"SIGHTINGS" was THE best reality documentary series about the paranormal. I really wish that Paramount would release it on DVD, preferably in season by season releases. Here is the history of the show, for those who aren't familiar with it:
"Sightings" started out as a few specials on the Fox network in 1991 and 1992 featuring investigations of UFOs and ghosts, respectively. The ratings were good, so it was made into a weekly half-hour series in the spring of 1992. It ran for two seasons on Fox. In 1994, it was brought back in first-run syndication as an hour weekly show with all-new episodes. It ran for two seasons again. In 1996, the Sci Fi Channel picked it up for its 5th and final season (ending in 1997). According to one source, at least a couple of two-hour specials aired on Sci Fi in 1998. In 2002, a movie based on a segment of the series aired on Showtime called, "Sightings: Heartland Ghost". In 2003, the producers of the show edited together some old footage with some new interviews and produced a first-run syndicated series called, "Unexplained Mysteries" (which ran until 2005).
"Sightings" had both style and substance. The writing on the show pulled you into each segment and made you interested in it. The show was packed with lots of information and managed to get it all in within each 5 to 10 minute segment, without seeming rushed. I liked the fact that it featured several different topics per hour (or 30 minutes in the first two seasons). If you didn't like one segment, chances are you liked another or several others. The show was the precursor to the popular fictional series "The X-Files". "The X-Files" replaced Sightings on Fox's Friday night schedule in 1993, exploring the same topics, except in a fictional format. You have to see that Sightings paved the way for paranormal programming, not only on Fox, but on other networks and in syndication.
Now that "Unsolved Mysteries" (and some obscure paranormal shows like "Mysteries, Magic, & Miracles") are out on DVD, I think it only fair that we get Sightings out on DVD. I would prefer full-season releases. Since the show was only 30 minutes long in its first 2 seasons, I would think that they could group seasons 1 & 2 (as well as the few specials that preceded the series) in one DVD set. After that they could put out seperate releases for seasons 3 through 5. Maybe some extras could be included such as interviews with host Tim White, Producer Henry Winkler, etc. Maybe something about the paranormal (terms or something else) could be included. I think they should be reasonably priced for fans. I would definitely buy them all! And I know I'm not alone.
Would any of you like to see it released on DVD? For those of you who are fans, I think we should start a letter writing campaign to Paramount Home Video.
-Mike
"Sightings" started out as a few specials on the Fox network in 1991 and 1992 featuring investigations of UFOs and ghosts, respectively. The ratings were good, so it was made into a weekly half-hour series in the spring of 1992. It ran for two seasons on Fox. In 1994, it was brought back in first-run syndication as an hour weekly show with all-new episodes. It ran for two seasons again. In 1996, the Sci Fi Channel picked it up for its 5th and final season (ending in 1997). According to one source, at least a couple of two-hour specials aired on Sci Fi in 1998. In 2002, a movie based on a segment of the series aired on Showtime called, "Sightings: Heartland Ghost". In 2003, the producers of the show edited together some old footage with some new interviews and produced a first-run syndicated series called, "Unexplained Mysteries" (which ran until 2005).
"Sightings" had both style and substance. The writing on the show pulled you into each segment and made you interested in it. The show was packed with lots of information and managed to get it all in within each 5 to 10 minute segment, without seeming rushed. I liked the fact that it featured several different topics per hour (or 30 minutes in the first two seasons). If you didn't like one segment, chances are you liked another or several others. The show was the precursor to the popular fictional series "The X-Files". "The X-Files" replaced Sightings on Fox's Friday night schedule in 1993, exploring the same topics, except in a fictional format. You have to see that Sightings paved the way for paranormal programming, not only on Fox, but on other networks and in syndication.
Now that "Unsolved Mysteries" (and some obscure paranormal shows like "Mysteries, Magic, & Miracles") are out on DVD, I think it only fair that we get Sightings out on DVD. I would prefer full-season releases. Since the show was only 30 minutes long in its first 2 seasons, I would think that they could group seasons 1 & 2 (as well as the few specials that preceded the series) in one DVD set. After that they could put out seperate releases for seasons 3 through 5. Maybe some extras could be included such as interviews with host Tim White, Producer Henry Winkler, etc. Maybe something about the paranormal (terms or something else) could be included. I think they should be reasonably priced for fans. I would definitely buy them all! And I know I'm not alone.
Would any of you like to see it released on DVD? For those of you who are fans, I think we should start a letter writing campaign to Paramount Home Video.
-Mike
I'm all for the letter writing campaign. Who's with us?
