Product Description

Lotsa Luck was the first TV show to showcase the comic brilliance and acting skills of Dom DeLuise, although he did go on to star in a couple of other short lived shows. The writing on the series was crisp, funny, and brilliant, because the creators of the series, Carl Reiner, Bill Persky and Sam Denoff picked only the cream of the available writers. They also surrounded Carl with a group of actors who would compliment Dom's special talents. The show first aired on September 10, 1973, and went off the air May 24, 1974, perhaps victim of edgy writing and scripts, but the chemistry of the actors and the wit of the writing contributed to DeLuise receiving a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of the beleaguered Stanley.

The series features DeLuise as the custodian of the New York City bus company's lost-and-found department and while that position generated its share of hilarity, the real strength of the show took place at home, where Stanley had to deal with his mother, sister and her lazy, unemployed husband. There was but one other regular in the cast, his co-worker Bummy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #53729 in DVD
• Brand: Image Entertainment
• Released on: 2007-01-09
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Dimensions: .40 pounds
• Running time: 30 minutes

Customer Reviews

The Orange Toilet
I had never heard of this show back in 1973 but then again I was only 12 years old at the time. Still, I happened to find this show amongst all the DVDs here at Amazon and it looked so interesting that I happen to place it in my shopping cart for later purchase. After several months of saving up for it I finally bought it and I am here to write a review of it.

I was a bit worried that I had wasted my money on a bomb of a show but it turned out to be a wise investment. I've always been a Dom Deluise fan so for that matter alone the show had something going for it. I noticed immediately the quick and sharp writing, and soon I found myself laughing, which is something I rarely do with today's TV. From the very beginning familar faces like Mona Freeman and Beverly Sanders from the old days of television (we're talking '70s old here) soon sprouted up and added to the entertainment.

The show centers around a guy (Deluise) who works as a custodian at the bus company, but who is a bachelor still living at home with his mother. That's bad enough, but he also has to live under the same roof with his sister and her husband, who are also still living at home. The sister is what they used to call "kooky" in the old days, and her husband, an out-of-work slob with a lisp who does nothing but hang around the house all day in his bathrobe, add for some funny situations for Deluise to play off of.

This DVD set consisting of 4 DVDs also contains the pilot, which really should be called "The Orange Toilet." The plumbing goes bad in the upstairs bathroom (probably the only one they have in this Brooklyn NY tenament) and Dom and the gang end up going toilet-hunting. They settle on of all things an orange colored toilet. Have you ever seen a toilet that's colored orange? Well get ready for some good laughs as the family brings home the toilet which Deluise installs himself.

For a show that's almost 35 years old and was running in prime time amongst such popular shows of the day like "All In The Family," "The Brady Bunch" and "The Carol Burnett Show," this is a breath of fresh air if you're longing for a time when TV brought us true entertainment 7 days a week.

The shows were done on videotape, though the opening credits are on film, and they are in marvelous condition. Sharp, crisp, very good quality. The theme song is a bit corny and reminds me of the opening credits to "Cheers." That I could do without. As for the discs and case, I can't say it's done cheaply, but an episode guide wouldn't have hurt the company's wallet. There are 22 episodes plus "The Orange Toilet" pilot. No Christmas episode, which would have been nice.

Lastly, I was rather surprised about the frequent use of sexual innuendo jokes which wasn't stylish yet until four years later with the debut of "Three's Company." But that type of humor I have always welcomed. I was just surprised to hear it so early in 70s television.

If anything, buy this for taking a trip back in time once more to what television in 1973 had to offer. You won't be disappointed.

Lotsa "didn't luck out"
NOTE: Dom DeLuise passed away at age 75, on 5/4/09.

"LOTSA LUCK" was the second TV series for Dom DeLuise. His first was the self-titled "Dom DeLuise Show" from 1968. Dom re-used that same name in '87 for his third and final series. All three programs aired for a single season only.

One element of "Lotsa Luck" is reminiscent of Edgar Kennedy's RKO "Average Man" shorts of the 1930s and '40s. Here, bus driver Stanley Belmont is unmarried, yet lives with a houseful of dependents: his mother, his sister Olive and her lazy husband Arthur, who avoids work at all costs.

The series was created by Carl Reiner. Prominent guest stars: LAUGH-IN's Ruth Buzzi and Johnny Brown, Harold Gould (Mary's dad on THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW), Ronnie Schell (Pvt. Slater, GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C.) and Suzanne Somers (THREE'S COMPANY).

As in all other matters, timing in showbiz is critical. This early 70s sitcom came in the wake of ALL IN THE FAMILY, its spinoffs and a number of other urban comedies, and Dom just got lost in the shuffle.


CAST MEMBERS for LOTSA LUCK:
Dom DeLuise-- Stanley Belmont
Kathleen Freeman-- Iris Belmont (mom)
Wynn Irwin-- Arthur Swann
Beverly Sanders-- Olive Swann
Jack Knight-- Bummy Pfitzer (Stan's friend)


Episode list includes original airdates and guest stars.

(#_1) Olive's Present (9/10/73) Beverly Carter/Bella Bruck/Jimmy Martinez
(#_2) The Bare Facts (9/17/73) - Patricia Heide
(#_3) Trial Separation (9/24/73) -
(#_4) Stanley and the Librarian (10/1/73) - Jackie Joseph
(#_5) The Suit (10/8/73) - John Furlong/Barbara Minkus/Roderick Cook
(#_6) Mom's Secret (10/15/73) - Harold Gould
(#_7) The Winning Purse (10/19/73) - Danny Wells/Janice Carroll/Martin Ashe
(#_8) The Family Plot (10/29/73) - Tom Pedi/Henry Corden
(#_9) The Shrink (11/5/73) - Elliot Reid
(#10) The New Stan (11/12/73) - Cliff Pellow/Sammy Shore/Bobbie Mitchell/Erin O'Reilly
(#11) Arthur's Inheritence (11/26/73) -
(#12) The Belmont Connection (12/3/73) - J.J. Barry/Mark Gordon/Jennifer King
(#13) Will You Marry Me? (12/10/73) - Pat Finley
(#14) Do Me A Favor (1/11/74) - Richard Evans/Barbara Brownell/Alex Rocco/Mel Carter
(#15) Stan and the Wealthy Widow (1/18/74) - Ruth Buzzi/Helen Page Camp
(#16) The Talent Show (1/25/74) - Johnny Brown/Danny Wells/Louisa Moritz
(#17) A Little Order of Law and Order (2/1/74) - Ike Ivarson
(#18) You Oughta Be In Pictures (2/8/74) - John Harlan/Tim Herbert/Ronnie Schell
(#19) Stan's Assistant (2/15/74) - Cliff Norton/Stuart Nisbet
(#20) Arthur Makes His Move (2/22/74) - Alan Oppenheimer
(#21) Bummy's Girl (3/8/74) - Suzanne Somers
(#22) Get Off My Back (3/15/74) (series finale) Robert F. Hoy/Gene Elman

Great show - poor transfer
This was an excellent television show. That is a fact. The first time I ordered this dvd set disc three was cracked. The second time I tired to watch (replaced collection) disc four stalled while playing {on several players}. Haven't checked the first three discs yet, but this looks like strike two. Also Suzanne Sommers received top star billing and was only in one episode. I grew up watching this show on prime time and was disappointed with the quality of the dvd. The special features are great too!