Come on Universal, it's time!!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

B&W fan · 01-27-2003, 10:59 PM

It's time for Universal to give us Season One of "Leave it to Beaver" on DVD! I'm sick and tired of all these recent and still running shows getting the DVD treatment and the great old shows like LITB getting the shaft.

UNIVERSAL - Get on the ball and give us our wish!

B&W "Geesh! Has anyone else noticed the absolute trash that is coming out on DVd recently?!!" fan

HaskellGirl · 01-27-2003, 11:18 PM

I completely agree with you!!!!! Cheers is FINALLY going to come out on dvd sometime this year, and its about time LITB does as well. They could do something really spectacular, with interviews with the cast, etc. And someone like Jerry Mathers (also Tony Dow and the rest of the cast) is still so proud of what they've done, I'm sure they could even have them talking about the episodes over the episodes. That would SO rock!!!!! And even maybe colorize it!!!!

Okay, that probably won't happen, but I still got excited when Jerry mentioned that in his autobiography.

BBF · 01-28-2003, 03:35 PM

I TOTALLY agree!

B&W fan · 01-28-2003, 07:40 PM

Thanks. It really is time for this!

B&W "we need more decent shows like this released to DVD" fan

ChrisFergusonFl · 01-28-2003, 09:07 PM

lOW!

Laurel · 01-31-2003, 12:10 PM

I absolutely agree that "Leave it to Beaver" should be available on both VHS and DVD, preferably through Columbia House which did an admirable job on three of my other favorite shows -- "Route 66," "Adam-12" and "The Partridge Family."

However, let me clue you in about Universal. Universal owns "Adam-12." "Adam-12" starred Martin Milner and Kent McCord as Los Angeles police officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed and originally aired on NBC-TV from 1968-1975.

When "Adam-12" left the air in 1975, Universal dumped the tapes in a vault and promptly forgot about them. In 1989, Martin Milner and Kent McCord reunited for a series called "Nashville Beat," which McCord promoted on several talk shows. A host on one talk show asked McCord why "Adam-12" was never syndicated. McCord replied that he had discussed syndication with Universal, but Universal balked because they were releasing a "New Adam-12" series (which aired from 1989-1991) and didn't want the old series running in syndication.

In 1999, Universal relented enough to give TVLand the rights to air both "Dragnet" (which had previously aired on Nick-at-Nite) and "Adam-12" for three years. It was not until TVLand began airing "Adam-12" that Columbia House released the series in video form -- nearly twenty-five years after it left the air!

Be very afraid of Universal. I am writing to both Universal and Columbia House to release "Leave it to Beaver" on video.

B&W fan · 01-31-2003, 04:10 PM

about your thoughts on this, and that's WHO would distribute it. There are two companies that I absolutely despise releases from, and with both companies the problem is the same - TERRIBLY HIGH PRICING!!!

The two companies I'm referring to are Time/Life and Columbia House! Both those companies charge a minimum of $24.95 per DVD, plus shipping. That's absolutely highway robbery. At least Jesse James used to carry a gun and wear a mask (well, I don't know that for sure, but you get my point

).

If we were to get LITB released to us by Columbia or T/L, they would give us only 4 episodes per DVD, which is their standard operating procedure (even though you can get 8 half hour shows on one DVD). At the price of around $30.00 per DVD (when you include shipping) you would be looking at a minimum of $1,500.00 for the series! That would put me in the poor house.

On the other hand, look at season sets like the Mary Tyler Moore Show, or All in the Family, Good Times, etc. You can get entire seasons for around $30 if you shop around online. If someone wanted the entire series of MTM, for example, the price would work out to around $250 total for all the episodes! That's a far cry from what Columbia House would charge you for the same thing.

Therefore, while I'm in favor of the show being released in season sets by Universal, I don't want Columbia House having anything to do with it. Otherwise, I'll have to hit the Lotto to get them all.

B&W "let Universal release it themselves, it's sure to be much cheaper that way" fan

B&W fan · 02-01-2003, 03:35 PM

BTW, Universal, while not acting as quickly as other companies (like FOX for instance), is slowly getting into the TV shows on DVD race. I believe they already have plans to release a number of shows to DVD later this year, but none of them are the older classics like LITB or the Munsters (which they also own the rights to). But hopefully it is only a matter of time. Personally, I like our chances at a release of the 1st Season of LITB by the end of next year, if not this year.

