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DVD Reviews
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Eight Is Enough: The Complete Second Season
Review by Suzanne Lanoue
11/10/12 |
I loved this show. I didn't see it during the 70's, even
though I was a teen then. I saw it later in re-runs. Still,
it is very enjoyable. It's a good drama with a large cast.
Although it's a drama, it has lots of humor as well. This is
a much more realistic show than "The Brady Bunch" and
probably a lot more representative to what a nice middle
family in the 70's would have been like (or at least as much
as TV would allow).
It's also great to watch the show because of the
nostalgia factor. It's fun to see the 70's clothes and
styles, and hear the language of the teens, and also to see
all the actors from back then, especially the guest-stars. I
think it holds up pretty well, despite some dated material.
I think anyone would enjoy watching it, even if they weren't
around back then.
Dick Van Patten is very likable as the dad, Tom, and they
have some nice young actors playing his kids. The actress
who played their mom died in the first season from cancer,
very tragically, so rather than replace her, they had the
character die, too. Their are some poignant moments in this
season as Tom struggles to get past his grief and move on
with his life (as do his kids). Still, this is mostly
light family fun, so it's not too "heavy".
There are no extras or features, which is a real shame,
since most of the actors in the show are still alive. It
would have been nice to hear them talk about the show and
see how they are doing now. Still, it's great to have the
collection of episodes. I am definitely going to have to buy
the first season, too.
For some reason, they divided the season up into two
parts, two separate DVD's. Make sure you buy them both, so
you get the full 70's experience!
MORE INFORMATION:
Warner
Archive Presents: eight
is enough!
Eight Is
Enough began its first full
season with a gaping hole in the center – the tragic
loss of actress Diana Hyland, who played Bradford
matriarch Joan. As the season begins, newspaper
columnist Tom Bradford is now a
widower and the Bradford clan is
still healing. Thanks to the arrival of tutor Sandra Sue
"Abby" Abbot (Betty Buckley), smiles come more quickly
to the Bradford kids and love might just be in the air
for Tom. While Cupid plays his games, the
eight Bradford children mix
humor and drama while confronting a host of life’s
timeless travails as well as some contemporary
controversies, from "trial marriage" and trial
separations to real weddings, second mortgages and
stolen holidays. Notable guests of the Bradfords found
in this 4-Disc, 14-Episode collection include Alice’s
Beth Howland, plus Don Johnson, Gerald McRaney, Will
Geer and Robin Williams.
The second half of Eight
is Enough’s
sophomore season sees Abby fully ensconced as the new
lady of clan Bradford, while the crew carries on after
their stolen Christmas (see Eight
is Enough:
The Complete Second Season Part One). The new year
brings with it a host of new challenges and comedy as
Nicholas sees a UFO, the kids engage in some risky
business while the parents are away, Tommy buys a term
paper, and Tom finds himself a faux Dear Abby for his
paper. But when Abby suffers a horrible head injury, the
whole family must come together to share some special
memories to make sure the family’s newest member makes
it through the night. And keep your eyes peeled for
Partridge Danny Bonaduce among the Bradford’s guests in
this 3-Disc, 12-Episode Collection.
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Page updated 11/30/12
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