Wacky neighbors should get married more often . . . | The Mothers-in-Law: The Complete Series (8pc)

"THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW is brought to you by..." | The Mothers-in-Law: The Complete Series (8pc) | Eve Arden, Kaye Ballard

DVDs:


	• The Mothers-in-Law: The Complete Series (8pc) Eve Arden, Kaye Ballard MPI HOME VIDEO, 2010 average customer review:based on 25 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Best DVD release of the year and so affordable!!

I haven't seen "The Mothers-In-Law" since 1978 when our local TV station KTTV in Los Angeles began airing it that year for a short run. I was 17 at the time and had always watched the show in syndication as far back as 1971. I always thought it was a good show and never forgot it. Why TV Land or the other cable networks never bothered to pick it up I'll never understand. Thirty-two years is a heck of a long time to go without seeing this TV classic! The wait was so long that I had really forgotten what takes place in some of the episodes. Even the theme song I couldn't remember! But as soon as I popped in disc one it all started to come back! What a treat!!

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this classic sitcom? I know one thing. I can't help but feel like I am watching "I Love Lucy 2" at times. Because two of the original writers of that show, plus the directing of Desi Arnaz, Sr., often makes some of the situations and craziness very Ricardo-Mertz-esque!

The show as obviously shot on film and I would say that most prints of the episodes are an "8" or "9" on a scale of one to ten with ten being the best quality. I don't know if these are new prints made from the negative but you can't be too picky over a show that may never had made it to a DVD release.

I am really glad MPI Home video took additional time with this DVD release as the bonus material they included is just wonderful. Some episodes include an original commercial showing products like Thrill dishwashing liquid that have since been long gone (I don't even remember it!). There are also some skits from the cast themselves used to pitch a sponsor's product during commercial breaks. Like Eve, Roger and Kaye contemplating on how to tell the butcher he has bad breath while spinning a bottle of Scope mouthwash on the kitchen table. That is hilarious!

As a bonus the pilot of "The Carol Channing Show" from 1966 is included. I never knew she attempted to have a show of her own and I can't understand why it wasn't sold. It's very good and in color! The sketch of Channing trying to steal a hot dog from someone sitting on a park bench is classic! Another Desi Arnaz pilot is also included: "Lands End" starring Gilbert Roland, Rory Calhoun and others, from 1968. I haven't watched it yet but my 90 year old parents did and fell asleep.

Something I was very surprised about was how much Kaye Ballard steals the show. I've always been an Eve Arden fan and from memory just assumed I'd get into it again because of her. Nope. All eyes are on Kaye as I can't wait for her to steal another scene with her loud Italian expressions, physically hitting Roger when she's upset or when she's making one of her great facial expressions! She's unpredictable, different and I like that. It's totally refreshing and there's no one on television like her before or since except for Beatrice Arthur's characterization of Maude Findley from "Maude."

In the episode of "Who's Afraid of Elizabeth Taylor" I was really hoping that just maybe, Miss Taylor would show up at the front door needing to use the phone because her car broke down just like in the hypothetical situations they were suggesting among the characters. But, sadly, this did not happen. Still, the episode was quite funny.

I got my set at Amazon on sale for $18.95 and I would have gladly forked over double that amount just to see this TV classic just once more. Thank you, Desi Arnaz, Jr. and Lucie Arnaz for being the great set of kids that you are from your famous mom and dad. You could have easily been snobs for holding on to everything your parents owned but instead you have chosen to continue releasing all the wonderful things your parents contributed to TV over the years. And thank you MPI for doing such a great job! If you like physical comedy ala "I Love Lucy," "LaVerne & Shirley" or "Three's Company," The Mothers-In-Law will not disappoint! I highly recommend!

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Wacky neighbors should get married more often . . .

It's over 40 years and I remember the Buells and the Hubbards as if it was yesterday. This MPI release has so much going for it - completeness, extra features and more importantly a great price.

Combine a simple premise with a great ensemble cast - frozen in the swinging 60's and you get a very underrated sitcom that holds up pretty well in this 21st century. Filmed in front of a live audience, we're not stuck with the laugh tracks that prompted us when we were children. But, you'll find pretty quickly that there's not a lot of prompting necessary with this show. Eve/Kaye are a bridge between Lucy/Ethel and Laverne/Shirley. I'm not really sure if they ever got the credit they deserve. Kaye Ballard shares her memories of the series, and although she's (admittedly) 83, Kaye talks about those times like they were yesterday.

