Rating: 
Summary: Bonus Material For Season 5; Another Nice Array Of Extras!
Review: Following is a complete listing of the BONUS FEATURES that are included on Image Entertainment's 5-Disc boxed set of "The Dick Van Dyke Show Season Five". The majority of this extra material is located on Disc # 5. ............... >> 2 Audio Commentaries with Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke (for the episodes "Coast-To-Coast Big Mouth" and "The Gunslinger"). >> 1 Audio Commentary featuring the trio of Rose Marie, Larry Mathews, and Bill Idelson (for the episode "Dear Sally Rogers"). .... NOTE: The packaging for this set says that Ann Morgan Guilbert participates in this commentary. This is incorrect. It's Larry Mathews, not Guilbert, providing the third voice here. >> Clip from the 1969 TV Special "Dick Van Dyke And The Other Woman" (Length -- 6:57). .... This bonus is priceless! It's not a song-and-dance clip with Dick and Mary, but instead a "look back" at "The Dick Van Dyke Show". A film clip is provided from the episode "The Impractical Joke", and you'll appreciate the excellent picture quality on these boxed sets even more after seeing this clip, which obviously hasn't been re-mastered or cleaned up too much. But what makes this bonus feature priceless is an "outtake" from the fifth-season episode "You Ought To Be In Pictures", which is actually an "alternate take" of a scene in that episode. In this hilarious "alternate" version of the scene, Rob (Dick) deliberately goes way "over the top", as he overacts, cries, and carries on in baby-like fashion. You'll be rolling on the floor after seeing this! >> Video footage from the 2003 "TV Land Awards" (9:36). .... This is a series of acceptance speeches made by the Van Dyke Show's cast members. Carl Reiner steals the moment here, with several humorous quips, proving that his comic mind was still razor-sharp even as he approached the age of 81. >> 1992 video clip from "Comic Relief" (6:12). .... This clip features Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robin Williams, along with the main cast members of the Van Dyke Show. >> Sketch featuring Dick with "Mama" Cass Elliot (5:33). .... This comedy sketch (in color) comes from Cass Elliot's 1973 TV Special "Don't Call Me Mama Anymore". >> Cast interview footage (snipped from the 1994 CBS-TV Special, "The Dick Van Dyke Show Remembered"). >> CBS promo for "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" (1971-1974). .... In addition to the 30-second color video clip advertising the show, this bonus also offers up some very interesting information about Dick's short-lived second sitcom, via a series of text screens (including cast lists). Very informative and well-done. >> A "TV-Land" promo clip for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (0:30). >> Emmy Awards footage. ... We get to see three separate awards dished up in these color clips from the Emmy telecast of May 22, 1966. Picture quality is pretty good. Not perfect, but certainly good enough. (And check out the hairdo on Mary Tyler Moore!) >> Don Rickles Remembers His 2-Part Episode (7:05). .... The two-parter in question, which had Rickles (as "Lyle Delp") robbing the Petries in an elevator (at "comb-point"), was actually from season four. But this "look back" by Rickles is included in the Season 5 set. Carl Reiner introduces this bonus segment, telling us it's kind of a "flashback" to the Season 4 DVD set. LOL! >> Theatrical Trailer (in B&W) for "The Art Of Love", a 1965 feature film co-starring Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner (0:47). >> Photo Galleries for many episodes (although there aren't as many here as in the other seasonal sets). .... Each of the Photo Galleries is on a "timed" self-running track, but each picture can be "paused" for a longer look. >> Four-page collectible booklet, which includes Van Dyke Show facts, photos, and mini-bio pieces on Richard Deacon and Carl Reiner. EASTER EGGS --- Several "Nick At Nite" TV promos are buried as "Eggs". There's at least one Egg on each of the five discs in this set. Go to any of the episode sub-menus and start scrolling down the various chapters. With any chapter highlighted (it varies), click "Left Arrow" on the remote control. If there's an "Egg" there, the "highlighted" area will move from the chapter title to the upper right-hand corner of the screen (where there's an artist drawing of Dick Van Dyke). If you see a "glow" around Mr. Van Dyke's head, you know you've hit an Easter Egg. Press "Enter" or "Play" at this stage, and be taken to the promotional clips. --------------------------------- Image Entertainment and Paul Brownstein Productions have done a bang-up job of unearthing gobs of great bonus features to place on the five "Dick Van Dyke Show" seasonal boxed sets. About the only thing missing that would have been nice to have on these sets are the many bloopers and outtakes from the series. (Although the inclusion on this fifth-season collection of that previously-mentioned "alternate take" from one episode is certainly better than nothing.) I have a poor-quality VHS tape that contains approximately 25 minutes of Van Dyke Show bloopers and outtakes, so I know that many bloopers *do* exist in the vaults (somewhere). Such deleted material would have capped off these DVD-on-DVD sets very nicely, IMO. But even without them, the totality of the bonus material included on the five boxed sets is really quite remarkable (considering the age of this TV program). I believe, in fact, the only reason that the blooper reels were not presented as a part of these sets is because of Carl Reiner's own desire that they *not* be put on the DVDs. Carl has stated that he'd rather not have his famous Van Dyke Show cast be seen "out of character" while filming the episodes, which *does* happen often in the batch of outtakes I've seen via my VHS cassette. So, it's only proper to honor Mr. Reiner's wishes on this matter, which obviously was done with regard to the final DVD products that have been placed on the market. But, who knows, maybe Carl will change his mind about the bloopers some day in the future; and perhaps those very funny outtakes will one day end up on the DVD-Video format. (I'm hoping so; so I can replace that awful VHS copy of bloopers.) :)
Rating:
Summary: Bonus Material For Season 5; Another Nice Array Of Extras!
