The Hogan Family on DVD

[Edster2973]

Originally Posted by friendsfan77

If there are not any issues with Valerie, I'm surprised they didn't want to have releases during Arrested Development's days. I'm sure a number of fans would have liked seeing Jason Bateman when he was younger.

There are no issues with Valerie Harper. She'd be blocking an opportunity for her to make money if she kept them from releasing the show. She would profit even from the seasons she was no longer on the show. It was part of her court case that she won. She won partial ownership plus 12% of the gross profits of the show. Besides, she doesn't have the power to block it anyway. She's not the only owner involved and if she were to say "no", she'd be outnumbered by the other owners who are corporations/companies and thus could afford to buy her out to put the DVD on the rack.

The thing is, the show is barely remembered except for the switchover from Valerie Harper to Sandy Duncan. The show wasn't innovative and actually became very formulaic and forced once Valerie Harper was fired.

Since there were more episodes without Valerie Harper than there were with her, the show is remembered more as ordinary than anything else. With that in mind, I believe WB (one of the owners of the show since Lorimar no longer exists) feels it simply is not in demand enough to warrant a sale. The last time it aired, it was yanked off early due to low ratings.

I want the show on DVD and many here do as well, but aside from us die-hards, I think it's been basically forgotten. Shows similar in style, like "Boy Meets World", "Step By Step" and "Family Matters" haven't lit the DVD sales on fire. "Boy Meets World" was culled from the Buena Vista's list due to low sales after Season 3, and this was with no cast changes. They probably figure that "Valerie's Family", with the dramatic cast change that season, would make a purchase undesirable. Lionsgate is trying their luck out by releasing "Boy Meets World" and, with any luck, should it sell well, perhaps they'll take a chance on "Valerie"/"Valerie's Family"/"The Hogan Family". I doubt it though.

"Step By Step" saw a "best-of" release and that went nowhere. There simply isn't demand for this type of show. Hopefully at some point, this will change. Right now, with the economy the way it is, even those who would normally purchase a set would probably pass on it.

Sorry to be so verbose, but I just wanted to make sure everyone knew that the non-release of the show on DVD has NOTHING to do with Valerie Harper.

Ed

[autbey]

Valerie

Voting Results
Unreleased Rank: 398th
Overall Rank: 1084th
Season Set: 518 (99%)
Best of: 110 (21%)
Individual Episodes: 91 (17%)
Total Number of Voters: 522


The Hogan Family

Voting Results
Unreleased Rank: 85th
Overall Rank: 439th
Season Set: 1131 (99%)
Best of: 261 (23%)
Individual Episodes: 206 (18%)
Total Number of Voters: 1145

Needs more votes

[retrotvfanatic]

I voted! Wish this show was on dvd!

[Cyberia]

Not the same as having them on DVD but a number of the shows are on youtube.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by DK2

I keep thinking that the lawsuit with Valerie Harper and Lorimar Prods. (which is now Warner Bros) may have something to do with this show not being released yet on dvd. Maybe WB feels so burned from the old lawsuit they don't wish to get into any rights fees/profits to Valerie Harper. I'm sure this means something to them and to her. Whatever happens she is probably owed something or at the least the episodes she was in. From what I understand she was was somewhat involved with the shows inception and her production comp. was involved. Thats my opinion though.
If it ever comes on dvd, I think it only makes sense that they release her episodes as one 2 season set. Many other mid season sitcoms have started out their first dvd sets like this.

My guess is because Valerie Harper won a significant amount money from the producers for her firing (even some profits from the series she was no longer associated with), those with the show are afraid of another lawsuit with Valerie asking for a cut of DVD sales (something not foreseeable in the late '80s) or syndication rights (explaining why you have not seen much of the show since its last season on CBS back in 1990-91).

[Ron Ron]

It is insane that this show is not on DVD or on DVD demand release. I wish either Netflix or Hulu would pick it up too and show it via that alternative.

[DK2]

Originally Posted by Ron Ron

It is insane that this show is not on DVD or on DVD demand release. I wish either Netflix or Hulu would pick it up too and show it via that alternative.

I can't believe it either. It ran for what, 6-7 years? So how is it really forgotten? But I guess as others had mentioned several other sitcoms have had some or one or no dvd sets released either. I mean Who's the Boss just one season? Growing Pains went the dvd demand route after the first 2 seasons were mass retail released. The links for Valerie/Hogna Family on youtube and dailymotion quality sucks. I know its VHS but you wished they were taped in SP mode and it might marginally look better.

