one thing that happens a lot these days, especially in the climate where there's hundreds of TV-DVD's of shows on the market, is that a lot of beloved shows seem to be abandoned, yet the studios won't say yay or nay to it.

Do you think that companies like Sony, Fox, Paramount, Universal, etc... should issue statements to TVShowsonDVD.com about the shows they are abandoning (ala "Mad About You") so the fans would get the blunt "it's not coming" answer instead of patiently waiting for over a year if they're going to get another season?

Yes they owe it to us because without us they wouldn't make money from these products. The consumers deserve to know, instead of just sitting and wondering(Who's the Boss? Diff'rent Strokes, etc.....)

I'd say no for two reasons. One is mainly that I'd hope that any show that's been started on dvd should be finished. For me to say "yes, a studio should announce when a series is being abandoned" is sort of accepting that practice, like "at least they announce this show won't be continued, so that makes me feel better." No, it doesn't make me feel better. Abandoning shows isn't something I support, so I won't accept being told that a show won't continue on dvd.

Secondly, I just don't think it would happen, at least with some shows. A studio would be almost committing suicide to say that a series dvd release will be abandoned. If Sony, for example, were to make an announcement tomorrow that after releasing the first three seasons of the Jeffersons on dvd, they wouldn't pursue anymore releases, the public outcry would be so vocal and negative, they'd end up reversing the decision anyway. Fans will be calling for boycotts of Sony and such. It wouldn't be serving the companies to make a statement like that, and I don't think they care that much about consumers' patience to let them know ahead of time that they shouldn't look forward to a particular release.

Secondly, I just don't think it would happen, at least with some shows. A studio would be almost committing suicide to say that a series dvd release will be abandoned. If Sony, for example, were to make an announcement tomorrow that after releasing the first three seasons of the Jeffersons on dvd, they wouldn't pursue anymore releases, the public outcry would be so vocal and negative, they'd end up reversing the decision anyway. Fans will be calling for boycotts of Sony and such. It wouldn't be serving the companies to make a statement like that, and I don't think they care that much about consumers' patience to let them know ahead of time that they shouldn't look forward to a particular release.

well, Sony did make that statement that there will not be a Mad About You season 3 DVD, they also have stated we won't see any more Larry Sanders season sets.

I think companies like Sony should actually be more in contact with their fans, like start an online petition to get it released. I think Sony needs new people in charge anyways, Seinfeld is the ONLY show they've done right on DVD IMO.

if they announce that they are dumping a particular series, it might stir up enough of a protest from the fans that the studio could be persuaded to change their minds...

- or it could open the door for some other company to pursue the dvd rights and release the show in the future

there are some shows that i would be willing to put up money for in advance - without any dvd plans announced - just to show the studio that that dvd would already be sold.

My, my, how times change.

well, I still don't have an issue with the quality of their DVD's, and I think they have the best prices on the market. But I don't like their insistance on taking time between seasons. Most companies won't go more than 6-8 months between seasons, unless it's something like HBO or The Simpsons, but Sony seems to take it's precious time between seasons (except for Seinfeld). I think the consumer has come to expect 2 seasons minimum a year (unless they're going the CSI/Alias route and putting the DVD's out as soon as the season is over) and Sony sometimes will go 2 years between seasons, it's too much.

Paramount has started to go the Sony route too, it's been 9 months since we saw Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley, and 8 months since Mork And Mindy... where the hell are the second season announcements?

Seinfeld is the ONLY show they've done right on DVD IMO.

Yeah totally. I've never bought a Sony TV Show before Seinfeld, but I heard so many bad things. But Seinfeld is postively the best TV Show DVD that I have ever seen. It's just fantastic. Sony did an amazing job. It's too bad that Sony and other companies can't make every show they release like that.

Yeah I hate it too when you don't know if the other seasons will follow, it's sad that is sometimes the case. I wonder about Happy Days, Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley, Just Shoot Me, Jeff Foxworthy, Who's The Boss Season 2 too.

I still wonder if all the Dallas seasons will be released, especially those after the dream season.

Yeah totally. I've never bought a Sony TV Show before Seinfeld, but I heard so many bad things. But Seinfeld is postively the best TV Show DVD that I have ever seen. It's just fantastic. Sony did an amazing job. It's too bad that Sony and other companies can't make every show they release like that.

