SHOUT! Factory DVD Request: "Murphy Brown: The Complete Series" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

stevearino · 08-18-2018, 10:04 PM

FYI: The Following Message Below was sent by yours truly, Steve Arino, in the hopes of pursuading SHOUT! Factory to issue "Murphy Brown: The Complete Series" on DVD; the email was sent to Jordan Fields, Head of Acquisitions at SHOUT! Factory.

Dear Jordan,

I have a proposal for SHOUT! Factory: as I'm sure you're aware, CBS is reviving "Murphy Brown" next month as a part of its Fall 2018 schedule.

That being said, in commemoration of that, combined with its impending 30th Anniversary since the original series' debut, I suggest that SHOUT! Factory make a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution for SHOUT! to issue, for the first time ever on DVD, "Murphy Brown: The Complete Series," all 247 episodes from the original 10-year run of the hit '80s sitcom "Murphy Brown" complete, uncut, and unedited, as originally broadcast on the CBS Television Network.

Created by Diane English, "Murphy Brown" originally aired on CBS from November 14, 1988 - May 18, 1998 and starred Candy Bergen as the title character of Murphy Brown, the veteran star reporter of the fictional F.Y.I. Newsmagazine series based in Washington, D.C. airing Wednesday nights at 10 P.M.

Joining Candy in the "Murphy Brown" cast were, among many others, character actor Charlie Kimbrough as Jim Dial, the stuffy anchorman on "F.Y.I."; Faith Ford as Corky Sherwood, a former Miss America who initially filled in for Murphy while Murphy spent a month at Betty Ford Clinic in Rehab--only to join Frank, Jim and Murphy permanently at the start of the series; and Grant Shaud as Miles Silverberg, the new Executive Producer of "F.Y.I.," replacing the longtime recently-retired Exec Producer, Arvid (played in a flashback sequence by character actor James Karen).

After Miles left "F.Y.I." (as did Grant Shaud leaving "Murphy Brown" for further career opportunities), Lily Tomlin joined the cast as new Executive Producer Kay Sheply, formerly a producer of network TV game shows.

For the first 8 years, Pat Corley appeared as Phil, the know-it-all bartender and proprietor of the local Bar and Grill, known adeptly as Phil's; after he left, with his character killed off (or so viewers thought), his son, Phil, Jr. (character actor Pat Finn, not to be confused with the same-named TV game show host), inherited his old man's business.

Rounding out the original cast was Bob Pastorelli as Murphy's house painter (and eventually Nanny to her son Avery) Eldin Bernecky, the character of whom was written out as having studied professional painting in Spain.

After 10 seasons, Candy Bergen and Diane English mutually decided to end "Murphy Brown," with the hour-long Series Finale telecast on May 18, 1998.

In the Finale, after a year-long Battle with Breast Cancer, Murphy got a Clean Bill of Health; Eldin returned to help Murphy raise Avery once again, 4 years after his initial departure; and cameos abounded, ranging from (among many others) George Clooney, Julia Roberts and, posthumously, Edward R. Murrow; Alan King also appeared as God in an interview Murphy gave while undergoing treatment for Breast Cancer while having a Hallucination.

Many real-life Journalists appeared as themselves in guest appearances during the show's original 10-year run--among them Linda Ellerbee, Joan Lunden, and Connie Chung to name 3 examples.

Tentatively, SHOUT! Factory shall issue a Complete Series Boxset of "Murphy Brown: The Complete Series" just in time for its 30th Anniversary Week, with a Perfect Date for release being November 13, 2018 at a cost of $59.99 wherever DVDs are sold--and for those who can't afford the set, all 10 seasons shall be released in individual DVD season sets (including the first, originally released by Warner Bros. in February 2005) at a cost of only $9.99 wherever DVDs are sold, with the first season issued the same day as the Complete Series boxset and the other 9 seasons issued monthly afterwards for the remainder of the next year.

Sincerely,
Steve Arino

MRPITT · 08-18-2018, 11:05 PM

I think if it ever happened the price would be a lot higher than that.

tlc38tlc38 · 08-19-2018, 07:19 AM

An official set would be nice but I'm pretty satisfied with my set I recorded from encore.

Svenfan1234 · 08-19-2018, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRPITT

I think if it ever happened the price would be a lot higher than that.

Probably in the $150-$200 range. There is a bit of music to clear that would drive the cost up for sure. I'd buy a complete series set of Murphy Brown though.

MRPITT · 08-19-2018, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

An official set would be nice but I'm pretty satisfied with my set I recorded from encore.

I agree I can’t imagine an official set clearing all the music.

stevearino · 08-19-2018, 11:05 AM

You never know. If SHOUT! can clear close to 90% of the music for its "WKRP" DVD set, then I'm sure SHOUT! Factory can clear at least 95% of the music used on "Murphy Brown" if it ever makes a DVD set of the Complete Series like it did for "WKRP."

tlc38tlc38 · 08-19-2018, 12:18 PM

If more seasons (or a complete series set) are going to be released, it'll happen in the next year due to the series reboot. If it doesn't happen now, it never will.

Svenfan1234 · 08-19-2018, 01:10 PM

Whoever would release it would also have to have a relationship going with WB who owns Murphy Brown. They may just decide to release it via Warner Archive.

tlc38tlc38 · 08-19-2018, 01:12 PM

At this point, if it is released, it'll be via Warner Archive.

