Customer Reviews

Mister Peepers

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

 

 

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, much of television production was broadcast live and, prior to a nationwide feed, kinescopes (films of live broadcasts from television monitors) were made as a way to broadcast shows at a later date in different parts of the country and, in some cases, for later syndication purposes. Unfortunately, many of the kinescopes from early television shows were either lost or destroyed and, consequently, a good portion of early American television history has been lost to the ages. Thankfully, this is not the case with "Mister Peepers," one of television's earliest weekly situation comedies. Supposedly, 102 episodes out of a total series production of 127 reside at the UCLA Film & Television Archive and, from this collection, comes this first TV-on-DVD release from S'more Entertainment, a new DVD releasing company.

This set includes the first 26 episodes of the series along with the series' pilot, which features an unbilled Walter Matthau in the role of "Mr. Burr," Jefferson Junior High's coach (Matthau would not become a series regular). In addition to Matthau, the series featured up-and-coming stars like Tony Randall and Jack Warden. Marion Lorne, later "Aunt Clara" in "Bewitched," is also in the cast. But the show really belongs to Wally Cox. Unlike the cynical and often tasteless humor found in many modern sitcoms, there's a "kinder, gentler" humor found in "Mister Peepers," and Cox is just perfect in the role of Robinson Peepers, the good-hearted science teacher. Technically, the shows are crude when compared to modern day productions. While very watchable, there are some scratches and film specks from time-to-time (one of the early episodes has a bad scratch for a long portion) and there is noticeable audio hiss present on some episodes. And, unfortunately, the UCLA Film & Television logo appears from time-to-time in the bottom right hand corner (couldn't this have been done on the credits only). But the positives of this DVD set far outweigh the negatives and what really shines through on "Mister Peepers" is both the wonderful writing and ensemble acting by a very talented cast performing live. In addition to the pilot episode, there are some other extras on the DVD set that, while not essential, enhance one's appreciation of Wally Cox and the show.

"Mister Peepers" is highly recommended for both fans of early sitcoms as well as anyone interested in early American live television broadcasting. From a historical perspective, this is one of the most important TV-on-DVD releases available on the market. Let's hope that S'more episodes from this wonderful comedy series are released in the future.

Sadly, someone really did screw up in the packaging of this one; my first set was a mess with mislabelled disks and two with the same episodes, meaning seven episodes were missing; I got a replacement from Amazon and it was fine -- except for some reason there was an extra fifth disk that was a copy of another one. That's why I am giving the set four stars. So check your disks when you get your set, but then...

Savor one of the very few fifties sitcoms that holds up (and even though I'm an I LOVE LUCY fan, even that show is getting so old that the fascination is increasingly anthropological rather than a true, direct delight in the "wacky" goings on). PEEPERS has the sweet fifties-whimsical tone of GERALD MCBOING BOING or HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON. Wally Cox's portrayal is, in its way, a kind of less tortured proto-Stephen Wright.

And then you get a young Tony Randall (or Anthony Randall, as he is first billed) using his stage smarts to breathe incredible life into the character of Peepers' colleague and friend. In addition, the unearthing of these shows means that anyone who has ever loved Marion Lorne as Aunt Clara on BEWITCHED or enjoyed her memorable turn as the mother in STRANGERS ON A TRAIN now gets two-dozen-plus new performances by her; her dithery shtick steals many an episode. (Peepers: "Have a good weekend!" Lorne: "Oh, yes, we will, we will ... we're having artichokes!")

And even in this first season, we get to watch the budding romance between Peepers and the school nurse. Patricia Benoit's Miss Remington, with her early-Mia-Farrow short haircut and a fetching bit of an overbite, comes off as a quietly sexy small-town girl, and her eternal solicitous gaze at Peepers seems utterly plausible and warms the heart.

The show takes its time, with long, casual exchanges between the characters that no wacky Desilu show ever had time for. As with most shows, it took a little while to gel. The first disk and a bit dwell in a little too much dopey slapstick, and only after them are Randall and Benoit introduced (despite the frequently adduced factoid, Walter Matthau plays the coach only in the pilot, which is included in the set). But by the end of the second disk, you're hooked and happy to return "next week" as Cox reminds us to at the end of every show. I can't wait for the second season to come out (it'd better!).

As to quality, I am mystified at some of the reviewers' complaints. As kinescopes (film made of a TV monitor, so that live shows could be rebroadcast out west), these are quite nice compared to what some of them look like after all this time. MR. PEEPERS never looked like FATHER KNOWS BEST because it was either seen done live on flickering little sets or as kinescopes. Sound in the first half-dozen or so episodes is a little dicey, especially since Cox was soft-spoken, but turning up the volume does the trick.

And as for performance glitches, it is admirable how few there are. If you're really waiting for them, you sense that here and there someone has dropped a line and the others are filling in. But it's not as if people are tripping over furniture, or going blank as to what to say next and breaking each other up a la blooper reels. If anything, the live aspect is exciting -- when a scene is over, often the camera will focus on some trivial set piece or Marion Lorne will be given 30 seconds of "business," just so that everyone can run over to the next set and launch into a scene taking place the next day (often in different clothes!). It's like watching little plays.

Most fifties TV is tough viewing today -- just try sitting through more than one episode of PRIVATE SECRETARY, for example; America and its sense of humor have changed vastly since the Eisenhower era. MR. PEEPERS was one for the ages, and given that I used to think it was all but lost, hooray for the UCLA archive (and the show's creators, for donating the kinescopes). Very soon, let's have Season Two -- with disks properly pressed and packaged.

I purchased this set twice and the first disc was so scratched that it would not play. I exchanged it and the same thing happened again. Someone else complained of same problem. The manufacturer should have better quality control. I will try purchasing at a later date, but I wonder how responsive seller will be. Too bad as I looked forward to seeing this wonderful series once again.

