Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Mono), English (Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: October 7, 2008
• Run Time: 198 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001BN4WJ0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,594 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The idea behind TV Sets: Holiday Treats is so appealing, and so obvious, it’s a wonder someone didn’t think of it long ago. This compilation of eight Christmas-themed sit-coms spanning some 40 years serves as a reminder, in its sit-commy way, of what’s really important about the holiday season; it also provides an interesting look at the evolution of the genre and the ways in which it reflects its times. Back in the "Golden Age," when seminal shows like I Love Lucy (represented here by a mediocre 1956 offering that’s little more than a compilation of clips from earlier episodes) and The Honeymooners (a charming "Gift of the Magi" adaptation from ’55, with Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, and Art Carney terrific as always) ruled, the fact that they were shot in black and & white and performed before a genuinely live audience gave them a little extra je ne sais quoi; mistakes could be made, lines blown, but these brilliant performers would always overcome. By the time of The Brady Bunch in 1969, sitcoms were about as edgy as a circle (this cute episode about reaffirming family values is well-intentioned but painfully square by any standard), whereas in the post-Watergate era, shows like Taxi were rude and confrontational (in this episode from ’78, Louie, played by Danny De Vito, gets into a poker match with his estranged brother, with their mother as the "prize"). Family Ties, with Michael J. Fox as the selfish, money-hungry Alex Keaton, typified the so-called "Me Decade" (this 1983 selection is a lazy version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with Alex as Scrooge), while Frasier reflects the cynicism of the ‘90s ("Miracle on Third or Fourth Street," the episode included here, is the best-written, funniest, and least mawkish of the whole collection). The set also includes installments from The Andy Griffith Show from 1960 and Wings from 1990. There are no bonus features. --Sam Graham

Product Description

TV SETS:HOLIDAY TREATS - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Your Own "TV Land" Christmas Mini-Marathon!, November 9, 2008

By 

D. C. Squires (High in the sky traveling at Mach-2) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: TV Sets: Holiday Treats (DVD)

Holiday Treats is a wonderful idea that speaks volumes about TV sitcoms and their eagerness to note the Christmas season in a merry, fun, and ever so slightly poignant way. I only hope it inspires other studios to broaden their horizons and attempt other creative compilations instead of just repackaging the same popular movies or imploring people to buy them again in high definition.

A few observations specific to this compilation are easy to make. For instance, almost all of the selected episodes are from the shows' first seasons and thus have the feel of sitcoms still finding their way. The eldest ones, "Lucy" and "Honeymooners" revel in simplicity, keeping themselves close to the radio program format that often guided early TV. Later works such as "Taxi" and "Frasier" offer more complexity in characters and circumstances. The two centering on nuclear families, "Brady Bunch" and "Family Ties", tend to succceed largely due to their settings and group dynamic.

Regardless of how much you've seen of these eight shows in the past (and I'd imagine nearly everyone has seen, or at least knows, a bit), each becomes abundantly familiar in the course of its featured episode. You don't need context or full character backstories. This is just television comedy. It went down smoothly upon first airing and, for the most part, continues to do so today.

Here are synopses and information on the eight episodes of Holiday Treats:

1. I Love Lucy: "I Love Lucy Christmas Show" (26:04) (Originally aired December 24, 1956)
In between familiar sources of holiday laughs (Little Ricky's questions about Santa Claus, Fred's errant tree-trimming), clips from past episodes are broadly cued. The featured flashbacks are: Lucy (Lucille Ball) giving Ricky (Desi Arnaz) news of her pregnancy, Lucy's tuneless performance as part of a barbershop quartet, and the group's delivery room rehearsal and run.

Introductory text screens announce that this special was missing for 33 years before CBS found it and aired it in 1989.

It's presented in full here, even leaving a Sanka commercial message intact. The episode is followed by another long-lost-but-rediscovered item: 1951 excerpt "Jingle Bells" (3:18) from Season 1's "Drafted" that was recreated nearly shot-by-shot in the special's 5-Santa finale.

2. The Honeymooners: "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" (26:00) (Originally aired December 24, 1955)
Gift exchanges are in order, as Ralph (Jackie Gleason) tries to sneak a glimpse of what wife Alice (Audrey Meadows) has gotten him. When he learns that his present for her is neither special nor unique, he does his best to correct it with no money and time running out. The episode ends with the cast wishing its audience a Merry Christmas, which is sometimes cut in syndication.

