The Jimmy Stewart Show: The Complete Series

Warner Archive has to be commended for digging into the vaults and bringing to light the obscure and nearly-forgotten. That seems to be the case with "The Jimmy Stewart Show" which must have been filed in the vault under "Amusing TV Sitcom Starring A Screen Legend.""The Jimmy Stewart Show" presented by Warner Archive is given first class treatment which is befitting of Mr. Stewart. The picture quality is beautifully sharp with bold, bright colors. In fact, the prints appear to have been taken from the original camera negatives. The sound is excellent and the packaging is nicely done.The series premiered on NBC during the 1971-72 season and lasted only one season for a total of 24 episodes. It was created by the legendary Hal Kantor who also wrote, produced, and directed many of the episodes.According to Kantor's autobiography "So Far, So Funny: My Life in Show Business," Jimmy Stewart's agents wanted him to star in an hour-long drama of some type. However, Universal managed to entice Stewart to star in a 30 minute sitcom as long as Stewart could co-own the production company (along with Kantor) and be paid a hefty salary. As a result, in 1971, Stewart became the highest paid actor on a television series being paid $33,333.33 per episode. It is also the first time that James Stewart ever allowed himself to be billed as "Jimmy" Stewart.In the series, Stewart portrays Dr. James K. Howard, a professor of anthropology at a small college founded by his grandfather and located in Easy Valley, California. But Jimmy Stewart basically plays Jimmy Stewart in his usual slow talking, slow moving way as he ambles from one situation to another. His family, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated.Stewart's beautiful wife is portrayed by Julie Adams, the damsel in distress from "Creature From the Black Lagoon." Ms. Adams looks all of 39, yet she is the mother of two sons by Stewart, one 29 and one eight. Stewart is supposed to be in his 50's in this series, but looks more like his real age of 63.Stewart's 29-year-old son also has a son who just happens to be eight, and both eight-year-olds are hard to tell apart. In the pilot episode, Stewart is at his 29-year-old son's house baby sitting his eight-year-old grandson while the parents are out on the town. Later that night, Stewart lights a cigar and then falls asleep on the couch, accidentally setting the house on fire. He is roused by his grandson and they are both saved, but the house burns to the ground.Now homeless, Stewart's older son, his cute wife (portrayed by Ellen Geer, Will Geer's daughter), and their young son are forced to move into Stewart's home until they can rebuild their house. And it's this chain of events that sets the wheels in motion for this series.It's possible that "The Jimmy Stewart Show" will appeal to the many fans of Jimmy Stewart and Julie Adams, and it most certainly is a good opportunity to see an example of what some sitcoms of that period were like.The viewer can expect an entertaining show filled with good natured and gentle humor. Stewart opens each episode speaking directly to the viewer and ends each episode the same way. As the stories progress, he often breaks the fourth wall and talks to the viewer. And it's amazing how this little bit of shtick actually does begin to create a personal connection between Stewart and his audience.I noticed that Jimmy Stewart and the cast seemed to get more comfortable with their roles as the series progressed. If it had been renewed for a second season, the series just might have caught on.Some of the episodes are quite amusing like the one where Stewart agrees to play his accordian at a bachelor party not knowing that there's a fan dancer performing behind him. The place gets raided and Stewart later defends both himself and the fan dancer in court.In another episode, Stewart's older son, a contractor who is building a sandwich shop, unearths a human skull at the construction site. It is then carbon dated by the college and discovered to be 30,000 years old. Stewart has to use his wits to calm down the future sandwich shop owner about the delays in construction while an archaeological dig is being conducted. Caesar Romero is the guest star.Like so many other series, "The Jimmy Stewart Show" passed through the portals of television history and was filed away in a vault where it waited to be rediscovered. So thank you Warner Archive for bringing this amusing slice of the Seventies to light.

No SDH. Play All available. Think Doris Day Show, Ozzie and Harriet, etc. This is a 70s version of a family show with Jimmy Stewart as the head of the family and Julie Adams as his wife. Mr. Stewart talks to the audience and his family comments on it asking him who he is talking to! Julie Adams looks no different in 1972 than she does in 1984-1996 on Murder She Wrote! And Jimmy Stewart, like Angela Lansbury, teaches college and bicycles around the small town of Easy Valley. John McGiver is typical John McGiver, always a delight. Ellen Geer plays the daughter-in law and her real life father, Will Geer (Grandpa on The Waltons) joins the cast for one episode. Several well known actors appear throughout the series, including Jack Soo (Flower Drum Song, Barney Miller). In flashbacks, Jimmy Stewart plays his character's deceased grandfather and his real life wife Gloria plays the character's grandmother. All in all a deliciously family-values show to be enjoyed by all. The DVD presentation is pleasantly reproduced with no detectable flaws in color or sound to detract from the nostalgic episodes featuring a loving extended family.

Do yourself a favor and take some time to enjoy this wonderful series again. If you were fortunate enough to have seen the original broadcasts, the program is as good as you remember. If you’ve never viewed the episodes, they are a delight to watch for the first time. Simply great TV in the classic sense of the word.

By no means is this an Emmy-worthy show but it was a not so typical 1970's show that deserves a watch. Thank goodness there is no laugh track like most of the shows of its time, it trusted the audience to know what was funny. The thing that stands out to me is how Stewart broke the 4th wall to talk to the audience,(Much like George Burns did), and just had fun with it. Great quality for DVD and I'm so glad I added it to my collection.

Jimmy Stewart is my all time favorite actor (even over Cary Grant). This TV series surprised me since I had no idea he had done this in the first place. The series is charming and fun to watch. I have enjoyed each episode so far and I dearly love the good wishes he sends at the end of each episode. Puts me in a good mood every time I see it. Fun fact, Gloria Stuart plays his character's great-grandmother in the first episode. She might be better known to folks as the older version of Rose in the movie, Titanic (1997) (among her many other movie characters).

This rare Gem of a Sitcom is finaly brought out of the Golden Vaults for an airing.The Whole series Complete in Very fine transfers. Great guest Stars Like Caesar Romero ,Great Wholesome family viewing. No Violence, no Swearing or Bad language, Nothing to upset and everything to entertain .James Stewart in a role tailor made for him , and he gets to play Accordion often throughout this Delightful series. From the dawn of the 1970's and rarely screened since . This is a Keeper.John Mcgiver plays the delighfuly named Luther Quince !?!Famous Comedian well known to Australian Audiences for his Tonight Show Johnathan Daly plays the older son Peter , Also nice portrayal of the younger son and grandson by Dennis Larson and Kirby Furlong , Also Ellen Greer and Beulah Bondi as James Stewarts Mother ! , The show is Quirky and i loved it from the start . wonderful spoken introductions to each eppisode by Jimmy Stewart start of each eppisode similar to the way Sir Alfred Hitchcock introduced His T.V Series .A total of 606 minutes .24 eppisodes over 3 DVDS .

all ok thanks waited over 40 years to get it only had it on cassette thanks.

I really enjoyed watching this TV series with Jimmy Stewart.

great forgotten series.thanks for the great service.