Has Season 6 to 8 ever been in syndication? - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Crusinforabrusin · 01-02-2016, 10:58 PM

I'm pretty sure seasons 6-8 HAVE NOT been in syndication. I think the issue has to do with syndication rights. It's the same issue with My Three Sons

tlc38tlc38 · 02-07-2016, 12:14 AM

I've always wondered about these seasons. I've never been able to find them on trading sites. Hopefully one day they'll get a DVD release.

tlc38tlc38 · 02-11-2016, 06:24 PM

Come on Sony---give MPI the rights to 6, 7, & 8!!! What good is it for Sony to hold these and not do anything with them. Maybe Sony and MPI are in talks.

Tom Munster · 02-26-2016, 12:18 AM

Why doesn't Sony turn over the rights for seasons 6,7, and 8 to MPI? Has anyone heard an official reason? You would think Sony would be happy to give it to MPI and let them make some money for Sony. MPI has done a great job on seasons 1 thru 5. As mentioned before, hopefully Sony and MPI are discussing things.

Sal · 09-02-2016, 07:43 PM

Today, I found a few episodes from the final season on YouTube that were taped off TV Land. If I find any more, I'll post them here. With YouTube, you have no idea how long they will be up there so enjoy them while you can:

7x1 - Operation Anniversary

7x2 - Dad Drops By

8x22 - The Return Of Mark

8x23 - Is There A Small Hotel

8x24 - No More Parties, Almost

8x25 - So You Really Think You're Young at Heart

8x26 - Byline Jeffrey Stone (Series finale with guest star Lesley Gore)

stevea · 10-16-2016, 08:47 AM

Check out the series finale: they misspell Lesley Gore's name in the closing credits.

pianoman1987 · 11-28-2016, 07:49 PM

They probably wanted more money then MPI was willing to pay, that was what happened with Fox and Shout over Rhoda. Shout! released all but the last season, when they tried to pick up the last year Fox jacked the price. Shout wasn't willing to pay so it never was released.

Katinah123 · 02-16-2017, 12:36 AM

I much preferred Donna's look from the 50s and early 60s episodes, when her hair was darker and more natural. By the end of the show, her hair was lighter and sprayed into an unnatural-looking helmet!

tlc38tlc38 · 05-07-2017, 05:34 PM

Do 6-8 still even exist?

pianoman1987 · 05-07-2017, 06:44 PM

They do, Sony is sitting on them and won't license them or release them. One of their lovely ploys to get more money for them.

tlc38tlc38 · 05-07-2017, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pianoman1987

They do, Sony is sitting on them and won't license them or release them. One of their lovely ploys to get more money for them.

TDRS isn't exactly a cash cow. You'd think they'd be willing to get what they could for the remaining seasons.

pianoman1987 · 05-07-2017, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

TDRS isn't exactly a cash cow. You'd think they'd be willing to get what they could for the remaining seasons.

Trust me, once they break MPI who has done beautiful releases of seasons 1-5. Will see them released.

pianoman1987 · 05-07-2017, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlc38tlc38

TDRS isn't exactly a cash cow. You'd think they'd be willing to get what they could for the remaining seasons.

I just wish Donna Reed and her husband's ingenious contract, would have let them regain ownership to the final seasons as well. I guess they couldn't swing it. But the fact that the family owns seasons 1-5 is incredible.

stevea · 05-07-2017, 09:37 PM

Something must have changed several years ago--Sony used to control more than just seasons 6 thru 8...they also had at least 1 thru 3 as well.

TV Guy · 05-21-2017, 12:59 PM

Sony (the corporate successor to Screen Gems) once had the rights to distribute the whole series. During that time, they distributed seasons 1,2,3,5, and 8 in syndication. However, Donna Reed's original five-year contract called for the rights to revert to her after a certain period of time (I believe 40 years). Notice that the fine print under "The Donna Reed Show" title in the opening credits lists the copyright belonging to "Todon Productions", Donna's production company.

When Donna renewed her contract for season 6, the deal changed. Now, the copyright is credited to "Screen Gems" productions. Todon was still listed in the closing credits, but some percentage of ownership changed. My guess is that Donna gave up some equity in return for a higher salary and/or not having to pay for as much of the production costs. And part of that new deal must have been that the rights to those episodes did not revert back to her.

