Best/worst television disc investments - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

bmasters9 · 10-02-2007, 02:03 PM

I'd like to know something that I think is really important--

First, what, in your opinion, have been some of your best television disc investments (those, in your opinion, that you have gotten the most return from for your television disc dollar-- whether in premise, episodes, picture quality, audio quality, special features, packaging, etc.)?

On the other hand (and this is also in your opinion) what have been some of your worst for the television disc dollar-- those that, because of deficiencies in one or more of the categories that I have listed above, you haven't gotten that much or that good of a return from?

JulieSomoski · 10-02-2007, 03:59 PM

I'd say my best investment in TV-on-DVD ever would have to be Murphy Brown Season 1. Definitely the set I watch most, and I own over 100 sets. There's only 22 episodes to watch, but for some reason, I have seen them all over 20 times (seriously) and I still laugh and still want to watch more. The writing is great, the acting is great, and the packaging is still holding up!

Other good investments I made were A Different World Season 1 (great packaging, good episodes!), all the Home Improvement sets, Mary Tyler Moore Season 1 (love the digipack - you can't get many of those nowadays!), all I Love Lucy sets (especially season 1), Three's Company Seasons 2-4 (mainly because of the special features!)

The worst investment I ever made is probably Full House S6 and 7. Since I bought both of them (it's been over 6 montsh for both of them) I haven't even touched them except to put them on my shelf. I watch the earlier seasons of the show more, but I never realized how terrible the later seasons were. Probably due to the fact that Michelle was the main character in EVERY single episode . . . season 8 comes out in November. I might buy it just to finish off the show, and to get the final episode, but I'm still not sure yet.

Not many other bad investments. Mostly just good from my DVD collection-LOL

bmasters9 · 10-02-2007, 04:15 PM

Thanks for your very insightful response. One of mine that is shaping up to be a great one (and which I have just received today) is "CHiPs" S1. I'm just a few minutes into the pilot, but it's looking good.

JulieSomoski · 10-02-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmasters9

Thanks for your very insightful response. One of mine that is shaping up to be a great one (and which I have just received today) is "CHiPs" S1. I'm just a few minutes into the pilot, but it's looking good.

No problem. I love to make long posts

Same thing happened to me with Mary Tyler Moore Season 1. I watched the a show awhile back on NAN, but hadn't watch it in over 6 years. When I bought the first set as a blind-buy, I watched the pilot, and was already amazed with how good of a show this was. It was probably the 90 minute documentary that was included as a special feature that really did it for me, plus the wonderful digipack. I really love digipacks, and you can't find those in DVD sets much nowadays.

bmasters9 · 10-02-2007, 07:06 PM

All of mine were much better than what television has to offer today, but I'd say that among the best were the two "Hawaii Five-O"'s, the two "Hart to Hart"'s, "St. Elsewhere," and "Hardcastle and McCormick." Not sure how to explain it, but that's my opinion. (Actually, I didn't buy "St. Elsewhere" S1-- my sister Michel sent it to me from Maryland last Christmas.)

As for bad, to me, there hasn't been a bad one in the bunch to me. I must admit that I'm choosy when it comes to my television discs-- I look for series that pay off very well for the money that I put into getting them and time that I spend seeing them (in short, I look for those series that pay for themselves). This is why I haven't bought any '90's-current series-- the premises of today's television and that of the '90's, in my opinion, are and were some of the worst, with the exception of "Star Trek: Voyager." That was an exception and a pretty good '90's series, but it is prohibitively expensive on disc. I always wish that it wasn't.

freshprinceofLA · 10-02-2007, 11:00 PM

Good ones:
I bought good quality Who's the boss? complete series dvd's. They are better quality than I expected. Also all 8 seasons of three's company.

