Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released? - Page 9

David Levine · 04-02-2007, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Martin

And just to clarify one point, according to that one review, only 2 episodes are the syndicated cuts.

Right, but unfortunately it looks like most of the other episodes have new cuts...

Scott Merryfield · 04-02-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Martin

Who says it won't?

What alternative do the fans have? It isn't like they can just watch reruns on TV every day. I haven't seen it aired in a decade, at least.

Hardcore fans would buy it in any form. A hardcore fan will buy a title even if there is just an artwork change.

And just to clarify one point, according to that one review, only 2 episodes are the syndicated cuts. That is 2 too many, but still, it isn't the complete series.

The alternative for this fan of the show is a simple one... go without. While I would love to see the show that I enjoyed so much during its initial run, this is not that show. My life will go on just fine if I do not buy this release.

Katherine_K · 04-02-2007, 11:44 AM

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Originally Posted by Jeff*H

I completely disagree. Just look at the posts from the hardcore fans in this thread, the overwhelming majority of whom are not going to buy it and support a lousy product.

The problem with reading a larger picture from boards like this is that the audience of people who read these kinds of forums is a tiny percentage of the consumer audience. I would be very careful about trying to decide what "hardcore" fans are and aren't going to do.

TravisR · 04-02-2007, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katherine_K

The problem with reading a larger picture from boards like this is that the audience of people who read these kinds of forums is a tiny percentage of the consumer audience. I would be very careful about trying to decide what "hardcore" fans are and aren't going to do.

Normally, I would agree with you but I do think that the number of people who are refusing to buy this due to the music substitutions is more substantial in this case because the audience is very small (compared to a current show) for this release to begin with.

Nelson Au · 04-02-2007, 11:51 AM

In thinking about this news, I hate to admit that when I first saw WKRP on the first CBS network broadcasts, I didn't know most of the songs used on the show, but I still got the jokes and found it one of the funniest and refreshing sitcoms at the time. I was a senior in high school, and I didn't listen to a lot of contemporary rock then. So I didn't know Pink Floyd, Foreigner and even Fly Me to the Moon. But the jokes worked.

It's too bad these episodes are so badly altered. I am curious to hear more reviews and learn of the cuts and even see how the alterations play. But knowing the original jokes, like the Hot Blooded scene, there's going to be a sense of lose on these. And I never had the opportunity to see the syndicated broadcasts, only a few.

It would interesting to see poll results of a random group of people to ask how they feel about the music alterations. This would take the hardcore fans out of the equation.

Jon Martin · 04-02-2007, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Merryfield

The alternative for this fan of the show is a simple one... go without. While I would love to see the show that I enjoyed so much during its initial run, this is not that show. My life will go on just fine if I do not buy this release.

Then I don't think you would be considered a "hardcore fan".

For me, I loved the show. Watched it every week in the original airings, and in syndication in the 80's. And, even though it will be cut, I will still be getting it.

For people who truly love the show, edited copies, with replaced music, is better than not seeing it at all.

Why deprive yourself of a show you love because it isn't perfect?

pitchman · 04-02-2007, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy_Cre

It seems to me that there must have been a point where it would seem logical at Fox to recognize how failed the project was pull the plug, and issue a well-polished statement regretting that they wouldn't be releasing WKRP. I think that would have been a both money- and face-saving move for the company.

Not to be overly cynical, but don't forget we are talking about the same parent company who came within minutes of publishing "If I Dit It" and airing a prime-time TV special in support of it. If it wasn't for a huge public outcry at the last moment (including their own network affiliates), they would have. It's all about the $$ and if there is a reasonably good chance of making a buck on it, someone at the top will invariably green-light a project like this... Especially when it can be done on the cheap, as appears to be the case here.

Jeff*H · 04-02-2007, 12:05 PM

I think the bulk of purchasers will be the casual Wal-Mart-type shopper who enjoyed the show and aren't aware of the bloodletting that occurred with the DVD. However, I think that they alone will not be able to support the sales that Fox will require to justify a second season, given the age of the show and the lack of hardcore fan support (those being the fans who are aware of the changes).
Who knows for sure though? Hawaii Five-0 season 1 recently came out and the sales exploded (sell-outs online and in-stores, top 10 Amazon rankings), meaning LOTS of casual fans picked this set up. And that's a 40 year-old show. It was in the top 100 on Amazon weeks before it came out (however, WKRP is not).

Marty M · 04-02-2007, 12:22 PM

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Originally Posted by HenryDuBrow

I've always been in the 'music is less important' camp, still am. The fantastic characters are still the same, the great jokes are intact for the most part, this is such a wonderfully written show and most of the dialog is preserved. I want to see (and hear) this set, if it's really such a hack job...here's Fever doing a bit of music splicing himself...

For a show where their jobs were playing music, it is hard to separate the story and the music. Of course, the announcement of the music substitutions didn't surprise me at all. I thinkthat this set will be received with very little enthusiasm. I predict this will be the only season that will be produced to DVD.

Bob Turnbull · 04-02-2007, 12:51 PM

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For people who truly love the show, edited copies, with replaced music, is better than not seeing it at all.

No offense at all Jon, but do speak for yourself here...I loved the show during its initial run and I'm not buyng this in the form reviewed.

Let me know how you feel once you've seen the Russian defector episode without Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" and they overdub him saying (as referenced previously) "Hold me closer terrible dresser". It ruins the joke, makes little to no sense and shows little respect to the original.

This has been hashed out before though, so it's a matter of opinion. I truly hope you get hours of enjoyment from the set. Just don't claim to be a bigger fan than those of us who don't want to support this release (and in return I won't claim to be a bigger fan than you).

Brian Himes · 04-02-2007, 01:26 PM

Well...after reading that review...I'm not sure how I feel about this release. I was going to get it, if it looked like there was some kind of care and effort put into replacing the music so that it at least fit the scene. From what I read, it doesn't appear that this is the case. This is really, really sad. I hate to mark this one off my list, but it looks like I may have to. I think perhaps that Fox has really butchered this show up.