Review: Following is a complete listing of the BONUS FEATURES that are included on Image Entertainment's 5-Disc boxed set of "The Dick Van Dyke Show Season Five". The majority of this extra material is located on Disc # 5. ...............
>> 2 Audio Commentaries with Carl Reiner and Dick Van Dyke (for the episodes "Coast-To-Coast Big Mouth" and "The Gunslinger").
>> 1 Audio Commentary featuring the trio of Rose Marie, Larry Mathews, and Bill Idelson (for the episode "Dear Sally Rogers"). .... NOTE: The packaging for this set says that Ann Morgan Guilbert participates in this commentary. This is incorrect. It's Larry Mathews, not Guilbert, providing the third voice here.
>> Clip from the 1969 TV Special "Dick Van Dyke And The Other Woman" (Length -- 6:57). .... This bonus is priceless! It's not a song-and-dance clip with Dick and Mary, but instead a "look back" at "The Dick Van Dyke Show". A film clip is provided from the episode "The Impractical Joke", and you'll appreciate the excellent picture quality on these boxed sets even more after seeing this clip, which obviously hasn't been re-mastered or cleaned up too much. But what makes this bonus feature priceless is an "outtake" from the fifth-season episode "You Ought To Be In Pictures", which is actually an "alternate take" of a scene in that episode. In this hilarious "alternate" version of the scene, Rob (Dick) deliberately goes way "over the top", as he overacts, cries, and carries on in baby-like fashion. You'll be rolling on the floor after seeing this!
>> Video footage from the 2003 "TV Land Awards" (9:36). .... This is a series of acceptance speeches made by the Van Dyke Show's cast members. Carl Reiner steals the moment here, with several humorous quips, proving that his comic mind was still razor-sharp even as he approached the age of 81.
>> 1992 video clip from "Comic Relief" (6:12). .... This clip features Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robin Williams, along with the main cast members of the Van Dyke Show.
>> Sketch featuring Dick with "Mama" Cass Elliot (5:33). .... This comedy sketch (in color) comes from Cass Elliot's 1973 TV Special "Don't Call Me Mama Anymore".
>> Cast interview footage (snipped from the 1994 CBS-TV Special, "The Dick Van Dyke Show Remembered").
>> CBS promo for "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" (1971-1974). .... In addition to the 30-second color video clip advertising the show, this bonus also offers up some very interesting information about Dick's short-lived second sitcom, via a series of text screens (including cast lists). Very informative and well-done.
>> A "TV-Land" promo clip for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (0:30).
>> Emmy Awards footage. ... We get to see three separate awards dished up in these color clips from the Emmy telecast of May 22, 1966. Picture quality is pretty good. Not perfect, but certainly good enough. (And check out the hairdo on Mary Tyler Moore!)
>> Don Rickles Remembers His 2-Part Episode (7:05). .... The two-parter in question, which had Rickles (as "Lyle Delp") robbing the Petries in an elevator (at "comb-point"), was actually from season four. But this "look back" by Rickles is included in the Season 5 set. Carl Reiner introduces this bonus segment, telling us it's kind of a "flashback" to the Season 4 DVD set. LOL!
>> Theatrical Trailer (in B&W) for "The Art Of Love", a 1965 feature film co-starring Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner (0:47).
>> Photo Galleries for many episodes (although there aren't as many here as in the other seasonal sets). .... Each of the Photo Galleries is on a "timed" self-running track, but each picture can be "paused" for a longer look.
>> Four-page collectible booklet, which includes Van Dyke Show facts, photos, and mini-bio pieces on Richard Deacon and Carl Reiner.
EASTER EGGS --- Several "Nick At Nite" TV promos are buried as "Eggs". There's at least one Egg on each of the five discs in this set. Go to any of the episode sub-menus and start scrolling down the various chapters. With any chapter highlighted (it varies), click "Left Arrow" on the remote control. If there's an "Egg" there, the "highlighted" area will move from the chapter title to the upper right-hand corner of the screen (where there's an artist drawing of Dick Van Dyke). If you see a "glow" around Mr. Van Dyke's head, you know you've hit an Easter Egg. Press "Enter" or "Play" at this stage, and be taken to the promotional clips.
