Product Details

• Actors: Rob Morrow, Janine Turner, Barry Corbin, John Cullum, Darren E. Burrows
• Writers: Jeff Melvoin, John Falsey, Jordan Budde, Joshua Brand
• Producers: Henry Bromell
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Universal Studios
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302763878
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #216,204 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Jewish New Yorker Dr. Joel Fleischman agrees to work in Alaska for four years. In exchange the state of Alaska will pay his outstanding Columbia Medical School bills. Unable to get a position in Anchorage, he accepts a position in rural Cecily. Characters include Maurice J. Minnifield, Walter and his wife Edna and Maggie.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Beginning For A Great Show, My All Time Favorite!, April 16, 2000

By 

Ryan Costantino (Nowhere, Special) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Northern Exposure - The First Episode [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This was the first of 110 hour long shows about a town in Alaska called Cicely and the wide range of personalities that inhabited it. Northern Exposure was an hour of magic each week, a way to dream about far off places and amazing occurences that just don't seem to happen in the lower 48. Whether it be a snobby, narrow minded doctor from New York, a female bush pilot who can't seem to keep a boyfriend alive, an Ex-con with a penchant for philosophy and art, a Native American destined to be a Shaman, a former Astronaut with deep pockets and a power complex, Queen of the Northwest Passage, a Bartender who's the voice of reason and numerous guest stars (Adam Arkin as "Adam" is my favorite). With spectacular scenery, outrageous storylines and loveable characters this was a reason to watch tv. Now it doesn't seem like there is much quality tv on the air and so syndicated reruns of Northern Exposure are perfect for an hour of lazing around and broadening your horizons and your outlook on life. But it takes a special breed of human to enjoy this show, anyone with an imagination and dreams should take right to it. Those who've forgotten how to be a child and who deny any magic in their lives need not apply.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best TV Series Ever!, April 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Northern Exposure - The First Episode [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Northern Exposure has to be the most wonderfully directed, acted, and produced television series' I have ever seen. Especially the pilot episode. The scenary and the music in every episode make you feel as if you are a part of it all. Every episode has a very emotional ending, and leaves you with this warm, satisfying feeling inside. After watching Northern Exposure, I wanted to move to Alaska for the longest time. From Chris in the Morning to Dr. Fleischman, every character is dynamic, and you can never once tell that they are acting. It is just a very wonderfully natural show. I tried to get some of my friends to watch it, but they don't get the worth and moral value from it that I do. I hope that TV stations keep playing the re-runs on A & E or other networks. Rob Morrow, aka Dr. Joel Fleischman, is one of the best, and now one of my personal favorite, actors. The way each episode goes into detail about the smallest things, just shows you how thought-out, well-written, and well-planned the makers are. Its a shame there aren't more series like Northern Exposure today. The makers also did an A+ job in casting the characters. I don't really have a favorite, since they are all just great, but I especially like Chris, Ed, and Fleischman. Chris has this intellectual way about him. He's sort of a rehabilitated philosopher so to speak. He and his radio show are one of the key moral points of the series. He usually sums up the moral value of each episode. I just can't say enough about this show!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Start of a Beautiful Relationship - Welcome Joel!, October 19, 2001

By 

K. Zung "puppet queen" (Graham Crackers, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Northern Exposure - The First Episode [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This TV show won all those Emmy Awards for a very good reason. It was simply the most entertaining, artistic, challenging, captivating program on the box in years. Nothing has topped it yet in pure escapist value. Inventive magic! The dynamics between all the characters makes the viewer yearn to belong to a Utopian Cicely of their own. Even though you can see the actors in their new roles trying to get their bearings, feeling out who they are going to be, this pilot episode features a smooth ensemble cast. They seemed to sense they'd be together for quite awhile. 5 years in fact! Joel provides constant City Mouse/Country Mouse contrast. This is the thinking person's TV.