Customer Reviews

The Mod Squad - Season 2, Volume 1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm surrendering to my temptation to rate this set just below 5 stars, soley base on how many scenes Peggy Lipton is in. She failed to show up much in one episode, so I'm shaving off a star. Seriously, this IS the reason why I'm buying up this series; I haven't outgrown this schoolboy crush I have on Peggy, but I have outgrown much of what television has to offer me. The Mod Squad, however, ..and I'm very surprised by this, doesn't annoy me. It's quiet, charming and has a strong ethical core. In this set you get the abortion issue with a psychic slueth, a charming episode about a family-less mexican boy, capt greer and linc fall in love, a charming con-man, a dangerous quack, and a very adorable Peggy Lipton singing a Carol King tune, country style! What's missing from all these sets so far, is commentary from Clarence Williams. This particular set has no commentary at all; no special features. The soundtrack is original, and the writing is very good. Very well worth a purchase, even if Peggy Lipton isn't the sell.

Great series lots of action great acting. What more needs to be said. Brings back those great memories of the 60's.

i'm just fond of this series,back in the late sixties,early seventies the mod squad was the hippest show around;Peggy Lipton was sweet and charming,Clarence Williams the Third so intense and Michael Cole as the rebel of the squad was so cool;speaking of him,"ride the man down"where he's framed for murder is my personnal favorite(with a special appearance of Richard Anderson,"Oscar Goldman himself".Another episode features Monte Markham(Steve Austin's nemesis).the "squad" is so cool,so acting centered it's a must have for all cult series fans.

Love and loss are highlighted in the latest release of The Mod Squad in a half-season DVD boxed set.

Thirteen episodes, representing the first half of the Second Season of the Classic TV iconic police drama, are expected to be included, along with additional features and interviews to be announced.

The Mod Squad is the original counter-culture phenomenon that remains a favorite, replete with one of the best and most memorable TV musical themes ever composed. It is remarkably watchable despite its age - ironically, now older than young people of that era were warned never to trust in adults.

Premiering Sept. 24, 1968, during the height of the Vietnam War, The Mod Squad lasted five action-packed seasons with episodes that dealt as much with social issues as it did crime in the streets.

Set in Los Angeles, the premiss was simple enough: Three young people in trouble with the law were given the opportunity to avoid jail sentences by infiltrating the counter-culture as undercover cops and exposing criminals who prey on youth by bridging the generation gap between the youth and the "fuzz."

The three "delinquents" were Pete Cochran,(Michael Cole) who was arrested for car theft; Julie Barnes, (Peggy Lipton) who ran away from her prostitute mother in San Francisco; and Lincoln Hayes, (Clarence Williams III) who was arrested during the Watts riots. Tough talking Capt. Adam Greer, (Tige Andrews) was in charge of the special squad and eventually became a father-figure to them. (Lipton, who later played Norma the waitress in another cult classic - Twin Peaks - was nominated for an Emmy for her role as Julie, and won a Golden Globe in 1970 for her portrayal of the character.)

In the series, Cochran drove an old green "woody" side-paneled 1950 Mercury station wagon with two surf boards on top that became a lasting symbol of the show, along with cooooool bell-bottomed pants! Sadly, the wheels were destroyed in this second season when the car was set ablaze by an arsonist. (The Woody was wrecked in Ep. 35, "The Death of Wild Bill Hannacheck," which is included in this boxed set. At the end, the Squad stands and watches their "old buddy" burn. Linc has the classic line "Good bye olde paint." During the Reunion movie in 1979, Pete is rich so he buys a Woody when the three of them unite once more.)

The stellar series spawned a block-buster movie in the 1990's that was horrible by comparison, failing in all respects to capture the chemistry and remarkably innocent sincerity of the original.

Episodes expected to be included in this DVD set, with their original airdates and brief description are: The Girl in Chair Nine (9/23/1969), the Squad befriends a young mother; My Name is Manolette (9/30/1969), the Squad "adopts" a nine-year-old boy; An Eye for an Eye (10/7/1969), Capt. Greer falls in love unaware that he puts the woman in danger; Ride the Man Down (10/14/1969), Pete is framed for murder; To Linc - With Love (10/21/1969), Linc falls in love; Lisa (11/4/1969), the squad helps a woman with a split personality; Confrontation! (11/11/1969), racial strife and murder at a college; Willie Poor Boy (11/18/1969), Pete helps an illiterate boy accused of robbery; The Death of Bill Hannachek (11/25/1969), Julie poses as a country western singer; A Place to Run, A Heart to Hide In (12/2/1969), the Squad pose as college students to investigate a murder; The Healer (12/9/1969), the Squad investigate a faith healer after a patient dies; In this Corner - Sol Albert (12/16/1969), the Squad try to find a slum landlord; and Never Give the Fuzz an Even Break (12/23/1969), the Squad try to catch a con man with a con.

