Search - The Best of Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales on DVD

See see see! Sort of...

lighten_up_already2 | Kirkland, WA USA | 03/15/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I'm in my mid 40's and I watched Tennessee Tuxedo in its original form on a thirteen inch black and white Zenith TV back in the mid 1960's. I am thrilled just to see Tennessee and his friends in color (I didn't know they were in color) and in a high quality reproduction on a modern TV.

That said, there's something very sterile about this approach to packaging these old cartoons. It's really not like watching those great old shows I remember over again because what you have here is fifteen or so Tennessee segments (many more episodes were produced) cut out of their original context and presented pure, alone, and rather clinically at that. (And with a weird and totally out-of-context promo for a Casper the Ghost show that you have to view every time you put in the DVD.)

There's a certain fun factor that's been removed. It's like an exhibit in a futuristic museum of 1960's kids TV. You can see, but you can't really experience the subject matter.

I just wish more of these cartoons would be released like the Bullwinkle and Rocky cartoons have been: seasonal box sets with the original stuff all there."

Still fun, but I wish they had kept the original Underdog fo

Scott Jones | Chicago IL | 03/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am going to be 35 years old this sunday which means I was watching Tennessee and Chumley on the Underdog show back in the '70s. I remember I actually enjoyed the Tennessee Tuxedo shorts more than the Underdog and Go-Go Gophers etc most of the time. The 'education' that is part of each plot was fascinating to me as I child. I loved to read and learn and I loved cartoons!

Very great times and very good memories.
I think most other people my age, if they are interested at all, would like to see/relive these shorts in their original, Underdog cliff-hanger style - but I will take what I can get.

Technical:
Overall, I would say the picture and sound quality are quite good, but I did note a couple of details:
1.) There is an UNSKIPPABLE Casper commercial on the DVD
2.) When using 'Play All', there are no credits or breaks to Underdog etc. so the shorts sort of run together if you aren't paying close attention.
3.) The package says, '15 of the greatest episodes' - what are we missing??

I do not have kids, but this is really great (and slightly educational) stuff and I highly recommend it. I have no doubt that Tennessee, Chumley, and Phineas all had a hand in my great love of knowledge and humor.

Episode List:
1.) The Rainmakers (Learn to seed a cloud)
2.) The Lamplighters (Learn to make a lightbulb)
3.) Telephone Terrors (Learn about telephones)
4.) The Giant Clam Caper (Learn about deep sea diving)
5.) Tic-Tock (Learn how a clock works)
6.) Scuttled Sculpture (Learn about sculpture)
7.) The Bridge Builders (Learn to build a bridge)
8.) Howl, Howl, The Gang's All Here (Learn how to build a log cabin)
9.) Sail On, Sail On (Learn about sailing)
10.) Tell-Tale Telegraph (Learn about the telegraph)
11.) Rocket Ruckus (Learn about rockets)
12.) Tale Of A Tiger (Learn about battle armor)
13.) Wreck Of A Record (Learn how a record player works)
14.) Parachuting Pickle (Learn about parachutes)
15.) Wish-Wash (Learn about windmills)
"

I'm Glad It's Out, But It Could Have Been Better

Mark Arnold | Saratoga, CA | 03/16/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales" arguably was one of the best series to come out of Total Television (now owned by Classic Media who also owns the rights to Casper, hence the promo), next to "The Underdog Show". Unfortunately, Classic's treatment of the TTV material pales in comparison to their treatment of the Jay Ward material (which they also now own). They should offer complete seasons instead of "best of's" as there were 70 "Tennessee Tuxedo" episodes in total. Also, the theme song has been changed to a 'demo' version instead of the actual one sung by Don Adams and Bradley Bolke (Tennessee and Chumley, respectively). The prints are good, and the cartoons are still entertaining, despite my misgivings on the packaging.

FYI, Total Television produced the following series (in no particular order) from 1959-1969:

King Leonardo
The Hunter
Tooter the Turtle
Tennessee Tuxedo
Klondike Kat
Commander McBragg
Underdog
Go-Go Gophers
The Beagles

According to Wikipedia, the rug was pulled from TTV and Gamma Productions (the animation house that also animated much of Jay Ward's stuff) when General Mills (the show's sponsor) pulled out in 1969. The last show to be produced was going to be called "The Colossal Show" which was never completed, although there is a comic book out there. The rights reverted back to the creators who sold it to Lorne Michaels (of "Saturday Night Live") who in turn sold it to Golden Books, and then was acquired by Classic Media, the current owners.

"

Ask Mr. Whoopee

Gord Wilson | Bellingham, WA USA | 05/09/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You probably couldn't do better than to plunk down twelve bucks for this DVD if you're looking for a real kid-pleaser. Don Adams as positive thinking penguin Tennessee is magic as he was in Get Smart and Inspector Gadget. Larry Storch from F-Troop and the Original Ghostbusters (not the movie) is excellent as Mr. Whoopee. This cartoon is billed as "sort of educational" because Mr. W. enlightens Tenessee and his walrus pal Chumley with the aid of the 3D Blackboard (3D BB).

The art looks like Jay Ward Studios (Rocky and Bullwinkle) but it's from Total Television (Underdog). What we'd like a lot better is if these series were presented in their original format and the whole run released on DVD (hence four stars for this five star cartoons series). Get the Underdog DVD box set, however, and you also get a couple Tennessee and friends under the "Cliffhanger Cartoons" section.

I'm wary of buying "Best of" DVDs like this because I'd rather wait and get the box sets with the shows in order (if one is forthcoming). It's possible that companies put these single DVDs out as feelers to see if a box set will sell, but the sales figures wouldn't be accurate since fans would hold off waiting for the set (that's what's happening with the single DVDs of Ed, Edd and Eddy). The solution is to buy these single DVDs as gifts for all the kids you've ever met and wait to get the box set for yourself.

Some cartoons don't work well out of context. For instance, I don't think the Peabody and Sherman cartoons by themselves are very exciting on their "Best of" single DVD. But in the context of the Rocky and Bullwinkle box sets they're excellent.

A lot of cartoons were released a few at a time on video in the VHS format, most of which are no longer available. Since DVDs hold a lot more, most DVDs contain at least two VHS tapes' worth. Happily, many of the cartoons formerly released on VHS are now starting to come out on DVD. Hopefully this show will get a box set, but regardless, kids will love this DVD and to see, see, see Tenessee Tuxedo."