The sound quality of the FIRST of 4 DVDs is sometimes a little rough, but once you have cranked up your volume to full-blast, you CAN hear it quite well, and this is a series worth hearing. Mr. Peepers is one of the most charming TV characters of all time, and the series has aged well. I was impressed with the quality of most of these 4 DVDs, considering they were printed from kinescopes, and delighted with the humor, characterizations and WIT. Charming altogether. I only wish that ALL the episodes were available for purchase. THAT would really be a treasure. But then, this is already a little treasure.....

I love these shows. Character-driven low-key comedy, totally unlike the slapstick of I Love Lucy, I Married Joan, My Little Margie, and so on. Live TV like this can be rough, almost amateurish at times, but the cumulative effect of these shows is of one of charm and sincerity. I played an episode for my wife and my mom recently. When it finished, I started to put the disk away, but they stopped me and asked to see another.

Sadly, be prepared to test all of these disks carefully as soon as you get them. My first set came with a loose scratched disk. I caught that in time to return it. My second set looked OK but it turned out Disk #2 was a mislabelled Disk #4, so I have two #4's and no #2. I didn't catch that until I was past the return date.

On both sets, I found that neither the extras (the pilot episode and an interview with Dom Deluise) nor the last episode or two on each disk would play on either of my two DVD players. The player would hesitate, jitter and eventually freeze up. They were however watchable on my PC.

Despite these problems, I recommend Mr Peepers to anyone who wants to see a true original classic in TV comedy.

For many years I only had one episode of this cute show, and thought there were no more in existence. I was happy to find this set at a Borders and bought it. I haven't had trouble playing any of the discs, and am really enjoying them. I was born in 1965 so I don't remember this show, but it's so cute and subtle, and I prefer the older shows to later sitcoms where everyone just yaks away with trite and unfunny lines, and every other joke is filthy.
The quality is pretty good, sometimes the sound is too low, but it's in the kinescopes, not the DVD. I hope the rest of this series is released. Mr. Peepers rules!

First - NO problems with playback.
Second - If you have a problem with the quality, please understand- this is primitive technology. Google "kinescope" and see how it was done.

The show: WONDERFUL.

I'd heard about Mr. Peepers, saw one beat-up 16mm print years ago and loved it.
Content - it's genuinely funny. Gentle, loving, warm, subtle.

Wally Cox - Magnificent.
Marion Lorne - Hey - who DOESN'T love Aunt Clara?

Production: Smooooooth. It's fun to watch "live" TV that happened EVERY week. Sure - there are some sound and lighting glitches, but imagine what it must have been like trying to do a show like that. HUGE cameras that needed LOTS of light, cramped sets full of extras, and a cast and crew that had less than a week to rehearse and block. Then....ONE chance to get it right. And all in front of a studio audience that you HOPED would get the jokes.

Lucy was FILMED with 3 cameras, then edited and sweetened.
Hey, I LOVE Lucy but Peepers went for non-slapstick and believable storylines and characters.
Mr. Peepers DEFINES "The Golden Age Of Television".
Thank you UCLA archivists for making this milestone show available.
Mr. Peepers was way ahead of it's time.
No.
Wait.
Mr. Peepers was in a class by itself.

I have both Mr. Peepers volume one
and two on DVD. I loved this endearing
show, so I emailed S'more Entertainment
( info@smoreent.com ), and asked if
the whole set would be coming out on
DVD. This is the disheartening response
I got from them:

Thank you so much for your kind note. Sadly, the DVD market has shrunk to the point where we can no longer sell enough product to justify the cost of transferring from film to video, digitizing and then restoring the elements, let alone the cost of authoring the DVD and creating packaging. Unless we can find a way to change the distribution model completely, I fear the final 2 seasons of "Mister Peepers" may not see the light of day.

We're exploring ways to reach consumers directly, not relying on stores and on line sites as the series is much loved.

PLEASE HELP MAKE MR. PEEPERS FINAL TWO
SEASONS A REALITY. WRITE TO
info@smoreent.com and BEG them to
put out Mr. Peepers Vol 3 and 4. If
we can get enough responses, they
just might see that there IS a market
out there for these shows. It can't
hurt to ask.

I bought this 4 disk set only to discover that disk #1 wouldn't load at all, and the last two episodes on disk four wouldn't play. It was sent back for an exchange. The second set was the same exact thing. After returning that one for a second exchange, the third set was defective in the same manner. Since I tried three copies and they were all defective in the same places, I returned the last one for an refund. This is too bad as I love Mister Peepers.

S'more Entertainment needs better quality control. It's hard to believe they aren't aware the of these major problems. Beware!

I barely remembered the Mr. Peepers show before I bought this set, and now I'm enchanted by it. Wally Cox's mild-mannered character is hilarious, Marion Lorne is sensational as the principal's wife, and Tony Randall plays the girl-magnet funny guy to the hilt. As a show from the fifties, it's a slower-paced show but with excellent comedic timing, and it may not appeal to people unaccustomed to subtle humor. For those who can appreciate that, though, it's a gem. The sound quality at the beginning of the very first program is poor, and there are other glitches here and there, undoubtedly due to the fact that the series was salvaged from the old technology of the day, but I wouldn't trade my set for anything. I've watched some of the episodes over and over, and I'm looking forward with bated breath to the 2nd boxed set, which is due out in November 2008. On that one, we'll see Mr. Peepers marry Nancy, an episode that topped the charts for viewing back when it originally aired. An added bonus is seeing the clothes, hairdos, and decor from the fifties, which all bring back great memories. In sum, this set is full of delicious little comedic moments, all set in the nostalgic fifties. This is really a five-star set, but due to the minor quality issues I gave it four stars. I love it! I think you will too.