Created by the legendary TV mogul Aaron Spelling, he produced it along with Danny Thomas and Sheldon Leonard. Harve Bennett replaced Spelling in later seasons. Hopefully, the remained of the series will soon be released.

This is a very good series. I,ve never seen any of these episodes before (I live in the UK). We had some episodes from Season 1 on cable. They were great, so i thought i,d give the whole of Season 1 a chance. It didn,t disappoint. I bought Season 2 - Vol 1, hoping for episodes of a similar high quality. They are superb entertainment. The only criticism is... the series might be dated. Although a lot of the dialogue is "hip 60s talk", it doesn,t spoil the shows. Can,t fault it. Season 2 - Vol 1 is definitely worth owning(as is Series 1).

Mod Squad was my favorite show growing up. I can't beleive I am able to watch all these episodes again. It brings me back to the good old days when there was more to TV than sex and swearing nad making fun of people.

This dvd shows you what was on tv back when tv was still something to watch. It shows how young people could help themselves out of bad times and help the police stop crime on the streets.

The best police drama in the history of the planet! These sets are "solid." 5 star!! What's there to complain about? I've waited decades for this to be released! Watching this brought me to tears. The interviews on the first DVD (season 1 volume 1 & 2) are awesome! One of the best casts of any TV show in TV history! I had my first boy/girl thing with Lipton. She's still as beautiful as ever! I'd marry her right now in an L.A. second (much faster than a New York Minute)! I'd cook and clean for her! Anyway, If you loved the Mod Squad don't blow it by not getting this groovy series. Much of what I learned and encouraged in life (no drugs, racial love and peace, friendship bonds, etc,) I learned from the superb performances or Peggy Lipton, Clarence Williams III and Michael Cole. Obviously the writers were awesome, but it takes the art of acting to bring it to the screen and reach people's hearts!

Thank you Peggy, Clarence and Michael! I hope you realize the positive impact you've had on an entire generation! My generation!

The Mod Squad is a seminal television show for several reasons. One is that it was so clearly a product of its times - from the clothes, hairdos, to its rebellious, revolutionary, hippie sensibilities.

The second reason is that The Mod Squad was the beginning of the legendary producing legacy of Aaron Spelling, and his many years of providing viewer-friendly programs to both ABC and Fox. Although he had worked as an actor and writer, and had already produced Johnny Ringo and Burke's Law, The Mod Squad began an incredible and unprecedented almost forty year run of producing television shows that captured fans with either high-octane action sequences, or opulent comedies or soap-operatic dramas. The partial list includes The Rookies, SWAT, Charlie's Angels, Starsky and Hutch, Vegas, Hotel, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Dynasty, Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, and Charmed.

But still at the heart of this show was the rapport and relationship between the three street kids who were rounded up and rehabilitated into undercover cops - rich kid Pete Cochran (Michael Cole), runaway Julie Barnes (Peggy Lipton), and taciturn revolutionary Lincoln Hayes (Clarence Williams III. Pete, Julie, and Linc had immediate street cred with the mostly young felons they ran across, and even though it could be testy or frosty, their relationship with their mentor and rehabilitator, Captain Adam Greer (played by Tige Andrews)was solid, and they grew to have much mutual love and respect and affection.

The shows could stretch credulity almost to the breaking point, but the shows dealt with relevant issues, were very entertaining, and well written and well acted.

It is a great treat to watch these episodes again, and we can look forward to the release of the other episodes with great anticipation.

I agree with the reviewer below. (Vitoskywalker) I won't buy this till I know that everything has been left in its original state. What CBS/Paramount did with The Fugitive (added new soundtrack) was criminal!
Let's hope this release can be enjoyed by all fans of this wonderful show - how it was intended!
Season One was fine (picture/audio); the only disappointment being that it would have been nice to have the unedited pilot included as an extra. Also, just because I'm a purist, I would have liked the original tags left in, included "the mod squad in color" on the beginning of each episode. But I know that's being picky. Hope we can keep the faith with this release.