Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding
Review: A trip down memory lane. It brought back so many memories of childhood. Remembering what Saturday morning was like when I was a kid--over 30 years ago. The extras are great. They don't make Saturday morning TV like this anymore.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Own!!
Review: All 17 Original Episodes Together on DVD for the First Time
Featuring Over Two Hours of Bonus Features Los Angeles, CA (January 22, 2004)-Rhino Home Video brings the wondrous world of H.R. Pufnstuf, Jimmy & Freddie to life again with the release of H.R. PUFNSTUF-THE COMPLETE SERIES on DVD. The 3-disc collection-on DVD for the first time-celebrates the 35th anniversary of the series and includes all 17 original, uncut episodes of Sid & Marty Krofft's classic series that defined a generation's Saturday mornings together. The collection will include more than two hours of bonus features, with rare and never-before-seen footage including brand-new commentary with Sid & Marty Krofft, as well as exclusive interviews with Billie Hayes (Witchiepoo), Jack Wild (Jimmy) and TV historian Hal Erickson, making this DVD a must-have collector's edition. As an added bonus, the set includes the original 1950s Krofft pilot Irving and specially selected TV Land promo spots. The series follows the story of Jimmy, who, while playing on a riverbank with his magic singing flute, Freddie, boards a boat that mysteriously summons him. Unfortunately for Jimmy, the boat was sent by the evil Witchiepoo, who is out to steal Freddie for herself. Jimmy manages to escape to the enchanted Living Island, where the mayor, H.R. Pufnstuf, rescues him. Throughout the series, H.R. Pufnstuf and the other enchanted colorful characters from the island help Jimmy as he tries to thwart Witchiepoo and escape the island with Freddie. Pufnstuf has a built-in fan base through the home video market and continues to reach out to new generations of enthusiasts. It was the first series created and produced by Sid & Marty Krofft-the kings of Saturday morning television throughout the 1970s and 1980s. H.R. Pufnstuf premiered in 1969 with 17 original episodes that were rerun for more than a decade, making it a staple of the Saturday morning lineup. The success of the series prompted a feature film, Pufnstuf, in 1970. Sid & Marty Krofft's contributions to the entertainment industry will be honored in numerous ways throughout 2004. Major events include a Krofft retrospective being held in Los Angeles in January, a four-hour programming event on TV Land to air Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, corresponding media tour surrounding the DVD release and TV Land event, and a special documentary honoring the Kroffts' influence on America. Finally, in April 2004, TV Land will begin regularly airing Pufnstuf episodes and other Krofft programming during the "Kitschen" block, which airs every Friday and Saturday from Midnight to 2a.m. H.R. PUFNSTUF-THE COMPLETE SERIES will be available February 10, 2004, for $39.95. The release will be supported with a targeted marketing campaign, highlighted by TV Land's pre-event promotions beginning seven days prior to the February 17th airdate, with the DVD boxed set included in pre-event spots. TV spots and sponsor mentions will air for the DVD during the TV Land event as well. Additionally, the TV Land programming and DVD will be supported by a national print campaign in high-profile publications. Brothers Sid & Marty Krofft have been producing quality family entertainment for over 30 years. The fifth generation in a line of puppeteers, Sid & Marty became a household name in the '70s with a series of remarkable programs that featured elaborate sets and fanciful characters. H.R. Pufnstuf was the first in a long line of beloved programs created by the Kroffts, including The Bugaloos, Lidsville, Land Of The Lost, Far Out Space Nuts, Lost Saucer, The Krofft Supershow Hour, The Bay City Rollers Show, Wonderbug and Bigfoot & Wildboy. The Kroffts' success with Saturday morning television prompted a demand for them to produce prime-time programming. They produced various prime-time series and specials, including The Brady Bunch Hour, the Donny & Marie show and Barbara Mandrell & The Mandrell Sisters.
Rating:
Summary: You had to see this as a kid to 'get' it.