---------------------------------
Image Entertainment and Paul Brownstein Productions have done a bang-up job of unearthing gobs of great bonus features to place on the five "Dick Van Dyke Show" seasonal boxed sets. About the only thing missing that would have been nice to have on these sets are the many bloopers and outtakes from the series. (Although the inclusion on this fifth-season collection of that previously-mentioned "alternate take" from one episode is certainly better than nothing.)
I have a poor-quality VHS tape that contains approximately 25 minutes of Van Dyke Show bloopers and outtakes, so I know that many bloopers *do* exist in the vaults (somewhere). Such deleted material would have capped off these DVD-on-DVD sets very nicely, IMO. But even without them, the totality of the bonus material included on the five boxed sets is really quite remarkable (considering the age of this TV program).
I believe, in fact, the only reason that the blooper reels were not presented as a part of these sets is because of Carl Reiner's own desire that they *not* be put on the DVDs. Carl has stated that he'd rather not have his famous Van Dyke Show cast be seen "out of character" while filming the episodes, which *does* happen often in the batch of outtakes I've seen via my VHS cassette.
So, it's only proper to honor Mr. Reiner's wishes on this matter, which obviously was done with regard to the final DVD products that have been placed on the market.
But, who knows, maybe Carl will change his mind about the bloopers some day in the future; and perhaps those very funny outtakes will one day end up on the DVD-Video format. (I'm hoping so; so I can replace that awful VHS copy of bloopers.) :)
Rating:
Summary: 5th-Season Episode Guide! This Final Year Is Still A Winner!
Review: Here's a complete Episode Guide for Season Five of "The Dick Van Dyke Show". Creator Carl Reiner and Company produced thirty-one programs during the fifth and final year of this smart CBS sitcom. All of them look terrific in this multiple-disc DVD collector's set. This episode list reflects the order in which the programs are presented within this DVD collection, arranged in sequence by "Production Date" (the date of filming the show), which does not always necessarily match the "Air Date" chronology. The original CBS-TV "Air Dates" are listed in parenthesis: --------------------------------------------------- THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW -- SEASON #5 (1965-1966): 128. Coast-To-Coast Big Mouth (First Aired: 9/15/1965)
129. Uhny Uftz (9/29/1965)
130. The Ugliest Dog In The World (10/6/1965)
131. No Rice At My Wedding (10/13/1965)
132. Draw Me A Pear (10/20/1965)
133. The Great Petrie Fortune (10/27/1965)
134. Odd But True (11/3/1965)
135. Viva Petrie (11/10/1965)
136. Go Tell The Birds And The Bees (11/17/1965)
137. Body And Sol (11/24/1965)
138. See Rob Write, Write Rob Write (12/8/1965)
139. You're Under Arrest (12/15/1965)
140. Fifty-Two, Forty-Five Or Work (12/29/1965)
141. Who Stole My Watch? (1/5/1966)
142. Bad Reception In Albany (3/9/1966)
143. I Do Not Choose To Run (1/19/1966) **
144. The Making Of A Councilman (1/26/1966) **
145. The Curse Of The Petrie People (2/2/1966)
146. The Bottom Of Mel Cooley's Heart (2/9/1966)
147. Remember The Alimony (2/16/1966)
148. Dear Sally Rogers (2/23/1966)
149. Buddy Sorrell, Man And Boy (3/2/1966)
150. Long Night's Journey Into Day (5/11/1966)
151. Talk To The Snail (3/23/1966)
152. A Day In The Life Of Alan Brady (4/6/1966)
153. Obnoxious, Offensive Egomaniac Etc. (4/13/1966)
154. The Man From My Uncle (4/20/1966)
155. You Ought To Be In Pictures (4/27/1966)
156. Love Thy Other Neighbor (5/4/1966)
157. The Last Chapter (6/1/1966) *
158. The Gunslinger (5/25/1966) * = For continuity reasons, "The Last Chapter" is presented as the last episode on Disc 5 of this boxed set. It was the final episode aired during the series' original network run in 1966, and therefore is presented as the last program on this boxed set. ** = Two-Part Episode --------------------------------------------------------------- This fifth DVD set from Image Entertainment follows in the stylish and plush footsteps of each of its four foregoers, featuring cool packaging and tons of bonus features. If you've got the other sets in this series, you're gonna want this one too...without a doubt! Van Dyke Show Trivia & Tidbits (And Guest Star Info) ................................... >> The show walked away with four more Emmy Awards for its fifth and final season on the air, running its final total to 15 Emmys won during the show's 1961-1966 network run. The series copped at least one Emmy prize each and every year it was in production; and won a minimum of two of the coveted TV trophies during each of its last four seasons. >> Character actor Richard Deacon ("Mel Cooley"), who sadly passed away at age 63 in August 1984, was one busy actor during several of the years he was doing the Dick Van Dyke series. In addition to being an integral (and extremely funny) part of the excellent cast on the Van Dyke Show, Richard, at the same time, was also co-starring on another top sitcom of the era, "Leave It To Beaver", in which he played the