Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released? - Page 10

Tony J Case · 04-03-2007, 11:24 AM

I feel your guys' pain. While I wasn't a huge fan of the series (I enjoyed it when I was a kid, but haven't given up much bandwidth to it since), I might have picked this up for some nostalgia. I've certainly gotten less for more.

That said - all the people raging with fury at the studio, what were you expecting them to do? People have been nagging them for a release for a very long time now, the music issues is often out of their hands (sometimes music cant be licensed at ANY price), and if they did get through the legal nightmare and release the sets as uncut as possible, they would have cost 150 bucks each and moved three units at that price.

It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't in the worst possible way. I'm sorry the show got screwed, but what else could Fox realistically do?

Greg_S_H · 04-03-2007, 11:32 AM

I don't believe that. Not when everything, including a damn doorbellaoke version of a song, is cut. Not when Universal could clear everything for Miami Vice (and, for the normal price of a season set, no less). I can see not being able to clear Pink Floyd, but every single song by every single artist? Nah.

Jeff*H · 04-03-2007, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony J Case

It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't in the worst possible way. I'm sorry the show got screwed, but what else could Fox realistically do?

20th Century F*cks could have made a real attempt to clear some of the songs that were critical to the story points, and I think most of us would have been pleased with that and purchased it given the fact that they at least met the fans halfway with a release that would be better than the current syndicated prints out there, which these are NOT.

Based on the way things turned out, I have no confidence in them anymore. If a genie appeared and offered the president of the TV-DVD division 3 wishes, unlimited music clearances would not even be one of them because they would figure they don't need music included anyway. In fact, I full expect Fox to figure out a way to re-release The Sound of Music on DVD with all of the songs replaced.

David Deeb · 04-03-2007, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony J Case

I'm sorry the show got screwed, but what else could Fox realistically do?

They could take their pick:

1. Suck it up & take care of the music clearances like respectable studios. It happens all the time ("Miami Vice", "Saturday Night Live", "Freaks and Geeks", "Undeclared", "The Monkees", etc.)

2. Lease or sell the show to another distributor, one who has experience handling music clearances. Possibly a boutique or specialty label.

3. Sell "Volumes" instead of complete seasons I.E.: "Lost In Space" & others.

4. Sell 1 big box set, and sell it online only, "direct-to-consumer". I.E.: "Get Smart"

5. Price the set higher.

6. Attempt to clear 75% of the songs. Save 25%.

7. Release full length episodes, not syndicated cuts.

8. Offer a discount in set 1 for anyone who preorders and pays for upcoming sets.

9. Suggestions?

Anthony Hom · 04-03-2007, 01:11 PM

It's amazing the Fox had replaced the Patton theme in Young Master Carlson, when they clearly left it in the Simpsons Season 1 episode Bart the General. I know, the Simpsons are the bankable show, that's why all their music is intact.

Brian Himes · 04-03-2007, 01:28 PM

I debated long and hard about getting this show. I've decided not to purchase it. I just don't want to send a positive message to Fox that this haphazzard release is acceptable. I would have bought it, if it looked like there was some effort made to at least keep as much of the music as possible. However, it's clear that Fox decided not to even try. That's a shame. I guess I'll buy this used.

Tony J Case · 04-03-2007, 02:32 PM

1. Suck it up & take care of the music clearances like respectable studios. It happens all the time ("Miami Vice", "Saturday Night Live", "Freaks and Geeks", "Undeclared", "The Monkees", etc.)

That's of course assuming that they CAN get all the music. And something like Miami Vice may be a different beast altogether - different artists (just try and get a Beatles song), different era, lesser volume of songs to be cleared (didn't Vice have only 1 or 2 songs while WKRP have many bits per episode?).

2. Lease or sell the show to another distributor, one who has experience handling music clearances. Possibly a boutique or specialty label.

Who would then run into the same licensing problems as the big studio.

3. Sell "Volumes" instead of complete seasons I.E.: "Lost In Space" & others

And we know how receptive to that idea the fans have been in the past.

4. Sell 1 big box set, and sell it online only, "direct-to-consumer". I.E.: "Get Smart"

Ok, that one's viable. You'd have a much smaller number of units heading out the door (and probably a higher price to reflect that), but it would work.

5. Price the set higher.

How much higher would the set have to be to cover all those songs? 50? 100? I honestly don't know, but I suspect that it would put the price point into the Wii vs PS3 range, where only the truly hardcore would buy.

6. Attempt to clear 75% of the songs. Save 25%.

Who's to say they didn't try? I'm willing to believe that a Big Evil Business will take the path of minimal resistance as much as the next guy, but I don't think that's the case here (or at least MOST of the case here).

7. Release full length episodes, not syndicated cuts.

And have the music-centric jokes not work? Ok, they don't work right now, residing on the cutting room floor, but which is the lesser of two evils?

It may look like I'm defending Fox - I'm not. But really, there is no "good" solution here. Fox is stuck between a very big rock and a very hard place. If anything, all this bile and anger would be better directed to the RIAA (or whoever holds the licenses) for extorting the studios and the fans like this.

David Levine · 04-03-2007, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony J Case

2. Lease or sell the show to another distributor, one who has experience handling music clearances. Possibly a boutique or specialty label.

Who would then run into the same licensing problems as the big studio.

And have the added bonus of having to pay Fox a substantial royalty on each unit sale, thus driving up the price even more to compensate.

Elena S · 04-03-2007, 03:20 PM

Can someone tell me why it's so damn difficult to clear songs for TV show sets when it's done for movies all the time? And these movies often sell for less than $6 apiece! What is the difference in the licensing? And why are artists so hellbent on their songs NOT appearing on these series? I just don't get it.