The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series [DVD]

After re-watching a dozen episodes from The Dick Van Dyke Show, I changed my mind and decided that I should, after all, write an Amazon review for the series. Not because I think many people will see my review, which will undoubtedly be hidden beneath multiple pages of previously-posted reviews. Not because I think Amazon readers need any more recommendations to get this set after reading the scores of such recommendations already present. Not even because it would be fun to reminisce as I wrote the review about everything I liked about the show over the years. No, I decided to write this review because, after rewatching these classic episodes again, I realized afresh that The Dick Van Dyke Show is one of the best, perhaps THE best, comedy series I've ever seen, and if even a single person watches this show for the first time because of this review, the effort would be entirely justified. There are lots of funny TV shows, but I can't think of any that have affected me like The Dick Van Dyke Show has. My childhood is filled with the memories of watching the show with my father as I grew up. We sat there together, laughing out loud, over and over again, day after day, and felt like we were special guests to be asked into Rob and Laura Petrie's family each week. But were these childhood memories just a figment of my passing childhood, laughs that would disappear with time and a new social context? Not one bit. As I watch these shows in sparkling, crystal-clear DVD format (the "DVD" being no relation to "Dick Van Dyke"!), I find myself laughing - and enjoying - these episodes as if I never saw them before. And even when I have the jokes and the sequences memorized - and for many of them, I do - I can find no other reaction other than to laugh out loud as I did when I was kid. This is a downright, flat-out funny, witty, enjoyable, and entertaining program. Can comedy be funny without resort to off-color language? Can shtick and physical humour actually be supremely hilarious? Can an element of sophistication be woven into comedy so that the audience can laugh at itself without being insulted? Can timeless themes be woven into stories that actually entertain? One needs watch only a handful of Dick Van Dyke Show episodes easily to quickly affirm each of these questions. And perhaps more impressively, its easily apparent that the cast and crew pull this off silky ease, belieing the true work that was put into the show. There's no question about it: the writing, the plot lines, the acting, and the personal charm of those involved in The Dick Van Show set a standard apart from others, a standard that sees no wear from the ravages of time. It doesn't matter that we are watching black-and-white in a clearly post-1950's suburban home and work setting: we see color and modernity even as we look right through these unimportant backdrops. The themes and talent that pours out of nearly every episode is unaffected by time, setting, and costume. I once heard Carl Reiner say that Dick Van Dyke was the most talented entertainer he had ever known. It's hard to disagree with him once we've seen the show. Van Dyke is like Rowan Atkinson, but in spades, and with an inner charm that endears the watcher. He can sing, he can dance, he can tell jokes with precision timing, he can use understatement as a weapon, and he can make us totally sympathetic to his plights without appearing whiny. Rob Petrie, but more importantly, Dick Van Dyke, strikes us as an intensely decent person imbued with a joy of life that pervades everything he does. Actually, we are CONVINCED he is an intensely decent person, and we are just there for the ride as we watch him move through life with all its comic ups and downs. He could have never done it without Morey Amsterdam, Rose Marie, and Mary Tyler Moore (not to mention all the others who worked on the show before the camera), but Van Dyke stands out as that supremely gifted individual, a talent amongst a group of talents, Holland's gift to America. That so many gifted individuals could work together without stepping on each other's toes is a miracle in itself. It's an assemblage of people rarely seen, and I fear, not to be seen again for a long time. Season One gets off to a rocky start. In retrospect, we can see the show is trying to figure out itself, trying to understand how all the pieces work together, trying to determine how stories are to be assembled for best impact. The show was slated for cancellation twice that year, and only after Sheldon Leonard stepped in to rescue it - and a change of time slot for Season Two right after the successful Beverly Hillbillies - did the show take off. But in Season Two, the show takes off like no rocket you've ever seen before. Season One has some strong episodes and great plot ideas, but it's Season Two that sees the cast working in a seamless, slick, and sophisticated manner that turns the show into a timeless classic. It's almost as if everyone involved realized they were given a second chance, and with that, the gloves came off, the worries were put aside, and everyone just got "into the groove." The show knocked out one outstanding episode after another, and by the time Season Five occurred, everyone knew that this might likely be the highlight of their careers. The show was ended at the height of it's popularity because of Reiner's insistence - he said he did not want to show to die slowly, but go out while at the top of form - and we can only wonder what a "Season Six" might have held for us. But it's no matter. These are comedic masterpieces at the top of form, a goal for others to try and match, and a standard by which all others are measured. If you've never seen The Dick Van Dyke Show and wonder what it is about, I'll tell you. It's about a somewhat charmed life of a regular group of people who are talented, happy, and good natured and who face the normal problems, irritation, and strange events that are a part of nearly everyone's life. That's all you need to know. Start with Season Two and work forward from there. When you are done, go back to Season One and see how they figured it all out in those early months. But by then, you'll already be won over by the many wonderful episodes, and will doubtless be re-watching these over and over again. Millions of people of have done so over the years. To watch these episodes is to easily understand why. A Note on the Technical Quality of the Blu-Ray Release (2013) Well, it finally happened: the already high-quality DVD release of the complete Dick van Dyke Show has now been released in high definition Blu-Ray format. And in spite of the quality of the DVD release (these truly are a very high quality DVD offering), the Blu-Ray release improves it even further. It appears as though the high definition scans of the original film has brought out incredible detail present in the film that has never before been possible to see. In fact, the Blu-Ray release shows for the first time the incredible film quality achieved at the time of filming, and with little exaggeration it can be said that few television shows, particularly those of this era, but in truth, any television show prior to the advent of high definition, will reveal this level of detail. Tweed suits show every stich. Every piece of hair seemingly stands out on its own. Books, photos, and nicknacks on the wall are readable (ever wondered who those names were on the board outside of Rob's office? Now you can easily tell ...). The whole show seems almost to pop out in three dimensional reality. If you're a Dick van Dyke aficionado, this set is completely worth the re-purchase (give your DVD set to a young person to whom you would like to share Dick van Dyke). If you've never purchased the DVD's, then get these instead. Amazing.

