The Complete Series by Shout!

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

I want to buy the complete series by Shout!. What do you say? Are you satisfied or not? I'm not so sure because I read several reviews of people complaining about the quality of sound and video and that many episodes are edited or had sound problems. Do you recommend it?

[valentina warner]

Sometimes i wish i had bought the whole DVD set, but by the time i was interested it wasn't even out yet (only 1+2 combo, 3, 4 and 5) and so i ended up buying them all separately.

[80s Dude]

I did find the video on my combined Season 1 & 2 DVD was better than Shout versions. Also some of the later seasons were not as good of quality as my Seasons 1 & 2 DVD. You would think they had better technology in filming in the late 80s than they did in 1979-81.

But I bought the series for it's quantity rather than it's quality. The difference doesn't really scream "bad", but you can see it on large screen TVs or monitors.

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Sometimes i wish i had bought the whole DVD set, but by the time i was interested it wasn't even out yet (only 1+2 combo, 3, 4 and 5) and so i ended up buying them all separately.

At least you have five good seasons, Valentina. Do you recommend it?

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I did find the video on my combined Season 1 & 2 DVD was better than Shout versions. Also some of the later seasons were not as good of quality as my Seasons 1 & 2 DVD. You would think they had better technology in filming in the late 80s than they did in 1979-81.

But I bought the series for it's quantity rather than it's quality. The difference doesn't really scream "bad", but you can see it on large screen TVs or monitors.

Thanks for the answer. So, do you recommend me separate seasons instead of Shout version?

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Thanks for the answer. So, do you recommend me separate seasons instead of Shout version?

Getting the separate seasons is a lot more expensive, at least it is the US. Plus you don't get the Paley Center interview, the "Girls School" Different Strokes back door pilot, and perhaps the movies.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

At least you have five good seasons, Valentina. Do you recommend it?

I got almost all the FOL DVDs but like i said, i got them all separately: i bought 1+2 combo, 3, 4 & 5 in 2011 (i didn't pay for it cos i got it as a birthday gift and i used a voucher online to buy it).
Now in 2020 (almost 10 years later) and within the last couple of months during the 'Lock down', i got season 6, 8 & 9 (minus 7) paying it myself.

Of course now i wish i had waited: i obviously don't have the Paley center interview from 'Lost girls' DS back door pilot, nor the movies (except for the PARIS one cos it was included in season 4)

:

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

I want to buy the complete series by Shout!. What do you say? Are you satisfied or not? I'm not so sure because I read several reviews of people complaining about the quality of sound and video and that many episodes are edited or had sound problems. Do you recommend it?

There's two known episodes for sure edited. The Graduate in season 7 has the scenes of Tootie singing "Ease on Down The Road" edited out. They actually did pretty well trimming that out so the episode isn't messed up. Bus Stop from season 6 is also edited. I don't know if the master copy is even around because streaming services that have the show only provide the 22 minute version to be seen.

The quality isn't as good as what Sony released. This has been discussed in the thread about the complete series set. I think it's worth the buy just to have the episodes and the two TV movies they made. There's also the pilot and the Paley interview included. If you're a big fan of the show, I recommend getting it. Since you bought the reunion movie, the complete series set would be an improvement

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Originally Posted by Christopher

There's two known episodes for sure edited. The Graduate in season 7 has the scenes of Tootie singing "Ease on Down The Road" edited out. They actually did pretty well trimming that out so the episode isn't messed up. Bus Stop from season 6 is also edited. I don't know if the master copy is even around because streaming services that have the show only provide the 22 minute version to be seen.

The quality isn't as good as what Sony released. This has been discussed in the thread about the complete series set. I think it's worth the buy just to have the episodes and the two TV movies they made. There's also the pilot and the Paley interview included. If you're a big fan of the show, I recommend getting it. Since you bought the reunion movie, the complete series set would be an improvement

Thanks for the answer, Christopher! Yes, I bought Reunion dubbed in Italian but I want to buy the complete set. I found the Shout box on amazon for 90 dollars, unfortunately Sony seasons 4 and 5 are not available. I don't know, is Shout quality so bad?

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Thanks for the answer, Christopher! Yes, I bought Reunion dubbed in Italian but I want to buy the complete set. I found the Shout box on amazon for 90 dollars, unfortunately Sony seasons 4 and 5 are not available. I don't know, is Shout quality so bad?

The quality is not bad.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Thanks for the answer, Christopher! Yes, I bought Reunion dubbed in Italian but I want to buy the complete set. I found the Shout box on amazon for 90 dollars, unfortunately Sony seasons 4 and 5 are not available. I don't know, is Shout quality so bad?

Sony stopped releasing the series after season 3. I guess sales weren't what they were hoping for. That's when Shout took over. The quality is ok. It's not crisp like Sony's releases but it's not so terrible. They could have cleaned up some of the episodes but chose not to. It's what we have though for a complete release so I recommend buying it. It's the best DVD purchase I made because I watch the show a lot everyday.

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Thanks for the answer, Christopher! Yes, I bought Reunion dubbed in Italian but I want to buy the complete set. I found the Shout box on amazon for 90 dollars, unfortunately Sony seasons 4 and 5 are not available. I don't know, is Shout quality so bad?

Hi FOL FAN ITA!!!!

The quality from Shout season 5 and 6 is actually pretty good: i only got season 1+2 Combo & 3 from Sony(they don't make any other seasons by the looks of it).

I also got 6, 8 & 9 from Shout and the quality is superb!!!!

[valentina warner]

Originally Posted by Christopher

Sony stopped releasing the series after season 3. I guess sales weren't what they were hoping for. That's when Shout took over. The quality is ok. It's not crisp like Sony's releases but it's not so terrible. They could have cleaned up some of the episodes but chose not to. It's what we have though for a complete release so I recommend buying it. It's the best DVD purchase I made because I watch the show a lot everyday.

I think you and i are the only ones who watch at least one episode of FOL every day lol!!!!!

[FOL-FAN-ITA]

Thank you so much for your answers, 80s, Christopher and Valentina.
So Sony published only the earlier seasons. I always thought they published all nine seasons and then Shout created the complete box.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by FOL-FAN-ITA

Thank you so much for your answers, 80s, Christopher and Valentina.
So Sony published only the earlier seasons. I always thought they published all nine seasons and then Shout created the complete box.

Retro brought it to our attention Sony's release of season 1 had an edited episode. I noticed they also cut out the "last time" segments on the two parters. I'm glad Sony didn't release the rest of the series. They probably would have cut more episodes than the two Shout released. Shout did a better release on the series IMO. The two parters that aired as one episode and movies are in their original format instead of broken up.