Rating: 
Summary: The best Lucy episode here is actually the "lost" pilot
Review: The first season of "I Love Lucy" the most classic of television situation comedies had a 50.9 rating in the Nielsen ratings, which meant that half the television sets in the country were tuned into CBS on Monday nights at 9:00. Unlike most recent television DVD sets which offer an entire season as a set, the first season of "I Love Lucy" is coming out on DVD four episodes at a time. Volume 1 offers up the original pilot episode, and the first three episodes of the series. All of these episodes were written by the team of Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, Bob Carroll, Jr., who would stay with the show for its first five season:"The Lost Pilot" was kinescoped on March 2, 1951 as an audition episode with which to woo potential backers for the show. Desi and Lucy play Larry and Lucy Lopez in what was a rewrite of the vaudeville skits the couple were doing on tour patched together with an old "My Favorite Husband" radio scripts (a lot of the first season episodes of "I Love Lucy" had similar points of origin). In a story that will sound familiar as the years go by, Lucy is determined to break into show business and decides to replace the ailing clown (Pepito the Clown) in her husband's nightclub act. Episode 1, "The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub" (October 15, 1951) for the Mertzes' anniversary, but Fred and Ricky would rather go to the fights. Lucy and Ethel dress up as hicks and show up as the boy's blind dates. This battle of the sexes sets the tone for the show's perpetual subtext, although the recurring theme is Lucy trying to get into showbiz. Episode 2, "Be a Pal" (October 22, 1951) has Lucy taking advice from a self-help text and trying to keep her marriage fresh by becoming Ricky's pal. Now if only Ricky could figure out what Lucy is REALLY up to. Episode 3, "The Diet" (October 29, 1951) is what Lucy is using to lose 12 pounds in just two days so she can be a part of the chorus line in Ricky's nightclub act. An early opportunity for Lucy to do the physical humor that was her forte. The value of Volume 1 is in the historical importance of both the original pilot and the show's first episode. Even though it has little resemblance to what actually aired, the "lost" pilot is the funniest of the bunch (compare Lucy's comic antics at the end of the pilot with the similar but lesser hijinks at the end of Episode 1). None of these first three televised episodes would be considered classic Lucy shows and they are really rather pedestrian all things considered. Note: Episode 1 was the first episode aired, but it was not the first episode taped. That would be "Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her," which can be found on Volume 2. See you there.
Rating: 
Summary: Against the Flow
Review: Warning: this review contains heretical opinions! I will say up front that I was a HUGE Lucy fan as a kid. I remember laughing and laughing to the original episodes and then again to reruns years later. Truly, her comic timing was genius and the Desilu group assembled an original and historical entertainment. No doubt about that. I purchased several of the first DVDs to come out and savored the fun of introducing the hilarity of Lucy to my 7-year-old daughter. However, my hopes and memories were dashed. Yes, my daughter was really tickled by Lucy and her funny antics. But, as I watched with her, the veil fell from my eyes. This original show has not aged well. I'm not referring to the quality of the classic comedy itself, but the cultural mores of the time. The show was sponsored by Philip Morris and part of the Lucy cast contract was to huff down cigarettes at literally every opportunity. It was frankly gratuitous. Yes, I understand the deal and the times but I don't want my daughter to have that influence. Fair enough, you say, but surely you don't judge the work from this more enlightened era and through the eyes of a 21st century parent? No, there's more. I sat down with the shows to watch without my daughter, after my non-tv-watching wife griped at what I was showing our kid, and realized that there was a kind of mean-spirited and petty spirit that ran though the show, particularly from Lucy. She was vindictive, jealous, alternately seductive and infantile, materialistic, unstable, childish, and other things that perpetuate a historically nasty view of women. Yes, I know that this was all part of the humor (adult acts like a spoiled child), the incongruity of it all. And, yes, from the standpoint of the 50s, she was an opinionated woman and a trailblazer and, in real life, a successful businessperson. But, in seeing Lucy through the eyes of my free and strong daughter, I saw that my tastes have changed as well. This may also be colored by my knowledge of the subsequent Lucy vehicles (The Lucy Show, et al, which frankly ....) and by her famously bitter, unhappy personality, that tainted such failed comebacks as the ill-fated remake of Mame and Stone Pillow. Saddened at my "loss of innocence", I put my DVDs up for sale and they sold within 48 hours. Judging from the many "New and Used" available, maybe others have discovered what I did as well. I know that this new DVD series is a hot item. I say all this not to taint or hamper the Lucy legend; I still respect and "love" Lucy. But, I just have put a realistic spin on things so that other like-minded consumers may fully understand what they are buying before enthusiastically investing in all the new Lucy DVDs. So, in summary, adults: maybe no prob. With kids: think about what you are inputting. (Sigh) Life was so simple and fun back when we didn't know squat . . .
Rating: 
Summary: See the very first pilot with Lucy & Desi.