Bad:
Married with children season 1. A very boring season in my opinion!!

bmasters9 · 10-05-2007, 08:37 AM

"Mary Tyler Moore" S1. I'm already 8 episodes in, and I have a feeling that over time, it will more than pay for itself, what with not only the sheer brilliance of the episodes and the characters, but also the special features which I have yet to see.

varybarry · 10-05-2007, 10:15 AM

Who's the Boss? season 1 was probably the best investment I've made in a season dvd. The worst investment I've made was not saving up for Who's Line is It Anyway? season 1 volume 2.

JulieSomoski · 10-05-2007, 06:32 PM

I didn't think the Who's the Boss? set was anything special. The only special features were those 1 minute best-ofs, which I may have watched once in the 3 years I have owned the set. The outer box was very flimsy (Sony does a much better job with packaging for The Jeffersons and All in the Family). I wouldn't call it a bad investment, because I watch it all the time

Another bad investment, for me, was Jeff Foxworthy Show S1. It isn't that the show is bad or anything. I just don't think payong $19.10 for this set wasn't worth it. After I bought it online (shipping was like $4, plus tax and all that), a few days later I found it in my Walmart's $5.50 DVD bin. I have watched it quite a bit, though.

bmasters9 · 12-17-2007, 10:10 AM

"The Fall Guy" S1 release that I got from the Borders in Westfield Annapolis is both good and bad, but mostly good. While the episodes are entertaining (so entertaining, in fact, that I finished the set), there was some music replacement that I did not know about (and that FOX failed to disclose), including a strange scene from the pilot in which a band playing in the background is blurred out. Had I known about this, I wouldn't have blown
$60. Happily, I did finish the set, as I said earlier-- I wouldn't have paid $60 for something that I wouldn't even watch.

Eric Paddon · 12-17-2007, 10:25 AM

Worst investment with me are shows I took a chance on with blind buys and did not like to the point where I got rid of them: X-Files, Murphy Brown, War Of The Worlds, and Murder One.

friendsfan77 · 12-17-2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmasters9

"Mary Tyler Moore" S1. I'm already 8 episodes in, and I have a feeling that over time, it will more than pay for itself, what with not only the sheer brilliance of the episodes and the characters, but also the special features which I have yet to see.

That was the first ever DVD set I bought and I definitely agree with the thought that this set pays for itself. It was worth EVERY dime I paid on it. Worth. Every. Dime.

JulieSomoski · 12-17-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendsfan77

That was the first ever DVD set I bought and I definitely agree with the thought that this set pays for itself. It was worth EVERY dime I paid on it. Worth. Every. Dime.

I know what you mean. I'd pay more just to keep the set on my shelf-LOL

Adamantium · 12-22-2007, 09:37 PM

I'll go for blind buys here, since those are the ones I took a chance on.

GOOD INVESTMENTS

Curb Your Enthusiasm - I bought the first season without seeing it before. I just felt like watching something I hadn't seen and it was at Target (which is where I was at at the time) so I bought it. It is one of my all-time favorite sitcoms now. I'm not always watching the DVDs of it, but it's humor stays with me and brings a smile to my face at times when people wonder why I'm smiling. I've since bought all the other seasons as well.

Futurama - I bought it because I knew it would be a fun show to watch. It became another one of my favorites and I watched it a lot when I had the first two sets. Now I have all four sets and the recent movie. I'm very glad I purchased this set.

Monk - I only bought the first season because I was a fan of Tony Shalhoub's from "Wings." I liked the first season a lot, and then I bought the second season and the third and the fourth and fifth. This is a great show and also one of the few shows I got my older sister to watch. There was atime when she said she wouldn't watch this show, but then I showed her an episode and she slowly got into it. Now, she watches the new episodes with me and we have something to talk about. So, yeah, great investment.

BAD INVESTMENTS

Ultraman - I bought the two volumes and really can't get into them. They're cool to have, but not much watching goes into the DVDs.

Tabitha - I bought it because I became a "Bewitched" fan and wanted to have the whole collection, spin-off included. I don't really watch it, though.

The Flintstones - I like "The Flintstones. However, I very rarely watch the DVDs. I own all six seasons and am not willing to sell or trade them. I love having them in my collection, but, like I say, I just don't watch them that much.