rather snobbish and overbearing "Fred Rutherford". He appeared in both shows from 1961 to 1963 (when "Beaver" finished up its successful six-year network term). "Deac", as he was affectionately known, also made brief appearances in a whole slew of major motion pictures during this very same "Dick Van Dyke Show" time period, including "Lover Come Back" (1961), "That Touch Of Mink" (1962), "The Birds" (1963), and "Hud" (1963), among others. >> The Dick Van Dyke Show didn't rely heavily upon the appearances of "guest stars" throughout the course of its five seasons. And, due to the caliber of its strong and highly-appealing regular cast members, they really didn't have any need to feature outside talent very often. In fact, in my opinion, the very best episodes shine the spotlight on ONLY the regular cast members (Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Richard Deacon, Jerry Paris, Ann Morgan Guilbert, Carl Reiner, and Larry Mathews). However, several guest stars would pop up in the episodes from season to season. In case you're interested, here's a fairly comprehensive list of the major "Guest Stars" who put in at least one appearance on The Dick Van Dyke Show ......... Jerry Van Dyke, Don Rickles, Jack Albertson, Vic Damone, Sue Ann Langdon, Bob Crane, Everett Sloane, Richard Dawson, Robert Vaughn, Greg Morris, Howard Morris, Denver Pyle, Strother Martin, Edward Platt, Jack Carter, Ed Begley, Billy DeWolfe, Arte Johnson, Wally Cox, Michael Constantine, Godfrey Cambridge, plus show executives Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard. In addition, many other veteran "character" actors were highly visible throughout the 158 episodes of the series (usually in smaller roles). Such as: Allan Melvin, Dabbs Greer, Johnny Silver, Bill Idelson (who played "Herman Glimsher"), Jamie Farr (who played the "Snappy Service" man), J. Pat O'Malley, Jesse White, Amzie Strickland, Madge Blake, Ken Lynch (who's almost *always* a cop every time you see him in any TV show), Sandy Kenyon, Peter Leeds, Will Wright, Ross Elliott, Lennie Weinrib, Henry Gibson, Jerry Hausner, Marty Ingels, Isabel Randolph, Bernard Fox, Herbie Faye, William Schallert, Joby Baker, Herb Vigran, Jane Dulo, Ray Kellogg, Charles Aidman, Barney Phillips, Doris Packer, Jackie Joseph, Burt Mustin, Ken Berry, Ned Glass, Doris Singleton, Valerie Yerke, Bernie Kopell, and Frank Adamo. Adamo, who also served as Dick Van Dyke's "personal assistant", logged more bit parts during the series than any other actor, often popping up as a delivery boy, a waiter, or a party guest, etc. For five complete TV seasons, the flawless regular cast, along with all of the above guest stars and extra bit players, helped make "The Dick Van Dyke Show" the high-quality, humor-filled program that it was. And thanks to these fabulous DVD boxed sets, this endearing TV series can be re-visited again and again ... and again!
Rating:
Summary: 5th-Season Episode Guide! This Final Year Is Still A Winner!
Review: Here's a complete Episode Guide for Season Five of "The Dick Van Dyke Show". Creator Carl Reiner and Company produced thirty-one programs during the fifth and final year of this smart CBS sitcom. All of them look terrific in this multiple-disc DVD collector's set.
This episode list reflects the order in which the programs are presented within this DVD collection, arranged in sequence by "Production Date" (the date of filming the show), which does not always necessarily match the "Air Date" chronology.
The original CBS-TV "Air Dates" are listed in parenthesis:
---------------------------------------------------
THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW -- SEASON #5 (1965-1966):
128. Coast-To-Coast Big Mouth (First Aired: 9/15/1965)
129. Uhny Uftz (9/29/1965)
130. The Ugliest Dog In The World (10/6/1965)
131. No Rice At My Wedding (10/13/1965)
132. Draw Me A Pear (10/20/1965)
133. The Great Petrie Fortune (10/27/1965)
134. Odd But True (11/3/1965)
135. Viva Petrie (11/10/1965)
136. Go Tell The Birds And The Bees (11/17/1965)
137. Body And Sol (11/24/1965)
138. See Rob Write, Write Rob Write (12/8/1965)
139. You're Under Arrest (12/15/1965)
140. Fifty-Two, Forty-Five Or Work (12/29/1965)
141. Who Stole My Watch? (1/5/1966)
142. Bad Reception In Albany (3/9/1966)
143. I Do Not Choose To Run (1/19/1966) **
144. The Making Of A Councilman (1/26/1966) **
145. The Curse Of The Petrie People (2/2/1966)
146. The Bottom Of Mel Cooley's Heart (2/9/1966)
147. Remember The Alimony (2/16/1966)
148. Dear Sally Rogers (2/23/1966)
149. Buddy Sorrell, Man And Boy (3/2/1966)
150. Long Night's Journey Into Day (5/11/1966)
151. Talk To The Snail (3/23/1966)
152. A Day In The Life Of Alan Brady (4/6/1966)
153. Obnoxious, Offensive Egomaniac Etc. (4/13/1966)
154. The Man From My Uncle (4/20/1966)
155. You Ought To Be In Pictures (4/27/1966)
156. Love Thy Other Neighbor (5/4/1966)
157. The Last Chapter (6/1/1966) *
158. The Gunslinger (5/25/1966)
* = For continuity reasons, "The Last Chapter" is presented as the last episode on Disc 5 of this boxed set. It was the final episode aired during the series' original network run in 1966, and therefore is presented as the last program on this boxed set.
