Customer Reviews

The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Series

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Well, one good thing is that if you are angry because you bought the individual season DVD sets (like I did) and wished you waited to buy the complete series box set for the extras and corrections, you need not sweat it. The missing epilogue and minutes to "The Darlings Are Coming" and the missing epilogue to "Barney Mends a Broken Heart" from season 3 were not restored to this set. The laugh tracks to a few episodes from season 4 have been restored, but that wasn't a big deal to me.

The "extra extras" you get from this series box set are available individually elsewhere if you look around. The pilot "Danny Meets Andy Griffith" is available edited on the "Make Room for Daddy" 5th season DVD set. The pilot included here is also edited. You can also find "Return to Mayberry" on DVD online and the other bonus is the episode "Opie Joins the Marines" where Opie visits Gomer on "Gomer Pyle USMC," which will be released in that series' second season set in a few months. I wish Paramount could have gathered some behind-the-scenes stuff or commentaries or interviews (the actors are not getting any younger and in just the past few years, many important TAGS people have died like Howard Morris and Don Knotts). That would have made this set worth it, but nothing like that is included.

What bugs me the most, though, is the crummy packaging: Cardboard folders and pockets with cut-out photos on the characters printed on it. At least make it the same as the individual sets with the plastic, easy-to-use holders and the bold and colorful illustrations. It's a great series, I love the shows (even the color episodes), but if you have already bought the seasons and are wondering if the series set is worth it, I would vote, 'no.' In fact, if you haven't bought anything from this series yet, I would still choose the indivdual seasons to this set.

If you waited until now to purchase any of the Andy Griffith Show season sets, this is a decent deal. For those who already have one or more seasons, the new extras in this new all-season set are no big whoop and in my opinion is not worth purchasing.

The pilot episode included in this set is a syndicated version which is edited by about 2 and a half minutes. This is the same version already available on the Make Room For Daddy - The Complete Fifth Season DVD set. The full length pilot had been released on VHS, but has been out-of-print for a few years now. Why couldn't Paramount include the full length version? We know it exists.

The two edited episodes in Season 3 remain edited. "The Darlings Are Coming" is the heavily cut syndicated version. "Barney Mends A Broken Heart" is still missing its epilogue. Source material does exist that would restore these episodes.

The episodes on discs 1 and 2 of Season 4 that were missing the laugh tracks have been corrected (with the odd exception of the last few minutes of "A Black Day For Mayberry" and "The Sermon For Today", where the laughter has still not been re-inserted), but this was done way before this new box set was ever announced. If you have these discs without the laugh tracks, I believe Paramount is still replacing them with the corrected ones. See my review of Season 4 for more details.

The "Opie Joins The Marines" episode of Gomer Pyle, USMC has been included. However, this will be released anyway when Season 2 of that series rolls around in a few months.

The TV movie, "Return To Mayberry" finally makes it's way to DVD as a bonus feature in this set. It is uncut and presented just as originally broadcast in 1986. Hopefully it will be released as a separate disc for those who already have some or all of this series.

Without even going into the packaging issues, this new box set is already somewhat of a disappointment. If you can afford it, stick with the individually released seasons.

Let me start out by saying I love the series, I bought all 8 seasons individually, and when it was released as a large box set I figured I would buy it and sell off my indivdual sets to save room in my DVD collection. I preordered the set and sold off all my individual sets.
My new set came in today, and I was thrilled to open the box, but once I opened it my thrill went away, This is by far the worst packaging of a DVD collection that I have ever seen. Each season is in a cardboard folded sleeve, and you slide the dvd into a cardboard slot, its cheap and flimsy and I am worried about the disks sliding in and out of these slots getting scratched, the individual season sleeves dont even fit nicely into the box. The whole box is a real mess when you look at it where the dvds slide in. and that is right out of the box from amazon. So if your thinking of upgrading your sets to this box set I would say keep what you got and dont upgrade, to the manufacture I would say the box set deserves better packaging than this. Most public domain packaging is better than this. MY review the show is a 5 the presentation/packaging is a 1.

I also love the show, and as a graphic designer, I like the visual look of the packaging, but the design was not thought out well at all regarding the tight squeeze of the DVD's into the pockets, leaving them very vulnerable to scratches. Here's what I did; I bought a box of CD/DVD paper sleeves for about $5, (box of 50's) put each DVD into one, folded back and taped the bottom sides to the back of the sleeve, tore the pocket on the right side where the disc slides into and they all fit nicely into the slot and the DVD's are protective. Each season folded and fit back into the box, just a little more snuggly. Yes it's a pain, but I just wanted to share my solution. It really did work.

I have been an avid fan of TAGS since I watched them when they first aired on TV. So I finally got them. I am very happy with the DVDs. Great quality. Wonderful sound and picture. Excellent job Paramount!!! I couldn't be happier with them. The show is very therapetic!

OK, the packaging.

"Now Paramount, here at the consumer end we have two rules. Number one: obey all consumers. Number two: Do not put DVDs in cheap cardboard holders as it is difficult to put DVDs back into cheap cardboard holders!"

