Early Preview Comments on 6/30/09 MPI "Lucille Ball Specials" DVD - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TeeVeeCloset · 06-09-2009, 08:44 AM

Thought I would also put this here since there doesn't seem to be much activity on the "Here's Lucy" board, even though the specials were produced following the end of that 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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gidgetgrape · 06-09-2009, 07:08 PM

Thanks for the review! I'm so excited about the specials.

Jude The Obscure · 06-10-2009, 01:41 AM

looking foward to the specials as well.

BTW, the name of that pilot is "Bungle Abbey"

TeeVeeCloset · 06-11-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

looking foward to the specials as well.

BTW, the name of that pilot is "Bungle Abbey"

You are a true expert!!! They do mention the title but of course I had forgotten it.....This DVD is incredible for historical purposes and of course seriously knowledgable Lucy experts like yourself! I will hopefully get some time to watch the Gleason special on Sunday night and will add to the post on Monday!

Jude The Obscure · 06-11-2009, 03:50 PM

Just curious--how do you get the stuff ahead of time??

And that little trivia fact was stuck in my head ever since I read a TV Fall preview magazine in the early 80s! LOL.

TeeVeeCloset · 06-12-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude The Obscure

Just curious--how do you get the stuff ahead of time??

And that little trivia fact was stuck in my head ever since I read a TV Fall preview magazine in the early 80s! LOL.

I have made my living in the television industry for the past 29 years and with that comes a few perks like knowing insiders, etc. All totally legit of course!

Jude The Obscure · 06-15-2009, 02:13 AM

WELL!!!!!!

06-09-2009, 08:44 AM	#1
TeeVeeCloset Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2003 Posts: 1,873	Early Preview Comments on 6/30/09 MPI "Lucille Ball Specials" DVD Thought I would also put this here since there doesn't seem to be much activity on the "Here's Lucy" board, even though the specials were produced following the end of that 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. __________________
	__________________ Living near "Ozzie Nelson Drive".....

06-09-2009, 07:08 PM	#2
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,502	Thanks for the review! I'm so excited about the specials.

06-10-2009, 01:41 AM	#3
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	looking foward to the specials as well. BTW, the name of that pilot is "Bungle Abbey"

06-11-2009, 03:50 PM	#5
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Just curious--how do you get the stuff ahead of time?? And that little trivia fact was stuck in my head ever since I read a TV Fall preview magazine in the early 80s! LOL.

06-15-2009, 02:13 AM	#7
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	WELL!!!!!!