The show's popularity would grow rapidly with the keen talent instincts of Sullivan as the ratings continued to soar. Sullivan's name would soon become synonymous with the newest and best entertainment as his scouting interests would go to any lengths to get contracts for the most sought after entertainment. Toast of the Town raised him to the celebrity status of the rich and famous as he and his wife, Sylvia lived in the Delmonico Hotel, frequented the trendiest NYC nightclubs and restaurants, and socialized with political leaders, musical talents, movie and Broadway stars, and European novelty acts. In 1955, the show was renamed The Ed Sullivan Show, and to his credit, the theater that broadcast the show for its 23-year run was renamed The Ed Sullivan Theater.
Now, Starvista Entertainment/Time Life presents The Best of the Ed Sullivan Show: 6-DVD Collector's Set, a spectacular DVD edition from the longest-running and most iconic variety show in TV history. This 6-disc collection delivers unforgettable appearances and prime-time performances from rock n' roll greats like Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Mamas and the Papas; music celebrities like Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Mathis, and Sammy Davis Jr.; comics like Flip Wilson, Richard Pryor, Phyllis Diller, Joan Rivers, Bob Hope and many more. There are some of Ed's favorite shows with animal and variety acts and the 50th Anniversary Special hosted by Mary Tyler Moore. There's over two hours of bonus programming featuring a rare interview with Ed and wife Sylvia, plus celebrity interviews with Alan King, David Crosby, Jackie Mason, Steve Allen and many more stars. These selected performances were gathered from over 1,000 hours of entertainment and contains over 7 hours of extraordinary talent with over 2 hours of special bonus features.
The Best of the Ed Sullivan Show: 6-DVD Collector's Set is jam-packed with a variety of entertainment that will surely please the whole family. The animal acts will delight mom, dad and the kids, and the most sought after entertainers will grace the stage. There are 6 discs including Unforgettable Performances; 50th Anniversary Special; the All-Star Comedy Special; the World's Greatest Novelty Acts; Amazing Animal Acts; and Bonus Interviews. I was particularly engrossed in the generous comments made in celebrity interviews raving about Sullivan's kind demeanor, his keen star-seeking instincts, his endearing love for his wife, his ceiling-breaking star contracts, and his ability to make show people into acclaimed celebrities. The most popular comment was that he was an ordinary man that makes mistakes and considered himself a regular guy. That's why audiences felt so at-home with him. Sullivan worshiped the extraordinary talents of his guests and he knew they were the entertainment and he was only the emcee -- and that was his great appeal!
I was excited to receive The Best of the Ed Sullivan Show: 6-DVD Collector's Set, and I highly recommend this nostalgic walk down memory lane. This was a time when morality was the boundary for entertainment, and anything suggestive was eliminated for the benefit of the audience. This 6-disc DVD has only whet my desire to see the Deluxe Set of 12 hours on 10 DVDs. It's true that Sullivan was constantly blamed for cutting the acts in order to fit all the entertainment into his weekly show, and with this set, you'll find that all of these performances are only clips. However, in my opinion, it's well worth viewing, based on the nostalgia factor alone. When you compare the content of these old-time shows to the series of today, you'll not only see how far we've wandered from the threshold of television standards, but feel the loss of the innocence in television viewing. Do note, however, that if you are looking for the full episodes, or even the full performances, you may be disappointed in this collection of clips. Personally though, I thoroughly enjoyed the set.
