I'm Dickens, He's Fenster - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

1960'sTVfan · 10-06-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

The complete series is coming to dvd in 2011, in 2 volumes. Just announced by TVSHOWSONDVD.com

I hope both volumes will be released. Dividing this in two sets gives them the opportunity to cancel the second set if the first one undersells. This show was on for only one season, they should just issue the complete series in one set and be done with it.

McGillicuddy · 10-06-2010, 01:16 PM

Hopefully, that won't be a concern. I get very annoyed when long running series get released in volumes, but with a rare single season series like this, if it takes splitting it in 2 volumes to make it profitable enough to be released, I can accept that. This is being release by TV Time Machine Productions, which I never heard of, but I would think they would be dedicated to release the complete series.

TV Knowledge Fan · 10-12-2010, 07:37 PM

...Leonard Stern is definitely not Lucie and Desi Arnaz, Jr. They wanted "THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW", and virtually every other project their father produced in the '60s, included in one DVD package. They obviously weren't thinking about a "profit margin" when they conceived the idea of releasing the entire series in {again} ONE PACKAGE. Leonard Stern, on the other hand, is not only a producer, he's also a businessman [he still owns a piece of Price/Stern/Sloan, the publishers of those endless "Mad Libs" paperbacks]- obviously, he believes there's a "market" for "I'M DICKENS- HE'S FENSTER", and considering the fact it hasn't been seen by the general public in over 30 years [in terms of syndication], I believe he believes DVD collectors will pay for a two volume set. And I'm sure they will....word of mouth, and the right ad campaign can do it [remember how many thousands of "AMOS 'N' ANDY" VHS volumes were sold through late-night TV commercials in the late '90s, before CBS' "cease and desist" order?]. And if the "DICKENS" DVD's are successful enough...maybe "HE & SHE", next? Then, "THE GOOD GUYS".......?

1960'sTVfan · 10-13-2010, 12:08 PM

Old, short lived TV shows like this all have a curiosity and nostalgia value to them. But shows like this were short lived because they weren't popular during the original run, and then got cancelled. In most cases, the lack of popularity translated to the show just not being very good in the first place. There can occasionally be an exception where you have a good new show up against tough competion, and not enough people are tuning in. With old, short lived series like I'm Dickens He's Fenster, they are probably counting on the curiosity/nostalgia factor to sell the DVD's since the show hasn't been seen in a long time. People will be saying "Wow this is great, haven't seen this in a long time. I have to get this". However, is I'm Dickens He's Fenster really that funny? I've thought this over, and John Astin's other series that he's better known for, The Addams Family, is a lot funnier. So I'll probably pass on I'm Dicken's He's Fenster on DVD. Emmaline Henry was in this show, better known as Mrs. Bellows on I Dream Of Jeannie.

TV Knowledge Fan · 10-14-2010, 03:41 AM

..."I'M DICKENS- HE'S FENSTER" ended after one season (32 episodes) on ABC was because it was originally against two highly-rated shows that more viewers preferred to watch: "ROUTE 66" on CBS, and "SING ALONG WITH MITCH" on NBC. After it left the network, ABC Films began syndicating the series in the fall of 1963, and it was seen on dozens of local stations {WABC-TV in New York used to air it on weekends} through the start of the '70s. Eventually, it was withdrawn from syndication, and, finally forgotten....until producer Leonard Stern found the original film elements in storage about two years ago, and is now preparing the series for DVD release....

1960'sTVfan · 10-14-2010, 08:21 PM

It's nice that the episodes have been found and they are being prepared for DVD. But I usually take short lived TV shows like this on DVD with a grain of salt. I enjoy Lost In Space, so I went ahead and made a blind buy of Irwin Allen's short lived one season show The Time Tunnel, figuring I would enjoy that as well. My god what a dull show, I watched two episodes and fell asleep during both of them. So since then I try to do a little more research before I buy DVD's of these old, short lived TV shows. These shows had short lives and haven't been seen in a long time for a reason, in many cases the reason is the shows just aren't very good. Buyer beware when it comes to series like this.

There probably is some decent humor in I'm Dickens He's Fenster, but to what extent I'm not sure. From clips I have seen on you tube, to me the humor seems mostly silly rather than genuinely funny.

