MPI does masterful job on 6/30/09 "Lucille Ball Specials" DVD release!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TeeVeeCloset · 06-08-2009, 04:58 PM

Thought I would put this on the "Here's Lucy" board, since the specials were produced following the end of the series. MPI has done a fantastic masterful job on the upcoming 6/30/09 release entitled "The Lucille Ball Specials" featuring two 1975 specials not seen since their original broadcasts 34 years ago! I'm not even going to get into the scripts, acting, no laugh-track part of these specials.....for no matter how you look at it, these are historical lost treasures of television and for these to be released is an amazing almost shocking treat. I will start my comments with the incredible special features which include an interview with legendary character actor Gino Conforti, if you don't know his name, you will recognize him in seconds! Gino appears in both specials and talks of his "Here's Lucy" episode as well. Other special features include a teaser for "Here's Lucy" coming in August 2009, an original network promo introduced by Kaye Ballard & Eve Arden promoting "The Mothers-In-Law", listed as coming soon by MPI. Bloopers and outtakes from the two "Lucy Specials, two episodes from Lucy's long lost radio series with Dean Martin as her guest and Lucy's appearance on Art Linkletter's House Party, which is silly, but is very rare and enjoyable to see. The disc has beautiful silkscreened full color pictures from both specials.

Now to the specials......First up is the March 1, 1975 "Lucy Gets Lucky" with guest star Dean Martin.......The special is introduced by comedic actor Paul Picerni, who has a small role in the special. The special includes the original Timex commercial sponsor bumpers at beginning and end. Original commercials have been deleted. The quality of the specials are in pristine, beautiful vivid color. Again yes the scripts are a bit weak, but it doesn't matter, for hard core Lucy fans these are precious gems that we thought would never see the light of day again. On a very interesting side note, Dean performs his signature song "Everybody Loves Somebody" as well as "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" a big hit from 1974...as I watching I thought how if CBS/Paramount had released this, the songs would have been cut, but somehow MPI has cleared the rights. The title of the special has two meanings as "Lucy Gets Lucky" in Las Vegas in her quest to see Dean in concert and (SPOILER ALERT) ........then appears to literally "get lucky" with Dean at the end!

I will be adding to this post hopefully within a week to give my thoughts on the other highly anticipated second special on this single disc "Three For Two" with guest star Jackie Gleason....a three story dramedy which centers on different aspects of marriage.

But the purpose of this post is to say, pre-order this incredible DVD release from MPI scheduled for release on June 30, 2009. Hopefully this is only the beginning of opening up the Lucy cannon of rare one time specials that she starred in through her incredible career.

Almost forgot to mention that during the Gino Conforti interview, there are clips of a pilot about a bunch of monks that Lucy directed starring Gale Gordon, Charlie Callas, Graham Jarvis (Mary Hartman) and Gino in pristine quality. So maybe the entire pilot will be an extra on one of the upcoming "Here's Lucy" seasons from MPI.

I write this as a fan and contributor and am not affliated with MPI in anyway.

LittleRickyII · 06-12-2009, 01:34 AM

Thanks for the detailed synopsis! I'm looking forward to seeing this and all the releases during this grand Lucy summer.

Jude The Obscure · 07-04-2009, 11:44 PM

The bonus features alone make this DVD worth the bargain it is at Amazon!!

Lucy Gets Lucky to me was like a lost Lucy Show episode--because this Lucy was very much Lucy Carmichael.

Three for Two was a very interesting experiment--Lucy was definitely trying to show that she could play other things besides her Lucy character. I have to admit, I was slightly bored with some of it.

McGillicuddy · 07-05-2009, 02:50 PM

I hope they release "Lucy in London" (or Lucy Goes to London) Especially since she's in the character of Lucy Carmichael in this.

Pavan · 07-05-2009, 05:17 PM

Here is our review by Skees:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/20...ille-ball.html

catlover79 · 07-05-2009, 06:07 PM

Sounds awesome!!

Jude The Obscure · 07-05-2009, 06:24 PM

The review is spot on! I agree with just about everything skees53 said.

I too am wondering about the specials Lucy made in the '60s such as Lucy in London and The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour (which had Lucy truly wanted, she would have given up The Lucy Show to focus on a comedy-variety series, esp after Viv left).

Benno123 · 07-05-2009, 09:55 PM

I agree with the reviews, the quality of the disc and the bonus features were great! I do agree about Three For Two and what Jude said, it is kind of boring. Still, it is interesting to see Gleason and Ball work together.

I wonder what the releases of specials will be, and if the 1960s specials will be released. I also wonder if "Lucy Goes To Nashville" will be included as well!

Jude The Obscure · 07-05-2009, 10:49 PM

MPI plans to release all 8 of her post HL specials that ended with "Lucy Moves to NBC". I haven't heard anything about the ones done in the '60s....maybe CBS owns those?

I personally can't wait for "Lucy Calls the President"--it is the one (along with the NBC one) that I have the most memories from.

Robert 13 · 07-06-2009, 10:20 AM

In that review, it says that MPI will be releasing 4 sets each with 2 specials on them except for the last 2 which will have 1 each. That makes up about 6 specials. Is this in addition to the one already released?

