Just in my opinion but I am officially naming MPI as the best current company releasing classic TV on DVD because of their commitment to sticking with releases and not putting sales first. LISTEN UP SONY!

MPI released all 5 seasons of Family Affair within 2 years! Yet Paramount can't seem to get half of a season of "My Three Sons" out which is also originally a Fedderson show like "Family Affair". MPI has had an incredible track record since the VHS days with Dark Shadows! They released all 5 seasons of "The Doris Day Show" in 3 years and 4 color Honeymooners collections within 2 years!

All of these series could hardly have made a profit, they have rather small but yet very dedicated audiences and yet MPI demonstrated professionalism and happy fans by not leaving us hanging with abandoned series.......SECOND RUNNER UP is SHOUT FACTORY...even though there have been some complaints lately, overall they have stuck with series and again don't think only of profit.

I'll second that!

I wish MPI would get the rights to "My Three Sons". Paramount won't do it right. That is if they do it at all. I don't know why they pushed the release date back.

MPI does FANTASTIC extras too! Love the Doris Day sets and the extras they put on them. Same with Family Affair.

I respect MPI's committment to finishing shows they start. But unfortunately, there's a very limited amount of what they can do overall, and it's clear they've had to spend a lot to stay committed to what they've started....or else maybe some of the titles we've seen licensed out to other companies could easily have ended up with them

I can remember about three or four years ago there were rumors about MPI licensing "Ghost And Mrs. Muir" for release (Fox would hold the rights), but evidently nothing ever came of that.

I totally respect MPI's way of business, yes as I'm sure many of you agree, I would rather have less releases from a company as long as I know they will complete the series, unlike Sony who flooded the market and abandoned at least 20 series (yes 20!!!) and then they have the incredible nerve to re-release series with the left over discs in new boxes at an incredible manufacturing cost of about 50 cents per set!

I would have to say i choose studio's that release two season's at a time...
like first look urban works they released cosby show season 3-8 in 2 years.
quick releases

CBS/Paramount though I think is the studio that for the last two years has earned the prize for best releases of classic TV.

MPI is by far the best TV DVD Company out there in terms of motivation. The only problem is the sets they can release are limited. For example, they released two great sets of THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES and one of PETTICOAT JUNCTION; but they only can get the rights to 53 episodes of TBH and 20 of PJ. And Paramount isn't taking the hint to continue what MPI started! Paramount sucks; it doesn't care about the consumers, only about how much each show can make for them (I guess companies are supposed to do that, but caring about the consumers would be nice as well as watching their wallets!)

I'm afraid you do CBS/Paramount a disservice. Not one other major studio has matched them for output the last two years with "Mission: Impossible", "Hawaii Five-O," "Gomer Pyle-USMC", "The Fugitive", "Gunsmoke" and a lot more that's been finished ("Wild Wild West", "Hogan's Heroes") and a lot more that's been announced and is coming out ("Invaders", "Mannix").

Second, PJ is not controlled by CBS/Paramount, it would be up to MGM/FOX to release the rest of that (all "Filmways" shows like "Green Acres" and "Addams Family" are part of the MGM library) and we already know how weak their track record is. BHB I think is a case where CBS/Paramount would find it hard to release a second season with most people probably not aware MPI did S1, and if they did S1 it would likely not sell well because of the MPI release.

I would put CBS/Paramount at #3....I'll continue to weigh in since I started the thread but remember I titled it "In My Opinion"......CBS/Paramount may have released alot of titles but they have edited the series terribily due to music issues....shows that are not even known for having music are horribily sliced, including Gomer Pyle & The Odd Couple (see fans threads complaining over the shoddy editing).....MPI edits nothing...in fact....The color Honeymooners have all the June Taylor dancer music intact, but on americanlife cable they are edited due to the fact that Paul Brownstein (the distributor for TV) couldn't come to terms with the taylor estate.....quite a reversal when usually TV airings contain music and DVD releases don't! Shout again comes in at #2 because of complete episodes & extras, not counting Father Knows Best, but as previously explained original elements for that series are hard to come by because of early syndication editing. As for urban, I understand The Cosby show had syndication versions, and they don't have a proven trackrecord...but again everyone is encouraged to express their opinion!

I would like to add presentation...MPI has stayed with full color silk screening artwork & pictures on their discs while companies like CBS/Paramount have abandoned the practice and just have dull silver & grey titles.

The edits on "Odd Couple" annoyed me, but ultimately CBS/Paramount when it comes to music editing isn't in the same league as Fox, and further there are no cuts on any of the hour long dramas they've done. Also, it's easy to credit MPI on the music thing when they do sitcoms where music licensing *wouldn't* be much of an issue in the first place. As for Shout, until I see some momentum on S3 of "Ironside" and their finally releasing the cancelled S2 of "The Bill Cosby Show" they're not doing much to make me think they're exceptionally better than anyone else. Shout has as of now not released the full run of *any* show they've started.

Paramount is so far and away the best. Yeah, MPI did an okay job on their handful of releases but meanwhile Paramount is cranking out classic series by the truckload: Mannix, Mission: Impossible, Wild Wild West, Fugitive, Untouchables, Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Streets of San Francisco, Cannon, Invaders, Hawaii Five-O, Hogan's Heroes, Gomer Pyle. Yeah, it's easy to nitpick at a couple of edits by for the most part the shows are beautifully remastered from the original 35s and look great. Oh, and by the way, if MPI is so wonderful how come the Doris Day Shows are edited or time sped and come in at 24 minutes instead of the original run time of 25:30?