Svenfan1234 · 08-19-2018, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

At this point, if it is released, it'll be via Warner Archive.

More than likely. With the reruns now on Antenna TV, the reboot coming, and having rerun previously on Encore, maybe that'll get it released next year or something. One can hope.

08-18-2018, 10:04 PM	#1
stevearino Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 15, 2017 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 249	SHOUT! Factory DVD Request: "Murphy Brown: The Complete Series" FYI: The Following Message Below was sent by yours truly, Steve Arino, in the hopes of pursuading SHOUT! Factory to issue "Murphy Brown: The Complete Series" on DVD; the email was sent to Jordan Fields, Head of Acquisitions at SHOUT! Factory. Dear Jordan, I have a proposal for SHOUT! Factory: as I'm sure you're aware, CBS is reviving "Murphy Brown" next month as a part of its Fall 2018 schedule. That being said, in commemoration of that, combined with its impending 30th Anniversary since the original series' debut, I suggest that SHOUT! Factory make a deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution for SHOUT! to issue, for the first time ever on DVD, "Murphy Brown: The Complete Series," all 247 episodes from the original 10-year run of the hit '80s sitcom "Murphy Brown" complete, uncut, and unedited, as originally broadcast on the CBS Television Network. Created by Diane English, "Murphy Brown" originally aired on CBS from November 14, 1988 - May 18, 1998 and starred Candy Bergen as the title character of Murphy Brown, the veteran star reporter of the fictional F.Y.I. Newsmagazine series based in Washington, D.C. airing Wednesday nights at 10 P.M. Joining Candy in the "Murphy Brown" cast were, among many others, character actor Charlie Kimbrough as Jim Dial, the stuffy anchorman on "F.Y.I."; Faith Ford as Corky Sherwood, a former Miss America who initially filled in for Murphy while Murphy spent a month at Betty Ford Clinic in Rehab--only to join Frank, Jim and Murphy permanently at the start of the series; and Grant Shaud as Miles Silverberg, the new Executive Producer of "F.Y.I.," replacing the longtime recently-retired Exec Producer, Arvid (played in a flashback sequence by character actor James Karen). After Miles left "F.Y.I." (as did Grant Shaud leaving "Murphy Brown" for further career opportunities), Lily Tomlin joined the cast as new Executive Producer Kay Sheply, formerly a producer of network TV game shows. For the first 8 years, Pat Corley appeared as Phil, the know-it-all bartender and proprietor of the local Bar and Grill, known adeptly as Phil's; after he left, with his character killed off (or so viewers thought), his son, Phil, Jr. (character actor Pat Finn, not to be confused with the same-named TV game show host), inherited his old man's business. Rounding out the original cast was Bob Pastorelli as Murphy's house painter (and eventually Nanny to her son Avery) Eldin Bernecky, the character of whom was written out as having studied professional painting in Spain. After 10 seasons, Candy Bergen and Diane English mutually decided to end "Murphy Brown," with the hour-long Series Finale telecast on May 18, 1998. In the Finale, after a year-long Battle with Breast Cancer, Murphy got a Clean Bill of Health; Eldin returned to help Murphy raise Avery once again, 4 years after his initial departure; and cameos abounded, ranging from (among many others) George Clooney, Julia Roberts and, posthumously, Edward R. Murrow; Alan King also appeared as God in an interview Murphy gave while undergoing treatment for Breast Cancer while having a Hallucination. Many real-life Journalists appeared as themselves in guest appearances during the show's original 10-year run--among them Linda Ellerbee, Joan Lunden, and Connie Chung to name 3 examples. Tentatively, SHOUT! Factory shall issue a Complete Series Boxset of "Murphy Brown: The Complete Series" just in time for its 30th Anniversary Week, with a Perfect Date for release being November 13, 2018 at a cost of $59.99 wherever DVDs are sold--and for those who can't afford the set, all 10 seasons shall be released in individual DVD season sets (including the first, originally released by Warner Bros. in February 2005) at a cost of only $9.99 wherever DVDs are sold, with the first season issued the same day as the Complete Series boxset and the other 9 seasons issued monthly afterwards for the remainder of the next year. Sincerely, Steve Arino

08-19-2018, 07:19 AM	#3
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,252	An official set would be nice but I'm pretty satisfied with my set I recorded from encore.
	__________________ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 In loving memory of my best friend, my Mama.

08-18-2018, 11:05 PM	#2
MRPITT Member Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2011 Posts: 1,678	I think if it ever happened the price would be a lot higher than that.

08-19-2018, 11:05 AM	#6
stevearino Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 15, 2017 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 249	You never know. If SHOUT! can clear close to 90% of the music for its "WKRP" DVD set, then I'm sure SHOUT! Factory can clear at least 95% of the music used on "Murphy Brown" if it ever makes a DVD set of the Complete Series like it did for "WKRP."

08-19-2018, 12:18 PM	#7
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,252	If more seasons (or a complete series set) are going to be released, it'll happen in the next year due to the series reboot. If it doesn't happen now, it never will.

08-19-2018, 01:10 PM	#8
Svenfan1234 Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 12, 2015 Posts: 11,200	Whoever would release it would also have to have a relationship going with WB who owns Murphy Brown. They may just decide to release it via Warner Archive.

08-19-2018, 01:12 PM	#9
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,252	At this point, if it is released, it'll be via Warner Archive.