THE WILD WILD WEST unaired pilot - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Fandor · 03-07-2006, 07:19 PM

Hi, folks. I would swear that back in the very early 1990s, CBS/Fox Home Video commercially released a tape of THE WILD WILD WEST which contained a substantially extended version of the pilot (about 10 to 12 extra minutes). It may have even had the show's original title credit sequence, billing it simply as THE WILD WEST (but I don't remember for sure). Anyway, I can't find a copy of this tape anywhere, or even a reference to its release. Does anybody have any info on it, or even better, a copy? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! - Curt

cooltvshows · 03-07-2006, 09:14 PM

As a huge fan of The Wild, Wild West it would certainly be incredible to get an unaired pilot 60 minutes in length if such a thing exists. It's not unreasonable that the original pilot might have run 60 minutes, since the aired version ran 50 minutes but pilots made during that period in the mid-60s often ran a full 60 minutes and got cut down for broadcast. For instance, the color pilot for Voyage To the Bottom of the Sea ran a full 60 minutes and so did the pilot The Cage for the original Star Trek.

On the other hand, I've never heard of an unaired pilot for The Wild, Wild West though I have heard of the unaired Invaders pilot (1966) plus the others mentioned above. Moreover, the complete first season of The Wild, Wild West is slated for release on DVD in June 2006, only 7 weeks from now. You can pre-order it on Amazon.com!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...v=glance&n=130

If an extended-length unaired pilot for The Wild, Wild West existed, wouldn't they release it with the complete first season on DVD to add value and encourage folks to buy the box set? However, the Voyage To the Bottom of the Sea DVD box set does not include the original unaired pilot (Werner Klemperer didn't appear in the original VTTBOTS pilot and a few scenes were different, along with some of the music), so who knows?

Trivia note: did you know that actor Michael Dunn (Miguelito Loveless) was a child prodigy with an I.Q. of 178 and that he became a concert pianist at age 15 before turning to acting because his congenital illness (chondrodystrophy) iinjured his elbows?
http://www.what-a-character.com/cgi-...y.cgi?id=DunnM

Fandor · 03-08-2006, 12:40 AM

Actually, I'm certain that the extended-length unaired pilot DOES exist because I saw it on several private collectors' trade lists back in the late '80s (most particularly that of a fellow in MA named Stephen Russo). However, I skipped picking it up because no one had a Good+ or better quality copy of it. My big question is whether or not CBS/Fox really released it commercially on video in the early '90s. I swear I saw it at a Blockbuster Video here in town years ago, but by the time I eventually went back for it they had deleted it from their collection. Figured I'd be able to find it on eBay, Half.com, or some such, but now I can't even find a reference to the release. It would be extremely cool if the extended pilot is included in the impending Season One DVD release, but as yet I've heard nothing to suggest that it is one of the features of the set. If anyone else can shed more light on this, please chime in here.

Fandor · 03-08-2006, 12:37 PM

In doing a little internet research, I located an address for the collector/dealer who used to have the extended WWW unaired pilot on his list. Since it's an address he published in multiple magazines like FILMFAX and BIG REEL, I don't have any qualms about posting it here (assuming it's still valid). It is: Stephen M. Russo, P.O. Box 150, Revere Branch, Boston, MA 02151-0001. Can't find an email address on him so far, so I'll probably try dropping him a line snail mail to see if anything comes of it. Of course, this still doesn't confirm whether or not the show was ever released to cassette commercially, but at least it's a shot at some print of the show at all.

