Customer Reviews

Buffalo Bill - The Complete First and Second Seasons

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Bought this expressly for THE classic sitcom scene of all time, "Hit The Road Jack." Instead of this scene, a written apology appears, saying the scene has been excised due to licensing problems. Thanks for the apology ater you got my dough. Be warned, America!

I loved this show when it was on. The ensemble of terrific actors,all lead by D.C.,was way ahead of its time in the early 80's. Actually...not too many shows have had the edge that "B.B." had.So,all in all I am very happy to have these episodes available when I need my quota of sharp-edged humor,and darn fine acting.
But..I specifically wanted to see the episode where Bill is speaking with a ventriloquist,and makes a really off-color,and hysterically funny comment about the courage it takes to "operate" the dummy. Or sock puppet,I can't remember. I watched all of the episodes over a three day period,and didn't see that particular scene. Anyone remember that one? Is it on the "Hit the Road Jack" episode??
Well..if I cannot laugh myself sick over D.C.'s delivery of that one line,then I am glad to at least be able to have a million other laughs with this set of DVD's. D.C. is a terrific actor.The entire cast was/is. I only wish the network would have realized what a gem they had in this show.
Now..I will wait patiently for "Slap Maxwell" to come out on DVD. Another treasure short-shrifted by the network ostriches.

I've been waiting for this one! Coleman was brilliant in the show. I'm looking forward to the episode where a news crew shows to do a story on Bill which he thinks is going to be a tribute, but which is really an expose of how bad it is to work with him. He keeps rehearsing how he majestically wants himself shown- then finally gets so tired of waiting for his time on camera, he imagines himself telling the woman interviewer off and her forcing herself on him. This show pioneered the concept the Seinfeld show later embraced about a flawed character who demonstrates no emotional growth or 'warm fuzzy' moments. Can't wait for the release!

It was said that Brandon Tartikoff who was in charge of NBC's programming always regretted that he pulled the plug on the show. Supposedly he later included the show in his "dream schedule", when he took on a "TV GUIDE" assignment of providing his ultimate TV programming schedule. I used the show in a "History of Television" course I taught to illustrate some of the changing programming trends of the 1980s. Like others, I also was disappointed about the missing "hit the road Jack" sequence, as I had read so much about that particular episode.

I'd happily give it 5 stars had it included the "Hit the Road, Jack" sequence (a squeamish NBC shelved the original broadcast for several months, and I assume the Ray Charles estate charges a lot of money to use the song on a DVD today), but this is a brilliant dark sitcom. Dabney Coleman gives a still-stunning lead performance, and he's surrounded by one of the great ensemble casts in TV history. Much better than the vastly overrated "Murphy Brown" and a major influence on "The Larry Sanders Show."

Oh wow! I finally found it! I've been looking for The Buffalo Bill Show for years!! I hope the missing sequence everyone is talking about isn't the one of Newdell as the menacing jungle native of Bill's fevered imagination. Brilliant. I will also be watching closely for the little moment where someone gave Bill a handful of raw bacon for some reason, which he passed on to Woody, and then to remedy his greasy hands, he rubbed them on Woody's suit jacket as he pretended to pat him on the arm for helping him out. That's so Bill. He thinks he's putting one over on everybody and they're all rolling their eyes behind his back. Some very subtle stuff in this show. I wonder if Rick Gervais ever saw Buffalo Bill...

I was thrilled when I found out one of my favorite all time series was on dvd, I have no idea why this show isn't recognized as one of the funniest sitcoms ever. Dabney Coleman was brilliant and the whole cast is great, I truly recommend buying this dvd set.

I haven't seen the DVD release of Buffalo Bill yet, but I have deeply fond memories of this uncompromising and very funny series. This is only one ever to dispense with the obligatory poignant moment toward the end of the half-hour; in other words, Dabney Coleman's character remained rotten to the core, not all soft and fuzzy under a crusty exterior. I am grateful that this DVD is going to make these shows available again.

Just the episode with the fifty Jerry Lewis impersonators will be worth the price.

I watched this occasionally while home from college back in the 1980's, and very much enjoyed the eccentric, yet somehow oddly encouraging, humor, concerning a small city (Buffalo, N.Y.), it's famous talk show ("The Buffalo Bill Show"), and of course the head of it, Bill Bittinger, played (exceptionally well) by Dabney Coleman. Buffalo Bill thought that he was not only the head of the show, but pretty much Buffalo itself; and the man was almost insufferable in his selfishness and mendacity. But we all loved him. Not sure why, but perhaps because he reminded us of ourselfes.

The 'show' was on tv for only about one year, before it was unfortunately cancelled. A show ahead of its time, perhaps, in the advanced nature of its humor, being that to some degree it was self-referential. The plots in each episode are really not so important as are the characters themselves: the leader, Bill; the shy, retiring, executive producer (played by Max Wright); the intelligent lady manager (Joanna Cassidy); and in an early role, information manager, and consultant to the head, a young lady played by Geena Davis!

I have read a review here which complained of a 2 or 3 minute section being taken out of the series: and while this is true (because of copyright laws concerning a song), I would recommend not being too concerned with this... I actually never saw the missing segment, but I would say that sure it was no doubt a nice bit, but it was just 3 minutes or so out of a whole series! And there was a nice disclaimer concerning this sent with the product. In conclusion therefore, if you like odd comedies, I heartly recommend the Buffalo Bill Show as here presented.

Like the other reveiwer, I purchased this set specifically for the "Hit The Road" episode. The music scene was deleted from the episode with an apology explaining failure to get permission. Why did'nt they simply leave the sound out but include the video ? It still would have been funny. This same thing happened to a portion of the "Elegant Iggy" episode of Taxi Season 4. Selling these incomplete dvd sets simply puts the screws to the consumer. Before buying, I now check the availability at my local Library.