The Color Honeymooners - Collection 2 DVD Review - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 02-09-2008, 02:28 AM

From the fun and sun capital of the world, Miami Beach, it’s The Jackie Gleason Show... or more appropriately, The Color Honeymooners! And The Color Honeymooners: Collection 2 brings you eight episodes from December 1966 through April 1967 to a three disc DVD set! However, there is one episode that is NOT included, and that is the episode “Life upon the Wicked Stage.”

For those that are unfamiliar with the series, it is basically the last variation of one of the greatest classic sitcoms of all times, The Honeymooners... you know, Ralph and Alice Kramden and Ed and Trixie Norton. Only this time, they aren’t living in New York City, but instead are living in the fun and sun capital of the world, Miami Beach. And we have Sheila MacRae as Alice in this version (sorry, no Audrey Meadows!) and Jane Kean as Trixie. This version was in color (hence the name “The Color Honeymooners,” though it originally aired and the titles on the episodes call it “The Jackie Gleason Show”) and aired in the late 60s, on CBS of course. It sure isn’t the classic Honeymooners we all remember from the 50s, but it is one last effort by “the great one!”

Read our review by Skees53 here:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/thecolo...dvdreview.html

Please post any questions or comments about this set.

Benno123 · 02-09-2008, 06:37 PM

Thanks for the review, but that stinks about the "Life Upon the Wicked Stage" show not being included.

Perhaps shades of the Hallmark Channel in this release??? (For those who were at the old Honeymooners.net message board, I'm possitive you'll get that joke!)

MrBand · 02-10-2008, 12:15 AM

"Life Upon The Wicked Stage" is filled with potential music clearance issues. Norton enters the roof of the Chauncey Street building singing a strain of "Be Careful It's my Heart" by Irving Berlin. There's also a strain of Berlin's "Love is Here To Stay" during Ralph's apology to Alice in the end. Yes, I know the latter has never been an issue before (as included on the Lost Episodes), and the former is only a fragment of the chorus, but the Berlin Estate is rather selective about the licensing of his music. (See the editing of "White Christmas" on the first season of the Mary Tyler Moore DVD). There is also a scene of Alice playing "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" on the bells and a cameo of Robert Goulet singing a few lines of "If Ever I Would leave You" before receiving "the hook" at the Halsey Theatre Amateur Hour. Any or all of these could have been an obstacle. I understand the logisitical problems, but it's still disappointing that the episode has to be excluded from the DVD release - especially after waiting almost two years for this second collection.

Benno123 · 02-10-2008, 11:54 AM

Is the episode shown on Goodlife? Now that we have that channel I have been watching the shows, but I don't remember if I've seen this one or not!

I don't know, I still think the Hallmark Channel is behind this!!!!

(I did figure it had to do with music, but I do agree I think it is sad, especially the length between releases.)

Frank Gannucci · 02-10-2008, 02:43 PM

I did a tape trade with a guy named Videowack. This is one of those episodes. Funny, how a struggling cable network like ALN acquired the rights to "some" of the songs on this episode (the rest were edited out), but MPI didn't.

02-09-2008, 02:28 AM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,683	The Color Honeymooners - Collection 2 DVD Review From the fun and sun capital of the world, Miami Beach, it’s The Jackie Gleason Show... or more appropriately, The Color Honeymooners! And The Color Honeymooners: Collection 2 brings you eight episodes from December 1966 through April 1967 to a three disc DVD set! However, there is one episode that is NOT included, and that is the episode “Life upon the Wicked Stage.” For those that are unfamiliar with the series, it is basically the last variation of one of the greatest classic sitcoms of all times, The Honeymooners... you know, Ralph and Alice Kramden and Ed and Trixie Norton. Only this time, they aren’t living in New York City, but instead are living in the fun and sun capital of the world, Miami Beach. And we have Sheila MacRae as Alice in this version (sorry, no Audrey Meadows!) and Jane Kean as Trixie. This version was in color (hence the name “The Color Honeymooners,” though it originally aired and the titles on the episodes call it “The Jackie Gleason Show”) and aired in the late 60s, on CBS of course. It sure isn’t the classic Honeymooners we all remember from the 50s, but it is one last effort by “the great one!” Read our review by Skees53 here: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/thecolo...dvdreview.html Please post any questions or comments about this set.

02-10-2008, 02:43 PM	#5
Frank Gannucci Member Forum Star Join Date: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 16,064	Yes, it is. I did a tape trade with a guy named Videowack. This is one of those episodes. Funny, how a struggling cable network like ALN acquired the rights to "some" of the songs on this episode (the rest were edited out), but MPI didn't.

02-09-2008, 06:37 PM	#2
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	Thanks for the review, but that stinks about the "Life Upon the Wicked Stage" show not being included. Perhaps shades of the Hallmark Channel in this release??? (For those who were at the old Honeymooners.net message board, I'm possitive you'll get that joke!)

02-10-2008, 12:15 AM	#3
MrBand Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 13, 2006 Location: USA Posts: 235	"Life Upon The Wicked Stage" is filled with potential music clearance issues. Norton enters the roof of the Chauncey Street building singing a strain of "Be Careful It's my Heart" by Irving Berlin. There's also a strain of Berlin's "Love is Here To Stay" during Ralph's apology to Alice in the end. Yes, I know the latter has never been an issue before (as included on the Lost Episodes), and the former is only a fragment of the chorus, but the Berlin Estate is rather selective about the licensing of his music. (See the editing of "White Christmas" on the first season of the Mary Tyler Moore DVD). There is also a scene of Alice playing "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" on the bells and a cameo of Robert Goulet singing a few lines of "If Ever I Would leave You" before receiving "the hook" at the Halsey Theatre Amateur Hour. Any or all of these could have been an obstacle. I understand the logisitical problems, but it's still disappointing that the episode has to be excluded from the DVD release - especially after waiting almost two years for this second collection.

02-10-2008, 11:54 AM	#4
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	Is the episode shown on Goodlife? Now that we have that channel I have been watching the shows, but I don't remember if I've seen this one or not! I don't know, I still think the Hallmark Channel is behind this!!!! (I did figure it had to do with music, but I do agree I think it is sad, especially the length between releases.)