DVDs - Possible Reasons Valerie Harper Didn't Participate?

[OnTheMarkTexas]

It struck me as a bit odd that Valerie Harper elected not to participate in the DVD releases. At first, I didn't give it much thought, but then over at the Shout Factory forum, Bryan Ward mentioned in a post that she WAS asked (by Shout Factory, not Fox) to participate.

He wouldn't/couldn't go into details but did hint that it was her own decision not to particiapte.

I have a theory ...

I wonder if perhaps Ms. Harper wasn't happy with the way that Fox failed to property archive/protect the master tapes for the original broadcast episodes, thus leaving Shout Factory with no choice but to release the show on DVD with 90% of the episodes being the edited syndication versions.

I mean, think about it. If this was the case, she couldn't publically make a statment urging consumers NOT to buy it without being sued by Fox. But by refusing to participate in the DVD release, she made a very bold declaration without uttering a word.

Any thoughts? Does anyone have any other theories for her absense?

[Edster2973]

Originally Posted by OnTheMarkTexas

It struck me as a bit odd that Valerie Harper elected not to participate in the DVD releases. At first, I didn't give it much thought, but then over at the Shout Factory forum, Bryan Ward mentioned in a post that she WAS asked (by Shout Factory, not Fox) to participate.

He wouldn't/couldn't go into details but did hint that it was her own decision not to particiapte.

I have a theory ...

I wonder if perhaps Ms. Harper wasn't happy with the way that Fox failed to property archive/protect the master tapes for the original broadcast episodes, thus leaving Shout Factory with no choice but to release the show on DVD with 90% of the episodes being the edited syndication versions.

I mean, think about it. If this was the case, she couldn't publically make a statment urging consumers NOT to buy it without being sued by Fox. But by refusing to participate in the DVD release, she made a very bold declaration without uttering a word.

Any thoughts? Does anyone have any other theories for her absense?

This is just speculation on my part, but I think her being involved with Looped at that time, plus she was battling (unbeknownst to the public) lung cancer, she simply wasn't up for taking on another project. Sadly, the cancer scare escalated to her current brain cancer diagnosis.

It could be that this is what was occurring and that she had to take things easy, or it could be what you have said. Or maybe it's something else. Who knows.

Given her recent diagnosis, it's almost pointless now to speculate as it really doesn't matter. As things stand now, FOX won't let SHOUT license Season 5 (which is a half season) except for an astronomical price, so perhaps the season-by-season deal is what turned Valerie off. Something similar happened with FOX and Mary Tyler Moore, which is why the whole cast participated except for Mary.

Who knows what goes on behind the scenes?

Ed

[JMFabiano524]

**ss off people much, Fox?

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Edster2973

This is just speculation on my part, but I think her being involved with Looped at that time, plus she was battling (unbeknownst to the public) lung cancer, she simply wasn't up for taking on another project. Sadly, the cancer scare escalated to her current brain cancer diagnosis.

It could be that this is what was occurring and that she had to take things easy, or it could be what you have said. Or maybe it's something else. Who knows.

Given her recent diagnosis, it's almost pointless now to speculate as it really doesn't matter. As things stand now, FOX won't let SHOUT license Season 5 (which is a half season) except for an astronomical price, so perhaps the season-by-season deal is what turned Valerie off. Something similar happened with FOX and Mary Tyler Moore, which is why the whole cast participated except for Mary.

Who knows what goes on behind the scenes?

Ed

I feel like a fool for watching seasons 1 and 2 on youtube and buying seasons 3 and 4 on DVD only to be in a situation now where I can't see the remaining 13 eps of the series.

Damm

[JMFabiano524]

Maybe dramaticguy (?) has them? Anyway, by S5 they were beyond "shark" territory?

[Edster2973]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I feel like a fool for watching seasons 1 and 2 on youtube and buying seasons 3 and 4 on DVD only to be in a situation now where I can't see the remaining 13 eps of the series.

Damm

I understand your frustration Solomon, and for what it's worth, I share it, but I'm glad to have the first 4 seasons overall (even the abridged Seasons 1&2). It's better than nothing and 5 years ago we'd have all taken bets that we'd never see a release at all. Heck, I remember where FOX finishing up The Mary Tyler Moore Show seemed to be in doubt, and look where we are now.

Don't get me wrong. I want my 5th Season (I'm a COMPLETE series buff like you), but if the choice was to either have NOTHING or Seasons 1-4, I'll take the latter. It's frustrating and unnecessary, but it's always better to have partial than nada. I got a lot of enjoyment out of watching those 4 seasons. I just hope it doesn't end there. If it does, sure, I'll be sad, but that doesn't outweigh how lucky I feel to have the first 4 seasons. Again, a few years ago, that looked like an impossibility. It's a "half full" vs "half empty" mindset that everyone has to choose for themselves, and I choose "half full".

Hope you're doing well in any case bud!

Ed

[JMFabiano524]

Originally Posted by Edster2973

I understand your frustration Solomon, and for what it's worth, I share it, but I'm glad to have the first 4 seasons overall (even the abridged Seasons 1&2). It's better than nothing and 5 years ago we'd have all taken bets that we'd never see a release at all. Heck, I remember where FOX finishing up The Mary Tyler Moore Show seemed to be in doubt, and look where we are now.

