Rating: Summary: Great series, but no extras? Review: I loved being able to watch the first year's series, in order, and I love being able to watch the writing and acting evolve. One strange thing was that Father Mulcahy was played by someone else in the first episode. The strangest thing is the evolution of Radar, who will become more naive in later seasons. I had forgotten that in this first year he drank alcohol and talked about girls, with not too much about Iowa or mom and Uncle Ed. I have, like everyone else, seen the endless reruns on television. It is SO wierd, and nice, to be able to see the episodes with no commercials and without what I now realize has been some awful editing. Some of the first episodes are sort of slow moving compared to later episodes. On this DVD set you can remove the laugh-track, which is, um, interesting to try, though I ended up turning it back on. On this DVD set you don't get the extras: the how it was made, the interviews, the hind-sight thoughts of producer or actors. I have come to really enjoy those "extras" on the DVD sets of other series, and felt a little cheated that it wasn't here, too.
Rating: Summary: Finally! From the pilot through the end of the season..... Review: When MASH first came to television, I missed the pilot and a lot of the episodes due to crazy work schedules. Through the years I watched for it in syndication and watched whenever I could find it on the air. I got a satellite dish a few years ago and could occassionally find MASH running for a time somewhere. Then it was gone. Now, I can watch from the pilot through the end of the season, in order, or in any order I wish; at any time I have 20 some odd minutes to spare. I usually watch at least one episode on my portable DVD before going to sleep at night. Good, fun, and sometimes poignant entertainment! I have ordered season two, and will buy three and any others that are available. This is a timeless series. There are serious issues tackled in a way that puts them in perspective, but of course there is always the humor. If you enjoyed the series, this is a must have to revisit the 4077th.
Rating: Summary: A True M*A*S*H Fanatic Review: Ever since I was old enough to pick my own TV show M*A*S*H was my favorite show. I've watched it so many times that many of my life's phrases have come from this show. I even taped it off television and have 246 shows out of 251. Even so I have anxiously awaited the release of this TV show on DVD.Now that it's on DVD I am hoping they continue with the entire series. As for this set, I sat down and watched it from end to end for over 7 hours. It's simply the best there is, and I highly recommend it to any fellow M*A*S*H fanatic or future M*A*S*H follower. The DVD picture was crisp, and the audio was clear, and to top it off the few minutes cut off by commercials is back and I've seen stuff that was never shown on TV! AWESOME!
Rating: Summary: Very Good Show, Well-Collected Review: You can see the shows intact, with no segments trimmed out, with maximum clarity. In the original running order. This is a wonderful thing! You can remove the laugh track, which is interesting ... but the shows are usually funnier with the laughs. A few of the early episodes come off a bit on the sadistic side when viewed without the laugh track - in fairness, it was probably a good idea on the producers' part to include the laugh track on broadcasts. And you can see the actors leaving space for the track in many of the scenes (especially when McLean Stephenson is talking to Gary Burghoff). The show actually starts to pick up steam on the second and third discs here. The show starts to find its own voice, one a bit different than the one in the early shows, which was a clever continuation of the movie with its inherent sadism and misogyny. The characters start to resemble people under stress, and their behavior becomes exaggerated and direct as a result of that continual stress. Yet, a real bond exists even between people who are rubbing each others' nerves on a daily basis. The cast is particularly excellent, and the show develops into something very classic right in front of the viewer's eyes.
Rating: Summary: Excellent presentation Review: Everyone knows about M*A*S*H the show- and the early years were definitely the best. This is a quality presentation. Good quality video, and hallelujah you can turn off the laugh track. That has got to be one of the best features in a DVD I've ever seen!
Rating: Summary: A Pleasure Review: I've been a fan of M*A*S*H since my college days in the early 1980's. When we purchased a DVD player for our home this set was one of the first I purchased. I've not been disappointed. While some find fault that there are no "extras" included I find that the original episodes, uncut and commercial free, don't need the help of "extras". They are a rare treat. These classic episodes, exceptionally written, directed and acted, stand alone. They are a delight. If you are a fan you must experience the shows the way they were meant to be viewed. Treat yourself to your own private M*A*S*H collection.
Rating: Summary: Forgot Just How Funny Mash really was Review: After watching the Mash first season I realized just how funny the show was and just how much I really do miss the series. I also saw how much the characters on the show mellowed and changed in so many ways. Although I prefer the series once Harry Morgan joined as Colonel Potter, I still enjoyed the first season very much.
Rating: Summary: My other family. Review: I have always loved MASH. I grew up with this bunch of misfits. Every night they were on my TV so I became so accustomed to Hawkeye, Radar and HotLips being in my home that they started to feel almost family like. When the show ended, it was devasting but I had the reruns. Then those stopped. I have waited for many years to have this collection. I know that the VHS version was floating around but they were horribly expensive. I have this first season and it was amazing. I remembered the humor and the seriousness, the sarcasm and so forth. If you were ever a MASH fan you will love this DVD. I hope all the other seasons become available soon.
Rating: Summary: Some of the Best Entertainment Ever Review: "M*A*S*H", whether as the original film, the eleven years it spent on television, or even as the anniversary specials, places a group of people, with such talent that have rarely ever contributed to a single project. These comments are specifically about the DVDs that cover season number 1 of 11. These discs also include the original pilot for the series. For under $30.00 you receive over 10 hours of some of the best writing, hilarious comedy, and serious commentary, which you can find on the stage, or the small or large screen, does entertainment get more reasonably priced? This show was continually well written and never compromised its sometimes unpopular comments about the Korean War or war in general. It never was disrespectful of the men and women who served, it honored them as it savaged those responsible for what would be far from the last mindless conflict of the 20th Century. And long before the idea and attendant commentary regarding women in combat became an issue, this show demonstrated that women had been in combat even though they may not have been pulling the triggers on weapons. There were times that surgical nurses were literally under front-line fire while treating wounded at triage stations. Women have seen plenty of combat; the political argument is all that is at issue, the women have already been there. I would imagine most are familiar with this series, but if you are not start with these discs, and then move on to season two, season three is coming in 2 months. If you are desirous of going all the way back, read the original book, watch the award winning film, and then follow some of the same actors on to the small screen.
Rating: Summary: M*A*S*H Season One Review: Outstanding, after years of watching the tv editied versions, the DVD is a welcome product for all those who grew up with mash. I would have liked a bit more extras, e.g. stills, commentary etc, but what the heck it costs about 30$ and is a high quality reproduction of the series. Can't wait for the complete set to come out, already pre-ordered season three.
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