Customer Reviews

Underdog Boxed Set (Collector's Edition/Chronicles/Nemesis)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Did I miss something that the other reviewers saw? Or did I get a defective DVD set? This set would have been alot better if Classic Media kept Underdog as the original TV series. Each Underdog episode was initially shown as a serial with cliff-hangers. In between each cliffhanger was a short like Tennesse Tuxedo. What Classic Media did was to run each episode in one complete uninterrupted showing. This takes away from the original series' charm. The "Cliffhanger episodes" are banished into the features section which is a shame because the cliffhangers are classics in and among themselves. The features would have been better if they interviewed some of the actors such as Don Adams or even some of the people involved with the production such as Howard Stern's father, Ben. Instead you get co-creator Joe Harris' creepy account of a never before seen Underdog episode written for two girls.

Most of the time, I cringe when I see my old favorite shows that I haven't seen in years. After watching these DVDs, I was pleasantly surprised that Underdog still brings a smile to my heart.

These DVDs were packaged both separately and together as this box set. They are NOT the complete series, which ran for a lengthy 120 episodes over 7 seasons.

There really isn't a single clunker in this small selection of episodes whose plots range from the standard evil-invention-of-the-week (The Vacuum Gun) to the moral tale about standing up to evil (The Witch of Picayoon, my favorite episode) to alien slapstick (Zot).

If anything, I was disappointed because each disc was over so quickly and left me wanting more. On each disc, there are teasers to "Episodes available on VHS" but these either never existed or are out of print.

I must agree with the other reviewers that this set is awful as it does no show the episodes in the original clifhanger form as shown on TV. I will be the first in line to buy underdog when it is produced as it was ORIGINALLY shown with all the shorts like tennessee tuxedo and commander mcbragg and with the cliffhangers. Come on guys give us the original show as it should be and this set will fly off the shelves. Until then you can keep this junk.

"Underdog" was one of my all-time favorite cartoons back in the day, and this DVD trio has a nice sampler of the canine crusader's finest. From the three-eyed aliens on Planet "ZOT" to the metal-munching cloud-men in "Silver Thieves" and, of course, regular bad guys Simon Bar-Sinister and Riff Raff, nothing ever beats Underdog: "I am the hero who never fails/I cannot be bothered with those details!" Kids who appreciate a tongue-in-cheek superhero will love "Underdog", and adults will go for the Jay Ward-style humor and animation (with that pleasantly-crude look courtesy of the Mexican "Bullwinkle" artists). Eight "Underdog" episodes- shown as full 15-minute segments, not the original four-part format- are paired with mini-adventures and the oft-forgotten supporting shorts from the unsung Total TV stable. Of these, I loved both "Tennessee Tuxedo"- with Don Adams as the plucky penguin and Larry Storch as absent-minded professor P.J. Whoopee, plus quick-and-witty science/history lessons to boot- and "Go Go Gophers", a neat little Western spoof with the two "brave braves", Ruffled Feathers (he's the one who talks in whoops) and Running Board, as the un-PC Indian heroes. (Was this the inspiration for "F Troop?") Presented in surprisingly-good color, with a great cast of New York-accented voices including Adams, Storch, Wally Cox (of course) and Allen Swift (check out his "Jimmy Durante" voice on King ZOT!), and featuring the most rousing theme song in cartoon history, you'll learn why I've had an Underdog magnet on my fridge for 20 years.
This is classic guilty-pleasure stuff for big and little kids alike: "It's a bird- it's a plane- it's a frog! (A frog?)/ Not plane, not bird, nor even frog- it's just little ol' me (crashes into airplane)...Underdog!"

The title of the product gives the impression that the contents will be the complete series of Underdog. Afterall, is that not what the collector would want? However, all in all, it is about 11 episodes, which is sadly disappointing.

There is no continuity between the episodes, no obvious reason for the grouping, nothing but a quick assembly and package job in hopes of suckering an old fan into buying just a piece of what he really wants.

As has been stated here, there are none of the "cliffhanger" episodes, which is both a plus and a minus. The little cartoons were most enjoyable, and the handful we are given is a sad sampling and a sorry excuse. However, on the other hand, it is nice to be able to watch an entire episode of Underdog without being interrupted.

