Back when I graduated from college with my ever-so-useful double major in Art History and English, the TV I got for a graduation gift was my friend. Not really knowing where I was going, but pretty sure it was not going to be behind that reception desk at the chiropractor’s office I was working at, I took solace in Nick at Nite.
In particular, The Mary Tyler Moore Show was exactly the medicine I needed. While I had the huge looming issue of what I was going to do with the rest of my life to contend with, I got to watch Mary solve her charming little problems each night; things like having her boss move into the same building as her, having nothing in common with the man she’s dating, and being too darned cute.
You can now see — and own — all of season five’s classically loved episodes. Remember when Ted pretends he and Mary are having an affair? On there. How about the time a con artist gets Ted when he wants to start a broadcasting school? You’ll get to re-watch that one too.
The beauty of season five’s release isn’t necessarily just that you can add to your collection of The Mary Tyler Moore Show DVDs. Well, yeah, it really is. But bigger than that is the statement it makes about how these big production companies believe enough in the old classics to stand behind releasing nearly an entire series (and I can’t imagine they won’t get to the last two seasons of this iconic show). Although, I suppose it could be argued just how much 20th Century Fox believes in this series, since they’ve waited three years since season four’s release to honor fans of the show with this set.
There have been criticisms of the film quality of this DVD set, but honestly, I rather enjoy the authenticity of the video. Looks pretty good for something filmed in the mid-’70s, and there’s some nostalgia attached to watching the non-enhanced show just the way it aired back in ’74 and ’75.
What I do miss, however, are special features. How great would it be to hear Mary Tyler Moore and Ed Asner dishing on their days on the set? Reminiscing about Christmas dinner when trapped on the set (one of my all-time favorite episodes is “Not a Christmas Story”)? It seems almost disrespectful not to honor the show by including some special features.
It also boggles my mind that there weren’t even any synopses of the episodes included. It’s a good thing Seventies Guy provided an episode guide of this DVD set for us.
All in all, if you want to have the episodes in your collection, they’re yours for the buying. If you’re looking for anything extra, you’re out of luck.
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Oct 21, 2009 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
