Customer Reviews

The Abbott & The Costello Show: The Complete Series (Collector's Edition)

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Some say opportunity only knocks once...well, for those of us who missed THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW in its previous DVD releases this is another chance to add all of the 52 episodes to our collection. The shows, digitally remastered, look and sound great and, as one might expect, contain many of the classic routines A&C made famous throughout their careers. For the devoted A&C fan, this is a must have!

In addition to the shows on eight discs, this boxed set includes a ninth DVD of special features: "Hey, Abbott" 1978 TV special hosted by Milton Berle, a 1948 short film entitled "10,000 Kids and a Cop," interviews with Chris and Paddy Costello, and "Lou Costello Home Movies: Holidays and Celebrations." There are also a couple of bonus features included amid the shows: a classic routine reel and more Lou Costello home movies at home and in Europe. You will also find four high-quality postcards featuring stills of the comedy duo.

The 52 episodes are listed on the covers of the two inner DVD cases, as well as in the Commemorative Booklet that comes with the set so it will be easy to find the shows you want to single out for another viewing. This booklet includes biography information on the show's cast and a history of A&C's career. The one potential drawback is that the fold-up boxed set comes in the traditional cardboard cover and may not hold up well over time. The inner DVD plastic cases, however, are well-protected and should hold up just fine.

The comedy of Abbott and Costello remains as funny today as when it was originally broadcast. This set gives the viewer the chance to once again sit back, laugh, and marvel at how these two men made such meticulously crafted routines look so easy. The A&C fan can't go wrong with this set!

Bud Abbott & Lou Costello had a chance to do what no other comedy team could do: Every entertainment venue possible in their day. Being partnered in vaudeville, they quickly climbed the showbiz ladder to Broadway and then Hollywood. They made 36 films between 1941 and 1956; many of which were box office hits during their heyday (1942-1952). They also had a very succesful radio show, made personal appearances, and then in 1951; created their own television show.

Many comedy teams were seemingly forced to make movies with sub-plots and bad musical numbers. Laurel & Hardy and Martin & Lewis were forced to play second banana in their own features from time to time. Even though the musical numbers were better in Bud & Lou's feature films, there were many unnecessary sub-plots. Why? Because it was believed that comedians couldn't carry a full 90 minute vehicle. Having been victims of the Hollywood system, when it came time to do things their own way--they created a half-hour show starring them with no sub-plots (and sometimes no plot!).

The show was a half-hour sitcom showcasing their wonderful routines from the 1940s. Season One is infinitely superior, as many memorable routines and word-plays were re-packaged for the new TV audience. Season Two, while still good, is more like a classic short subject/sitcom with a few classic routines added.

I'm sure my review here hasn't added anything new, but as man in his early 20s, I must say these episodes are very funny and very timeless. There are no references to politics, sex, etc. The things we think make comedy today, didn't make comedy then. Bud and Lou didn't need sex to be funny, they just needed a funny scream "Heyyyy Abbotttt!" You know you're in for a treat in when you hear that at the beginning of each show. One of my friends asked me why I like these older comedies, I said, their timeless. He couldn't believe that comedy back then didn't consist of politics and culture-based humor the way it does today.

So, here in this very inexpensive package are 9 DVDs, 52 episodes, and 4 hours of special features including interviews with Lou's daughters: Paddy & Chris Costello, home movies, a 1978 special hosted by Milton Berle, a short film about Lou's Junior Youth Foundation and a 44 page booklet; detailing the show, cast, and episodes.

If you're a fan of classic TV and looking for something cheap with good quality laughs to watch, this is it. Most season set collections are at least $50; but here it's only a little over $37. This show is also a great way to introduce kids to Abbott & Costello. There's no reference to politics or culture of the day, just plain comedy a kid can enjoy in an easy half-hour setting. If you are looking for a way to get kids interested in the duo, this is by far the best way.

Bud and Lou would go on to make a few relatively succesful/bland films between the end of the show (1953) and their split (1956); so in a way, this is their last great bow. We see Bud & Lou still strong as their career is coming to a near end, and they really go out on top in this series. This is their last best work, and should be enjoyed for generations to come.

This collection is well worth the money. First of all, the quality is awesome. I still can not believe all the extras , including the home movies,interviews with Costellos daughters, Milton Berle special and the short film Lou Costello did as a tribute to his son that tragically drowned. The product would have been worth the money ,even without all the extras. These shows are still funny, yes even the second season. The menus are easy to navigate, with the info commerative booklet explaining the discs as well as giving bios on the recurring characters. All in all, this set should be a model as the way dvd sets should be marketed. This is a true gem and many thanks to e1homevideo for perfection. They even threw in postcards of our beloved comedians. Remastered , restored and more than enough extras to keep most 'buffs' happy; This set shall be cherished and other companies can take a lesson from how well this was done.

I've read some of the reviewers on here complaining about the Abbott & Costello Show re-release being unnecessary and other gripes. Well let me say that this product is much better than the latter. First off the quality is better. On the previous release the disks were in cruddy cases that had a funny smell to it. Some of the disks had scratches or other flaws to them and usually one of the disks would not play at all. They were an inferior product. I had to return two season 1's because of this problem. Then when I tried to buy it again from a different party they were asking for upwards of one hundred to two hundred dollars. Like i'm going to pay that for something that shouldn't cost more than 30 or 40 dollars tops (Dang Robbers!)On this new product you get all the extra's the other ones had plus extra bonuses they didn't have. The price is reasonable. The quality is better.I haven't had one problem with this set. And I finally have all of the Abbott & Costello Show without going through all the headaches of the previous release.