Don't get me wrong. I want my 5th Season (I'm a COMPLETE series buff like you), but if the choice was to either have NOTHING or Seasons 1-4, I'll take the latter. It's frustrating and unnecessary, but it's always better to have partial than nada. I got a lot of enjoyment out of watching those 4 seasons. I just hope it doesn't end there. If it does, sure, I'll be sad, but that doesn't outweigh how lucky I feel to have the first 4 seasons. Again, a few years ago, that looked like an impossibility. It's a "half full" vs "half empty" mindset that everyone has to choose for themselves, and I choose "half full".

Hope you're doing well in any case bud!

Ed

And all things considered, it would be great to see the series completed ASAP, I think we know why. Let's just say I hope it doesn't happen when it's too late.

But I have other means to get the rest of the series, so it's their loss.

I just want to know if Grant Tinker did something to Rupert Murdoch's corn flakes one morning to make Fox always shortchange the MTM library.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Edster2973

I understand your frustration Solomon, and for what it's worth, I share it, but I'm glad to have the first 4 seasons overall (even the abridged Seasons 1&2). It's better than nothing and 5 years ago we'd have all taken bets that we'd never see a release at all. Heck, I remember where FOX finishing up The Mary Tyler Moore Show seemed to be in doubt, and look where we are now.

Don't get me wrong. I want my 5th Season (I'm a COMPLETE series buff like you), but if the choice was to either have NOTHING or Seasons 1-4, I'll take the latter. It's frustrating and unnecessary, but it's always better to have partial than nada. I got a lot of enjoyment out of watching those 4 seasons. I just hope it doesn't end there. If it does, sure, I'll be sad, but that doesn't outweigh how lucky I feel to have the first 4 seasons. Again, a few years ago, that looked like an impossibility. It's a "half full" vs "half empty" mindset that everyone has to choose for themselves, and I choose "half full".

Hope you're doing well in any case bud!

Ed

The fact that none of the season 5 eps are on youtube pretty confirms that this show is rarely in syndication

[MRPITT]

I have Season 5.

And to answer the question money.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by MRPITT

I have Season 5.

And to answer the question money.

So are you offering to work out a deal to provide copies?

[Edster2973]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

The fact that none of the season 5 eps are on youtube pretty confirms that this show is rarely in syndication

You kind of missed my point but again, I hope all is well with you. Take care Solomon!

Ed

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Edster2973

You kind of missed my point but again, I hope all is well with you. Take care Solomon!

Ed

Well I don't know if I understand your point completely because you still have a incomplete series

now if you had season 5 eps on VHS recorded from a local station and just waiting for a DVD release then I could see you feeling the way you do.

Like with the Jeffersons, I have seasons 7 to 11 complete on VHS which makes not having the DVD's not too bad. But in Rhoda's case we don't have anything from season 5 so its hard for me to have a half full mentality

[Edster2973]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Well I don't know if I understand your point completely because you still have a incomplete series

now if you had season 5 eps on VHS recorded from a local station and just waiting for a DVD release then I could see you feeling the way you do.

Like with the Jeffersons, I have seasons 7 to 11 complete on VHS which makes not having the DVD's not too bad. But in Rhoda's case we don't have anything from season 5 so its hard for me to have a half full mentality

My point is, should it turn out that we NEVER get Season 5, we're still better off having Seasons 1-4 instead of having NOTHING. That's all I'm saying.

Ed

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Edster2973

My point is, should it turn out that we NEVER get Season 5, we're still better off having Seasons 1-4 instead of having NOTHING. That's all I'm saying.

Ed

I guess this is where we disagree because if there was announcement next week saying that season 5 will never be released on DVD, it would make my collection of seasons 1 to 4 pointless and I may have just have to get rid of them since the show will never been in syndication

[Edster2973]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

I guess this is where we disagree because if there was announcement next week saying that season 5 will never be released on DVD, it would make my collection of seasons 1 to 4 pointless and I may have just have to get rid of them since the show will never been in syndication

So not having a full series means that the individual seasons are worthless? Sorry, but I don't hold the same opinion. Still, as consumers, we're both entitled to our own opinions. I found each season enjoyable (though inconsistent admittedly) and am glad to have the show at all since, again (as I stated in an earlier post), it seemed like this show would NEVER see release. It all depends on one's outlook.

Mind you, I want ALL the seasons too, and I think sometime, somehow, we WILL get Season 5, but if I'm wrong, I'm holding onto my four seasons. Better 85% of a series than NOTHING. That's my outlook. And that's more than half the series, which makes it easy for me to be "half full" about it than "half empty". I think the reason Season 5 is stalled is disgraceful, and FOX should be ashamed, but 13 episodes missing (temporarily) is not going to pee on the gratitude I have for having 4 seasons.

It's just how I choose to look at things. Better to be optimistic. It's how I approach most things in life. DVDs of TV shows aren't life and death. After burying a mom, grandmother and a 10 year old niece (and anticipating losing an aunt to colon cancer), it's a wonder I can have half the optimism I have. It's how to live life, and I think Ms. Harper would say the same.

I just suggest holding onto your 4 seasons for now since it's still up in the air as to whether Season 5 is permanently on hold. I think we'll get it before long.

Take care!

Ed