IT'S YOUR MOVE with Jason Bateman - any chance of DVD?

Mark Edward Heuck · 02-23-2006, 08:31 AM

This was a severely underrated, sneaky, and very funny sitcom from the creators of MARRIED WITH CHILDREN that had the same subversive sensibility years before they created the latter program. The give and take between David Garrison and Jason Bateman was terrific, both characters equally evil in their own way. And who can forget the infamous "Dregs of Society" episode; it even has a section on the Fake Bandepedia.

The show only ran 1.5 seasons on NBC, so Sony could easily do the entire run in one package, and AFAIK there are no major music clearances to take care of. Who's with me?

"Norm...you're gonna laugh."

James Landau · 02-23-2006, 09:20 AM

Oh, yeah. I'm definitely with you. This show was pure genius and Jason Bateman and David Garrison were perfectly cast as Matthew Burton and Norman Lamb. With their continuous efforts to outmaneuver each other, one never knew who would come out on top until the very end of each episode.

If the popularity of Arrested Development doesn't get them to release this, I guess nothing will. Just a hunch, but I bet Bateman would love to do a commentary or two if It's Your Move was to be resurrected on DVD.

A couple small corrections to your post: the series lasted less than a year (18 episodes) and the infamous two-parter was "The Dregs of Humanity" not "...Society."

Who can forget Eli mishearing Matt's sister Julie's derogatory chants as "Eli. Eli. He's my man. If I can't have him, no one can!"

MarkHastings · 02-23-2006, 12:42 PM

Quote:

the infamous two-parter was "The Dregs of Humanity"

When you say "infamous" do you mean they never ran the second half? I say this because I remember that episode and was DYING to see the second half, but never did. Did it ever air?

James Landau · 02-23-2006, 04:50 PM

My use of "infamous" was referring more to the content of the episode. Matt went well beyond his usual schemes in that episode and got in deep. The fake band he created seems to give the episode a notoriety that non of the other episodes have. For some reason, a lot of people remember that band more than they do the series itself. I've encountered several people who didn't even remember a series titled It's Your Move. But as soon as I started describing "The Dregs of Humanity" to them, I suddenly got an "Oh, yeah! I remember seeing that!"

NBC did air both parts of "Dregs," but you're not the first to say they never saw the second half. "Dregs" was the last episode to air on Wednesday before the series was moved to Saturday. After the move, my local NBC station began to pre-empt the show whenever they felt like it. I noticed other area NBC stations listed in TV GUIDE were doing the same. After the 18th episode was aired, the series went into repeats for three weeks. At that point, I don't think I ever got to see it again because the pre-emptions became so numerous. I'm therefore guessing that part two of "Dregs" never aired in a lot of markets due to a local pre-emption.

MarkHastings · 02-23-2006, 05:11 PM

Thanks for the info James.

**HTF Ads**

Neil_Duffy · 02-23-2006, 05:46 PM

This show sounds very familar to me... I think it was screened breifly in the UK... there was one episode I seem to recall, when a friend of Batemans character was playing football and if I am right, he was a kid who was kinda picked on... and he was in goal, and as striker hit the ball at him, the show freezed framed and made some ironic quip like, 'Do you really think we're going to let him save the ball' and the kid did, and everyone loved him.

Am I blowing smoke out my ass over this, or am I right?

MarkHastings · 02-23-2006, 05:57 PM

According to TV.com there was an episode like that:
http://www.tv.com/its-your-move/elis...5/summary.html

Oh, and p.s. You wouldn't find it by seraching for Football, we call it soccer here in the states.

Joey Gunz · 02-23-2006, 06:13 PM

I remember watching this show when I was a kid although I don't remember any particular episode. But I do remember Caren Kaye. Oh boy do I remember her!

James Landau · 02-23-2006, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Am I blowing smoke out my ass over this, or am I right?

Neil,

You are right. That is indeed It's Your Move. Mark's link is right on the money. The scene you described is the very end of episode 15, "Eli's Song."

Quote:

But I do remember Caren Kaye. Oh boy do I remember her!

Hot, wasn't she? Picture of her (and other cast members) here.

MarkHastings · 02-23-2006, 07:19 PM

Thanks for the photo James. David Garrison!!!! I forgot about him in that series. Now I see the Married with Children connection

Michael Alden · 02-23-2006, 09:28 PM

I'm not waiting for a release. I transferred my VHS set from off NBC to DVD a couple of years ago.

Rob P S · 02-23-2006, 10:27 PM

If I recall, after the 13th episode they had the mother find out about her scheming son and the original premise was dropped and the show just limped pointlessly through its last few episodes. Nevertheless, the mother and sister were hot and David Garrison was great (here and in MwC) - a gifted comic actor.

Neil_Duffy · 02-24-2006, 06:11 AM

Quote:

You are right. That is indeed It's Your Move. Mark's link is right on the money. The scene you described is the very end of episode 15, "Eli's Song."

Thanks Jame