Time Life Releases Seasons 1-5 on DVD - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Kasey · 05-15-2022, 10:20 AM

https://timelife.com/products/the-donna-reed-show

This is an odd re-release. It has the same content as the MPI discs that came out years ago. Too bad they did not get the rights to Seasons 6, 7 and 8 so this could be a Complete Series set.

stevea · 05-20-2022, 04:40 PM

Yes, really! A re- re-release for some of those seasons, the original seasons 1 and 2 were by (I think) Virgil Films.

But evidently no one can negotiate seasons 6 thru 8 on DVD. It's been mentioned many times but there seems to be some problem with the use of the episodes Bob Crane was in--not the few bit part episodes in season 5, but evidently after he was under contract.

One sign it's a problem is that Sony contracted season 8 to MeTV a few years back (and probably Decades now)--and the one episode Crane was in, was held back and not shown.

Crane was top-billed in season 7 and I don't think that season has ever been available for syndication.

1960'sTVfan · 05-22-2022, 12:08 PM

It's fine seeing Bob Crane in Hogan's Heroes, but with The Donna Reed Show it's somehow a problem, sounds very strange to me.

I'm not really a big fan of The Donna Reed Show, but if the complete series was made available on DVD, all 8 seasons, I might decide to go for it. I'm a completist/all or nothing type of person so I don't want to have just seasons 1-5 and then left hanging for seasons 6-8, that doesn't work with me.

GentlemanJim · 05-22-2022, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1960'sTVfan

It's fine seeing Bob Crane in Hogan's Heroes, but with The Donna Reed Show it's somehow a problem, sounds very strange to me.

.

Maybe the Donna Reed franchise would rather not risk being associated with the tainted legacy of Bob Crane....while with Hogan's Heroes they really aren't selling a "family values" type show?

1960'sTVfan · 05-22-2022, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

Maybe the Donna Reed franchise would rather not risk being associated with the tainted legacy of Bob Crane....while with Hogan's Heroes they really aren't selling a "family values" type show?

I imagine this could be possible.

Hogan's Heroes has been popular in syndication, when I lived in Chicago in the 1970's I remember WGN TV ran the episodes, now the MeTV network is running the episodes. It's not really my type of show either, I usually don't like military themed sitcoms although I enjoy Gomer Pyle USMC, Jim Nabors and Frank Sutton are funny in that show.

merlinjones · 06-09-2022, 02:24 PM

So these Time/Life eps are not remastered upgrades from MPI (which looked nice)? I would buy again if so.

An audio upgrade for Johnny Angel, Big Star, She Can't Find Her Keys, and My Dad would be nice

Duster76 · 06-16-2022, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GentlemanJim

Maybe the Donna Reed franchise would rather not risk being associated with the tainted legacy of Bob Crane....while with Hogan's Heroes they really aren't selling a "family values" type show?

I don't think Bob Crane's "tainted legacy" is a factor. It could be argued that Hogan's Heroes is the second most popular series of the 1960's based on its extraordinary history as a perennial rerun favorite. If his legacy had been tarnished by the information that has come out about his unorthodox lifestyle it would have damaged the popularity of Hogan which seems to have actually grown in popularity over the years.

Duster76 · 06-16-2022, 11:06 PM

The problems surrounding the season 6-8 episodes is a very interesting chapter of TV history to say the least. Is it possible that Owen and Reed developed the Dr. Kelsey character for Crane with the eventual plan being a spinoff series. They may have retained rights to the character that must be satisfied before Sony can release the episodes that Crane participated in. The only way to get this business settled is a solid enough sell-through of the Time Life release to interest the various rights holders to negotiate a deal.

GentlemanJim · 06-17-2022, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duster76

I don't think Bob Crane's "tainted legacy" is a factor. It could be argued that Hogan's Heroes is the second most popular series of the 1960's based on its extraordinary history as a perennial rerun favorite. If his legacy had been tarnished by the information that has come out about his unorthodox lifestyle it would have damaged the popularity of Hogan which seems to have actually grown in popularity over the years.

I think you may be overlooking there is a substantial difference in the themes of the respective shows? Donna Reed has a "Beau values" aspect that Hogans Heroes does not.

In fact with HH, considering the clandestine tunnels, surreptitious plots, and overall deception, giving the main protagonist an air of hazard might even be an asset, whereas on Donna Reed they have more to lose.

05-15-2022, 10:20 AM	#1
Kasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,143	Time Life Releases Seasons 1-5 on DVD https://timelife.com/products/the-donna-reed-show This is an odd re-release. It has the same content as the MPI discs that came out years ago. Too bad they did not get the rights to Seasons 6, 7 and 8 so this could be a Complete Series set.

05-20-2022, 04:40 PM	#2
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,164	Yes, really! A re- re-release for some of those seasons, the original seasons 1 and 2 were by (I think) Virgil Films. But evidently no one can negotiate seasons 6 thru 8 on DVD. It's been mentioned many times but there seems to be some problem with the use of the episodes Bob Crane was in--not the few bit part episodes in season 5, but evidently after he was under contract. One sign it's a problem is that Sony contracted season 8 to MeTV a few years back (and probably Decades now)--and the one episode Crane was in, was held back and not shown. Crane was top-billed in season 7 and I don't think that season has ever been available for syndication.

05-22-2022, 12:08 PM	#3
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,045	It's fine seeing Bob Crane in Hogan's Heroes, but with The Donna Reed Show it's somehow a problem, sounds very strange to me. I'm not really a big fan of The Donna Reed Show, but if the complete series was made available on DVD, all 8 seasons, I might decide to go for it. I'm a completist/all or nothing type of person so I don't want to have just seasons 1-5 and then left hanging for seasons 6-8, that doesn't work with me.

06-09-2022, 02:24 PM	#6
merlinjones Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 30, 2019 Location: los ángeles Posts: 931	So these Time/Life eps are not remastered upgrades from MPI (which looked nice)? I would buy again if so. An audio upgrade for Johnny Angel, Big Star, She Can't Find Her Keys, and My Dad would be nice

06-16-2022, 11:06 PM	#8
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	The problems surrounding the season 6-8 episodes is a very interesting chapter of TV history to say the least. Is it possible that Owen and Reed developed the Dr. Kelsey character for Crane with the eventual plan being a spinoff series. They may have retained rights to the character that must be satisfied before Sony can release the episodes that Crane participated in. The only way to get this business settled is a solid enough sell-through of the Time Life release to interest the various rights holders to negotiate a deal.