There was a newspaper article the other day about Fox's TV-on-DVD releases. It specifically mentioned that Fox will not be releasing WKRP. Apparently they were considering it but, in the words of the head of the DVD department, they can't afford it due to music clearance issues. (It doesn't help that the Mary Tyler Moore Show DVD set did not sell well.)

Sorry.

What sucks is that I know WKRP would be a big seller on dvd -just by the general interest you see on ebay and jump the shark and such- and could make up for the cost of the music rights.

They just have to realize that there is more interest in WKRP than Mary Tyler Moore (and other shows on dvd). I don't see people spending a fortune on bootlegs of that show, yet WKRP gets people spending hundreds on unknown sources.

This is crap.

If it makes you feel any better, the article mentioned that there are some recent shows, like "Ally McBeal," that Fox isn't releasing for similar reasons: Too much music, and thus too much music licensing fees. So it's not just 'KRP. Apparently music licensing is just very expensive for home video.

it seems strange that studios can afford to release classic movies like (american graffiti and blues brothers) with original music or to the best of my knowledge it was all original music.
but can't release classic tv shows like wkrp in cincinnati with original music.

i agree that wkrp would sell alot better than mary tyler moore show.the two shows have different audiences.the audience for wkrp is younger and more likely to own dvd players.
besides m*a*s*h and the simpsons have been bestsellers on the dvd format

i would buy all 90 episodes of wkrp with the music changes because maybe ten episodes at the most were ruined by the music changes and most of them were the first season episodes.

i just hope that its true that columbia house is releasing wkrp on dvd in march.

Jamie, since you are the most knowledgeable about the situation, I was wondering if you could find out if the Columbia House rumor is true or not.

Thanks.

Why dont they just edit the music out and put in Generic Music? They did it on TV Alot from what i heard. It wouldnt bother me at all, Its the Show im interested in, Not the Music.

First off, although no real surprise to me, it is a shame that WKRP will not be released on DVD in their original format at the current time.
Concerning generic music in place of the actual songs- this would bother me on a few levels:

1. The backdrop of the show is at a radio station. It's not like the Simpsons, Ally McBeal or other shows that play music. With WKRP In Cincinnati it is imperative that the show be seen in it's original intent- and that's with the original music. Putting in all generic music would make the show less dynamic, and indeed "generic" - as if the set design wasn't already low budget enough.

2. Often, particularly in the booth- the music is being played over key diolouge. On tapes I have with generic music, because of this there is also "generic diolouge" by voice overs which was horribly done. Furthermore, there are times when the re-editing and mixing is sonically out of whack - this I blame on whomever did the re engineering - one can tell it's was half baked work at best.

3. Continuity is lost, and again things lose there meaning. They aren't huge things- but if you lose enough subleties, over time it simply weakens the show. Just a quick example off the top of my head. In the two part episode where there's a bombscare...Venus, while at the transmitter puts on a Bob Marley & The Wailers song off of "Uprising" (I can tell by the album art), and a voice over comes on saying "here's a song by the late great Bob Mays", while some generic reggae is faded out. There are a number of these because of the generic music problem- and it takes you out of the moment of the show, because of the stupidity of something like that.

Had a couple more thoughts on generic music being used, and how it weakens episodes

In the two part ep "Dr. Fever & Mr. Tide". When Johnny finally comes to his senses and realizes all the glitz, glamour, fame, and all the other luxuries that come with him being a host of a disco show "Gotta Dance", ala "Solid Gold" - is all B.S. (again, the thread with the struggle of compromise of principle for selling out). Johnny stops the show and addresses the kids in the audience with great lines championing Rock and Roll. Also some funny lines (big fans will know "cram it pizza face"- heh) Then before he abandones the stage he spins Little Richard's "Ready Teady" - to hear Richard's voice is to hear Rock and Roll with all its power. HOWEVER, this crucial song which should be the damn exclamation point on the episode is now butchered by some very lame generic instrumental boogie woogie music. To me- this completley negates Johnny's point in the episode and just comes off kinda corny. The original music is almost another character in WKRP - it has to be seen / heard in the original context.


One other thread throughout WKRP, is Andy as program director continually pleading with Fever to play the hits of the day. The Doctor loves his rock and roll and R&B, particularly the '60s Atlantic stuff- as I've seen so many of his 45's with that classic Atlantic logo (I'm a music geek - which makes the issue of generic music even more frustrating). At any rate -it's this little subplot that is consistent throught each season which makes for some funny stuff. If there was all generic music, this funny little thread would not only not exist- but would make no sense in the show.

I'm really impressed from what I've seen so far on this board as there are other posters who really love the show and understand the brilliant writing on WKRP. One aspect of this is the consistency and continuity in which the writers brought to the show - everything is just right. Once the slightest bit of tinkering is done - the fluid rhythm of each episode is simply thrown off. It's a big disrespect to the writers and the show.