CBS/Paramount has now delivered another half-season of fatsploitation fun with Cannon: Season Two, Volume One. The three-disc DVD set contains the first twelve episodes from the show’s 1972-1973 season. While I love that fact that CBS/Paramount is putting the effort into releasing these classic series on disc, I find it a huge letdown that these episodes have not received any digital restoration/mastering treatment (they did with the first season of Cannon). Put simply: these episodes all look pretty murky — especially when you look at some of CBS/Paramount’s other, better-quality releases like Hawaii Five-O, Mission: Impossible, or even Quinn Martin’s The Fugitive. Mono English sound is the only audio option here, and there are no subtitles — so you’ll have to turn the CC on if you want to translate some of Cannon’s mumblings.
Like the previous DVD releases, special features are limited to a few episodic promos and a couple of bumpers for other CBS/Paramount titles (I will give CBS/Paramount kudos for the new logo, though — it’s rather nice, fellas).
Despite the enormous disappointments that are to be found in the audio, video, and supplemental departments, Cannon still makes for some enjoyable entertainment. It’s nice to see the fat guy being the hero for once. Sure, Steven Seagal may be doing the same thing nowadays, but William Conrad did it long before Seagal. He did it better, too, without ever having to rely on any martial arts or fantasy elements to achieve his goal. Go, Cannon, go!
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