Lamont · 03-09-2006, 08:38 PM

does not operate online
BUT he is a reputable dealer
ive dealt with him a few times over the last 2 years or so
he is fast and honest

some may not like his prices, but he has some rare stuff that many others done

03-07-2006, 07:19 PM	#1
Fandor Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 09, 2006 Posts: 43	THE WILD WILD WEST unaired pilot Hi, folks. I would swear that back in the very early 1990s, CBS/Fox Home Video commercially released a tape of THE WILD WILD WEST which contained a substantially extended version of the pilot (about 10 to 12 extra minutes). It may have even had the show's original title credit sequence, billing it simply as THE WILD WEST (but I don't remember for sure). Anyway, I can't find a copy of this tape anywhere, or even a reference to its release. Does anybody have any info on it, or even better, a copy? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! - Curt

03-07-2006, 09:14 PM	#2
cooltvshows Banned Banned!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 41	Electrifying news if accurate As a huge fan of The Wild, Wild West it would certainly be incredible to get an unaired pilot 60 minutes in length if such a thing exists. It's not unreasonable that the original pilot might have run 60 minutes, since the aired version ran 50 minutes but pilots made during that period in the mid-60s often ran a full 60 minutes and got cut down for broadcast. For instance, the color pilot for Voyage To the Bottom of the Sea ran a full 60 minutes and so did the pilot The Cage for the original Star Trek. On the other hand, I've never heard of an unaired pilot for The Wild, Wild West though I have heard of the unaired Invaders pilot (1966) plus the others mentioned above. Moreover, the complete first season of The Wild, Wild West is slated for release on DVD in June 2006, only 7 weeks from now. You can pre-order it on Amazon.com! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...v=glance&n=130 If an extended-length unaired pilot for The Wild, Wild West existed, wouldn't they release it with the complete first season on DVD to add value and encourage folks to buy the box set? However, the Voyage To the Bottom of the Sea DVD box set does not include the original unaired pilot (Werner Klemperer didn't appear in the original VTTBOTS pilot and a few scenes were different, along with some of the music), so who knows? Trivia note: did you know that actor Michael Dunn (Miguelito Loveless) was a child prodigy with an I.Q. of 178 and that he became a concert pianist at age 15 before turning to acting because his congenital illness (chondrodystrophy) iinjured his elbows? http://www.what-a-character.com/cgi-...y.cgi?id=DunnM

03-08-2006, 12:40 AM	#3
Fandor Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 09, 2006 Posts: 43	extended WWW pilot Actually, I'm certain that the extended-length unaired pilot DOES exist because I saw it on several private collectors' trade lists back in the late '80s (most particularly that of a fellow in MA named Stephen Russo). However, I skipped picking it up because no one had a Good+ or better quality copy of it. My big question is whether or not CBS/Fox really released it commercially on video in the early '90s. I swear I saw it at a Blockbuster Video here in town years ago, but by the time I eventually went back for it they had deleted it from their collection. Figured I'd be able to find it on eBay, Half.com, or some such, but now I can't even find a reference to the release. It would be extremely cool if the extended pilot is included in the impending Season One DVD release, but as yet I've heard nothing to suggest that it is one of the features of the set. If anyone else can shed more light on this, please chime in here.

03-08-2006, 12:37 PM	#4
Fandor Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 09, 2006 Posts: 43	possible source In doing a little internet research, I located an address for the collector/dealer who used to have the extended WWW unaired pilot on his list. Since it's an address he published in multiple magazines like FILMFAX and BIG REEL, I don't have any qualms about posting it here (assuming it's still valid). It is: Stephen M. Russo, P.O. Box 150, Revere Branch, Boston, MA 02151-0001. Can't find an email address on him so far, so I'll probably try dropping him a line snail mail to see if anything comes of it. Of course, this still doesn't confirm whether or not the show was ever released to cassette commercially, but at least it's a shot at some print of the show at all.

03-09-2006, 08:38 PM	#5
Lamont Lamont says Smile! Forum Veteran Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Deep in the Heart of Nowhere Posts: 5,217	RUSSO does not operate online BUT he is a reputable dealer ive dealt with him a few times over the last 2 years or so he is fast and honest some may not like his prices, but he has some rare stuff that many others done
	__________________ I have not been trading for some time now, so please do not ask---- sorry, i cannot help you!