Video:
One thing I enjoyed about watching these old shows again was the ability old television has of encapsulating fashion and style of the times within its episodes. The later-Seventies were a colorful time, and this especially holds true for "The Jeffersons." The DVD collection of "The Jeffersons" is delivered in its original 1.33:1 full screen format. The hues of Weezy´s bright outfits and colorful décor are delivered nicely by the format. However, this collection does have its dull moments. The shows original opening and closing sequences look far older than the episodes themselves. The episodes look dated and there are times when chroma noise is prevalent. The clarity and detail are slightly improved over the Nickelodeon broadcasts, but the image is still far from pristine. Digital artifacts appear mildly around some titles, but generally cannot be found. For something that is 25 years old, the image is definitely acceptable.
Audio:
A comment I made in my review of "Sanford and Son" was how the show's theme sounded subpar to the episodes. I want to be able to play these musical gems at high volumes and allow my neighbors to enjoy them as much as I do. "The Jeffersons" features snippets from the theme song in the menu. That was a nice touch, but the entire song could easily have been retained for the menus. My only gripe here is that the disc is mastered in Dolby Digital 1.0. You just can´t jam to mono sound with any effectiveness. Hopefully later seasons will allow me to enjoy "Movin´ On Up" with the clarity and channel separation I lust for. The episodes themselves are clean and clear. They fall a bit flat sonically, but this is to be expected with a 25-year-old mono soundtrack.
Extras:
Columbia TriStar has taken a formulaic approach with their television compilations. "All in the Family," "Sanford and Son" and "The Jeffersons" all lack any real supplements. Each does come equipped with an episode guide and attractive packaging. If you want to look for any real value-added content, the best it gets is the English and Spanish subtitles.
Summary:
I certainly enjoyed my trip in time and the 13 episodes that is "The Jeffersons: The Complete First Season." George and Weezy´s fights and antics are a great way to pass the time, and the shows 25 minute running times fill smaller spaces nicely. I wish the sitcoms of today had the wit and heart that "The Jeffersons" possess, and finding a show with the wide range of characters that feed so well off of each other is nearly impossible. This show is a classic in every sense of the word. Columbia TriStar is doing well with these shows of the "Seventies" and their attractive price makes the severe lack of supplements a good sacrifice. If you find yourself stopping with a glass of orange juice to listen to the show´s theme song, then maybe this DVD is worth a look.
One thing I enjoyed about watching these old shows again was the ability old television has of encapsulating fashion and style of the times within its episodes. The later-Seventies were a colorful time, and this especially holds true for "The Jeffersons." The DVD collection of "The Jeffersons" is delivered in its original 1.33:1 full screen format. The hues of Weezy´s bright outfits and colorful décor are delivered nicely by the format. However, this collection does have its dull moments. The shows original opening and closing sequences look far older than the episodes themselves. The episodes look dated and there are times when chroma noise is prevalent. The clarity and detail are slightly improved over the Nickelodeon broadcasts, but the image is still far from pristine. Digital artifacts appear mildly around some titles, but generally cannot be found. For something that is 25 years old, the image is definitely acceptable.
Audio:
A comment I made in my review of "Sanford and Son" was how the show's theme sounded subpar to the episodes. I want to be able to play these musical gems at high volumes and allow my neighbors to enjoy them as much as I do. "The Jeffersons" features snippets from the theme song in the menu. That was a nice touch, but the entire song could easily have been retained for the menus. My only gripe here is that the disc is mastered in Dolby Digital 1.0. You just can´t jam to mono sound with any effectiveness. Hopefully later seasons will allow me to enjoy "Movin´ On Up" with the clarity and channel separation I lust for. The episodes themselves are clean and clear. They fall a bit flat sonically, but this is to be expected with a 25-year-old mono soundtrack.
Extras:
Columbia TriStar has taken a formulaic approach with their television compilations. "All in the Family," "Sanford and Son" and "The Jeffersons" all lack any real supplements. Each does come equipped with an episode guide and attractive packaging. If you want to look for any real value-added content, the best it gets is the English and Spanish subtitles.
Summary:
I certainly enjoyed my trip in time and the 13 episodes that is "The Jeffersons: The Complete First Season." George and Weezy´s fights and antics are a great way to pass the time, and the shows 25 minute running times fill smaller spaces nicely. I wish the sitcoms of today had the wit and heart that "The Jeffersons" possess, and finding a show with the wide range of characters that feed so well off of each other is nearly impossible. This show is a classic in every sense of the word. Columbia TriStar is doing well with these shows of the "Seventies" and their attractive price makes the severe lack of supplements a good sacrifice. If you find yourself stopping with a glass of orange juice to listen to the show´s theme song, then maybe this DVD is worth a look.
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[release]10508[/release]