I have already read many comments on here about the packaging and how poor it is. It is not only poor but ultra cheap, cheap, cheap!!! Did I say cheap? They might have been better off just to throw all the DVDs in a bag. Will that be paper or plastic, sir? I'll take plastic. Wrap them individually please.

What do you think they have wrapped up in the packaging as far as cost is concerned? 50 cents, a dollar? It can't be much. I tried to place one DVD back into the holder and the little, school glued sides popped out. Who did Paramount contract out to do this job for them? Must have been the lowest bidder...a local 2nd grade art class? I paid $140 for the set. I didn't mind that. Paramount, Amazon and everyone in between has to make money. They are not charity groups. This I understand. But think about it. I will be generous. Could they have $5 in the packaging? I think that's way high but I'll stick with it (I really think it's below a dollar). Now the DVDs. The program already exists, so all they have to do is use their magic machines to pound out hundreds of thousands or maybe millions of copies on DVDs at a very low cost for each. Especially when you can buy them in incredible bulk amounts like they can. So Paramount makes their money, Amazon makes their money and any middle men as well. So my uneducated guess is the profit on this product is $120 out of that $140. Ok there's shipping but I paid for that. Oh wait, the digital remastering (you only have to do it once and then make copies)....OK $100 out of that $140 for profit.

So what else can I say in my useless rant here? I love the show. I am glad I have the DVDs. I enjoy them "vastly"! But why did the suits at Paramount have to put them in this cheesy, dime store cardboard box with cheesier holders with over-colored, ridiculously Photo shopped images of the actors. And why do they have to reverse Andy Griffith's image? Why reverse it? He looks great normal. Leave him alone. His face is not totally symmetrical so it makes him look a bit strange reversed (just check the part in his hair changing from one side to the other, normal is on his left...on our right as you look at him). Do I sound like I work around a bunch of perfectionists and nitpickers? Well I do but I am not one of them but it sure sounds like a bunch has rubbed off. Well my useless rant is over.

My recommendation about this product? Get it; it's great if you love TAGS. But just go buy plastic DVD holders to protect them.

Shoobee, shoobee, shoobee, shoobee!


Andy, why did Paramount put your DVDs in cheap packaging?

Paramount: "I think we've heard enough about that cheap packaging!!

I have all eight seasons of "The Andy Griffith Show" and the only thing missing is what they are offering here..the pilot episode featured on Danny Thomas show and the 1986 reunion movie "Return to Mayberry".

Unlike the Mash medicine and martinis collection, which upset many folks who bought the individual seasons and did not receive any extras with them,there aren't too many extras in this complete set. I already have the pilot episode on the "Make Room for Daddy" five DVD set which came out in 2004 and I would like to have the movie, but maybe they will offer that seperatly.

What can be said that hasn't been said about one of the most beloved series of all time? Most people will love the first five seasons in black and white that featured Don Knotts, but all of the seasons have their appeal.

If you don't have the entire series, or just a couple of seasons, this set will be worth it. The price is nice, just like the Mash Martinis and medicine collection was before it went sky high.

I bought this set about 3 years ago. It includes the pilot episode from Make Room for Daddy, the "Opie Joins the Marines" episode from Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C and the Return to Mayberry Movie.
I like the packaging very much. I don't know why alot of people don't. The discs stay in the holder just fine. I like how each season folds out. I also like the design and art work. This set does not include descriptions of each episode like the individual seasons have. I just got the descriptions from online so I can look at them when I watch an episode. The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Series is a great collection. This is a wonderful family show. I highly recommend. SHOW 5 stars - - - PACKAGING 5 stars - NO complaints about the packaging.

I agree with previous reviewers about the holders the dvds come in, they are terrible. Since Amazon lowered the price of the set I figured I could purchase my own case for them, which I did. We all enjoy the shows.

I only hope that this time the series is really COMPLETE!! Lets not have any edited shows or shows mising laugh tracks this time. If it is complete this time, I give it 5 stars. If not, I give it a half star. With the exception of a few edited shows and shows missing laugh tracks with their first release, the sets were done really well. All of the shows looked really good and the transfers were done really good also.

UPDATE: The series receives 5 stars! This collection as well as Paramount receives a star and a half. The DVD transfers are excellent! But the new box is shoddy. The folders they packed them in WILL scratch your DVD, and the footage that was missing before is STILL missing. Paramount just reissued the previous DVD release in a different box. They did convinve me after buying this not to buy their I LOVE LUCY complete series when they re-box it though. If you bought the series in the single season release, keep them! You already have this set if you have them. The extras are nothing to write home about. Return to Mayberry doesn't look like it was even cleaned up before they did anything with it. Barney would throw the book at you Paramount!
Update 7/30/2007
Saw on TV Land Barney Mends a Broken Heart.The other reviews are correct: The DVD does cut out the epilog. Peggy is mending Andys eye and they are making up when Barney spills the beans they were out on dates when Andy got beat up.
Thanks Paramount for releasing edited episodes. Just what I look for in a "complete" series.

As most of the other reviews have mentioned, the packaging was cheap, cheap. One does have to be careful not to scratch the discs when removing or inserting. But it was significantly less expensive than other Full Series products.