** = Two-Part Episode
---------------------------------------------------------------
This fifth DVD set from Image Entertainment follows in the stylish and plush footsteps of each of its four foregoers, featuring cool packaging and tons of bonus features. If you've got the other sets in this series, you're gonna want this one too...without a doubt!
Van Dyke Show Trivia & Tidbits (And Guest Star Info) ...................................
>> The show walked away with four more Emmy Awards for its fifth and final season on the air, running its final total to 15 Emmys won during the show's 1961-1966 network run. The series copped at least one Emmy prize each and every year it was in production; and won a minimum of two of the coveted TV trophies during each of its last four seasons.
>> Character actor Richard Deacon ("Mel Cooley"), who sadly passed away at age 63 in August 1984, was one busy actor during several of the years he was doing the Dick Van Dyke series. In addition to being an integral (and extremely funny) part of the excellent cast on the Van Dyke Show, Richard, at the same time, was also co-starring on another top sitcom of the era, "Leave It To Beaver", in which he played the rather snobbish and overbearing "Fred Rutherford". He appeared in both shows from 1961 to 1963 (when "Beaver" finished up its successful six-year network term). "Deac", as he was affectionately known, also made brief appearances in a whole slew of major motion pictures during this very same "Dick Van Dyke Show" time period, including "Lover Come Back" (1961), "That Touch Of Mink" (1962), "The Birds" (1963), and "Hud" (1963), among others.
>> The Dick Van Dyke Show didn't rely heavily upon the appearances of "guest stars" throughout the course of its five seasons. And, due to the caliber of its strong and highly-appealing regular cast members, they really didn't have any need to feature outside talent very often. In fact, in my opinion, the very best episodes shine the spotlight on ONLY the regular cast members (Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie, Morey Amsterdam, Richard Deacon, Jerry Paris, Ann Morgan Guilbert, Carl Reiner, and Larry Mathews).
However, several guest stars would pop up in the episodes from season to season. In case you're interested, here's a fairly comprehensive list of the major "Guest Stars" who put in at least one appearance on The Dick Van Dyke Show .........
Jerry Van Dyke, Don Rickles, Jack Albertson, Vic Damone, Sue Ann Langdon, Bob Crane, Everett Sloane, Richard Dawson, Robert Vaughn, Greg Morris, Howard Morris, Denver Pyle, Strother Martin, Edward Platt, Jack Carter, Ed Begley, Billy DeWolfe, Arte Johnson, Wally Cox, Michael Constantine, Godfrey Cambridge, plus show executives Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard.
In addition, many other veteran "character" actors were highly visible throughout the 158 episodes of the series (usually in smaller roles). Such as: Allan Melvin, Dabbs Greer, Johnny Silver, Bill Idelson (who played "Herman Glimsher"), Jamie Farr (who played the "Snappy Service" man), J. Pat O'Malley, Jesse White, Amzie Strickland, Madge Blake, Ken Lynch (who's almost *always* a cop every time you see him in any TV show), Sandy Kenyon, Peter Leeds, Will Wright, Ross Elliott, Lennie Weinrib, Henry Gibson, Jerry Hausner, Marty Ingels, Isabel Randolph, Bernard Fox, Herbie Faye, William Schallert, Joby Baker, Herb Vigran, Jane Dulo, Ray Kellogg, Charles Aidman, Barney Phillips, Doris Packer, Jackie Joseph, Burt Mustin, Ken Berry, Ned Glass, Doris Singleton, Valerie Yerke, Bernie Kopell, and Frank Adamo. Adamo, who also served as Dick Van Dyke's "personal assistant", logged more bit parts during the series than any other actor, often popping up as a delivery boy, a waiter, or a party guest, etc.
For five complete TV seasons, the flawless regular cast, along with all of the above guest stars and extra bit players, helped make "The Dick Van Dyke Show" the high-quality, humor-filled program that it was. And thanks to these fabulous DVD boxed sets, this endearing TV series can be re-visited again and again ... and again!
Rating:
Summary: Episode list for season 5
Review: I have included a complete episode list for season five of "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Carl Reiner starred in several episodes as the hilariously conceited and egotistical Alan Brady, including the memorable "Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth" episode. This show is truly wonderful, and I eagerly anticipate the release of season five, even though the series' final episode was quite disappointing. It's still a great show! 128-"Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth" Laura blurts out a top secret on a national television game show: comedian Alan Brady wears a toupee.
129-"Uhny Uftz" Rob sees a flying saucer and tracks it to its lair: the office above his own.
130-"The Ugliest Dog in the World" Rob and Laura try to find a permanent home for an ugly little mutt from the dog pound.