Can a television show have a somewhat rebellious hero, who has a totally beautiful wife, a narcissistic boss, and zany co-workers, be topical, and fresh, and full of human feelings, doubts -- and laughter -- and use NO four-letter words? The timeless classic, 'THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW', is all these things -- and more! In thesd days of truly wild TV -- such as the farcical and sometimes incomprehensible "GLEE", and the sexual-innuendos, (and often, not just innuendos -- but just sex), of the also-difficult-to-follow-the-plot, "SKINS", people, (especially younger ones), NEED to see shows like "THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW". 'Rob Petrie', (Dick Van Dyke), is the head-writer, (of a group of three writer, including himself), of 'The Alan Brady Show' -- a TV variety (I think) program. 'Alan Brady', his boss, (played by Carl Reiner....Rob Reiner's real-life father), is a complete ego-maniac, and the show's producer, Mel Cooley, (played by Richard Deacon), isn't much better. Rob often chaffes under the injustice meeted out by these two -- but, under the genuis of 'The Dick Van Dyke Show"'s REAL writers, these injustices, though very real, do not make us depressed....merely, we admire how Rob fights against them, and laugh at the comedic circumstances in which they occur. It's nice to see a show about WRITERS, for a change. Because most people -- except for the stars, of course -- of most entertainment vehicles, are considered to be "Not Anybody". Rob Peitrie -- and his fellow writing-staff members -- may be in a 'glamour' industry, (television) -- but they are part of the "unknowms" of that industry....the people whose names flash upon the screen, (in both TV and movies), for a few seconds....then are forgotten. They have been designated as, "the little people", in more than one drama. But Rob and his fellow-writers, being "little people", are definitely people us other "little people", (whether we work in TV -- or in a grocery store), can SO easily relate to! Rob and his staff are often FAR more intelligent than either Alan or Mel -- and the comedic incidents this justaposition leaves, are truly landmark TV. The genuis of this show is that it is SO well-written, SO funny, with comedic situations evolving SO logically, (most of the time), and with characters SO endearingly true-to-life, that even the "Alan Bradies" and "Mel Coolies" of the REAL world will, hopefully, buy this set, and laugh along with "us peasants" -- thereby gaining, (one hopes), even a slight psycological insight into the lives of the "ordinary" people who work for them..... But mainly, this show is about LAUGHTER! The situations -- their beginning and evolvment --are not forced, and not convoluted. They just HAPPEN....and with a perfect comedic timing that can only be matched by Bob Hope. But -- unlike Mr. Hope -- remarks mixing the "real world" and the fantasy-world of the people who work for the 'Alan Brady Show', and those they come into contact with, are never heard. It's easy to "suspend disbelief" in the world of "The Dick Van Dyke Show", because it believes so much in itself. And the comedy comes naturally, from the situations presented, evolving logically -- and never forced. Rob's two co-writers are gems of realism, made funny by what they say, and how they react to what happens. However, (probably because it WAS produced in the 1960s, when "Women's Lib" was first taking hold), the character of Rob's female co-writer, Sally Rogers, (played by Rose Marie), was both a symbol of women's abilities, and a female stereotype, at the same time. As a female writer, )especially one with two male collegagues), Sally certainly showed that a woman's brain, and creative talent, could match any man's. But Sally -- being single -- was always seen looking for "Mr. Right". In fact, when talking of her own life, most of her lines were about her singleness, and her endless searh for a mate. Nothing wrong with wanting to find a husband, of course -- but the fact that this idea DOMINATES Sally Rogers' every waking moment, is indeed a stereotype. However, she is often seen as fellow-writer, friend, and collaborator with her two male colleagues, as well. Like them, she has her share of situation-induced laughs, and, whilst involved in most epsiodes' plotlines, is simply a character within those plotlines. Her "husband-hunting" is always an element -- but, thank God, not the ONLY elememnt in Sally's character. (In the first episode, Sally is NOT wearing her trade-mark black hair-bow....but it appears in every other episode. WHY did she wear it? Anyone know?) Buddy Sorrell, (played by Morey Amsterdam), is, in many respects, more of a rebel than Rob. Often, Mel will speak in an (almost)-cordial way to Rob and Sally -- but there is a true WAR going on between Mel's ego and Buddy's. Butddy SNIPES at Mel, (and perhaps at Alan, as well...I haven't gone through the entire set yet, but it does seem a logical assumption). Unlike Sally, Buddy IS married...but often wishes he wasn't. His wife, ("Pickles"), often makes Buddy's life far less than pleasant -- and he often makes very funny remarks, describing these things. Rob's wife, Laura, (played by the stunningly beautiful Mary Tyler Moore), is. at one and the same time, the perfect wife and mother, and also totally her own person. That Laura and Rob love each other is obvious, and we never doubt it. But Laura often has her OWN opinions that clash, ever so lovingly, with Rob's. She can get into scrapes, as well, (but not quite so many as Donna Reed did, on "The Donna Reed Show" -- another excellent, 1960s TV comedy series, which -- like most of the other '60s comedies, revolved more around a family than around the father's, or mother's job. Still a great show, though!) I've sen it written about Laura Petrie, that "she got away with more than most wives do". This was written some time ago, though -- and Laura Petrie stands out as a TV character who is a wife, mother, and former dancer -- who, though completely loving her son and her husband, is a total individual, with a mind, and will of her own! Laura / Mary was also written up as a woman who taught other women how to dress -- and her capri pants, and modest, though extremely stylish dresses, indeed did this. Laura's sister is married to a dentist, and the two of them, (the Harpers), who are the Petrie's next-door neighbours, add to the fun. This program is full of comedic situations that grow funnier and funnier as the episode progresses. It is full of good, underplayed and totally realistic acting, great scripts, and involving story-lines. Like most of the '60s comedies, the laughs were NOT made by each character criticizing the others. No, it was the SITUATINS that ALL the characters created and/or fought, that created the delightful comedy here. Today's "comedy" TV shows are all about people criticizing EACH OTHER. This makes for a sad example for people to follow in real life. Hope and happy endings mix, in The Dick Van Dyke show, with trials, tribulations and worry. After suffering the comedic slings and arrows of the often outrageously unfair, (but always very funny), situations, there is always a happy ending. This show gives hope that "we little people" can MAKE it, no matter what. And that's not a bad thing for any era in human history, especially today's "pre-2012" era. So, learn to be positive, as you laugh along with Rob and the gang. Even the very last episode evolves SO logically, that the viewer can't get away from the feeling that "The Dick Van Dyke Show" will go on forever! And, in these wonderful videos, it does just that! This is truly TIMELESS comedy, and everyone should get to see at least one episode. Of course, one's pleasure is increased exponentially by getting the bargain-priced set of all five seasons, presented here. there are many extras included with this set -- including the pilet episode for the series, which had a different cast, (Carl Reiner here played "Rob Petrie"), and a different comedic slant. Personally, I felt the original pilot was far inferior to the show that finally evolved from it. But you watch, and compare, and make your own decisions.... Carl Reiner here comments on the original pilot, and there are interviews with the cast, old commercials, and a recording of a post-program production, "The Dick Van Dyke Show Remembered." All of the 25 narrow, individual disc-cases have a photo from one of the programs on that disc in the front, and detailed information about each episode -- and two pictures from the enclosed episodes -- on the back, The cardboard case in which these discs come, has additional photos --and, in the front, a holographic "mini-movie" of Laura trying to open up a portable bed. A wonderful and information-packed booklet also comes with this set. Definitely funny. Denfinitely classic. Definitely amongst the best TV situation comedies ever. If you can't afford this set immediately, do save up for it. Show it to your friends, relatives -- both those who are well, and those who are ill. (Laughter, they say, is the best medicine...and it is!) Show it to older people who saw it on TV, and have the fondest memories of it. Show it to younger people, who are used to shows with a pessimistic outlook, four-letter words, and comedy which is based on people being nasty to, and making fun of, each other. Show ti on Christmas Eve, on anniversries, birthdays, family get-togethers, and anytime you are feeling lonely and depressed. Your, (and their) outlook on life will be made happier. You and whoever sits wilh you, will be happily transformed. You will NOT be sorry. This is one great set!

