A new batch of old TV shows has hit DVD this week:
"Happy Days: The Complete First Season" (Paramount, 1974, not rated, $38.99, three discs). Ron Howard as Richie Cunningham was the initial draw for this cute, old-fashioned sitcom set in the 1950s (and inspired by early '60s-era "American Graffiti," which also featured Howard).
Some serious issues, such as racism, are tackled here, albeit lightly, but mostly it's a warm and fuzzy show that gradually grew its strength by comparing and contrasting goody-goody Richie with hip dropout Fonzie (Henry Winkler), who begins here as a minor character.
Watch Winkler during these episodes, as he develops Fonzie show by show; he's not even wearing his trademark leather jacket yet. It's easy to see how Winkler's easy charm helped him break out as the show's favorite character so quickly. I also enjoyed watching Tom Bosley and Marion Ross as Richie's parents; their relationship is funny but also quite affectionate.
Some of these shows are fun, but "Happy Days" doesn't really hit its stride until season two. (Too bad there are no interviews or other bonus features.)
Extras: Full frame, 15 episodes, chapters.
"Laverne & Shirley: The Complete First Season" (Paramount, 1976, not rated, $38.99, three discs). During the third season of "Happy Days," Penny Marshall (who would go on to become the director of "Big," "A League of Their Own" and other films) and Cindy Williams (who co-starred with Howard in "American Graffiti") appeared as Shirley and Laverne, respectively, two earthy girls who date Richie and Fonzie.
That led to this show, a broad slapstick effort with some easy laughs — and also some characters who get tiresome when you're watching very many episodes back to back (Lenny and Squiggy anyone?). Look for Robert Hays and Mark Harmon in one episode, and Winkler is funny as Fonzie in the first three shows.
Extras: Full frame, 15 episodes, chapters.
"Lateline: The Complete Series" (Paramount, 1998, not rated, $38.99, three discs). This surprisingly successful blend of satire and slapstick holds up pretty well, although some of the political satire is dated. But there are some very funny goings-on in this sitcom spoof of "Nightline."
The ensemble cast is great, led by co-creator Al Franken (a "Saturday Night Live" alum-turned-author and liberal radio commentator) as a bungling newsman. Robert Foxworthy is on hand as the egotistical anchorman, Miguel Ferrer is their executive producer, and Megyn Price is the brains behind Franken's work.
Best of all are the politicians and celebrities who guest star. They're all self-deprecating good sports, and many of their cameos are hilarious. Take special note of the riotous "Buddy Hackett" episode.
Extras: Full frame, 15 episodes (including four that did not air), chapters.
"Here's Lucy" (Shout! 1968-73, not rated, $34.98, four discs). This is one of Lucille Ball's later sitcoms. She's a widow with her teenage kids being played by her real-life children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. (who offer audio commentaries on some episodes, though it's mostly of the "oooh" and "ahhh" variety).
Gale Gordon co-stars as Lucy's brother-in-law/boss, and they are good together. But the really smart thing about this collection is that most episodes feature standout guest stars — Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, 14-year-old Donny Osmond, Carol Burnett (who does a commentary with Lucie Arnaz), Jack Benny, Johnny Carson, Ann-Margret, Ginger Rogers, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Gleason (as Ralph Kramden from "The Honeymooners"), and more.
This is a most enjoyable set that makes for a great deal of nostalgic fun.
Extras: Full frame, 24 episodes, 14 audio commentaries, bloopers, rehearsal/behind-the-scenes footage, alternate openings and endings, promos, commercials, Ann-Margret special and Jack Benny specials, chapters.
"A Touch of Frost: Season 3" (MPI, 1995, not rated, $49.98, three discs). This excellent collection of four 100-minute episodes of the popular British police procedural has homicide detective Jack Frost (wonderfully played in world-weary fashion by David Jason) shaking things up and getting results.
Two of his partners from past episodes show up again to help out, and Frost's former girlfriend Shirley (Lindy Whiteford) returns to his life . . . for a time.
The mysteries include a young man with Down's syndrome accused of killing a child, a murder that occurs during an animal-rights protest, a John Doe found in a river, a local soccer star who's critically injured during a game, and a shooting death that occurs during a glass-factory robbery.
Extras: Full frame, four episodes, chapters.
"The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour" (Image, 2004, not rated, $14.99). This special from last spring has Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson making like Sonny and Cher crossed with "Laugh-In," but it's a dreadful misfire. The skits are unfunny, the songs are overproduced.
Only some of the guests — Jewel, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Kenny Rogers, baseball star Johnny Bench, Mr. T. and some Muppets (chiefly Kermit and Miss Piggy) — raise the bar.
Simpson is way over the top in every skit. And since she shows off her assets with cleavage down to here throughout the show, why are we supposed to be surprised by the cleavage she reveals when she impersonates Dolly Parton?
Extras: Full frame, chapters.
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com