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Taxi Season 4 - Page 4

post #91 of 133
11/14/08 at 8:45pm

Re: Taxi Season 4

A shout-out to Shout! Factory...

If we don't the know the reason why Paramount won't release the last two seasons, we can just ask Shout! Factory to look into the remaining two seasons. I posted in the "Classic TV I'd Love to See on Shout! Factory DVD" forum at Shout! for Night Court and the guy who runs things gave an explanation why studios would not want to license shows to them (mainly they don't want anyone else making money off them).

Shout! Factory Community - Classic TV I’d love to see on Shout! Factory DVD
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post #92 of 133
11/14/08 at 11:20pm

Re: Taxi Season 4

Or maybe the previous seasons sets didn't sell very well.
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post #93 of 133
11/17/08 at 11:56am

Re: Taxi Season 4

According to Irv at Movies Unlimited, there is going to be a complete series release sometime in 2009. Here is a link to the September column and the relevant portion:

http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musit..._06_092808.asp

Question: ...Any news about the final 2 seasons of Taxi??? Thanks again for any info.
-- (via email)

Answer: ... As for Taxi, expect a release of the entire series sometime in 2009. Thank you, very much!
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post #94 of 133
11/17/08 at 1:40pm

Re: Taxi Season 4

If this "Irv" does indeed have a lot of inside information, then a complete Taxi release would be welcome news (even if I have the first three seasons). Until Gord or David from tvshowsondvd give us official news down the road, I'll treat it as a well-placed rumour.
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post #95 of 133
11/17/08 at 1:50pm

Re: Taxi Season 4

I'm sure that they won't release a complete series set without first releasing s4 & s5 individually. Kind of like the did the last 3 seasons of Cheers in 08. I hope this info is legit.
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post #96 of 133
11/17/08 at 4:08pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Taxi Season 4

I e-mailed Dave,back in mid-late August,and asked if he could inquire about the status of Taxi.He,basically,said that Paramount hasn't told him anything, and everytime he asks about it he's greeted with silence.I wonder what changed in that short amount of time,that "Irv" was able to get info from Paramount where Dave couldn't.As skeptical,of his comment, that I am,I hope he's telling the truth.
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post #97 of 133
11/18/08 at 4:29pm

Re: Taxi Season 4

Whoever that "Irv" is is full of crap. TVShowsOnDVD has already shot down similar `complete series set in 2009' claims by "Irv" for three other shows: Leave It to Beaver and Mary Tyler Moore Show.
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post #98 of 133
1/29/09 at 10:47pm

Taxi Reunion Movie? Yes, If DeVito Has His Way!

DeVito Calls For Taxi Movie

Hey, if Danny DeVito has some pull, maybe this can get Seasons 4 and 5 off the ground. This is one of most maddening and mystifying non-releases that I've seen. No answers whatsoever. (Again) Lack of sales? Issues with rights? What else could it be? I doubt a "Complete Series" Blu-ray set. Wow. Unbelievable.
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post #99 of 133
1/31/09 at 6:58am

Re: Taxi Season 4

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott_J
Whoever that "Irv" is is full of crap. TVShowsOnDVD has already shot down similar `complete series set in 2009' claims by "Irv" for three other shows: Leave It to Beaver and Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Irv may be on to something.
Bring on St. Elsewhere, and Taxi.
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post #100 of 133
1/31/09 at 12:39pm

Re: Taxi Season 4

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott_J
Whoever that "Irv" is is full of crap. TVShowsOnDVD has already shot down similar `complete series set in 2009' claims by "Irv" for three other shows: Leave It to Beaver and Mary Tyler Moore Show.


Oh really? Looks like MTM is on the way...

The Mary Tyler Moore Show DVD news: Release Date for Mary Tyler Moore Show - The Complete Series | TVShowsOnDVD.com
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post #101 of 133
3/16/09 at 2:55am

Re: Taxi Seasons 4 & 5

Taxi moved from ABC to NBC in Seasons 4 and 5. (See Post #24)

"Taxi" (1978) - Company credits

Could this have something to do with the non-release of these seasons on DVD? But it says that only Paramount is a distributor, so it's still perplexing.

