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Odd Couple (The): The Third Season (TV)
R1 - America - Paramount Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Rob Fields (21st January 2008). |
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The Show
 I don't know very much about "The Odd Couple" (1970-1975), so I had to go to the Internet Movie Data Base in order to get some background information. Okay, maybe I knew a little bit more than I thought. I had heard that Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau had done "The Odd Couple" before. Here, I thought it was the TV series itself. No, as it turns out they did a big-screen version which came out in 1968. They also teamed up for a sequel thirty years later. The premise of the show is the same (it lasted five seasons). Two men, Felix Unger and Oscar Madison are both divorced, each one thrown out by their wives. The opening title of the series states that Felix was thrown out by his wife. Having nowhere else to go, he goes to his friend Oscar. Oscar lives in his own apartment after his wife had kicked him out before. Felix allows Oscar to stay at his apartment. The two characters are complete opposites. Felix is a neat freak and a fussbudget. Oscar is a slob and seems short-tempered. Now the two men are forced to put up with each other's conflicting differences. The movie and series were both based on a Broadway play by Neil Simon. "The Odd Couple: The Third Season" features all 23 digitally re-mastered episodes. This season, television is a recurring theme, as sportswriter Oscar Madison (Jack Klugman) hosts his own television show, fussy Felix Unger (Tony Randall, also an associate producer) directs his first television commercial, and the roommates appear on two game shows. Here's a hint: Check out the episode summaries below to find out which two. Also, Felix and Oscar get arrested and stand trial, and even give their famous Manhattan apartment a makeover. Returning are Oscar's loyal secretary Myrna (Penny Marshall), his sharp-tongued ex-wife Blanche (Brett Somers), and Felix's ex-wife Gloria (Janis Hansen), while Murray the Cop (Al Molinaro) temporarily becomes their new roommate. The Odd Couple is back, staking its claim as one of the funniest shows on television! The only thing I liked about the show was seeing the nostalgia of the 1970's. Penny Marshall also looks good here. At least she shows that she isn't just Lavern. Do note also that Garry Marshall is also an executive producer of this series. Also, in spite of the two men's vast differences, Felix and Oscar show that they can still manage to keep their friendship together. In other words, they are true friends. To me these are the show's only redeeming qualities. I've seen Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in the past, in "Grumpy Old Men" (1993) and "Grumpier Old Men" (1995), and these two have the magic between them that has made them a comedy duo for many years. While Tony Randall and Jack Klugman seem to have chemistry between the two of them, they are not Lemmon and Matthau. It's like trying to take a Top 40 song and do a Country adaptation. It doesn't work. I'm sure that the series lasted as long as it did, because of the comedic moments. Still, this is film and television. A review alone is not going to change the way people back in the day felt about this series. Remember, it did last five seasons. If you like this sort of comedic entertainment, then this is a series you might want to add to your collection. If you're a person who's more into this day and age, you'd probably be better off watching "Friends" (1994-2004). This DVD collection includes all 23 Season Three episodes: - "Gloria, Hallelujah" (26:08) When Oscar's computer date turns out to be Felix's ex-wife, Gloria, Felix is determined to prove that he is not jealous. Big Mouth (26:09) Stubborn Oscar needs to apologize to Howard Cosell, after he insulted the famous sportscaster during Felix's photo shoot. - "The Princess" (26:10) Felix is shocked when a beautiful client, who happens to be a royal princess, accepts Oscar's invitation to go out on a date. - "The Pen Is Mightier Than the Pencil" (26:07) When Felix's corny poems earn high marks in his creative writing class, Oscar thinks the teacher is a fraud and confronts him. - "The Odd Monks" (25:53) With Oscar's ulcer in high gear, and Felix working 14-hour days, they both decide to take advantage of a monk's invitation to go on a quiet retreat. - "I'm Dying of Unger" (25:54) The roommates go off to a secluded cabin in order to finish Oscar's novel, but writer's block and Mother Nature keep getting in the way. - "The Odd Couples" (25:42) Oscar's visiting mother is oversensitive about divorce, so Oscar and Blanche, and even Felix and Gloria, have to pretend they are still married. - "Felix's First Commercial" (26:07) The only