131-"No Rice at My Wedding" Rob and Laura recall their courtship days, when Rob almost lost Laura to another man.
132-"Draw Me a Pear" Rob and Laura enroll in an art class, and the beautiful female instructor has designs on Rob.
133-"The Great Petrie Fortune" Rob's elderly uncle dies and leaves him an old desk and a riddle that supposedly contains the key to a fortune.
134-"Odd But True" The freckles on Rob's back are shaped like the Liberty Bell.
135-"Viva Petrie" Rob and Laura have an unusual houseguest, a bullfighter named Manuel who installs himself as a handyman. 136-"Go Tell the Birds and the Bees" When Richie spins a few fantastic stories for his friends, his parents wind up in the school psychologist's office.
137-"Body and Sol" Rob recalls the time he defended his title as middleweight champion of the Army camp.
138-"See Rob Write--Write, Rob, Write" Rob and Laura become rivals when each writes a story for children.
139-"You're Under Arrest" Rob goes out to cool off after a quarrel with Laura and winds up in trouble with the law.
140-"Fifty-two Forty-five or Work" Rob recalls the time he was out of work with a new home, no furniture, and a pregnant wife.
141-"Who Stole My Watch?" Rob loses his friends as well as his watch when the friends learn they're all under suspicion.
142-"Bad Reception in Albany" While out of town for a cousin's wedding, Rob has to locate a television set to watch a special show, creating confusingly hilarious results.
143-"I Do Not Choose to Run" Rob can't make up his mind when asked to be a candidate for the city council.
144-"The Making of a Councilman" Rob agrees to run for office but realizes he'd prefer to vote for his brainy opponent.
145-"The Curse of the Petrie People" Rob's parents give a family heirloom of hideous jewelry to Laura, who accidentally drops it in the garbage disposal.
146-"The Bottom of Mel Cooley's Heart" When Mel Cooley takes Rob's advice and stands up to Alan Brady, he is promptly fired.
147-"Remember the Alimony" Rob and Laura recall the time they filled in an application for a $10 divorce.
148-"Dear Sally Rogers" Sally advertises for a husband on a national television show as a gag and is flooded with fan mail.
149-"Buddy Sorrell--Man and Boy" Symptoms and evidence indicate that Buddy is either seeing a psychiatrist or having an affair, when in fact he is merely preparing for his belated Bar Mitzvah.
150-"Long Night's Journey Into Day" Laura spends a harrowing night alone in the house when the rest of the family goes off on a fishing trip.
151-"Talk to the Snail" Believing that comedian Alan Brady plans to cut down his writing staff, Rob applies for a job with a ventriloquist.
152-"A Day in the Life of Alan Brady" The Petries' anniversary party for the Helpers turns into a television documentary for Alan Brady.
153-"Obnoxious, Offensive, Egomaniac, Etc." Rob and his writers are in big trouble for adding insults to an Alan Brady script that is accidentally delivered to Alan's office.
154-"The Man From My Uncle" The Petrie home becomes a command post when government agents put a neighbor's home under surveillance.
155-"You Ought to Be in Pictures" Rob is cast opposite a gorgeous Italian actress in a low-budget film and turns out to be the screen's worst lover.
156-"Love Thy Other Neighbor" Rob and Laura are dismayed by Millie Helper's jealousy of their new neighbors.
157-"The Last Chapter" Rob's autobiography conjures up scenes from the past and leads Alan Brady to buy the book for a television series.
158-"The Gunslinger" The Petries and their friends are transported to the Wild West when Rob dreams he is a frontier sheriff. Note: These episode descriptions and more for the other four seasons can be found on www.dickvandykeshow.com.
Rating:
Summary: Dick Van Dyke Show like never before!
Review: If the name of Paul Brownstein isn't familiar to you, by the time you see his amazing restoration work in the entire 5 season Van Dyke Series, you too will come to love this man. He has painstakingly gone back to the ORIGINAL 35mm camera negatives and had each show digitally preserved onto these perfect DVD presentations. CBS never aired them in this way, TV Land doesn't show these films in this way either. It took a true television fan to do the work that needed to be done. In addition, the archival footage obtained is amazing as well. Where others have failed, Mr. Brownstein was able to gain access to rare footage of the cast during rehearsals, at the Emmy Award telecasts of the 1960's, commercials on the set, color footage of Dick and Mary from 1969, a scene cut out and never aired and even was able to get the surviving cast to do selected audio commentaries. These five volumes are the benchmark for any restoration / preservation television show ever presented to the public. It was recently awarded a best DVD presentation for a series (2003)and it deserved to be so honored.
Bravo to everyone involved and especially to Paul Brownstein, the best friend classic T.V. ever had.
Rating:
Summary: Image Completes Series With A 5th Impeccable Season Set!
