The Invaders

Jeff, all of the points I bold-faced above that you write in response to my question basically say the same thing: that asking about "The Invaders" is "important" only because the show is important to YOU. Nobody else asks me about that show. Nobody. It is ranked #300 among unreleased shows on our site. Jake 2.0 is ranked higher than that, and since it's one of my personal favorites, I'm more likely to ask about Jake 2.0 if the opportunity came up.

Instead of asking about any one person's personal favorites - even my own - I ask about things EVERYONE is asking me about. Mission: Impossible, Wild Wild West, Carol Burnett Show, etc. All ranked much higher on the list of vote-getters among unreleased shows then either your favorite or my favorite.

The studio contacts we manage to talk to don't have a lot of free time, so our calls must stay brief, focused, and hopefully to questions they have the answers to on hand. Frankly, if they have to say, "I'll research that and get back to you", they will get distracted by other more immediate business and forget that the question was asked. I fear that a question like "Is Paramount going to release The Invaders on DVD, and if not then why not?" would fall into such a category.

Not to say I wouldn't ask if the right opportunity came up; I would! But I don't see the question as the centerpiece of a phone call to someone who probably would not have much time available to spend on talking to me. Remember, they want to be nice to "the press", but the people we talk to who have the answers are employed to do other things than talk to Gord or myself.

As for the studio people who ARE employed to talk to the press all day long - the marketing or publicity dept.'s - well, if they knew something, I guarantee you there would have been a press release already.

And that, my friend, is why we have had updates on Brady Bunch, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Huckleberry Hound, and Yogi Bear! Because someone inside was excited about a project and came to us with the info, or came to another website or newspaper with the info and we relayed the story. I never called a studio and asked about those titles; those stories about those particular titles pretty much came to me unbidden! Now, once I knew something was afoot, we might ask the studio for comments and do some follow-up work in that regard, but as you can see, I have an opening wedge in those cases. With The Invaders I do not...it's a completely out-of-the-blue question!


So why aren't YOU following people's advice and asking the questions to the studio yourself? You put SO much energy into jumping on this forum and asking others to ask about your favorite show(s), but with a tiny bit of that energy you could track down the contact info yourself and ask the question directly.

I would have to agree with Mr. Lambert here. Jeff, simply dash off an e-mail to Paramount. The fact that the studio purchased the rights to the series in 1999 means that it is at least aware of the series. It might even see release on DVD. So go write Paramount.

(I haven't seen this series since, oh, the mid-1970s when it was being syndicated. And I certainly enjoyed it during its first run in the 1960s. It would be a hoot to see on DVD.)

"We got more calls on THE INVADERS than any other of the QM shows. People were always asking what happened to it. It was a very popular show."--Debi Lehr Lawlor, Quinn Martin Films Secretary.

In response to David Lambert's message post Paramount Pictures acquired THE INVADERS as part of a tv series catalogue of various titles when it bought out Aaron Spelling Enterprises in 1999.

Currently all the Quinn Martin tv series in this (former) Aaron Spelling library are now available for tv syndication under the auspices of Paramount Pictures-Viacom International Television with the notable exception of THE INVADERS...why?

Thank you for your extensive response and I certainly didn't want to put you out to that extent but your (considerable) efforts in addition to the information provided are certainly appreciated.

Pertaining to a DVD release of SF tv series franchises like VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, THE TIME TUNNEL or THE INVADERS I honestly don't believe that a situation would (ever) occur where DVD box sets of these specific shows would be sitting on store shelves unsold.

This is all (admittedly) suppositon but the (potential) success of a DVD collection of THE INVADERS can now be gauged with the retails sales results of STAR TREK, THE TWILIGHT ZONE and LOST IN SPACE which in the case of LOST IN SPACE is presumably just what 20th Century-Fox Home Entertainment is currently doing in its determination whether to continue on with subsequent DVD releases of the other Irwin Allen 1960s SF tv franchises.

