The Odd Couple: Season 4

I feel I have to voice- especially for the sake of any interested customers who've never seen the show or this season- the opinion that the musical cues/performance cuts have rarely spoiled or impacted negatively on the viewing experience for me. And I watched these during their original, run, yes, pre-syndication, AND in syndication and I've got a very good memory for details. When you take what you DO get here and set it aside what's missing, I'm sorry, to not get and watch and enjoy this item based on that amount of loss is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Two instances are jarring, I'll admit, an abrupt cut at the start of an episode and one which is the punch line at the end, but, when you've got the natural and remarkable fluidity and chemistry of Randall and Klugman's performances... well, I was carried along right past the minor "speed bumps". I'll admit, the geek in me got a bit annoyed with the way the show's writers would honor continuity one minute and jettison it the next. By this point, ANYTHING having to do with the characters prior to the first season can be seen more as an ensemble comedy group in various comedic situations. (like the army story) And references to their childhoods vary, but are saved by the delivery of the lines, ESPECIALLY Tony Randall when describing aspects of his childhood. (while I prefer his previous, perfectly-delivered "I slept with a sponge" anecdote about not having stuffed animals, the bit with the cellophane-wrapped teddy bear is touching and funny) What really strikes me about these stories is the "adult" aspect of them. These are people who- while not shown- are in and out of physical relationships and "affairs" (Felix listing his is a particularly frank highlight for me) and who are not defined solely by one paragraph of character description (unlike many of today's sitcoms). Felix can be remarkably open-minded, enthusiastic and spur-of-the-moment without in any way being inconsistent. Oscar is incredibly believable as being charming and fun to be around despite his sloppiness, limited appetite, gambling weakness, etc.. The redeeming qualities make it believable, to me at least,

So, "The Odd Couple" concludes its four seasons, in grand style. Jack and Tony were always amazing together. They loved each other as much as Oscar and Felix did. I wish they'd been able to squeeze out just one more season, but I think both of them were ready to start doing other films and stage again, independently. I have to give a ton of kudos to Garry and Tony Marshall (and I won't leave you out, Penny!) and Jerry Belson, who created and shaped the show into what it was. They did it right. Way right. Basically, I have nothing to criticize. This was one of the last comedies on TV that was above criticism. It was consistently great, every week. All the episodes were good. Mind you, I was not alive when it was on TV originally.It was in reruns forever before finally making it onto DVD. I remember filling out a questionnaire from Columbia House, asking "What shows would you like to see in our video Collectors Edition?" and I suggested "The Odd Couple." Anyhow, it will always be a favorite show. As for this DVD - no special features to speak of but the episodes are crystal clear. Not sure if they remastered the prints or anything? I think Season 1 is the only one of the four with any special features.

In my opinion, The Odd Couple Season 4 was the peak season of the 5-year running series with many great episodes. Season 4 was “The Odd Couple At Its Best!” I love the format of each DVD and the scenes (from each episode) that are displayed prior to playing an episode (much like what Season 3 was). Season 4 brought back great memories of humor and laughter that I use to enjoy during my younger days. But recently, with the Season 4 DVD set, as the days wrapped up, I always looked forward to watching an episode or two. A great way to end a busy day! By the way, the picture on the Season 4 DVD case is from Episode 2 - “Last Tango In Newark.”

I watched this show endlessly on WPIX in New York, growing up in the 1970's and 1980's. I have all 4 seasons so far, and I will pick up season 5. I was showing an episode, "Odd Holiday", to my kids, who, by the way, love the show. It's a flashback episode, and before going into the flashback, Murray asks Oscar if the picture was going to go all wavy. The flashback, I can remember from WPIX, had Felix singing "gotta get going, gotta get going...", and hitting his knee with a magazine. On the DVD, there was no "wavy" going into the flashback, just a jump cut to the past. It jumps straight over Felix and the magazine, and goes straight to Gloria picking up the magazine and tapping her knee - Felix says that's annoying. Without Felix's tapping, there is no joke - the irony that Felix is annoyed at what he was doing before her. I don't know if anybody caught that, but that little snippet missing (for no apparent reason), ruined the joke.On the plus side, every episode in this set (plus the previous 3) had about 3-4 minutes of footage that I have never seen before, so that is a good thing. I just don't know why little snippets like the one above was cut. I don't think it was a music issue.The show gets 5 stars, but it loses a star for the nonsense editing. Overall, it's still better than syndication.

I loved this TV series and am so happy to add it to my DVD collection. There is such great comedic chemistry between Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. Very entertaining.

I think season 4 is funnier than season 3 and season 3 was very good!!!!