The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet: Available For The First Time on Digital & DVD 6/21

[TJ]

THE ORIGINAL TV SITCOM FAMILY IS BACK AND FULLY RESTORED & REMASTERED IN 4K FOR ITS 70th ANNIVERSARY

THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET™ SEASONS 1 & 2

The Long-Running and Beloved Series About the Real-Life Nelson Family Arrives For The First Time Ever on Digital Platforms and As a Two Multi-DVD Sets From MPI on June 21, 2022

The Entire Series Has Been Restored From The Original 35mm Picture And Sound Elements In Association With The UCLA Film & Television Archive



THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET
Seasons 1 & 2

One of the most popular series in television history will return fully restored to entertain old fans and new viewers when THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET: SEASONS 1 AND 2 arrive on four-DVD sets from MPI Media Group on June 21, 2022. The two sets contain 39 episodes each, representing the complete first two seasons (78 episodes) of the long-running sitcom ranked number 6 on Vulture’s list of “The 50 Most Definitive Family TV Shows.” The entire library of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet has been restored by MPI Media Group from the original 35mm picture and sound elements in association with the UCLA Film & Television Archive, which preserves the elements on behalf of the Nelson family.

For a record-breaking 14 seasons and 435 episodes, THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET aired on ABC-TV from 1952 through 1966, becoming one of the most cherished cultural touchstones of the 20th century. The positive, wholesome series epitomized an idyllic American 1950s lifestyle, its gentle humor brought to the screen by the real-life Nelson family: Ozzie and wife Harriet with their sons, David and Rick, all portraying themselves in a trend-setting blend of fact-meets-fiction comedy decades before Seinfeld and other semi-reality-based shows.

The series humorously chronicled the daily lives of the Nelsons as David and Ricky grew up before millions of weekly viewers. While Ozzie Nelson had been a real-life bandleader and Harriet Nelson a singer, the series would help launch the musical career of their younger son, Ricky, who would become a teen idol with such enduring hits as “Travelin’ Man” and “Hello Mary Lou.”

THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET was the longest running live-action sitcom in U.S. television history until It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia surpassed it on December 1, 2021, when that series debuted its 15th season. But OZZIE AND HARRIET still holds the record for most episodes produced: 435. Among its Emmy nominations and many other accolades, TV Guide placed Ozzie Nelson at number 21 on its list of “50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time.”

And now, for the very first time, in association with the Nelson family, the entire series has been digitally restored for its 70th Anniversary with complete episodes from the original film negatives for superior picture quality.

The OFFICIAL COMPLETE SEASON ONE contains all 39 full, fun-filled episodes on four DVDs, starting with the premiere show and other rare adventures not seen on television in decades. Don DeFore (Hazel) appears as Ozzie’s neighbor pal Thorny along with guest stars from classic television and films, including Hal Smith (The Andy Griffith Show), Ellen Corby (The Waltons), Janet Waldo (The Jetsons), Joseph Kearns (Dennis the Menace), Frank Nelson (I Love Lucy) and other familiar faces. The OFFICIAL COMPLETE SEASON TWO also contains 39 episodes – with more lost moments appearing for the first time since originally broadcast – on four discs and features such guest stars as Frank Cady (Petticoat Junction), John Carradine (The Munsters) and Lurene Tuttle (Psycho).

# # #

THE ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET: SEASONS 1 AND 2

Release date: June 21, 2022
DVD SRP: $29.98 each
Running time: 990 minutes each (4 discs each set)
Language: English
Not rated

Purchase Season 1 on DVD:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 2:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 3:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 4:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 5:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 6:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 7:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 8:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 9:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 10:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 11:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 12:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 13:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

Season 14:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

70th Anniversary Ultimate Christmas Collection:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

The Official Restored Complete Series:
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...daysonline3-20

[merlinjones]

Yay!!!

[1960'sTVfan]

The Ozzie and Harriet season 1 and 2 DVD's just released by MPI are not formatted in full screen, they are pillarbox formatted which means if you still have an old style 4:3 CRT type of TV, like I do, the DVD's will play but with a reduced size, square shape picture with black bars on all four sides of the screen. A real bummer and big disappointment but just letting everyone know.

