Am I the only one still buying WKRP Season One? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TV DVD Fan · 04-05-2007, 05:59 PM

I don't get it... many people were pushing for Fox to finally do something about releasing WKRP on DVD, and now that that struggle has become a reality, people are ganging up on Fox for the syndicated episodes. They originally were NOT going to release this show as you probably all know, and the issue seemed CLOSED. I thought, oh well, there's always YouTube. There was never a glimmer of hope, until a light started to shine at the end of the tunnel... out of the blue Fox surrendered to our pleas and decided to release the long-awaited hit sitcom in the digital format. I knew from the start that something would go awry with the music rights, but I still said to myself that having all of the non-music related material finally on DVD was a victory in its own. So, we may've only won 1/2 the battle, but it's better than having lost it all together. Fox likely thought people wouldn't notice this music-cutting issue this early and were counting on the mega-hit sitcom to do even better on DVD. They realized that this was what the fans wanted... "So let's give them what they want... but the music rights, uh... we'll hold off on that little minor issue for a little bit." Well it turned into a DVD "travesty," and fans were quickly turning their parties into funerals... cancelling their orders... and just thinking of how they were longing to finally see WKRP on DVD.

Well, as I said I knew that music rights were not going to be an easy issue to pass by when it came time to transfer the episodes to disc. I knew it from the start, that we were going to here generic music over Dr. Johnny Fever's vivacious and fun-to-sing-along D-J-ing hits.

I'm still buying the set for the Turkey Drop... for the extras... for the pilot... and for about 19 other episodes making their way to the digital format (in some way anyway) for the first time. I never saw the episodes in their original broadcasts, so I guess your diehard fan since the show premiered in the late 70s would be more disappointed at the music rights issue than I am. But truth be told, I just want to see WKRP on DVD, myself not having seen that many episodes of the show (a few on TVLand and some clips on YouTube), and even though the music rights issue are unfortunate, the reality is that we're dealing with a bunch of corporate bastards here that we're not going to be able to change. Trying to make a statement on the issue by holding off on the set is only going to worsen our luck for future releases. If anything, it would be making a statement if all the diehards would give in to this mediocre release and say to Fox, "Yeah, this is how much we care about WKRP." Then they may realize that WKRP could potentially be a REALLY big DVD franchise for Fox (like FAMILY GUY and THE SIMPSONS), and release season one UNCUT, and the remaining three uncut as well. Cross your fingers and hope for the best.

AB · 04-05-2007, 06:05 PM

If they ever run it on cable again, I for one will be taping it. I'd like to have the DVD too but they don't seem to be in a hurry to get it out.

robyrob · 04-05-2007, 07:01 PM

i am getting it no matter what, but I will probably try to get a copy of the original episodes through trades if I can

Skywalker · 04-05-2007, 07:45 PM

I'm still buying it. I'd buy it even if ALL of the episodes were syndicated versions. I have all the season 1 episodes on tape but the tapes are in such poor condition that I can't really watch them anymore. It will be great to see this show again and though it sucks that episodes are edited, at least the picture quality will be good.

catlover79 · 04-06-2007, 12:44 AM

I AM!! I've wanted to own the Thanksgiving Turkey Drop for a long time, as well as the Del's Stereo remote. Since Fox didn't pony up the cash for the music licensing rights, they'd better come up with some decent extras. I heard Loni Anderson say in some interview that she'd love to do some extras. Maybe even a tribute to Gordon Jump. I know even that's asking for too much, as Fox has been known to release bare bones season sets in the past. *SIGH* We can dream, can't we??

treky · 04-06-2007, 02:07 AM

I plan to buy it!!

treky · 04-06-2007, 02:09 AM

I also heard Loni Anderson say (in an interview about 10 or 11 years ago) that she'd LOVE to also do a reunion of it.

TV DVD Fan · 04-06-2007, 03:12 PM

Well I'm glad the true fans are here on the SO message boards. If you head on over to the Home Theater Forum, people claiming to be diehards are not buying the release. I say if you're a diehard, you should buy the release in hopes that eventually the full versions of the episodes will soon make it to DVD. (I'd re-buy my ALF sets for the full uncut versions.)

An 80s Guy · 04-06-2007, 03:24 PM

I'm going to buy it as well!!

dlemond · 04-06-2007, 10:04 PM

I'm buying it and I'm hoping everyone else who loves WKRP will also.

