Captain & Tennille: The Ultimate Collection

Surely it's a sign that the nostalgia bubble is about to burst when single-season television series as mediocre as this one begin to proliferate on DVD. The soft-rock singing duo of the laconic, laidback Captain (Daryl Dragon) and endlessly perky Toni Tennille were brought to the tube by ABC in the fall of 1976 as the network's answer to Sonny and Cher (whose program, which had flourished from 1971 to 1974, was being revived on CBS, though the two were now divorced). But the mixture of mildly engaging music and limp comedy sketches that the shows shared led to the cancellation of both by mid-1977 (the Captain and Tennille were outgunned in the ratings by Little House on the Prairie). This three-disc boxed set offers 11 full episodes of the series—all equipped with a scene select feature to allow easy access to individual sketches and musical numbers—featuring guest stars such as Jackie Gleason, Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, Engelbert Humperdinck, Farrah Fawcett, John Travolta, and Bob Hope. DVD extras include a variety of music videos, the pair's debut appearance on The Tonight Show, and some bonus comedy skits, as well as a bonus CD of the duo's new song “Saving Up Christmas.” For longtime fans and devotees of garishly-colored ‘70s TV kitsch this will be self-recommending, but for most others it's an optional purchase. (F. Swietek)