Review: For any adult born after 1970, this series (and the movie that was made from it) will make little sense, if any. Wild, raucous colors, dancing, singing, and an island where everything - yes, EVERYTHING - is alive. Little Jimmy, coaxed to Living Island by the evil machinations of Witchy-Poo (the heavy of the series) finds himself in possession of a magic, talking flute, and trapped on an island of talking hats and dragons and witches, all of which he can barely comprehend. To an adult of today, the show simply makes little sense... Ah, but if you saw it as a child, as I did, the show makes perfect sense. First, it's *FUN*. That, indeed, was one of the main points of the show - having fun. Yet, each show attempted to impart (as is typical for children's programming) a moral message. In general, the most common message of the entire series was "Perseverance". Keep trying, because though you may fail, if you keep trying, you may succeed in the end. Other lessons imparted by the show include 'Don't steal', 'Don't Lie', and 'Don't be Mean (despite how much fun it may be, you end up hurting others, and that isn't nice).' Adults today look at the show, searching for depth, perhaps hidden meanings. Well, there *AREN'T* any - what you see is what you get. Cling and Clang have no "Hidden Meanings" - they are simply Cling and Clang. The talking flute is just a talking flute, and Jimmy is just a boy who wants to go home. Alas, the networks decided to cancel the show. In an era where even the most critically acclaimed shows often died due to a slip of a point or two in the Nielsens, H.R. Pufnstuf was not the smash hit the network demanded. Adults of the time simply shook their heads as their children laughed and clapped and sang along with the simple songs, for parents of the time understood the show about as well as they understood the dark side of the moon. Yet, I understood it as a child, as did all my friends of that time. Yes, we sang along with the theme song (which I can still sing today, word for word - it was mercifully short), laughed at the antics of the Living Islanders, booed the evil Witchy-Poo, and deeply felt for Little Jimmy, who sometimes wept for his heartfelt desire to go home. As a child, however, I often found I was jealous, even angry with little Jimmy. Living Island was, in the end, a fantasy paradise (despite Witchy-Poo), and for each moment Jimmy sighed and wished he could go home, I sighed and wished I could be there, on Living Island, instead of in the world of 1969, with it's turmoil and strife that were far beyond the comprehension of a little boy.
Rating:
Summary: A childhood favorite for me (and now my kids).
Review: H.R. Pufnstuf is one of those wonderful childhood pleasures to which I can always return. And I'm happy, although not surprised, to find that my kids love it too. I sincerely hope that this is just the first of many more Kroft series box sets. I will absolutely jump all over a box set of the original 1970's Land of the Lost. Please! More Kroft sets. And soon!
Rating: 
Summary: If you didn't grow up with it, you're better off without it
Review: H.R. Pufnstuf is the precursor to PeeWee's Playhouse, Zoobolie Zoo, Spongebob Squarepants, and basically every kids' show that looks like the writers used chemical sources of inspiration. If you enjoy the any of the shows I just mentioned, Pufnstuf sounds cool but really isn't all it's cracked up to be. Once you get past the bizarre and colorful imagery of the show, the series itself is pretty boring, with none of the wit that the shows it later influenced added. In other words, one or two episodes is really enough; after that you'll understand why parents never watched this show with their kids. Of course, if you grew up watching the show, it has an entirely different meaning to you. But if you're just interested in cult TV, keep watching PeeWee and Spongebob and know that you're not missing anything.
Rating:
Summary: Can't watch a little, cuz you can't watch enough!
