Coach – The First Season

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: C-/C+     Episodes: C+

 

 

Craig T. Nelson was one of the most interesting, up and coming character actors (see Peter Hyams’ The Star Chamber) when he eventually found himself the star of a TV situation comedy.  That show was Coach and because no such show had quite been done before, it was a hit.  Joined by Jerry Van Dyke, long overdue for a hit after being cursed by My Mother, The Car decades before, the show had legs even most experts may not have expected.

 

Debuting in 1989, it would run an unbelievable nine seasons.  Nelson is the title character, juggling his marriage (wife played by Shelley Fabares) and professional life where he might have some satisfying success if he can just deal with the personalities and characters at his school who might have a winning football team if they can get their acts together.  This was a mid-season replacement, which is why there are only 13 shows here, but it also gives you the opportunity to see if this is a show you could enjoy.  I am still not a big fan of the show, but it is at least consistent and not totally intelligence insulting.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image is typical of shows starting in the 1980s (comedies, dramas, half-hour or hour shows) that were shot on film and finished on analog NTSC videotape.  This is such a show, so these copies have serious detail issues with aliasing and softness throughout that makes no sense for a show “filmed before a live audience” as we are reminded at the beginning of each episodes.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono shows its age but is passable.  The only extra is a show form the next season to spawn sales of that set when it arrives, though a trailer for 80s sitcoms is included.  Our Limited Edition packaging looks like a wedge of cheese unintentionally and flips open like a notebook.  The two DVDs are in PVC holders that can be flipped back like the notepad included.  The first two pages deal with the episodes and the rest are blank.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo