The Invaders

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE ENDURING POPULARITY OF THE INVADERS!!!!!

Right now I just can't think of any other tv series that I would rather see released on DVD than THE INVADERS which I haven't seen in ages!

There are certain classic television shows that are still very popular and THE INVADERS is certainly one of them.

I have original promotional material for THE INVADERS and its worldwide global market at the time was the largest of any other ABC Television production. There is no real earthly reason for its premature cancellation after just two seasons.

Some have suggested a falling out between Quinn Martin and the ABC Television Network. Roy Thinnes has maintained that a third season was indeed in the works but that something "political" happened. My view is that because of THE INVADERS' inherent violence something that necessitated it being removed from its established 8:30 p.m. E.T. timeslot on Tuesday nights to the later 10:00 p.m. E.T. timeslot it was subsequently dropped from the programming scheduling altogether because of vocal pressure groups lobbying the U.S. Congress for less violence in television programming that was deemed harmful to children. Oh, brother!

THE INVADERS is one of those shows that people still enthusiastically recall seeing during its original primetime telecast and it has further appeal to a younger, progressive thinking 21st Century 'Space Age' generation.

Already it is earning revenue for Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment with a DVD release in Europe (in Region 2) and an impending DVD release in Austrailia (Region 4) so surely this (more than anything else) bodes well for a subsequent release in North America (Region 1).

If these other Paramount Pictures-CBS Television television properties are still in high demand then why haven't they also been released abroad?!

While we are being kept waiting for the inevitable it wouldn't hurt if Paramount did any additional restoration work from the original 35mm source elements if needed.

I always mean to say "Fear in a Desert City" obviously confusing it with "Search in a Windy City" which is virtually identical in its wording!

Jeff T.

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Don't worry about the FUGITIVE title gaff Jeff - nothing personal. Michael, Jeff Willis, and I were just having a bit of "Fuge fun" playing around with the generic sort-of episode titling that Quinn Martin seemed fond of. It more properly belongs in the FUGITIVE thread anyway.

I'm sure THE INVADERS will get a release in the US one of these days - and you're probably right when you suggest that it'll get a nice restoration to boot. That's one reason why I'm content to wait. For years I've suffered through smeary VHS tapes from Goodtimes on the few episodes I have, and would really love to see the episodes with nicely balanced color and sharp images.

So the idea of picking up some half-efforted R2 release (when I can't even play those - nor can I stand PAL speed-up!) is just not in the cards for me. I'll just have to be content to wait. As I mentioned earlier, I'm still in the midst of ploughing through the massive LAND OF THE GIANTS box set and I just added the VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA Season Three, Volume Two set to the mix, and there's the ongoing MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE releases to keep me busy in the meantime.

Harry

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According to the book 'Quinn Martin - Producer' by Jonathon Etter ,Martin wasn't much interested in 'The Invaders' feeling it was too much like 'The Fugitive.It also suffered from not having a 'storybook' so was a lttle disjointed.

Some of the other producers felt the introduction of the group'The Believers' was a bad idea which hastened the demise of the show.

THE BELIEVERS!!!!!

Actually, "The Believers" is a very good episode in its own right. The problem here is that this dramatic change-in-format came a little too soon and in retrospect would have been better attempted for the third season (something that Jonathan Etter himself has concurred with).

However, in the light of the fact that THE INVADERS lasted just two seasons coming when it did this gives prospective talents an idea just how to carry on with a possible revival attempt and illustrates the possibilities that could have been explored in the storylines. At least THE INVADERS was always attempting something innovatively fresh and interesting for its (devout) viewing audience.

But seriously many of these older SF tv series look much more attractive and are better appreciated today than they were when originally telecast in primetime.

Jeff T.

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R2 captures, I'm almost through the set, so far so good.

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Henry, thanks for the screen caps!

Have you seen any sign of the reported intermittent "subtitle" bug appear in your set? That's one reason that I put this one on my "Hold" list for now until I get more information on the reported problem with the R2 release. I'm hoping that someone here will get the upcoming R4/Australia release and post a review on the xfrs and any issues seen.

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wow! Those look GREAT!

GORGEOUS STUFF!!!!!

I would like to feel that the delay for a DVD release of THE INVADERS in North America is due to Paramount Pictures-CBS Television Home Entertainment working on its own newly restored and digitally remastered source elements and distinctive packing design...which is certainly worth the wait!

Albeit on the basis of those screen capture samples it would appear that the source elements used for the Region 2 DVD release are just fine.

Jeff T.

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Jeff, I must admit I haven't noticed it, I've been watching it with someone who preferred the subs on so I didn't spot any problems. It does look pretty good to me, I wonder how much better a R1 will look, but it would be nice to have it just to escape the PAL speed-up issue. Does Paramount DVD have a history of restoring/remastering older TV shows? It would be good to have a word from them, if they're planning a release so fans know where they are.

