227 : Season 1

It is really great that Columbia Tri Star is brining back some of the class African-American comedies from the 70's and 80's to DVD. These shows were enjoyed by all. The first season of 227 we really learn about the foundation of the characters on 227, Mary, Lester and her daughter Brenda. It was nice to see Marla Gibb in a role where she wasn't a maid but a wife and mother. Her and Lester had a nice family. The late Helen Martin shines as the elderly wise cracking neighbor Pearl and Jackee Harry is quite funny as Sexy Sandra. I really enjoy this show because these were working class people who often found themselves in funny predicaments that usually were solved by the end of the show. Some of the funniest episodes on this set include the episode when the people in the building think they have won the lottery, the episode when Brenda has a crush on Calvin and turns to Sandra for advice and the first episode when Mary accidently hits a car and leaves a note on the car only to have another car come along and almost destroy the car. I hope that future seasons make it to DVD also. The first three seasons were the funniest! I purchase a lot of these DVD's to let my family watch because some of these older shows are a lot better than these new shows.

I have always loved this show and was thrilled when it was finally released on dvd, but this show really started to cook in the second season hint!hint! I just wish the powers at be would'nt take so long releasing other season sets, which I think can really affect the sales and future sets being released.

Meanwhile, I hope the second season sees the light of day on dvd because I would love to own the episode when Sondra meets a politian who also has eyes for Brenda's teacher, played by Jayne Kennedy! The whole second season is filled with great episodes and I hope we fans won't have to wait in vain for the next release of this very funny show!!!

I will echo the praise of other reviewers here for this show. It's one of my favorite sitcoms from the mid to late 80s. The casting is perfect, the stories well written. Marla Gibbs and Jackee Harry are a joy to watch.

The reason I'm giving this dvd only three stars is because the episode sequencing on the set is the worst I've ever seen. Instead of following the airing order, which is the way the show should be viewed, I think they followed the production order. What this means is that after watching the pilot episode on disc one you will have to go to another disc to watch the second part of that story. They do not tell you this anywhere on the set.

The proper airing order can be viewed at tv.com. This is the way the creators of the show intended viewers to watch it. You'll understand why once you see the sequence. Unfortunately, to watch it the way it was meant to be watched one has to alternate back and forth between discs which can get real annoying real quick.

I'm also shocked that only the first season has been released after all this time. Is this not selling well? Regardless of the crazy episode sequencing this is one terrific show and I'll buy it no matter how they release it.