I am sorry to say that this production was a complete embarrassment to all involved. I have seen student films with better camera work.The principles were horribly cast. After 20 minutes I changed the channel for fear of ruining my happy memories of the Fonda/Hepburn film.

If you missed this live production of the wonderful play "On Golden Pond" don't worry. From the miscast leads to the strangely incompetent camera work, this became unwatchable after about 15 minutes. I kept thinking it had to get better, but it didn't. I admit to switching back and forth between this play and other television, but no matter when I watched it, the same problems were there. Julie Andrews still sounds English. She does not sound like someone who has spent every summer for 50 years in a New England cottage. Christopher Plummer looks like an aging leading man, not a grumpy old coot like Norman Thayer should look. He is not a character actor and was not able to pull it off. Add to this huge problem the jiggling cameras and poor editing the whole effect was poor. If you like this play - wait for a local stage production - it will probably be better, or rent the movie with Hepburn & Fonda.

It's great to see a live play on television again...especially this play, with theatre/movie/TV legends Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. And Julie even gets to sing. . .Personally, the couple reminds me of my 60ish parents. . .but beyond that, this is a wonderful treat for us baby-boomers who sort of grew up with live/live-on-tape TV, who also love live theatre. Julie is beautiful and emotional and real. Plummer is morbid and hateful and opinionated. . .and how many times have we heard "bull-s**t" on network TV. . .at last, TV has grown up.

After singularly disappointing made-for-TV remakes of "South Pacific" and "Murder on the Orient Express" during the last two months, I expected the live TV production of "On Golden Pond" to be just as much of a let-down. Nothing could be further from the truth. If not the original, in no way does this disappoint.As the central couple, Ethel and Norman Thayer, Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer still have real on-screen magic together, with Plummer particularly outstanding. Gleanne Headley may not have had as much fire and spunk as Jane Fonda did as their daughter Chelsea, but she's no less good for all that. In truth, all the performances are solid, as is the elaborate cabin set, the latter all the more astounding when you realize that it was created indoors.I sincerely hope that this is issued on video before long. I'll definitely buy it for inclusion beside my copy of the original. For, clearly, that's where it belongs.Bravo to Andrews, Plummer, and everyone involved with this superior production!