This is truly the Infantile years as Steve Smith develops his Red Green Persona. Reds voice is a lot lower & slower here and the show is still finding its way. The formats change slightly but by year 3 they find their way with a new Canadian network at the helm.
This is not to say that these early shows are not fun, they are. But you will see the show develop & progress as you enjoy their antics.
An all to brief Steve Smith introduction is repeated on disc 1 of all three years in this set, yes the very same introduction, and he states that the Canadian network was trying to make the show a sit-com in year two, but fortunately they dropped the show & a new Canadian network bought it allowing year 3 to develop into the show we know today.
But don't worry, even in these early years, the gang is here: Harold, Bill Smith, Ranger Gord, Hap Shaughnessy & others. By year 3 Harold is running his own 'network' and there is a live audience. So sit back & enjoy the start of a 15 year run!
Year 1 Disc 1
Steve Smith Introduction
1) THE BIG INBOARD - The men build a motor V8 engine.
2) THE ELVIS SIGHTING
3) THE UFO
4) THE TREASURE HUNT
5) PRACTICAL JOKE WEEK
6) HOME BARBER KIT
7) HE-MAN CONTEST
8) GUEST ELEPHANT
Year 1 Disc 2
9) EXOTIC DANCER - Moose visits an exotic Dancer
10) LOST TOUPEE
11) TALENT SHOW
12) PROBLEM OUTHOUSE
13) WHITTLING CONTEST
14) WIND-POWERED BOAT (previously released on STUFFED & MOUNTED volume 1)
15) HOT WATER BOTTLE - Blowing up a hot water bottle
16) LODGE VISITOR - An unexpected guest causes a ruckus
Year 1 Disc 3
17) GUN-POWDER SHAKES - An explosive drink!
18) SAFETY WEEK
19) BAD CHILI - There is a running show lost in the chili
20) WATER TOWER
21) JET-SKI
22) NEW WELL
23) CANOE JOUSTING
24) WATER SLIDE
Year 2 Disc 1 (The sit-com year, see explanation below)
Steve Smith Introduction
1) THE PUTTER ATTACK - Noel hits Helmut on the head.
2) DOC'S LOAN - An Angry Helmut comes to collect from Doc.
3) MISSING - Eddie's Robert Goulet record collection disappears.
4) THE RECEIPT-A-THON - The Tax Man Cometh!
5) THE SING-A-LONG MACHINE - Karaoke turns dangerous!
6) BEAR!!! - A female bear can not resist Red & the gang.
7) THE BAD CHECK-UP - Glen is denied RV insurance.
8) THE FOUR-MAN RAFT - Murray makes a bad business deal.
Year 2 Disc 2
9) SKEET GOLF - Bob's Passion for golf causes an accident.
10) THE BROKEN WATER PUMP - Helmut struggles with the repairs.
11) THE ILLEGAL CLUBS - Bob buys a set of questionable golf clubs.
12) ANIMALS IN THE ATTIC - Eddie befriends a raccoon in the attic.
13) THE PARTY BOAT SANK - Glen is blamed for sinking a boat.
14) THE FOOD CLUB - Eddie quits after a dispute with Douglas.
15) THE FISH LOCATOR - Doc buys a gadget he can not afford.
16) THE BENT CANOE - Helmut destroys the lodge's canoe.
Year 2 Disc 3
17) JOB SECURITY - Noel is fired and replaced by Helmut.
18) NOEL'S STAG - The guys plan a stag party for Noel.
19) BOB'S BIRTHDAY - A surprise party goes awry.
20) THE SUDSY LAKE - Possum Lake is covered in pink foam.
21) THE GUN MISHAP - Noel accidentally shoots Murray.
22) THE DOUBLE DATE - Glen & Helmut go on a double date.
23) THE FLORIDA TRIP - The gang plans a trip to Florida without Glen.
24) NOT ONE FISH - The lake's fish are disappearing & the gang wants to know why.
Year 3 Disc 1 (the show as we know it now)
Steve Smith introduction
1) MAPLE SYRUP - The men collect syrup with Russian Munitions. (previously on STUFFED & MOUNTED vol. 1)
2) CAR POOL - Red starts a car pool with limited success. (previously on STUFFED & MOUNTED vol. 2)
3) THE SPAWNING GROUNDS - Spawning is the new plan to get government money. (previously on STUFFED & MOUNTED vol. 3)
4) MAGNETIC LAKE - A freak accident magnetizes Possum Lake. (previously on STUFFED & MOUNTED vol. 4)
5) UNDERGROUND PARKING - An old mine becomes a parking garage. (previously on STUFFED & MOUNTED vol. 5)
6) THE TANKS WE GET - Donated gas tanks overwhelm the lodge. (previously on STUFFED & MOUNTED vol. 6)
7) FIRE BRIGADE - The lodge forms its own volunteer fire department. (previously on STUFFED & MOUNTED vol. 1)
8) THE NEW SHIRT/CASINO - Red's new shirt causes friction at Casino Night
Year 3 Disc 2
9) GREEN GREEN - Red tries to clean up the environment.
10) FUEL CONVERSION - The men convert their cars to run on firewood!
11) THE HIDDEN MINE - The guys find a secret mine hatch.
12) LAKE REGULATIONS - The lodge confronts a yuppie canoe club.
13) CROSS THE LAKE RACE - The men get the chance to work with nudists.
14) THE SALMON PARADE - A parade celebrates the salmon's return.
15) THE FUNNIEST VIDEO - The guys send in a funny video to a TV show.
16) BIOSPHERE THREE - The gang tries out a biosphere experiment.
Year 3 Disc 3
17) THE WATER PARK - The boys outfit the lake for a water park.
18) THE USED HELICOPTER - The men acquire a "gently" used helicopter.
19) POSSUM LAKE REGATTA - Moose's junker joins the Regatta.
20) THE RETIREMENT HOME - Old Man Sedgwick wants a cottage.
21) SLINGSHOT SKIING - Moose decodes to water ski without a boat.
22) THE POSSUM OLYMPICS - The lodge hosts their biannual event.
23) POSSUM LAKE MONSTER - A dinosaur is sighted in the lake.
24) THE WATER SHOW - The gang puts on a water show.
I should explain more about 'The Sit-com Year' year 2. The entire half hour show is not a sit-com, you still have 'The Handyman Corner', 'Adventures With Bill', the Campfire Song and other bits. But in this year there is an actual sketch with the boys of the club, often with Red & Harold taking the backseat to the other club members. Bill is there, but in tradition of his adventures, he never talks. The descriptions above for year two are the storylines of the sketches. It is rather odd to see these segments, but don't worry they last only about 5 minutes. Year 2 also has no live audience, the laughs are canned laughter. Year 3 brings in the live laughter.
By the way, did you ever wonder just what that gadget is that Harold wears around his neck to control the effects of the show? It is the control panel to an AMPEX 2" video tape recorder (called a "quad" player because it used 4 heads to play out one picture), most of these were retired by TV stations in the 1980's when the smaller 1" video tape format replaced it.
Overall this is a real treat for fans to see the rare early shows.
My only complaint is about the lack of substantial bonus material. The old "STUFFED & MOUNTED" discs had much more to offer for insight. And why repeat the only short interview in all three sets? Maybe Acorn intended at one time to sell these separately, but still couldn't Steve have shot three different introductions? He had to spend the time getting into costume anyway!