DVD Release Date: November 23, 2004 (Standing Room Only Entertainment/Kultur Video)
color, approx. 50 minutes
MSRP: $14.95
Number of discs: 1
Number of episodes: 6 skits
Languages and subtitles: English, Closed Captioned
Special features: None
Introduction:
The legendary John Ritter had a comedy-variety special
for ABC in May 1980 and you can now own it on DVD!
John was with ABC at the time doing the fourth season
of Three’s Company. John brings his comedic timing
and physical comedy, along with his likeability in
this wonderful rare special that has not been seen in
many years. John joins forces with Hollywood’s finest
in an hour full of fun and laughs.
There are six wonderful skits that will make you laugh
and even cry. The first skit is “Movement is the
Message” in which John’s character is bumbling man
looking for ladies, and goes by a book. The next skit
is “Fear Itself” in which John plays a nerdy theater
manager who tries to stop some bullies. The next skit
is a compilation of John in different costumes
portraying a man’s entire life on video in, “Walter
Simmons.” The next skit brings John’s physical comedy
in “The Over-Reactor;” it features a man who
overreacts after not getting passed airport security
and turns into a werewolf. The next skit has John as
a rock star who has gone down hill in but is trying to
be revived in “The Rock Doctor.” The final skit
portrays what John really is - a loving man, father
and human being as John’s character has trouble
putting a baby to sleep in “Sleep.”
Among John’s guest stars are Vincent Price and Suzanne
Somers (“Movement is the Message”), Joyce DeWitt
(“Fear Itself”), David Doyle (“The Over-Reactor”) and
Howard Hesseman (“The Rock Dcotor”).
Packaging:
The packaging on this set is very good for a one disc
set. There is just a case and no box. The case has a
photo of John in a blue coat and dark blue/yellow
shirt. It looks like a photo from 1978. 5 smaller
photos are on the left side which features some shots
of the special. The back of the case has a nice
synopsis of the special and it has detailed
information on the set. The case comes with a page of
“Chapter Selections” so you know what titles and
chapters the skits are on. The disc I have is a
sample disc, so I don’t know what photo will be used
for the public. I’m guessing the same photo of John
from the cover will be on the disc.
Menu Design and Navigation:
The menu screen is neat. It has the same photos from
the cover with the theme song from the special playing
in the background. There are some clips from the
special playing as well in the background. There are
two options: “Play” & “Scene Selection.” Play of
course plays the entire special without interruption.
Scene selection goes by skits; it also has opening
credits and closing credits.
Video and Audio Quality:
The video and audio on this special is very good.
This special has rarely been seen, so it is even more
impressive. John’s production company Adam
Productions was behind this special, along with many
of John’s good friends like Robert M. Myman (who is
John’s partner in Adam Productions), Joe Landon, Jack
Bender and Three’s Company producers/directors/writers
like Dave Powers, Gene Perret, and Bill Richmond.
Comic Bruce Vilanch was also a writer for this
special. The special is completely unedited from its
original ABC airing at about 49-50 minutes in length.
In the original airing, rehearsal footage was also
included and is on this set as well. There is
rehearsal footage before each skit. You can tell John
is such a funny and wonderful person.
Special Features:
Unfortunately, there are no special features. I have
this special on tape (thanks to Chris Mann!), and he
sent me two bloopers from this special. One blooper
is of John filming the opening credits. He comes on a
bike at the studio lot with no shirt on and walks into
the studio showing his butt. The other blooper is of
John as Walter Simmons. He acts drunk and is killing
himself. Again, these bloopers are NOT on this set.
It would have been nice to have.
Final Comments:
Overall, this set is excellent. All fans of John
Ritter or Three’s Company should DEFINTATELY buy this
set. This is a gem of a special and it is very rare.
John’s comic timing is extraordinary and will be
missed dearly. We lost John way too soon, so buy this
set and dedicate it to him.
For full information on this special visit my section
on MovieTome:
