'Norman Lear Collection' Takes a Walk Through TV History - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 03-20-2009, 06:31 AM

Link

It's a box-set hall of fame: The Norman Lear Collection is a 19-disc DVD set featuring the first seasons of All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, The Jeffersons, Good Times, One Day at a Time and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

(June 9, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, $159.95).
Along with hours of featurettes and two All in the Family pilots, the set includes new interviews with Rob Reiner, Bea Arthur, Jimmie Walker, Adrienne Barbeau, Rue McClanahan, Bonnie Franklin and Mackenzie Phillips.

Producer Lear is pleased that such shows as All in the Family, with bigoted Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor), got viewers talking.

"I would get mail by the tens of thousands. Whether they agreed with Archie or disagreed with Archie, what they all said was, 'My father … my mother … my sister … my family … we argued about this, that and the other thing,' " Lear says. "I think conversation about those issues is what our democracy is all about."

Lear credits actors for his success with spinoffs. "I knew (Maude's Bea Arthur) would just kill with Archie," Lear says. Before the show was over, CBS program chief Fred Silverman "was on the phone saying, 'That woman needs a show of her own.' "

Zoneboy · 03-20-2009, 06:44 AM

All in the Family, Sanford and Son among series in 19-disc box

Link

MARCH 20 | Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is packing in the complete debut seasons of seven of Norman Lear’s highest-profile series, including All in the Family, Sanford and Son and The Jeffersons, into a 19-disc set streeting June 9.

The Norman Lear Collection (prebook May 7; DVD $159.95) is the first TV on DVD set from Sony to be themed around a single creator.

The featured series also include Maude, Good Times, One Day at a Time and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.

Lear was involved in crafting the collection, helping to create six hours of documentaries, featuring mostly new interviews with such series stars as Bea Arthur, Rob Reiner, Rue McClanahan and Bonnie Franklin.

In another highlight, two All in the Family pilots never before released on video—“Those Were the Days” and “And Justice for All”—also are part of the Lear Collection.

Bob Oswaks, Sony Pictures Television’s president of marketing, believes this unique treatment of Lear’s work is necessary, considering his impact on the industry.

“I don’t think you can be a fan or someone working in modern TV that has not had some influence from Norman,” said Oswaks. “He took chances and really was a chronicler of what was going on in people’s lives.”

Sony has long wanted to release a Lear retrospective, starting when the studio first released seasons of Sanford and Son and All in the Family in 2002.

“This has been so long in the making,” said Marc Rashba, Sony VP of marketing. “We started talking about this around the birth of the TV DVD business. We’ve been saving all of these great ideas to later pull them together into a Norman Lear box set.”

Sony is positioning the set as a gift item timed to Father’s Day on June 21 and school graduations.

Robert 13 · 03-20-2009, 10:41 AM

I was so excited to see "All in the Family" listed at tsod.com until I saw it was a re-hash of Season 1 in this box-set. Wish they would continue with Season 7. I have all first seasons in this set so I won't be buying it.

TV_Fan · 03-20-2009, 10:50 AM

I'd love to get the bonus material, espiecially for AITF, The Jeffersons & Good Times which I already own on DVD but I sure as hell am not double dipping. They should have just made special fatures on the season sets.

bencasey · 03-20-2009, 11:41 AM

I have every set as well as one of the two AITF pilots. Not sure who this is being produced for. What I would buy is a DVD set of Norman Lear failed shows:

All That Glitters
The Dumplings
Grady
Hanging In
Mr. Dugan
A Year at the Top
Hot L Baltimore
The Nancy Walker Show

Now if they did a set with the full runs of those shows, I would grab it in a second. All of the series in this release I've owned for years.

DallasFan · 03-20-2009, 12:25 PM

I just saw this on tvshowondvd site. This is just plain stupid and absurd!

Why release DVDs fans already have???? Who is going to pay big bucks for extras that could be included in new relaeases from "All in the Family" Season 7......Maude Season 2 and One Day At Time Season 2......The Jeffersons Season 7?

Come on Sony!! This is a rip-off and a slap to all the fans of this show!!

