Sony's "laziness" explained by a TSOD mod on HTF - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dean Winchester · 11-02-2007, 02:47 PM

I think a lot of fans of 70's and 80's television know what has been known for some time, Sony is extremely lazy when it comes to TV-DVD. However, in a thread where people were talking about how tired they are of Sony never releasing anything, David Lambert came up to plate and explained why Sony has slacked off so badly in the past six-eight months.

Quote:

I've said it elsewhere, but perhaps it wasn't noticed.

Sony's division for home entertainment had a small shake-up these past few months. To be specific, someone in a key position had a sudden opportunity for a job elsewhere and took it, with apparently very little notice.

As a result, scheduling decisions didn't get made as other people (both up and down the ladder from there) seemingly did not step in and fill the gap, each probably for different reasons.

I'm sure all Sony has to do to correct the problem is fill the position with someone willing and able to step into those shoes. I don't know if that's happened yet, but likely it has. But I think all you're seeing is the resulting gaps in the schedule resulting from the change.

I'm not here to exactly defend Sony, that's not my job. But let's just say I understand the problems that can be caused in a corporation by this kind of circumstance, having gone through it twice in my life. Once with devasting results for that division of the company I worked for, almost shredding it completely. After it was fixed, they company is not only better now, they're absolutely the best in their field and have practically obliterated the competition. I don't know if Sony will rise to that level of result; I guess it's up to them and how they handle this issue.

I am glad someone who is an insider explained why Sony is being so lazy these days, because if you didn't know what was going on, it's easy to just make the assumption that they have a "well, we finished Seinfeld, is that not good enough for you people?" attitude and use darts to decide what show might be worthy of release during the quarter.

friendsfan77 · 11-02-2007, 02:55 PM

I'm glad there's an explanation. I'm sure while a lot of us would still be disheartened and a bit upset about waiting, people would have been a little more tolerant if they knew all of this was happening. At least with the waits in the past few months.

JulieSomoski · 11-02-2007, 03:22 PM

I'm sorry, but this may be an explanation for these past 6 months, but what about they other 3-4 years that Sony has been lazy? They've been giving us 1 seasons of All in the Family and The Jeffersons for the past 6 years. This excuse doesn't exactly cover that. Plus, what about the gap between Mad About You Seasons 2 and 3? 4 years it took them to release season 3. There's no excuse for that.

friendsfan77 · 11-02-2007, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roseanne88-97

I'm sorry, but this may be an explanation for these past 6 months, but what about they other 3-4 years that Sony has been lazy? They've been giving us 1 seasons of All in the Family and The Jeffersons for the past 6 years. This excuse doesn't exactly cover that. Plus, what about the gap between Mad About You Seasons 2 and 3? 4 years it took them to release season 3. There's no excuse for that.

While I can see their explanation the last few months, I do wonder what happened well before all this. Maybe recent changes in staff lead to Barney Miller's second season finally coming out after four years. And if there's any classic show that should be completed by now, it's The Jeffersons.

Robert 13 · 11-02-2007, 03:44 PM

Well, there's definitely something they can do about this. They can fill the coming months in 2008 with multiple release dates of classic tv shows, meaning they should release a few shows on the same date much like CBS/Paramount has been doing.

JulieSomoski · 11-02-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendsfan77

While I can see their explanation the last few months, I do wonder what happened well before all this. Maybe recent changes in staff lead to Barney Miller's second season finally coming out after four years. And if there's any classic show that should be completed by now, it's The Jeffersons.

You're right. The Jeffersons lasted 11 seasons. You'd think for Sony to get it all out quicker, they would release them a bit faster. If they keep releasing 1 a year, we won't have very season until 2012 . . . and I don't think I can wait that long. Same goes for All in the Family. #1 for 5 consecutive seasons, and it can't get finished on DVD. Then they've abadoned Who's the Boss?, and supposedly abandoned The Nanny and the Facts of Life at this point, and there's no word on another Mad About You, and none of this at all has happened in the last 6 months.

You wanna know what the excuse is? Sony has to get off their lazy asses and start releasing these shows to the public.