But again, beware of this product, as it is nothing more than a tease. I suggest not buying it now, but rather waiting until the whole series is released on DVD, to save having to pay for the same thing twice.

If you are someone who grew up watching the faded reruns of the courageous canine you will be stunned by the rich colors and stereophonic sound of the digitally remastered episodes of this animated classic. The cliffhangers and original episode titles may be gone but the edits are smooth making this collection of DVD's nearly perfect. A five star collection with enough pluses like the once missing and very memorable theme song and opening credits. The reasonably priced videos are also worth adding to your collection because additional cartoon adventures of Underdog are on the tapes.

When I was just a little boy, my heart was filled with glee whenever my friend Underdog appeared on my TV. From lovable, humble shoeshine boy to dynamic flying hound, no better television show for childhood could be found. Now that I am older, I find (oh happy glee) that Underdog can once again be seen on my TV. This Collector's Set Edition, so carefully restored, can once again be purchased, to view or just to hoard. But I have a niece and nephew, ages four and six, just about the age to love this canine's cartoon tricks. I think that they will be amazed and find it quite sublime to make friends with an Underdog who lyrically fights crime. So let's lift a toast to Underdog, a hero for all time, and I hope you will forgive me for reviewing this in rhyme.

While I agree that it would be great to have Underdog and friends in the original format and line-up, this set is by far the best yet of the caped, canine crime-fighter. I had the VHS videos of Underdog and they were a mishmash of episodes along with what the box notes called "cliff-hanger" cartoons.

The problem with cliff-hanger cartoons is that they continue in multiple episodes or shows (Rocky and Bullwinkle followed that format). So VHS tapes were too short to show entire story arcs. Not so with these DVDs, which combine 'toons from the various VHS videos. Because the art looks similar, viewers often mistake Underdog for a Jay Ward cartoon (Rocky and Bullwinkle, George of the Jungle), but it was made by Total Television.

Tennessee Tuxedo, probably Total's second most successful cartoon series (with Don Adams of Get Smart and Inspector Gadget voicing the scheming Penguin, Tennessee) also appears in the "cliff-hanger" 'toons "bonus" section of the DVD. At one point Total joined with Leonardo Productions to package their cartoons together for syndication, so you also get the rare King Leonardo Show with Odie Coloney, Biggy Rat and Itchy Brother, Commander McBragg and The Hunter.

Three DVDs were produced in this series, and this is a great deal with all three in a box set. They include some of the best episodes like the multi-part "Great Zot," presented in its entirety. Underdog featured a narrator and great voice actors, including Wally Cox as humble, loveable shoeshine boy AKA Underdog. Simon Bar Sinsister serves up an endless parade of diabolical devices, along with other aptly-named villains like Riff Raff. An all time classic and regardless of its deviations from the TV format, well-worth owning.

WOW!

Underdog is one of those shows that doesn't get nearly the attention it deserves. It's been decades since I've seen or heard anything about the show. As such, I was surprised at all the little gems hidden in these classic shows. I loved seeing things like Simon Barsinister "The meanest man in the world", creating machines to help him "rule the world". Do you remember some of them? Like his machine designed to shrink everyone in the world to 6 inches tall? "With my new shinking gun, I'll be the tallest man in the world!"

It was great re-living those great memories again.

Underdog was one of my favorites when I was five years old, and watching the DVD reissues brought back wonderful memories. I ordered these for my son who is five years old as a means of obtaining quality programming in the English language. We are living in Germany where Underdog is relatively unknown. My son was fascinated by the episodes, watching them with wonderful childlike awe, not bored at all. And I enjoyed the occasional references to the adult world (Lucitanic, Hopeless Diamond, etc.). I'm glad I ordered this set.

Before ordering I checked the Amazon customer ratings of the individual DVDs. I, too, think it's a shame that the cliffhanger episodes were spliced together. This takes away some of the series' charm, for those familiar with the original format. But there's so much charm going around in this that it almost doesn't matter. Therefore I chose to give five stars. If another packaged set comes out next year I'll probably order it, as well.