Wacky Races DVD

[I am the Doctor]

I purchased the Wacky Races Dvd this week, thought I would offer a short review. The 15 minute episodes are spread out over three discs (a total of 34) covering the entire series. A few selected episodes have commentary tracks, a couple episodes have pop-up factoids and there are two documentaries-one of which is nothing but a veiled ad for the upcoming Penelope Pitstop and Dastardly and Muttley DVDs. The extras are fluff and no substance-but the episodes are still classic-watching Dastardly and Muttley try to wreck the other cars and failing every time just never gets old.

For the series:**** out of ****
For the extras: no stars (Warner should be ashamed of themselves. They own two of the greatest animation libraries: Looney tunes/Merrie Melodies and Hanna-Barbera and they can't come up with decent extras?)

Looking forward to the Penelope Pitstop and Dastardly DVDs-hopefully those Dvds will have extras worth watching.

[Jack]

I've always wondered when they were going to release these cartoons. While its dissapointing to here of the lack of extras, it sounds like as sturdy release anyway, especially considering that Wacky Races is not very popular. I used to watch it a lot when I was but a wee lad, but I don't think I'll be picking up any box set of it. After 1 viewing, it would probably just collect dust on my shelf.

[Evil Genie Jafar]

Well, I'm not very fond of this series but I remember that the few times I watched it, I liked it. And having all the episodes in just one set and at that price is tempting. So I will get it but not any time soon.

Could someone tell me if this series had an ending?

PS

The same for The Jetsons and The Flintstones. They keep on selling them as seasons, altough I don't think that back then animated series were scheduled as that. I think than since tv series now are so popular on DVD, and since now everything is done as seasons, now they're selling old series that weren't planned that way as such.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[deathie mouse]

tho i can't go that far back, i think series were all done (or broadcast) in seasons. on those days you had the big 3 netwoks (ABC NBC CBS) (+ PBS) not like today that we have bazzillions of cable and other channels. So TV shows (which are mini relatively expensive films) were contracted for seasons or half seasons (26 or 13 episodes) as you see that's half a year's weeks, or a quarter of a year for example, for hour long weekly shows. So these episodes would air once a week, one time. Then they may repeat some or all of the shows once more after the "prime season". And if the show was popular it was renewed for another season. If not, it was cancelled and lived on in "syndication" (forever for some shows!) which is being sold as a "package" of all the episodes to local stations for continuous airing (hey even several shows a day every everyday of the week if the local tv station wanted) but usually not in prime time, which kept being reserved for the new unsindicated 3 main network shows.
Very similar as today but with cable satellite and the decline of the exclusivity of the main 3 as prime networks the rules have changed to accomodate the brand new world.
Of course there may be exceptions too

[I am the Doctor]

To Evil Genie Jafar-

The Wacky Races never really had a beginning story or an ending story. It's kind of like watching the Road Runner cartoons-The racers (aka the Road Runners) are trying to win the race while Dastardly and Muttley (aka the Coyotes) are trying to sabotage them. As a matter of fact, in one of the docs on the DVD, the similarities between the Road Runner and the Wacky Races is mentioned.

And just like in the Road Runner cartoons, the bad guys get all the laughs.

[Loomis]

Rather than start a new thread, I thought I'd bump this one:

Both Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series AND The Perils of Penelope Pitstop - The Complete Series will be out on DVD May 10 !

From http://www.tvshowsondvd.com :

Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines - The Complete Series

Warner has announced that this will arrive in stores on May 10th, with every episode from the show on 3 discs:

Dick Dastardly and his snickering canine co-pilot Muttley plot to "stop that pigeon" aboard their World War I flying machines in this popular spinoff of Wacky Races featuring the legendary vocal talents of Paul Winchell (Tigger) and Don Messick (Scooby-Doo). When muttering Muttley ("rassuh-frazza-pazza") decides he's finally had enough, he flies off into his own fantasy world where he gets to be the boss for a change! So get ready to take off into the wild blue laughter - with a cargo of Fun DVD Bonuses to munch on while in flight!

This set includes a Dastardly and Muttley Collectible Animation Cell Replica. Also included will be a "Hanna-Barbera Decoder" game piece with a chance to win a trip to Warner Bros. Animation, plus Instant Win prizes. On-disc extras are:

* Audio Commentary: Commentary on STOP WHICH PIGEON?, CEILING ZERO ZERO, FAST FREIGHT, HOME RUN, START YOUR ENGINES, BALMY SWAMI, CAMOUFLAGE HOP-AROO, MOP UP, LEFT HANGING, and WILD MUTT MUTTLEY by Iwao Takamoto, Designer, Jerry Eisenberg, Designer, Scott Awley, Warner Bros. Animation, Scott Jeralds, Warner Bros. Animation
* Featurette: The Vulture Squadron's Greatest Misses - Watch the Pigeon Thwart the Vulture Squadron. Also Dastardly & Muttley's Spin Offs retrospective.

Specs: Full screen video, Mono Audio and Subtitles both in English, French, and Spanish, 459 minutes. Price is $34.98 SRP.

The Perils of Penelope Pitstop - The Complete Series

Warner has announced that this will arrive in stores on May 10th, with every episode from the show on 3 discs, plus a Penelope Pitstop Collectible Animation Cell Replica From the series. Also included will be a "Hanna-Barbera Decoder" game piece with a chance to win a trip to Warner Bros. Animation, plus Instant Win prizes. On-disc extras are:

* Audio Commentary: Commentary on "Jungle Jeopardy" and "The Treacherous Movie Lot Plot" by Janet Waldo, Voice of Penelope, Iwao Takamoto, Designer, Gary Owens, Narrator, Scott Awley, Warner Bros. Animation, Scott Jeralds, Warner Bros. Animation.
* Featurette: The Players in "Perils" featurette on the great escapes of Penelope and other characters. Also Penelope Pitstop's Spin Outs retrospective.

Full screen, Mono soundtrack and subtitles all in English, French, and Spanish, 355 minutes.

[JiminyCrick91]

even if i have never seen Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines i will probily get it altou i dont know about Penelope Pitstop.

[Disney Guru]

I think that show was slightly lame, but on the other hand I loved the Penelope Pitstop show. That show was great fun, I hope it comes to dvd someday soon.

[Loomis]

I think that show was slightly lame, but on the other hand I loved the Penelope Pitstop show. That show was great fun, I hope it comes to dvd someday soon.

Um, read above DG. It is out May 10!