B&W "I'm already excited about a possible Dick Van Dyke Show season set release later this year, so any news of a Beaver release would send me into total euphoria" fan

01-27-2003, 10:59 PM	#1
B&W fan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 09, 2002 Location: USA Posts: 589	Come on Universal, it's time!!! It's time for Universal to give us Season One of "Leave it to Beaver" on DVD! I'm sick and tired of all these recent and still running shows getting the DVD treatment and the great old shows like LITB getting the shaft. UNIVERSAL - Get on the ball and give us our wish! B&W "Geesh! Has anyone else noticed the absolute trash that is coming out on DVd recently?!!" fan

01-28-2003, 03:35 PM	#3
BBF Workin' those Scrubs Senior Member Join Date: Jun 12, 2002 Location: The "Natural" State Posts: 2,014	I TOTALLY agree!
	__________________ BBF (Beavers Biggest Fan) GILMORE GIRLS FANATIC!!! ~~Future Registered Nurse!!! May 2008~~

01-28-2003, 09:07 PM	#5
ChrisFergusonFl What should I put here? Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 26, 2003 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 465	lOW lOW!

01-31-2003, 04:10 PM	#7
B&W fan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 09, 2002 Location: USA Posts: 589	Thanks Laurel. Just one thing I'd change... about your thoughts on this, and that's WHO would distribute it. There are two companies that I absolutely despise releases from, and with both companies the problem is the same - TERRIBLY HIGH PRICING!!! The two companies I'm referring to are Time/Life and Columbia House! Both those companies charge a minimum of $24.95 per DVD, plus shipping. That's absolutely highway robbery. At least Jesse James used to carry a gun and wear a mask (well, I don't know that for sure, but you get my point ). If we were to get LITB released to us by Columbia or T/L, they would give us only 4 episodes per DVD, which is their standard operating procedure (even though you can get 8 half hour shows on one DVD). At the price of around $30.00 per DVD (when you include shipping) you would be looking at a minimum of $1,500.00 for the series! That would put me in the poor house. On the other hand, look at season sets like the Mary Tyler Moore Show, or All in the Family, Good Times, etc. You can get entire seasons for around $30 if you shop around online. If someone wanted the entire series of MTM, for example, the price would work out to around $250 total for all the episodes! That's a far cry from what Columbia House would charge you for the same thing. Therefore, while I'm in favor of the show being released in season sets by Universal, I don't want Columbia House having anything to do with it. Otherwise, I'll have to hit the Lotto to get them all. B&W "let Universal release it themselves, it's sure to be much cheaper that way" fan

01-27-2003, 11:18 PM	#2
HaskellGirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Posts: 590	I completely agree with you!!!!! Cheers is FINALLY going to come out on dvd sometime this year, and its about time LITB does as well. They could do something really spectacular, with interviews with the cast, etc. And someone like Jerry Mathers (also Tony Dow and the rest of the cast) is still so proud of what they've done, I'm sure they could even have them talking about the episodes over the episodes. That would SO rock!!!!! And even maybe colorize it!!!! Okay, that probably won't happen, but I still got excited when Jerry mentioned that in his autobiography.

01-28-2003, 07:40 PM	#4
B&W fan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 09, 2002 Location: USA Posts: 589	Thanks. It really is time for this! B&W "we need more decent shows like this released to DVD" fan

01-31-2003, 12:10 PM	#6
Laurel "Lauriebelle" Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 20, 2002 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 80	I absolutely agree that "Leave it to Beaver" should be available on both VHS and DVD, preferably through Columbia House which did an admirable job on three of my other favorite shows -- "Route 66," "Adam-12" and "The Partridge Family." However, let me clue you in about Universal. Universal owns "Adam-12." "Adam-12" starred Martin Milner and Kent McCord as Los Angeles police officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed and originally aired on NBC-TV from 1968-1975. When "Adam-12" left the air in 1975, Universal dumped the tapes in a vault and promptly forgot about them. In 1989, Martin Milner and Kent McCord reunited for a series called "Nashville Beat," which McCord promoted on several talk shows. A host on one talk show asked McCord why "Adam-12" was never syndicated. McCord replied that he had discussed syndication with Universal, but Universal balked because they were releasing a "New Adam-12" series (which aired from 1989-1991) and didn't want the old series running in syndication. In 1999, Universal relented enough to give TVLand the rights to air both "Dragnet" (which had previously aired on Nick-at-Nite) and "Adam-12" for three years. It was not until TVLand began airing "Adam-12" that Columbia House released the series in video form -- nearly twenty-five years after it left the air! Be very afraid of Universal. I am writing to both Universal and Columbia House to release "Leave it to Beaver" on video.

02-01-2003, 03:35 PM	#8
B&W fan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 09, 2002 Location: USA Posts: 589	BTW, Universal, while not acting as quickly as other companies (like FOX for instance), is slowly getting into the TV shows on DVD race. I believe they already have plans to release a number of shows to DVD later this year, but none of them are the older classics like LITB or the Munsters (which they also own the rights to). But hopefully it is only a matter of time. Personally, I like our chances at a release of the 1st Season of LITB by the end of next year, if not this year. B&W "I'm already excited about a possible Dick Van Dyke Show season set release later this year, so any news of a Beaver release would send me into total euphoria" fan