Search - Pat Paulsen's Half A Comedy Hour: The Complete Series on DVD

Television is called a medium because it's seldom well done

Richard H. Campbell | 10/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pat Paulsen was a "quirky" entertainer, like Tiny Tim, Mrs. Miller, or The Gang. This 2-disc set contains all 13 episodes of his 1970 TV series. Before this, Pat was a regular on THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS COMEDY HOUR (where he ran for president in 1968 with Tiny Tim as his vice president). After that, he did guest-shots on shows like GET SMART, THE WILD WILD WEST and THE MONKEES. This series (PAT PAULSEN'S HALF A COMEDY HOUR)was his chance to finally be the star of the show. He pulled it off brilliantly. Here you will see his skits like HOBBY HUT, MR. SCIENCE and THEN CAME PAULSEN (a spoof of THEN CAME BRONSON, which I wish was on DVD). Some guy playing an old indian is always lurking around, as is a guy in a gorilla suit. You'll also recognize Super Dave and Jean Byron. Guest stars of all kind show up in the first 11 episodes, the best being Hubert Humphrey, Tiny Tim, Miss Vickie and (grrrrrrrrr!) Joey Heatherton. There are no guest stars in episode #12, but it is the best episode because in it Pat sings a serious song called "Did I Ever Really Live?", which was written by Allen Sherman from his Broadway show "The Fig Leaves Are Falling". This was an old promo 45 on Mercury (which should have been a hit but wasn't). The song is also on Pat's 1970 album "Live At The Ice House". (Oddly enough, Rich Little sang this song on an old Colgems 45!). In fact, some of Pat's bits on this series ("finger shadows", "hawaii song", "folk song", etc) were also on his "Ice House" LP. Sadly, "Ice House" isn't on CD, so it's nice to get some of that material on DVD, especially the "Did I Ever Really Live?" song. The final episode (#13) is a true TV classic, ending the series in a "full circle" way. In episode #1, Pat jokes that if this series gets cancelled after 13 weeks many people will be unemployed and their children will starve.Episode #13 begins with Pat saying his series has been cancelled and this is the last show. In the final scene of the last episode, those "starving children" show up. But even they don't like Pat, and run away from him. The final shot shows a close-up of Pat with a tear in his eye. Brilliant satire. Another highlight is the closing tag to #12. In reality, Pat knew the show had been axed by ABC because of poor ratings (it was opposite FAMILY AFFAIR and DANIEL BOONE, I think). But instead of saying this, he instead announces he won't return for a second season because he wants to quit while he's still on top. Again, simply brilliant. And just like that this show vanished. I was 10 when it began (January 1970) and 11 when it ended (April 1970). I never thought I'd see this show again, so I'm happy it's on DVD. If a show this odd can make it out on DVD, then maybe there's hope for other "lost classics", such as A MAN CALLED SHENENDOAH; THEN CAME BRONSON; CORONET BLUE: GETTING TOGETHER; and a U.S. release of ROCK FOLLIES (I could list 100 other old TV shows I'd buy on DVD). Pat never really recovered from this show's failure. He kept working (he was a regular on the HARPER VALLEY PTA TV series) but he never got the chance to be the star of a show again. That's a shame. These DVDs prove he had the talent. Some of the lyrics to "Did I Ever Really Live?" are: "too soon you'll here a distant drum/ too soon the time to go will come/ and time won't wait/ is it too late to ask/ did I ever love? did I ever give? did I ever really live?" Pat heard his "distant drum" in 1997 and left us "too soon" at age 70 from cancer. These DVDs are a great way to remember the truly legendary almost-president of the U.S., Pat Paulsen. UPDATE: My copy came in a black DVD box, so you can't see the inside back cover. Take the cover out and look at the back: you'll find an episode guide with color photos. A nice extra, but they should have put the DVDs in a clear box so we'd know it's there."

Then Came Paulsen

Some Other Guy | USA | 09/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Pat Paulsen Half A Comedy Hour was a mid-season replacement in 1970 that my brother and myself never missed. I remember it as one of the funniest shows on televison and am eager to see how it stands the test of time. Regular routines included a takeoff on a popular series of the same period called "Then Came Bronson" about a disillusioned man who quits his job to travel the country on his motorcycle and "find America." Called "Then Came Paulsen" it included tongue-in-cheek titles like "I've Got A Monkey On My Back And I Can't Stop." Another frequent segment was called "Hobbie Hut" where Paulsen regularly destroyed the projects of his American Indian co-host. Interview segments included Daffy Duck and a very funny double interview with a very ratty looking Smoke the Bear and the Cookie Bear form the Andy Williams Show. I'm very excited about the opportunity to see this again. Paulsen was a gifted comedian whose career was too short.
"

I Remember This Fondly

Mr. Gary L. Shapiro | Aptos, ca USA | 09/23/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am excited to see this again. I have very fond memories of this funny show, including Pat Paulson's interview with Daffy Duck. Sometimes old TV is best remembered rather than seen again, but I think this might be the exception. I hope so. I may not be fourteen any more, but I am not that much more sophisticated than I was then. Sad, huh?"

DISAPPOINTING

Chris Brown | Ajax, Ontario | 03/31/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Love Pat Paulsen. Children must have been writing this show! Some good guest stars (Mike Connors!), some (stress, some) funny bits especially the VW and the sledgehammer and pleading for more than 13 episodes, and a clip from the first Smothers Brothers Show with Pat as a "famous star". Don't regret getting, as I really like Pat, but he was let down by writing and deserved better. Colour and print quality are okay, but considering the age I thought it would be better. Dean Martin shows from the '60s look better.

If you pick it up for around $15, you'll probably find enough to justify its purchase especially if you like Pat. (Still remember him quite vividly in an episode of "The Wild, Wild West"!)"