As a kid, I rarely watched Abbott & Costello....& after buying this collection, I now realize what I missed. They are in the league of "The Three Stooges" & "Laurel & Hardy," the GREATS of yesteryear. There are no comics around today to match these people. The DVD collection is very good, both audio & video. Like a time machine, I can now go back & enjoy a better time back in the 1950's when TV was great. You won't regret adding this set to your collection.

Amazon asked me over a month ago to review the Abbott and Costello Tv series special boxed set DVD, but it took me over a month to watch the whole show! Anyway, these are the two seasons, I believe 52 episodes, of their TV series, and I have never seen it took and sound so great. Old vaudeville routines done with razor-sharp precision by Bud and Lou, add up to many, many hours of laughs. I've never seen it look so clear, with cool, clean transfers from the original negatives. Also, the real reason you would want to purchase this giant set is for the bonus features which include an entertaining special hosted by Milton Berle, called "Hey, Abbott." Also. a 1948 short film, "10,000 Kids and a Cop," which was reportedly issued free to all movie theaters. Plus, some COLOR home movies and interviews with Lou's two girls, Chris and Paddy Costello. For die-hard fans of their TV show, there is also a 44-page booklet featuring an episode guide and tidbits about cast and crew. A real treat for fans of Bud Abbott & Lou Costello, and for anyone looking for some G-rated laughs.

Here it is, the greatest Comedy Team the US ever produced in 8 DVDs of their best Burlesque routines turned into a Television series way ahead of its time. I was a TV baby boomer of the late fifties and early sixties absorbing genres which would eventually become my escapes throughout my life to the present day. A show called 'Million Dollar Movie' was broadcast on WORTV Channel 9 in the New York area and would start at 11:00am and last the whole day until the 11:00 News at night. They would show one film a week 5 times a day. I saw the best Horror , Science Fiction, westerns and comedies and was able to watch them over and over again (with commercial interruption of course). One week they showed 'RIDE EM' COWBOY' which introduced me to Bud Abbott and Lou Costello for the first time and they warped my mind forever. Little did I realize that I was watching vintage Burlesque routines from their road shows which were adapted to their films and made them the biggest Box Office attraction during the war time years. While this was happening, WPIX Channel 11 showed 'THE ABBOTT AND COSTELLO SHOW'. Now I got to see A & C all the time all though I noticed they were a bit older but the TV show was not bogged down with musical numbers, sappy romantic interludes, or dramatics. It was straight A & C. Now, EI Entertainment has taken those wonderful memories and preserved them forever in this classic box set. It comes with an excellent booklet with backgrounds on the cast and brings out an important element, Lou Costello knew that the Television medium was important to preserve their classic routines for future generations. I hope he knows that he was right on the money. The quality for early TV is outstanding with crisp sound and clear picture throughout. Buy this set and laugh as you've never laughed before and see the true genius of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. It doesn't get any better than this.

It's amazing that after all these years Abbott& Costello And their brand of comedy still remain as fresh as ever! I grew up with all their movies and especially their TV show which is still a laugh riot! The complete collectors edition (1&2)of their TV show is well worth the price! The package is put together very well including a booklet outlining each show in the series,not to mention the bonus disc that explores their lives and careers narrated by Milton Berle! A must have for any real fan of comedy's greatest duet!

i,ve been waiting for so long to get these tv show colection its a mazing quality of picture and sound the best comedian lou and bud in history the cinema will never get another abbott&costello
you cant stop laughing when you see them and there dumps especially lou when he was in gail and the word niagra falls
by the way i am arabic person i live in kuwait country in the middle east
now i keep those dvd s in my libary for good
you will see the normal life of lou with his family he was very nice man and generous
in his home vedio dvd its realy worth to buy price is cheep for those great actors
thanks

The 44 page booklet included with E1's Abbott & Costello Complete TV Series box is very informative. Discs are not individually stored but staggered two and two in plastic trays. A slight grayness to the dubs is the main distinction between this package and PASSPORT's separate Season One and Two boxes. In my opinion, this earlier product has the visual edge: better contrast overall.

Extras on this one are fairly superfluous. Lou's two children comment on different subjects while home movie and other clips are sandwiched in. The younger gal was 10 when he died in 1959 so her stories and opinions may be secondhand.

I have the TV special HEY ABBOTT! in its original 1992 videotape version. Nice to see the movie clip routines (most of which are recreated in these TV shows) but Milton Berle is just a lox as a host. The color home movies are neat up to a point but again, not essential.

Finally, there's the two-reeler 10,000 KIDS AND A COP, a loving advertisement for the Lou Costello Jr. Foundation. This still operational Los Angeles recreation complex opened its doors in May '47. As we see in the Costello family's 16mm print, LCJF has a baseball field, pool, infirmary, library, hobby room and other amenties for kids of all ages. The short stars Bill Bendix as an L.A. beat cop who tours the facilities. Jimmy Stewart intros and Bud & Lou make two appearances.

Fans of A&C will be pleased with this two-season collection.