[TVQuack]

With Perfect Strangers and Step by Step getting more releases, I hold out hope that WB would release this show finally. I don't know what the holdup is.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TVQuack

With Perfect Strangers and Step by Step getting more releases, I hold out hope that WB would release this show finally. I don't know what the holdup is.

There are other factors for why The Hogan Family hasn't been officially released to DVD yet:
1) Warner Bros. doesn't think there's enough of an audience to market it on DVD

2) it's a very dated show that won't hold up well today

3) if they were to remaster it in HD -- which is technically possible because it was all shot on 35mm film -- it would cost a bloody fortune (but is feasible)

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by TVQuack

With Perfect Strangers and Step by Step getting more releases, I hold out hope that WB would release this show finally. I don't know what the holdup is.

My feeling is people just don't know the show anymore. Only big fans of the show or some of its cast. It just falls through the cracks.

[rcbrad]

Originally Posted by TMC

There are other factors for why The Hogan Family hasn't been officially released to DVD yet:
1) Warner Bros. doesn't think there's enough of an audience to market it on DVD

2) it's a very dated show that won't hold up well today

3) if they were to remaster it in HD -- which is technically possible because it was all shot on 35mm film -- it would cost a bloody fortune (but is feasible)

Yes, I think that there is not enough of an audience for it, sad to say. I do not think the show is very dated, it is from around the same time as as Step by Step was broadcast. (of course Step by Step is now being released) All shows from 35 years ago are going to be at least somewhat dated, though.

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by rcbrad

it is from around the same time as as Step by Step was broadcast.

Step By Step didn't premiere until after The Hogan Family had ended.

[rcbrad]

Originally Posted by DJM77

Step By Step didn't premiere until after The Hogan Family had ended.

Yes that's right, If I am not mistaken I think the HF ended in the summer and SBS started in the fall during that same year!

[CharlesAbelLear]

The Hogan Family will likely never be released on DVD, unfortunately. But for quite some time now, I've been working on restoring every episode and trying to create as close to an official DVD release and I can.

So far, I have restored the complete 1st - 4th season's episodes to their original broadcast length... each with original show titles 'Valerie,' 'Valerie's Family,' and 'The Hogan Family' and their network commercial break 'be right back' tags. I've also inserted as many original network promos as I've been able to find. The discs themselves have custom menus featuring various cast members from the show.

I'm currently working on restoring seasons 5 and 6. I'm missing a few elements to complete the set... like the season 6 intro without Antenna TV's dreaded squeeze back and the final episode, #110 - Ho, Ho, Hogans.

I put a few sample episode restorations on Dailymotion -- feel free to check them out here... https://www.dailymotion.com/ClassicTVChazz

From 2007 - 2010, I had uploaded the complete series to my now defunct YouTube page, ClassicTVChazz. I've since started reuploading them to Dailymotion.

I'll keep everyone up-to-date on the DVD set. Would be happy to help others who are interested in the series - and would love help finding a few of the missing pieces I'm seeking.

Thanks!

[rcbrad]

Originally Posted by CharlesAbelLear

The Hogan Family will likely never be released on DVD, unfortunately. But for quite some time now, I've been working on restoring every episode and trying to create as close to an official DVD release and I can.

So far, I have restored the complete 1st - 4th season's episodes to their original broadcast length... each with original show titles 'Valerie,' 'Valerie's Family,' and 'The Hogan Family' and their network commercial break 'be right back' tags. I've also inserted as many original network promos as I've been able to find. The discs themselves have custom menus featuring various cast members from the show.

I'm currently working on restoring seasons 5 and 6. I'm missing a few elements to complete the set... like the season 6 intro without Antenna TV's dreaded squeeze back and the final episode, #110 - Ho, Ho, Hogans.

I put a few sample episode restorations on Dailymotion -- feel free to check them out here... https://www.dailymotion.com/ClassicTVChazz

From 2007 - 2010, I had uploaded the complete series to my now defunct YouTube page, ClassicTVChazz. I've since started reuploading them to Dailymotion.

I'll keep everyone up-to-date on the DVD set. Would be happy to help others who are interested in the series - and would love help finding a few of the missing pieces I'm seeking.

Thanks!

It sounds like a big job you are doing! This has always been my favorite of the MB produced sitcoms. I especially like and would like to have in my collection the "Valerie" episodes. I have almost all of the episodes on my DVR from Antenna TV/Verizon, but is seems to be an impossible task to transfer them elsewhere. Thanks for offering to help!