Mikado · 12-22-2007, 10:24 PM

The only non-anime DVDs I have are the first 3 seasons of Corner Gas, and since i love the show (And am hoping to get S4 for Xmas), I think of them as good investments, though, i was a little disappointed that S3 had no cast commentary segments. (They did have a documentary segment about the show, though)

10-02-2007, 02:03 PM	#1
bmasters9 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 2,550	Best/worst television disc investments I'd like to know something that I think is really important-- First, what, in your opinion, have been some of your best television disc investments (those, in your opinion, that you have gotten the most return from for your television disc dollar-- whether in premise, episodes, picture quality, audio quality, special features, packaging, etc.)? On the other hand (and this is also in your opinion) what have been some of your worst for the television disc dollar-- those that, because of deficiencies in one or more of the categories that I have listed above, you haven't gotten that much or that good of a return from?

10-02-2007, 03:59 PM	#2
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	I'd say my best investment in TV-on-DVD ever would have to be Murphy Brown Season 1. Definitely the set I watch most, and I own over 100 sets. There's only 22 episodes to watch, but for some reason, I have seen them all over 20 times (seriously) and I still laugh and still want to watch more. The writing is great, the acting is great, and the packaging is still holding up! Other good investments I made were A Different World Season 1 (great packaging, good episodes!), all the Home Improvement sets, Mary Tyler Moore Season 1 (love the digipack - you can't get many of those nowadays!), all I Love Lucy sets (especially season 1), Three's Company Seasons 2-4 (mainly because of the special features!) The worst investment I ever made is probably Full House S6 and 7. Since I bought both of them (it's been over 6 montsh for both of them) I haven't even touched them except to put them on my shelf. I watch the earlier seasons of the show more, but I never realized how terrible the later seasons were. Probably due to the fact that Michelle was the main character in EVERY single episode . . . season 8 comes out in November. I might buy it just to finish off the show, and to get the final episode, but I'm still not sure yet. Not many other bad investments. Mostly just good from my DVD collection-LOL
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10-02-2007, 07:06 PM	#5
bmasters9 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 2,550	All of mine were much better than what television has to offer today, but I'd say that among the best were the two "Hawaii Five-O"'s, the two "Hart to Hart"'s, "St. Elsewhere," and "Hardcastle and McCormick." Not sure how to explain it, but that's my opinion. (Actually, I didn't buy "St. Elsewhere" S1-- my sister Michel sent it to me from Maryland last Christmas.) As for bad, to me, there hasn't been a bad one in the bunch to me. I must admit that I'm choosy when it comes to my television discs-- I look for series that pay off very well for the money that I put into getting them and time that I spend seeing them (in short, I look for those series that pay for themselves). This is why I haven't bought any '90's-current series-- the premises of today's television and that of the '90's, in my opinion, are and were some of the worst, with the exception of "Star Trek: Voyager." That was an exception and a pretty good '90's series, but it is prohibitively expensive on disc. I always wish that it wasn't.
	Last edited by bmasters9; 11-15-2007 at 08:50 AM.

10-02-2007, 11:00 PM	#6
freshprinceofLA The Bosses Senior Member Join Date: Aug 09, 2005 Location: A small town in: Los Angeles, California Posts: 2,810	Good ones: I bought good quality Who's the boss? complete series dvd's. They are better quality than I expected. Also all 8 seasons of three's company. Bad: Married with children season 1. A very boring season in my opinion!!
	__________________ My favorite show is... Who's the boss? #2 Three's Company #3 Moonlighting RELEASE ALL SEASONS OF WHO'S THE BOSS? ON DVD Watch ION at 9:00 to 10:00 I <3 SAMANTHA! RAIDERS SUCK R.I.P. PAC & BIG we miss yall

10-02-2007, 04:15 PM	#3
bmasters9 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 2,550	Thanks for your very insightful response. One of mine that is shaping up to be a great one (and which I have just received today) is "CHiPs" S1. I'm just a few minutes into the pilot, but it's looking good.

