commentaries - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

algebra74 · 04-14-2004, 10:59 PM

Does anyone know why Mary Tyler Moore has not done any audio commentaries? Also, why has Rose Marie, Ann Morgan Guilbert, and Larry Mathews only done commentaries for the second season?

algebra74 · 04-19-2004, 04:30 PM

Is it really true that none of the cast is getting paid for these commentaries? I think that stinks. After all, Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner have done over 10 commentaries spread over the five sets: that's about 4.5 hours of time they are giving up, yet they are not getting paid a dime? Also, I am sure that some of the cast (i.e. Larry Matthews) had to travel a long distance to record these commentaries. I think that they could give them at least something for their time, or maybe a share in the profits.

Also, I have heard that actors/actresses are not getting paid a nickel for these sets. Not just the Dick Van DYke Show sets, but any Tv on DVD set. These people are not getting paid anything in royalties no matter how many copies it sells. I think that this system is simply messed up, especially since the actors/actresses give up their time to contribute to the bonus features. Not only are they not getting paid for the bonus features they do, but they are not getting paid royalties for these sets either. RIDICULOUS!

ScottD · 04-19-2004, 06:07 PM

I don't know anything about the TDVDS cast getting paid or not, but I know that a lot of stars won't participate in extras for a DVD release unless they are paid (and rightly so I think). I've read a lot recently about this issue with the cast of Seinfeld, and I think I've read an interview with Russell Johnson from Gilligan's Island where he talked about how the studio didn't want to pay any of the GI cast to participate in extras for that recent release, but that they may be involved in the next one.

Lolac · 04-19-2004, 09:18 PM

I think those who participated DID get paid. Some of the footage on the dvd sets are interviews done for a previous documentary, which is why Morey Amsterdam and Sheldon Leonard are on there. Dick Van Dyke is getting royalties from these dvds. Mary Tyler Moore is not because of the contract she signed 40 years ago. She was a little short-sighted in that area. That's my little bit of knowledge on this subject!

Lolac

algebra74 · 04-19-2004, 09:22 PM

Thank you Lolac for that piece of information. I still do not understand one thing: why is Dick Van Dyke getting paid royalties while Mary Tyler Moore is not? Were their contracts that they signed 40 years ago that much different? Also, wouldn't Mary Tyler Moore be getting paid something, although admittedly not very much, for her part in the 1994 Dick Van Dyke Show Remered special?

Lolac · 04-19-2004, 09:27 PM

I'm not sure what the terms of the contracts were, I just remember seeing an interview with Dick and Mary (I think it was on Jay Leno when they were promoting "The Gin Game" and Jay mentioned TDVDS dvds were coming out) and she mentioned that she wasn't getting paid because of her contract and he kidded her about it because he WAS getting paid. As far as the commentaries are concerned, I can't remember where I heard they got paid for doing it, but I do remember hearing it. Doug Denoff probably knows the answers to all of this. Doug, how about it? Can you enlighten us?

Lolac

jehobden · 04-20-2004, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lolac
I'm not sure what the terms of the contracts were, I just remember seeing an interview with Dick and Mary (I think it was on Jay Leno when they were promoting "The Gin Game" and Jay mentioned TDVDS dvds were coming out) and she mentioned that she wasn't getting paid because of her contract and he kidded her about it because he WAS getting paid. As far as the commentaries are concerned, I can't remember where I heard they got paid for doing it, but I do remember hearing it. Doug Denoff probably knows the answers to all of this. Doug, how about it? Can you enlighten us?
Lolac

I think I mentioned this on another thread, but I'm not sure. Dick shares in the DVD profits as a partner in Calvada (w/ Carl Reiner, Sheldon Leonard, and Danny Thomas), which still owns the show, while the other cast members got the standard contracts of the time, which paid maybe for the first six reruns and that was it. The Official DVD Show Book mentioned that Danny Thomas offered MTM a small ownership % going into the show's last year, but she turned it down for a higher up-front salary. Considering how much she could have made even w/ a small %, she probably took the worse deal. I'm sure she had ownership in her own show as the part-owner of MTM Enterprises, but she may have sold that all off to Fox now, since I've heard that Fox now owns MTM Enterprises properties.
I would guess, or at least hope, that anyone who works on the commentaries gets paid for time spent, as well as travel expenses if necessary. I'd want at least that much myself in that position.

algebra74 · 04-20-2004, 06:49 PM

Quote:

I think I mentioned this on another thread, but I'm not sure. Dick shares in the DVD profits as a partner in Calvada (w/ Carl Reiner, Sheldon Leonard, and Danny Thomas), which still owns the show, while the other cast members got the standard contracts of the time, which paid maybe for the first six reruns and that was it. The Official DVD Show Book mentioned that Danny Thomas offered MTM a small ownership % going into the show's last year, but she turned it down for a higher up-front salary. Considering how much she could have made even w/ a small %, she probably took the worse deal. I'm sure she had ownership in her own show as the part-owner of MTM Enterprises, but she may have sold that all off to Fox now, since I've heard that Fox now owns MTM Enterprises properties.

