The King Family: Classic Television Specials Collection, Volume 1

Hopelessly wholesome and obliviously dated, this quartet of King Family holiday specials would make Huey Lewis rethink that whole “hip to be square” thing. This set contains the Easter, Mother's Day, June, and September (Back-to-School) specials, produced between 1967-69—three of the decade's most tumultuous years, but you'd never know that here. The King Family roots date back to the 1930s with the harmonizing King Sisters, but with the passing of decades, everyone—it seemed—got into the act (perhaps the most recognizable would be Tina Cole, a costar on My Three Sons). Their musical talent is undeniable, but they come across as so perky that one imagines even “Up with People” members would urge them to take it down a notch. For the uninitiated, think of those Maharelle Sisters sketches on Saturday Night Live, but even those cannot prepare viewers for the L7-ness of it all, from the winsome renditions of contemporary hits such as “Happy Together” to the bland Southern California outdoor settings (including a shopping center and a botanic garden). The accompanying extras feature some archival goodies, including excerpts from a lost 1968 Valentine's Day special, home movies, and clips from The King Family Show circa 1965. Possibly of interest to Baby Boomer TV buffs, this is an optional purchase. (D. Liebenson)