3. The Andy Griffith Show: "Christmas Story" (26:01) (Originally aired December 19, 1960)
Grouchy storeowner Ben Weaver (Will Wright) threatens the merry mood at Mayberry's police station. Meanwhile, sheriff Andy (Andy Griffith) enlists deputy Barney (Don Knotts) to play a skinny Santa.

4. The Brady Bunch: "The Voice of Christmas" (25:31) (Originally aired December 19, 1969)
Just days before she's due to sing at Church, Carol (Florence Henderson) comes down with laryngitis. While she's reduced to whispers and wearing a stinky neck wrap prepared by Alice, the other Bradys carry on with Christmas traditions: setting up the tree, a sit on Santa's lap, and presents talk.

5. Taxi: "A Full House for Christmas" (24:31) (Originally aired December 12, 1978)
Louie (Danny DeVito) is excited to have his estranged brother Nick (guest Richard Foronjy) visit for Christmas, but soon is angered by Nick's disregard of their mother.
To make things right, Louie bankrolls Alex (Judd Hirsch) in a high-stakes poker match against Nick. This is easily the disc's least Christmassy episode and probably its least mirthful one too.

6. Family Ties: "A Keaton Christmas Carol" (24:07) (Originally aired December 14, 1983)
Severely lacking in seasonal spirit à la Ebenezer Scrooge, Alex P. Keaton (Michael J. Fox) is visited by sister-ghosts (Tina Yothers, Justine Bateman) and shown a cheery Christmas past and gloomy potential Christmas future. They serve to adjust his outlook on the holiday.

7. Frasier: "Miracle on Third or Fourth Street" (22:12) (Originally aired December 16, 1993)
After an argument with his father, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) opts to spend Christmas Day not at the family log cabin but at work on his call-in radio show. It's a sad, lonely, and (in the "Frasier" tradition) not particularly funny holiday, despite guest callers including Mel Brooks, Rosemary Clooney, and Ben Stiller.

8. Wings: "A Terminal Christmas" (22:58) (Originally aired December 21, 1990)
The employees of Nantucket's tiny Tom Nevers Field airport all show up for work on Christmas only have to snow and a passenger cancellation keep them from their plans. Instead, they make an unannounced visit to Fay's (Rebecca Schull) house, where they help her get over the still-fresh death of her husband.

VIDEO and AUDIO

I'm fairly certain that the episode presentations here are identical to their appearances on earlier season set DVDs. Paramount may not be the best studio at bonus features or pricing, but their audio/video usually doesn't leave much to be desired. That's truer of movies than TV series, but the shows still look and sound quite good here, especially considering the age of the older ones. Of course, this isn't a disc you get to show off the picture and sound. But if you've ever bought a $1 DVD of vintage television in the public domain, then you'll be quite pleased by how much easier on the eyes and ears the content here is. Disappointingly, no subtitles whatsoever are provided, but closed captions are.

BONUS FEATURES, MENUS, PACKAGING and DESIGN

No designated bonus features are included here. While it would have been nice to get some kind of discussion of the holiday episode and its significance in sitcom production, the disc is quite filled to the brim already with 3 and a half hours of content.
And as even the best short featurette is likely to have less appeal than a popular TV show episode, the void of extras makes sense.

As does the lack of an insert, since the case back provides show and episode titles, synopses, and even original airdates.

It's worth mentioning that a couple of animated CBS holiday greetings spots fron the early 70's are scattered about. A one-minute one involves birds and a woodsman with a saw, while a 30-second one features an obviouly poverty striken girl's visit to Santa and her desire for his red coat ('tis better to give than receive). The prominent hiss of their soundtracks suggests they're old, but beyond that they're of indeterminate origin. Their inclusion is a very nice touch, but it would have been nicer with a few more similar promos being used instead of the same two being alternately repeated between each show change.

Though the static, silent menu is limited and fairly no-frills, it is cued by a very cool minute-long introduction that helps explain what this is with animation and the featured show's title logos.

Not everyone will see the value in Paramount's Holiday Treats DVD, but I think it's a pretty brilliant collection. The disc surveys forty years of TV sitcoms, provides eight distinctly different yet similar observations of Christmas, and entertains heartily doing both. I'd even encourage a buy by those who might already have two or more of the featured episodes in a DVD set. Note to studios: more DVDs like this, please. And let's not forget those great holiday variety show specials, too!

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Holiday TV DVD Set To Get You In The Spirit., October 13, 2008

By 

Paul Riesebeck "riesen2b" (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: TV Sets: Holiday Treats (DVD)

The DVD is called "Holiday Treats" and has been issued by CBS DVD and Paramount. When I found this I thought it would be a good addition to a Christmas DVD that I have featuring episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies, Jack Benny, Ozzie And Harriet, and Red Skelton.

That DVD came out a few years ago and I still see it in stores every year. It is called "Vintage Christmas Classics", and was released by Alpha Video. You can order it as well right here on Amazon at a great price.

However, the main gist of this article is about "Holiday Treats". The title is appropriate as several of these Christmas episodes I have been hoping to have copies of for a long time. There are 8 shows featured on this DVD. In order, they are "I Love Lucy" (12-24-1956), "The Honeymooners" (12-24-1955), "The Andy Griffith Show" (12-19-1960), "The Brady Bunch" (12-19-1969), "Taxi" (12-12-1978), "Family Ties" (12-14-1983), "Frasier" (12-16-1993), and "Wings" (12-21-1990).

They are all great Christmas episodes, with "Frasier", "Wings" and "Taxi" probably being the two funniest, and "The Brady Bunch" being the most sentimental. The picture quality is great although I haven't tried it out yet on the large HDTV television. I have only run through the episodes on the computer so far.

Of course, since these shows are owned by Paramount and Viacom who are becoming notorious for issuing half seasons of television series at full season prices, and also for refusing to cough up money to pay for the rights to use original music on some shows (most recently changing the music to "My Three Sons"), this DVD collection also has issues. At least they tell you on the back that the music has been changed.

Well, it turns out that it affected only two series - "Wings" and "Frasier". And because both episodes are so funny, and since I paid so little for them, I can live with it.

You can't go wrong if you add this title to your Christmas DVD collection.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Holiday Treats' and the 2010 release 'Christmas Treats' are staples for a diet of old holiday themed sit-coms!, November 4, 2010

By 

Jeffrey A "Jeff" (Miami) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: TV Sets: Holiday Treats (DVD)

This 2008 DVD Production - DVD 'Holiday Treats' by Paramount Studio features eight complete episodes from December 1955 to December 1993.

"I Love Lucy" - one episode - (aired on 12/24/1956) - "I Love Lucy Christmas Show"

"The Honeymooners" - one episode - (aired on 12/24/1955) - "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"

"The Andy Griffith Show" - one episode - (aired on 12/19/1960) - "Christmas Story"

"The Brady Bunch" - one episode - (aired on 12/19/1969) - "The Voice of Christmas"

"Taxi" - one episode - (aired on 12/12/1978) - " A Full House for Christmas"

"Family Ties" - one episode - (aired on 12/14/1983) - "A Keaton Christmas Carol"

"Frasier" - one episode - (aired on 12/16/1993) - "Miracle on Third or Fourth Street"

"Wings" - one episode - (aired on 12/21/1990) - "A Terminal Christmas"

VIDEO:
The footage on this disc is vintage television, so the DVD format is fullscreen (4:3) NTSC. The picture quality is good - less so in the earlier shows - but certainly watchable. The picture quality, as to be expected, is much better in the 'newer' 1980's to 1990's episodes!

HINT: The picture quality is improved if the disc is played on a DVD player with upconversion to 1080p or a blu-ray DVD player.

AUDIO:
Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, Dolby Surround 2.0 - only for the 1980's and 1990's shows. Close Captions (only) - no subtitles. :(

On November 2nd 2010, Paramount Studio released the DVD Collection, 'Christmas Treats' featuring nine different holiday themed sit-coms, none of which were featured on the earlier DVD release, 'Holiday Treats'. Both DVDs together feature 17 different sit-coms and are essential to any collection of holiday themed old tv shows. 'Holiday Treats' and 'Christmas Treats' can be ordered together as the combo pack - 'TV Sets: Holiday'. I orderered them separate - costing roughly $10 each, these DVDs make great 'stocking stuffers' or can be given in lieu of Christmas cards).

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: The 2009 DVD release by Shout Factory Studio is Merry Sitcom! Christmas Classics from TV's Golden Age. It is a great buy with almost three hours of classic television featuring seven retro tv shows - different from those featured on the DVDs 'Holiday Treats' and 'Christmas Treats'. These three DVDs - Merry Sitcom! Christmas Classics from TV's Golden Age, 'Christmas Treats' and TV Sets: Holiday Treats feature 24 different holiday themed sit-coms - making them highly collectible!

SOME ADVICE: Refrain from buying the public domain releases of the older tv shows that are being sold at bargain prices. You get what you pay for - low quality video and audio!

2011 UPDATE: Pick up this retro TV DVD - That 70s Show - Holiday Edition

Happy Holidays Everyone! Jeffrey A. (Jeff)