Customer Reviews

Roseanne - The Complete First Season

5 star:		(132)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(93)

 

 

I was a huge fan of Roseanne when it aired on ABC. I rolled videotape from the start of the very first show and collected every episode from beginning to end, minus commercials. I cannot understand charging upwards of thirty or forty dollars for what are NOT the complete episodes. If you watch the DVDs of "M*A*S*H" and "Friends" and then watch the same shows on TBS and Hallmark, there's quite a bit missing in those syndicated airings....some of it in the case of those "M*A*S*H" shows is quite noticeable. I agree with the folks who've gone ahead and recorded the syndicated shows from Nick at Nite or wherever. The fans of "Roseanne" deserve to have the DVDs of the complete original airings of the show they made such a huge hit, and without the annoying banners (very distracting on all those channels) and logos in the corner through the entire shows. I loved this show...but unless Carsey-Werner allows the re-release of the DVDs with truly complete episodes, I've got the shows complete and uncut on VHS tapes from beginning to end. Anyone who thinks we're whining about this and thinks we're not true fans of the show is seeling themselves short. Funny show? Absolutely! A good deal on DVD in this version? Absolutely NOT!

Count me among the "Roseanne" fans who had this DVD box set pre-ordered until I heard about the edited content. (According to some of the newspaper sources I've seen, these episodes are edited down even farther than the syndicated versions shown daily on TV.)

No way, am I paying for edited content, even though I think "Roseanne" remains one of TV's finest comedies, and one of the few that holds up under repeated viewings. Yes, the final season was dreadful--though the series finale episode was redeeming, if not spectacular--and there's no denying the content slipped from 1994 on (the horrible "Gilligan's Island" take-off and endless OJ references spring to mind), but, for me, "Roseanne" remains the ultimate "comfort food" TV, no weight-related pun intended. Even though I've seen the episodes so often I know many of the lines by heart, I still laugh every time I watch an old episode--which, thanks to plentiful reruns, is almost daily. There is no other show, ever, that I can say that about.

And, as soon as they release unedited versions of the episodes on DVD, I'll buy the complete set. Until then, I'll be content with TV replays.

It is getting ridiculous how often studios are released EDITED, CUT versions of TV shows instead of the full versions as seen on network TV. Why pay money for edited content? Each show is cut by 2 minutes or so, so you miss about 10% of the episode. If you think it isn't a big deal, feel free to send me 10% of your paycheck each week....AVOID this set, write a polite letter to the studio telling them why you won't buy it and maybe they'll get the message that consumers want the full version on DVD, not edited junk. If you taped these off the original ABC airing, hold on to the the tapes!

Sorry to say THE COSBY SHOW DVD is the same situation, as is the first season of THAT'S MY MAMA.

Roseanne is one of the most classic shows to ever appear on television - and here we have a horrible set that I should have come here to read about before I forked over my credit card number.

These episodes are identical to those being shown in syndication right now (in my area, Roseanne airs for at least six hours - 12 episodes - every single day) on various stations, so it was a huge waste for me to buy this set since I could have just recorded the seasons on my DVD recorder/Tivo. And, I wouldn't have to wait years for them to get around to releasing them.

Carsey/Werner, the owners of the license this and the recently released and similarly CUT UP Cosby set, really need to wake up to what fans want. We don't want the same episodes we've been watching on TV for the past decade or two, we want the original, uncut airings that we haven't seen since the episodes were first run.

When a show like Roseanne is on constantly on TV throughout the day, we need more than edited, identical to what we can see on TV now versions. Carsey/Werner waited eight years into the DVD format to begin releasing these shows - too bad that wait didn't mean it would be done right.

... I read about the edited episodes. Sorry to the person that requested that people not write in to complain about this but maybe if the right people see how many sales they are losing, this will stop happening.
Yes, the series itself is a good one! It was definitely on my 'buy' list but unfortunately no longer. Same goes for 3rd Rock and Cosby. There is no good excuse for this. I'm suspicious it's their way of trying to milk us even more in the future. Can you see it in a few years? "Roseanne Season One -first time ever with unedited episodes"!!! As consumers, we need to show them we're getting wise to these tricks.

As much as I love this show, I will not spend money on edited episodes. BIG mistake Carsey Werner.

Well, there goes another great show off my list because of syndicated cuts. I don't mind one or two syndicated versions in a season set, but not the entire season. Sorry. Anchor Bay and Carsey Werner messed up on this. I won't be buying this set unless it is the complete uncut episodes. I can watch the butchered epidsodes for free on TV. Poor, poor, poor release of such a great show.

I would have given this 5 stars for great features and a great first season, except Carsey-Werner (I don't think Anchor Bay had a say in this) have released edited versions of this show.

I won't pay $40 for missing material. What is the point? I should just tape them off the TV.

