I Still LOVE LUCY

Article first published as I Still LOVE LUCY on TheTVKing.

Recently, in honor of the holiday season, CBS colorized and re-aired a pair of classic I Love Lucy episodes from the 1950s. A beloved comedy from the era when sitcoms still felt like hammy stage shows, in a good way, it brings a smile and wave of nostalgia for those who originally watched the series, as well as the generations after who enjoyed reruns on Nick at Nite. Lucy is an enduring series, and it seems like a good time to dust it off.

For some reason, around Christmas, it's OK to watch old stuff more than during the rest of the year. Usually, channels are bringing us fresh new content. But in mid-December, the beloved movies and specials wrap around us like a warm blanket. Perhaps because it's the time of the year we reflect on our lives and spend more time with family; it just seems right to do so with television as well.

The episodes presented are "The I Love Lucy Christmas Show" and "Lucy's Italian Movie." In the first, Lucy (Lucille Ball), Ricky (Desi Arnaz), Fred (William Frawley), and Ethel (Vivian Vance) prepare Christmas for Little Ricky (Keith Thibodeaux). They put up a tree and lay out presents, only to find they aren't the only Santas afoot. In the second, Lucy goes to work at an Italian vineyard while on vacation in Italy, hoping to prepare for a movie role, but costing herself the opportunity with her crazy antics.

A description of the story does not do either installment justice. I Love Lucy is hilarious not because of the situations, but because of the wonderful comedic talent of Ball and her co-stars. Both episodes are from 1956 and stand up very well, reminding us why we hold the program so dear. The Christmas special is a showcase of how the four leads play so well together, while the second entry features Lucy herself doing the wonderful physical material she is known for.

I'm mixed about the colorization of the episodes. It's done in a period style, so it doesn't look modern, but it also doesn't look quite real. Lucy's hair, especially, does not resemble any actual redhead I've ever seen, However, there is a segment of potential viewers who would not give black and white a chance, so if the update brings in new fans, I'm all for it. It's not distracting, and while there are a few mishaps (the multi-colored Christmas lights all glow white), for the most part, it's a pretty good presentation, better than previous attempts.

If we're lucky, this won't be a one-time experiment. CBS is the "old people network," so perhaps it makes sense that a trend for bringing back beloved favorites from the past would start there, but it by no means has the monopoly on a library worthy of rooting through. Others should follow in their footsteps.

A DVD has already been released of not only these two installments, but a third as well, also colorized, so if you missed the broadcast, there's still time to get in on the spirit everyone else is feeling. I found the experience very rewarding, and recommend it to all.

DVD Review: ‘The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts Collector’s Edition’

Article first published as DVD Review: ‘The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts Collector’s Edition’ on Blogcritics.

I am only 30 years old, so I missed the era of Dean Martin’s Celebrity Roasts, which stopped happening before I could talk. Yet, their presence resonated so much in our society that I am certainly familiar with them, as are many of my generation. We’re in luck now because StarVista and Time-Life have just released The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts Collector’s Edition, a six-DVD set of the most memorable of these events.

Dean Martin sure had a lot of pals! The roast subjects in this collection include Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Don Rickles, Jack Benny, Sammy Davis Jr., and Jackie Gleason. None of these people are all that relevant today (most have sadly passed away), but they are names every kid was familiar with, the legends of their time.

Dean attracts plenty of attendees, from politicians like Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater, to astronaut Neil Armstrong, to athlete Muhammad Ali, to comedians Phyllis Diller, Bob Newhart, and George Burns, to actors such as John Wayne, Dom DeLuise, Bette Davis, Florence Henderson, Milton Berle, Jonathan Winters, and so many more.

With lineups like these, The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts are a veritable time capsule, a look at an era of pop culture and national history. The installments are a bit dated (they aired from 1973 to 1984): nostalgic for the older viewers who remember this stuff, but also informative and fascinating for those of us who weren’t around. It’s a real treat to look back in time so effectively.

Now, being from a period predating the political correctness movement, there are a lot of awful stereotypes and offensive jokes. Sexism and racism are clearly two guests at the show, and not the quiet types that sit in the corner. It is eye-opening to see how, so recently in our past, attitudes were so drastically different than they are today. This is only 30 or 50 years ago, but it seems America has changed a lot.

Overall, though, The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts are just plain funny. Not everything holds up, nor would one expect it to, but a lot of it does. After all, Dean brought in the top talent, people whose work still lives on to this day, at least on Nick at Nite. The gags have staying power, and the roasters knew what they were doing, always competing with one another, bringing out the best in themselves.

This particular set boasts a dozen episodes, as well as quite a few special features, certainly welcome for the release. There are comedy sketches included, a couple of Dean’s full-length television specials, and a trio of featurettes about the creation and execution of the roasts. There are also “home” movies of Dean and some of his friends, and interviews with Betty White, Tim Conway, Don Rickles, Jackie Mason, Rich Little, and Ruth Buzzi. For a series so old, one doesn’t expect so many riches.

Besides The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts Collector’s Edition, a complete DVD set of all 54 roasts is also available, with 15 hours of bonus features and a Dean Martin action figure. This set was not available for review, so I can’t speak to whether or not it is worth its hefty price tag. My interest has been piqued, but I don’t know if I will have the opportunity to check it out and see if the other episodes can live up to the twelve included in the set I received, of if these are the “best of.” It’s nice they released this smaller set, though, so whether you are a devotee or just curious, there are options.

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts Collector’s Edition is available now.