Review: Image Entertainment's splendid final effort in its series of Dick Van Dyke Show full-season boxed sets provides viewers with all 31 episodes of the show's fifth and last season (1965-1966), meaning that all 158 classic Van Dyke Show episodes are now available on the DVD-Video format, via the five multi-disc sets distributed by Image Entertainment, Inc. High praise must go to Image for producing 5 such fine DVD boxed sets, and for getting them onto the market so quickly. Season sets #1 and #2 were both released on October 21, 2003, with subsequent releases occurring on February 24, April 27, and June 29 of 2004. So, in just the short space of 8 months, every single episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show has been made available. SEASON FIVE --- Most TV shows seem to go downhill in quality (writing-wise) with the passage of time. I do not believe such a malady plagued Carl Reiner's baby, "The Dick Van Dyke Show". There are many, many good-as-gold episodes to be found in the cast's swan-song season. Such as: "Coast-To-Coast Big Mouth" (which is among my all-time favorite V.Dyke entries!), "You're Under Arrest", "The Curse Of The Petrie People", "Long Night's Journey Into Day", and the final episode of the series to be filmed -- a very funny Western spoof entitled "The Gunslinger". The overall quality of the writing and the acting in this series was consistently excellent, in my opinion, throughout the entire show's run --- from the perfectly-charming debut episode, "The Sick Boy And The Sitter" (aired October 3, 1961), right through to the final episode, "The Last Chapter", which originally aired on June 1, 1966. (NOTE --- "The Gunslinger", as mentioned above, was actually the cast & crew's final episode filmed. But "The Last Chapter" was the last show to hit the airwaves.) The episodes on these five "Region Free" discs are presented in their original uncut form (with an average running time of slightly more than 25 minutes each, including all credits). VIDEO/AUDIO QUALITY --- Excellent (again)! Just like the four sets that preceeded it, the fifth-season episodes look just great on DVD. A few minor blemishes pop up from time to time, but not many. Clarity is just marvelous for a show of its age. The DVD transfers for all five of these stellar Dick Van Dyke Show boxed sets were taken from the original 35-mm. films of the episodes. Since the "original" film sources were used here, we see a lot better quality than if second-generation filmed (or taped) source prints had been utilized to create the Digital Masters for these boxed sets. And this extra quality definitely shines through on each of these Image discs. The audio is presented in its original Mono (2.0 Dolby Digital Mono), and merits good marks for clarity as well. I have no trouble hearing any of the snappy dialogue at all. Very good mono sound here. PACKAGING --- In the previous tradition of these Image sets, the fifth DVD-on-DVD installment gives us a nice sturdy outer slipcase to hold the 5 individual ("ThinPak") plastic cases. The outer slipcase, consistent with Seasons 1 through 4, is presented in the guise of an old-fashioned black-and-white TV set, with an area cut out of the "screen" portion of the television monitor which holds a removable lenticular (3-D type) "motion picture" card, showing an image from the Van Dyke Show. Season Five's 3-D picture shows Rob & Laura Petrie dancing in the living room of the Petrie home. This image comes from the second-season episode, "Ray Murdock's X-Ray". Each of the five separate slim cases housing the Van Dyke discs have different cover-art sleeves. Information on each disc's episodes is also shown on all the individual cases, with episode numbers, air dates, film dates, a brief program description, and chapter title listings. A great deal of thought and care obviously went into the packaging design and presentation, and it shows. The makers of these sets knew that many buyers (like myself) would want this classic TV series presented in a way so the sets would be deemed "collector's items". And Image's attractive, user-friendly, and (above all) durable way of packaging these Dick Van Dyke Show sets have not disappointed. The "collectability" feel is definitely there in each of these boxed sets. MENUS --- Straight-forward and to-the-point. Simplicity at its finest. Which is just fine by me. No fancy, slow-to-get-there, animated transitions from one menu to another. The Season 5 Main Menu is structured the same as the previous sets in this series. Upon initial disc load-up, the show's theme song plays (one time), then stops. But even this can easily be quickly bypassed by pressing "Top Menu" on your remote. Each of that disc's 6 or 7 episodes are listed on screen right from the Main Menu (plus added options at the bottom of the screen for "Special Features" and "Play All Episodes"). Each episode has its own sub-menu, with chapter listing, plus an "Extras" area on some episode sub-menus, which will take you to any bonus features connected with that particular program. There have been countless TV shows aired since the "boob tube" was invented, but there's one particular series that entered American living rooms from 1961 to 1966 that stands head and shoulders above 95% of the rest of the pack (in my opinion) -- and it starred a skinny "human waterfall" named Dick Van Dyke and a pretty, toothy, young actress by the name of Mary Tyler Moore.  "The Dick Van Dyke Show", created by Carl Reiner, shall forever remain one of finest programs in television history. Very few shows can match it for its just flat-out "entertainment" value, nor for its high re-watchability factor. And there's no better way to view "The Dick Van Dyke Show" than by watching Image's five exquisite full-season DVD boxed sets. These season sets are essential for any fan of Classic TV. Check out my separate "BONUS MATERIAL" review for this product for information on all the great supplemental features that are incorporated into this Season-Five boxed set.
