Rating: 
Summary: Great Show, Extremely Well Produced DVDs
Review: Like many people, I was thrilled to hear that Fox was going to put out this set, but wondered exactly how well the final product would come off. After purchasing the set and watching a good portion of it I can certainly say that it met or exceeded all my expectations. The show itself, of course, is excellent, groundbreaking comedy with strong endearing characters and funny yet sophisticated writing.But beyond that, Fox has done an excellent job in bringing this show to DVD. I am extremely picky when it comes to picture quality, and I'll have to say the film transfer is absolutely beautiful, with razor-sharp focus, rich color, as well as deep blacks and clear highlights. I have never seen this show look so good. Generally the condition of the film seems excellent with only minor pinhole spots and a little dust. It's hard to believe the film is in such good condition after 30 years of storage and use. The quality of the audio is not quite as good, but this seems to have more to do with the acoustics of the original sound stage and not with the mastering of the DVD. The packaging is great, well designed and functional. There is a nice little booklet with all the expected information in it, as well as a nice note from Fox telling us we can expect the second season set to come out in March 2003. There are some really nice extras, including a substantial and insightful doucmentary on the making of the show, rare Emmy Awards footage, as well as some CBS promo tags and a small photo gallery. There are a few episodes with commentaries from David Davis, Ed Asner, and others affiliated with the show, and these are quite good, giving the viewer a solid understanding of the production process as well as the show's concept and casting decisions that led to the hiring of the now-legendary actors. I only wish every episode had a commentary. Overall, I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed with this DVD set. Even if you are not an avid fan of the show, you'll learn so much about the basics of good sitcom writing, pacing, acting, and prodcution, that it may be worth picking up this set just for that knowledge. The show's characters and style of humor really can grow on you. And if you already like the show, you'll love this set. I really hope that Fox will next turn their attention to The Bob Newhart Show, which is another excellent sitcom from MTM Productions made only 2 years later, with many of the same writers, directors, and producers. The Bob Newhart Show deserves this same top-quality treatment they have given Mary Tyler Moore.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Picture Quality
Review: Love is all around, because "The Mary Tyler Moore Show's" debut on DVD is fantastic! Gone are the dull, faded, nearly colorless images we've seen on re-runs. The picture quality far surpasses what I had thought possible for the show. Everything looks wonderful! Bright, true-to-life colors (even reds and greens!) and a crisp, clear picture really bring out the details -- especially in the sets and in those great 1970's clothes. In addition to the pristine video, each episode boasts ten chapter stops (bookmarks), and the sound is fine too. This is an excellent season of a great TV series. We can now enjoy a picture to match the high quality writing and acting of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Treat yourself!
Rating:
Summary: Stunning Clarity for the Best Series Ever!
Review: What can I say? After just one viewing, I am seeing these shows completely anew, even after purchasing all the pre-recorded videos that I could. ALL of the episodes are of pristine quality, and three have running commentary. An extra DVD is included for the bonus material, which is terrific. The packaging is FIRST class, with each DVD containing a letter -- M -A -R- Y!!!! It's clarity even surpasses the recent M*A*S*H DVD releases. My ONLY complaint is that about 30 seconds is missing from the Christmas "Hard Luck Kid" episode. When Mary is singing along to White Christmas, then says "Thank you, thank you. And for my next number, I think I'm gonna cry." That has been deleted for some reason. But thirty seconds could never make me take back my five star rating for this classic release, certain to be a huge seller. A word to the producers: don't leave out ONE second of these shows. Even though they have been shown edited for many years, several have been released complete on video, like the above episode, so we know what is missing. There is no reason at all to have any footage missing. The hardcore fans of this series, like myself, DO notice these things. But we also notice the brilliant colors, fabrics, set designs, and sharpness that these shows now contain. Let's see all seven seasons on DVD, and don't forget the "Last Show" final bows!!
Rating:
Summary: She finally made it to DVD after all!
