Originally Posted by Chi Chi Rodrigweez

Not sure if this has been posted already, but for those without Netflix membership or pay TV, LITB has also been available on free TV lately on the Retro Television Network. You can find RTN on the digital broadcast tier in most major markets (I found it by accident when programming a digital tuner box recently…a pleasant surprise). I’ve been DVR’ing the shows for several weeks now. I can’t tell how much the episodes have been edited, but they don’t seem to be too hacked-up, and it sure is great to see stuff from the later seasons again. Aside from this and the new Netflix availability, though, I would still really like to see the entire series released on DVD ASAP.

Further thoughts:

Considering the apparent DVD sales and production boost from the recent Mary Tyler Moore Show cast reunion, does anyone think a similar Beaver reunion would help it’s cause? And if so, what would be the most likely scenario for such a reunion?

Also, IF the remaining seasons do finally see the light of day on DVD, it’s obvious that the budget would be very tight. Taking that into consideration, what’s the likelihood of any former cast members donating their time to the cause as a tribute to the show and its fans? And before anything else, I want to say that I think it’s just plain sad that Frank Bank and Ken Osmond were asked to provide commentary without pay, given that this injustice happened in the very beginning when deep-pocketed Universal was involved and before low sales were even an issue. I’m just trying to envision an ideal solution to a lousy problem. If the money just isn’t there now due to lower sales projections, then perhaps doing something for the joy of the experience (in this case, cast members gathering together for what-might-be-but hopefully-wouldn’t-be the last time, reminiscing in interviews and providing free commentary) would be better than doing nothing at all (sitting out in protest)…although I would still understand and would not hold a grudge if the latter was chosen. Just a crazy thought, that’s all. But if there’s any way whatsoever for the production company to scrape up some form of compensation, then pay ‘em, darn it!

Originally Posted by Chi Chi Rodrigweez

Not sure if this has been posted already, but for those without Netflix membership or pay TV, LITB has also been available on free TV lately on the Retro Television Network. You can find RTN on the digital broadcast tier in most major markets (I found it by accident when programming a digital tuner box recently…a pleasant surprise). I’ve been DVR’ing the shows for several weeks now. I can’t tell how much the episodes have been edited, but they don’t seem to be too hacked-up, and it sure is great to see stuff from the later seasons again. Aside from this and the new Netflix availability, though, I would still really like to see the entire series released on DVD ASAP.

Further thoughts:

Considering the apparent DVD sales and production boost from the recent Mary Tyler Moore Show cast reunion, does anyone think a similar Beaver reunion would help it’s cause? And if so, what would be the most likely scenario for such a reunion?

Also, IF the remaining seasons do finally see the light of day on DVD, it’s obvious that the budget would be very tight. Taking that into consideration, what’s the likelihood of any former cast members donating their time to the cause as a tribute to the show and its fans? And before anything else, I want to say that I think it’s just plain sad that Frank Bank and Ken Osmond were asked to provide commentary without pay, given that this injustice happened in the very beginning when deep-pocketed Universal was involved and before low sales were even an issue. I’m just trying to envision an ideal solution to a lousy problem. If the money just isn’t there now due to lower sales projections, then perhaps doing something for the joy of the experience (in this case, cast members gathering together for what-might-be-but hopefully-wouldn’t-be the last time, reminiscing in interviews and providing free commentary) would be better than doing nothing at all (sitting out in protest)…although I would still understand and would not hold a grudge if the latter was chosen. Just a crazy thought, that’s all. But if there’s any way whatsoever for the production company to scrape up some form of compensation, then pay ‘em, darn it!

Originally Posted by Gary OS

Thanks William. That means a lot to me. I believe that one of the things this latest discussion has shown is that because the dvd industry is so hush-hush most of the time as it concerns sales numbers it's very hard to get a good grip on whether or not a certain show sold well. I've had different people ("insiders" or execs/producers) who all have access to the same info give me somewhat different viewpoints on whether LiTB sold well or not. I'm guessing the point is that there are different expectations for sales based on the size of the studio or company putting it out. What I believe we can say is this: LiTB did not meet the expectations of Universal, but had it been put out by an independent, somewhat smaller, company it probably would have been judged to have done OK. At least that's the way I'd interpret the situation. As to whether or not another company will look at those numbers and decide to pick up the series or let it stay dormant only time will tell. But I never meant to suggest the show would never start back up. We all know anything is possible.

Gary "thanks again for the encouragement, friend" O.