6/02/07 - The new all-season box set was released a few days ago and it's a bit disappointing...
If you waited until now to purchase any of the Andy Griffith Show season sets, this is a decent deal because it is cheaper than the individually released seasons. For those who already have one or more seasons, the new extras in this new all-season set are really no big whoop and in my opinion is not worth purchasing.
As I had feared, the pilot episode included in this set is a syndicated version which is edited by about 2 and a half minutes. This is the same version already available on the Make Room For Daddy - The Complete Fifth Season DVD set. The full length pilot had been released on VHS, but has been out-of-print for a few years now. Why couldn't Paramount include the full length version? It obviously exists.
The two edited episodes in Season 3 remain edited. "The Darlings Are Coming" is the heavily cut syndicated version. "Barney Mends A Broken Heart" is still missing its epilogue. Source material does exist that would restore these episodes.
The episodes on discs 1 and 2 of Season 4 that were missing the laugh tracks have been corrected, but this was done way before this new box set was ever announced. If you have these discs without the laugh tracks, I believe Paramount is still replacing them with the corrected ones.
The "Opie Joins The Marines" episode of Gomer Pyle, USMC has been included. However, this will be released anyway when Season 2 of that series rolls around in a few months.
The TV movie, "Return To Mayberry" finally makes it's way to DVD as a bonus feature in this set. It is uncut and presented just as originally broadcast in 1986. Hopefully it will be released as a separate disc for those who already have some or all of this series.
Without even going into the packaging issues, this new box set is already not what it should have been. If you can afford it, stick with the individually released seasons.
Now that all this info has been confirmed, I have created an all-new supplementary disc to compliment the official DVDs.
It contains...
- The UNCUT version of the TAGS pilot, "Danny Meets Andy Griffith" from the Make Room For Daddy series.
- The UNCUT version of "The Darlings Are Coming" which includes the Darling family's performance of Salty Dog, the epilogue, and other snippets of dialog cut from the official DVD.
- The complete "Barney Mends A Broken Heart" episode including the lost epilogue.
- Four sponsor spots not included on the Paramount DVDs. (Only three were on my previous supplemental disc)
- The 2003 CBS reunion show "Back To Mayberry"
If you're looking to complete your The Andy Griffith Show collection, feel free to drop me a line for more info on how to obtain this DVD.
4/13/07 - According to TVShowsOnDVD.com, a NEW complete series box set will be released on 5/29/07. It will retail for $194.99 and will include...
The Make Room For Daddy Andy Griffth Show Pilot
Return To Mayberry - The TV Movie
No word on whether the edited episodes in Season Three will be replaced with unedited shows.
As reported earlier, the affected episodes in the current Season Three set are:
"The Darlings Are Coming" - Almost 3 minutes have been edited out including the epilogue and the Darling's musical performance of "Salty Dog."
"Barney Mends A Broken Heart" - Missing the epilogue where Peggy is actually nursing Andy's blackened eye while Barney let's it slip that he and Andy were out with other women.
If anyone has received from me my TAGS supplemental disc which included all of the items mentioned above, I will be removing the pilot and movie from the disc (once the official version has been released) and replacing them with the 2003 CBS reunion show, "Back To Mayberry." The disc will also retain the three sponsor spots not found on the official DVDs.
5/17/06 - Paramount is now replacing the defective Season 4 discs that lack laugh tracks in four episodes. Here's how to get yours replaced for FREE!
Remove the proof of purchase tab from the 4th season box. It's the top flap inside the spine of the box thats revealed when you open up the spine. Mail the tab with a letter requesting the replacement discs to:
Paramount Home Entertainment Customer Service
The Andy Griffith Show Fourth Season Replacement Discs.
5555 Melrose Avenue
Hollywood California 90038
In addition to enclosing the original proof of purchase tab, include your name, mailing address and phone number in the letter. Do NOT send the discs themselves. Allow 6 weeks for the two replacement discs (disc 1 and 2) to be sent to you.
Also... I have created a DVD meant to fill in the holes left by the official DVDs. It contains:
- The original uncut pilot not available on the Paramount discs or anywhere on DVD.
- "Barney Mends A Broken Heart" complete with its epilogue that is missing from the official DVD.
- The uncut "The Darlings Are Coming" episode. (A much shorter syndicated version appears on the official Paramount disc.)
- Three sponsor spots not included on any of the official DVDs.
- The 1986 TV movie, "Return To Mayberry". Long out-of-print on VHS and not available on DVD.
Feel free to email me using the link on this site on how to obtain this supplemental disc to complete your "The Andy Griffith Show" collection.
12/04/05 - More errors on Season 4! What's going on, Paramount? I recently received this DVD set and have confirmed what others had reported. There are no laugh tracks on four episodes: "Opie The Birdman", "A Black Day For Mayberry", "Opie's Ill-Gotten Gain", and "Up In Barney's Room." I don't need to be told when to laugh, but the shows have been timed to include space for the laughter. It just seems kind of weird without it. This is just another kick in the pants for me to get to work on a supplemental DVD with the corrected episodes.
11/06/05 - Well, folks... I'm back. It looks like there were a few ommisions from the Season 3 DVD set. The epilogues are missing from the episodes, "The Darlings Are Coming" and "Barney Mends A Broken Heart." And not only is the epilogue missing from the Darling's episode, but other dialogue and even a song has been cut (Salty Dog). Of course, this episode is complete on just about every disc listed on this site (Yay!) so keep those public domain DVDs if ya got 'em. The epilogue for the above mentioned Barney episode can be found on an old out-of-print VHS tape from UAV Home Video. I'm considering creating a supplemental DVD that will include the complete versions of these episodes, but it may take a while as I'm in the process of moving.
07/18/05 - Wow. Yet another year has gone by. Well, Seasons 1 and 2 are now available and Season 3 will be out on August 16th. Since this particular season contains all of the episodes talked about on this website, it won't be neccessary to update the site any longer. However, as long as the site exists, I'll still be happy to answer any questions you may have about the DVDs.
Thanks, everyone. It's been a fun three years!
-Rowland Wafford (webmaster)
08/07/04 - I recently discovered that the first season DVD release of the show has been delayed until November 16th. Well, we've waited a long, long time so another month won't make too much difference. Anyway, I have also added a review to a 16 episode set from Raintree Home Video to Reviews Page 4.
06/17/04 - Yes. It has been a while, but I'm still here. First the good news. Then, the GREAT news. The good news... I have added two new DVDs to the list on Reviews Page 3. Both are right up there in quality with the beloved Brentwood Home Video set. I even picked them up at The 99 Cents Store for (you guessed it) 99 cents each! I also found there a few DVDs released by a company called Dollar DVD. Curiously, the artwork looked identical to the Brentwood, four episode, individual DVDs right down to the descriptions on the back of the packaging. To my surprise, they ARE the Brentwood discs! If you don't have them already, this is truly the best deal!
If you ever have any questions about this site and or any of the DVDs reviewed on it, I'd like to hear from you. Please email me using the link on the bottom of the Home page.
Also, check out some other great Andy Griffith Show sites in the Mayberry, NC webring below.