Dean Winchester · 11-02-2007, 03:54 PM

I dislike that about Sony as well, what do they have to worry about finishing shows? It's good to finish shows, means they can get to work on others. Now that Seinfeld and King Of Queens are completed on DVD, there's no excuse when Sony gets it's act together to not start putting more effort on their other programs

JulieSomoski · 11-02-2007, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

I dislike that about Sony as well, what do they have to worry about finishing shows? It's good to finish shows, means they can get to work on others. Now that Seinfeld and King Of Queens are completed on DVD, there's no excuse when Sony gets it's act together to not start putting more effort on their other programs

That's a great way to look at. Their obviously best selling shows are finished, so they should be focusing on their also-obvious second string shows, like Facts of Life and The Jeffersons. let's hope 2008 means big changes for Sony.

angel676 · 11-02-2007, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roseanne88-97

That's a great way to look at. Their obviously best selling shows are finished, so they should be focusing on their also-obvious second string shows, like Facts of Life and The Jeffersons. let's hope 2008 means big changes for Sony.

Don't forget "The Nanny" and "Diff'rent Strokes", well....that's my hope at least.

Dean Winchester · 11-03-2007, 12:25 AM

short list of sets that should come in 2008.... feel free to add. *'s with "likely"'s and **'s with "I hope"'s

All In The Family - Season 7*
Archie Bunker's Place - Season 2
Benson - Season 2
Bewitched - Season 6*
Charlie's Angels - Season 4**
Diff'rent Strokes - Season 3**
Facts Of Life - Season 4**
Fantasy Island - Season 2
Flying Nun - Season 3 (with Sally Field's popularity on Brothers And Sisters, this could be likely)
Hart To Hart - Season 3*
Hazel - Season 2
I Dream Of Jeannie - Season 5*
Jeffersons - Season 7*
Mad About You - Season 4
Married With Children - Season 8
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman - Volume 2
Maude - Season 2*
Nanny - Season 3
Ned And Stacey - Season 2
One Day At A Time - Season 2**
Partridge Family - Season 2
Party Of Five - Season 3
Silver Spoons - Season 2
227 - Season 2**
What's Happening Now - Season 2*
Who's The Boss - Season 2

help me out with others

completed shows:
Good Times (6 seasons)
King Of Queens (9 seasons)
Sanford And Son (6 seasons)
Seinfeld (9 seasons)
Soap (4 seasons)
That's My Mama (2 seasons)
What's Happening (3 seasons)

OH Nuts! · 11-03-2007, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

I think a lot of fans of 70's and 80's television know what has been known for some time, Sony is extremely lazy when it comes to TV-DVD. However, in a thread where people were talking about how tired they are of Sony never releasing anything, David Lambert came up to plate and explained why Sony has slacked off so badly in the past six-eight months.

I am glad someone who is an insider explained why Sony is being so lazy these days, because if you didn't know what was going on, it's easy to just make the assumption that they have a "well, we finished Seinfeld, is that not good enough for you people?" attitude and use darts to decide what show might be worthy of release during the quarter.

Thank you for this thoughtful and insightful thread. I hope many fine shows finally get released or their repetoire expanded (e.g. Room 222, Barney Miller, etc.)

catlover79 · 11-03-2007, 10:52 AM

Thanks for the explanation. I have all the seasons of Bewitched I want now, but I would love to see more seasons of Facts of Life and Family.

Carrie · 11-03-2007, 10:57 AM

Thank you for the info! I would love to see the rest of The Nanny and Who's the Boss? seasons released. I hope they are able to get things together and focus on releasing all of the shows mentioned in this thread, as well as all of the others that are still waiting to be released.

Robert 13 · 11-03-2007, 08:08 PM

Great list! It gives a good run down on what Sony has worked on so far. The only ones we know are scheduled for release in 2008 are Barney Miller: Season 2 and I Dream Of Jeannie: Season 5. Barney Miller hasn't been confirmed yet but will be heading to dvd in January. I Dream Of Jeannie is currently in production. Hope we see a whole lot more.

JulieSomoski · 11-03-2007, 10:33 PM

I actually believe we'll be seeing more of WTB and The Nanny in '08. I just feel WTB is doing well on ION, which would make sony at least consider a second season. I just have a good feeling about The Nanny (same thing for FOL), and of course we'll see more of The Jeffersons and All in the Family, seeing their yearly release.