Yeah I hate it too when you don't know if the other seasons will follow, it's sad that is sometimes the case. I wonder about Happy Days, Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley, Just Shoot Me, Jeff Foxworthy, Who's The Boss Season 2 too.
Yeah, the same goes for Malcomn in the Middle and Bernie Mac Show. They only have 1 seasons each of their DVD's and it is simply unfair that we have to wait this long for Malcom's 2nd season to be released. That's so unfair. But you know in order to catch up with the episodes I suggest you go onto eBay and get the emmy DVD's and VHS' especially with Malcom in the Middle because at least for That '70s Show, Will & Grace, King of the Hill and Raymond, they have more than one season set in their DVD's.

Yeah, the same goes for Malcomn in the Middle and Bernie Mac Show. They only have 1 seasons each of their DVD's and it is simply unfair that we have to wait this long for Malcom's 2nd season to be released. That's so unfair. But you know in order to catch up with the episodes I suggest you go onto eBay and get the emmy DVD's and VHS' especially with Malcom in the Middle because at least for That '70s Show, Will & Grace, King of the Hill and Raymond, they have more than one season set in their DVD's.

Fox has given the excuse that music rights are what is holding the rights for Malcolm season 2 and beyond, but I think the companies should settle all music rights for the entire series before they release season 1. I mean, MIAMI VICE has made it to DVD with all music entact, is the music on Malcolm THAT costly, or was Fox simply not satisfied with season 1's sales and are using that as their excuse to why we haven't received more?

However, I agree music is vital to many shows, I am disgusted that all the great music parodies are missing on In Living Color, people remember the MJ, Paula Abdul, Vanilla Ice, Michael Bolton, etc... parodies as much as they remember Men On Film and Homey The Clown. It sucks that Fox didn't even attempt to clear the music rights so people could see "Am I Black Or White?" again.

At least Madonna is cool with her music on DVD's, she allowed no less than 4 songs on the Popular DVD (Lucky Star, Ray Of Light, Music and Vogue), while a lot of artists wouldn't license their songs to DVD, and she also licensed "Take A Bow" to be used on Friends on DVD.

I heard Bernie Mac season 2 is being held back until the show hits syndication this September.

Yes, I would prefer for a studio to announce they are abandoning it then just guessing.

Why risk any sales whatsoever and tell people there will be no more dvds?

And then again, if you do tell people that, and the sales for some reason skyrocket (a death, somwething infamous, whatever) for- say season one of a show, what then?

Oh were were just kidding until people bucked up?

Nobody's ever doing that.

Where the hell is Barney Miller season 2?
Laverne and Shirley season 2?
Happy Days season 2?

I heard Bernie Mac season 2 is being held back until the show hits syndication this September.


Bernie Mac Show debuts in syndication Sept. 12th. Where I live it will air on the WB 100+ cable channel systems. :)

Why risk any sales whatsoever and tell people there will be no more dvds?

And then again, if you do tell people that, and the sales for some reason skyrocket (a death, somwething infamous, whatever) for- say season one of a show, what then?

Oh were were just kidding until people bucked up?

Nobody's ever doing that.

Where the hell is Barney Miller season 2?
Laverne and Shirley season 2?
Happy Days season 2?
Another thing I would really like to see is NYPD Blue Seasons 3 and 4. That series has been long overdue IMO. And what about season 4 of 24 and season 5 of CSI?

Another thing I would really like to see is NYPD Blue Seasons 3 and 4. That series has been long overdue IMO. And what about season 4 of 24 and season 5 of CSI?

well, season 4 of 24 and 5 of CSI are still airing, keep your pants on, lol. We'll see both of those later this year, I heard 24 s4 will be out in Dec, we'll most definately see season 5 of CSI this fall too.

From what I've read on various DVD forums, Fox has abandoned NYPD Blue because of lackluster sales

well, season 4 of 24 and 5 of CSI are still airing, keep your pants on, lol. We'll see both of those later this year, I heard 24 s4 will be out in Dec, we'll most definately see season 5 of CSI this fall too.

From what I've read on various DVD forums, Fox has abandoned NYPD Blue because of lackluster sales

Oh, so there won't be any of the NYPD Blue series at all? What about bringing that awful Point Pleasant onto DVD (The unaired episodes since my sister likes that show so much and now that the show is gone) Do you think that it will get the same respect that Harsh Realm and the pathetic The Twilight Zone 2002 series had when those shows were canned :confused: ?

paramount is crying about the music thing they spent a ton of money to restore the original music in season one and it didn,t do as well as they wanted it to but they had no promotion and though i like season 1 and 2 the series was more popular with season 3 and afterward.the same probably will go for shows like the wonder years.this big corperations don't feel our entertainment and love for these shows is profitable for them and this really,really,sucks for fans of these shows.we may never see happy days season two and beyond.

