30 and 60 years - time flies

Category: Blu-ray's and DVD's

 

Looking back at fan favs now available to bring home

60 years of UNCLE

Baby Boomers were introduced to Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin in 1964. These agents from U.N.C.L.E. entranced viewers for years. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was a hit with viewers and Robert Vaughn (Solo) and David McCallum (Kuryakin) became the generation’s pin-up hunks for the girls and heroes for the boys.

By today’s standards the show is hokey, stupid, and juvenile, but in 1964 it was, to put it mildly, great fun, entertaining, and a must-watch for millions of fans. The agents were tasked with saving the world from the evil THRUSH. Solo was supposed to be America’s answer to Britain’s James Bond, but with a partner.

Personal note: When I sat down with Robert Vaughn, we discussed in full the show that still remains part of pop culture. He knew that in hindsight it was indeed hokey. But at the time they filmed it it was America’s escape from the everyday world that consisted of the aftermath of the assassination of President Kennedy, the ramping up of the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the new freedoms of love and drugs that were taking over the campuses.

The show was in many ways ahead of its time, with communication devices that we use today. Well, maybe they weren’t wristwatch communicators ala Superman, but they were special. Pulling out a pen from their pocket and saying “Open Channel D” was what connected the agents to headquarters. And who ran the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement? Of course it was Mr. Waverly (Leo G. Carroll).

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. ran for four years as a series and has some TV movies as well as a spinoff called The Girl from  U.N.C.L.E. starring Stephanie Powers and Noel Harrison as mod-style UNCLE agents. Yes, there was a 2015 movie about the series, but it was not what fans wanted. They were and are content with leaving their beloved UNCLE the way it was, flaws and all.

When I asked Vaughn what he thought Napoleon Solo would be doing now (in 2005), he said he thought he would be running UNCLE, having taken over from Waverly.

30 years of Friends

Yes, it has been 30 years since Rachel ran into the coffee house escaping her wedding and meeting the rest of the friends that changed her life. Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross became the friends of millions of fans who religiously tuned in every week to watch what they were up to, how they managed their lives and jobs, and their friendship.

Each of the six friends had unique characters and they all blended together to form a group that even today is entertaining and delightful to watch. Matthew Perry’s death was a shock to fans but he still lives on as Chandler Bing, the joke-cracking wise-ass guy whose job was really not clear to anyone.

Ross, the bumbling but kind friend and his sister Monica, the clean OCD freak have their share of fans. Phoebe, the unusual yet caring friend was a hoot, as was Joey, the aspiring actor who really had no clue about life but did have street smarts. And Rachel, whose haircut took over the world, turned from a stuck-up snob to a loving, caring, down-to-earth woman.

Friends is now available in 4K and makes a great holiday gift. There are some extra features. Click on the links below to check some out:

Both The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Friends are available to own in their entirety.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.