It ran for 11 seasons right? Surprising only 4 are out on DVD!

Well, they were released by Paramount, who aren't exactly the best company when it comes to TV on DVD...

I'm still waiting for Season 5 and 6 because of Mork and the Laverne and Shirley crossovers

I would like to see the rest of the series on DVD as well, but I have heard that music rights are the main reason for the hold-up. It seems that CBS doesn't want to spend the money for the rights to the original music. :(

I suspect that when they were making the shows, they didn't think that people would be watching them nearly forty years later, much less about them being released on a home video format.

Videocassette recorders were just being introduced in the late '70s and no one knew if they were going to take off as a mass market item, much less be the predecessor to DVD/Blu-ray.

It's too bad they couldn't have locked up the rights for the music to be used in other media, but HD wasn't alone in being able to see the future of home video.

I'm patiently waiting for more seasons. At least give us Seasons 5 and 6. Those seasons were amazing. Starting with Season 7, the show went downhill and got worse after Ron Howard left. So, all I'm asking for is Seasons 5 and 6.

I understand Happy Days was a nice wholesome show but it really wasn't THAT funny. I'd much rather see more seasons of the Jeffersons released especially after the death of George!

Many DVD releases have been plagued by music rights issues. Nobody thought about it back then as has been said. Also many music rights holders think they can make a windfall off these rights and do not cooperate. I have read of outrageous amounts being asked which led to music being changed to awful generic music that is worse than no music at all, WKRP, Hunter, and Married With Children are good examples. I assume all current shows either license the music when broadcast for home video or avoid using anything that will be an issue.

Many DVD releases have been plagued by music rights issues. Nobody thought about it back then as has been said. Also many music rights holders think they can make a windfall off these rights and do not cooperate. I have read of outrageous amounts being asked which led to music being changed to awful generic music that is worse than no music at all, WKRP, Hunter, and Married With Children are good examples. I assume all current shows either license the music when broadcast for home video or avoid using anything that will be an issue.

That's not a problem anymore since intros are a thing of the past and don't exist for the most part in today's shows!

Why exactly was Paramount able to use "Rock Around the Clock" for Season 1, but not on Season 2? What was the issue?

I understand Happy Days was a nice wholesome show but it really wasn't THAT funny. I'd much rather see more seasons of the Jeffersons released especially after the death of George!

Considering that you're posting in a Happy Days forum and in a thread dedicated to the Happy Days DVDs, you're basically thread crapping.

This show is slowly becoming obsolete because it's failing in syndication which is going to hurt DVD sales

This show is slowly becoming obsolete because it's failing in syndication which is going to hurt DVD sales

That's because they're showing it at inconvenient times. Who is going to stay up so late on a weeknight to watch this? Why not show this at 8 or 9pm? Why show it at 11pm or 12am?? That's insane!

That's because they're showing it at inconvenient times. Who is going to stay up so late on a weeknight to watch this? Why not show this at 8 or 9pm? Why show it at 11pm or 12am?? That's insane!


I miss the old days when it was aired in syndication at 5pm. For some reason Laverne and Shirely has performed better in the ratings than HD on the HUB

For some reason Laverne and Shirely has performed better in the ratings than HD on the HUB

I haven't watched L&S either for the same reasons why I don't watch HD. Back in the day when Nick @ Nite used to air these at 8pm, I used to watch both shows all the time. I miss the days when classic sitcoms used to be shown at nice, convenient times. Nothing like coming home from a hard days work and turning on the TV to watch some classic sitcoms.

I haven't watched L&S either for the same reasons why I don't watch HD. Back in the day when Nick @ Nite used to air these at 8pm, I used to watch both shows all the time. I miss the days when classic sitcoms used to be shown at nice, convenient times. Nothing like coming home from a hard days work and turning on the TV to watch some classic sitcoms.


Yeah the HUB airs L&S at 11pm which is not good for me since I watch local news at that time

Why exactly was Paramount able to use "Rock Around the Clock" for Season 1, but not on Season 2? What was the issue?
Pure speculation, but maybe they wanted to test the waters with music replacements to see what the fan reaction would be. Also, maybe the rights-holders upped their fee for the second season, and CBS/Paramount didn't want to pay it.

That's not a problem anymore since intros are a thing of the past and don't exist for the most part in today's shows!
That is very true. My thought was shows that still use music in the show. For example "Revenge" would often play a song during a scene such as "Nothing Else Matters" by Lissie. I assume Metallica who made the original song and Lissie who performed it got compensated for both broadcast and home video.