From what I've read on various DVD forums, Fox has abandoned NYPD Blue because of lackluster sales

I read the exact opposite. I read (and I can't remember where, so that really doesn't help much) that FOX is still planning on releasing season 3 but they were waiting for the right time. I think the right time would have been when the series finale aired, but whatever.

I'm really concerned about "Barney Miller", "Who's the Boss?", "Mad About You", "Malcolm in the Middle", "Just Shoot Me!" "Happy Days", "Mork & Mindy", "Laverne & Shirley" and "The Larry Sanders Show". I don't like all those shows, but I care about the fans who want the rest of those shows to come out.

I read the exact opposite. I read (and I can't remember where, so that really doesn't help much) that FOX is still planning on releasing season 3 but they were waiting for the right time. I think the right time would have been when the series finale aired, but whatever.

really? that's nuts!! it's been over 2 years since season 2 was released. Considering it's a 12-season series, you'd think Fox would be trying to get those out a little faster if it was moving so well. They should've pulled a Friends/Raymond "get as many out as you can during the final season" stunt, but didn't.

my opion they all should finish the series they started they build up our hopes and slam us with all this BS

my opion they all should finish the series they started they build up our hopes and slam us with all this BS


I can probably assume that we're all in agreement in that we would rather have dvd companies finish what they started in terms of the shows they release. That's not the issue though. The funny thing about this poll is that no one aside from Riff has given a good reason as to why they think studios should announce when they decide to abandon shows on DVD, and even then I have a problem with that scenario because someone who's more than just a casual fan of a particular show will make the purchase if they want it bad enough. If it takes an announcement to generate interest in people finally giving a particular title sales strength and cause studios to change their minds, who's to say the studios won't make what could be considered bogus announcements all the time, just to scare people into buying their product?

The studios aren't even obligated to release shows on dvd in the first place, so they don't necessarily owe it to us by making announcements. The practice of tv series being released to the public to own is still a fairly new phenomenon. Now granted, I'm very happy that there has been alot that's come out and would rather have it than not have it. That's not my argument. I just need for someone to explain how a company making the announcement that they're abandoning a show would make the situation better on a personal level. Would an announcement that your favorite show won't be continued make you any more satisfied about it not coming than if they didn't make an announcement? It wouldn't make me feel better. It might make me more pro-active, but if it's something I wanted that much, I'd probably be just as active if there was never any announcement made.

Should they finish what they started? Of course. Should they announce when they don't plan to finish what they started? I'm not convinced. Only when it's in their best interest will the studios put that much concern in consumers' feelings.

They won't announce that they won't release the rest of the seasons because it would affect sales. Some people would stop buying the DVD's already out there.

They won't announce that they won't release the rest of the seasons because it would affect sales. Some people would stop buying the DVD's already out there.
I think that if they announced that, the fans would want to buy the DVDs that are available.

I think that if they announced that, the fans would want to buy the DVDs that are available.


right. When Fox said MTM season 2 wasn't happening, that gave the fans incentives to really spread the word around to others who were on the fence about getting it, and sales went up significantly enough that Fox finally gave the go-ahead for a season 2 DVD. So Fox saying "no more Mary" actually helped all sides.

right. When Fox said MTM season 2 wasn't happening, that gave the fans incentives to really spread the word around to others who were on the fence about getting it, and sales went up significantly enough that Fox finally gave the go-ahead for a season 2 DVD. So Fox saying "no more Mary" actually helped all sides.


I don't think that really counts because a season two release was already prepared. FOX may have delayed the release because of disappointing sales of season 1 but that situation wasn't a case where they made a conscious decision to abandon releases. They obviously had intentions of continuing.

I don't think that really counts because a season two release was already prepared. FOX may have delayed the release because of disappointing sales of season 1 but that situation wasn't a case where they made a conscious decision to abandon releases. They obviously had intentions of continuing.

true, but 2 1/2 years is rather long for a delay IMO. Especially if Fox continues this pattern, Mary Tyler Moore will be in her eighties when season 7 comes out.