BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP
SEASON ONE

UNIVERSAL TELEVISION PRESENTS

Release Date: June 7th 2005

MSRP Price: $39.98 (MSRP)
Amazon Price: $27.99
Costco Price: $28.99
Wallmart: $28.99

10 1st Season Episodes Plus the Two-Hour Pilot
Format: Full-Screen
Studio: Universal Television
Run Time: 584 minutes
Number of Discs -  2
Sound - Mono

Baa Baa Black Sheep Season 1 Boxed Set Rating: "B" 
Video:  B
Audio:  C
Content:  B
Acting:  B
Bonus Material:  F
Overall:  B

STARS: Robert Conrad, Simon Oakland, John Larroquette, Dana Elcar, James Whitmore Jr., Dirk Blocker, W.K. Stratton, Robert Ginty. 

As a kid in 1976 Baa Baa Black Sheep was kick ass action packed series that had the coolest looking aircraft ever. The corsair was awesome to look at. Hell, I had the model from the series. 

Robert Conrad was awesome as the legendary Pappy Boyington. I found it odd that the Universal website does not even list Conrad in the cast on their wrilte-up on the official website. 

For one hour a week on NBC The Black Sheep Squadron rocked the world of young boys everywhere. We were treated to these military misfits constantly bickering among themselves, chasing pretty nurses and would then out fly the enemy shooting them out of the sky to a fiery crash in the cold blue ocean. 

Getting older you realize the storylines were weak, the acting from Conrad was terribly over done and shows budget was minimal at times. But this is indeed classic television that would set the tone for shows like The Dukes of Hazzard, BJ and the Bear, Knight Rider, The A-Team, Sheriff Lobo and a list of others. Simple shows loaded with action, vehicles doing all sorts of interesting things wrapped around gunshots and explosions.  

It's astounding to have shows like Airwolf, Earth 2, Hunter, Miami Vice and even Baa Baa Black Sheep come to DVD. I just wish the pricing would justify purchasing the boxed sets as they get released. 

PACKAGING 
There won't be much packaging on the overpriced two-disc set 10 episode boxed set. The boxed set cover isn't that cool. The DVD cover art work inside does look good with a cast photo and a corsair in the background. This should have been used for the cover art other than using a Robert Conrad image with a portion of the cast photo in front of him. The embossed title is a nice effect. Discs are double sided. 

VIDEO: 
The shows video comes from very old master tapes which shows up in the transfer. You can see the dirt and debris throughout the boxed set indicating Universal did very little prep on the boxed set. The color still looks good and the clarity is sharp. I did notice much in the way of color fade or bleeding. Overall the image is very good for its age. 

AUDIO: 
The 5.1 rocks, for a television series. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand pumping through the front speaker. The soundtrack does not put the rear speakers through any hoops - they are barely used at all. But the overall sound of the video is great. 

BONUS FEATURES: 
This boxed set has no real extras other than an NBC News Interview with the real Pappy Boyington. 

SUMMARY: 
It's great having the first season on DVD finally. The thing that usually sticks in my belly with any of these is the cost of the boxed sets. Essentially your getting 12 episodes for nearly thirty bucks. The cost is just two much when you figure you're getting 21 episodes of Las Vegas for under thirty bucks. The series is old digitized from old tape with mediocre sound and no extras. The boxed set is nothing special and the series was no monster juggernaut in its day. Cheaper prices sell a whole lot more. 

What's On The Discs: 

From the NBC News Archives: Interviews with Major Gregory Boyington

When Major “Pappy” Boyington is assigned to a demeaning desk job, he throws the book at military regulations and forms his own fighter squadron with misfit pilots thrown out of other squadrons because of bad behavior. Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey), George Gaynes (Punky Brewster) and Lance LeGault (The A-Team) guest star.

2. Flying Misfits  Part 2

Pappy puts all his chips on the table when he attempts to create a new home base for his “Black Sheep” squadron by conning another squadron out of a flock of derelict planes that can barely get off the ground.

3: Best Three Out of Five

Headquarters isn’t pleased with Pappy’s unauthorized progress with the new squadron, and they send Major Red Buell (guest star Charles Napier, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery) to take over. In an attempt to establish order, the Major’s men remove key parts from the squadron planes, but they may have underestimated Pappy’s gambling abilities to get the parts – and his pilots -- back.

4. Small War

Pappy’s the victim of friendly fire when TJ accidentally shoots down his plane during a dogfight, landing the Major on a hostile island.

5. High Jinx

There’s a true black sheep in the squad when Pappy recruits a new pilot whom Jim thinks is bad luck.

6. Prisoners of War

The Black Sheep discover they have much in common with their Japanese-American prisoner – making it a tough situation when the man attempts to escape with a stolen plane.

7. Presumed Dead

It’s a race against the clock when a brainwashed American Naval flyer ends up at the Black Sheep base with explosives and secret instructions from the Japanese.

8. The Meatball Circus

It’s a case of the sheep in wolves’ clothing when the Black Sheep steal some Japanese warplanes in order to destroy a Japanese aircraft carrier.

9. Up for Grabs

When General MacArthur decides to visit the Black Sheep Squadron, the Japanese get word of the event and put the Black Sheep before a firing squad in anticipation of the General’s visit. George Takei (Star Trek) guest stars.

0. Anyone for Suicide?

Everyone believes that Pappy’s recent case of malaria has made him go crazy when he proposes landing in plain view on a Japanese-occupied island.

11. New Georgia on My Mind

The Black Sheep are indignant when they’re put out to pasture by a Marine paratroop battalion who’ve taken over their island for use as a training area.

12. The Cat's Whiskers

With an impending court martial, Pappy attempts to generate some good PR for himself by attacking a seemingly impregnable Japanese radar station.

Baa Baa Black Sheep Season 1 Rating:  B

BACK TO THE MAIN PAGE