Dennis the Menace - The Final Season (Season Four) DVD Review - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TJ · 01-03-2012, 04:09 PM

Hey Mr. Wilson! America's first "bad boy" of television, Dennis Mitchell, is back for the final 38 episodes of the 1959-1963 TV series in a five disc set. Based upon the classic Hank Ketcham comic strip, which continues to run in newspapers all over the nation even these days, the series follows the daily adventures in the life of Dennis (Jay North), his family, and his neighbors, the Wilsons. There is one slight change in this season, though. Following the death of Joseph Kearns in the middle of the third season, George Wilson is no longer the neighbor, and in his place is John Wilson (Gale Gordon), a role that ended up taking him directly into his role on The Lucy Show a season later. The 38 episodes on this set give us our last look at the Mitchells and Wilsons together in one series.

Read our review by skees53 here:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/dennist...dvdreview.html

Please post any questions or comments about this set.

Jack Gomez · 01-03-2012, 07:17 PM

I'm extremely disappointed that Shout! didn't put the radio interview with Jay North on this set like they did with the Jeannie Russell and Gloria Henry one for the First Season set. I wrote them asking about it and the answer I got back about Jay not wanting anything to do with the series doesn't make sense. If that was true he wouldn't have done the radio interview with Stu talking about the series. In that same interview he said he would have done the extras for the First Season set, but couldn't get off work for that day.
So I don't know what was going on there. Maybe it came down to money. (And then there is also an interview with Jay, Jeannie and Gloria for a news station up on youtube where he talks about the show.)

Having said all that, it's nice to have all the seasons out on DVD.

McGillicuddy · 01-03-2012, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Gomez

I'm extremely disappointed that Shout! didn't put the radio interview with Jay North on this set like they did with the Jeannie Russell and Gloria Henry one for the First Season set. I wrote them asking about it and the answer I got back about Jay not wanting anything to do with the series doesn't make sense. If that was true he wouldn't have done the radio interview with Stu talking about the series. In that same interview he said he would have done the extras for the First Season set, but couldn't get off work for that day.
So I don't know what was going on there. Maybe it came down to money. (And then there is also an interview with Jay, Jeannie and Gloria for a news station up on youtube where he talks about the show.)

Having said all that, it's nice to have all the seasons out on DVD.

Back when the first season was released, and the video and audio interviews with Gloria and Jeannie came out, we were led to believe Jay didn't participate because he didn't want any thing to do with the show. Up until recently, I had accepted that that theory, since its known that Jay had an abusive relationship with an aunt & uncle on the set of DTM. I just felt I could respect Jay's perspective, under the circumstances.

Now, were hearing Jay didn't participate in those original interviews, because he couldn't get off work that day. Then recently they reunited Gloria and Jeannie again, along with Jay this time. It seemed to me this (these) new interviews would certainly be on season 4.

something here just is not adding up!

Did Jay initially not have anything to do with the DVD releases, and have a change of heart by the time season 4 was in the works??

If Jay did indeed use the excuse he couldn't get off work the day of the original interviews, couldn't Stu have re-scheduled to a time Jay, Gloria and Jeannie were all available??

If Jay didn't want this latest interview to appear on the DVD set, why would he have agreed to the interview at all?

Anyway, I too am extremely disappointed about this, as well as very confused!! But I, also am glad the entire series got released, despite the unincluded interview.

comedyfreak · 01-04-2012, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

Back when the first season was released, and the video and audio interviews with Gloria and Jeannie came out, we were led to believe Jay didn't participate because he didn't want any thing to do with the show. Up until recently, I had accepted that that theory, since its known that Jay had an abusive relationship with an aunt & uncle on the set of DTM. I just felt I could respect Jay's perspective, under the circumstances.

Now, were hearing Jay didn't participate in those original interviews, because he couldn't get off work that day. Then recently they reunited Gloria and Jeannie again, along with Jay this time. It seemed to me this (these) new interviews would certainly be on season 4.

something here just is not adding up!

Did Jay initially not have anything to do with the DVD releases, and have a change of heart by the time season 4 was in the works??

If Jay did indeed use the excuse he couldn't get off work the day of the original interviews, couldn't Stu have re-scheduled to a time Jay, Gloria and Jeannie were all available??

If Jay didn't want this latest interview to appear on the DVD set, why would he have agreed to the interview at all?

Anyway, I too am extremely disappointed about this, as well as very confused!! But I, also am glad the entire series got released, despite the unincluded interview.

Maybe they're saving it for a later time to milk the cash cow like they did with I Love Lucy, that bonus disc which was released later.

Jack Gomez · 01-14-2012, 12:22 PM

My dvd set came today from amazon!

