Info:
DVD Release Date: April 12, 2005 (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment)
Color
MSRP: $29.98
Number of Discs: 3 (double-sided)
Number of Episodes: 24
Running Time: 630 minutes
Languages, Subtitles, Closed Captioning: Subtitles:
English and Spanish; Closed Captioned
Special Features: N/A
My Thoughts:
Hi Bob! Bob Newhart stars as Dr. Robert Hartley in
this hilarious 70s sitcom about a successful Chicago
psychologist specializing in group therapy sessions.
Although eccentric patients fill his office, Bob's
home life is just as erratic, surrounded by his wife,
Emily, and his neighbor, Howard, and his good pal Dr.
Jerry. This three disc (double-sided) DVD set includes
all 25 episodes from the First Season. Suzanne
Pleshette co-stars as his wife Emily, while Bill Daly
("I DREAM OF JEANNIE") plays his neurotic neighbor
Howard. Rounding out the fantastic ensemble cast are
Marcia Wallace as Bob's secretary Carol and Peter
Bonerz as Dr. Jerry. The doctor is in!
The Season One episodes are all very funny and
memorable. Relive many great memories, such as when
Bob discovers Emily has a fear of flying ("Fly The
Unfriendly Skies"), when Bob speaks to Emily's class
("Tracy Grammar School...") or when Emily forces Bob
into telling his mother he loves her ("Mom, I
L-l-l-ove You"), or when Bob spends too much time
watching football ("Don't Go To Bed Mad") or when Bob
and Emily end up taking a vacation to a strangely
deserted ski lodge or when Jerry moves in with the
Hartleys ("Who's Been Sleeping On My Couch?").
Memorable cameos throughout the season included Penny
Marshall ("LAVERNE & SHIRLEY") as a stewardess, Bernie
Kopell ("THE LOVE BOAT") as a doctor, Pat Morita
("HAPPY DAYS") as a bartender, Emmaline Henry (Amanda
of "I DREAM OF JEANNIE") as a patient who falls in
love with Bob (and it reunites Emmaline with Bill
Daly), and Edward Winter ("M*A*S*H") as a Professor
Trainer.
The cover art is WHITE in color and features square
boxes on a yellow/orange background covered with
pictures of Bob Newhart's many faces. It's a simple
design, but still colorful design. Inside are two
mini-cases (slip cases) that feature the same design
as the cover, but with an added picture of Carol and
Emily (both slip cases are exactly the same). The back
of the cases lists the episodes, what disc they are
on, a brief description as well as an original
airdate. Discs 1 and 2 have no design because they are
double-sided. Disc 1/Side A contains Episodes 1-4.
Disc 1/Side B contains Episodes 5-8. Disc 2/Side A
contains Episodes 9-12. Disc 2/Side B contains
Episodes 13-16. Disc 3/Side A contains Episodes 17-20
and Disc 3/Side B contains Episodes 21-24.
The main menu screen is the same color frame as the
cover but has a drawing of Bob's office (the side with
the couch). There is no music playing. It lists the
episodes. When you select an episode it takes you to
another menu screen that has a drawing of a picture
frame with a still shot from that episode you
selected. That menu screen allows you to choose "Play
Episode", "Scene Selection," or "Language Selection."
Each of the episodes is unedited and run for 25 to 26
minutes in length.
For a show that's 33 years old from the premiere date,
the video is, very good. The audio, unlike other older
show releases, was an improvement and was crisp and
clear and not nearly as low as some releases. But
there were no major issues to be concerned with on
this set. And on this set, closed captioning as well
as Subtitles in English, and Spanish are available.
The good thing is that there are chapter skips during
each episode, in addition to the scene selection
screen.
The special features on this set are few and far
between. In fact, there aren't any! A disappointment
for any fan, but there is likely a reason behind it.
I'm expecting (and speculating) that if this set sells
well, there will be many more releases that will
contain special bonus features. There was word that
the unaired pilot would be on this, but on the set I
received, I don’t see it ANYWHERE. No mentions on the
box either!
In conclusion, I believe any fan of THE BOB NEWHART
SHOW will enjoy this set very much. For the extremely
low price of thirty dollars, this is a wonderful set
to own. Even though I'm disappointed no bonus features
were included, this set is great to finally own and
I'm sure all Bob Newhart fans will feel the same way.
So go out and purchase this set so we can show 20th
Century Fox that we want the rest of the series to
follow on DVD! On future sets, I'd love to see some
gag reels, or even some commentary and the unaired
pilot! With most (if not all) of the cast still
living, it would be wonderful to hear their take on
the show after over 30 years from the premiere.
Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):
Video Quality: 4/5
Audio Quality: 5/5
Special Features: N/A
Menu Navigation/Design: 5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
-- Reviewed by TVJunkie101 on 03/27/05
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