Review: The pilot episode is what you will see first. The pilot was filmed on March 2, 1951. It was Desi's 34th birthday. Lucille Ball was pregnant at the time with Lucie Arnaz. This pilot was never broadcast on television until...the man who played Pepito the Clown was given a reel of the pilot as a gift. When he died, this pilot was found (the story goes) under his bed. CBS aired this pilot episode for the very first time on April 30, 1990. It has never been shown in re-runs or syndication. (A pilot epiosde is made as a test. If the powers that be like it, a series could develop) Jerry Hausner appeared in 11 "I Love Lucy" episodes and in this pilot episode. In this DVD, "The Girls Want To Go To The Nightclub" (filmed 9-15-1951, aired 10-15-1951) is not the first episode filmed, but the first to be broadcast. This is actually episode #2. "Be A Pal", episode #3 (filmed 9-21-1951, aired 10-22-51). "The Diet" episode #3, (filmed 9-28-1951, aired 10-29-1951). Bonus material: Flubs, Radio Show, original "Phillip Morris" opening, and a lost scene and a restored soundtrack.
Rating:
Summary: Right on the money!
Review: FANTASTIC is the word that best describes this DVD. I was holding my breath waiting for this disc hoping that it would be better than the previous release of 'I Love Lucy' on VHS tape and from other companies offering a lesser quality version of this series on DVD. To say the least I was not disappointed when I discovered that Paramount out did themselves this time offering up picture and sound quality that rivals the original CBS network broadcast in the 50's and the network morning reruns in the mid 60's. Trust me, this is the way this show is suppose to look! Though I would have preferred a boxed set, its absence won't stop me from buying the individual DVD's as they are released. The special feature section is also quite generous; well worth the investment. This is indeed the best and most definitive version of 'I Love Lucy' on home video and for those looking to collect the entire series, you won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Where it All Began
Review: I Love Lucy is a television classic. 50 years old, and it still plays daily on TV and is loved by millions. This DVD features the first four episodes of the classic show starting with the pilot that was found in the early 90's. In addition, it presents the first 3 episodes to air in the fall of 1951 on CBS. Fans of the show will love this disc. The sound and picture are great. Every episode is broken down into several chapters, including a separate chapter for the musical sequence. There are plenty of extras as well, including an episode of Lucy's radio show "My Favorite Husband" and an excerpt from Jess Oppenheimer's book on the creation of the show. Like many TV shows, the first episodes aren't the strongest. Lucy is the only character fully developed at this point with the other three delivering straight lines. Still, there are several good laugh an episode. It would be nice if the show were being released in season, or even half season sets. But this certainly isn't settling for second best since it's a great DVD.
Rating:
Summary: LOVING LUCY. AND RICKY & FRED & ETHEL. NOW AND FOREVER
Review: I love Lucy. You love Lucy. We all love Lucy. We always have. And always will. If the
tale is true that someone is watching "I Love Lucy" somewhere in the world every minute
of the day, here's evidence why. Like you really need to be reminded! Each DVD in the
series contains four classic episodes ... indelible black-and-white images of Lucy and Ricky
and Fred and Ethel that are still as funny today as they were 50 years ago! Sometimes the
laughs are coated with pathos: Of special interest on Volume One is "The Diet," in which
Lucy almost kills herself to shed 22 pounds ... in less than a week ... just to be able to fit in
a size 12 dress and impress a man (her hubby). Sound familiar? Each volume also contains
flubs, radio shows, behind-the-scenes photo galleries and special footage, such as lost
and/or deleted scenes and original openings. Simply said: These volumes (and subsequent
ones) are must-haves for every DVD library.
Rating:
Summary: ground-Breaking Show
Review: even as a Kid I knew there was something truly Unique&special about this Show,but it wasn't until I was a Little Bit Older did I understand Why.Lucille Ball&Desi Arnaz were a Ground-Breaking Couple.Fred&Ethel were something else.Classic Tv.
Rating:
Summary: All "I Love Lucy" episodes celebrate 50th Anniversary.
Review: In this decade, every episode of "I Love Lucy" will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Every episode is still funny as funny as when they first aired. The shows are good. The shows are wholesome. They are healing and warm and will make you feel good. Buy them on VHS or DVD today.
Rating:
Summary: 4 episodes are just fine for an introduction.
Review: It does exactly what it's supposed to do: introduce audiences to the future powerhouse of TV comedy and arguably the single most successful female entrepeneur in television entertainmnet. Ignore the fact that there are only 4 episodes on this DVD; I imagine a full season DVD of LUCY will come out eventually. I'm not the least bit disappointed because this DVD contains the restored pilot episode- thought to be lost to the public for years. BTW, is it just me, or does the pilot look like a kinescope rather than movie-quality film (the stock that Desi Arnaz insisted on for all the subsequent episodes)? This coarseness and scratchiness of the pilot episode just adds to its classic antiquity- not to mention that Mrs. Arnaz' rather bulky wardrobe was attempting to conceal a real-life pregnancy (her first one) at the time. Just terrific.
Rating:
Summary: IF YOU LOVE LUCY...
Review: Then you'll love this new DVD series which is still in its infancy. The prints are clear and sharp: a real treat for fans of this incredibly beloved series. THE GIRLS WANT TO GO TO A NIGHTCLUB was the first episode aired. Corny? Sure. Hilarious? You bet! BE A PAL is memorable because Lucy thinks Ricky is home sick for Cuba: she goes overboard slightly. Ethel: (reading out of a book) "I suggest that the wife become a mother" Lucy: "I suggest the doctor mind his own business!" THE DIET is the one where Lucy does a beautiful job once on stage at Ricky's Tropicana club, but she ends up with malnutrition! The PILOT isn't exceptionally funny, yet it was "missing" for over 4O years and it's a fascinating sequence for fans who have never seen it: quite different from the series, with Lucy noticeably pregnant with Lucie, her hair much longer, etc.
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