If you're looking for a super-sensational, tantalizingly-terrific, and spectacularly-massive DVD set containing some of the greatest comedy moments in TV history, then look no further than this colossal 25-Disc DVD set containing every last episode of "The Dick Van Dyke Show", the multiple Emmy Award-winning CBS-TV comedy series which ran from 1961 to 1966. This Complete-Series mega DVD collection houses all five seasons of the very funny and perpetually-entertaining Van Dyke Show, encompassing 158 total episodes, all restored and remastered by Image Entertainment and Paul Brownstein Productions, with each episode exhibiting darn-near perfect video and audio quality. And every single episode is complete and unedited. Not a single second of any show has been cut out. Average running time per episode is a shade more than 25 minutes. All 158 shows have been bundled together here to form one gigantic and money-saving 'Complete-Series' collection. Each of the twenty-five discs gets its own individual "ThinPak" (slimline) plastic case. Each case has unique and nicely-designed cover art (featuring a different publicity still photograph on every one of the 25 cases). Additional photos grace the back cover of each case, as well as more Van Dyke Show pictures (and a complete "Scene Selections" list for each of that platter's 6 or 7 episodes) on the inside of every case. (These plastic cases are the "clear" type, so you can read the "Scene" listing on the inside front covers right through the plastic.) The back of each of these slim cases provides quick at-your-fingertips info about each show on that disc -- such as: Full episode titles; Film dates; Original CBS-TV air dates; Brief episode descriptions; Plus some crew credits ("Written by" and "Directed by" notations). The 158 episodes are arranged here by "Production" (or "Film Date") order, instead of an "Air Date" chronology.* * = With one (very wise) exception being Episodes 157 and 158. "The Gunslinger" was actually the last (158th) Van Dyke episode to be filmed; with "The Last Chapter" being the final episode that was aired, in June 1966. So, for proper continuity sake, Image Entertainment has flipped the order of these two episodes on the last disc of Season #5 -- with "The Last Chapter" being presented as the final show of the series. More Packaging Notes -- The 25 individually-cased discs in this Mega-Set are placed side-by-side inside a large outer "slipcase" box. Image Entertainment distributed five separate season-by-season "Dick Van Dyke Show" DVD boxed sets in 2003 and 2004, with each of those five sets featuring a 5-Disc slipcase box. However, those individual seasonal slipcases from each of the previously-released Van Dyke seasons are NOT included in this Mega-Set. Many, many supplemental bonus features are also included on these twenty-five Digital Discs, including: Audio Commentary tracks for many episodes, along with cast interviews, original TV commercials, Emmy Award snippets, documentaries, featurettes, photo galleries, behind-the-scenes rehearsal footage, Easter Eggs, trivia games, CBS-TV promos, and gobs of other little interesting extra tidbits besides! A 12-page booklet, packed with interesting info about the series, is also a part of this Dick Van Dyke Show bonanza too. There are even full-length TV-show bonuses included on selected discs, including a complete episode of "The Danny Thomas Show" (which has Van Dyke Show character "Buddy Sorrell" popping up). Other complete TV-show extras include the original "Pilot" episode for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (called "Head Of The Family"); plus a full-length 46-minute CBS-TV documentary made in the mid-1990s ("The Dick Van Dyke Show Remembered"); and an absolutely-outstanding and ultra-fun-to-watch TV game show entitled "Stump The Stars" (aka: "Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz"), which has several Van Dyke Show cast members playing a lively charades game. Great, great fun! If you want to know the full details regarding each and every little bonus extra you can expect to find on these 25 discs, you can seek out my extensive reviews for each of the separate Van Dyke Show boxed sets here at Amazon.com. If you type in "VAN DYKE SHOW SEASON" while searching under "DVDs" here at Amazon, you'll get a convenient and handy search result that places links to all five of the Van Dyke seasonal sets on just one webpage for easy reference. Pull out any one of these 25 discs and you'll have some great shows, including all of Rob Petrie's inimitable physical comedy bits -- not to mention Dick Van Dyke's unsurpassed ability to act out a "one-way telephone conversation" (which always amazes me when I see him do this -- and there are many such "telephone" moments during the series). Then, too, via this amazing boxed set, you'll also get every one of Laura Petrie's (Mary Tyler Moore) "crying jags", plus all the standout "Rob & Laura dancing and singing" scenes. And don't forget about all those "Buddy insults Mel" gags (which must number in the hundreds over the course of the series). Just suffice it to say that I love this television program. .... Its humor is timeless. The characters seem "real" and "non-phony". And the writing is remarkable. And you'll be able to see why when you pop in any of these wonderfully-restored Digital Versatile Discs. "THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW: THE COMPLETE SERIES" DVD collection is, without fear of argument, a "complete treasure".