Eric Paddon · 03-20-2009, 12:26 PM

Rip-off galore and no sale.

Robert 13 · 03-20-2009, 12:42 PM

Typical Sony.

DallasFan · 03-20-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Paddon

Rip-off galore and no sale.

It's plain robbery!! Shame on you Sony!!

JulieSomoski · 03-20-2009, 03:05 PM

Agreed. It's just stupidity - why not release the final 3 seasons of AITF already? It's making me damn mad, that's for sure. I'd love to see those 2 unaired pilots and all the featurettes, but I don't want to pay $150 for it.

Zoneboy · 03-20-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bencasey

Now if they did a set with the full runs of those shows, I would grab it in a second.

Likewise.

Robert 13 · 03-20-2009, 04:09 PM

Completely agree! One thing Sony could easily zone in on is the rare tv market; stuff that hasn't been seen a lot and would be snapped up by fans of rare spinoffs, one season wonders and the sort. I think it could sell really well especially if they did a box-set of such programs. That way you would have to buy the set for whatever it is that interests you. It would appeal to a wider audience that way and sell better. Sony has been sitting on a lot of shows for way too long...

One in a Million
Checking In
Sanford
Grady
Sanford Arms
All's Fair
Gloria
Can't Hurry Love
Style & Substance

And that's just a handful.

DallasFan · 03-20-2009, 04:20 PM

I am still fuming over this. I can't believe Sony is doing this!

They are morons!!

snowpeck · 03-20-2009, 04:33 PM

I was unaware a tape of the "And Justice for All" pilot even existed. Norman Lear has been claiming that it's lost for years.

Greg

McGillicuddy · 03-20-2009, 06:36 PM

In the case of Good Times and Sanford & Son, they're triple-dipping, these shows came out with complete series sets after the season sets.

03-20-2009, 06:31 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,471	'Norman Lear Collection' Takes a Walk Through TV History Link It's a box-set hall of fame: The Norman Lear Collection is a 19-disc DVD set featuring the first seasons of All in the Family, Sanford and Son, Maude, The Jeffersons, Good Times, One Day at a Time and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (June 9, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, $159.95). Along with hours of featurettes and two All in the Family pilots, the set includes new interviews with Rob Reiner, Bea Arthur, Jimmie Walker, Adrienne Barbeau, Rue McClanahan, Bonnie Franklin and Mackenzie Phillips. Producer Lear is pleased that such shows as All in the Family, with bigoted Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor), got viewers talking. "I would get mail by the tens of thousands. Whether they agreed with Archie or disagreed with Archie, what they all said was, 'My father … my mother … my sister … my family … we argued about this, that and the other thing,' " Lear says. "I think conversation about those issues is what our democracy is all about." Lear credits actors for his success with spinoffs. "I knew (Maude's Bea Arthur) would just kill with Archie," Lear says. Before the show was over, CBS program chief Fred Silverman "was on the phone saying, 'That woman needs a show of her own.' "

03-20-2009, 06:44 AM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,471	Sony collects Norman Lear TV shows for DVD set All in the Family, Sanford and Son among series in 19-disc box Link MARCH 20 \| Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is packing in the complete debut seasons of seven of Norman Lear’s highest-profile series, including All in the Family, Sanford and Son and The Jeffersons, into a 19-disc set streeting June 9. The Norman Lear Collection (prebook May 7; DVD $159.95) is the first TV on DVD set from Sony to be themed around a single creator. The featured series also include Maude, Good Times, One Day at a Time and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Lear was involved in crafting the collection, helping to create six hours of documentaries, featuring mostly new interviews with such series stars as Bea Arthur, Rob Reiner, Rue McClanahan and Bonnie Franklin. In another highlight, two All in the Family pilots never before released on video—“Those Were the Days” and “And Justice for All”—also are part of the Lear Collection. Bob Oswaks, Sony Pictures Television’s president of marketing, believes this unique treatment of Lear’s work is necessary, considering his impact on the industry. “I don’t think you can be a fan or someone working in modern TV that has not had some influence from Norman,” said Oswaks. “He took chances and really was a chronicler of what was going on in people’s lives.” Sony has long wanted to release a Lear retrospective, starting when the studio first released seasons of Sanford and Son and All in the Family in 2002. “This has been so long in the making,” said Marc Rashba, Sony VP of marketing. “We started talking about this around the birth of the TV DVD business. We’ve been saving all of these great ideas to later pull them together into a Norman Lear box set.” Sony is positioning the set as a gift item timed to Father’s Day on June 21 and school graduations.