There has to be a first for everything, and I'm hoping that in time WKRP will be the first show to see a re-release of a season on DVD.

If someone sees to it and pays for the music, why not?

How many movies have had 2 to 3 re-releases on DVD?
A LOT.

Eventually a TV show will have a new "Special Edition" release just like countless movies that do it- sometimes within a year of the original release!

Let's just all hope for a new trend of Special Original Music Editions of TV DVDs. Charge more. Just like SE of movies.

Somebody is buying movies- even crappy ones- 3 times.

How about some great TV?

APPLEI · 04-07-2007, 09:19 AM

i'am buying the first season through Sitcoms Online and amazon.com

but i still hope that Fox will license the show to a smaller company like SHOUT!
i would pay a lot more to have ALL episodes Uncut with all original music and some special features like
a tribute for Gordon Jump

uncensored bloopers

the entire Family Fued episode with the cast of WKRP in CINCINNATI

footage of Howard Hesseman and Jan Smithers on Battle of the Network Stars

new interviews with the surviving cast members

maybe an interview with Jerry Springer who was mayor of Cincinnati when WKRP was originally broadcast(i would love to here his comments of the episode Mike Fright like if their were any copycat incidences)

more information on the Wkrp saturday morning cartoon that cbs turned down

Heidi Dawn · 04-07-2007, 09:27 AM

I still plan to buy it even if the music's replaced. This way, I can throw out the VHS versions recorded about 5 years ago on the Comedy Network.

jaime_weinman · 04-07-2007, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heidi Dawn

I still plan to buy it even if the music's replaced. This way, I can throw out the VHS versions recorded about 5 years ago on the Comedy Network.

Don't throw out those tapes. The Comedy Network episodes had quite a bit of music that has been changed or cut on this DVD set.

BlancheD · 04-12-2007, 11:12 PM

I'm still buying WKRP. It was one of my favorite shows!! Even if the episodes are cut. Well I havent seen them in years so I'm ready!!

Heidi Dawn · 04-13-2007, 10:51 AM

I can't watch my VHS tapes anyway because the VCR ate them and I had to throw the VCR out.

04-05-2007, 05:59 PM	#1
TV DVD Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 07, 2005 Posts: 2,602	Am I the only one still buying WKRP Season One? I don't get it... many people were pushing for Fox to finally do something about releasing WKRP on DVD, and now that that struggle has become a reality, people are ganging up on Fox for the syndicated episodes. They originally were NOT going to release this show as you probably all know, and the issue seemed CLOSED. I thought, oh well, there's always YouTube. There was never a glimmer of hope, until a light started to shine at the end of the tunnel... out of the blue Fox surrendered to our pleas and decided to release the long-awaited hit sitcom in the digital format. I knew from the start that something would go awry with the music rights, but I still said to myself that having all of the non-music related material finally on DVD was a victory in its own. So, we may've only won 1/2 the battle, but it's better than having lost it all together. Fox likely thought people wouldn't notice this music-cutting issue this early and were counting on the mega-hit sitcom to do even better on DVD. They realized that this was what the fans wanted... "So let's give them what they want... but the music rights, uh... we'll hold off on that little minor issue for a little bit." Well it turned into a DVD "travesty," and fans were quickly turning their parties into funerals... cancelling their orders... and just thinking of how they were longing to finally see WKRP on DVD. Well, as I said I knew that music rights were not going to be an easy issue to pass by when it came time to transfer the episodes to disc. I knew it from the start, that we were going to here generic music over Dr. Johnny Fever's vivacious and fun-to-sing-along D-J-ing hits. I'm still buying the set for the Turkey Drop... for the extras... for the pilot... and for about 19 other episodes making their way to the digital format (in some way anyway) for the first time. I never saw the episodes in their original broadcasts, so I guess your diehard fan since the show premiered in the late 70s would be more disappointed at the music rights issue than I am. But truth be told, I just want to see WKRP on DVD, myself not having seen that many episodes of the show (a few on TVLand and some clips on YouTube), and even though the music rights issue are unfortunate, the reality is that we're dealing with a bunch of corporate bastards here that we're not going to be able to change. Trying to make a statement on the issue by holding off on the set is only going to worsen our luck for future releases. If anything, it would be making a statement if all the diehards would give in to this mediocre release and say to Fox, "Yeah, this is how much we care about WKRP." Then they may realize that WKRP could potentially be a REALLY big DVD franchise for Fox (like FAMILY GUY and THE SIMPSONS), and release season one UNCUT, and the remaining three uncut as well. Cross your fingers and hope for the best.
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04-05-2007, 07:01 PM	#3
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,191	i am getting it no matter what, but I will probably try to get a copy of the original episodes through trades if I can
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04-06-2007, 12:44 AM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I AM!! I've wanted to own the Thanksgiving Turkey Drop for a long time, as well as the Del's Stereo remote. Since Fox didn't pony up the cash for the music licensing rights, they'd better come up with some decent extras. I heard Loni Anderson say in some interview that she'd love to do some extras. Maybe even a tribute to Gordon Jump. I know even that's asking for too much, as Fox has been known to release bare bones season sets in the past. SIGH We can dream, can't we??
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

