The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews - Page 11

Joseph Bolus · 06-15-2008, 11:49 AM

I would also like to point out that the airing of the final two hour episode was the highest rated show in TV history until the M*A*S*H finale'. So I would hardly classify this show as "obscure". It was an extremely popular show during its network run.

buford2 · 06-15-2008, 11:53 AM

I dont know if the music passages I just mentioned are Rugulo's or not, I am assuming they are. Even if they are not, that music PERFECTLY fit those scenes, and I cant imagine it not being there. Like I said, at least we got season 1.

Harry-N · 06-15-2008, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joseph Bolus

I would also like to point out that the airing of the final two hour episode was the highest rated show in TV history until the M*A*S*H finale'. So I would hardly classify this show as "obscure". It was an extremely popular show during its network run.

Quite true, and I wasn't trying to make the case that in the 1960's, the series was obscure. Far from it. It dominated its time period and killed off its competition. And yes, the finale was one of the big events in our nation's shared consciousness.

My point is simply that time hasn't been kind to THE FUGITIVE. It has sadly faded out of our collective consciousness to the point where if you do a Google search or just mention that title to a room full of people, most of the hits or responses you'll get relate to the film with Harrison Ford.

There aren't too many FUGITIVE fans who are more into it than me, but I recognize the reality of the situation. This release snafu isn't going to be discussed on the evening news, or even around most dinner tables. It's important to us, those who remember the show for how it made us feel in past airings. The simple fact of life is that many who were there in 1967 watching that finale have passed on. Many are of the generation that still hasn't even embraced DVD (surely we all know of an older person who's not embraced the digital format).

We've heard from Ron Epstein, our host, who admits he's never seen THE FUGITIVE. Have David Lambert or Gord Lacey? How about Parker Clack or the other Admins and moderators here? What about the reviewers that have been a sub-topic of this thread? Have they seen THE FUGITIVE before these DVD releases?

I'm sure there are some new fans that have developed since the DVD releases - some have chimed in to this thread, and that's great. The more, the merrier. It's a fabulous show and one well-deserving of an honored place in our DVD collections. It's CBS/Paramount that have provided the dishonor here, perhaps because they simply knew not what they were doing.

Harry

BillyFeldman · 06-15-2008, 03:24 PM

I don't know any of the posters in this thread, really, nor the owner of the site, as to what's important to them or not important to them. Is Dave Lambert someone who picks on a semi-newbie for stating an opinion? It's what he did, and when offered an explanation of the real meaning of what he said I said, he hasn't been back. Is that usual? Not trying to ruffle feathers, but no one posting about this problem is the villain in this piece.

Ronald Epstein · 06-15-2008, 03:30 PM

Harry,

I'm sort of taken back by your last few posts.

It's intelligent insight into what the situation could very well be.

Harry-N · 06-15-2008, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronald Epstein

Harry,

I'm sort of taken back by your last few posts.

It's intelligent insight into what the situation could very well be.

Thank you, Ron. Sometimes I feel like I'm "posting in the wind". It's nice to know that someone is at least reading it!

Harry

Carabimero · 06-15-2008, 04:10 PM

I've been in the entertainment indusrty 20 years; I worked at Paramount as a story analyst for five years. I've never had dealings with their Home Entertainment division, but I still have occasion to visit the studio. Very little shocks me anymore. (Edit: Wait--I take that back. See the first post of this thread).

Granted you're always going to have people who stumbled into what they're doing. My point is that in any given crowd of people, especially in Hollywood, only a percentage lucked into their job (I have to believe that or I will have a nervous breakdown). Odds are someone who worked on this set, indeed more than one, knows exactly where the Fugitive's place in TV history was--and is. That still doesn't mean that they alone had the power to say, "Hey, wait a minute...!" and change the tide of the abomination.

It's exactly this kind of thing that drives people OUT of the biz--sometimes the very people it needs the most. And often that's the true tragedy.

Carabimero · 06-15-2008, 04:17 PM

Harry-N, you're definitely not posting in the wind. I read every one of your posts.