Since Fox has now established the practice of releasing half-season DVD two volume editions there would be minimal risk in moving ahead with a VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA - FIRST SEASON, VOLUME ONE 4-disc DVD box set consisting of the initial 16 episodes from the first season (1964-65) should such a collection fail to be successful...but I maintain that it would be highly successful!

The only means to (conclusively) prove this is do it and as I said there are other similar SF tv series that have already been marketed on DVD to sufficiently ascertain the probable success (or failure) so it's not all strictly guess work involved.

In the particular case of THE INVADERS perhaps it could be leased out to an outfit like Image Entertainment that could make the show (finally) available in high quality disc pressings.

I say that SF films and tv series sell and this genre already has its (sizeable) established market base on a global scale. There are also numerous SF media publications like TV ZONE magazine (in the U.K.) and STARLOG (in the U.S.) not to mention SF tv specialty services like THE SCI-FI CHANNEL that would go on a virtual media blitz with word of an impending DVD release of a SF tv property with the stature of THE INVADERS to be sure.

So Paramount has a lot to seriously consider in the potential sales of THE INVADERS tv franchise.

Jeff T.

If Paramount is going to exploit their sci-fi library, I suggest they start a Sci-Fi Cult TV label or Cult Tv label. For example, they could start with The Invaders, 7 Days, The Sentinel, and Jake 2.0 7 Days might work because it si being shown in repeats on Spike TV and Jake 2.0 is fresh in people's minds (with four unaired episodes unless you have HDNet).

I do have the Jake 2.0 promo disc from UPN, but I really want to see every episode on DVD in addition to the other three I mentioned. It is good that Paramount listened and released Keen Eddie, but They do need to look at their sci-fi titles since the Trek series releases are soon to dry up (excluding Best-Of theme sets).

I too would love to see The Invaders out on DVD.

The series was last shown in full, with no commercials or annoying on-screen logos here in the UK back in the early 1990s and it is with doubt a great piece of TV sci-fi.

I believe it will come as there will come a time when ultra-popular material (such as Star Trek, again which I love), cannot be re-packaged any more- people will just be happy with what they have got!

Well, Nick, there's always the possibility of a high-def edition of everything every studio has sold us thus far.

UK Channel 5 is currently showing the series ad-free at around 5 o'clock on Saturday mornings!

Unfortunately I live in a bad C5 reception area...

Roll on the DVD set.

Here's another vote for THE INVADERS on DVD... Bring it on, alright! I saw it on German TV in the late sixties and could never really get "into" it, but I guess I just wasn't ready for it at the time. As far as I recall, it was pretty cool. Would you believe it was never re-run in Germany? In fact the first time in decades that I was reminded of that show was when Roy Thinnes popped up on the X-Files...

I was 11 years old when "The Invaders" premiered. I thought it was on for one season but from what I read it must have had a partial second season. I have what I thought was the first and only season on VHS produced by Goodtimes Home Video. How many episodes were in the first season? Can anyone enlighten me?

Michael,

Episode list for "The Invaders":

http://epguides.com/Invaders/

The Invaders ran 1 1/2 seasons: it's first season premiered at mid-season. The second season was a "full" season.

As for the Goodtimes VHS releases: they only put out 12 random episodes, although the first 5-6 of them were the first 5-6 episodes of the series. The remaining ones were a scattered batch from the rest of the run.

Andy, thanks for your response. I have 12 episodes beginning with the pilot. I bought these about 10 years ago and could'nt remember why there were'nt more of them available but I guess they were'nt a hit with the buying public or they would have produced more.

There are lots of internet sites selling "The Invaders" with all 43 episodes available on DVD. I wonder where they got all the episodes from since I am sure they are all bootlegs!

Yeah, you can bet your bottom dollar that they're all bootlegs. Apart from the 12 Goodtimes/Worldvision VHS releases in the USA, only a couple of 2-episode VHSes were released in the UK. There has never been a "complete series" release anywhere in the world, not even from Columbia House.