04-06-2007, 02:07 AM	#6
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I plan to buy it!!
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

04-07-2007, 09:19 AM	#11
APPLEI Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 16, 2000 Location: JACKSON MI. 49203 Posts: 810	i'am buying the first season through Sitcoms Online and amazon.com but i still hope that Fox will license the show to a smaller company like SHOUT! i would pay a lot more to have ALL episodes Uncut with all original music and some special features like a tribute for Gordon Jump uncensored bloopers the entire Family Fued episode with the cast of WKRP in CINCINNATI footage of Howard Hesseman and Jan Smithers on Battle of the Network Stars new interviews with the surviving cast members maybe an interview with Jerry Springer who was mayor of Cincinnati when WKRP was originally broadcast(i would love to here his comments of the episode Mike Fright like if their were any copycat incidences) more information on the Wkrp saturday morning cartoon that cbs turned down
	Last edited by APPLEI; 04-13-2007 at 08:04 AM.

04-05-2007, 06:05 PM	#2
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	If they ever run it on cable again, I for one will be taping it. I'd like to have the DVD too but they don't seem to be in a hurry to get it out.

04-05-2007, 07:45 PM	#4
Skywalker Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2003 Posts: 14,204	I'm still buying it. I'd buy it even if ALL of the episodes were syndicated versions. I have all the season 1 episodes on tape but the tapes are in such poor condition that I can't really watch them anymore. It will be great to see this show again and though it sucks that episodes are edited, at least the picture quality will be good.

04-06-2007, 02:09 AM	#7
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I also heard Loni Anderson say (in an interview about 10 or 11 years ago) that she'd LOVE to also do a reunion of it.

04-06-2007, 03:12 PM	#8
TV DVD Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 07, 2005 Posts: 2,602	Well I'm glad the true fans are here on the SO message boards. If you head on over to the Home Theater Forum, people claiming to be diehards are not buying the release. I say if you're a diehard, you should buy the release in hopes that eventually the full versions of the episodes will soon make it to DVD. (I'd re-buy my ALF sets for the full uncut versions.)

04-06-2007, 03:24 PM	#9
An 80s Guy legen-wait for it-dary! Senior Member Join Date: Sep 03, 2005 Location: Austin,Texas Posts: 1,870	I'm going to buy it as well!!

04-06-2007, 10:04 PM	#10
dlemond Hey, I know you. Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 03, 2001 Location: New Jersey Posts: 6,751	I'm buying it and I'm hoping everyone else who loves WKRP will also. There has to be a first for everything, and I'm hoping that in time WKRP will be the first show to see a re-release of a season on DVD. If someone sees to it and pays for the music, why not? How many movies have had 2 to 3 re-releases on DVD? A LOT. Eventually a TV show will have a new "Special Edition" release just like countless movies that do it- sometimes within a year of the original release! Let's just all hope for a new trend of Special Original Music Editions of TV DVDs. Charge more. Just like SE of movies. Somebody is buying movies- even crappy ones- 3 times. How about some great TV?

04-07-2007, 09:27 AM	#12
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	I still plan to buy it even if the music's replaced. This way, I can throw out the VHS versions recorded about 5 years ago on the Comedy Network.
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04-12-2007, 11:12 PM	#14
BlancheD Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 12, 2005 Posts: 23	I'm still buying WKRP. It was one of my favorite shows!! Even if the episodes are cut. Well I havent seen them in years so I'm ready!!

04-13-2007, 10:51 AM	#15
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	I can't watch my VHS tapes anyway because the VCR ate them and I had to throw the VCR out.