The Abbott and Costello Show (1952-1957) [Season 1, Disc 2/3]

Stars: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Sid Fields

One of the most influential comedies in television history, The Abbott and Costello Show - Season 1 makes its Blu-ray debut from ClassicFlix with all 26 stunningly sharp episodes in this 3-disc set.

When Bud Abbott and Lou Costello became part of the permanent rotating group of weekly hosts on TV's The Colgate Comedy Hour, it revitalized their careers and led to the birth of The Abbott and Costello Show, a syndicated half-hour program that premiered in 1952. The premise of the show was disarmingly simple: Bud and Lou played themselves, a pair of unemployed actors living in a rooming house run by the apoplectic Sid Fields, also playing himself.

Easing their way through life in a neighborhood where crooks and sharpies lay in wait around every corner, and women walk right up to Costello for no other reason than to slap his face ("How dare you look like someone I hate!”), Bud and Lou keep the show fresh with new routines, but also perform many of their classics, including "Who's on First?", "Dice", "7 x 13 = 28" and so many, many more.

Newly restored from original 35mm master elements by the 3-D Film Archive, in cooperation with the Library of Congress, The Abbott and Costello Show features Hillary Brooke (as Lou's cultured girlfriend), Gordon Jones (as stupefyingly dumb "Mike the Cop"), Joe Besser (as "Stinky"), Joe Kirk (as "Mr. Bacciagalupe"), Bingo the Chimp, as well as many other well-known TV and film entertainers.

Film Distributor: ClassicFlix


BONUS FEATURES:
- Commentaries on 10 episodes featuring Lou Antonicello, Paul Castiglia, Ray Faiola, Stu Fink, Shane Fleming, Gilbert Gottfried, Bob Greenberg, Jim Mulholland, Gerry Orlando, Ron Palumbo, Toby Roan, Lou Sabini, Frank Santopadre, Jack Theakston and Michael Townsend Wright.


EPISODES:
DISC 2

CHARITY BAZAAR - The boys help out at Hillary’s charity bazaar, where Costello spends his cash at the kissing booth and Abbott raises money with the old shell game.

THE WESTERN - Bud and Lou trek to Arizona to visit Hillary at her uncle’s ranch and tangle with cattle rustler Black Bart. Audio Commentary by Toby Roan.

HAUNTED HOUSE - Abbott and Costello accompany Hillary to her deceased uncle’s haunted castle, which she will inherit if she spends the night there. Audio Commentary by Paul Castiglia.

PEACE AND QUIET - Suffering from insomnia, Lou sees a psychiatrist who prescribes a sleep-inducing record. When that fails, Bud checks him into a sanitarium.

HUNGRY - Baccigalup’s meatballs, twin waitresses, and an exceptionally fresh oyster stew frustrate Costello’s quest for hearty meal. Audio Commentary by Ron Palumbo.

MUSIC LOVER - Hillary’s father wants her to marry a man with musical talent, so Lou takes singing lessons with Professor Melonhead and Bud concocts a way to make Costello look like a piano virtuoso. Audio Commentary by Stu Fink.

POLITICIAN - Abbott schemes to photograph Fields assaulting Costello so the boys can sue the landlord. When the plan fails, Bud decides that Lou should run for public office. With full and partial audience laugh track.

WRESTLING - Mike the Cop arranges for Lou and Stinky to settle their differences in a wrestling match, but when Stinky falls ill, Lou is forced to wrestle his kid brother, Ivan the Terrible. With full and partial audience laugh track.

GETTING A JOB - Bud has a new job loafing in a bakery and insists that Lou get a job, too. After Costello runs into trouble delivering hats to the Susquehanna Hat Company, the boys use an unorthodox strategy at Fields’ Employment Agency. Audio Commentary by Gilbert Gottfried and Frank Santopadre. With and without audience laugh track.




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