Happy Days - The Second Season DVD Review

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by anglemark10

From what I understand, the reason why the songs are heard on television and not on the DVD set is because their use for TV has already been secured. I would guess that they already made deals with the publishers either when they first aired the shows or shortly thereafter so that any future airings would be covered. Nobody envisioned home video releases for these shows back in 1974, so, now, each time they want to release the series on DVD, new rights have to be negotiated.

We may as well tape or DVDR all the episodes off TV!!

[robyrob]

i honestly think that the studios producing dvd's from old tv shows should be trying to negotiate the licensing of songs by percentage points instead of a lump sum; that way the more copies they sell the more money the artists (actually just whichever company holds the rights I guess) AND the big companies make...

I mean the better set they make, the more sets they are going to sell, right?

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by anglemark10

From what I understand, the reason why the songs are heard on television and not on the DVD set is because their use for TV has already been secured. I would guess that they already made deals with the publishers either when they first aired the shows or shortly thereafter so that any future airings would be covered. Nobody envisioned home video releases for these shows back in 1974, so, now, each time they want to release the series on DVD, new rights have to be negotiated.

This is right on the mark. Hell, back in the '50s, Jackie Gleason figured no one would care about The Honeymooners after its initial airing, so he sold the rights to the shows for about $1 million. A lot of money in the '50s, sure, but he could have made hundreds of times that licensing those shows to syndicators. Of course, when he discovered the "lost" episodes in the eighties, he made some good money off those.

But getting back on topic, from the sounds of everything I've read, this sounds like a set to avoid. If you're not going to do something right, don't do it at all. Or at least clean up the video and picture quality to some acceptable level. There's no excuse to pay full price for a set like this and not have the optimal picture quality.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

This is right on the mark. Hell, back in the '50s, Jackie Gleason figured no one would care about The Honeymooners after its initial airing, so he sold the rights to the shows for about $1 million. A lot of money in the '50s, sure, but he could have made hundreds of times that licensing those shows to syndicators. Of course, when he discovered the "lost" episodes in the eighties, he made some good money off those.

But getting back on topic, from the sounds of everything I've read, this sounds like a set to avoid. If you're not going to do something right, don't do it at all. Or at least clean up the video and picture quality to some acceptable level. There's no excuse to pay full price for a set like this and not have the optimal picture quality.

And these companies wonder why bootlegging is so popular??? Enough said.

[anglemark10]

Okay, I finished the rest of the episodes. Here are a few more notes:

"Cruisin'"
"Ricochet" has been replaced.

"The Howdy Doody Show"
"It's Howdy Doody Time," sung by The Howdy Doody Show studio audience, has been completely removed.

"Fonzie Joins the Band"
"My Prayer" is heard on the DVD. It's the song where Fonzie has his bongo solo. "Perfidia" has been replaced.

"Fish and the Fins"
"Ricochet" has been replaced.

"Richie's Flip Side"
All dialogue spoken on the air by Charlie the Prince and Richie identifying specific songs has been cut.

In summary, only one actual song ("Blueberry Hill" in "Fonzie's Getting Married"), not counting Christmas carols and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" in "Goin' to Chicago," was not replaced. Only five other songs were not replaced, and these were songs played by either the guys' band ("Splish Splash" twice and "My Prayer" once) or by the Fish and the Fins ("Young Blood" twice).

[Pavan]

So pathetic. And the Blueberry Hill song was very brief. They replaced everything basically, except some of the songs they sung.

[catlover79]

BOO HISS to Paramount Pictures.

[anglemark10]

Oh yeah, my complaint letter is going out tomorrow. Here's the address if anyone else wants to send one:

PARAMOUNT STUDIOS
HOME ENTERTAINMENT
5555 MELROSE AVE
LOS ANGELES CA 90038-3112

[gilligan fanatic]

I picked mine up Tuesday.

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, at least the episodes aren't the syndicated versions. I would still much rather have all the music, but it is better than nothing.

[TV DVD Fan]

Originally Posted by catlover79

I think so...I'd have to listen to the replacements. Isn't it weird that the local TV stations have all the songs intact in their Happy Days syndication deals??

I dread the next season -- are they going to cut out Potsie (aka Dren) singing "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" to Joanie?? OK, I'll stop now...promise.

... That's if we even get season three. It's still doing well on Amazon (#132) but if too many complaints are given to PHE, they'll just give up (they've been giving up alot lately for no particular reason (ie "Cheers")).

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by catlover79

BOO HISS to Paramount Pictures.

Put the blame on CBS, too.

[dave insinga]

it really did take away from the episodes however though not as cyrstal clear as season one.i don't think the video quality is that bad there are some white marks here and there but i don't think they are that bad.im really happy to see the parts that have been edited out of the television versions for years but the music thing really hurts.its just a shame that this happens in this day and age .i am happy to see the second season and im hoping for more but cbs/paramount should be ashamed of themselves they really to something away from a classic series about a classic time period.maybe the should really think it out about the next releases and how they can fix what they broke.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by catlover79

And these companies wonder why bootlegging is so popular??? Enough said.

It would seem the only way to get a true season two set would be to go that route. Of course, to have that, the DVDs would have to be sourced from tapes of the original broadcasts in 1974-75 and the problem with that is VCRs weren't out at that point.

It's too bad that the copyright holders of the music are holding out for such exhorbitant fees. A product like this benefits them. By lowering their licensing fees, they could make money on these old songs.

It's true that no one could have forseen the home video boom and the need for such music clearances for this format, but again, if Paramount/CBS is going to do something like this, DO IT RIGHT!!

[wayne]

To me it was more important to get the episodes from the shows that were unedited. There are many scenes especially at the end which I have not seen since the series started. Its a bit disappointing that they couldn't keep the music the way it was. I noticed a blooper in I think it was "Who's Sorry Now." The gang looks like its dancing to a rock and roll song but a balad is heard. I don't understand why the network couldn't have put in other 50's songs which would have fit just as well as the original numbers.

[wayne]

I got a scratch on one of the cd's I just now noticed. It was on the episode called "Ritchie's flip side" and I can't finish "Kiss me sickley." Anyone else have that problem?