My heart goes out to Richard Deacon (who replaced Roger C. Carmel in Season 2) because everyone loved Roger. Richard Deacon, a great second banana in his own right gets short shrifted in the extra features because he wasnt as good as Roger (even I'll agree with that). But, Richard Deacon gets some quality time as part of the (bonus!!!!) Carol Channing sitcom pilot included in this package.

Desi Arnaz made so many contributions to television (that continue to be utilized to this day) that it's nice to get some more of his talents revealed (producer, director, actor) than beating a conga playing Babaloo...

If you have a remote interest in 60's sitcoms, or a dim memory of this series, go out and get it - you won't go wrong....

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"THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW is brought to you by..."

I just received my DVD's of "THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW: The Complete Series" last week. The packaging is excellent. The extras you get are great. Not having a "play all" feature is a little disappointing. I have only watched the first disc of eight episodes so far. The show is as hilarious as I remembered it, not having seen it for about 35 years.

I do have to point out that the episodes do not look like they are digitally remastered from original negatives. They look like prints that have been cleaned up to look as good as they can. The commercial breaks are rushed and muted, which also gives the appearance of how you would expect a cable TV rerun to look. I would have expected the series to be as pristine as possible. The shows are uncut and are delightful to watch. I laughed my head off watching the first eight shows. I am sure the rest of the series will have me rolling on the floor laughing.

I give this collection five stars, because it is wonderful to finally have this great series on DVD embracing these terrific moments where "Kaye and Eve made fools of themselves!"

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Love The Mothers In Law

I preordered this gem of a TV series as soon as the DVD set was announced. Oh how I love The Mothers In Law! Eve Arden and Kaye Ballard are among the most talented actors of all time. I watched The Mothers In Law when it first ran on NBC from 1967-1969 and I loved it right from the start! I was just a kid back then and I tuned in to watch it every Sunday evening. I even thought that Eve Arden was really married to Herbert Rudley (they really convinced me hey I was a 9 year old!). The DVD set is wonderful.
This DVD set is done the way ALL DVD sets of vintage 1960s TV series should be done. I say this because (some) of the episodes have the actual commercials included and some have the original end bumpers (such as Crest, Secret, Scope and other Proctor and Gamble products, as P&G was the sponsor). I love the originality. It makes it a more authentic watching experience and brings good memories of my childhood flooding back. The show still makes me laugh, the acting is fresh and the direction by the great Desi Arnaz is superb. Thank you for bringing back this great show!

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Pleasantly Surprised

I vaguely remember watching this program back in the day with my dear Mother. As a young child I found it enormously entertaining, especially the loud mouth of Kaye Ballard. I was hoping to find that same enjoyment 40 years later. And while I have enjoyed it immensely, of course it can never be the same. I am thrilled with the quality of the programming, to be sure. The colors are bright and vibrant and sound quality is excellent. I never realized, too, just how truly phenomenal a performer Ms. Arden was. Her facial expressions in many scenes had me cracking up. And flashbacks. Wow, the clothing. Bright and colorful and mostly dresses. I remember my own grandmother wearing many clothes of those same fashions so that, too, brought me some "joy". I think Roger Carmel was obviously the very best of the Rogers. Season 2 with Richard Deacon seemed to lose its edge. Deacon just couldn't bring to the part what Carmel did. :( It's exactly like a 2nd Darrin on Bewitched. The magic was not there. I still have a couple of discs left to view, but with Deacon in them I'm not in any real hurry. I haven't viewed the interview with Kaye Ballard, etc yet, so am anticipating that to be insightful and enjoyable. I really think anyone with a taste for the old days of good clean tv would benefit from watching these. Wow, no vulgar language, no sex scenes, just wholesomeness beyond measure. But....what's wrong with that???????

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It's a funny family feud from Desi Arnaz and the writers of I Love Lucy
Set in the swinging late 1960s, THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW centers on the laugh-filled misadventures of longtime neighbors in suburban Los Angeles who become related to each other when their children suddenly get married.

Legendary actress Eve Arden (Our Miss Brooks, Grease) stars as Eve Hubbard, the sophisticated wife of straight-laced lawyer Herbert Hubbard (Herb Rudley). Veteran comedienne Kaye Ballard plays Kaye Buell, the outspoken wife of bombastic television writer Roger Buell (Roger C. Carmel and Richard Deacon). To the dismay of their hapless husbands, the strong-willed mothers are determined to meddle in the lives of newlyweds Jerry (Jerry Fogel) and Suzie Hubbard (Deborah Walley).

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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