Second, PJ is not controlled by CBS/Paramount, it would be up to MGM/FOX to release the rest of that (all "Filmways" shows like "Green Acres" and "Addams Family" are part of the MGM library) and we already know how weak their track record is. BHB I think is a case where CBS/Paramount would find it hard to release a second season with most people probably not aware MPI did S1, and if they did S1 it would likely not sell well because of the MPI release.


But oh PJ IS controlled by CBS. Just as BH is controlled by CBS. Paul Henning sold the series back to CBS after its cancellation. His estate does have the original film elements to most of the first season, which is why MPI got the authorized "Ultimate Collection". Whenever PJ was shown in reruns, it was always the Viacom and later Paramount company that held the rights. GA on the other hand wasn't sold back to CBS, which is why we see the Orion and MGM logos at the end.

CBS/Paramount though I think is the studio that for the last two years has earned the prize for best releases of classic TV.

Again remember this is all in fun and healthy opinion debate, but did you see HAPPY DAYS SEASON 2? considered the all time worse release of all time!....to me it's all about quality over quanity.....as far as the doris day show edits mentioned elsewhere...that was disscussed over and over and nothing definative was ever settled, it is a mystery that will continue as long as "Is Good Times A Spin-off of Maude" lol..........

"Happy Days" S2 is hardly the rule when the total picture of CBS/Paramount releases is taken into account. They at least rectified that cost-cutting move on S3, and I haven't any complaints on "Fugitive," "Love American Style", "Gomer Pyle", "Hawaii Five-O", "Mission: Impossible", etc. with three more new titles coming out ("Invaders", "Mannix", "Cannon"). For CBS/Paramount to have only two disappointments in that heavy volume of releases over the last two years ("Odd Couple" S3 being the other) is IMO a very good track record, all things considered when we see what other studios have been doing.

I can think of the best TV on DVD company.... Time-Life!

They released the complete series of both "Get Smart" and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." and now they're releasing the complete series of "The Real Ghostbusters." I know that's not technically a "classic" show, but it's one that I'm psyched about. Time-Life tends to release complete series sets, so we don't have to worry about shows getting abandoned halfway through (or less than half way through). The only exception is "The Odd Couple", which they only released the first season. And I think I should mention it's the only season of the show released so far without any edits! Paramount, while I'm VERY thankful that they're releasing what they are, they can't seem to release them unedited.

So Time-Life, Quality, not quantity. Although quality AND quantity would be awesome!

I can think of the best TV on DVD company.... Time-Life!

The only exception is "The Odd Couple", which they only released the first season. And I think I should mention it's the only season of the show released so far without any edits! Paramount, while I'm VERY thankful that they're releasing what they are, they can't seem to release them unedited.

So Time-Life, Quality, not quantity. Although quality AND quantity would be awesome!

"What's Happening, season 1" only (like the odd couple) was also an exclusive from time life at first and was repackaged when released by sony.

as far as the doris day show edits mentioned elsewhere...that was disscussed over and over and nothing definative was ever settled, it is a mystery that will continue as long as "Is Good Times A Spin-off of Maude" lol..........

There's nothing to discuss. The shows are a minute and a half short, either by speed up or edits. You can debate indefinitely and it won't change the fact that a half hour show of that era ran 25:30 on the network.

Well, even though CBS/Paramount I think has done the best among the major studios, when they screw up it can't be ignored. The new release of "The Fugitive" has replaced ALL of the background music. We are talking WKRP level style alterations only with episode underscore this time.

How about the upcoming release for "My Three Sons" volume 1 (18 episodes)--and the srp of $42.99?? CBS should be deeply ashamed of that price!

Well, even though CBS/Paramount I think has done the best among the major studios, when they screw up it can't be ignored. The new release of "The Fugitive" has replaced ALL of the background music. We are talking WKRP level style alterations only with episode underscore this time.

I take back anything good I've said about them. This is the worst abomination I've seen and there was no need for it to happen other than corporate stupidity.

yes; they SHOULD be ashamed of that $42.99 price for "MY 3 SONS"-and it's only half a season!!!!:mad: :mad:

I so wanted to get it, but not at that price--nuh uh.....no way!

yes; they SHOULD be ashamed of that $42.99 price for "MY 3 SONS"-and it's only half a season!!!!:mad: :mad:

It'll sell for less than $30 on line. Stop being so cheap.

It'll sell for less than $30 on line. Stop being so cheap.

I'm sure I can get it for less. But still, for only a half season set it should be a lot cheaper than that. I WANT A FULL SEASON SET!

Personally, I'll pay whatever it costs. I love this show and hope to one day own all twelve seasons.

As for the half-season sets go, it seems Paramount breaks up half-hour shows with more than 32 episodes in a season. Which means only the black and white years (Seasons 1-5) of "My Three Sons" will be broken in half. Seasons 6 thru 12 should all be in complete season sets. So my collection will look something like this:

My Three Sons - Season One, Volume One
My Three Sons - Season One, Volume Two
My Three Sons - Season Two, Volume One
My Three Sons - Season Two, Volume Two
My Three Sons - Season Three, Volume One
My Three Sons - Season Three, Volume Two
My Three Sons - Season Four, Volume One
My Three Sons - Season Four, Volume Two
My Three Sons - Season Five, Volume One
My Three Sons - Season Five, Volume Two
My Three Sons - The Sixth Season
My Three Sons - The Seventh Season
My Three Sons - The Eighth Season
My Three Sons - The Ninth Season
My Three Sons - The Tenth Season
My Three Sons - The Eleventh Season
My Three Sons - The Twelfth Season