Review: H.R. Pufnstuf may have lasted only 17 episodes, it may have come from the late 60's, and there may be a dozen other things that could be considered negative flaws about this show, but they only add to the infectious charm of this wonderfully orchaestrated live action cartoon. I bought the complete DVD boxset for my fiancee's birthday recently, because I knew it would be something she would simply love and treasure for years to come. Some may think that the Kroft brothers did drugs in order to create the many zany and trippy programs they created over the years, but trust me, they didn't. Are there druglike innuendoes and double-entendres placed visually and in the dialogue? well, that's really up to personal opinions and interpretations. But I digress. This show is definitely worth owning, the dialogue can be a bit cringe-inducing at times but not overtly so, the puns and jokes can go from hilarious to Fozzie-like unBearability within the same episode, but everything is simply top=notch. Jack Wild is awesome as Jimmy, he brings youthful energy and enthusiasm and seems to be enjoying himself wholeheartedly throughout the series. He is very convincing in his determination to get home or to rescue Freddy Flute from the witch, showcasing a great deal of courage and loyalty to his friends, Freddy, Puf, Dr. Blinky, etc. Billie Hayes is simply excellent as Witchiepoo, she combines a playful lunacy with a menacing ruthlessness, wrapped up with perfect comedic timing, you can't help but laugh and love the ol' hag. The costumes are simply marvelous, not just for Pufnstuff, but for everyone: Dr. Blinky, the Evil Trees (specially imported from Transylvania), Orson the Vulture, Seymour Spider, Cling & Clang (perfect examples of Keystone Cops), Judy Frog, etc. There are even some very interesting moments within each episode. The show itself can be described as a 'Wizard of Oz' meets 'Puf the Magic Dragon', nowhere is this more evident than in the opening episode. Especially with a Magic Path looking very much like a Yellow Brick Road. Even Judy Frog is dressed and talks like Judy Garland (somewhat). There is even an episode where a bunch of ants are holding up signs of protest with chants of 'Make Candy, Not War', this scene being somewhat reflective of the protests to the Vietnam war perhaps. Jimmy does 'The Robot' long before it became a dance craze in 'Mechanical Boy', and in one episode a new dance is introduced called 'The Moonwalk' long before Michael Jackson would use the name for his own trademarked dance. This is the perfect sort of show that can help lift your spirits when you're feeling down. Despite all of the bright and psychedelic colors utilized for this show, it certainly isn't candy-coated or in any ways babyish. Let's hope more of the Krofft creations make it to DVD!
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!!!
Review: How cool is THIS!!! I have waited YEARS for this. I grew up watching the Sid & Marty Kroft tv show. Showing my age a bit eh? However there were two stand out shows from them. Land of the Lost (that box set is coming this year from Rhino!) and H.R. Pufnstuf! To have these wonderful treasures in a DVD set is like a magic flute to my ears and candy for my eyes. This was an escape for us when we were younger and it is wonderful to be able to go back to that escape now as a grown up. This is also a great gift to share with your young ones you might have now because there is not much anymore on TV that really is offering kids a fantasy to escape into without trying to sell them stuff. So who you call when things get ruff? H.R. Pufnstuff!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!!!
Review: How cool is THIS!!! I have waited YEARS for this. I grew up watching the Sid & Marty Kroft tv show. Showing my age a bit eh? However there were two stand out shows from them. Land of the Lost (that box set is coming this year from Rhino!) and H.R. Pufnstuf! To have these wonderful treasures in a DVD set is like a magic flute to my ears and candy for my eyes. This was an escape for us when we were younger and it is wonderful to be able to go back to that escape now as a grown up. This is also a great gift to share with your young ones you might have now because there is not much anymore on TV that really is offering kids a fantasy to escape into without trying to sell them stuff. So who you call when things get ruff? H.R. Pufnstuff!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Well worth your time
Review: HR Pufnstuf is definitely a magical story -- anyone who watched late 60s/early 70s TV will instantly recognized these characters (Puf, Dr. Blinky, Cling/Clang, the evil trees, Seymore the spider...etc.).
Even if you haven't thought about this show for years...just watching one episode will bring back memories of a very special time in children's Saturday morning TV (a time when there really WAS a fall season where new shows were launched and you could wait with anticipation for them at the end of summer).
However...I agree with the one reviewer who said that the talking flute was "creepy" -- he is!
Also...I must confess that I have a nagging doubt that the flute really isn't a flute at all. Witchiepoo may very well be Jimmy's mother...the flute is not a flute...and this is all one Freudian/Oedipal nightmare. His mom is after his flute. He tries to get away. Think about it. Discuss amongst yourselves.
Rating:
Summary: Blast From * My Father's* Past
Review: I am 18 years old and wasn't lucky enough to see this when it first came out.My father told me about this show when I was growing up. He used to tell me a lot about his life as a kid, which kept me interested. Of course, Pufnstuff was his fave memory. After my junior prom which just past, I came home and flipped on TV Land. The show my dad told me about was on TV, a first to both me and my dad, who hasn't seen the show in over 30 years. The colorful cast of charactors and the sneezing house made me and my dad giggle.The magic flute was rather creepy, but all in all good clean fun . This show was a far cry from the stuff I grew up on * Strawberry Shortcake, Smurfs, etc* but still has become part of my *Most Interesting Oddities* list.In the last few years, I have never seen my dad so happy. He told me afterward that the trip down memory lane was the best.This DVD set is now his father's day gift. Thanks:}
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