way Felix can direct his first television commercial is if Oscar can get a certain football player for the starring role. But Oscar wants to star in it, too. - "The First Baby" (26:08) Over lunch, Oscar recounts to his secretary Myrna the time Felix was banned from the hospital, just before Gloria gave birth to their daughter Edna. - "Oscar's Birthday" (25:41) Although Oscar is dead-set against it, Felix is determined to throw him a surprise birthday party, with a unique theme that he is keeping secret. - "Password" (26:07) When Oscar is invited to be a celebrity player on a game show, Felix begs to be his partner. But during the broadcast, Felix gives him rotten clues. - "The Odd Father" (26:09) Felix is worried when his daughter Edna never wants to do anything but watch television. Then Oscar gets her interested in becoming a Little League umpire. - "Don't Believe In Roomers" (26:06) Oscar helps out a mysterious, free-spirited girl by letting her spend the night. Then he and Felix both start to fall for her. Sometimes a Great Ocean (25:39) Felix takes Oscar on a cruise in order to relax and recover from his ulcer. But when Felix becomes activities director, the passengers stage a mutiny. - "I Gotta Be Me" (25:13) Tired of all their constant bickering, Oscar and Felix decide to consult Myrna's therapist, who suggests they try role-reversal. - "The Ides of April" (25:25) A nervous Felix is called down to the local IRS office, where he divulges the fact that Oscar doesn't always file his taxes. - "Myrna's Debut" (25:36) With encouragement from Felix, Myrna decides to quit working for Oscar and devote herself full-time . . . to becoming a tap dancer! The Hustler (25:38) After Felix's opera group goes bust when their casino night loses money, Oscar tries winning it back in a game with a well-known pool shark. - "My Strife In Court" (25:39) When Felix volunteers to get rid of an extra ticket to a Broadway show, he was Oscar are arrested for ticket scalping and must stand trial. - "Let's Make a Deal" (25:38) Oscar's old college pal is now a game show host, so the two roommates sneak onto his show in disguise to try and win Felix a new bed. - "The Odyssey Couple" (25:19) In order to make Oscar's mother happy, Felix fixes him up with a Greek girl. But first they need to get acquainted with her traditional Greek family. - "Take My Furniture, Please" (25:38) After Felix paints the apartment, he redecorates it with outrageous modern furniture. So Oscar replaces it with junk from a discount store. - "The Murray Who Came To Dinner" (25:49) When his wife kicks him out, Murray the Cop comes to stay with Felix and Oscar : and now he's ready for a swinging bachelor lifestyle!
Video
The episodes are presented in their original full screen broadcast format of 1.33:1. Each episode is digitally re-mastered and it really shows. The picture quality is really good, and the colors stand out really well. There are the occasional bits of film grain which was common to the shows from the 1970's, but that didn't bother me in the least. It's a part of television history. For those of you who are "Odd Couple" purists, there's a piece of fine print on the back cover. "Some episodes may be edited from their original network versions." I've never seen them up until this review, so I don't know which episodes (if any) were edited. You can watch the episodes individually, or you can have a continuous marathon with the 'Play All' option. Also, even though there are no chapter selection menus, each episode does have chapter stops.
Audio
Each episode is accompanied by an English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono soundtrack. The dialogue is easily heard and the background noise is evident where it needs to be. Not bad for only utilizing the front two speakers. Even the background laughter is evident. This is typical of a 70's sit-com and another note for you "Odd Couple" purists: "Some music has been changed for this home entertainment version." Again, having never seen these episodes up until now, I don't know which music is original to the shows and which is not. There are no subtitles available whatsoever.
Extras
Paramount has included only a selection of bonus trailers on the first disc, the following previews start before the Main Menu and include: - "CBS Comedies" spot which runs for 1 minute 25 seconds. - "MacGyver: The Complete Final Season" which runs for 1 minute. - "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Volume 1" which runs for 1 minute 40 seconds. Note: These can only be accessed through a sub-menu before the start of the Main Menu. They cannot be selected any other way. Discs 2 and 3 do not contain any extra features.
Packaging
"The Odd Couple: The Third Season" is a 4-DVD set with all four DVDs packed into a clear Amaray keep case.
Overall
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