The Dick Van Dyke Show consistently ranks high in most critics list of the best sit-coms ever. It also ranks high in most lists of best television programming of any type. Along with the Andy Griffith Show, it is probably one of the best 2 sit-coms of the entire decade of the 1960's - a decade which produced many memorable sitcoms. It broke ground in many ways, and not just in portraying a housewife who wears slacks when she is working around the house. It was one of the first programs to be both a "work-comedy" and a "domestic-comedy" at the same time. It was different from most domestic comedies at the time by having as it's main characters a trendy and upscale young suburban couple living in a tract house development. Earlier family-based sitcoms had often focussed exclusively on the kids and the parents played secondary roles, like Leave it to Beaver. Earliersit-coms usually had the family living in an old fashioned two-story frame house on a tree-lined city street complete with sidewalks. This was typical of the upper middle class in the pre-war days, but by 1961 young middle class families were overwhelmingly locating in the suburban development. Finally, in early family sitcoms, the father's job is only hinted at, never playing a real role in the plotlines. The Dick Van Dyke Show changed that. The Petrie family lived in a post-war suburb within communting distance of a large city, just like a large portion of Americans lived by 1961. The domestic aspects of the show were up to date and the cosmopolitan tastes and interests of Rob and Laurua reflected a life-style that young "New Frontier" 30-something couples around America liked to think of as representing themselves. At Rob's office, there was also a nice behind the scenes look into the making of a variety sketch television show - a tv genre that starting to decline in the early 60's. The show seems a little dated in some ways today, but it was very much on top of the spirit of its own time. Aside from all this, though, the program is just plain funny. Van Dyke's physical humor, Morey Amsterdam's quick wit and Mary Tyer Moore's humorous facial and vocal expressions all complement one another, and each role is perfectly cast and each character is easy to like and relate to. The interaction among the colleagues at the office is fast paced and full of good one-liners. The friendship that the Petrie's share with their next-door neighbors (a dentists and slightly homely wife) adds a less glamorous but more common touch to the show, but the marriage relation between Rob and Laura really remains the primary focus of the program. Running gags throughout the series include Carl Reiner's toupe, Buddy and Mel's mutual feud and Rob's stories about his old Army days (which gives the show a chance to change its setting and format occasionally). There are also a handful of dream episodes, which was something of an innovation at the time. Reruns of the program have not been aired regularly since TVLAND took it out of the lineup a few years ago, so I do make a lot of use of this boxed set. Highly, highly recommended.

