Ok, here it is: Official news on the dvd sets!

[B&W fan]

A couple more points:

1) The MTMS 1st Season set (which I bought) didn't sell very well, and FOX indicated that was the reason for no 2nd Season set. It might happen down the road, but it isn't slated for release yet, even though FOX initially thought the response would be great and set an early 2003 release for a 2nd set. Didn't happen, unfortunately.

2) The DVDS set is interesting in that, according to Doug, Mr. Brownstein is all about money and initially didn't believe a full boxed set would sell. So my question is this:

"Is Brownstein/Image fully committed to releasing all 5 seasons as David (from the Walnut Times) says will happen over the course of this year and next?"

What if Season 1 doesn't sell fantastically? Does that mean Brownstein/Image will hold off putting the other seasons out? I hope not, but it's certainly a possibility.

Now, here is where I really hoped Doug's "Ottoman" set would get off the ground. See, Doug was/is committed to getting the ENTIRE show on dvd. I don't think money is the focus as much with him as it is with Brownstein/Image. And that' why I'm bummed he didn't get his set going.

B&W "with Doug, we knew we'd get every episode; with Brownstein, we may only get one season" fan

[Lolac]

Originally posted by B&W fan
Now, here is where I really hoped Doug's "Ottoman" set would get off the ground. See, Doug was/is committed to getting the ENTIRE show on dvd. I don't think money is the focus as much with him as it is with Brownstein/Image. And that' why I'm bummed he didn't get his set going.

B&W "with Doug, we knew we'd get every episode; with Brownstein, we may only get one season" fan

Again, well said, B&W fan. Makes me think twice about wanting to purchase this set if Doug can let us know when he will be releasing his. I want all 158 episodes. I've, we've, been waiting years for this. Lolac

[B&W fan]

Kinda going back to what I mentioned before (but expanding on it a little).

I wouldn't be so quick to "ice" Doug out on this thing just yet. Remember, it wasn't Doug's idea to do the Time/Life thing (which was a horrible idea to begin with). Nor was it Doug's idea to let Image doing the disk manufacturing (another horrible choice). These decisions were made by Brownstein, and I can't believe he had the interest of us fans in mind when he made those choices.

Look, Doug may yet have a big part to play in this saga. As I said, what if Brownstein/Image aren't committed to getting the whole series out? What if they plan on testing the market by only releasing Season One and then, based on sales, decide the rest of the set isn't worth doing (ala the MTM 1st Season set)?

If that happens, Doug can and will be able to get Image to finish the entire run and offer us all the episodes. In fact, if it happened that way, we might get all 158 episodes quicker.

This is what I mean. Right now we know that Brownstein/Image has tentative plans to release the remaining four seasons over the course of 2004 (probably one set each quarter). But if they decide not to continue, and Doug takes over, we might get the whole shabang by March of next year. Reason is, Doug isn't gonna wait to give Image the go ahead on production. He'll get them to manufacture the whole set all at once. Right now, with Brownstein in charge, the pace may be intentionally being kept slow.

Remember, Doug has said on more than one occasion that he can't understand what's taking Image so long. Maybe Brownstein is behind that slow pace. Because to be honest, if Image has been working on this as long as we think, they should have been done long ago! Something is slowing up the pace?!!

Ok, that's enough. I just wanted to encourage everyone from burning bridges with Doug. I don't think it's fair to him, and we may yet need him to get this set finished!

B&W "this has been one long, wild ride" fan

[Lolac]

Originally posted by B&W fan
I just wanted to encourage everyone from burning bridges with Doug. I don't think it's fair to him, and we may yet need him to get this set finished!