Thank you very much for the information. If anyone else has gotten their email from TvShowsonDVD.com today, I am disappointed to say that it says nothing about Rose Marie, Larry Matthews or Ann Morgan Guilbert commentaries. It looks as though two are all we are going to get.

SawgrassSteve · 04-20-2004, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jehobden
...I'm sure she had ownership in her own show as the part-owner of MTM Enterprises, but she may have sold that all off to Fox now, since I've heard that Fox now owns MTM Enterprises properties.

Good answer, Jehobden.
At least to my knowledge. Mary was indeed offered part ownership of TDVDS in place of a bigger contract, but chose the bigger contract (more money).
And it would make perfect since for her to sell her own show. She has no children or siblings, her husband is independantly wealthy, and she's four years away from 70. Who needs the Hollywood hassle? A simple life is a happier one.

Steve

04-14-2004, 10:59 PM	#1
algebra74 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2004 Posts: 337	commentaries Does anyone know why Mary Tyler Moore has not done any audio commentaries? Also, why has Rose Marie, Ann Morgan Guilbert, and Larry Mathews only done commentaries for the second season?

04-19-2004, 04:30 PM	#2
algebra74 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2004 Posts: 337	Is it really true that none of the cast is getting paid for these commentaries? I think that stinks. After all, Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner have done over 10 commentaries spread over the five sets: that's about 4.5 hours of time they are giving up, yet they are not getting paid a dime? Also, I am sure that some of the cast (i.e. Larry Matthews) had to travel a long distance to record these commentaries. I think that they could give them at least something for their time, or maybe a share in the profits. Also, I have heard that actors/actresses are not getting paid a nickel for these sets. Not just the Dick Van DYke Show sets, but any Tv on DVD set. These people are not getting paid anything in royalties no matter how many copies it sells. I think that this system is simply messed up, especially since the actors/actresses give up their time to contribute to the bonus features. Not only are they not getting paid for the bonus features they do, but they are not getting paid royalties for these sets either. RIDICULOUS!

04-19-2004, 06:07 PM	#3
ScottD Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2003 Location: the Upper Peninsula of Michigan Posts: 71	I don't know anything about the TDVDS cast getting paid or not, but I know that a lot of stars won't participate in extras for a DVD release unless they are paid (and rightly so I think). I've read a lot recently about this issue with the cast of Seinfeld, and I think I've read an interview with Russell Johnson from Gilligan's Island where he talked about how the studio didn't want to pay any of the GI cast to participate in extras for that recent release, but that they may be involved in the next one.

04-19-2004, 09:18 PM	#4
Lolac Dolce far niente, Carissima! Senior Member Join Date: Jan 02, 2003 Location: Fairfax Station, VA Posts: 1,487	I think those who participated DID get paid. Some of the footage on the dvd sets are interviews done for a previous documentary, which is why Morey Amsterdam and Sheldon Leonard are on there. Dick Van Dyke is getting royalties from these dvds. Mary Tyler Moore is not because of the contract she signed 40 years ago. She was a little short-sighted in that area. That's my little bit of knowledge on this subject! Lolac

04-19-2004, 09:22 PM	#5
algebra74 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2004 Posts: 337	Thank you Lolac for that piece of information. I still do not understand one thing: why is Dick Van Dyke getting paid royalties while Mary Tyler Moore is not? Were their contracts that they signed 40 years ago that much different? Also, wouldn't Mary Tyler Moore be getting paid something, although admittedly not very much, for her part in the 1994 Dick Van Dyke Show Remered special?

04-19-2004, 09:27 PM	#6
Lolac Dolce far niente, Carissima! Senior Member Join Date: Jan 02, 2003 Location: Fairfax Station, VA Posts: 1,487	I'm not sure what the terms of the contracts were, I just remember seeing an interview with Dick and Mary (I think it was on Jay Leno when they were promoting "The Gin Game" and Jay mentioned TDVDS dvds were coming out) and she mentioned that she wasn't getting paid because of her contract and he kidded her about it because he WAS getting paid. As far as the commentaries are concerned, I can't remember where I heard they got paid for doing it, but I do remember hearing it. Doug Denoff probably knows the answers to all of this. Doug, how about it? Can you enlighten us? Lolac