Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Not sure how this Box Set has accurate Reviews already, since the Release Date is in the future [21 JUL 2020]... I've been hunting for this Box Set for a few years now - been holding off, waiting to see if the Music Rights Issue would be resolved - almost bought the Euro version and a special Region-less DVD Player, just to get the correct sound track - gotta have DJ Chris' accurate song selections or stories could fall apart... I'll UPDATE this review when it arrives and I've had a chance to binge watch... Check back end of July 2020! ...until then: median 3 star [update1: 16 JUN 2020] Just read Cory Rodney’s review, and verified - interesting that it’s probably just a “re-boxing” for SHOUT! Video (that same crappy cut that’s been disappointing fans for years now?), a fact that’s pretty well hidden in the product description (zoom in to product picture #2) - ALSO INTERESTING that the Amazon description leaves off the last line that’s included on the SHOUT! website - check for yourself - “ Note: Music may differ from Original Broadcast Version.” (dang!) I’m still getting a copy, just so I can see for myself how bad it is... making plans to get imported Region 2 version, as well [update2: 22 JUL 2020] DELIVERY DAY - nice boxed set arrived in big padded envelope, corners slightly bruised but not a big deal, just not "perfect" - no discs dislocated, no broken disc mounting ears, nothing rattling - been looking forward to this for awhile now, purposely avoiding YouTube captures and ready to re-visit Cicely. Went to directly to my personal favorite episode s4e21 "The Big Feast" - yes, its in 4:3 "square screen" and on my 4k TV it seems a bit "grainy" but not distractedly so. A nice solid digital copy of an old TV show. Adam's speech about cooking was a good as I remembered (better actually, with his constant badgering throughout the episode) - if you watch any of your old childhood TV shows, most of the time your memories are better, and you're left with a sense of "I can't believe I used to watch this..." - BUT with this series - the varied characters are better than I remember. NOT MUCH music soundtrack in this episode, so still the "music license question" remains and does it make a difference in my enjoyment of "the story"... Picked another episode (s3e4 "Animals R Us") from the list on "retroweb" based on soundtrack notes - definitely contained "My Boyfriends Back by The Angels" (low volume back ground but "a wink" to the story line) and "Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin" (full volume and basically dialogue for the scene) - not definitively "original broadcast soundtrack" but any difference is not noticeable to me or my enjoyment of the storyline (so far anyway, but it's just two episodes). So, time for BINGE WATCHING! s1e1 thru s6e23 - looking specifically for "Chris in the Morning" episodes and where those cool songs were in fact replaced by musak elevator music - I HOPE NOT, but updates will follow! Send in a Product Question for a specific episode and scene and I'll make sure to pay special attention to the soundtrack - either way, I'm thinking I'm still going to enjoy reminiscing with this well-written, character-filled, old favorite - I'd go with 3.5 stars, maybe up to a 4, since the quality is pretty good - I'll know better after another 40 episodes or so - check back in a couple of days! [LAST update: 26 JUL 2020] - I'm about 30 episodes in, with some 70 more to go - upgraded to 4 stars, mainly because the video and sound quality are very good - excellent in fact, if you take into consideration this was shot some 30 years ago! Now onto the Controversial Music Debate: 1) IF you are a PURIST or a Collector that HAS to have everything as original, Director's Cut version - then get the Region 2 version and the Region-less DVD Player to go with it - this SHOUT! copy has been "altered" (slightly) 2) IS the "replacement music" distracting? Not really - its mostly the background music in scenes at The Brick - the replacement music is usually within the same genre, so its not terribly out of place - BUT on occasion there times you might be thinking "What the hell is that playing? Why isn't Holling listening to KBHR?" - KEY pieces of music are still there: end of episode pieces that ARE the dialogue for the scene - so, its mostly the background music that's been replaced with "generic versions" - not quite MUSAK Elevator Music, but definitely "generic" 3) Is it really that important? Well, considering that one of the main characters is a philosophical DJ at the town's local radio station, I'd have to say yes, it's important - also Chris Stevens had an eclectic musical taste, and some of that stuff has still yet to hit iTunes or Spotify or recognized by Shazam - it was the music of the 90's 4) HOWEVER, that being said - The Storyline is still EXCELLENT - the Award Winning writing and acting - the incredible characters - Marilyn's folklore - Adam's excellent cooking while ranting (I luv this character - a kindred spirit - "What?! You own a hotplate, and now you think you're a chef?!") - ONLY upon review of RetroWeb's Song List, that one might feel a little disappointed "aww, they cut Cab Calloway and Tony Bennett" So, in conclusion, for $50 this is a good Box Set (less than 50cents per episode? + bonus/deleted scenes) - BUT I'm still getting the Region 2 version for my Collection BTW: Thanks for the "helpful" nods - glad to know someone actually reads this - Stay Safe!