Customer Reviews

Soul Food - The Complete First Season

5 star:		(86)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Below is a letter I have just written to Paramount concerning the release of Soul Food's subsequent seasons. I called them as well and they claim it is coming out but that they are dealing with some clearance issues...I feel like the fans are getting the run around...so I say still campaign for a release! Feel free to copy my letter and add your personal spin to it and send it to the address listed. If you prefer the more direct approach as well -- Call at 323.956.5000 -- press 0 and ask for the Home Entertainment department -- leave a message --- they will call you back -- that's how I heard about the "clearance" issue. The guy I spoke to was nice and optimistic about a release...so hopefully a release will in fact occur SOON! I have been told this is the most requested DVD. Even some of the operators at Paramount are waiting for a release. Go figure!


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Yes, it's that time again for you to hear yet another request for the release of "Soul Food" - Seasons 2-5.

First, I would love to know what is taking so long? I've been told that the sales of the first season were not up to par, so that's why the second season has been delayed THREE years. But, perhaps it's not the series; perhaps you need a better marketing plan when it comes to promoting the "Soul Food" DVD (i.e., you could have deleted scenes, commentaries, bloopers, free gift certificates to certain Soul Food restaurants, the options are endless). Or, perhaps the price was too high for the first season - I've heard that from consumers as well. Whatever it was, clearly there is a demand for the series, especially since it has been added to basic cable (i.e., BET (but realize this is the edited version - which takes away the passion of the series)). Furthermore, I know that you get tons of emails, letters, and calls requesting the release of the second season. Plus, you can go on certain message boards and find people discussing their frustrations with regard to the delay. There are even petitions up [...] So the demand is there!

Recently, I've been told that there is a "clearance" issue with guest stars who were featured on the series, so that's why there's a delay. But wouldn't that be an issue that was cleared when they signed on to play their roles on the show? Wouldn't they have signed away their "likeness" then? Just curious.

Could there be a problem with not wanting to promote a positive image of African-Americans? Is there a problem with the image of a black family sticking together through adversity? I mean, black comedies surely do not have a problem being released. In fact, both seasons of the show "That's My Mama" was released and that show was not and is not nearly as popular as "Soul Food."

In the end, I'm hoping the release of the subsequent seasons is well on its way. If not, that would be a terrible loss to your viewing audience. Entertainment needs to showcase more positive images of African-Americans, "Soul Food" did just that. I would think your company would support such a movement. Thank you and I look forward to the release.

Every once in a while I would be channel surfing and come across Soul Food on Showtime until once I stopped and watched an episode. I got the first season on DVD right away after that. This is a greatly written series, which presents the events in the life of a normal family. The viewer gets to see all kinds of emotions among the different characters, from love to rage, hope to disenchantment, trust to suspicion, etc.

Big Mama held the Joseph family together, and when she died they went through a rough patch, events that are shown in the movie that originated the series. Now, the three sisters and their loved ones have to fend off by themselves through this maze called life. Teri (Nicole Ari Parker) is the successful lawyer, who spends most of her time trying to make partner and who is going through a divorce after her husband cheated on her with her own cousin. Bird (Malinda Williams) is having a baby in the first episodes of the series and looks forward to life with her husband Lem, who has supposedly rehabilitated after being in prison for a short period of time. But Lem is having trouble getting a "regular" job, so his options are running out and he may be forced to go back to his previous activities. The third sister, Maxine, is a stay-at-home mom, with three kids, married to Kenny, owner of his own business. Her oldest kid Ahmad, who is entering into adolescence, is one of the central characters of this story. He is the one that brought the family together in the movie, and now he has the role of telling the story and sharing his thoughts with the audience.

All of these different characters have their problems and they usually find in their loved ones the support necessary to resolve them. In several episodes we get to see Big Mama again in the recollections of the different characters about how her wisdom and love led them through life. I wish I had the chance to see the following seasons on DVD, but sadly it seems that is not going to happen, so I will probably have to catch these episodes on TV.