They probably got them from syndicated reruns in the '80s or '90s. I think Sci-Fi Channel in the US aired them in that channel's early days and the show has been off and on British television in the past decade, most recently this year. Certainly, some local UHF channels and PBS stations had their hands on the show during the '80s.

A flash of inspiration!

With completion soon at hand why doesn't the selfsame group (some of whom have participated in this very discussion forum) who spearheaded THE TWILIGHT ZONE - THE DEFINITIVE EDITION DVD COLLECTIONS now turn its attention and talents toward a similar, high quality approach taken with THE INVADERS (ABC 1967-68) tv series?

Utilizing fully restored and digitally remastered source elements taken from the original 35mm colour print negatives, the inclusion of the original, unaired 75 minute pilot of "Beachhead" (10/01/1967) into the package, interviews and audio commentaries from the (surviving) performers (ie. Roy Thinnes, Diane Baker,, Kevin McCarthy, Anne Francis, William Windom, Edward Asner, Suzanne Pleshette, Arthur Hill, Robert Walker, Jr., Antoinette Bower, Barry Morse, Diana Muldaur, Mark Richman, Dabney Coleman et el) and production personnel, separate music tracks along with the wealth of archival material (the original ABC-TV promos) that is doubtless out there just waiting to put to some usage.

How about it gentlemen? You did a great job with THE TWILIGHT ZONE (CBS 1959-64) and THE INVADERS is just as worthy a classic 1960s SF tv property to similarly market. This could be a real outstanding undertaking to be sure. It makes me excited just to think about it!

Like SCIENCE FICTION THEATRE (Syndicated 1955-57) this is the kind of DVD release that I (personally) would really like to see become a reality...someday!

Jeff T.

I agree 100%. The one thing that I don't understand about these studios is their refusal to license more tv shows and movies. If they don't think these titles will sell enough to rate a release then license it. There is no risk to the studio. The most frustrating thing is that many times these titles will make money but not enough to interest studios.

JeffT. sure doesn't know how to write a post. Instead of communicating with us like anyone else here would, he seems to be copying everything right out of a book. Too much boldface print is bad enough, but this last post above is just not a way to start a conversation!

I enjoyed The Invaders series when I first viewed it in 1980s reruns on a local access cable channel in New Jersey. It was also around that time late in the decade when a friend of mine I used to tape trade with sent me a bunch of episodes that the channel never got around to airing. So I've seen all 43 of them.

Goodtimes Home Video released the series on VHS years ago, but they were in LP speed (something Goodtimes was notorious for back then).

As far as Quinn Martin series go, The Invaders was OK. It was good...but not great. One QM Production worthy of a DVD season by season release is THE FUGITIVE. There are few dramas of that high a calibre! Many of the same guest stars on that show also turned up in The Invaders, The F.B.I. , Twelve O' Clock High, and other QM Production series from that era.

Don't forget that The Fugitive saw several dozen of the episodes put out on tape in the mid 1990s. Series semi-regular Barry Morse, who played Lt. Gerard recorded new introductions for the VHS releases. I hope they are included in a DVD release should that ever happen.

After "The Invaders", I remember seeing Roy Thinnes in some ABC "Movie Of The Week" movies: "Satan's School For Girls", "The Horror At 37,000 Feet", etc. However before "The Invaders", I have a faint memory of him on a soap opera in the early 1960's. I cannot remember which one though. Does anyone know the answer?

Roy Thinnes had a recurring role as Dr. Phil Brewer from 1963-66 on the daytime soap opera GENERAL HOSPITAL aired on the ABC Television Network.

As far as THE FUGITIVE (ABC 1963-67) is concerned that is a completely different and totally unrelated genre altogether than THE INVADERS (ABC 1967-68) is.

We are talking SF here and most fans of THE INVADERS (as say VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA) couldn't care less about THE FUGITIVE.

That's mystery-crime-drama-suspense. What does that have to do with SF?

This is the big mistake that's (generally) being made by the major television distribution companies. A classic tv series is a classic tv series is a classic tv series. Everything is lumped together into a single homogenic mead.

