[EDITOR'S NOTE: A variety of circumstances regarding a delay in reviewing the Time Life November 7, 2017 release "The Red Skelton Hour in Color: Deluxe Edition" precludes formally including it in the list below. This "in progress" title earns that distinction based on the "never released" material and hilarious classic comedy of mime-extraordinaire Skelton and his show-biz legend friends who include Milton Berle and Tim Conway.]
One of many things for which Unreal TV is grateful this Thanksgiving is that new and renewed relationships in 2017 facilitate resuming the site mission of informing people about classic TV shows. New friends Time Life and Mill Creek Entertainment are particularly helpful in that regard.
This exciting development also is supporting the resurrection of the Unreal TV tradition of a Black Friday list of DVD sets to consider as holiday gifts for the special sofa spud in your life. The subjective ranking below reflects the excitement level that your not-so-humble reviewer/classic TV fan would experience on finding the sets in his pile o holiday loot.
The primary considerations are the rarity of the programs (i.e., have they been heavily syndicated), the packaging, and the bonus features. Each listing has a brief product description, an explanation for the ranking, and a link to the Unreal TV review of the release.
1. 'Thanks for the Memories: The Bob Hope Specials Deluxe Collection'
The sturdy colorful box that hosts this Time Life gift set, the commemorative booklet, and the multi-disc sets that comprise this release one week before Black Friday alone is enough to grant it top honors. The comprehensiveness of this tribute to a man who starts out in vaudeville to become Hollywood royalty and have an equally successful 5-decade "second act" on television fully seals the deal.
2. 'Watch Around the Clock' (Black-and-White & Color)
The clever concept behind the separate black-and-white and the color editions of "Watch Around the Clock" by Mill Creek alone warrants high honors for 2017. The quality of the picture and the sound and the unique TV listings style DVD menu are icing on the cake.
Each set has 24 hours of programming (48 hours total) that simulates a broadcast day of an independent station that Unreal TV dubs WMCE. Each day starts with a block of cartoons, moves onto daytime fare, then offers primetime comedies that lead into overnight fare.
The vintage commercials that are interspersed in the programs is the first bonus; the separate bonus DVDs of holiday episodes of classic shows is another notable aspect of the releases.
3. 'Mama's Family' Complete Collection
Time Life does "Mama" proud regarding this Wal-Mart exclusive box set that has the original broadcast versions of all 130 episodes of the six seasons of this classic '80s sitcom. This spin-off of "The Carol Burnett Show" (see below) chronicles the hilarious misadventures of the titular irascible Southern small-town widow and her wacky family.
The numerous terrific special features include the "Eunice" TV movie that bridges the gap between "Burnett" and "Mama," a cast reunion, and "Burnett" sketches.
4. 'The Best of the Carol Burnett Show 50th Anniversary Edition'
Speaking of "Burnett" and Time Life, this great source for DVD sets of classic TV fare does a great job with this multi-disc set that pays homage to this mother of all '70s variety shows; the numerous "very special episodes" include the series' finale.
The copious bonus feature include a great new interview in which Burnett validates that fans "get" the show.
5. 'Hooperman' S1 & S2
The separate Olive Films DVD releases of the "Hooperman," which finds creator Steven Bocho successfully straying from quirky edgy dramas with heavy humor to a quirky edgy sitcom with moderate drama, misses hitting the trifecta of DVD releases of TV shows by that much. "Hooperman" is a fondly remembered show and has a limited syndication history; however, this series that has John Ritter as the titular kind-hearted police detective/reluctant landlord only has the pilot for the failedcom "Poochinski" as a special feature.
6. 'Angie' Complete Series
The CBS Home Video (through a license to Visual Entertainment) of this Garry Marshall "blue blood marries blue collar" sitcom earns the award for most-anticipated release. Further, this series also has a very limited syndication run.
This series (which stars Donna Pescow, Robert Hays, and Doris Roberts) passes the test of time and evokes nice memories for original fans; the lack of any extras is a slight handicap.
7. 'Alice' Season 5
The always great Warner Archive deserves great credit for releasing a new season of this sitcom about a diner waitress/aspiring singer and her zany co-workers. Further, this strong season opens with "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" actress Diane Ladd and ends with southern tomboy Jolene joining the staff.
The only reasons for this last-place finish are that the strong syndication run of the series, the releases of the first four seasons already somewhat satisfying the appetite of fans for episodes, and the only extras being a few S6 episodes that the (presumed) next "Alice" release on December 5 2017 will include.
The fact that this release ranks six among the tons of releases of classic sitcom in 2017 adds additional perspective.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding this ranking or looking for help selecting DVD sets to give friends and family is strongly encouraged either to email me or to connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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