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Special Features
Pre-Hysterical Times: The Making Of DINOSAURS: Get a first-ever behind-the-scenes look at how Jim Henson's Creaure Shop(TM) brought the dinosaurs to life.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Created before the days of computer animation, Dinosaurs is an early 1990s television comedy series featuring impressive anthropomorphic, animatronic creatures created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. The story lines challenge some of society's most basic assumptions and explore some of the most universally troublesome aspects of "civilized" life. Set in six million three BC, the Sinclairs are your "typical" blue-collar dinosaur family attempting to adjust to the relatively new concept of communal living. The adjustments of moving from a nomadic lifestyle to one of domestication and social interaction are many, and challenging issues like the concepts of right and wrong, faith, and the intricacies of family relationships are forever besieging this every-man's family. Naturally, the Sinclair family approach is to address each obstacle with an abundance of slapstick comedy. The Dinosaurs episodes regularly function on dual levels: the puppetry and silly antics like Baby Sinclair's penchant for hitting her father over the head with a pan while hollering "Not the Mama" appeal to even the youngest children, but the often pointed social commentary and sometimes mature themes are squarely aimed at an adult audience. As a result, parental discretion and guidance are key in determining whether this series is appropriate for children under 9 or 10 years old. --Tami Horiuchi
Product Description
Meet the Sinclairs -- the funniest family in 60 million years! They're just your average family with one BIG difference. They're dinosaurs, living the good life in sixty million and three B.C.! Daddy Earl, his wife Fran, their kids, Robbie, Charlene, and the Baby, and feisty Grandma Ethyl, bring a hilarious Jurassic twist to daily life as they eat, drink, make merry, and get their kicks watching cavemen rub rocks together. Based on an idea by Jim Henson, the award-winning comedy series features state-of-the-art puppetry and audioanimatronics. For the first time, you can enjoy the complete first two seasons and rediscover the pre-hysterical fun all over again.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
302 of 315 people found the following review helpful
By Ravenova
Format:DVD
Finally, after all the years of tortuous waiting Dinosaurs has been released to DVD! This is truly an excellent and hilarious show that has won numerous awards over the years. For those of you who are interested, this is a list of the episodes included in this four disc set of DVD's which includes both season one and two.
Season 1 (1991)
1. The Mighty Megalosaurus (original air date 4/26/91)
This is the first, and one of the all time best episodes of Dinosaurs. Earl has a talk with his newborn son and tells him about the days preceding his hatching. As his tale progresses, he relates his hilarious attempt to attain a raise from his vindictive boss, B.P. Richfield, and the subsequent results. [Overall episode rating : 5 stars.]
2. The Mating Dance (original air date 5/3/91)
Fran, Earl's ever complaining wife, is becoming depressed due to all the work involved with caring for the new baby. As time progresses, Earl eventually becomes aware of her dour expression and decides that it is time to cheer her up. However, he misinterprets her problems and decides that the only way to please her is to re-learn the mating dance from a nighttime school. [Overall episode rating : 4 stars]
3. Hurling Day (original air date 5/10/91)
Earl is elated to learn that his vicious mother in law, Ethel, is hurtling toward her seventy second birthday. On the day of a dinosaur's seventy second birthday, they are hurled by a relative into a deep tar pit. According to the law Earl has been selected for the job, which he willingly accepts. As the day for her hurling draws nigh, Earl becomes ever more delighted and begins to brag to his co-workers and boss about the upcoming hurling. However, to Earl's extreme horror, his fourteen year old son, Robbie, decides that hurling is outdated and should no longer be implemented. Soon, Robbie starts to convince others of his new theory.
[Overall episode rating : 5 stars]
4. High Noon (original air date 5/17/91)
An enormous male dinosaur takes an interest in Fran when he sees her in the supermarket. Soon afterwards, he challenges Earl with a fight to the death for Fran. Earl accepts the challenge and begins his training. However, it soon becomes obvious that he can never win. The day for the fight arrives unbidden and he bids farewell to his family, since he expects to be killed in the fight. When the other dinosaur appears and the fight begins, Fran intervenes and tells the other dinosaur about her deep love for Earl and her hatred for him. [Overall episode rating 4 stars.]