03-20-2009, 10:41 AM	#3
Robert 13 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,521	I was so excited to see "All in the Family" listed at tsod.com until I saw it was a re-hash of Season 1 in this box-set. Wish they would continue with Season 7. I have all first seasons in this set so I won't be buying it.
	__________________ Com'è straordinaria la vita, che un giorno ti senti come in un sogno e poi ti ritrovi all'inferno - Dolcenera

03-20-2009, 03:05 PM	#10
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	Agreed. It's just stupidity - why not release the final 3 seasons of AITF already? It's making me damn mad, that's for sure. I'd love to see those 2 unaired pilots and all the featurettes, but I don't want to pay $150 for it.
	__________________ Click here to view some great articles written by my husband and I! All views are appreciated! Watch: Medium, Fridays at 9pm, on CBS! Big Bang Theory, Mondays at 9:30pm, on CBS! The Mentalist, Thursdays at 10pm, on CBS! Old Christine, Wednesdays at 8pm, on CBS! ABC's Comedy Lineup, Starting Wednesdays at 8:30pm, on ABC!

03-20-2009, 10:50 AM	#4
TV_Fan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 15, 2005 Location: USA Posts: 876	I'd love to get the bonus material, espiecially for AITF, The Jeffersons & Good Times which I already own on DVD but I sure as hell am not double dipping. They should have just made special fatures on the season sets.

03-20-2009, 11:41 AM	#5
bencasey Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: Long Beach Posts: 1,692	I have every set as well as one of the two AITF pilots. Not sure who this is being produced for. What I would buy is a DVD set of Norman Lear failed shows: All That Glitters The Dumplings Grady Hanging In Mr. Dugan A Year at the Top Hot L Baltimore The Nancy Walker Show Now if they did a set with the full runs of those shows, I would grab it in a second. All of the series in this release I've owned for years.

03-20-2009, 12:25 PM	#6
DallasFan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 13, 2009 Posts: 39	I just saw this on tvshowondvd site. This is just plain stupid and absurd! Why release DVDs fans already have???? Who is going to pay big bucks for extras that could be included in new relaeases from "All in the Family" Season 7......Maude Season 2 and One Day At Time Season 2......The Jeffersons Season 7? Come on Sony!! This is a rip-off and a slap to all the fans of this show!!

03-20-2009, 12:26 PM	#7
Eric Paddon Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 164	Rip-off galore and no sale.

03-20-2009, 12:42 PM	#8
Robert 13 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,521	Typical Sony.

03-20-2009, 04:09 PM	#12
Robert 13 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,521	Completely agree! One thing Sony could easily zone in on is the rare tv market; stuff that hasn't been seen a lot and would be snapped up by fans of rare spinoffs, one season wonders and the sort. I think it could sell really well especially if they did a box-set of such programs. That way you would have to buy the set for whatever it is that interests you. It would appeal to a wider audience that way and sell better. Sony has been sitting on a lot of shows for way too long... One in a Million Checking In Sanford Grady Sanford Arms All's Fair Gloria Can't Hurry Love Style & Substance And that's just a handful.

03-20-2009, 04:20 PM	#13
DallasFan Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 13, 2009 Posts: 39	I am still fuming over this. I can't believe Sony is doing this! They are morons!!

03-20-2009, 04:33 PM	#14
snowpeck Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 13, 2001 Location: Atlanta Posts: 759	I was unaware a tape of the "And Justice for All" pilot even existed. Norman Lear has been claiming that it's lost for years. Greg

03-20-2009, 06:36 PM	#15
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	In the case of Good Times and Sanford & Son, they're triple-dipping, these shows came out with complete series sets after the season sets.