Product Details

• Actors: Keiko Masuda, Mitsuyo Nemoto, Jeff Altman, Linda Harmon, Smith Wordes
• Directors: Art Fisher, Rudy De Luca
• Writers: Mark Evanier
• Producers: Marty Krofft, Sid Krofft
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Rhino Theatrical
• DVD Release Date: October 9, 2001
• Run Time: 300 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JH9Q
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,615 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Pink Lady & Jeff Boxed Set" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

What's more astonishing--that Pink Lady ...and Jeff was broadcast at all, or that this DVD set exists to commemorate its awfulness? Either way, connoisseurs of bad TV will hungrily devour every episode of this ill-fated 1980 variety show... including a sixth episode that never aired! Proving that not all foreign exchanges are culturally beneficial, the hapless teaming of Japanese pop duo Pink Lady (look-alike singers Mie and Kei) and "semi-obscure" comedian Jeff Altman was a train wreck from the start, hopelessly scheduled against The Dukes of Hazzard and filled with songs and sketches that misappropriated the disco craze while forcing Pink Lady onto an indifferent American audience. In latter-day introductions, Altman is self-deprecatingly honest about the show's occasional merits, usually involving guest stars like Sid Caesar or early videos by Cheap Trick and Blondie. If nothing else, this dubious nostalgia trip can be used to frighten lingering party guests. --Jeff Shannon

Product Description

In 1980, NBC president Fred Silverman signed Japan's top recording stars Pink Lady to host a prime-time variety hour, convinced they were the next big thing. Only then did he discover that Pink Lady didn't understand a word of English--they had memorized every word they spoke on their U.S. tour. Enter stand-up comic Jeff Altman just for laughs; major music acts Roy Orbison, Blondie, Teddy Pendergrass, Alice Cooper, and Cheap Trick to pick up the pace, the scantily-clad Peacock Dancers and an onstage hot tub for spice, and NBC had the making of a real broadcasting disaster which premiered on March 1, 1980--the last, worst variety series! Episodes 1-6.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The *Worst* TV Show Ever? It's Better Than You Remember!, October 18, 2001

By	Michelle S. "Michelle" (Shinagawa, Tokyo Japan) - See all my reviews

I know, I know, I know...This series is regularly regarded as one of the worst (if not THE worst) television series in US history (yada, yada, yada). If you are looking at this page, then you know that's *not* true!

Sure, this is one of the most bizarre TV shows ever made, but it's highly watchable! The comedy skits aren't very funny, but you will find yourself laughing at the disco-era outfits and the Ed Wood-like atmosphere that permeates the entire production. You'll be wondering *why* NBC and the Krofft brothers made this show, but glad that they did!

The bonus materials are pretty sparse. While the recent interview with Jeff Altman is insightful, it would have been a treat to catch up with Mie and Kei themselves. (Maybe they're finally learned some English over the years since the show was made!)

The picture quality is good for a 20+ year old videotaped show. The DVD transfers aren't that bad, and it's almost like being tuned in to NBC for those magical few weeks back in 1980! (Now, all we need are DVDs of "Supertrain" and "The Big Show" to truly re-live the "glory" days of NBC! And while we're at it, how about DVDs of David Letterman's morning show, which premiered a few months after Pink Lady!)

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Shows Ever!! [ Contrary to popular belief ], May 17, 2004

By	"theboyathome2" (Baltimore, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

Have all of the skits on Saturday Night Live been funny? NO. Have all of the musical numbers on SNL been great? NO. Okay so here was a show with skits that weren't always funny and musical numbers that weren't always great. But when Pink Lady and Jeff was good it was VERY good.

It seems as if Jeff Altman was paid money to say bad things about the show on the DVD intros like it was important to distance himself from this "disaster" as he put it. Whatever Jeff. Unless you did those intros for free, you were paid to say negative things as if everything was tongue in cheek like you were smart enough to think at the time that you were doing a bad show. Again, I refer to SNL. I can't tell you how many of the sketches in the early years when the show was supposed to be "cutting edge" that were not funny in the least. At least Pink Lady and Jeff was fun to watch at all times. Jerry Lewis was funny. Red Buttons was funny. Jim Varney and Anna Mathias were funny. Sid Caesar was funny. Roy Orbison performing Live....what a treat. Yeah, the show missed the mark a few times but did anyone see that stupid episode of Seinfeld that wasn't funny. Which one? Yeah...my point exactly. Too many unfunny episodes of Seinfeld to name but THAT was named the best comedy ever. The Pink Lady and Jeff DVD will have you in stitches... irrespective of what Jeff says in his paid intros. You would think he would be smart enough to embrace the show. If you buy the DVD's go past Jeff's intros. He contributes nothing of value.

Mie and Kei were VERY GOOD at singing corny American songs like Macarthur Park and Yesterday. But they are even better at singing their own songs. Especially UFO. The studio audience goes nuts at the end of that one. This DVD will be a collector's item soon. Buy it now, keep it in good condition and make those fools who don't have it now pay out the nose for it later. I have 3 copies.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Could've Had a Lot More Potential, August 2, 2002

By	smctopia - See all my reviews

I've always heard that words couldn't describe how awful this show was. Curiousity got the better of me and I decided to subject myself to all six episodes in this set.

There's no doubt about it that this is hands down one of the worst variety shows ever made. It make the Brady Bunch Variety Hour look like an Emmy award-winning masterpiece.

One thing that makes this a nice period piece is the guest stars. Where else but on an early 1980s variety show could you see Donny Osmond, Larry Hagman, Boomer the dog, Hugh Hefner, Sherman Hemsley and others?

Pink Lady are actually a very interesting piece of Japanese pop culture but NBC failed when they brought them to the American television audience. Instead of letting the girls do what they do best-singing in Japanese and dancing with cloned robotic precision, the writers tried to give Mie and Kei distinct personalities and made them sing mostly in English. Add in the fact that they were paired with unfunny supporting actors and that the girls could barely speak English and you have a recipe for disaster.

NBC could've truly had an usual cult show if they would've created a different format for Pink Lady. They could've shown it late at night (perhaps in the timeslot for SNL or David Letterman) and had a Neo-Tokyo Anime style set. Mie and Kei could've spoken in Japanese with subtitles (like Kaga in early episode of "Iron Chef") or with a futuristic robotic translator. The real show featured some early video clips from Blondie and Cheap Trick. Perhaps if Pink Lady had introduced video clips instead of guest stars, MTV (which didn't even exist when this show was aired) would be very different today.

As you watch these episodes, try to image what could've been. If you want to minimize your exposure to Pink Lady, check out Episode 3. It has Mie and Kei singing their Japanese hit "UFO" with great dance moves and it has Greg Evigan from "BJ and the Bear" performing a halfway decent song.

Audio commentary from Sid and Marty Krofft and Jeff Altman should've been a MUST on this set. I'd love to hear their explanations for putting this on the air and how they would've reacted after having to view these shows after 20 years. A "Behind the Music" style documentary could've helped U.S. viewers to see how popular Pink Lady were in Japan and presented a different side to them from their variety show.

The extras in the set are minimal. Jeff Altman introduces each show and there is a small gallery of TV print ads. The box promises the history of Pink Lady as one of the extras but some of the text pages seemed to be missing when I viewed them.

There only 2 episodes on each disc and the box is very bulky; it's thicker than some VHS cases. There are also no captions. Sometimes Mie and Kei are hard to understand and subtitles would've helped. Chapters for each Pink Lady song would've been useful also.

The curious who wish to watch this are warned to take it in small doses. If you are looking for something to clear out a room of partygoers that have overstayed their welcome, this is the DVD for you.