Synopsis
Three episodes from the first season, plus the pilot with its opening seconds restored as much as possible. The series is a landmark in television comedy, no doubt there, though, for my tastes, the schtick hasn’t aged particularly well.
Audio
The sound is, of course, mono. No too much to say, therefore, except that the mono is crisp and clear, especially on the actual season episodes.
Video
The picture is as good as one could expect,…and in some cases better. These are episodes going back over fifty years, and television material has often not been survived as well as film. Still, these shows look great. The pilot is quite grainy and damaged, but is certainly still watchable.
Special Features
The menu is basic, but some of the extras are quite interesting. There’s a clip of two (minor) flubs (reminders that these shows were live), guest cast information, the “My Favorite Husband” radio episode that inspired “The Diet” on the TV series, extra footage used in “The Diet”‘s rebroadcast, a restored soundtrack comparison (showing the inappropriate laugh track used at the conclusion to “The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub” in its rebroadcast), the original animated titles from the first three episodes, and an audio excerpt from Jess Oppenheimer’s book Laughs, Luck… and Lucy, detailing Lucille Ball’s move from radio to TV.
Closing Thoughts
If you’re a fan of the series, you’ll love these discs. Even if you’re not, the extras are historically interesting.
Special Features List
- Flubs
- Guest Cast Info
- “My Favorite Husband” Radio Show Episode
- Extra Footage
- Restored Soundtrack Comparison
- Original Opening
- Behind the Scenes Audio Excerpt