NBC Universal was formed in 2004.

Still a great mystery to Taxi fans.
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post #102 of 133
3/16/09 at 4:42am

Re: Taxi Season 4

It moved to NBC for it's last season only, and second, the network switch has nothing to do with rights ownership. The show is owned by CBS/Paramount for its full run.

I wish I could remember if S4 has the episode dealing with the death of Jim's father (who had been played by Victor Buono who had also died) where the playing of "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" is a big deal. (Thank goodness the old Paramount regime got the season out with the big "Lullaby Of Broadway" production number).
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post #103 of 133
3/16/09 at 2:58pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Taxi Season 4

I so frustrated that if I dont hear anything about season 4 being released,by the end of this month,I'll look into acquiring seasons 4 & 5 by other means.I'm sure those people will be more than glad to answer any questions that are asked them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack P
I wish I could remember if S4 has the episode dealing with the death of Jim's father (who had been played by Victor Buono who had also died) where the playing of "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" is a big deal. (Thank goodness the old Paramount regime got the season out with the big "Lullaby Of Broadway" production number).
That episode is in season 5. It's called "Jim's Inheritance" .
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post #104 of 133
4/12/09 at 8:04pm

Re: Taxi Season 4

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen Wight
I so frustrated that if I dont hear anything about season 4 being released,by the end of this month,I'll look into acquiring seasons 4 & 5 by other means.

count me in :-)
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post #105 of 133
4/13/09 at 10:37pm

Re: Taxi Season 4

I still to this day, can't understand why Paramount would have dropped this particular show, when it completed so many others which were never as popular..
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post #106 of 133
4/14/09 at 11:41pm

Re: Taxi Season 4

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen Wight
I so frustrated that if I dont hear anything about season 4 being released,by the end of this month,I'll look into acquiring seasons 4 & 5 by other means.I'm sure those people will be more than glad to answer any questions that are asked them. That episode is in season 5. It's called "Jim's Inheritance" .

And season 4 had the episode that used substantial portions of Billy Joel's "Vienna."

It is my personal belief that music rights costs to both of these songs are what have kept seasons 4 and 5 of Taxi from being released. I presume that the sales and profit margins on the first three seasons were not up to what Paramount feels would justify extra music rights costs that would be incurred by issuing the final two seasons. And the two episodes in question could not be easily re-edited to remove the music, so Paramount is probably at a loss at how to actually get these out there and make whatever profit they feel they need to justify it.
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post #107 of 133
7/1/09 at 1:57am
Yay, Season 4 is out on 9/22/09, about 4 years and a week since Season 3.  From Paramount Home Video!  Thank you!

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Taxi-Season-4/12205

Edited by Keith I - 7/2/2009 at 06:04 am GMT
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post #108 of 133
7/1/09 at 8:24pm
The cover art looks great
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post #109 of 133
9/21/09 at 5:20am
Good news: Season 5 is set for release December 22. This completes the show.

Here's the report:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Taxi-Season-5/12701
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post #110 of 133
9/21/09 at 9:27am


Quote:
Originally Posted by RoyM View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen Wight
I so frustrated that if I dont hear anything about season 4 being released,by the end of this month,I'll look into acquiring seasons 4 & 5 by other means.I'm sure those people will be more than glad to answer any questions that are asked them. That episode is in season 5. It's called "Jim's Inheritance" .

And season 4 had the episode that used substantial portions of Billy Joel's "Vienna."

It is my personal belief that music rights costs to both of these songs are what have kept seasons 4 and 5 of Taxi from being released. I presume that the sales and profit margins on the first three seasons were not up to what Paramount feels would justify extra music rights costs that would be incurred by issuing the final two seasons. And the two episodes in question could not be easily re-edited to remove the music, so Paramount is probably at a loss at how to actually get these out there and make whatever profit they feel they need to justify it.
no Billy Joel on the Vienna episode - also clipped the guitar guy on the plane

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post #111 of 133
9/21/09 at 9:48am


Quote:
Originally Posted by Corey3rd View Post



no Billy Joel on the Vienna episode - also clipped the guitar guy on the plane
 
That just goes to show you that CBS/Paramount is the worst studio ever when it comes to securing music rights.

