Every Tuesday I take a look at obscure and/or classic television programs, specials, miniseries or made-for-TV movies being released on DVD. For the record I consider anything broadcast prior to 1980 to be classic or else there wouldn’t be much to discuss. The releases referred to in these posts are encoded for Region 1 use in the United States and Canada.
Out today from Film Chest and Synergy Entertainment are two releases of note: That Show with Joan Rivers – Volumes 1-3 and The Lawrence Welk Show – Classic Episodes: Volumes 1-4. That Show was a daily syndicated talk show that broadcast from 1968 to 1969. The 3-volume DVD set contains 18 episodes; Hulu.com currently has 65 available for viewing online. As for The Lawrence Welk Show – Classic Episodes: Volumes 1-4, this is the first time that any episodes of the long-running variety show have been made available on DVD. The running time is said to be 720 minutes but this press release only describes four individual episodes, including the fifth anniversary show. Shout! Factory also has two releases out today: Hazel – Season Two, containing all 32 episodes from the 1963-1964 season, and Underdog – Complete Collector’s Edition, featuring all 62 episodes from the show’s network run (1964-1967). According to TVShowsOnDVD.com, Shout! attempted to recreate the original network versions of the episodes rather than the syndicated versions. A review at Movie Metropolis states that the DVD features a disclaimer about quality.
I’m surprised episodes of “THAT SHOW” have survived, as NBC usually erased- or disposed- of most of its daily network or syndicated programming on videotape. “THAT SHOW” aired on WNBC-TV in New York at 9:30am, Monday through Friday, in the 1968-’69 season.