I, too, am looking forward to "Lucy Calls The President". Can't wait. Hope to see another one released before the end of the year. It will be a huge Lucy Christmas Shopping season if they release another "Here's Lucy" season and another "Lucy Show" season. It would be smart. I know a lot of fans who will snap these up for themselves and for others as gifts.

Benno123 · 07-06-2009, 01:43 PM

Do you think they will release "CBS Salutes Lucy?" That special has already been released once before on DVD. Granted some more bonus features would be nice, but I just wonder if that will be one of the releases.

I agree, "Lucy Calls The President" is THE ONE I am waiting for, to finally see and have in good video quality! Well, that special and "Happy Anniversary and Goodbye" which I always have enjoyed watching.

Robert 13 · 07-06-2009, 03:50 PM

If anyone wants any advice on where NOT to pre-order the upcoming Lucy dvds, then be sure to avoid DeepDiscount.com. They have horrible customer service. They have lost my package and refuse to do anything about it. So I have had to order elsewhere and pay for another copy of this dvd. They have always had very slow shipping time but this is the worst it has ever been. So, be forewarned. Deepdiscount.com is not a reliable source for buying dvds.

skees53 · 07-06-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert 13

In that review, it says that MPI will be releasing 4 sets each with 2 specials on them except for the last 2 which will have 1 each. That makes up about 6 specials. Is this in addition to the one already released?

I, too, am looking forward to "Lucy Calls The President". Can't wait. Hope to see another one released before the end of the year. It will be a huge Lucy Christmas Shopping season if they release another "Here's Lucy" season and another "Lucy Show" season. It would be smart. I know a lot of fans who will snap these up for themselves and for others as gifts.

That is including the one already released. The next one will include "Happy Anniversary & Goodbye" and "What Now, Catherine Curtis?" "Lucy Calls the President" and "Lucy Moves to NBC" will be released by themselves. I really don't know much about these specials, but it appears that there was some Nashville one as well, and it doesn't look like MPI will be releasing that.

I have no idea when any of these will be released, in fact, I only found out about these other specials because inside of my DVD set for The Lucy Show S1 (by the way, I am putting the finishing touches on that review, and it should be posted either tonight or tomorrow night, and I think fans will be pleased with the set), there was an MPI advertisement for all of their Lucy related items that they have or are on the way. There isn't really anything else "new" mentioned here though... just the specials, Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie (which was released a few months ago), Here's Lucy (it says all six seasons are now available on DVD, but obviously that isn't true yet), and The Mothers-in-Law (which definitely isn't Lucy, but it does connect since it was produced and directed by Desi Arnaz).

McGillicuddy · 07-06-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

MPI plans to release all 8 of her post HL specials that ended with "Lucy Moves to NBC". I haven't heard anything about the ones done in the '60s....maybe CBS owns those?

I personally can't wait for "Lucy Calls the President"--it is the one (along with the NBC one) that I have the most memories from.

Not to mention that Vivian, Gale, Mary Jane, and Mary Wickes are all in "Lucy Calls The President"! Vivian Vance would pass away about a year later.

Jude The Obscure · 07-08-2009, 12:55 AM

Hey skees......how come an MPI ad was in a CBS DVD product??

Are the two co-operating hoping to use synergy to get sales for all Lucy product?

06-08-2009, 04:58 PM	#1
TeeVeeCloset Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2003 Posts: 1,873	MPI does masterful job on 6/30/09 "Lucille Ball Specials" DVD release!! Thought I would put this on the "Here's Lucy" board, since the specials were produced following the end of the series. MPI has done a fantastic masterful job on the upcoming 6/30/09 release entitled "The Lucille Ball Specials" featuring two 1975 specials not seen since their original broadcasts 34 years ago! I'm not even going to get into the scripts, acting, no laugh-track part of these specials.....for no matter how you look at it, these are historical lost treasures of television and for these to be released is an amazing almost shocking treat. I will start my comments with the incredible special features which include an interview with legendary character actor Gino Conforti, if you don't know his name, you will recognize him in seconds! Gino appears in both specials and talks of his "Here's Lucy" episode as well. Other special features include a teaser for "Here's Lucy" coming in August 2009, an original network promo introduced by Kaye Ballard & Eve Arden promoting "The Mothers-In-Law", listed as coming soon by MPI. Bloopers and outtakes from the two "Lucy Specials, two episodes from Lucy's long lost radio series with Dean Martin as her guest and Lucy's appearance on Art Linkletter's House Party, which is silly, but is very rare and enjoyable to see. The disc has beautiful silkscreened full color pictures from both specials. Now to the specials......First up is the March 1, 1975 "Lucy Gets Lucky" with guest star Dean Martin.......The special is introduced by comedic actor Paul Picerni, who has a small role in the special. The special includes the original Timex commercial sponsor bumpers at beginning and end. Original commercials have been deleted. The quality of the specials are in pristine, beautiful vivid color. Again yes the scripts are a bit weak, but it doesn't matter, for hard core Lucy fans these are precious gems that we thought would never see the light of day again. On a very interesting side note, Dean performs his signature song "Everybody Loves Somebody" as well as "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" a big hit from 1974...as I watching I thought how if CBS/Paramount had released this, the songs would have been cut, but somehow MPI has cleared the rights. The title of the special has two meanings as "Lucy Gets Lucky" in Las Vegas in her quest to see Dean in concert and (SPOILER ALERT) ........then appears to literally "get lucky" with Dean at the end! I will be adding to this post hopefully within a week to give my thoughts on the other highly anticipated second special on this single disc "Three For Two" with guest star Jackie Gleason....a three story dramedy which centers on different aspects of marriage. But the purpose of this post is to say, pre-order this incredible DVD release from MPI scheduled for release on June 30, 2009. Hopefully this is only the beginning of opening up the Lucy cannon of rare one time specials that she starred in through her incredible career. Almost forgot to mention that during the Gino Conforti interview, there are clips of a pilot about a bunch of monks that Lucy directed starring Gale Gordon, Charlie Callas, Graham Jarvis (Mary Hartman) and Gino in pristine quality. So maybe the entire pilot will be an extra on one of the upcoming "Here's Lucy" seasons from MPI. I write this as a fan and contributor and am not affliated with MPI in anyway.
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07-05-2009, 05:17 PM	#5
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	Here is our review by Skees: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/20...ille-ball.html
	__________________ SitcomsOnline.com News Blog -- The best news out there! SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews -- We are #1 in reviews!