B&W "this has been one long, wild ride" fan

Ah, B&WFan, our cool voice of reason, again making good sense. Ok, B&W, I'm willing to give Doug the benefit of the doubt on this because I know it has been an uphill battle for him, but don't you think he should be keeping us updated on what's going on? After all, aren't we the fan base he is trying to hold on to? If we don't know what is going on with his collection, what is to stop us from ordering the Brownstein set just to have something? I am willing to wait for Doug's set if I know I'm going to get all 158 episodes, but I need to know that that is really going to happen. I need to know that Doug is fighting for this and fighting for us. Doug Denoff, we need to hear from you. I have not pre-ordered yet, because I want to know I am going to be able to get all 158 episodes. Give us a reason not to jump ship, Doug! Lolac

[B&W fan]

Lolac,

You are 100% correct!!! I was going to post "the other side" of things later this afternoon and say exactly what you said (good job).

Doug most assuredly could have done a better job at keeping us, his target base, informed of all that has been happening. For instance, I realize we all are busy, but I feel that if he wants any of us to make a big money commitment to his project, he should be willing to answer emails.

Heck, even if he didn't have any more news, he could have responded to a couple of my emails with just a "Hello" and a "Thanks for the continued support - I'll keep you updated."

And his site needed to be, and still needs to be, updated with SOMETHING on a regular basis.

I certainly wasn't trying to imply that you, I, or anyone else should email him and say "reserve my ottoman set." He hasn't shown me enough to do that. I believe, like you Lolac, that this was a "desperation mode" move for Doug in the light of last week's revelation about the 1st Season Boxed Set coming out in September. But without cold, hard facts about what is going on, I'm not gonna tell Doug that I'll bypass the September release in favor of some distant, unverified set by him.

Again, great job Lolac. I think between all the posts in this thread, we've all been quite fair about the different possibilities and told both sides of things (both positive and negative about the "ottoman set").

B&W "Doug absolutely needs to tell us something (whether it be here or at his site via an update) if he doesn't want people to buy this upcoming release because he can match it with something better" fan

[Lolac]

Thank you, B&WFan! The ball is now in Doug Denoff's court. If he wants that Ottoman Collection to sell, he is going to have to sell it to us. Lolac

[Lolac]

I went back to The Dick Van Dyke Show web site and read more carefully what Doug had written there. This is dated May 4, 2003:

WMA offered us a settlement which is hardly worth discussing, (and not consistent with their offer of settlement 6 months ago) but without knowing all the facts of what's going on we can't evaluate it, so we're requested all the information on their dealings with Brownstein, Image Entertainment, Time-Life any any other involved parties.

Brownstein is still claiming publicly that his company s releasing the DVD's, which is not consistent with WMA's claim that the choice was between my original offer and that of Image Entertainment.

Please feel free to email me at doug@dickvandykeshow.com. I hope you will support my original goals and look forward to bringing you the product as originally intended"

So, Doug is still in the thick of all of this and still is trying to release the Ottoman Collection. Whew. This is tiresome but I hope it will be worth it in the end. Lolac,




P.S. I e-mailed Doug at that link and let him know that many of us are willing to hang in there with him if he'll just let us know what is going on.

[Lolac]

Here is the reply I received from Doug Denoff:

the ottoman collection will absolutely happen. It's in the Image Entertainment contracts with Brownstein. regardless of what brownstein pulls, we're going to make sure that this goes right. Dad and Carl already spoke. it may kill me, but i'm going to make this happen.

doug



I'm willing to wait. I want all 158 episodes. Lolac

[ddenoff]

Ruth Englehart at WMA brought Brownstein in to work on MY project (the whole 158 episodes). Brownstein solicited Image's bid for US (meaning my venture). Then he and wma cut a deal which excluded me from the piecemeal release, but provided that I would be able to purchase the Image discs at cost to make a full collection.

Brownstein didn't pay a dime for the rights. WMA gave him the right to step in my place (when he was supposed to be my partner) and that's why I'm suing. WMA ADMITS THAT THEY DID THIS! After all, the blurb on Larry King didn't say that Calvada or Image Entertainment is releasing the show - they said Brownstein was - yet the SOB didn't pay a nickel. Image paid Calvada for the rights and WMA put brownstein in the middle - probably with some inside deal back to WMA.

They claim the Image bid was a competing bid to my bid, yet Brownstein sent me, and WMA, an email telling us all that WE would be getting a bid from image. That's the nail in their coffin. If we were competing, why would he send me Image's bid?

