I contacted MPI last week and asked about the short Color Honeymooners sketches (I know. Big surprise. Note the sarcasm.). I said that I know that there are licensing issues but I made the request anyway.

It's not a surprise that MPI will listen to fans requests but I thought I would tell you.

I don't know what to make of the licensing issue. Is it true? I don't know because MPI was able to license the 1973 "Women's Lib" sketch from Gleason's special that year without including the rest of the special. What is so different from that situation and these missing 1968-1969 skits?

Also, what kind of licensing issue would prevent the 1977 Christmas special from being released. On the back of "The Second Honeymoon" DVD case it states Christmas SpecialS so there must have been a plan to release that one as well. I wondered if one of the estates objected, but Gleason, Carney, and Meadows appear on the other three reunion releases. Then I wondered if Gale Gordon's estate would have objected, but I highly doubt that, and not even sure if he had someone designated to watch over his likeness. Could it be the use of the Chrismas Carol? Possibly, except it is in the public domain to the best of my knowledge. The only hold up that I can think of, and as silly as it sounds, is the use of the Burger King jingle ("hold the pickle, hold the lettuce ..."). THAT has to be the only hold-up, I don't know of anything else on that special that could cause it not to be released.

Since MPI has released the Honeymooners sketches and specials, and also the entire Here's Lucy series, releasing the 1977 special would be a perfect tie-in for MPI to promote both releases. Especially with Gale's little nod to his former costar.

My guess would be that some music issue is preventing the other Christmas special from being released, as was the case with "Life Upon the Wicked Stage." As for the short color sketches, I suspect they're in the same boat as the American Scene sketches, meaning the Gleason Estate probably wants to license the variety shows in their entirety, but MPI's only interested in releasing the Honeymooners segments.