Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released? - Page 22

ChrisCook · 08-22-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Levine

Shout wouldn't be able to clear the music either.

Under current arraignments, WKRP is essentially "unclearable".

Should I dare ask if you heard any progress concerning "The Wonder Years"?

Interestingly enough, Brian Ward responded to this "WKRP" thread on their forum yesterday:

Shout! Factory Community - How about redoing the WKRP in cincinnati releases?

David Levine · 08-22-2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisCook

Should I dare ask if you heard any progress concerning "The Wonder Years"?

I doubt it. In fact I really doubt there is even discussion about DVDs for it right now. There just isn't any way to do that show justice on DVD.

Quote:

Interestingly enough, Brian Ward responded to this "WKRP" thread on their forum yesterday:

Shout! Factory Community - How about redoing the WKRP in cincinnati releases?

Yup. And he NAILED it.

"The syndicated masters probably don't use as many master music tracks, so there wouldn't be as much to replace/clear. But you wouldn't really want to use syndicated masters, because they're shorter than the original episodes, due to the number of commercials needed.

And processing from the original film is far too costly. Hundreds of thousands of dollars to create new masters from the original film.

So between the visual re-mastering and the music clearances... There's no way that DVD release would make money. Ever.

Not looking so hot for WKRP in Cincinnati. Good thing it isn't one of ours."

Stephen Bowie · 08-22-2008, 12:31 PM

Everything on American Life is time-compressed, so theoretically those WKRP could be uncut ... but whatever songs are intact will be in the wrong pitch. You can't win.

MatthewA · 08-22-2008, 04:16 PM

What original film? This is a taped show. He didn't exactly "nail" it with that regard.

Matt.Koz · 08-22-2008, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen Bowie

Everything on American Life is time-compressed, so theoretically those WKRP could be uncut ... but whatever songs are intact will be in the wrong pitch. You can't win.

That's how I noticed the time compression. It sounded like the Chipmunks sing Classic Rock.

Bryan^H · 08-22-2008, 06:45 PM

Forget making new masters of it. Crap, I'd watch it in black and white if need be.
Despite all the hoopla, I really find it hard to believe that the first season tanked in sales. If that's the case then classic tv on dvd is truly dead.

David Levine · 08-22-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan^H

Despite all the hoopla, I really find it hard to believe that the first season tanked in sales.

It didn't tank - it did solid numbers. I think part of the resistance by the studio is the backlash over all the music issues.

Jaime_Weinman · 08-22-2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Levine

It didn't tank - it did solid numbers. I think part of the resistance by the studio is the backlash over all the music issues.

Exactly. They were planning the second season, but they decided that the music was, as I heard it described, "too costly to keep in and too much trouble to take out."

(Not that any fan should apologize for the controversy over the first season; it was well-deserved -- remember, they didn't just cut music, they cut whole scenes with music in them, including the whole climactic scene of one episode ("Young Master Carlson") )

Also, starting in the second season and continuing through the other seasons, the show started doing more and more scenes that were entirely or partly accompanied by music. And since most of those shows don't have separate music and dialogue tracks, Fox would have the choice of either paying for the music or cutting the scene. In season 4 there's one scene that is entirely intertwined with "Come Together" by The Beatles. Fox could just about get away with the first season because the DJs would usually turn off the music before the talking started. That no longer applies as the series goes on.

Oh, and American Life and WGN appear to be using the exact same package, the one that is distributed by Fox and was prepared by MTM back in the '90s when they nuked the show's music. The first season had the most severe music changes; the fourth season had most (but not all) the music intact. And some of the episodes are cut syndication versions, but most are longer. So as WGN gets into the later seasons you'll hear more music.

MatthewA · 08-22-2008, 10:16 PM

I had heard rumors that WGN had original music, but they are not.

This show is effectively suppressed in its original form by the Music Rights Monster. This beast must be slain by any means necessary.

Rob P S · 08-22-2008, 11:30 PM

So are the original syndicated reruns still floating around or have they all been destroyed?

MatthewA · 08-22-2008, 11:34 PM

If they still exist, they are likely on 1" or even 3/4" tape.