McGillicuddy · 10-26-2011, 05:19 PM

I'm Dickens, He's Fenster 50th Anniversary DVD set Volume 1 available by mail order December 6!!

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shownews...s-Fenster/2336

TV Knowledge Fan · 11-04-2011, 04:49 PM

...it's a shame Leonard Stern isn't around to see or promote it.

McGillicuddy · 11-04-2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...it's a shame Leonard Stern isn't around to see or promote it.

Oh, wow! I had to look him up. I didn't know he just passed away this year. That is sad! Stern is listed among the all new interviews, so atleast he was aware of this project.

TV Knowledge Fan · 11-09-2011, 07:02 PM

...that's why he had the "original film elements" exhumed, and taped some commentary for the DVD box sets. But, as I've said, he didn't live long enough to see them finally released. A shame....

McGillicuddy · 11-09-2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...that's why he had the "original film elements" exhumed, and taped some commentary for the DVD box sets. But, as I've said, he didn't live long enough to see them finally released. A shame....

Yeah, sad

opus · 09-04-2015, 02:10 PM

This one seems to not have been posted about in a while. Memorable title, at the least.

SarahBellum · 05-16-2022, 11:59 AM

I vaguely remember seeing this show when I was very young, but I don't remember much about it. Too bad it was competing with other highly-rated shows. Maybe it would have lasted longer otherwise.

Hazel Anyday · 05-17-2022, 03:08 PM

Here's another show I remember watching when I was just 4 or 5. It was about 2 carpenters, the "leader" was played by John (Gomez Addams) Astin and the other who was the bumbler was played by Marty Ingels. They'd show them at home with the wives and also on the job. I enjoyed it as a kid. Though the show didn't last long, forever more anytime I saw Marty Ingels in anything else I always thought of him in Dickens & Fenster (as I called it). A show I hadn't seen in decades till I saw some DVDs of it not too long ago. It was amusing but not as funny as I remember it as a kid. I must have been easily amused. Then again, I can say the same thing about Gilligan's Island, a show I thought really funny as a kid but now it just seems stupid.

1960'sTVfan · 05-22-2022, 12:23 PM

Back in 2011 when this series came to DVD, they should have released the whole series, not just half of it. Doubtful now after all this time that the remaining 16 episodes will see the light of day on DVD.

10-12-2010, 07:37 PM	#18
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Whenit comes to releasing a short-lived series they own, on DVD... ...Leonard Stern is definitely not Lucie and Desi Arnaz, Jr. They wanted "THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW", and virtually every other project their father produced in the '60s, included in one DVD package. They obviously weren't thinking about a "profit margin" when they conceived the idea of releasing the entire series in {again} ONE PACKAGE. Leonard Stern, on the other hand, is not only a producer, he's also a businessman [he still owns a piece of Price/Stern/Sloan, the publishers of those endless "Mad Libs" paperbacks]- obviously, he believes there's a "market" for "I'M DICKENS- HE'S FENSTER", and considering the fact it hasn't been seen by the general public in over 30 years [in terms of syndication], I believe he believes DVD collectors will pay for a two volume set. And I'm sure they will....word of mouth, and the right ad campaign can do it [remember how many thousands of "AMOS 'N' ANDY" VHS volumes were sold through late-night TV commercials in the late '90s, before CBS' "cease and desist" order?]. And if the "DICKENS" DVD's are successful enough...maybe "HE & SHE", next? Then, "THE GOOD GUYS".......?

10-13-2010, 12:08 PM	#19
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,077	Old, short lived TV shows like this all have a curiosity and nostalgia value to them. But shows like this were short lived because they weren't popular during the original run, and then got cancelled. In most cases, the lack of popularity translated to the show just not being very good in the first place. There can occasionally be an exception where you have a good new show up against tough competion, and not enough people are tuning in. With old, short lived series like I'm Dickens He's Fenster, they are probably counting on the curiosity/nostalgia factor to sell the DVD's since the show hasn't been seen in a long time. People will be saying "Wow this is great, haven't seen this in a long time. I have to get this". However, is I'm Dickens He's Fenster really that funny? I've thought this over, and John Astin's other series that he's better known for, The Addams Family, is a lot funnier. So I'll probably pass on I'm Dicken's He's Fenster on DVD. Emmaline Henry was in this show, better known as Mrs. Bellows on I Dream Of Jeannie.
	Last edited by 1960'sTVfan; 10-16-2010 at 02:50 PM.