Wrongo!

We are addressing the selfsame DVD consumer who would purchase THE TWILIGHT ZONE (CBS 1959-64) which as sales results have proven to be is quite sizeable indeed. THE INVADERS is a much more worthier (and relevent) follow up to THE DEFINITIVE SERIES collection than THE FUGITIVE is.

If people want to buy THE FUGITIVE that's fine but its appeal and marketability stem from a completely different consumer group altogether.

As far as my message posts are concerned (once again) the (informed) knowledge (primarily) comes from first hand experience.

If people don't like them then don't read them. Simple isn't it? Frankly I don't see that anyone else here is hammering out anything particularly outstanding (with the exception of Michael J. Hayde and a few other professionals who have infrequently contributed to this discussion forum that is).

Pertaining to actual (discernable) quality a SF tv series fan would consider THE INVADERS to be the superior (and more interesting) show.

You don't have to agree with this but try seeing things from the viewpoint of a SF fan.

Jeff T.

As a big sci-fi / horror TV fan, I enjoyed the old Twilight Zone series, The Outer Limits, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Thriller, Night Gallery, and even The Invaders. (I liked the various Star Trek series, but I would never collect them).

The genre is not the issue here that I was raising but rather that as far as Quinn Martin series go, The Fugitive amd The FBI were better series than The Invaders. So was The Streets of San Francisco for that matter. None of these shows are being released on DVD yet, and that's unfortunate.

Once again (as with the opinions expressed toward the fourth season episodes of TWILIGHT ZONE) I have to disagree.

I (personally) consider THE INVADERS (Yeah I know so I won't...this time that is!) to be the late Quinn Martin's most extraordinary and enduring of his (respectable) tv productions.

THE INVADERS is also widely accepted (and rightly applauded) as one of the more outstanding efforts among the SF tv series of the 1960s.

A view that I also happen to (enthusiastically) share.

Jeff T.

Personally I enjoyed the late 1990s / 2000 series First Wave as much as The Invaders -- in some ways even more. What's interesting is that First Wave's creator / Exec. Producer Chris Brancato said in interviews at the time that he never saw The Invaders, so the modern series (which lasted 3 full seasons) has to stand alone on its own merits.

"We got more calls on THE INVADERS than any other of the QM shows. People were always asking what happened to it. It was a very popular show."--Debi Lehr Lawlor, Quinn Martin Films Secretary.

Look if someone isn't an INVADERS fan than they're not an INVADERS fan.

People here on this discussion forum have voiced similar sentiments against VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (CBS 1964-68) and THE TIME TUNNEL (ABC 1966-67) but both classic 1960s SF tv series are coming out on DVD in 2006 just the same.

Just as THE INVADERS (ABC 1967-68) will also one day in its good time.

And the point being that these selfsame opinionated critics will be standing in line the same as the rest of us to (eagerly) get their hands on a copy of these shows when they become available.

For some reason whenever I come up with a request for a particular tv series there always seems to be someone who feels the need to attempt to stymie the effort which is a complete waste of your (respective) parts here.

You guys can't halt anything!

These (particular) SF tv series are colourful, exciting and (infinitely) more entertaining than what's generally being requested or made available on DVD at present.

The only Quinn Martin (May 22nd, 1922 - August 06th, 1987) produced tv series I (personally) like are THE FUGITIVE (ABC 1963-67), 12 O'CLOCK HIGH (ABC 1964-67) and of course THE INVADERS (ABC 1967-68) the rest of the stuff mentioned (ie. THE F.B.I.) to my thinking is snooze tv and I couldn't care less about them.

And the same goes for (the inept) FIRST WAVE.

There is no comparison between that and THE INVADERS.

Incidentally THE FUGITIVE was recently aired on TV LAND (CANADA) and I don't think that it lasted even 6 months on this specialty tv service. So while people can (rightly) say that it's a great classic tv series just who's going to actually buy it on DVD?

Does it have any genuine appeal to the younger aged purchasing demographic out there? This is were a tv property like THE INVADERS has a distinct advantage in its marketability with all age groups.