[stevea]

Oh, what idiot did that?

Thanks for the warning. Too bad I already ordered seasons 3 and 4.

[stevea]

Since DVDs are inherently standard definition, it will probably play that way for everyone.

Egad, I hate this HD stuff, with these boxes, widescreens, reduced pictures, etc.

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by stevea

Oh, what idiot did that?

Thanks for the warning. Too bad I already ordered seasons 3 and 4.

Yep I agree with you but it seems that full screen format is gradually going by the wayside, even for classic old shows like this and these "modern" formats are taking over.

I received seasons 1 and 2 in the mail today and when I put the first disc in the DVD player to watch an episode, I was shocked and appalled when I saw black bars on all four sides of the screen. Episodes are still watchable but it shouldn't have to be like this, I don't enjoy watching classic TV shows with black bars on all sides of the screen.

[merlinjones]

Depending on the model, you can sometimes change the aspect ratio on your tv monitor (standard/wide/zoom/full).

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by stevea

Egad, I hate this HD stuff, with these boxes, widescreens, reduced pictures, etc.

Yep I fully agree.

[1960'sTVfan]

Originally Posted by merlinjones

Depending on the model, you can sometimes change the aspect ratio on your tv monitor (standard/wide/zoom/full).

The remote control for my DVD player has a zoom button on it, I tried it and it took the black bars away but it enlarged the image too much, it also made the image look soft and I lost some of the picture, so I set it back to the way it was and will just settle for watching episodes with the black bars on the screen.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by 1960'sTVfan

The remote control for my DVD player has a zoom button on it, I tried it and it took the black bars away but it enlarged the image too much, it also made the image look soft and I lost some of the picture, so I set it back to the way it was and will just settle for watching episodes with the black bars on the screen.

When they use HD equipment, there is no "correcting" the picture to SD. I have an old pre HD DTA cable box (in addition to my regular one), and it screws up the aspect ratio of MeTV the way you describe (MeTV hosed up their transmission a few years back). I keep it because it's the only way I can get a clean, recordable signal on local stations.

They knew they were doing DVDs (not Blu-Ray) so they should have mastered it properly.

For Blu-Ray HD, these masters would probably come out OK, since the notice TJ posted was that the masters were in 4K resolution (which in itself is interesting, since a few years ago, we were thinking Sam couldn't piece together anything).

I hate that letterbox look--you might as well be viewing an old Philco 1950s TV with the tiny picture.

[1960'sTVfan]

There's an episode on the season 1 DVD, and four episodes on the season 2 DVD that are rebroadcast versions and not the original airings. I don't know why MPI didn't use the originals, maybe they are lost so they had to go with the rebroadcast versions.

[stevea]

I think it's because Ozzie (or whomever) chopped up the original episode when the rebroadcast happened. On many of them Harriet comes on at the beginning and talks about this episode from 10 years ago, etc. On others the episode was edited to make room fro a Rick song at the end.

I know this from the Time-Life set. What MPI shlould have done is "repair" the episode from the best available sources. Figures, they didn't. Many times the original full episode is on Youtube.

One episode I remember with this problem is Road Race. Another one is where David gets Miss Universe to guest at a fraternity dance--on the repeat of this they cut out a song on the repeat. Of course there are several others.

[1960'sTVfan]

Discs not formatted in full screen, rebroadcast versions of some episodes, overall I see these DVD's as a major disappointment and I'm unsure if I want to purchase any more seasons. A shame because I had been looking forward to finally having full seasons of this legendary sitcom series.

[stevea]

When I get mine I'm going to try to contact MPI, which is difficult with any large company. Maybe if enough customers do this we can possibly "rescue" future seasons. Since 3 and 4 are on pre-order they're already hopeless.

I'd be much happier if I could watch a full-screen show.

[biffbronson]

Oh man, I hope they go the distance, because the thought of remastered color episodes of the final season really has me excited...!