5. The Howling (original air date 5/24/91)
As Robbie approaches adulthood he is expect to ascend to the top of a mountain and howl, as all other dinosaurs are expected to do when they reach adulthood. Robbie, however, sees the tradition as outdated and meaningless and refuses to acquiesce to it. His family warns him that there will be dire consequences if he does not fulfill this rite. He continues to ignore them and everyone eventually comes to their own conclusions about the rite of howling. Also, Earl and his best friend, Roy, start an enormous fight that threatens their friendship.
Season Two (1991-1992)
6. The Golden Child (originally aired 9/18/91)
When Fran becomes exhausted with caring for the baby, she leaves Robbie and Charlene to feed the baby his breakfast while she continues her housework upstairs. However, they soon decided that there are numerous things that they would rather be doing, and they leave the baby alone to feed himself. As can be expected, the baby eats all the wrong foods, especially copious piles of sugar. After this strange meal he grows a golden horn. When this growth becomes widely publicized, the elders from the Cave of Destiny order Earl to bring this strange child to them. Upon his arrival at the cave the elders inform him that the child is the response of an ancient prophesy. According to them the Child is to be the king of all Pangaea. Earl is forced to leave the baby at the Cave of Destiny. As time passes, the entire family begins to miss the baby, and they try to enact a scheme to return the baby home. [Overall episode rating : 4 stars]
7. Family Challenge (originally aired 9/25/91)
When a meteor falls through space and lands on the Sinclair's television, Earl is heartbroken and Fran is elated. Earl proceeds to drag them onto a game show in hopes of winning another television.
8. I Never Ate For My Father (originally aired 10/2/91)
Earl enlists Robbie into a Carnivore celebration festival. However, Earl is unaware that Robbie is an herbivore at heart. After they both get eaten by a swamp monster they have a discussion while residing in the monster's stomach and come to an understanding.
9. Charlene's Tale (originally aired 10/9/91)
As Charlene grows older her tale grows in and causes Earl to realize that his little girl is growing up. [Overall episode rating : 4 stars.]
10. Endangered Species (originally aired 10/16/91)
With their anniversary looming in the imminent future, Earl buys Fran a surprise pair of graptolites, a rare gourmet delicacy. When Earl leaves them in Robbie's supervision, he soon learns that they are the last of their kind. Once he attains this knowledge, he decides that he must fight for their rights to survive as a species, much to Earl's despair. [Overall episode rating : 3 stars]
11. Employee of the Month (originally aired 10/23/91)
Earl eagerly awaits his dinner with his boss, expecting that this means he is moving up in the company. Meanwhile Robbie brings a pet human home. Trouble is brewing.
12. When Food Goes Bad (originally aired 10/30/91)
Unfortunately, this is the worst episode in the series. The Baby is conned into opening the refrigerator by the malevolent food that dwells within it. After the food escapes havoc is reeked on the house and Charlene and Robbie must devise a cleaver plan to return the food to its rightful home before Earl and Fran return from their romantic dinner, which also goes very badly. [Overall episode rating : 1 star]
13. Career Opportunities (originally aired 11/6/91)
After a trip to "the Job-Wizard" Robbie's destined job is selected; he is to be a tree-pusher like his father. Earl is elated to share his work with his son and is proud of his profession. Robbie, however, is devastated to realize that his future holds nothing more than felling trees. Thus, he begins to question their system of acquiring jobs.
14. Unmarried . . .With Children (originally aired 11/13/91)
After having a discussion with her best friend Fran begins to question her marriage to Earl and considers not renewing their marriage license.
15. How to Pick up Girls
Robbie decides to take his friends advice concerning a girl that he likes. However, his friends advice soon gets him into massive trouble.