Why is this show unbelievable? Is it because it shows blacks in a positive light instead of the jive talkin', rappin, loud talking, fool acting people that blacks potray in most of these dumb tv shows on today? Blacks can be successful and it is about time a TV show like Soul Food was made to show it. This is one of the rare exceptions that the TV remake is actually better than the original movie. Most white people don't believe this, but there are sucessful blacks out here that are not sports stars or rappers. This show potrays middle class blacks going through everyday (and some not so everyday) problems that people go through. If this was a white show it would have earned several Emmys by now.

I was so happy when finally the word came out that Soul Food's first season was being released. I did not subscribe to Showtime when it initially aired and missed the entire season. I was however, very troubled by the high price of the set. On every dvd site I've checked, Soul Food's price for a 5 dvd set surpasses other hour long dramas with 6 dvd's (eg The Sopranos, Once & Again, Felicity). I suspected that the price was set high to DISCOURAGE purchases and in effect justify the non-release of subsequent seasons.

Anyway, I bought a used set and am quite satisfied with it but hope that if they release Seasons 2-5, they keep the price in line with other series ($35 for a 5 dvd set is reasonable, $80 IS NOT!!!!!)

And to that poster from the lovely, racially enlighted state of KY: you seem to be someone who did not really watch this series and is a caucasian who does not know any African-Americans personally. It is 2004 - we are doctors, lawyers, professors, investment bankers, business owners - in other words, we are just like you. So why is it unbelievable to see a family where there is a lawyer, two business owners and a stay-at-home mom venturing out into the workplace? Would it have been more believable to you if they were all unemployed & on welfare, selling drugs and shooting each other?? You need to open your mind and refrain from making such stupid/uninformed comments about people that you obviously know nothing about.

Season 2 through 4. What's taking so long?

Like a lot of other reviewers I would like to know what is taking so long to release the rest of the seasons on dvd. I took the liberty of contacting showtime to find out what is taking so long. Especially since they release shows that don't have half the appeal of Soul Food very quickly. I may have to organize a protest if I don't see them come out soon.

This is a great series to follow, not only for minority viewers but for everyone. While it focuses on some issues unique to people of color, the main focus of the show is on the strength, power, and importance of family; which is a lesson for all people. I am shocked and disappointed that after waiting patiently for close to 3 years, Paramount seemingly refuses to recognize the many fans of the series that span the color spectrum, and thus have failed to release Seasons 2-5 on DVD. Soul Food, at only 5 seasons, was the longest African American drama on television, if only for that reason I would think it deserves the accolades given so easily to other shows like the Gilmore Girls ( a lesser watched gem that managed to have two seasons on DVD). Additionally, they have priced the DVD so unrealistically that it makes it hard for fans to buy it and gives Paramount a reason not to put out the other seasons. I urge people to buy this DVD and enjoy this wonderful and soulful show.

The only solution to Paramounts ignorance is a full fledged boycott. Lets start the boycott and I bet it won't take more than 3 months for them to release the next season of Soul Food. Spread the word to any other forum/review that you visit that discusses this matter! Do not buy (or rent) anything with the Paramount name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please spread the word.

That this show went off the air is still a disgrace. That it wasn't publicized more or picked up by a network -- ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox -- suggests that unless black folks are in comedies, most network execs can't be so bothered. How was this show any less entertaining, dramatic, or sexy than anything one might have seen on Sex and the City or, more recently, Grey's Anatomy? I bet most, if not all of the stars of this show could use a steady gig again. BRING BACK THIS SHOW!! (And, in the meantime, release the rest of the episodes on dvd. What could possibly be taking so long? Hell, they are releasing shows from the 1960s on dvd -- in their entirety. There is something most seriously wrong with the delay in releasing the remaining seasons of this great show.

Renee

All Soul Food fans please contact Erica Custler at Paramount Studios (323-965-5000) to file a complaint. She currently documenting the number of complaints received to give to the powers that be to spead up season 2-5. Apparently, Paramount put season 2-5 on the back burner due to lack of popularity....now that is ridiculous. I rememeber when season one came out it was sold out everywhere so I do know why they are taking so long. PLEASE CALL PARAMOUNT STUDIOS AND SUPPORT BLACK FILMS. The BET repeats are too edited and cuts out so much of the great stuff. Congratulations to Boris and Nicole (Soul Food actors) you have beautiful baby girl named Sophie.