This superlative series - one of my three all-time fave shows - has been gloriously transferred to blu ray with a truly jaw-dropping picture. The mono soundtrack has been beautifully transferred, as well, leaving every sparkling piece of dialogue and sound virtually free of any static, hiss or other disturbance. The cinematographer and technical people behind this show obviously knew their stuff because every major and miniscule detail shines through gorgeously in this transfer. Interestingly the complex woven patterns of some of Dick Van Dyke's sport coats flickered in some of season one's episodes, signalling a resolution limitation that even blu ray's capabilities couldn't reach. However, these disturbances seem to have vanished with season two's episodes. This blu ray set appears to have included every one of the previous DVD release's bonus features, and there are tons of 'em. Typically included are photos from most episodes, as well as generous amounts of interview footage of the cast that - I believe - was recorded for a Dick Van Dyke Show restrospective called 'The Dick Van Dyke Show Remembered', which I remember having aired in the early-'90s. The only oversight I discerned was the omission of a couple of color photographs taken on the set during the filming of the episode 'Somebody Has to Play Cleopatra'. However, one can readily find these pics online via Google Image. Meanwhile, the bonus features of 'It May Look Like a Walnut' include a color test; this episode was apparently submitted to Legend Films to colorize using the current, fantastic colorization software they've used sensationally on movies like 'Holiday Inn' and the latest colorization of 'It's a Wonderful Life.' Unfortunately, the resolution of this fascinating footage appears to be in standard resolution. Additional bonus features I've found so far include the cast doing sales pitches for their sponsors (Joy dish detergent and Kent Cigarettes), as well as footage of cast and creative personnel winning well-deserved Emmys. Overall, the bonus features would rightly be seen as being extraordinarily comprehensive for a current t.v. series, let alone one that's 50 years old. This series seems to be routinely priced around $100 - a great value given the show's unparalleled quality, as well as the number of episodes it includes. However, I found a blue-light special, picking it up for $50. So, keep your eyes open, and you'll probably get lucky, too. Image Entertainment should get fan mail for the loving care and attention they've obviously lavished on a show that so well deserves it.