07-05-2009, 06:07 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Sounds awesome!!
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07-06-2009, 10:20 AM	#10
Robert 13 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,521	In that review, it says that MPI will be releasing 4 sets each with 2 specials on them except for the last 2 which will have 1 each. That makes up about 6 specials. Is this in addition to the one already released? I, too, am looking forward to "Lucy Calls The President". Can't wait. Hope to see another one released before the end of the year. It will be a huge Lucy Christmas Shopping season if they release another "Here's Lucy" season and another "Lucy Show" season. It would be smart. I know a lot of fans who will snap these up for themselves and for others as gifts.
	__________________ Com'è straordinaria la vita, che un giorno ti senti come in un sogno e poi ti ritrovi all'inferno - Dolcenera

06-12-2009, 01:34 AM	#2
LittleRickyII Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 22, 2009 Location: California Posts: 2,246	Thanks for the detailed synopsis! I'm looking forward to seeing this and all the releases during this grand Lucy summer.

07-04-2009, 11:44 PM	#3
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	The bonus features alone make this DVD worth the bargain it is at Amazon!! Lucy Gets Lucky to me was like a lost Lucy Show episode--because this Lucy was very much Lucy Carmichael. Three for Two was a very interesting experiment--Lucy was definitely trying to show that she could play other things besides her Lucy character. I have to admit, I was slightly bored with some of it.

07-05-2009, 02:50 PM	#4
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I hope they release "Lucy in London" (or Lucy Goes to London) Especially since she's in the character of Lucy Carmichael in this.

07-05-2009, 06:24 PM	#7
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	The review is spot on! I agree with just about everything skees53 said. I too am wondering about the specials Lucy made in the '60s such as Lucy in London and The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour (which had Lucy truly wanted, she would have given up The Lucy Show to focus on a comedy-variety series, esp after Viv left).

07-05-2009, 09:55 PM	#8
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	I agree with the reviews, the quality of the disc and the bonus features were great! I do agree about Three For Two and what Jude said, it is kind of boring. Still, it is interesting to see Gleason and Ball work together. I wonder what the releases of specials will be, and if the 1960s specials will be released. I also wonder if "Lucy Goes To Nashville" will be included as well!

07-05-2009, 10:49 PM	#9
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	MPI plans to release all 8 of her post HL specials that ended with "Lucy Moves to NBC". I haven't heard anything about the ones done in the '60s....maybe CBS owns those? I personally can't wait for "Lucy Calls the President"--it is the one (along with the NBC one) that I have the most memories from.

07-06-2009, 01:43 PM	#11
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	Do you think they will release "CBS Salutes Lucy?" That special has already been released once before on DVD. Granted some more bonus features would be nice, but I just wonder if that will be one of the releases. I agree, "Lucy Calls The President" is THE ONE I am waiting for, to finally see and have in good video quality! Well, that special and "Happy Anniversary and Goodbye" which I always have enjoyed watching.

07-06-2009, 03:50 PM	#12
Robert 13 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,521	If anyone wants any advice on where NOT to pre-order the upcoming Lucy dvds, then be sure to avoid DeepDiscount.com. They have horrible customer service. They have lost my package and refuse to do anything about it. So I have had to order elsewhere and pay for another copy of this dvd. They have always had very slow shipping time but this is the worst it has ever been. So, be forewarned. Deepdiscount.com is not a reliable source for buying dvds.

07-08-2009, 12:55 AM	#15
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Hey skees......how come an MPI ad was in a CBS DVD product?? Are the two co-operating hoping to use synergy to get sales for all Lucy product?