Scripps Howard News Service

By RANDY A. SALAS
Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

In February, "Chappelle's Show: Season One Uncensored" belly-flopped amid the usual array of films floating on the lazy river of top-selling DVDs. A whopping 18 weeks later, the two-disc set is still splashing around in the top 10.

Dave Chappelle's irreverent Comedy Central show not only has had the longest tenure of any top-10 DVD so far this year, but it also has quietly become one of the biggest TV DVDs ever.

"Chappelle has carved a niche as the king of anti-P.C. humor," said Judith McCourt, research director of Video Store Magazine. "His delivery is fresh and funny, and that's why sales of the series are hot."

Through June 30, "Chappelle's Show" sold 1.6 million copies, McCourt estimated. According to her research, "Chappelle's Show" is now the No. 4 TV DVD so far. It needs to sell only 100,000 more copies to hit No. 2 on the list.

Here are the top-selling TV DVDs (boxed sets) of all time to date, according to Video Store Magazine's market research (in millions):

1. "The Simpsons" (first season), 2.35
2. "Family Guy" (first volume), 1.71
3. "The Simpsons" (second season), 1.65
4. "Chappelle's Show "(first season), 1.61
5. "Sex and the City" (first season), 1.32
6. "The Simpsons" (third season), 1.30
7. "Sex and the City" (second season), 1.21
8. "The Sopranos" (first season), 1.13
9. "Family Guy" (second volume), 1.12
10. "Friends" (first season), 1.10

TV DVDs still have a long way to go, though. The first season of "The Simpsons" would have barely cracked the list of the 50 top-selling overall DVDs for 2003.

The biggest DVD ever is "Finding Nemo," which has sold 21.5 million copies.

that's cool, I have 5 of those (Simpsons, S&TC and Friends). I wonder if there's a list of the top 50.

I am kinda surprised to see how popular Chappelle and Family Guy are.

any idea what the average (not a major series like Friends or Simpsons) season 1 TV-DVD needs to sell in order for a season 2 DVD to be greenlighted? I know Mary Tyler Moore, Larry Sanders, Malcolm In The Middle and S.W.A.T. didn't do good enough for a season 2 to be greenlighted, and that Charlie's Angels just barely sold enough copies for season 2 to be greenlighted.

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
that's cool, I have 5 of those (Simpsons, S&TC and Friends). I wonder if there's a list of the top 50.

I am kinda surprised to see how popular Chappelle and Family Guy are.

any idea what the average (not a major series like Friends or Simpsons) season 1 TV-DVD needs to sell in order for a season 2 DVD to be greenlighted? I know Mary Tyler Moore, Larry Sanders, Malcolm In The Middle and S.W.A.T. didn't do good enough for a season 2 to be greenlighted, and that Charlie's Angels just barely sold enough copies for season 2 to be greenlighted.

:confused: I thought in regards to Malcolm that it was because of music copyrights is why they couldn't release it, but I did read that it will probably be released though. :confused:

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
that's cool, I have 5 of those (Simpsons, S&TC and Friends). I wonder if there's a list of the top 50.

I am kinda surprised to see how popular Chappelle and Family Guy are.



Probably the main thing about Chappelle's Show is that it's an inexpensive set. It's only two discs and I bought mine for under $20, so that definitely has something to do with the numbers it's selling. Of those on that list, I only have that and the Sopranos.

Originally posted by Topanga
:confused: I thought in regards to Malcolm that it was because of music copyrights is why they couldn't release it, but I did read that it will probably be released though. :confused:

I read on tvshowsondvd awhile back is that also the first Malcolm set sold much much less than what they were expecting, so that they were in no rush to release the other seasons

I got the chappelle show...its cheap so everyone buys it..and its worth the money too..even though they cut some of the original performances from the show out...

I have....
1. "The Simpsons" (first season), 2.35
3. "The Simpsons" (second season), 1.65
4. "Chappelle's Show "(first season), 1.61
6. "The Simpsons" (third season), 1.30
10. "Friends" (first season), 1.10


with plans to buy....
2. "Family Guy" (first volume), 1.71
9. "Family Guy" (second volume), 1.12

Originally posted by Topanga
:confused: I thought in regards to Malcolm that it was because of music copyrights is why they couldn't release it, but I did read that it will probably be released though. :confused:

That's exactly what I've heard. David Lambert from tvshowsondvd.com said on a message board that Malcolm: Season 1 sold "very well", and I read in an article that Fox wanted to get Season 2 released, but music problems have so far prevented that from happening. However, I read in a semi-recent Fox Home Entertainment chat, that it will be released. Someone asked about the Malcolm S2 problem, and Fox's response (paraphrased) was "With Malcolm S2, it is a matter of "when not if" we will release it. We will pay for all the original music to be cleared, but we have other TV on DVD priorities at this time."

Also, the following info is still viewable on tvshowsondvd.com. There was also an article with more info on the situation, but it is no longer available. :-/

From TVShowsOnDVD.com

After the quick post-broadcast release of the first season of Malcolm In The Middle, Fox Home Entertainment looked forward to releasing The Complete Second Season on DVD as well. In fact, plans were originally made to have that set in consumer hands before 2003 was over.

'Malcolm' in a muddle

Even current shows can be problematic. Last year, Fox released a three-disc set of the first season of "Malcolm in the Middle," a show that debuted in 2000. The set sold well enough to merit a second-season release, but higher costs to clear the music have so far scuttled the project, (Fox Senior V.P. Peter) Staddon said.

The only show I havein my DVD collection that is on the Top 10 is The Simpsons:lol:

one thing that is funny to mention is that the top 10 is entirely comedy, I wonder what the top selling hour-long tv-DVD is, I'm thinking it might be Buffy or Star Trek-related

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
one thing that is funny to mention is that the top 10 is entirely comedy, I wonder what the top selling hour-long tv-DVD is, I'm thinking it might be Buffy or Star Trek-related

Probably Alias, 24, Buffy, Angel and a few others, I know they sell very well.

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
one thing that is funny to mention is that the top 10 is entirely comedy, I wonder what the top selling hour-long tv-DVD is, I'm thinking it might be Buffy or Star Trek-related

Number 8, the Sopranos. Unless you're counting that as a comedy because of the humor in it. Another thing I read relating to the top ten is that they are all recent/current shows. Older classic shows haven't pulled in the numbers that these dvds have. Even with some of the Columbia/Sony stuff that's priced in the same range as Chappelle's Show haven't sold as well as newer stuff.