So as a result, the show is owned by two separate entities. Donna's estate now distributes all of seasons 1-5. Sony won't distribute 6-8 or release it on DVD. Antenna TV tried to get seasons 6-8 and were unable to.

02-07-2016, 12:14 AM	#17
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,252	I've always wondered about these seasons. I've never been able to find them on trading sites. Hopefully one day they'll get a DVD release.
	__________________ 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.

09-02-2016, 07:43 PM	#20
Sal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 20, 2001 Location: Oakville, Ont. Canada Posts: 6,150	Today, I found a few episodes from the final season on YouTube that were taped off TV Land. If I find any more, I'll post them here. With YouTube, you have no idea how long they will be up there so enjoy them while you can: 7x1 - Operation Anniversary 7x2 - Dad Drops By 8x22 - The Return Of Mark 8x23 - Is There A Small Hotel 8x24 - No More Parties, Almost 8x25 - So You Really Think You're Young at Heart 8x26 - Byline Jeffrey Stone (Series finale with guest star Lesley Gore)
	__________________ LIVE TV - Updated By Request - April 2026 ANTENNA TV ME TV ME TV TOONS Zerostream - LIVE TV Guide

01-02-2016, 10:58 PM	#16
Crusinforabrusin It's time to move on, Goodbye Senior Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2015 Posts: 2,056	I'm pretty sure seasons 6-8 HAVE NOT been in syndication. I think the issue has to do with syndication rights. It's the same issue with My Three Sons

02-11-2016, 06:24 PM	#18
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,252	Come on Sony---give MPI the rights to 6, 7, & 8!!! What good is it for Sony to hold these and not do anything with them. Maybe Sony and MPI are in talks.

02-26-2016, 12:18 AM	#19
Tom Munster Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: Payson, Arizona, USA Posts: 28	Why doesn't Sony turn over the rights for seasons 6,7, and 8 to MPI? Has anyone heard an official reason? You would think Sony would be happy to give it to MPI and let them make some money for Sony. MPI has done a great job on seasons 1 thru 5. As mentioned before, hopefully Sony and MPI are discussing things.

10-16-2016, 08:47 AM	#21
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,180	Check out the series finale: they misspell Lesley Gore's name in the closing credits.

11-28-2016, 07:49 PM	#22
pianoman1987 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 12, 2013 Location: American Fork, UT Posts: 66	They probably wanted more money then MPI was willing to pay, that was what happened with Fox and Shout over Rhoda. Shout! released all but the last season, when they tried to pick up the last year Fox jacked the price. Shout wasn't willing to pay so it never was released.

02-16-2017, 12:36 AM	#23
Katinah123 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 03, 2017 Posts: 47	I much preferred Donna's look from the 50s and early 60s episodes, when her hair was darker and more natural. By the end of the show, her hair was lighter and sprayed into an unnatural-looking helmet!

05-07-2017, 05:34 PM	#24
tlc38tlc38 Every day’s a Dolly day! Forum Star Join Date: May 02, 2008 Location: I’m just travelin’ thru Posts: 19,252	Do 6-8 still even exist?

05-07-2017, 06:44 PM	#25
pianoman1987 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 12, 2013 Location: American Fork, UT Posts: 66	They do, Sony is sitting on them and won't license them or release them. One of their lovely ploys to get more money for them.

05-07-2017, 09:37 PM	#29
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,180	Something must have changed several years ago--Sony used to control more than just seasons 6 thru 8...they also had at least 1 thru 3 as well.

05-21-2017, 12:59 PM	#30
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Sony (the corporate successor to Screen Gems) once had the rights to distribute the whole series. During that time, they distributed seasons 1,2,3,5, and 8 in syndication. However, Donna Reed's original five-year contract called for the rights to revert to her after a certain period of time (I believe 40 years). Notice that the fine print under "The Donna Reed Show" title in the opening credits lists the copyright belonging to "Todon Productions", Donna's production company. When Donna renewed her contract for season 6, the deal changed. Now, the copyright is credited to "Screen Gems" productions. Todon was still listed in the closing credits, but some percentage of ownership changed. My guess is that Donna gave up some equity in return for a higher salary and/or not having to pay for as much of the production costs. And part of that new deal must have been that the rights to those episodes did not revert back to her. So as a result, the show is owned by two separate entities. Donna's estate now distributes all of seasons 1-5. Sony won't distribute 6-8 or release it on DVD. Antenna TV tried to get seasons 6-8 and were unable to.