16. Switched At Birth (originally aired 11/27/91)
As Fran goes through the baby's old things, she encounters the nest that she lovingly constructed for her egg. However, upon turning it over and reading the label on the bottom she discovers that the nest is not hers! She remembers that the switched nest must have occurred during an earthquake at her Lamase class. As they begin to discuss the events that shroud the incorrect nest, they begin to suspect that more than the nests got switched. [Overall episode rating : 3 stars]
17. Refrigerator Day (originally aired 12/11/91)
In this episode the Sinclair's celebrate their form of "Christmas" which exalts cold storage. However, their beloved refrigerator is repossessed, leaving them with nothing to celebrate over the holiday. Earl despairs and refuses to enjoy the holiday without the material joys that used to follow it. Fran, however, shows him that there is more to holidays than greed. [Overall episode rating : 4 stars.]
18. What "Sexual Harris" Meant (originally aired 12/18/91)
Earl helps Monica, Fran's best friend, to get a job as a tree pusher. Monica soon becomes the subject of harassment, and she attempts to stand up for herself in the court of law.
19. Fran Live (1/8/92)
Fran decides that she should have her own career and proceeds to get a job on a television show where she advises other dinosaurs about their problems. However, her wonderful news comes with its own set of problems. The house no longer functions, the laundry is really piling up, and Earl's colleagues tease him mercilessly about having a wife who works. Also, Fran begins to talk about Earl on her television show, using him as an example. [Overall episode rating : 4 stars.]
20. Power Erupts (original air date 1/15/92)
Robbie's science project involving "power eruptions" becomes an immediate success. However, Earl's diabolical boss foresees that it will cause problems for his company. He decides that to save his company he will have to destroy Robbie`s reputation. [Overall episode rating : 4 stars]
21. The Clip Show (original air date 1/22/92)
An archeologist describes the events in a dinosaur's life. [Overall Episode rating : 2 stars]
22. A New Leaf (2/5/92)
Robbie and his friend Spike stumble across some unusual plants in the forest that cause them to become very happy. Robbie brings the plants home and everyone enjoys them (even Earls boss!), except Fran and the Baby who disapprove of the use of substances to make dinosaurs happy. Eventually everyone comes to the same conclusion and the episodes ends with a sermon against the use of drugs. [Overall episode rating : 5 stars]
23. Read more ›
Season 1 (1991)
1. The Mighty Megalosaurus (original air date 4/26/91)
This is the first, and one of the all time best episodes of Dinosaurs. Earl has a talk with his newborn son and tells him about the days preceding his hatching. As his tale progresses, he relates his hilarious attempt to attain a raise from his vindictive boss, B.P. Richfield, and the subsequent results. [Overall episode rating : 5 stars.]
2. The Mating Dance (original air date 5/3/91)
Fran, Earl's ever complaining wife, is becoming depressed due to all the work involved with caring for the new baby. As time progresses, Earl eventually becomes aware of her dour expression and decides that it is time to cheer her up. However, he misinterprets her problems and decides that the only way to please her is to re-learn the mating dance from a nighttime school. [Overall episode rating : 4 stars]
3. Hurling Day (original air date 5/10/91)
Earl is elated to learn that his vicious mother in law, Ethel, is hurtling toward her seventy second birthday. On the day of a dinosaur's seventy second birthday, they are hurled by a relative into a deep tar pit. According to the law Earl has been selected for the job, which he willingly accepts. As the day for her hurling draws nigh, Earl becomes ever more delighted and begins to brag to his co-workers and boss about the upcoming hurling. However, to Earl's extreme horror, his fourteen year old son, Robbie, decides that hurling is outdated and should no longer be implemented. Soon, Robbie starts to convince others of his new theory.
[Overall episode rating : 5 stars]
4. High Noon (original air date 5/17/91)
An enormous male dinosaur takes an interest in Fran when he sees her in the supermarket. Soon afterwards, he challenges Earl with a fight to the death for Fran. Earl accepts the challenge and begins his training. However, it soon becomes obvious that he can never win. The day for the fight arrives unbidden and he bids farewell to his family, since he expects to be killed in the fight. When the other dinosaur appears and the fight begins, Fran intervenes and tells the other dinosaur about her deep love for Earl and her hatred for him. [Overall episode rating 4 stars.]