I'm still watching the 3rd season set, but I'm happy now to have the complete series.

tazz765 · 01-15-2012, 06:53 PM

I was disappointed at first that the interview from Stu's Show wasn't included on the DVD set. However, I decided to pay the buck and I downloaded the interview last night. After listening to the radio interview I'm glad that it wasn't included because while a big part of his life Stu focused too much on the abuse Jay suffered from his aunt and uncle and at times it was uncomfortable to listen to. However, I did enjoy the part about the auditioning and North's later career.

bliss · 02-11-2012, 04:11 PM

I'm happy Shout released all the seasons but season 4 was weak imo. Dennis no longer wore his infamous overalls, striped t-shirt, and slingshot in his back pocket. Dennis seemed to be less of a menace to Mr. Wilson from what I've seen so far on my DVD set and there's barely any comedic chemistry between them. Dennis parents were more like pretty props than major players. Reminds me of the final season of Patty Duke Show. Just throwing in my two cents.

schmave · 08-30-2013, 11:41 AM

I've always thought of the last batch of episodes from Season 3 as an extension of Season 4, if not a Season "3 1/2." There was such a dramatically different feel once Joseph Kearns left that everybody had to have known the show's days were numbered. The show transitioned the best it possibly could at the end of Season 3.
I've also wondered if the loss of any other major character would have had the same impact losing Joseph Kearns did. How would they have handled things if Herbert Anderson, Gloria Henry or even Sylvia Field died suddenly?

01-03-2012, 04:09 PM	#1
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,678	Dennis the Menace - The Final Season (Season Four) DVD Review Hey Mr. Wilson! America's first "bad boy" of television, Dennis Mitchell, is back for the final 38 episodes of the 1959-1963 TV series in a five disc set. Based upon the classic Hank Ketcham comic strip, which continues to run in newspapers all over the nation even these days, the series follows the daily adventures in the life of Dennis (Jay North), his family, and his neighbors, the Wilsons. There is one slight change in this season, though. Following the death of Joseph Kearns in the middle of the third season, George Wilson is no longer the neighbor, and in his place is John Wilson (Gale Gordon), a role that ended up taking him directly into his role on The Lucy Show a season later. The 38 episodes on this set give us our last look at the Mitchells and Wilsons together in one series. Read our review by skees53 here: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/dennist...dvdreview.html Please post any questions or comments about this set.

01-03-2012, 07:17 PM	#2
Jack Gomez Felipe's son Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2003 Posts: 614	I'm extremely disappointed that Shout! didn't put the radio interview with Jay North on this set like they did with the Jeannie Russell and Gloria Henry one for the First Season set. I wrote them asking about it and the answer I got back about Jay not wanting anything to do with the series doesn't make sense. If that was true he wouldn't have done the radio interview with Stu talking about the series. In that same interview he said he would have done the extras for the First Season set, but couldn't get off work for that day. So I don't know what was going on there. Maybe it came down to money. (And then there is also an interview with Jay, Jeannie and Gloria for a news station up on youtube where he talks about the show.) Having said all that, it's nice to have all the seasons out on DVD.

01-14-2012, 12:22 PM	#5
Jack Gomez Felipe's son Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2003 Posts: 614	My dvd set came today from amazon! I'm still watching the 3rd season set, but I'm happy now to have the complete series.

01-15-2012, 06:53 PM	#6
tazz765 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 28, 2004 Posts: 175	I was disappointed at first that the interview from Stu's Show wasn't included on the DVD set. However, I decided to pay the buck and I downloaded the interview last night. After listening to the radio interview I'm glad that it wasn't included because while a big part of his life Stu focused too much on the abuse Jay suffered from his aunt and uncle and at times it was uncomfortable to listen to. However, I did enjoy the part about the auditioning and North's later career.

02-11-2012, 04:11 PM	#7
bliss THAT GIRL Senior Member Join Date: Apr 26, 2009 Posts: 1,000	I'm happy Shout released all the seasons but season 4 was weak imo. Dennis no longer wore his infamous overalls, striped t-shirt, and slingshot in his back pocket. Dennis seemed to be less of a menace to Mr. Wilson from what I've seen so far on my DVD set and there's barely any comedic chemistry between them. Dennis parents were more like pretty props than major players. Reminds me of the final season of Patty Duke Show. Just throwing in my two cents.

08-30-2013, 11:41 AM	#8
schmave Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 23, 2013 Location: Reynoldsburg, Ohio Posts: 653	I've always thought of the last batch of episodes from Season 3 as an extension of Season 4, if not a Season "3 1/2." There was such a dramatically different feel once Joseph Kearns left that everybody had to have known the show's days were numbered. The show transitioned the best it possibly could at the end of Season 3. I've also wondered if the loss of any other major character would have had the same impact losing Joseph Kearns did. How would they have handled things if Herbert Anderson, Gloria Henry or even Sylvia Field died suddenly?