Ronald Epstein · 06-15-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

I don't know any of the posters in this thread, really, nor the owner of the site, as to what's important to them or not important to them. Is Dave Lambert someone who picks on a semi-newbie for stating an opinion? It's what he did, and when offered an explanation of the real meaning of what he said I said, he hasn't been back. Is that usual? Not trying to ruffle feathers, but no one posting about this problem is the villain in this piece.

Billy, nobody is the villain here outside of those that took it upon
themselves to ruin things for everyone by sending those atrocious
emails.

I read your initial post and I read Mr. Lambert's response. He went
out of his way to say he wasn't picking on you and gave you a polite
answer.

Your initial post had a couple allegations in it including the fact that
someone would be fired over this and the fact that Paramount's silence
was something to be concerned about.

I don't know how to say this any better, but I think that your
thoughts on this matter are a bit dramatic. Understand that
David, Gord and I talk to studio people all the time and understand
this industry more than most readers here. I think David was
simply trying to bring your high speculations down to level. You
also jumped on him for not responding to you a second time. Could
it just be that David is out with his family this weekend and not
glued to the computer trying to give instantaneous responses?

I don't want you to feel unwelcome here. If I had felt you were
unfairly treated you can trust I would have come out in your defense.
I just think that your analogy of the situation and consequences of
what Paramount did seem to fall into the realm of being "unlikely."

Give the studio some time to consult and come up with an answer.
Things didn't start on the right foot with all the curse-laden emails
that were received. Let the more credible emails make their way up
the ladder and see what happens in the next week. I'm shocked some
of you expected answers overnight. If they are going to do any sort
of exchange or put together an announcement, it takes a bit of time to do.

...and let's not forget how much damage was done over the past few
days for the manner in which the studio was contacted. Would you be
in a hurry to address fans if you were on the receiving end of those emails?

I don't have any of the answers, but as I have reiterated over
and over again, chances are that there is a real situation here that
the studio had to carefully consider. Not excusing them from not being
forthright about what they did, there are those of us that feel that
even if the studio was honest with all of you about this situation,
there would still be fans raking them over the coals.

Billy, I hope you continue to post here on HTF. If you have any problems
don't hesitate to contact me privately via email.

BillyFeldman · 06-15-2008, 05:05 PM

Thanks, Ron. No problems here - just expressing my opinions and thoughts and trying not to actually do anything that will irk anyone. It's a bad situation here, that much we can all agree on.

Steve...O · 06-15-2008, 05:15 PM

What disturbs me the most about this situation is the altering of the end credits in such a way to attempt to hide the fact they were changed and the lack of full disclosure of these changes. In my opinion that smacks of deception in the best case scenario and outright consumer fraud in the worst case.

CBS/Paramount either knew or should have known that these changes would upset their consumers which makes their attempts to hide same all the more troubling. These are not clueless people who produce these releases; undoubtedly the fact that the FUGITIVE got released at all is a testament to the many requests they'd received over the years for this title.

While it is very unfortunate that a handful of individuals sent profane and insulting messages to CBS/Paramount that really does not absolve them from offering a full explanation of the situation. As David (Carabimero) said, the truth is the best way to go. Sometimes the truth hurts but most reasonable people can deal with reality if it is explained in an honest and forthright way.

This is not a perfect analogy, but I think the general point is relevant: if a manufacturer of another product (doesn't matter which kind) were found to have not only not fully disclosed defects/material alterations in that product but also conspired to disguise those defects/material alterations there would an outcry by consumers and consumer advocate groups. Why should a DVD release be any different?

I really hope CBS/Paramount steps up the plate and offers an honest, spin free, accounting of what transpired with this release. It is not an exaggeration to state their reputation in the classic TV DVD market is at stake here. They've done such a wonderful job with so many of their other releases that it makes this situation all the more puzzling.

Finally, a belated welcome to David and Billy and another shout out to Harry that you're definitely not posting to the wind.

Steve

Carabimero · 06-15-2008, 05:29 PM

We have at least three David's here. You guys can just call me Carab. That'll help a bit.