Hazel: The Complete Second Season

Hazel, the brassy, Bronxy live-in maid and indispensable member of the upper middle class suburban Baxter household returns for this 1962-63 sophomore season. Oscar-winning actress Shirley Booth nabbed her second consecutive Emmy for her lively embodiment of the classic Saturday Evening Post cartoon character created by Ted Key, who cannot help but meddle in the lives of corporate lawyer “Mr. B” (Don DeFore), his wife “Missy” (Whitney Blake), and their son Harold (Bobby Buntrock), not to mention community affairs, in general. A force of nature, Hazel does not believe that the common sense dictum, “You can't win ‘em all,” applies to her. In these episodes, she plays matchmaker and peacemaker, comes to the aid of a new restaurant owner and a fired violinist, and takes on local government to save a hiking trail. “You're not the only person in this world who tries a halo on for size,” Mr. B tells her at one point. But above all, Hazel is salt of the earth, a woman who can usually win over the snobs who dismiss her. Hazel is more time capsule than classic television, but will surely appeal to Baby Boomers who grew up with the series. Compiling all 32 second season episodes, this is a strong optional purchase. (D. Liebenson)