10-05-2007, 08:37 AM	#7
bmasters9 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 2,550	"Mary Tyler Moore" S1. I'm already 8 episodes in, and I have a feeling that over time, it will more than pay for itself, what with not only the sheer brilliance of the episodes and the characters, but also the special features which I have yet to see.

10-05-2007, 10:15 AM	#8
varybarry Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 02, 2007 Posts: 24	Who's the Boss? season 1 was probably the best investment I've made in a season dvd. The worst investment I've made was not saving up for Who's Line is It Anyway? season 1 volume 2.

10-05-2007, 06:32 PM	#9
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	I didn't think the Who's the Boss? set was anything special. The only special features were those 1 minute best-ofs, which I may have watched once in the 3 years I have owned the set. The outer box was very flimsy (Sony does a much better job with packaging for The Jeffersons and All in the Family). I wouldn't call it a bad investment, because I watch it all the time Another bad investment, for me, was Jeff Foxworthy Show S1. It isn't that the show is bad or anything. I just don't think payong $19.10 for this set wasn't worth it. After I bought it online (shipping was like $4, plus tax and all that), a few days later I found it in my Walmart's $5.50 DVD bin. I have watched it quite a bit, though.

12-17-2007, 10:10 AM	#10
bmasters9 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 2,550	"The Fall Guy" S1 release that I got from the Borders in Westfield Annapolis is both good and bad, but mostly good. While the episodes are entertaining (so entertaining, in fact, that I finished the set), there was some music replacement that I did not know about (and that FOX failed to disclose), including a strange scene from the pilot in which a band playing in the background is blurred out. Had I known about this, I wouldn't have blown $60. Happily, I did finish the set, as I said earlier-- I wouldn't have paid $60 for something that I wouldn't even watch.

12-17-2007, 10:25 AM	#11
Eric Paddon Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 164	Worst investment with me are shows I took a chance on with blind buys and did not like to the point where I got rid of them: X-Files, Murphy Brown, War Of The Worlds, and Murder One.

12-22-2007, 09:37 PM	#14
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,840	I'll go for blind buys here, since those are the ones I took a chance on. GOOD INVESTMENTS Curb Your Enthusiasm - I bought the first season without seeing it before. I just felt like watching something I hadn't seen and it was at Target (which is where I was at at the time) so I bought it. It is one of my all-time favorite sitcoms now. I'm not always watching the DVDs of it, but it's humor stays with me and brings a smile to my face at times when people wonder why I'm smiling. I've since bought all the other seasons as well. Futurama - I bought it because I knew it would be a fun show to watch. It became another one of my favorites and I watched it a lot when I had the first two sets. Now I have all four sets and the recent movie. I'm very glad I purchased this set. Monk - I only bought the first season because I was a fan of Tony Shalhoub's from "Wings." I liked the first season a lot, and then I bought the second season and the third and the fourth and fifth. This is a great show and also one of the few shows I got my older sister to watch. There was atime when she said she wouldn't watch this show, but then I showed her an episode and she slowly got into it. Now, she watches the new episodes with me and we have something to talk about. So, yeah, great investment. BAD INVESTMENTS Ultraman - I bought the two volumes and really can't get into them. They're cool to have, but not much watching goes into the DVDs. Tabitha - I bought it because I became a "Bewitched" fan and wanted to have the whole collection, spin-off included. I don't really watch it, though. The Flintstones - I like "The Flintstones. However, I very rarely watch the DVDs. I own all six seasons and am not willing to sell or trade them. I love having them in my collection, but, like I say, I just don't watch them that much.

12-22-2007, 10:24 PM	#15
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	The only non-anime DVDs I have are the first 3 seasons of Corner Gas, and since i love the show (And am hoping to get S4 for Xmas), I think of them as good investments, though, i was a little disappointed that S3 had no cast commentary segments. (They did have a documentary segment about the show, though)