They're like Stephen J. Cannell. Any song they see, they automatically cut, without bothering to figure in how much it would cost. Chances are they could have gotten that Billy Joel song for a good price, and not even know it.

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post #112 of 133
9/21/09 at 10:15am


Quote:
Originally Posted by vnisanian2001 View Post



That just goes to show you that CBS/Paramount is the worst studio ever when it comes to securing music rights.

They're like Stephen J. Cannell. Any song they see, they automatically cut, without bothering to figure in how much it would cost. Chances are they could have gotten that Billy Joel song for a good price, and not even know it.
 

Billy Joel is going through a divorce. he needs cash
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post #113 of 133
9/21/09 at 12:23pm
So, does the fear for season 5's use of "You Are The Sunshine of My Life" officially begin now?
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post #114 of 133
9/21/09 at 1:11pm
I would say yes, that song is a goner.    All we have to do is recall the slash and burn approach they did for "The Odd Couple" in S3-5 in which it seemed like no effort was made to see if it was something they could use for minimal to no cost, the whole attitude seemed to be "Uh-oh, song lyrics in dialogue, CUT!"      

I will get both seasons nonetheless since I want to see the last of these episodes, and I will admit I am glad the old Paramount regime at least got the show to S3 because I know the current regime would have given the axe to Marilu Henner's great "Lullabuy Of Broadway" number in the hiliarous two part fantasy episode.
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post #115 of 133
9/21/09 at 1:35pm
 By the time a DVD series hits the third or later season on DVD, a company should have realistic expectations on sales numbers. It's not going to outsell season one. So the amount of cash that can be spent on music rights is a hard number. There were songs kept in the Odd Couple. But you know that anything that fell outside the budget was slashed. 

At least they are going to wrap up all five seasons even with a little clipping.
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post #116 of 133
9/21/09 at 2:32pm
There was material that didn't have to be cut in "Odd Couple" because in more than one instance a song in public domain fell victim to the slash and burn.

I will never forgive CBS/Paramount for ruining "Strike Up The Band Or Else" with their removal of "Cocktails For Two" the lynchpin to the whole humor of the episode.   That marked the first time I got a boot after getting the official release specifically for that episode.
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post #117 of 133
9/21/09 at 7:00pm
Well, the info at TV Shows on DVD says Taxi season 5 is running 571 minutes.

For those who would know, how much does it seem is being lopped off based on running times for the original broadcast versions?
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post #118 of 133
9/21/09 at 10:56pm
Speaking of runtimes, did anyone read the review for the season 4 DVD on SitcomsOnline? Among other things, it mentions two episodes JUST UNDER (emphasis on those two words) 23 minutes.

Ouch.
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post #119 of 133
9/22/09 at 12:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Corey3rd View Post



no Billy Joel on the Vienna episode - also clipped the guitar guy on the plane
 

Well, that's a major bummer. But I can't say I'm surprised, given that I predicted as much. I guess we can at least be grateful to be getting the rest of the shows from this season (presumably) intact. One ruined episode vs. never getting the other shows is the trade-off, I guess.

I now fully expect that "Jim's Inheritance" will also be edited when Season 5 is released. Which is even more of a shame, because the entire emotional resonance of that episode rested on the inclusion of the Stevie Wonder song. The scene with Jim at the end will not have nearly the impact with the song removed, or some inane replacement filler. Such a pity, because it is one of the finest episodes (and moments) in the entire run of the show .

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post #120 of 133
9/22/09 at 3:27pm
Y'know, the big box stores are really driving us to the internet for classic TV Releases.

I hit MovieStop, Target, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy today... no Taxi season 4.

No wonder these older shows don't sell anymore.

But, I guess if they sold well in the first place, we'd be seeing them on store shelves.

Vicious cycle, no?
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