5. The Howling (original air date 5/24/91)
As Robbie approaches adulthood he is expect to ascend to the top of a mountain and howl, as all other dinosaurs are expected to do when they reach adulthood. Robbie, however, sees the tradition as outdated and meaningless and refuses to acquiesce to it. His family warns him that there will be dire consequences if he does not fulfill this rite. He continues to ignore them and everyone eventually comes to their own conclusions about the rite of howling. Also, Earl and his best friend, Roy, start an enormous fight that threatens their friendship.
Season Two (1991-1992)
6. The Golden Child (originally aired 9/18/91)
When Fran becomes exhausted with caring for the baby, she leaves Robbie and Charlene to feed the baby his breakfast while she continues her housework upstairs. However, they soon decided that there are numerous things that they would rather be doing, and they leave the baby alone to feed himself. As can be expected, the baby eats all the wrong foods, especially copious piles of sugar. After this strange meal he grows a golden horn. When this growth becomes widely publicized, the elders from the Cave of Destiny order Earl to bring this strange child to them. Upon his arrival at the cave the elders inform him that the child is the response of an ancient prophesy. According to them the Child is to be the king of all Pangaea. Earl is forced to leave the baby at the Cave of Destiny. As time passes, the entire family begins to miss the baby, and they try to enact a scheme to return the baby home. [Overall episode rating : 4 stars]
7. Family Challenge (originally aired 9/25/91)
When a meteor falls through space and lands on the Sinclair's television, Earl is heartbroken and Fran is elated. Earl proceeds to drag them onto a game show in hopes of winning another television.
8. I Never Ate For My Father (originally aired 10/2/91)
Earl enlists Robbie into a Carnivore celebration festival. However, Earl is unaware that Robbie is an herbivore at heart. After they both get eaten by a swamp monster they have a discussion while residing in the monster's stomach and come to an understanding.
9. Charlene's Tale (originally aired 10/9/91)
As Charlene grows older her tale grows in and causes Earl to realize that his little girl is growing up. [Overall episode rating : 4 stars.]
10. Endangered Species (originally aired 10/16/91)
With their anniversary looming in the imminent future, Earl buys Fran a surprise pair of graptolites, a rare gourmet delicacy. When Earl leaves them in Robbie's supervision, he soon learns that they are the last of their kind. Once he attains this knowledge, he decides that he must fight for their rights to survive as a species, much to Earl's despair. [Overall episode rating : 3 stars]
11. Employee of the Month (originally aired 10/23/91)
Earl eagerly awaits his dinner with his boss, expecting that this means he is moving up in the company. Meanwhile Robbie brings a pet human home. Trouble is brewing.
12. When Food Goes Bad (originally aired 10/30/91)
Unfortunately, this is the worst episode in the series. The Baby is conned into opening the refrigerator by the malevolent food that dwells within it. After the food escapes havoc is reeked on the house and Charlene and Robbie must devise a cleaver plan to return the food to its rightful home before Earl and Fran return from their romantic dinner, which also goes very badly. [Overall episode rating : 1 star]
13. Career Opportunities (originally aired 11/6/91)
After a trip to "the Job-Wizard" Robbie's destined job is selected; he is to be a tree-pusher like his father. Earl is elated to share his work with his son and is proud of his profession. Robbie, however, is devastated to realize that his future holds nothing more than felling trees. Thus, he begins to question their system of acquiring jobs.
14. Unmarried . . .With Children (originally aired 11/13/91)
After having a discussion with her best friend Fran begins to question her marriage to Earl and considers not renewing their marriage license.
15. How to Pick up Girls
Robbie decides to take his friends advice concerning a girl that he likes. However, his friends advice soon gets him into massive trouble.
