Time Life Bringing Complete 'Laugh-In' to DVD
11 May, 2017 By: John Latchem
Time Life and Proven Entertainment are preparing to release the classic sketch-comedy series "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" for the first time in its entirety on DVD to commemorate the show’s 50th anniversary.
All six seasons of the series, which ran from 1968 to 1973 on NBC, will be released as a 38-DVD complete-series set containing all 140 episodes remastered from original broadcast masters; 89 of the episodes have never before been released on any format.
The set will be available exclusively through the Time Life website for $250, with orders now being taken at TimeLife.com/LaughIn, and is expected to begin shipping June 19.
"Laugh-In" originally aired as a one-time special on Sept. 9, 1967, and was such a success that it was brought back as a series. Hosted by Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, “Laugh-In” was named by TV Guide as one of the 50 greatest TV shows of all time, marked by such catchphrases as "Sock it to me!," "You bet your sweet bippy!" and "Here come da judge!"
Stars included Goldie Hawn, Lily Tomlin, Judy Carne, Jo Anne Worley, Ruth Buzzi, Gary Owens, Arte Johnson and Alan Sues. Guest stars and cameos included Tim Conway, Bob Newhart, Debbie Reynolds, Liberace, Raquel Welch, Sammy Davis, Jr., Jonathan Winters, Carol Channing, The Monkees, Sonny and Cher, Barbara Feldon, Bobby Darin, Andy Griffith, Diana Ross, James Garner, Michael Landon, Buddy Hackett, Steve Lawrence, Jack Lemmon, Kirk Douglas, Robert Goulet, Flip Wilson, Don Rickles, John Wayne, Tiny Tim and Richard Nixon.
The show would win six Emmy awards, including Outstanding Variety Series in 1971, and 31 nominations, as well as two Golden Globes, including Best TV Show in 1969.
The set will include the original pilot, a 32-page collectible book featuring notes from producer/creator George Schlatter, and more than six hours of bonus features, including the complete 25th anniversary cast reunion, interviews with Tomlin, Schlatter, Martin, Buzzi, Owens, Johnson and Sues, bloopers, tributes and more.