Every Tuesday I take a look at obscure and/or classic television programs, specials, miniseries or made-for-TV movies being released on DVD or Blu-ray. 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.
The big release today is Shout! Factory’s All in the Family – The Complete Series, a massive 28-disc set containing all 201 episodes of the famous CBS sitcom, which ran for nine seasons between 1971 and 1979. It took a long time to get to the complete series stage. Season One was released on DVD way back in March 2002; Season Nine came out in May 2011. As has been the case with numerous shows, this new set contains bonus features that were not available on the individual season releases. You can read the full press release at TVShowsOnDVD.com but the big ticket bonus features are the two unaired pilot episodes for the series (“Justice For All” and “Those Were the Days”). Recall that these were included in the 2009 Norman Lear TV Collection boxed set so they aren’t exclusive to the complete series set. Still, for those who already own all nine seasons of All in the Family on DVD and just want to see the unsold pilots, there’s no easy (and cheap) way to do so. Exclusive to this set are the pilot episodes for three spin-offs: Gloria, Archie Bunker’s Place (which was more of a continuation than a spin-off) and 704 Hauser.
Also out today, from Time Life, is The Dean Martin Variety Show: Dean’s Ultimate Collection, which collects three previously released sets and adds some additional episodes and a 1968 Christmas special (which itself will be getting an individual release in a few weeks). See this post at the The Golddiggers Super Site for more information. MPI Home Video is releasing the third and final season of My Favorite Martian today, with all 32 episodes from the 1965-1966 season. A list of bonus features can be found at TVShowsOnDVD.com. Finally, Paramount Home Video is releasing the fifth and final season of The Streets of San Francisco, which ran for 24 episodes during the 1976-1977 season. It is being released in two half-season volumes, which can be purchased individually or packaged together.
All in the Family – The Complete Series: Pop Culture Beast, DVD Talk
Classic Media will be released The Jackson 5ive – The Completed Animated Series on DVD and Blu-ray on January 15th, 2013 (http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Jackson-5ive-The-Complete-Animated-Series/17658). Yes, most reports are calling it “completed” rather than “complete.”
Inception Media will release The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp – Season 2 on DVD on March 12th, 2013 (TVShowsOnDVD.com).
