I know I've asked this before, but it's been a couple of years now and we have many new readers on the board since then.
Given the continued success of the show and it's dvd sales, shouldn't the next step be to colorize the series? It would, in my opinion, open it up to a new millenium of fans. People who might not otherwise give the series a second glance could become new, lifelong fans by seeing Rob & Laura with their family, friends, coworkers and neighbors in living color. And anything that prolongs the tv life of this series, I'm all for!
What do you think?

Steve
These pics are courtesy of LikeTelevision.com

That's a very interesting concept Steve. I for one am always wondering what color clothes they are wearing. It would be really cool to see the show in color, but to make sure that the originals stay in black and white and are not lost. :)

I agree with Steve. A lot of purists don't like colorization, but I don't mind it. In fact, I think it's better suited for classic tv than for old movies. Classic tv shows were generally in b&w for budgetary rather than artistic reasons.

I agree with Steve. A lot of purists don't like colorization, but I don't mind it. In fact, I think it's better suited for classic tv than for old movies. Classic tv shows were generally in b&w for budgetary rather than artistic reasons.


I must be a purist then. I don't want to see this show colorized.

Lolac

Please correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't the "colorizers" of this show, or any show for that matter, have to "guess" at what these people were wearing? There really isn't any way to know what color these clothes were, other than the occassional colored photographs, which I am sure will not be dug out of the archives, as it would take too much effort and time. Therefore, wouldn't these new colors be nothing more than guesses?

As long as they got the colors TRUE (especially the flesh tones) I wouldn't mind. It's just that the colorizations I've seen always look "painted." I swore off colorized movies when they gave Ole Blue Eyes (Sinatra) brown eyes in a movie!

Its kind of interesting to see what color clothes they are wearing etc...
Generally I dont like colorization, as I feel the director filmed it as a black & white and it should stay that way. Something are just better in black & white(Gilligans Island, Bewitched,) There is a more mystical quality. I guess I am an old fuddy duddy. ;)

I think it would be distracting for me. Looking at those pictures above already make me *more* curious about what the original wardrobe and walls, etc, looked like. Seeing someone else's interpretation would take me even further out of the story because I would be thinking "Why do they think the ottoman is brown, I always pictured it as a light blue," or something like that.

I guess I'm just a purist. But growing up in the color-tv age makes me more appreciative of the black and white. That's what makes it distinctive to me. I always stop on B&W when channel surfing, precisely because it's unique.

And I would bet the creators feel the same way about toying with the show. They seem very protective of it.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't the "colorizers" of this show, or any show for that matter, have to "guess" at what these people were wearing? There really isn't any way to know what color these clothes were, other than the occassional colored photographs, which I am sure will not be dug out of the archives, as it would take too much effort and time. Therefore, wouldn't these new colors be nothing more than guesses?
Algebra74,
You're not wrong. That is, if you hired computer graphics students to do the job over the weekend, then yes, it would all be guesses. But the actual process of the digital colorization of b/w films takes into account the accuracy of the colors, when handled by professionals. There are research people employed for the express reason of getting the colors right. For example, Dick's skin will tan, whereas Mary's will not, so they should'nt have identicle skintones. Chartreuse was the preferred shade of green in the 60s as opposed to what we call olive green today. People who were on site at the time of production are intereviewed concerning walls, floors, carpeting, furniture, cars, and so on. Old photos are actually, "dug up" to see if the hues are off. If so, they are corrected.
You all bring up interesting points, especially the ones concerning you "purists" and the sanctity of the b/w shows being preserved. There are a couple of short articles at this link, Color Me Beautiful (http://www.historyofcuba.com/jas/Articles/colorize.htm) , on the subject where many of those issues are addressed.

Steve

Steve, that's fascinating!

I think I am a purist too. I always thought colorized versions made people's teeth look blue. We used to always turn down the color of the TV whenever we watched "It's a Wonderful Life" colorized on TV. :lol:

Steve, that's fascinating!
Thanks much, Nora. ;)

I think I am a purist too. I always thought colorized versions made people's teeth look blue. :lol:
Oh, Jill! They do not!
(Or do they?)

Steve

:rofl:

Colorization never looks right and it almost always destroys any depth or lighting cues in the original B&W. I know TDVDS isn't The Maltese Falcon, but anyone who has ever seen the Gilligan episodes that Turner colorized will tell you not to allow those satanic computer minions to spread their pastel-colored vomit over any B&W show you treasure.

Colorization never looks right and it almost always destroys any depth or lighting cues in the original B&W. I know TDVDS isn't The Maltese Falcon, but anyone who has ever seen the Gilligan episodes that Turner colorized will tell you not to allow those satanic computer minions to spread their pastel-colored vomit over any B&W show you treasure.
Whoa, Bonsai!
I love your vivid expression of the english language, but I think you're being a bit myopically pessimistic on this subject ohno: .
Firstly, as in any technological field, huge strides are being made almost yearly in colorizing old film (which is now converted to a digital format before coloring begins). There's even a possibility of retroactively increasing the clarity almost to a point of simulating an "HD" format for these projects in the very near future. :nerd:
Secondly, Turner is not the only horse in this race. There are many companies capable of doing this job superbly, among them Pixar Animation Studios (http://www.pixar.com/), and if you've seen any of their all-digital feature films released by Walt Disney Studios, and I'm sure you have, I'll bet you've had no problem with "depth or lighting cues" or "pastel" colors :rainbow: .
Third and finally, I think a fair compromise between you, the Purists, and we, The Great Unwashed, is to simply indulge us. After all, it's not like you can't turn off the color and watch it in b/w anyway :mumble: !

Steve

I am personally not a fan of colorization and would not buy it, but if someone thinks there is a market for it and wants to try it, I am all for it.

I do know my kids are not fond of B&W shows, and would prefer shows be in color, although they do like TDVDS and Andy Griffith.

Sounds extremely intriguing! I wonder, though, considering that in many old movies filmed in black and white the director paid special attention to shadows and tones he knew would make a black and white product look better...would color destroy that artistry? I'm a design student, so the idea is an interesting one to me.