It's been told to me here that because the first season (1964-65) of VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA was produced in black-and-white this may be a (determining) factor in the selection of THE TIME TUNNEL which was produced (exclusively) in colour being released first.

But what about THE FUGITIVE which has three seasons of black-and-white episodes before a colour segment is to be seen?

This is (yet) another (distinct) asset for THE INVADERS which (like THE TIME TUNNEL) was produced exclusively in colour.

Jeff T.

The Fugitive aired on a Canadian channel for 6 months? If TV Land ever got a hold of the show, it would play for YEARS.

You're entitled to not like The FBI and First Wave, but I and a lot of other people would disagree with you. It's just been hard to find The FBI (a series which lasted 9 years, by the way,) in syndication. And that's a shame, because I've only had the opportunity to see a few episodes.

The argument that shows like The Fugitive and 12 O' Clock High started in black & white and had their last seasons in color Vs. The Invaders being in color from the start...and using that as your reasoning for those olders series from not being released on DVD is ridiculous. So far none of these series have been officially released on DVD, but I'm sure the demand would be high.

There have been a number of shows which started in B & W and then went to color put out in complete DVD collections. The best example of this is COMBAT. All 5 seasons are out there.

Other shows that started out as black & white and later changed to color and and have had complete or a majority of episodes released on DVD:

Lost in Space
The Avengers
Branded
Gilligan's Island
Danger Man/Secret Agent (the entire series was in black & white with the exception of the last two episodes of the series that were filmed in color)

Other shows on DVD that are in black & white that eventually changed to color (color seasons not yet released on DVD):

Bewitched (though colorized versions of the first two b&w seasons are available)
The Andy Griffith Show
The Adventures of Superman

Part of the appeal of "The Fugitive" for me is black & white! That is how I first saw it back in 1963. It was such a good show!

Y'know, if you look very closely at his posts, you'll notice that JeffT can't bend his pinkies. I find this very suspicious, and not a little unnerving...

Looking at the 1962-1969 series "The Saint", here was a show where the majority of the episodes were B/W (71 of 118) yet for the longest time only the latter 47 color episodes saw a release. The first 28 of the B/W ones are out now, and many fans (myself included) anxiously await the release of those remaining as these are widely regarded as being the best entries in the series. (Most of the B/W shows were based on the actual Leslie Charteris stories).

"We got more calls on THE INVADERS than any other of the QM shows. People were always asking what happened to it. It was a very popular show."--Debi Lehr Lawlor, Quinn Martin Films Secretary.

Egads! I've been found out!

I have no qualms about black-and-white television series myself as the overwhelming number of my favourites are probably produced in the medium but if indeed THE TIME TUNNEL (ABC 1966-67) was given preferential consideration over VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA (ABC 1964-68) because the former was produced (exclusively) in colour then why shouldn't the same rule also be applicable to THE INVADERS (ABC 1967-68) over THE FUGITIVE (ABC 1963-67) as well?

Let's face it colour does give both these tv properties a (definite) competitive edge.

You say "if" THE FUGITIVE played on TV LAND in the U.S. If it's so popular with today's tv audiences then it would be as we speak this very moment.

Did I say 6 months? It may have been even a briefer broadcast run than that! And if memory serves me correctly TV LAND did indeed carry THE FUGITIVE and it (seemingly) didn't last that long there either. Just came and (apparently) went real fast!

Don't worry though. I'm sure that THE FUGITIVE will (ultimately) come out first in a DVD release but don't get your hopes up for many of the other Quinn Martin tv properties outside of THE INVADERS that is.

The only thing that I'm sorry about is that non-INVADERS fans were attracted to this particular discussion thread.

Speaking for myself I never personally bother with the message posts here that concern tv series which I have no interest in and believe in giving those who do favour a particular television show the right to express that interest without interference. A privilege apparently that we INVADERS fans are not permitted here.

That's really fair play and I thank you all!

Jeff T.