16. Switched At Birth (originally aired 11/27/91)
As Fran goes through the baby's old things, she encounters the nest that she lovingly constructed for her egg. However, upon turning it over and reading the label on the bottom she discovers that the nest is not hers! She remembers that the switched nest must have occurred during an earthquake at her Lamase class. As they begin to discuss the events that shroud the incorrect nest, they begin to suspect that more than the nests got switched. [Overall episode rating : 3 stars]
17. Refrigerator Day (originally aired 12/11/91)
In this episode the Sinclair's celebrate their form of "Christmas" which exalts cold storage. However, their beloved refrigerator is repossessed, leaving them with nothing to celebrate over the holiday. Earl despairs and refuses to enjoy the holiday without the material joys that used to follow it. Fran, however, shows him that there is more to holidays than greed. [Overall episode rating : 4 stars.]
18. What "Sexual Harris" Meant (originally aired 12/18/91)
Earl helps Monica, Fran's best friend, to get a job as a tree pusher. Monica soon becomes the subject of harassment, and she attempts to stand up for herself in the court of law.
19. Fran Live (1/8/92)
Fran decides that she should have her own career and proceeds to get a job on a television show where she advises other dinosaurs about their problems. However, her wonderful news comes with its own set of problems. The house no longer functions, the laundry is really piling up, and Earl's colleagues tease him mercilessly about having a wife who works. Also, Fran begins to talk about Earl on her television show, using him as an example. [Overall episode rating : 4 stars.]
20. Power Erupts (original air date 1/15/92)
Robbie's science project involving "power eruptions" becomes an immediate success. However, Earl's diabolical boss foresees that it will cause problems for his company. He decides that to save his company he will have to destroy Robbie`s reputation. [Overall episode rating : 4 stars]
21. The Clip Show (original air date 1/22/92)
An archeologist describes the events in a dinosaur's life. [Overall Episode rating : 2 stars]
22. A New Leaf (2/5/92)
Robbie and his friend Spike stumble across some unusual plants in the forest that cause them to become very happy. Robbie brings the plants home and everyone enjoys them (even Earls boss!), except Fran and the Baby who disapprove of the use of substances to make dinosaurs happy. Eventually everyone comes to the same conclusion and the episodes ends with a sermon against the use of drugs. [Overall episode rating : 5 stars]
23. Read more ›
93 of 98 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Dinosaurs was a cutting edge comedy that was definitely before its time.
This cannot truly be considered animation nor a puppet show. Each character had two performers. The first was an actor in a dinosaur costume that did the visual. The second was a voice actor. This created a unique hybrid.
Add to this a writing team that was not afraid to make fun of itself. (Great scene - The family is watching Unsolved Mysteries when Robert Stack says, the next episode we will investigate why people watch this show when a much better show is on another network. --At that time Unsolved Mysteries was Dinosaur's competition.)
The show of course takes place during the Jurassic period and the dinosaurs rule the place like humans, while the humans are cavemen who are wild.
The first season was a summer show with five episodes. The second season was a full season with 24 episodes.
Let's hope that they release the last three seasons together!
This is a great show that adults will watch at one level, teenagers at another and kids at their own. What ever age, it will be enjoyed.
This cannot truly be considered animation nor a puppet show. Each character had two performers. The first was an actor in a dinosaur costume that did the visual. The second was a voice actor. This created a unique hybrid.
Add to this a writing team that was not afraid to make fun of itself. (Great scene - The family is watching Unsolved Mysteries when Robert Stack says, the next episode we will investigate why people watch this show when a much better show is on another network. --At that time Unsolved Mysteries was Dinosaur's competition.)
The show of course takes place during the Jurassic period and the dinosaurs rule the place like humans, while the humans are cavemen who are wild.
The first season was a summer show with five episodes. The second season was a full season with 24 episodes.
Let's hope that they release the last three seasons together!
This is a great show that adults will watch at one level, teenagers at another and kids at their own. What ever age, it will be enjoyed.
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The 1990's really brought some of the most entertaining family shows that ABC had actually had showcased from Family Matters to The Drew Carey Show. Nevertheless, there is always one that has definitely delivered well. With the success of the Henson family, and Jim Henson Productions, the Muppets had a hugely successful franchise base that still has delivered today, but innovations of the prehistoric past have also brought in very well too. With Dinosaurs, the show became a outrageous and cult classic about Earl Sinclair and his family Robbie, Charlene, Baby, and his wife Fran through the comical prehistoric times. Now, it finally has a home on home video.
