Emmary Hartman Mary Hartmanem Tv Series Volume One Dvd Set Review
“Mary Hartman! Mary Hartman!” blares out a woman’s squawk. So began each off kilter, quirky trip into the heart of the American suburbs featuring the surreal adventures of housewife Mary Hartman (Louise Lasser) and her irregular family, friends and neighbors.
Enter a world of garish colored polyester clothing, yellow waxy build-up on kitchen floors and grandpa flashers – if you dare. It’s not a planet of alien oddities – it’s the 1970′s. Welcome to the wacky world of soap opera spoof Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. The groundbreaking TV serial from sitcom sultan Normal Lear is now on DVD and though this first volume has no extras, it’s still a value.
After mega sitcom success All In The Family and Maude, Norman Lear developed one of the most modern serialized TV series then – or arguably now. True, a lot of the then shocking topics of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman seem somewhat tame now in comparison, however as with any good television show, characters matter most. With Mary Hartman, her sexually incapable mate, indecent exposing grandpa and oversexed country singer friend not only entertain, but slowly find their contrivance into your heart.
Conceived as a soap opera parody, the indicate openly discussed the then still heavyweight issues of male impotence, the onset of teenage puberty, a women’s menstrual cycle and the temptation of infidelity, focused on a woman trapped in a world where her grandfather is the town pervert and her floor’s waxy build-up remains defiantly in evidence, despite her best efforts to do away with the cursed affliction.
As with any soap – spoof or not – watching episodes sequentially is a must. The DVD set allows convenient viewing anytime and the increased complexity of this soap spoof demands careful viewing. Is the police officer that arrested Mary’s flasher grandpa flirting with her? Who is the mass murderer who may be stalking Mary’s daughter Heather for knowing too much? Just why can’t Mary’s husband effect in the bedroom?
This last issue is pre Viagra or Cialis, though no longer outrageous to discuss on TV today, still ensures expansive drama with comedic overtones. When Mary’s husband won’t share his performance problems with her, she seeks sexual guidance from the library and leaves the sex books on full view in the kitchen. When hubby Tom (Greg Mullavy) comes home with a buddy who sees the sex manuals, it’s more powerfully dramatic than a cheap shot at juvenile humor.
Probably the most entertaining thing about Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman – with tongue planted firmly in cheek – its writers delved into emotionally vulnerable areas and actors never indulged caricatured performances. Later shows with a serialized format set within larger than life environs or parody were Twin Peaks and Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. Even current ABC hit Desperate Housewives owes a debt. Today it’s accepted, even encouraged for the frustrated housewives of Wisteria Lane to seek an “outlet” for their boredom. For Mary Hartman and her suburban pals, they took out sexual frustration in furniture polishing or floor waxing.
As stated before, the DVD state is bare bones with only episodes on three discs. You get 25 vibrantly certain episodes. With most retail prices for the place hovering around $24.99, it’s only a buck an episode. Sadly, menus have no titled chapters. If you want to forward to the next, it’s blind going.
While Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman‘s comedy vibe or slow serialized format isn’t for everyone; it remains one of the more recent television programs of the 1970′s. If you like your sitcom satire dryly delivered, fully mature with believable characters that wrestle entertainingly with life’s ups and downs, it’s definitely worth checking out.
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