FULL RESTORATION OF THE INVADERS!!!!!

Technically speaking, there is NO official word on an imminent DVD release of THE INVADERS in Region 1 forthcoming as yet...but surely this will come about in good time!

Much of the clutter that Paramount has given priority to will likely fall on its can (refer to the discussion thread on discontinued tv series DVD releases) possibly expediting the delay.

Pertaining specifically to Paramount's DVD releases of older tv properties both PERRY MASON and THE FUGITIVE were digitally remastered and fully restored while other such vintage tv shows under their aegis have not been with Paramount being content to use the best existing prints available.

Naturally I am hoping that THE INVADERS will be afforded such special consideration!

I would also like to see the inclusion of the unaired 75 minute pilot version of "Beachhead" (10/01/1967).

Jeff T.

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The UK set has now been further discounted at Amazon UK, if anyone with a multi-region player has been considering taking the plunge (I just ordered it). Sale price is now £16.98, from the list price of £29.99. Minus VAT, it comes to £14.45--about $30.00, before shipping.

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Shoot, I should have waited until today--I bought the darn thing yesterday.

If anyone with a multi-region player is interested, Amazon.co.uk has also lowered the price on the second season of Peter Gunn to £14.97. (And the first season is available at £15.97.)

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Ivan, it may be possible to be refunded the difference. From a money saving site:-

I once purchased an item that came down in price and trying the above did get a refund. Always worth a try.

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Much obliged for the advice, Chris!

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Just to re-ignite this topic: Season One will be released in the US on May 6th! I finally bought the British version last month, and have been getting a big kick out of it. I'm glad more people will get a chance to see it, and hope we'll get season Two (presumably as Part 1 and Part 2) without too much delay.

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Hooray! Finally "The Invaders" is mine! Holding out for an R1 announcement was about the toughest thing I'd ever accomplished. Keep the Quinn Martin shows coming!

And how about that? Our very own 'JeffT' gets mentioned on tvshowsondvd.com! Now what do think of that!!!!!!???? (Right, Jeff? Wink, wink).

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Great news! I can't wait. Thanks Paramount!

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Good 'ol Paramount! And the cover art has GOT to be an improvement over that used for the R2 release.

Michael "Never thought I'd see the day that my want list would show "The Invaders" (S2)"_ks

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Hopefully S2 won't be too far away, now that I have S1 already... Btw, have Paramount started including TV subtitles again? I noticed "Streets of San Francisco" have subs, though it only reveals this in the menu.

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Hey Jeff,
I'm sure today's news just RUINED your day

Well I can scratch this one off the top of my want list!

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Yea!!!!!!!!! Wonderful announcement to wake up to this morning. I can now adjust my signature a tad, which is always a good thing.

Gary "I'll be getting this one as soon as it debuts" O.

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Can we somehow get word to the powers that be at Paramount to try to track down a copy of the original 75 minute version of the pilot?

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That was really cool on the part of Dave to give Jeff the mention.

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Fabulous news. I can't wait to see this show mastered properly to DVD. It was always a colorful show, but to look at the muddy-looking VHS tapes that Goodtimes managed to mangle, you'd never know it.

And it's a fitting tribute to Suzanne Pleshette who makes an appearance in Season 1.

Harry

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The Invaders is a wonderful series. I watched it during its original run, and have been enjoying the first season on DVD for the past three months. It's really neat seeing so many faces on that show that appeared in other shows that I also watch (e.g., Trek).

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after all his rants about wanting this series, where is Jeff? Was the news too much for his heart?

do hope they put season 2 in one box instead of stretching this out to 3 sets.

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That's what I thought. Then I got to wondering what if Jeff is actually celebrating at his house blaring this title track dance remix from his stereo over and over:

http://www.the-invaders.com/sounds/track1.mp3

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Very good news indeed. And no split season sets!

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YES!!!

This is great news! I'm glad this is finally coming out, I just hope it isn't put on those double-sided discs.

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Well, the first season was only a half-season anyway. There's nothing to stop them from splitting season two in half, to make all the sets roughly "equal" in episode count...

I doubt we can hope for them to go back to the original elements (ala Star Trek), but let's hope at the very least they don't use the PAL masters from the R2 set (so we can avoid the 4% speedup).

I, too, hope they will include the longer, unaired version of Beach Head. Dave, if you've got any "inside" people at Paramount, can you put this particular bug in their ear?

Other things that would make nice extras: the ABC trailer promoting the show before its premiere week (I've seen it in collectors' circles), a Roy Thinnes commentary (at least on Beach Head) and/or interview. Also, if "next week" trailers exist, would be nice to see them in their proper place (heck, even as extras would be better than nothing).

I guess the best we can hope for is that the episodes not be edited, PAL sped-up or sped-up-for-syndication sourced (like Combat)...