Review: I got this DVD set as soon as it was on the shelves, and although I haven't seen the entire set yet, I have seen enough of it to say that it is a truly overwhelming experience. Cradling the box was like holding the holy grail of television in my own hands. No more watching "Mary Tyler Moore" on fuzzy reruns on obscure UHF stations or watching edited versions on Nick-At-Nite. It's all mine - the whole first season. When you watch the episodes, you'll find it hard to believe that in 1970 most television sets were still black and white, and stereo television was unheard of. Although the sound is mono, it comes across sharp and clear. The theme song never sounded better. The most striking aspect is the visual appearance of the show - bright and rich colors in the wardrobes and the sets. And best of all, no abrupt cuts or edits - these are the full-length episodes as originally aired! In one swoop, this DVD box set outdoes anything that was ever attempted for the VHS format. Many of you might recall the frustration of knowing that only two episodes per season were available on the MTM VHS box set. This DVD collection alone is twice as large - and there are six more sets to come! (By the way, for those of you who haven't yet bought the collection, an insert in the box says that the second season is coming out in March.) Now for a few minor criticisms. Mind you, these criticisms are only the result of the high standards which this box set has in the first place. First, only three of the twenty-four episodes have commentary. Commentators like Allan Burns, Jim Brooks, David Davis, Jay Sandrich, and Ed Asner ("Mr. Asner", as he is repeatedly called) bring out new and fascinating details and background tidbits, such as how the MTM cat was filmed, or how much they respected the acting talents of Nancy Walker and Cloris Leachman. Yet the commentary on these three episodes makes watching the other twenty-one more difficult, because you find yourself wondering what they would have said about the uproarious performance of Shelley Berman in "Divorce Isn't Everything", along with many other excellent scripts and guest stars over the course of the season. Second, although the "making of" documentary is well-done and fascinating, it left out some key material. Much was said about the infamous original scene filmed between Mary Tyler Moore and Ed Asner that flopped, but only stills were shown from the scene. I would have rather seen that scene in full as a bonus than some of the six nearly identical CBS promos (entertaining though they were). Overall, this is a five-star product for a five-star show. If you appreciate classic television, or want to watch the one show that can really bring you back to the 1970s, this is where to look!
Rating:
Summary: TV DVD the way it should be!
Review: This new DVD set is a perfect example of how to do TV DVDs correctly. The episodes look terrific: crystal clear, sharp and with bright, vibrant colors. A truly welcome change after some of the more washed out, fuzzy prints on VHS over the years. The menus are simple and each episode is broken down into several chapter stops for easy navigation to your favorite scene(s). And the extras are truly wonderful. The entire 4th disc is extras, the centerpiece of which is a new, nearly 90-min documentary on how the show came to be and developed in its first season. All the players, both in front of, and behind, the cameras are here and the information is fascinating to both fans of MTM as well as TV productions in general. This is no flimsy excuse to show clips from the show, sandwiched between generic sound bites from the makers, but an honest-to-goodness feature-length documentary that imparts terrific behind-the-scenes info. Also on the extras disc are clips from the Emmy Awards for the 1970-71 season, showing the acceptance speeches of MTM Show winners. (One very small quibble: would have loved to have seen the reading of the nominees for each award, not just the announcement of the winners.) There's also a quick and easy trivia quiz, made memorable by the fact that the questions are read by the cast and crew, which takes it up a notch from the usual trivia games, usually used just as filler. And there are 3 commentaries on various episodes. And there's terrific news on a little card inside the set that the Complete Season Two is scheduled to be released early next year! If only all TV DVD sets were this well done...
Rating:
Summary: Looking Good
Review: Great stuff! Crisp, bright colors and super-sharp picture! SO MUCH BETTER than the reruns we've seen over and over on TV....it's almost like watching these shows for the very first time, that's how terrific these DVDs look! The "making of" feature has Moore, Asner, Harper, Leachman, White and the great MacLeod reminiscing. There's also a VERY sexy pic of Mary inside the box....wow! Original CBS promos and more...Not to be missed if you're a fan!
Rating:
Summary: She can turn the world on with her smile!