That's because they're showing it at inconvenient times. Who is going to stay up so late on a weeknight to watch this? Why not show this at 8 or 9pm? Why show it at 11pm or 12am?? That's insane!
I assume they think everyone can just DVR. I have tons of shows on my DVR I will never end up watching. If it was on as you say at 8 PM I would gladly watch "Happy Days" on TV over current shows, unless I already had the DVD. This is the kind of show Netflix needs to acquire to improve selection.

I assume they think everyone can just DVR. I have tons of shows on my DVR I will never end up watching. If it was on as you say at 8 PM I would gladly watch "Happy Days" on TV over current shows, unless I already had the DVD. This is the kind of show Netflix needs to acquire to improve selection.


You don't have more than one DVD recorder?

After waiting for years, I realized the only way I was going to have it on DVD was to do it myself. I had seasons 5-11 on VHS, and I transferred it to my computer to cut out the commercials, and put them on DVD. Its not top quality, but it is watchable, and complete. Also I have the ability to shuffle around easier. I have misplaced the 6th season, but I have it somewhere. I have a garage filled with TV episodes on VHS to go through. If someone was to DVR it the quality would be so much better. I just dont see any other way to have it.
;)

After waiting for years, I realized the only way I was going to have it on DVD was to do it myself. I had seasons 5-11 on VHS, and I transferred it to my computer to cut out the commercials, and put them on DVD. Its not top quality, but it is watchable, and complete. Also I have the ability to shuffle around easier. I have misplaced the 6th season, but I have it somewhere. I have a garage filled with TV episodes on VHS to go through. If someone was to DVR it the quality would be so much better. I just dont see any other way to have it.
;)


Nothing wrong with that, that's what I did with the Jeffersons.

I got The Jeffersons here too-somewhere. I wish there was an easier way of having these shows, like buying them.
I have been transferring the unavailable stuff to DVD, and afterwards im going to donate a few thousand tapes to the local goodwill. Im hoping they will take them. If not I think I can give them away for free on CL.
I got these off TV Land, and when I did I didnt know I was going to be doing this. I think about the combined time, and effort-and its pretty amazing what one will do for their Happy Days!
(Or Jeffersons;) )

I have been recording episodes of Batman onto my DVD recorder's hard drive, editing out the commercials and transferring them onto DVD+Rs.

Since it's unlikely that an official release is coming soon (if ever), I can at least build a library of the episodes.

I have been recording episodes of Batman onto my DVD recorder's hard drive, editing out the commercials and transferring them onto DVD+Rs.

Since it's unlikely that an official release is coming soon (if ever), I can at least build a library of the episodes.
I did the same thing for my Batman collection which is easy to obtain off of YoutUbe. Sadly though, all of the Happy Days shows were recently removed and are harder to get now. Especially anything after Season 4.

They should at least put Seasons 5,6 and 7 on DVD. I would be happy to have the series with all the Richie and Ralph era covered.
I would even be willing to get bootleg/amateur DVD's of those seasons if I could find them. I dont care about DVD quality video, I just want to watch the episodes with my daughter.

They should at least put Seasons 5,6 and 7 on DVD. I would be happy to have the series with all the Richie and Ralph era covered.
I would even be willing to get bootleg/amateur DVD's of those seasons if I could find them. I dont care about DVD quality video, I just want to watch the episodes with my daughter.

I AGREE+ At least put them on DVD, they will sell. People want them. I just don't understand people? I guess it's all about (c) and trademark. Why does everything have to be so political?

I AGREE+ At least put them on DVD, they will sell. People want them. I just don't understand people? I guess it's all about (c) and trademark. Why does everything have to be so political?

The lawsuit by some former cast members (for unpaid merchandising royalties) was settled by the studio, but I'm wondering if one reason we're not seeing any more DVD sets is due to projected low sales.

After all, we're constantly being told that physical media (CDs, DVDs, etc) is a dying medium and that everything is going downloadable, so maybe they feel putting out future seasons of Happy Days isn't worth it from a profit perspective.

The lawsuit by some former cast members (for unpaid merchandising royalties) was settled by the studio, but I'm wondering if one reason we're not seeing any more DVD sets is due to projected low sales.

After all, we're constantly being told that physical media (CDs, DVDs, etc) is a dying medium and that everything is going downloadable, so maybe they feel putting out future seasons of Happy Days isn't worth it from a profit perspective.

I'm hoping Happy Days might make it to Netflix. I've been seeing Hawaii Five O, Rockford Files, Twilight Zone and a whole bunch of other oldies coming on Netflix but I guess we will wait and see?

If anyone could help me out with DVR copies of seasons five and six send me a PM. I am tired of waiting for an official release.

I have seen HD episodes on YouTube and have put them on my Itunes. I have most of the episodes except season 6. I find the best way is to go from one VCR to another. like I have episodes from Nick which I have combined with Hub and WGN when they had the shows. I wonder which "version" Hallmark has.