Lazy critics always act like viewers were traumatized with the changing of the Darrens on Bewitched. But in the world of TV, a character getting recast isn’t too foreign. Soap operas are notorious for new faces in old roles. The fifth and final season of Hazel was a real shocking change for devoted fans. The first big change was that the show switched from NBC to CBS. Viewers had to learn the new time and dial location. But that was nothing compared to massive surprise when they tuned into the first episode,”Who’s In Charge Here?” Mr. Baxter (Dom DeFore) and Mrs. Baxter (Whitney Blake) vanished from their house. The story goes that the lawyer went to Iraq for an oil deal. He took his wife, but they left their son (Bobby Buntrock) with Hazel (Shirley Booth). There was no fond farewell footage. Hazel tells her pals the story. Which led quite a few people to ponder the real fate of the Baxters. Did the maid clean them out of their house? Are there clues to the conspiracy found on Hazel: The Complete Fifth Season?
“Who’s In Charge Here?” vanishes the old Baxters and brings in the new Baxters. Hazel and Harold are moving across town to live with Mr. Baxter’s brother (Ray Fulmer) and his wife (Lynn Borden). Steve and Barbara are a younger couple that already have a young daughter (Julia Benjamin) so they have no problem taking in Harold. But they’re not ready for Hazel. She arrives at their house in a fire engine with bells blazing. She’s a five alarm emergency to her new family. Steve is a successful real estate agent, but he gets no due diligence time to accept the services of Hazel. He’s stuck with her. Even when he tries to establish who is the boss, she puts him in the submissive position. “Hazel’s Second Week” has her turn the wife into her minion. There’s no hope for the new Baxters doing any better than the old Baxters. “How to Lose 30 Pounds in 30 Minutes” reminds us that nearly half a century ago, weight loss programs could be a money making racket. Hazel’s looking to lose a few pounds, but finds herself shedding her bank account.
Many of the episodes involve property deals because of the new Mr. Baxter’s profession. “Do Not Disturb Occupants” has Mr. Baxter screw up and sell his house to a client. Of course a real real estate agent wouldn’t care since a sale is a sale. “The Holdout” gets Hazel involved when a woman refuses to sell her place to a giant building project. “A-Haunting We Will Go” involves a lawsuit when a disgruntled family swears the home they bought is haunted. The Baxters spend a night in the place to prove them wrong. “A ‘Lot’ To Remember” gets Hazel involved in flipping real estate via an auction. This could be seen as the basis for a few reality shows. “Who Can Afford a Bargain?” makes Hazel a word of wisdom when a friend buys too big of a house. “A Question of Ethics” lets Hazel learn how it’s wrong to poach another agent’s client.
There are also plenty of episodes that are normal Hazel weirdness. “Hazel’s Free Enterprise” puts the maid in the chili business. But she doesn’t seem to care much for health codes. “But Is It Art?” makes Hazel the model for a painter. “My Son, the Sheepdog” lets Harold become a hippie in a rock band. “A Bull’s Eye for Cupid” puts Mr. Baxter in the target when he plans a fishing vacation on his wedding anniversary.
The swapping of the Baxters mixes things up for this final season. It is strange in that they seem to abandon their son without a goodbye kiss. The true story is that the producers wanted to save a few bucks by dumping DeFore. The young couple seem perfect for being overwhelmed by Hazel. They have no real defense against her force of nature. After four seasons, she’s given a new family that allow her to use her old tricks. It’s a fine coda for an addictive domestic series. Such a shame that Hazel had to hang up her apron after five seasons.
The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The transfers look better than the version running on Antenna TV. The audio is Dolby Digital Mono. The levels bring out Hazel taking over this new family’s lives.
No bonus features.
Hazel: The Complete Fifth Season brings back the maid for her final service. She has a new Baxter family to terrorize with her domestic duties. It’s good to see her with a new Mr. Baxter to manipulate.
Shout! Factory presents Hazel: The Complete Final Season. Starring: Shirley Booth, Bobby Buntrock,
Ray Fulmer, Lynn Borden, Julia Benjamin. Boxset Contents: 29 Episodes on 4 DVDs. Released: January 14, 2013.