Review: The Mary Tyler Moore Show ran from 1970-1977 and was an instant classic. Mary Tyler Moore was absolutely charming and hysterical in her role as Mary Richards. This DVD set of the first season is a fabulous treat for fans of show. Plus, there's lots of extra features, like commentary and a behind the scenes look at the making of season one. In this collection you will get the following episodes: 1. "Love Is All Around"- Thirty year old Mary Richards moves to Minneapolis and gets a job at WJM-TV, a small local station. 2. "Today I Am a Ma'am"- Mary and Rhoda commiserate about being single. Letting depression cloud their judgment, they invite two men over for dinner without knowing that one of them is married. 3. "Bess, You Is My Daughter Now"- Mary baby-sits Phyllis's daughter, Bess and decides that she wants Mary to be her new mom. 4. "Divorce Isn't Everything"- Mary and Rhoda discover a club that offers a discount rate on a trip to Europe. But there's a catch. It's a club for divorced people. 5. "Keep Your Guard Up"- Mary meets an ex-football player at the station. She thinks that he'd be perfect for the sportscaster position that's open. Think again. 6. "Support Your Local Mother"- Rhoda's mom, Ida, comes to visit her estranged daughter, but Rhoda doesn't want to see her. 7. "Toulouse-Lautrec Is One of My Favorite Artists"- Mary is smitten with a man she meets at the office (who was sitting when she met him) and agrees to go out on a date with him. After he stands up, Mary realizes he is "height-challenged." 8. "The Snow Must Go On"- Minneapolis is hit with a terrible snowstorm on the night that WJM is scheduled to provide election night coverage. The staff, with Rhoda volunteering on the toteboard, can't report the returns, so they have to fill airtime any way they can. 9. "Bob and Rhoda and Teddy and Mary"- It's the evening of the Teddy Awards and Mary is nominated for her first Teddy, but she's more concerned about Bob, an attractive guy who has eyes for her and who also happens to be Rhoda's date. 10. "Assistant Wanted, Female"- It's not enough that Phyllis bugs Mary at home. Now she gets hired as Mary's assistant at work. And for the gang at WJM, it's hate at first sight. 11. "1040 or Fight"- Mary goes out with an auditor from the IRS. His attraction to Mary complicates matters when he has to audit her taxes. 12. "Anchorman Overboard"- Phyllis wants Ted to speak at an organization where she's the program chairperson. But Ted's performance turns out to be a disaster. 13. "He's All Yours"- Lou asks Mary to look after Allen Stevens, a new WJM cameraman. Although Allen is younger than Mary, that doesn't stop him from flirting with her. Just when she's had enough, Mary discovers that Allen is Lou's nephew. 14. "Christmas and the Hard Luck Kid"- Mary tries to bring joy to her unhappy coworkers, who are stuck at the office on Christmas. 15. "Howard's Girl"- Mary begins dating her ex-boyfriend's brother, Paul, but she can't get away from his parents. 16. "Party Is Such Sweet Sorrow"- Mary accepts an offer she gets to work at another station, but has second thoughts after her farewell party, where she sees how much they care for her at WJM. 17. "Just a Lunch"- Mary's latest flame is a dashing foreign correspondent. He's handsome, charming and... married! But this doesn't keep Mary from seeing him. 18. "Second-Story Story"- Mary is burglarized two days in a row and she's so scared, that her friends take matters into their hands and try to capture the thief themselves. 19. "We Closed Minneapolis"- A play Murray's written is being produced and Ted is cast in the lead. 20. "Hi!"- Mary's in the hospital to have a tonsil removed, but she has to share a room with Mrs. Khune, a grumpy woman who's laid up with a broken leg and an ulcer. 21. "The Boss Isn't Coming for Dinner"- There's trouble in paradise, as Lou tells Mary that he's been having marital problems with his wife. 22. "A Friend in Deed"- Twinks, the new WJM receptionist, swears she met Mary at summer camp when they were kids, but Mary's too embarrassed to admit she doesn't remember her. 23. "Smokey the Bear Wants You"- Rhoda begins to think that the man she's been dating is Mr. Right. When she finds out the he's planning on becoming a park ranger, she passes on an opportunity to join him. 24. "The Forty-Five Year Old Man"- The newscast ratings are horrible, so Wild Jack Monroe, the station's owner, fires Lou. Guess who helps Mr. Grant get his job back?
Rating:
Summary: Great Series - The DVD mastering is amazing
Review: This classic 1970-77 TV series was a Satuday night staple and still one of the top TV sitcoms of all time. But when MTM show came to VHS tape a few years ago for some "best of" editions, the quality was horrendously fuzzy and unpleasant. The new DVD set makes these classic episodes look better than they have since they were originally broadcast. Colors and detail are vibrant. The sound quality is excellent. If they continue this level of quality for the next six seasons, this best of all American sitcoms should be a huge seller. The only quibble I have with the first season is the rather poor cover art, which is bound to be a turn-off to some purchasers. It evokes absolutely nothing about the series other than Mary herself. But the rest of the set is sterling. This is the kind of DVD set that will have legs and will sell for years and years.
Rating:
Summary: Finally!!!
Review: It's about time that this classic is released on DVD!! Season One may not be popular with all the fans, but you've got to start somewhere! I hope this DVD sells well enough for the other 6 seasons to come out. The fans deserve that, and the show just speaks for itself with the writing and the 29 Emmy's.
Rating:
Summary: I Love Mary Tyler Moore
Review: I'm only 11 years old and I Love Mary Tyler Moore. The Show is great. When I was watching the Mary Tyler Moore Reunion, I was bursting out in tears after they said final episode. Also when Mary turned off the lights to the office when everyone was singing in the backround, I couldn't stand seeing the lights turned off forever. That Show was the greatest. I only watch reruns, but I still love the show. I love you Mary Tyler Moore. You're My Idol, I look up to you and I hope I get to meet you someday. But someday is probably very far away.
| 