But, if they had any confidence in their shows, we'd be seeing way more releases year to year. I just think Sony is afraid they won't make the over-the-top profits their looking for. They just have to realize not every show is a Seinfeld.

11-02-2007, 03:22 PM	#3
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	I'm sorry, but this may be an explanation for these past 6 months, but what about they other 3-4 years that Sony has been lazy? They've been giving us 1 seasons of All in the Family and The Jeffersons for the past 6 years. This excuse doesn't exactly cover that. Plus, what about the gap between Mad About You Seasons 2 and 3? 4 years it took them to release season 3. There's no excuse for that.
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11-03-2007, 10:52 AM	#12
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Thanks for the explanation. I have all the seasons of Bewitched I want now, but I would love to see more seasons of Facts of Life and Family.
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11-03-2007, 10:57 AM	#13
Carrie Dreamin' of Jeannie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Cocoa Beach Posts: 1,768	Thank you for the info! I would love to see the rest of The Nanny and Who's the Boss? seasons released. I hope they are able to get things together and focus on releasing all of the shows mentioned in this thread, as well as all of the others that are still waiting to be released.
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11-02-2007, 02:55 PM	#2
friendsfan77 - Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2004 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,165	I'm glad there's an explanation. I'm sure while a lot of us would still be disheartened and a bit upset about waiting, people would have been a little more tolerant if they knew all of this was happening. At least with the waits in the past few months.

11-02-2007, 03:44 PM	#5
Robert 13 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,521	Well, there's definitely something they can do about this. They can fill the coming months in 2008 with multiple release dates of classic tv shows, meaning they should release a few shows on the same date much like CBS/Paramount has been doing.

11-02-2007, 03:54 PM	#7
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I dislike that about Sony as well, what do they have to worry about finishing shows? It's good to finish shows, means they can get to work on others. Now that Seinfeld and King Of Queens are completed on DVD, there's no excuse when Sony gets it's act together to not start putting more effort on their other programs

11-03-2007, 12:25 AM	#10
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	short list of sets that should come in 2008.... feel free to add. 's with "likely"'s and 's with "I hope"'s All In The Family - Season 7 Archie Bunker's Place - Season 2 Benson - Season 2 Bewitched - Season 6* Charlie's Angels - Season 4 Diff'rent Strokes - Season 3 Facts Of Life - Season 4** Fantasy Island - Season 2 Flying Nun - Season 3 (with Sally Field's popularity on Brothers And Sisters, this could be likely) Hart To Hart - Season 3* Hazel - Season 2 I Dream Of Jeannie - Season 5* Jeffersons - Season 7* Mad About You - Season 4 Married With Children - Season 8 Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman - Volume 2 Maude - Season 2* Nanny - Season 3 Ned And Stacey - Season 2 One Day At A Time - Season 2 Partridge Family - Season 2 Party Of Five - Season 3 Silver Spoons - Season 2 227 - Season 2 What's Happening Now - Season 2* Who's The Boss - Season 2 help me out with others completed shows: Good Times (6 seasons) King Of Queens (9 seasons) Sanford And Son (6 seasons) Seinfeld (9 seasons) Soap (4 seasons) That's My Mama (2 seasons) What's Happening (3 seasons)

11-03-2007, 08:08 PM	#14
Robert 13 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,521	Great list! It gives a good run down on what Sony has worked on so far. The only ones we know are scheduled for release in 2008 are Barney Miller: Season 2 and I Dream Of Jeannie: Season 5. Barney Miller hasn't been confirmed yet but will be heading to dvd in January. I Dream Of Jeannie is currently in production. Hope we see a whole lot more.

11-03-2007, 10:33 PM	#15
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	I actually believe we'll be seeing more of WTB and The Nanny in '08. I just feel WTB is doing well on ION, which would make sony at least consider a second season. I just have a good feeling about The Nanny (same thing for FOL), and of course we'll see more of The Jeffersons and All in the Family, seeing their yearly release. But, if they had any confidence in their shows, we'd be seeing way more releases year to year. I just think Sony is afraid they won't make the over-the-top profits their looking for. They just have to realize not every show is a Seinfeld.