10-14-2010, 03:41 AM	#20
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	The reason that.... ..."I'M DICKENS- HE'S FENSTER" ended after one season (32 episodes) on ABC was because it was originally against two highly-rated shows that more viewers preferred to watch: "ROUTE 66" on CBS, and "SING ALONG WITH MITCH" on NBC. After it left the network, ABC Films began syndicating the series in the fall of 1963, and it was seen on dozens of local stations {WABC-TV in New York used to air it on weekends} through the start of the '70s. Eventually, it was withdrawn from syndication, and, finally forgotten....until producer Leonard Stern found the original film elements in storage about two years ago, and is now preparing the series for DVD release....

10-26-2011, 05:19 PM	#22
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	I'm Dickens, He's Fenster 50th Anniversary DVD set Volume 1 available by mail order December 6!! http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shownews...s-Fenster/2336
	Last edited by McGillicuddy; 10-27-2011 at 12:51 PM.

11-04-2011, 04:49 PM	#23
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	That's good to hear... ...it's a shame Leonard Stern isn't around to see or promote it.

10-06-2010, 01:16 PM	#17
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	Hopefully, that won't be a concern. I get very annoyed when long running series get released in volumes, but with a rare single season series like this, if it takes splitting it in 2 volumes to make it profitable enough to be released, I can accept that. This is being release by TV Time Machine Productions, which I never heard of, but I would think they would be dedicated to release the complete series.

10-14-2010, 08:21 PM	#21
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,077	It's nice that the episodes have been found and they are being prepared for DVD. But I usually take short lived TV shows like this on DVD with a grain of salt. I enjoy Lost In Space, so I went ahead and made a blind buy of Irwin Allen's short lived one season show The Time Tunnel, figuring I would enjoy that as well. My god what a dull show, I watched two episodes and fell asleep during both of them. So since then I try to do a little more research before I buy DVD's of these old, short lived TV shows. These shows had short lives and haven't been seen in a long time for a reason, in many cases the reason is the shows just aren't very good. Buyer beware when it comes to series like this. There probably is some decent humor in I'm Dickens He's Fenster, but to what extent I'm not sure. From clips I have seen on you tube, to me the humor seems mostly silly rather than genuinely funny.

11-09-2011, 07:02 PM	#25
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Stern was certainly aware of this release, 'markway'... ...that's why he had the "original film elements" exhumed, and taped some commentary for the DVD box sets. But, as I've said, he didn't live long enough to see them finally released. A shame....

09-04-2015, 02:10 PM	#27
opus VB Forum Superstar Join Date: May 16, 2015 Location: VB Galaxy Posts: 32,275	This one seems to not have been posted about in a while. Memorable title, at the least.

05-16-2022, 11:59 AM	#28
SarahBellum Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,873	I vaguely remember seeing this show when I was very young, but I don't remember much about it. Too bad it was competing with other highly-rated shows. Maybe it would have lasted longer otherwise.

05-17-2022, 03:08 PM	#29
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,135	Hand me the saw. Here's another show I remember watching when I was just 4 or 5. It was about 2 carpenters, the "leader" was played by John (Gomez Addams) Astin and the other who was the bumbler was played by Marty Ingels. They'd show them at home with the wives and also on the job. I enjoyed it as a kid. Though the show didn't last long, forever more anytime I saw Marty Ingels in anything else I always thought of him in Dickens & Fenster (as I called it). A show I hadn't seen in decades till I saw some DVDs of it not too long ago. It was amusing but not as funny as I remember it as a kid. I must have been easily amused. Then again, I can say the same thing about Gilligan's Island, a show I thought really funny as a kid but now it just seems stupid.
	__________________ Haaazeelll!!

05-22-2022, 12:23 PM	#30
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,077	Back in 2011 when this series came to DVD, they should have released the whole series, not just half of it. Doubtful now after all this time that the remaining 16 episodes will see the light of day on DVD.