There have been sitcoms from the very beginning of television, and the very best was one that debuted in 1961. The top comedy series contain not only physical comedy, but are superbly written, and they can probably be counted on the fingers of two hands. The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, Cheers, and a few more. But the king of them all is The Dick Van Dyke Show. I don't think here was ever a funnier show on the air. Everyone connected with the show, in front of and behind the cameras, was a terrific talent: Carl Reiner created it, originally casting himself as a head writer of a TV variety show, but when the pilot failed, it was reworked to star Dick Van Dyke, who was at that moment enjoying great success on Broadway in "Bye Bye Birdie." Van Dyke was an nimble actor who easily combined slapstick tumbles with a charm and abilty to play a situation straight, and still get laughs. Others in the cast included Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie, both show biz veterans, as the other writers of The Alan Brady Show. Richard Deacon was the put-upon producer of the show within the show...and until this viewing of the entire series, I never realized how very much he added to the series as Mel Cooley. Carl Reiner even got himself into the series...first as an occasional eccentric character, but then appearing in the last two seasons full onscreen as egotistical, tyrannical Alan Brady. There were a few other regulars, but the most surprising find was a very young woman named Mary Tyler Moore. There is no need for me to go into a resume of her later work, but I feel it is important to emphasize that before this program she was a relative unknown. And what she brought to The Dick Van Dyke Show was the perfect wife for Rob Petrie and the perfect acting partner for Dick Van Dyke. She could dance, sing, and her comic timing was even greater than anyone expected. She was youthful, very pretty, and while we see that Rob and Laura loved each other enormously, you also felt there was a lot of hot foolin-around going on behind that bedroom door. The Blu-ray set has all 158 half-hour episodes from the five seasons. And you will likely never laugh as much or as hard. Every episode had something, but in each season there were comic masterpieces that are still held in high esteem today: "Coast to Coast Big Mouth," "It May Look Like A Walnut!", "Where Did I Come From?", and "Oh, How We Met the Night We Danced" are just a few of them. And it comes to a nice conclusion with a tale that neatly wraps up the series, "The Last Chapter." The picture quality is fabulous. I watch every episode of the five seasons and I am eager to tell you that NEVER have these shows looked this wonderful! (There are some early episodes in the first season that have Dick wearing jackets that cause some jagged moments, but that is very minor.) The DTS-HD Master Audio is in the original mono but it is excellent. The extras that were on DVD are carried over, and there are quite a few of them (mostly in the form of commentaries). There are also Blu exclusives on each of the 15 Blu-ray discs, but these are mostly clips from old TV programs or awards shows, and so they show varying quality, never anything like today's HD. The Blu-ray set of The Dick Van Dyke Show contains over 60 hours of the best comedy you will ever see. It comes VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