Just like The Cosby Show before it, the Roseanne box set features, as rumor had it, the edited, chopped-up SYNDICATED episodes. There is at least 2 minutes cut out of each episode. I only have a few episodes left on tape from season 1, but just comparing those episodes with the ones on DVD, I see that there are some significant jokes cut from the show. With no extras to speak of (including commentary), there is NO REASON to buy this box set. This is a real shame, being that Roseanne is my favorite show and I couldn't wait to own the FULL, UNEDITED version with all the jokes back in that were removed for syndication. Instead, I can get the same thing syndicated. Just to make sure that I wasn't imagining this, I wrote Anchor Bay Entertainment asking if these are the edited episodes. I waited until today to post this review, when I received a reply from Anchor Bay. The Anchor Bay rep. that wrote me back said, and I quote: "the DVD release is the syndicated version of the series." So why buy it? Watch it on Nick at Night, tape it on video or TV and skip the commercials. There is NOTHING new to see here. Also, I wasn't impressed with the video quality. The Muppet Show DVD box set (which contains the FULL 25 minute episodes of The Muppet Show), which is nearly 20 years earlier, has a better video transfer. The Roseanne DVD doesn't even look as good as the show does on Nick at Nite, when watching it on satellite television. The show is a 10 out of 10, the DVD is a 1. A complete joke. Stay far, far away! I wouldn't buy this one from a bargain bin.

"Carsey-Werner has been made aware of the several complaints made
regarding the uncut vs. syndicated release. Anchor Bay is only
permitted to distribute the syndicated version per our contract w/Carsey-Werner. It is completely the decision of Carsey-Werner whether or not the uncut version will ever be released on DVD."

Now they say several complaints?? If that is true (not likely- i am sure there were more then that!!)- then we need to get on Carsey Werners tail on this one!!!!!!!!!!! Do you realize if they dont hear us- every season will be edited!!! RIDICULOUS! It is in the contract!! Do you guys recall this:

"Ted Green, CEO of Anchor Bay Entertainment, was quoted in a press release as saying "Our company will give these DVD releases the attention and care they...deserve. We are happy to be working with the amazing team at Carsey Werner Distribution and thrilled to add these outstanding titles to our stable of top television properties." Carsey Werner returned the compliment, saying ""'Roseanne' and '3RD Rock From The Sun' are two of our most cherished programs," said Robert Dubelko, Co-President/COO of Carsey-Werner., "When it came time to find a DVD distributor, we wanted an experienced company with the creative energy and enthusiasm to market these series the way we would do it ourselves. Anchor Bay Entertainment fit that need all the way."

Robert Dubelko needs a slap- so much for the "most cherished programs" Call him up people- this needs to stop!

I just got the horrible news ! This set is going to be the edited/syndicated episodes!! We know Roseanne herself was very anxious to have her show released on DVD, and we know she likely would not approve of this set- but this is not in her control. I LOVED this show from the start and it brings back great memories and I was completely thrilled to know the DVD set was coming out. I will NOT be buying this now. Why? These same episodes cut to shreds are on TV. 2-3 minutes per episode DOES add up- and it DOES effect the episodes. Some may not think so but think about a 26 minute show running 23 minutes after the cuts! They dont cut the credits! So you ARE losing actual footage. Example- LOOK AT THE I LOVE LUCY DVD'S WHERE PARAMOUNT ACTUALLY REINSERTED LOST FOOTAGE AFTER IT WAS CUT...SO YES THIS MAKES A DIFFERENCE. Technically this is NOT the COMPLETE FIRST SEASON- Rather then false advertising it should be noted as the First Season. The packaging should also reflect these are SYNDICATED versions. Look what happened to all the COSBY fans that are in an uproar now. I am really pissed about this....There will be fans who buy this set- and others to follow- but what happens say in a year- if they re-release the UNCUT versions! Is it all a money thing? Why cant they get the original prints? They were able to dig up BLOOPERS for crying out loud- they cant get the original episodes??? Carsey Werner need to get the act together- this is NO way to TREAT some GREAT TV SHOW!! SHAME ON THEM. We need to contact Carsey Werner- this should be fixed. Again, Roseanne was from the 80's..you cant tell me Carsey Werner could not supply the unedited prints- I Love Lucy was from the 50's COMPLETELY restored with the lost footage edited back in!! Someone made a great point - so to the reviewers who think we are "whining"- would you buy say the syndicated versions of "The Wizard of Oz" , "Gone With the Wind" - think about that.............. Disgusted
UPDATE: I THINK SINCE CARSEY WERNER SCREWED UP SO BAD- AND IT IS NOT LIKELY THEY WILL RE-RELEASE THE SET- WHAT THEY SHOULD DO- IS LET US BUY THE SEASON- SEND THE RECEIPT IN WITH OUR EDITED-MESS OF EPISODES AND THEY SHOULD SEND US NEW DISCS WITH THE FULL UNEDITED EPISODES.