And the reason I can't commit to a date is because all the manufacturing is being done by Image. They haven't even STARTED on seasons 2-5. And you're all right - they just may release season 1 and then pull the plug on the rest - just what you're all afraid of.

If you all want to buy season 1, and then buy anything else from me, I won't force you to buy season 1 again.

believe what you want, but I've been the only honorable one in this whole project.

doug.

[B&W fan]

Doug,

Thank you so much for that update! I can't speak for others, but little updates like this make me more than willing to stand by your venture and stick it to Brownstein!

I guess my one question to you would be this: Would you be willing to release the sets Season by Season as Image made them? Or do you plan on only waiting until all 158 are done to offer the set?

I have a suggestion. If you can get the disks as they are being manufactured, and make available to us Season by Season sets (like what Brownstein is attempting), I think most folks would buy from you. This way, there wouldn't be a big time gap between what Brownstein offers and what you will offer. Just a thought, and maybe you can't do it for legal reasons I'm unaware of.

FWIW, I'm still in your corner, and I believe if you keep us updated, the vast majority of folks will back you! We all may not be able to afford the deluxe "Ottoman" collection, but I believe most folks would buy season sets from your site!

Thanks again for clearing things up for us!

B&W "keeping my fingers crossed for this to work out for Doug" fan

[ddenoff]

speaking for myself and my father, i'm certainly grateful for the loyalty of this group.

i will see what I can do with your suggestions on Monday morning by contacting Image. I can't guarantee they'll be wise, but I CAN guarantee that they'll know what they're getting into.

have a good weekend all.

[ddenoff]

hope you all had a good weekend.

we're going to be selling the first season on our website at the same time it's released everywhere else. so you can buy at http://www.dickvandykeshow.com and remain loyal.

i suspect that the reason that image is not releasing all seasons all at once is one of money. as many of you have suspected, they may need the profits from season one to invest in producing the next one. of course you may be right that they may also be 'testing the waters' to gauge response.

when I speak with them i'll hopefully find out more.

it was my theory in very early discussions with WMA that releasing a hit like DVDS as a package all at once will get a MUCH better response than parcelling it out season by season. you get people when they are excited. the timing of the 40th anniversary (now past) and all the promo of Larry King, Gin Game, and the special events we were planning would create a momentum which would make buying all 158 episodes at once an exciting prospect.

you've all proven my theory.

doug

[B&W fan]

Great news, Doug! I'm with you on this one and hope that the news from Image is good.

B&W "btw, please continue to assure us that regardless of what Image says, you will get us all 158 - I need to keep hearing it" fan

[ddenoff]

right now, image is the only entity physically manufacturing the discs.

so our ability to sell seasons 2-5 is dependent presently on them. on the plus side, i must admit that with the exception of the Paul Brownstein logo at the end of each episode and his and his family's credits everywhere, the discs and the content are pretty good. at least using the Time-Life set as a barometer.

i was pleased (and suprised), that when watching Coast to Coast Big Mouth, for example, there is a link to the bonus feature which is a clip from the Emmy Awards show where Eva Gabor and Bob Crane (Hogan/Autofocus) present Bill Persky and Sam Denoff with their writing Emmys.

if I can somehow accelerate the manufacturing, I will certainly do so.

[Lolac]

Originally posted by ddenoff

when I speak with them i'll hopefully find out more.

it was my theory in very early discussions with WMA that releasing a hit like DVDS as a package all at once will get a MUCH better response than parcelling it out season by season. you get people when they are excited. the timing of the 40th anniversary (now past) and all the promo of Larry King, Gin Game, and the special events we were planning would create a momentum which would make buying all 158 episodes at once an exciting prospect.

you've all proven my theory.

doug

When do you meet with Image, Doug? And I agree with you about the timing of the release. I really, really want all 158 episodes!! I don't want to be stuck with an incomplete collection. Thanks for your updates and please keep us updated on any further progress!
Lolac