Dinosaurs: The Complete First & Second Seasons really became the prime of the ABC series. The DVD compilation includes some of the funniest primetime episodes ever, that still introduce comical and delightful family fun. The episodes that are highlighted here definitely still remain as pure delights like Family Challenge, where Earl & company go on this television game show just to have a chance to play for a television set, and Nuts To War Parts I & II where the dinosaur population goes to war over pistachio nuts and Robbie gets himself into the conflict, and Golden Horn, where Baby Sinclair is declared The Golden Child from a horn coming out on his head, and becomes a popular favorite among the populace that also is the most powerful leader in the realm of Pangia. The episodes here were definitely remastered well, and still deliver within each moment of delight and fun.
For those who haven't seen Dinosaurs during its era on ABC, this is a absolute delight for all to watch and enjoy. I loved this show when it was on television years ago, and everytime I get the chance to see these classic shows, they still are just as funny and exciting as they were years ago. I absolutely recommend Dinosaurs: The Complete First & Second Seasons. Gotta Love Them.
Episodes: B+
Price: A-
Remastering: B 1/2+
Overall: B+
Dinosaurs: The Complete First & Second Seasons really became the prime of the ABC series. The DVD compilation includes some of the funniest primetime episodes ever, that still introduce comical and delightful family fun. The episodes that are highlighted here definitely still remain as pure delights like Family Challenge, where Earl & company go on this television game show just to have a chance to play for a television set, and Nuts To War Parts I & II where the dinosaur population goes to war over pistachio nuts and Robbie gets himself into the conflict, and Golden Horn, where Baby Sinclair is declared The Golden Child from a horn coming out on his head, and becomes a popular favorite among the populace that also is the most powerful leader in the realm of Pangia. The episodes here were definitely remastered well, and still deliver within each moment of delight and fun.
For those who haven't seen Dinosaurs during its era on ABC, this is a absolute delight for all to watch and enjoy. I loved this show when it was on television years ago, and everytime I get the chance to see these classic shows, they still are just as funny and exciting as they were years ago. I absolutely recommend Dinosaurs: The Complete First & Second Seasons. Gotta Love Them.
Episodes: B+
Price: A-
Remastering: B 1/2+
Overall: B+
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Funniest Shows Ever!
My husband, daughter and I LOVE this Show! We can't imagine why they took it off the air. It was there and then it was gone, never to be found on TV again. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Pam L.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dinosaurs....love them!
I am so glad to find these DVDs online! My 6 kids grew up watching them so I will pass them on once I have seen them all! Thanks!!!
Published 13 days ago by Joy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Show
Was my favorite show when I was little. I bought it for my eight year olds Easter basket. He loves it.
Published 17 days ago by Rebecca Gauna
5.0 out of 5 stars
Addresses serious issues in a entertaining way.
Everything you need to know about life is addressed in the series, "Dinosaurs"
I recommend it for all ages (required word)
I recommend it for all ages (required word)
Published 22 days ago by Brent Halle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great entertainment for small children
I remembered this show from when I was a child and now I get to share it with my kids and grandkids.
Published 23 days ago by mickey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Show!!!
I loved this series! Packed with full of laughs. I would highly recommend getting the complete set for Dinosaurs lovers!
Published 26 days ago by Michelle A. McKeever
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dinosaurs 1st & 2nd season dvd's
Awsome-excellent family series! Miss this type of shows on tv. We all enjoy them as much as when this was on tv.
Published 1 month ago by Kathy Merithew
5.0 out of 5 stars
great show
love watch old tv shows, its nice to share with my kids, and the kids i watch love this show now
Published 1 month ago by felicia ray bauer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dinosaurs DVD
I remember this show as a young adult and I thought I would share the DVD with my kids also.
Published 1 month ago by LaShema Burt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome.
Got to Love the Baby. Hey who ever doesn't love this is just out of it. Only ran for 4 seasons but it was great. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kevin S
