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Rating:  -
I can't believe people on here complaining that there aren't more 'full episodes' on this. CTW made literally 130-something episodes of this a year, with many of the same sketches and songs repeating; How much #$%^& Sesame Street can you sit there and watch?? Get a life already!
Having said that...
This is a good little collection, and since its a DVD you can watch as much or as little as you want. Nostalgia is best in small bites, especially when it comes to a children's show from nearly 40 years ago. I could almost see throwing this on while having a small party, for atmosphere or 'Wow I remember that!' kind of effect. Or if your garage punk band wants to learn 'Ladybug's Picnic', now you have a copy to learn it from heheheh.
Picture quality on the video segments is awesome. Some of the film segments are old and scratched but the original film sources are probably lost to us at this point.
There's a rumor that Sesame Workshop is planning another Noggin style cable channel of their own, so maybe if they're 'holding back', that's why. Sesame Unpaved, anyone? :D
Rating:  -
I understand how some of the reviewers find the rather fragmented offerings on these DVDs frustrating, but if your main reason for purchasing is for nostalgia, you won't be disappointed! Sesame Street was a part of my daily life for MANY years, since I was born only a few months before the show began, and it makes me very happy to be able to sing "Ladybug Picnic" now with my three-year-old daughter. There are some segments with lots of repetition and little polish, but we are talking about a trail-blazing show in an era when many TV performances look stilted to the viewers of the present. I will certainly be getting Volume 2. Check out the Electric Company compilations for more strolling down memory lane.
Rating:  -
Season 1, Episode 1
Letter is REALLY strong, big repetition within the episode, but not a big deal. Oscar was ORANGE at one time? Whoa, now I know why classic drawings of Big Bird looked funky--his head didn't get filled out till Season 2 I suppose. So Ernie and Bert live in the basement--I'd forgotten that!
Season 2, Episode 131
This season spun up more of what I remember from my childhood! All the muppet characters have the incarnations that I remember.
Season 3, Episode 276
More characters enter the cast. I hardly remember any of the human ones though, even when they interacted with muppets--the bit in Mr. Hooper's store with the soda is perfect: I remember Bert and Ernie, but not the others. Ah, and there's Spanish being spoken in this one.@Snuffy has funky eyes.
Season 4, Episode 406
It's at this point that the show appears to hit stride, with improved quality all around. It also has th opening song that I remember th most clearly and really associate with the show. HEY, the letter is D, and that's my name--I love this show. Snuffy is as I remember him--I'd remembered his voice being deeper and not so whispery; oh well.
Season 5, Episode 536
Now I'm worried, because the letter D has resurfaced! My vision of each letter of the alphabet being released is dashed.
I really like the idea of the format, with the first episode of each of the seaons provided. Each episode is preceeded by Robert, a little cartoon that leads the episodes.
It was nice seeing the songs and character skits I remember. It was fascinating to see the storylines of the episodes--I hardly remember them, which is only understanable. I also don't remember many of the live actor skits, and they were cool to see. I was surprised how strong the themes for the episodes were. It brings a smile to my face to see the multiple ethnicities without the distillery that has occurred over the years.
I imagine the next set in th series will provide all the episode 2's? Very cool. Just seeing the episode information makes me realize that it would be all but impossible to release EVERY episode...but maybe they'll try...
With all the good, I do have one complaint: I have to agree with everyone that the COST of these is a little ridiculous. $20 should be sufficient. Especially because: Some have complained that there is too much repetition. Call me crazy, but there always was repetition!(The show is ONE HOUR long! That's a lot of time to fill!)
But: If I were Sesame Street, I'd have concentrated on the alphabet for a season (assuming each season completed it), and then maybe put the rest out, sans the repeat items--just to be able to see the progression of the unique Sesame Street stuff... Still, seeing the full episodes is satisfying, and fulfills the stickler in me... It begins to be clear maybe why these weren't released before now! Tough! Still, I have the feeling that they may only release a few sets, since these "super episodes" have highlights from the seasons...
Some people complained about the picture quality *shrug* Deal. I don't think the picture quality at that time was very good anyway!
Would you have paid a hundred dollars for a complete season? I would have. As much as I loved this set, I will NOT buy the next. In the final reckoning, I just cannot compromise my desire for completeness. I'm happy that Sesame in the form I loved now exists, but for a time/generation of complete sets on DVD, this doesn't cut it.
Rating:  -
How would you feel if the highlights of your favorite show as a child were reduced to 1 DVD per year (as Sesame Street Old School is)? Ok, how would you feel if on this already truncated single DVD is only one full episode with about a dozen selected bits as extras? This is what you are getting with SSOS, Vol 1. Feeling pretty disappointed aren't you...?
The cheap skates at Public Broadcasting & Children's Television Workshop obviously think so little of their fans that this is their idea of a compilation DVD... On the one hand, I loved the trip down memory lane and the "1969" episode that is included is the very first episode of Sesame Street, so it's an interesting picture into the beginnings of the show (Gordon #1, Oscar the ORANGE grouch, Big Bird who talks like he is a little demented, Mr. Hooper, and generally all the characters when they were young and exciting, unlike the more recent Sesame Street shows that are tired, rely way too much on Elmo, and don't intellectually challenge the kids). In addition, the extra bits that included are all great, great memory refreshers.
But, and this is a BIG but, how can you release a supposed collection of DVD's that gives you so little? One episode per year???? A dozen or so extra bits per year????? Three of the twelve bits on 1969 are simply actors saying the alphabet. Although it's neat to see Jackie Robinson & James Earl Jones from 37 years ago and this bit was a hallmark of Sesame Street episodes for years, it's hardly my idea of great television to watch someone speak the alphabet dead-pan (especially considering the DVD's are marketed to those of us who watched these shows as children).
These compilations held so much promise. My only hope is that these are teaser DVD's and sometime in the future PBS/CTW will wake up and release larger collections.
Rating:  -
I was under the impression (Because the back of the DVD alludes to the content) that the Pinball #12 song was on this DVD. Three hours of looking and this song is nowhere to be found; which is the reason I ordered this DVD. Additionally it comes with 3 DVD but there are only 5 complete episodes. And they actually put in the "Crawl Credits" as a special feature!!! Unbelievable! This was a complete waste of my money. Thankfully, I purchased it from AMAZON and got it for an exceptionally low price. Thanks AMAZON. To the creators of this DVD...... Thbtttttt (That is a raspberry)
- Shontella TerBurgh
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