Comments on: Orphan TV DVDs Include Anything But Love

By: Steely Dan

Steely Dan — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:37:17 +0000

I’m waiting for the rest of “Newhart” to come out.

By: Kelson

Kelson — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:53:31 +0000

On the plus side, half-season releases for new shows means that the DVDs come out faster, especially if the season is actually being shown in two solid chunks with a big gap in the middle, the way SciFi tends to. Assuming, of course, that the studio and network have the sense to release the first half of the season on DVD before the second half starts, giving potential new viewers a chance to catch up.

But yeah, for old shows? It makes no sense at all from the audience’s perspective.

By: Augie De Blieck Jr.

Augie De Blieck Jr. — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:45:53 +0000

David – That’s Walmart/Best Buy’s fault. They see that DVD sets only sell in big numbers at a certain price point. If you go past $40 or so for a boxed set, sales fall through the floor. So, to get a smaller price point, they release a half season under that magical number (I think it’s about $40, but I might be off) so that they can sell them a second thing a few months later. In the end, it costs the same if not more, but those stupid consumers think they’re getting a deal.

By: David Oakes

David Oakes — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:19:30 +0000

I have no doubt that you are correct. The only thing that got me through this little exercize in schadenfrude was the fact that a lot of stuff I wished had been released had been released, I just didn’t know about it.

But half a season? Who releases half a season?

(Still better than it used to be, when “kids” shows would be put out four – or even two! – episodes per disk…)

By: Evan Meadow

Evan Meadow — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:32:47 +0000

To David Oakes:

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the only Superfriends left to be released is the 2nd half of the god awful Wendy/Marvin/Wonder Dog season since the first half came out earlier this week and I picked it up.

Unless there’s more of those 10 minute episodes floating around out there I think WB has actually gotten to all of the SF cartoons.

By: Augie De Blieck Jr.

Augie De Blieck Jr. — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 13:54:38 +0000

Ok, two more obscure ones I just thought of:

“Orleans” – After VR.5, one of the show’s creators did this series with Larry Hagmann. As I recall, it may have even aired letterboxed, which wasn’t yet common like it is today.

“Spy Game” – Had to look this one up on Wikipedia. Didn’t realize Sam Raimi was behind it. Only lasted 13 episodes. 90s spy comedy/drama.

I think I have episodes of both shows sitting on VHS tapes somewhere.

By: Dwight Williams

Dwight Williams — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:18:58 +0000

Power Play, Once a Thief(the series, not just the pilot movie!), North of 60...a tonne of CanCon TV gems I want to see getting into the stores. You'd think that if we can get Bizarre...

By: ~chris

~chris — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:40:55 +0000

Ditto on VR.5 (and Anthony Stewart Head), Max Headroom, and Spenser: For Hire (Avery Brooks was Hawk! And it could be promoted to viewers of the Jesse Stone movies.) Another woefully incomplete offering is Knots Landing, my favorite show of the 1980s. Only the first two seasons are on DVD... it's the vicious cycle you mention.

By: Guy Smiley

Guy Smiley — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:35:11 +0000

Fourth season of Mad About You. I was a huge fan of that show, and Sony has released the first three seasons and a “best of” set a good while ago, but no fourth.

That fourth season did this relatively groundbreaking thing for a sitcom where it told one long story about the breakdown of a marriage, culminating in a multi-part finale that was more drama than comedy, and it did it all so well. Plus there was the ep that set up that storyline, a dream sequence guest starring half the cast of Laugh-In, doing the party scene bit. Why can’t I have this, gods of DVD?

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:59:30 +0000

David, I got a chance to watch some Two Guys and a Girl recently, and there was one Halloween episode in particular that should be on disc just for fans. Nathan Fillion’s girlfriend gets her brain swapped with Ryan Reynolds’ character, so there’s this one scene where the two guys almost kiss. Squee!

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:45:31 +0000

Oh, gracious! QED! I barely remember that — I’d like to see it again.

By: Jim Kosmicki

Jim Kosmicki — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:36:58 +0000

Now and Again – my first experience with Dennis Haysbert where John Goodman dies and has his brain put in the body of Eric Close – it had a serialized storyline about a crazy Japanese scientist trying to release a toxin using eggs as the “bombs.” It was very very good.

I’d love to have the final three seasons of Green Acres released – this show holds up to childhood nostalgia – in fact I probably enjoy it more now than then, as I get more of the surreal and inferential humor.

i still can’t believe someone hasn’t put out Q.E.D with Sam Waterson’s popularity in Law & Order.

By: Johnny B

Johnny B — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:30:24 +0000

Totally agree about Larry Sanders. HBO is usually pretty good about getting its series out on DVD, must be rights or licensing issues.

By: Chad

Chad — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:25:15 +0000

It is a crime that The Larry Sanders Show isn’t available in its complete form. Given that Garry Shandling released that Best Of compilation DVD a few years back, I have little hope of seeing this anytime soon. Which, again, is a crime.

And I’ll second the calls for WKRP in its original form.

By: James Schee

James Schee — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:53:25 +0000

Ooh Strange Luck with DB Sweeney would be awesome. Especially since I never got to see the final episode! (dang the days before Tivo/DVR)

My holy grail though has always been Herman’s Head. Incredible characters, stories and just series. Was probably a bit ahead of its time for some of its (then) considered racy storylines at times.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:39:20 +0000

Yeah, for some reason, they didn’t bother releasing the final volume of Animaniacs, instead opting to release two sets so far of “Tiny Toon Adventures”. Hope Tiny Toons gets finished as well…

Guessing the Bill and Ted live-action TV show would just require two discs, tops…

Haven’t seen Time Traxx in years!

By: Jay Faerber

Jay Faerber — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:40:20 +0000

I’m still holding out hope for SPENSER: FOR HIRE, especially when I see so many vastly inferior (in my opinion, at least) detective shows (like VEGA$ and MATT HOUSTON) getting the DVD treatment. Plus, the Spenser character is still alive in the popular novels of Robert B. Parker, so you’d think there’s a built-in audience for it. Go figure.

By: David Oakes

David Oakes — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:51:09 +0000

The thread is making me look back in wonder. “Lazarus Man”, “Nowhere Man”, “Square Pegs” – all out on DVD, all completely under my radar.

But still no “Timecop”. (The series, you philistines!) And Courtney Cox-Arquette continues to supress “Misfits of Science”. Will no one rid me of this troublesome Friend?

By: Kelson

Kelson — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:37:58 +0000

I can’t believe I forgot to mention that final Animaniacs volume!

By: Johanna

Johanna — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:30:09 +0000

Oooh, yeah! Real WKRP and Max Headroom would be must-buys for me.