The Hee Haw Collection - Premier Episode & Hee Haw Laffs! (1969)

praise the lord

Praise the lord, it's dead and gone. Put a stake thruough its heart and scatter the ashes and let no child ever have to sit thru two hours on a Saturday night of this infernally painfully awful show. Still gives me the shivers. "Heh, maybe we'll have some new jokes next week." Maybe not. Hell is actors telling jokes that are charitably called corn-ball in a fake cornfield week after week after week. I used to pray that someone got 'is goldurn foot caught in a thresher. December 18, 2007

Yes, Smothers Brothers

Sorry to disagree with William, but I remember being annoyed with them replacing Smothers Brothers with Hee Haw, and being pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Perhaps what he's remembering is a time slot difference in his area? I don't have the DVDs yet, so I can't speak to the quality of them, though I have no reason to doubt the other reviewers on that issue... October 5, 2004

Too bad Time-Life acquired the rights to this show

It's wonderful to have the opportunity to acquire this show on DVD. The jokes are still as corny as ever, the music still as good as ever, and Junior's delivery still cracks me up.

The sad thing is, Time-Life is the company putting out the DVD's. This initial DVD is a poor value. One show and one highlight reel is all that is provided. Add to that the fact that the highlight reel includes numerous out-takes from the same premiere show included, and you're paying full price for basically one show.

Also, Time-Life has obviously not seen fit to restore any of the footage. Colors bleed badly (which is extremely obvious on a show with loud sets, lighting, and clothing), and grain is everywhere.

Should you buy this DVD, or the subsequent releases? Well, I doubt this show will ever be released as it should have been....in full season sets. So if you want to have copies of this classic, this is probably your only choice. Just prepare yourself to have deep pockets and low expectations. September 1, 2004

Hee Haw Has Returned

I am tickled pink to see that Hee Haw is back for us to see again. I would never miss this when I was a kid. Maybe our kids today will find it funny (or just look at us weird). Now I am waiting for the Bewitched series to be put on DVD and my collection will be complete. Ahhh, the good ole' days. August 4, 2004

Finally!

"Hee-Haw" can best be described as a country version of "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in," with plenty of good music thrown into the mix.

Dropped into the CBS schedule in June 1969 as a summer replacement for "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" (not the "Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" as indicated on the DVD cover--their show had come to an abrupt and controversial end several weeks earlier), "Hee-Haw" was to run a scant 13 weeks and then disappear forever...but Nielsen numbers attract attention, and the show was a ratings favorite throughout its summer '69 run...CBS returned it to the air at the earliest opportunity a few months later, and the rest is history ("Hee-Haw May Have the Last Laugh" declared a TV Guide news brief in mid-summer '69, describing the show's unexpected ratings success and CBS' desire to continue with the program as soon as there was room on the schedule).

Though the show lasted many years, my favorite episodes remain those first 13--this DVD showcases the premiere episode, plus a compilation bonus called "Hee-Haw Laffs," which first appeared on VHS tape several years ago.

"Hee-Haw" was fast-paced, funnier than "Rowan and Martin's Laugh in," and the musical breaks always featured top country talent showcased at their best.

Time-Life's presentation of the show is wonderful. Even the opening slate, featuring the scheduled broadcast date, is included, as is the brief Burma Shave inspired "We'll be back in a minute" station break blurb that was only a part of those first 13 episodes. I'm so grateful someone preserved these tapes--though some chroma noise is evident, quality is remarkably good overall.

This was such a welcome DVD discovery, and a mail order catalog received yesterday indicates that future volumes are forthcoming quickly! I hope so, as I'll be eagerly awaiting their arrival. June 27, 2004

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