There are not enough stars in the heavens to give "The Dick Van Dyke Show" the rating it deserves! I am just old enough to have watched and enjoyed this show as a child when it originally aired on the network and I remember how sad I was when it ended. Of course, I have watched it in reruns ever since, to the point where I have every episode almost completely memorized! I now own the DVD set of the complete series, which I received as a birthday gift just a couple of months ago, and I am already playing through it a second time. It's wonderful to be able to watch "The Dick Van Dyke Show" any time I want and the speacial features are great, too - interviews with cast and producers, commentary, clips from Emmy Awards shows and some other very interesting and entertaining footage. This show never loses its interest for me, rather it seems to get better and better with each viewing and it still has me smiling wide and laughing out loud. Several episodes stand out as classics and some have always been particular favorites of mine, two or three episodes lack the usual originality and sparkle, but in all five seasons there isn't one episode that doesn't offer something to make it worth watching. The writing, the direction, the entire cast - with their many talents, their singing and dancing, their comedic skills and timing, and the chemistry among them - are all way off the charts! Carl Reiner - in creating and writing this series based on his own life experience as a comedy writer, husband and father - has imbued his characters with incomparable warmth, human frailty and emotional honesty, making them all nearly as believable and lovable as they are hilariously funny. I have to say that the "The Dick Van Dyke" show touches my heart as much as it makes me laugh and it NEVER insults my intelligence or sensibility in any way. That is why I can watch it over and over and over again...year after year after year... There have been many great television sitcoms, but as far as I'm concerned "The Dick Van Dyke Show" tops them all in every respect! I only wish there were more episodes to enjoy, but I applaud the decision to quit when they did rather than risk growing stale. It was five glorious seasons of the best situation comedy ever made, and now, with the complete series on DVD, I can continue to enjoy it through every season of my life!

What can I possibly say about this cast and series that hasn't already been said? It is just excellent television entertainment. This is another one of those series I watch over and over. Currently, I am on my second round of the entire set. I LOVE Dick Van Dyke's talent with physical comedy! ALL of the cast is talented and wonderful. Some of the episodes include live singing and dancing that is really good. How refreshing! And how refreshing to escape back to a time when good neighbors came in through the back door and shared a cup of coffee. In The Dick Van Dyke Show world, dysfunctional just meant a tough day at the office, only to come home to find that Laura also had a rough day, so the evening wasn't so great. This show takes us back to rotary phones, record players and radios, kids who played outside with their own imagination and kind folks who dressed for dinner. The clothes are unbelievable. The show is top of the line, and so is the DVD set. It's very organized and easy to maneuver within the episode. I like that you click on the show title and can see all of the chapters on one page. That way, if you have to stop in the middle of a show, when you go back to that episode, you can see all of the chapters on one page without having to click through more pages to see the rest of the chapters. The special features' link is on the same page as the chapters, and they're awesome. They include clips from awards shows and individual interviews with the cast (including Morey Amsterdam) about the moments they remember from that particular episode. It's hard to review such an excellent series, because it's all good. The comedy is brilliant, still so funny today, and the actors do a fantastic job delivering it. I can't think of one negative thing to say about it. You just need to get it and enjoy it!

One of the BEST television series EVER made!

Excellent

WE'VE WATCHED THE WHOLE SERIES AND IT'S REALLY GREAT ! WONDERFUL ENTERTAINING AND VERY FUNNY ! WE ALWAYS LIKED ALL THE ACTORS THEY'RE VERY VERSATILE ,EXTREMELY TALENTED IN EVERYTHING THEY PERFORM ! THANK YOU FOR A GOOD SERIES ,I CAN RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE !

A classic TV show. Great quality and great laughs.

This collection is of very good quality. The picture and sound are great. The collection is well identified as to the episodes. If you enjoy this cast you will love this collection. A+++