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Summary: "Technical Glitches" Explained
Review: NOTE -- The bulk of this review pertains to "distortion" / "fuzziness" / "blurriness" issues that have appeared on some of the episodes within Image Entertainment's boxed sets of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (mostly affecting Season One). There is evidently, however, a wholly separate and unrelated quality issue regarding some SEASON-FIVE DISCS ONLY. Many Season-Five owners have encountered some video problems with some of the 5th-season discs -- picture freezing, digital video break-ups, and difficulties with some DVD players not even being able to read some S.5 discs at all. None of these problems have plagued Seasons 1 through 4, as far as I'm aware. And these type of software problems are NOT what I'm going to address below, but instead something different entirely.
I'm nearly certain that the above-mentioned "software" glitches of freeze-ups, loading problems, etc., are the result of a "bad batch" of discs that mistakenly was released to the public, and is NOT a universal problem involving every Season-Five Van Dyke disc that was pressed.
The reason I believe this is because MY own Season-Five set plays perfectly. I've experienced NONE of the freezing/break-up issues that have been reported by other S.5 owners. Plus, I've spoken to several other owners of the S.5 boxed set who also have had no trouble whatsoever with any of those 5 discs. So, it seems obvious it's a hit-&-miss proposition. Some sets are perfectly fine; while others are tainted.
BTW -- My S.5 set was purchased right here at Amazon. I don't know if that means ALL of Amazon's S.5 sets are unaffected by the glitches, but I thought I'd throw that info in for good measure.
Now, regarding the non-software-related "distortion" issue .........
A few scenes in some of the episodes contained within the Image Entertainment "Dick Van Dyke Show" boxed sets (mainly in the Season 1 set) exhibit a kind of "video fluttering" effect. To clarify further, it looks to me as if the video goes just slightly out-of-focus and a little blurry for these few scenes.
Some of the episodes affected include: "Punch Thy Neighbor" (Season 1), "Forty-Four Tickets" (Season 1), "A Word A Day" (Season 1), "The Lady And The Tiger And The Lawyer" (Season 3), and "Three Letters From One Wife" (Season 4).
But keep in mind, this fuzziness problem does NOT exist for the WHOLE length of these episodes. In most affected episodes, the blurriness occurs for just a few minutes at a time, then clears up again. The larger your television screen, the more you'll notice any minor video defects.
I e-mailed Image Entertainment about this "fuzzy" problem on certain episodes. Image was kind enough to get back to me via return e-mail in a very short time period, and explained to me what the deal was regarding these video "hiccups". Here's the exact mail I received from Image .......
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"Dear David,
The "blurriness" apparent during sections of these episodes is the result of damaged source material; more specifically this problem is caused by warped film. Image Entertainment has done all it can do to eliminate this problem using the technology on hand and hopefully new technological advances in editing will allow this problem to be corrected completely at some point in the future. Thank you."
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This explanation straight from the distributor's mouth started to make the most sense, logically-speaking, to me. It's unfortunate, indeed, that not every single second of every scene is 100% pristine in video quality. However, it was kind of comforting to hear that Image Entertainment was, in fact, aware of the "blurry" problem I was talking about in my mail to them, and was forthright enough to give me the straight dope on what they knew about the situation. And it's kind of nice to just know that these shows, everything considered, look as good as they possibly can look, and that the slight fuzzy portions are NOT the result of neglectful work done by the people in charge of the digital transfers.
I accept, without reservation, Image's "warped film" explanation regarding this matter. Perhaps other individuals who have also noticed this problem will not accept it. So be it. But, as far as I'm concerned, the people at Image Entertainment are a class act all the way, and have proven this to me via previous correspondence (well before I ever even noticed this video glitch issue). They have always been very quick to respond to any inquiry I've had about their company and their products.
Having said all of the above, I really think it would be a shame for this minor picture-quality topic (and it IS minor, affecting only a small handful of total episodes) to be considered a "make it or break it" issue when someone goes to evaluate whether or not to purchase these otherwise-pristine DVD products.
For, even if you DO notice a few of these video blips, these Dick Van Dyke Show season sets, overall, are some of the very best TV-on-DVD products on the market today.
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Summary: Bad Tapes .
Review: Tape stops in the middle and skips through out the tapes
quality sucks on these and past season tapes
no pride was takin in processing and no quality checkin
for so many bad tapes couldn't have gotten through.
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Summary: Great DVDs of DVD!!
Review: What I won't do is bore you with info you may already know about the show. What I will do is say that this DVD set of all five seasons are very much worth the money. There are SOME nice extras, but the main focus is really the nice restoration and transfer of these wonderful episodes. The extras are ok, but it tends to be more of filler (e.g. The use of scenes from the "Dick Van Dyke Show Remembered" special and then adding the entire special as a feature when many of the scenes were used already to fill up other seasons' sets.) Also, the lazy use of cover photos were disappointing. Photos from the sets of seasons three, four and five are not from their respective season episodes. This annoys me, but it's hardly an issue for the most part. If you are a big fan of this classic show, hurry and get all five of these DVD season sets. You truly won't be disappointed!!
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