The Judy Garland Show Collection, Vol. 2

Rating:
Summary: "That's Entertainment" Man, this is a collection
Review: I just got this, and haven't stopped watching it...
I am glad I bought this box set. Pioneer did an amazing job of putting all of these tv shows to DVD... The picture and sound are outstanding... Very Sharp and Clear.. All of the extras are incredible.. and you really feel like you are watching this as if it was on now, and you don't want to change the channel to Lorne Green and Bonanza.. It's a shame that they never changed the night of the show. Because Bonanza was Number one of all shows that year, and Judy's show was competing against that one.. Ed Sullivan's show was on just before Judy's show on CBS on Sunday night the same network as Judy's show. Lots of guest stars on this DVD collection. It is incredible the amount of work Judy must have during this series.. Memorizing dance routines, singing, plus having a couple of kids. She must have got little rest.. But, she gave her all for the people that loved her... and if she were still alive, would still be singing and entertaining the folks as she always did. Judy knew the best singers, actors of the time, because she was one of the best herself.. and I don't think she knew it... These Dvd collections of her shows show how talented she was... and that people care enough about her to buy these Dvd's of her shows, 40 years after being made.
As Judy sang about "That's Entertainment" that's what her tv show is all about...

Rating:
Summary: Thank you PIONEER
Review: I just wanted to say Thank you to the team at Pioneer for giving Judy fans like myself, this remarkable treasure - all your efforts, as Im sure you have discovered, payed off in the hearts of many souls who have purchased these collections and DVDs. I feel truly fortunate to have these episodes to watch and experience. And to whomever came up with the LOOK of these box sets knew exactly how to capture the essence of Judy in the overall design of the two sets as they are just gorgeous to look at. They practically need a display case all their own. ( I wish I had POSTERS of the two covers!)Hat's off to you! I also would like to thank Steven Sanders for posting his comment, which contained information helpful to me, and I'm sure others (I myself was wondering why some {and very few} scenes weren't restored). Everyone should be grateful for these DVD releases being available to the public as people have spent months restoring these to the best that present technology can allow, and any whining or bickering in the way these were released should cease to exist because they did't have to be released at all- remember that! The only words that should be coming out of anyone's mouth are, Thank You. I'd rather have bought every singular DVD released before the box sets than nothing. But I for one, thank Steven Sanders (great book, by the way) and the team he worked with for their outstanding restoration and presentation in the releasing of The Judy Garland Show. Your work is greatly appreciated and will always be regarded as one of the most important and finest projects ever to be tackeled and completed, for anything else could never do when one of the most important and finest women is at hand, Judy Garland.

Rating:
Summary: A SNEER FOR PIONEER
Review: I must agree with the justifiable ire expressed by Glen Stolfi in his review. The release strategy of these (albeit priceless) DVDs seemed, at best, curious and, at worst, larcenous. Mr Sandler does a handsome job of defending the fractured and frustrating manner in which Pioneer unleashed these treasures. However, it's hard to believe that the marketing department of a corporation such as Pioneer would do ANYTHING unknowingly. I mean, you either own the rights or you don't.... and can either get the quality up-to-snuff or you can't. Are the inner-workings of Pioneer REALLY so disjointed and befuddled?? I highly doubt it. Ironically enough though- the release of THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW DVDs seem to reflect the haphazard-ness of the dear lady herself. It seems Pioneer knew they had a core of rabidly loyal fans who would indeed double-buy if necessary to obtain the magic contained in all 26 episodes of the show. That sad fact merely scores another point for the greed that masquarades as corporate enterprise. As God is my witness, I shall never knowingly drop ANOTHER DIME into the penny-pinching pockets of Pioneer ever again.

