep of a price even for the classic I Love Lucy Season One. I would definitely say $60 dollars is a more reasonable price.

The frustrating thing is that there's going to be new extra material on Blu Ray that you otherwise won't be able to have. That's how they're going to lure in the true Lucy fans!

Seems like I recall them doing much the same thing with the Brady Bunch and MacGyver releases: putting bonuses in the complete releases that were not available to those who purchased each individual release as it came out (fortunately, they saw the light with MacGyver and released the 1994 movies separately).

First I have to buy a bluray player.....lol...target had lucy for $79, I was very impressed with the extra's which have the option of watching every episode as originally aired meaning with original opening/sponsor/closing credits plus all the original commercials.......

talk about being able to go back in the past as exactly aired! Plus you get the 13 rerun episodes from season one, complete with different or added segments.

I'm afraid though we thought we had the ultimate I Love Lucy sets on DVD, this should have been an option on the original DVD's, this will force me to start buying again, plus I have to keep my DVD's as they contain more bonuses. Thrilling though because with commercials, in those days, Lucy & Desi do the commercials lasting only 2 minutes per half hour, and it will be interesting to see as the seasons progress.......

Then of course they will release a boxset with all the episodes colorized, they will never stop making money on this show, yet CBS/Paramount can't seem to secure music rights on Happy days, etc? They never want to dip into that profit! Do they?

I bought each season as it came out in the standard box with the slim cases. It's pristine to me and looks fine. I can't see any reason to upgrade further.

First I have to buy a bluray player.....lol...target had lucy for $79, I was very impressed with the extra's which have the option of watching every episode as originally aired meaning with original opening/sponsor/closing credits plus all the original commercials.......


That should have been done with this show from the beginning. I'm surprised they did it on BluRay seeing as it was (GASP!!!) :eek: cigarette commercials and sponsorship and we all know that smoking is the worst thing on earth now, or so it seems anyway. Just me being sarcastic. I like to watch tv like that as it's like a time machine back to the good old days.

Many young people are blown away that old tv shows ran 25 to 27 minutes without commercials (compared to 21 to 22 minutes today) and only had one sponsor for the entire program.

It's $59.99 now on Amazon. So is Andy Griffith.