Jack Benny Show Collector's Edition (2pc) (Coll)

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Summary: "From Hollywood, the Jack Benny Program..."
Review: that phrase from Don Wilson was like heaven to many TV viewers throughout the '50s and '60s who sat glued to their television sets every Sunday night to watch Jack Benny after HEARING him earlier that day on radio! Jack Benny is a comedy legend and most of his career was spent on radio (1932-1955). From 1950-1965 he was on television and after 1965 he continued to appear in TV specials on into the early '70s...This two set DVD spotlights a few of his funniest TV episodes. the hilarious Christmas episode is on here which co-stars the one and only Mel Blanc as the tormented salesman...the floor walker is none other than Frank Nelson. Charlie Cantor, a radio legend known for his dopey voices, is seen as one of the other salesmen. the whole episode centers around Jack having a hard time deciding how he should write a greeting card for Don Wilson...this sets up the classic routine in which Jack constantly changes his mind and each time Mel Blanc has to run and get the package, tear it apart, re-write the greeting, re-tape the box, etc. Jack does his three or four times until Mel snaps...the deadpan Jack actually cracks up on this segment as even he has a hard time holding back the laughter when Mel's sobbing and crying become too hysterical. this episode is the 4th on DVD 2.Jack's long running 'feud' partner on radio, Fred Allen, makes an appearance on the third episode on DVD one. Fred is trying to steal Jack's TV show. In one of the crazier episodes, Dennis Day does a broad impersonation of James Cagney in a skit starring Dan Duryea as a gangster. Jack plays a guy named Gundlefinger. Don plays a cop named Chubby Wilson. lots of sight gags are used: especially when Don sits down on the stool. Benny Rubin has a cameo in the skit...he's talked into paying for his bill and ringing himself up. At first Rubin refuses but Jack says: "you've never eaten at Gundlefinger's before have you? i trust people. put your money in the cash registar and get your change. you're honest aren't ya?" "of course!" Rubin strolls over and puts his money in the drawer but before he can get his change out...well, another sight gag. i won't spoil what comes next.John Daly, Nancy Culp, Jayne Mansfield, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Liberace, Humphrey Bogart, Sheldon Leonard, and Giselle McKenzie are among the guest stars on the DVDs.i grew up watching Jack Benny re-runs on the local PBS stations here in Ohio during the late '80s. i own some of his classic radio programs too. this DVD is a great start for anyone just discovering him.

Rating:
Summary: Great material but...
Review: This set has 15 episodes, and Benny is hilarious. The quality of the DVDs isn't the best. Both of the DVDs I got had these little swirly marks on them, and each had a point on the DVD where they skipped. However, that still gave me 13 episodes that worked great (and I could get almost all of the other two if I hit fast forward at the right point). Hey, what can you expect for the price? And maybe I just got unlucky and got a set off a bad batch. Still, all that said, I'd buy them again in a heartbeat.