Rating:
Summary: A SNEER FOR PIONEER
Review: I must agree with the justifiable ire expressed by Glen Stolfi in his review. The release strategy of these (albeit priceless) DVDs seemed, at best, curious and, at worst, larcenous. Mr Sandler does a handsome job of defending the fractured and frustrating manner in which Pioneer unleashed these treasures. However, it's hard to believe that the marketing department of a corporation such as Pioneer would do ANYTHING unknowingly. I mean, you either own the rights or you don't.... and can either get the quality up-to-snuff or you can't. Are the inner-workings of Pioneer REALLY so disjointed and befuddled?? I highly doubt it. Ironically enough though- the release of THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW DVDs seem to reflect the haphazard-ness of the dear lady herself. It seems Pioneer knew they had a core of rabidly loyal fans who would indeed double-buy if necessary to obtain the magic contained in all 26 episodes of the show. That sad fact merely scores another point for the greed that masquarades as corporate enterprise. As God is my witness, I shall never knowingly drop ANOTHER DIME into the penny-pinching pockets of Pioneer ever again.

Rating:
Summary: THE COMPLETE JUDY GARLAND SHOW - FINALLY.......BUT.......
Review: Let me start by saying that I am a huge fan of Judy Garland. But as far as my opinion of Pioneer home video, I feel cheated and used.
I purchased the first box set of the Judy Garland Show. I was thrilled like all of her fans to finally get the chance to see these great shows, since I was too young to see them when they were originally shown on television. And like all fans of this TV series, I looked forward to the release of the rest of the shows. After waiting for what I thought would be a second box set, I bought the other releases that followed, only to have to sit through Pioneer's trickle of DVD's......one disc here, one disc there. Then came the DVD's that were nothing but compilations, highlights and repeats of performances from discs already released. Now, finally comes the second box set. I feel cheated, since instead of having the two boxes, I have one box and a few assorted DVD's. Shame on you Pioneer for stringing us along in order to squeeze every dollar you could, since you knew we all wanted all 26 shows, but intentionally waited until the end to release them in one set. What you SHOULD HAVE DONE was release ONE set with all 26. Now I have all the shows, but spent much more money than I should have. I guess 200 dollars was not enough for you. Trust me when I say that it will take something approaching the DVD equivalent of the lost treasures of King Tut to make me buy another one of your products again.

Rating:
Summary: THANK YOU Mr. Sanders!
Review: Thank You Mr. Sanders for your insight and explanation in unraveling all the confusion imposed by these moronic penny pinching bitter antagonizing know it alls. I have been avoiding purchasing any of these marvelous dvds of JUDY GARLAND's SHOW because of the confusion and negativity bestowed upon may of us JUDY fans by these cheap assuming they know it all posters. I will buy these two box sets, thanks to Mr. Sanders' LOGICAL revelations of how this stunning variety show came to be issued on Dvd. I just saw PBS' JUDY GARLAND 2 hour biography at 3:00 a.m. and, once again, after viewng the wonderful excerpts about her TV show, am inspired to buy her music/movies as a result. In 1997, I bought her MCA & Capitol Box Sets and a couple books as a result of viewing a previous JUDY GARLAND bio on PBS. I was enticed to buy and explore her show's dvd releases as they came out, but, held back. Any music or video/dvd release about JUDY GARLAND will become a COLLECTOR's ITEM, so all you bitter penny pinchers just be grateful you own whatever copies you obtained. Just like the popular ALIEN movie series, all the single Dvds, Box Sets issued prior to the recent defining and ultimate 9 Disc ALIEN COLLECTION BOX SET are no longer available and have become collector's items. Get them while they are available - COME ON! GET HAPPY!

Rating:
Summary: Worth its weight in gold
Review: There really are no words to express the genius of Judy Garland. With all of her emotional and financial problems (not to mention the horrible treatment she got from CBS), this supposedly "unreliable" woman sang her heart out week after week in what is indisputably the best musical series in the history of television. Every single show was like a special event. The shows produced by Bill Colleran are of course the best, because the "comedy sidekick" format was finally dropped and the focus was purely on the music. The 2 boxed sets, taken in their entirety, are an absolute must for any Garland fan. Most interesting to me were the out-takes (which show no indication of a temperamental, intoxicated diva), and the audio commentaries. Too bad there's no commentary from any of Judy's children, but I highly recommend the DVD of "Me and My Shadows: Life with Judy Garland" produced by Lorna Luft - she gives an excellent audio commentary on that DVD. Major Kudos to Pioneer Entertainment for a superb job on these 2 boxed sets - they are timeless treasures, and have gone a long way to satisfying my insatiable appetite for all things Garland.