View Full Version : TV shows with the most episodes to not have an official DVD release
This doesn't count game shows, talk shows, soaps, variety shows, series done mostly live, etc. Also, they have to have at least 100 episodes and yet, not have a complete season released. This according to one source (https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/threads/most-episodes-with-no-season-set-dvd-releases.288726/post-5249423) as of today:
Lassie - 587
G.E. Theatre - 293
Burns and Allen - 291 (including 1st 2 live seasons)
Dragnet (1950s Version) - 276
Fireside Theatre - 268
Jack Benny - 256 (also includes live episodes)
Life of Riley (Bendix) - 217
The Millionaire - 207
77 Sunset Strip - 205
The Lineup (a/k/a San Francisco Beat) - 201
Tales of Wells Fargo - 201
Love That Bob - 173
Empty Nest - 170
Adventures of Rin Tin Tin - 164
Bachelor Father - 157
December Bride - 157
Sheriff of Cochise/U.S. Marshall - 156
Trapper John M.D. - 151
Cold Case - 147+
In The Heat of the Night - 142
Chicago Hope - 141
Judging Amy - 138
Hawaiian Eye - 134
Four Star Playhouse - 129
The Gale Storm Show (a/k/a Oh Susannah) - 126
The Steve Harvey Show - 123
Yes Dear - 122
I Led 3 Lives - 117
Whirlybirds - 117
One on One - 113
Wild Bill Hickok - 113
Amen - 111
The Hogan Family - 110
The Parkers - 110
Kit Carson - 104
The People's Choice - 104
Private Secretary - 104
The Farmer's Daughter - 101
Unhappily Ever After - 100
blueberrymuffin 07-21-2023, 11:55 AM At this point, I don't think these shows will ever get a physical media release.
Heck, I don't see them being anywhere on streaming either. Seems a lot of these shows have been forgotten to time.
I actually remember watching Chicago Hope on Lifetime as a kid, and I can barely remember much about it. It just seems these shows had a fanbase of sorts when they aired, but those fanbases weren't very loyal to them, and moved onto other stuff they prefer more.
1960'sTVfan 07-21-2023, 12:30 PM I'm surprised Lassie doesn't have an official DVD release, I can only imagine there are legal/ownership rights issues that have prevented a home video release.
From the list above, December Bride is one show I'd be interested to have on DVD. Aside from that, none of the other shows are high on my want list which is good for me and I feel like I'm not really missing out on anything.
Tales of Wells Fargo - 201
Chicago Hope - 141
The Parkers - 110
Timeless Media Group released the first two seasons of Tales of Wells Fargo (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01GWCMK98/ref=nosim/happydaysonline3-20) on DVD in Region 1 on October 25, 2011.
Revelation Films has released all six seasons of Chicago Hope (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=chicago+hope&i=movies-tv&crid=3KMJ3B0LGY7TZ&sprefix=chicago+hope+%2Cmovies-tv%2C177&linkCode=ll2&tag=happydaysonline3-20&linkId=0ae0235361cd27155f719fa46456e64d&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl) on DVD in Region 2 (UK).
The Parkers - The Complete Collection (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01C6FFN8U/ref=nosim/happydaysonline3-20), containing all five seasons, was released on region 1 DVD in Canada via Visual Entertainment in a 14-disc set on March 18, 2016.
These are some other shows with 100+ episodes and no complete seasons released on DVD.
The Stu Erwin Show / Trouble with Father (1950-1955) - 130 (some public domain releases but no complete seasons as far as I know)
It's a Living (1980-1982, 1985-1989) - 120
Down to Earth (1984-1987) - 106
Still the Beaver (1984-1985) / The New Leave it to Beaver (1986-1989) - 101 (+ 4-part television movie)
Brothers (1984-1989) - 115
Rescue 911 (1989-1996) - 186 (and 2 specials)
stevea 07-21-2023, 03:48 PM I'm surprised Lassie doesn't have an official DVD release, I can only imagine there are legal/ownership rights issues that have prevented a home video release.
From the list above, December Bride is one show I'd be interested to have on DVD. Aside from that, none of the other shows are high on my want list which is good for me and I feel like I'm not really missing out on anything.
He included Lassie and there have been some episodes released on DVD, but certainly not many.
The list grows if you include series that are not completed. For instance only the black snd white seasons of My Three Sons have been released. 7 seasons in color, nothing. But there are many, many others that have never been completed.
I'd say the chances are slim for many more releases. But not impossible; Mayberry RFD was completed recently. It seems to depend on which company owns a given series.
1960'sTVfan 07-21-2023, 04:45 PM He included Lassie and there have been some episodes released on DVD, but certainly not many.
The list grows if you include series that are not completed. For instance only the black snd white seasons of My Three Sons have been released. 7 seasons in color, nothing. But there are many, many others that have never been completed.
I'd say the chances are slim for many more releases. But not impossible; Mayberry RFD was completed recently. It seems to depend on which company owns a given series.
I wonder if the Mayberry RFD series was released because fans of The Andy Griffith Show were requesting it. The studio might have figured releasing the series would be a profitable venture.
Only the 1st season of Burke's Law has been released on DVD, not season 2 or the shorter lived follow up series Amos Burke Secret Agent. I'm not happy about it but at this point it seems that season 1 is all we're going to get.
I'd also like to have Forever Fernwood, the follow up series after Mary Hartman, but Shout Factory doesn't seem interested to issue it.
Cold Case is a decent show, I watched it occasionally when it was on CBS in the 2000's decade. Not really a show I want to have on DVD, but a DVD issue is probably unlikely anyway because the original songs/music used in the episodes would likely be way too cost prohibitive to clear everything for a home video release.
filmboy 02-21-2026, 02:09 PM I wonder if the Mayberry RFD series was released because fans of The Andy Griffith Show were requesting it. The studio might have figured releasing the series would be a profitable venture.
Only the 1st season of Burke's Law has been released on DVD, not season 2 or the shorter lived follow up series Amos Burke Secret Agent. I'm not happy about it but at this point it seems that season 1 is all we're going to get.
I'd also like to have Forever Fernwood, the follow up series after Mary Hartman, but Shout Factory doesn't seem interested to issue it.
Cold Case is a decent show, I watched it occasionally when it was on CBS in the 2000's decade. Not really a show I want to have on DVD, but a DVD issue is probably unlikely anyway because the original songs/music used in the episodes would likely be way too cost prohibitive to clear everything for a home video release.
its being shown at the moment burkes law series 2 and 3 in the uk
JamesG 02-21-2026, 07:30 PM While not making 100 episodes, Out of This World comes close at 96 eps.
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