Leave it to beaver season 3? - Page 3

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

Mike, great stuff there. I love it and I could picture it clearly in my mind. Coming from a divorced family, where things feel apart when I was only 4, I can only wish I had grown up in a household like the Cleavers.

Joe, I feel your pain there buddy. "Father Knows Best" is tops on my list of yet to be released sitcoms. In fact, other than "The Fugitive", it's my most desired dvd release. But if Universal shuts down LITB at 2 seasons I'd almost rather they had done nothing at all to begin with. I know that sounds extreme, and with most shows I'd just be happy to get what I could, but with this show I enjoy the later seasons even more than the early ones. Whetting my appetite for them and then pulling out the rug from underneath is nothing short of cruel and unusual punishment. Hopefully this is all just needless worry, and we will get word of season 3 soon.

Travis, I wish I could see it that way. You may be correct, but I tend to look at it the opposite. This isn't a new release we are talking about, so Gord/Dave needing to keep it under wraps doesn't make as much sense at this point. I'd think if they knew for sure that a 3rd season were on the way, they'd say something generic like, "Don't worry guys, more is coming." But to say nothing at all seems pretty damning, IMHO. Guess we will have to wait it out.

Gary "I really did expect Universal to keep this series on a strict bi-yearly release schedule and am shocked that we didn't get an October/November solicitation" O.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

Heresy! Heresy, I say! Joe Lugoff: you can take such thoughts and stick them in a FKB thread somewhere!



I, too, feel the pain about the absence of Father Knows Best on DVD, Joe. But we could start quite a thread on the merits/comparisons of Jim Anderson vs. Ward Cleaver. Actually, that might be a lot of fun!

Gary: Be patient. Gord & Dave will report something when they know it. There's nothing they can do if Universal hasn't announced a plan.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

No, they just don't want to break our hearts.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

[quote=Gary OS]Mike, great stuff there. I love it and I could picture it clearly in my mind. Coming from a divorced family, where things feel apart when I was only 4, I can only wish I had grown up in a household like the Cleavers.

What's a good age to introduce a child to Leave it to Beaver. I have my 5 year old granddaughter coming for 2 weeks during Christmas Vacation. She also comes from a broken home and my daughter and her are living with my Mom since my Dad passed away in July.

Does anyone have any experience with children this young watching the show? She is a big fan of Disney cartoon movies and has her town portable DVD player!

See what we missed out on!

I watched the show in the 50s, but I was in my early teens. I loved it, and so did my brothers.

I'm getting worried, too, about the delay for Season 3. Universal has a habbit of dropping the ball... I was really surprised when they announced Alfred Hitchcock 2!

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

John: I'd say she'll love it. As "corny" as some kids today might find the situations and antics of Beaver and Wally, I think most would still be able to relate to the timeless situations which underly the premise. That is, forever getting caught in a bind and being afraid to turn to your parents. The one over-riding message I take away from the show is never be afraid to bring a problem you're having to your parent(s). What better message could kids get today...with all the decisions/problems facing them on a daily basis.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

I'm one that liked the last 2 seasons better than the earlier ones. Not sure why but the last season was my favorite by a wide margin. I guess I like the "jazzed-up" theme intro I hope the series gets released for the fanatic fans here. I'm waiting for several other Universal "classics" and, reading these posts, I'm also concerned about Uni's older series possibly not selling well. It must be the case with some and not others. Example of a series that must have been selling well is Uni's "A-Team" as they released (with S5 coming) the entire series. "Columbo" is another example. I'd think that this is telling Uni that their "vault" series are selling well. Strange..... although after doing a quick check of some of my Uni sets, and here's a couple that haven't been continued or are in Uni's "Black Hole" of cancellations:

ADAM-12 SEASON 1
BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON SEASON 1
HARDY BOYS/NANCY DREW SEASON 1

If LITB isn't selling well, it wouldn't make sense to me at all. There's no figuring the TV/DVD market, I guess. It's the one thing that, as a TV/DVD collector, makes the hobby somewhat of a gamble when wanting to buy a complete series.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

I feel your pain, big time! Season 6 is a personal favorite for me, I think, because Wally, Eddie and Lumpy really jelled as a trio at that point. Everything they did was hilarious in that last season.

Gary "another week down, and still no announcement from Universal - how sad" O.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

I was just wondering that as loyal fans of the LITB series, if anyone has contacted Universal (snail-mail, e-mail, phone, FAX.....whatever) and asked them about plans for the remaining seasons? (3-6?) I can't believe that they would just dump this project, especially with the relateivly quick releases of S1 and S2. S3-S6 get into some of the best storylines of the series!

We should contact Universal. I honestly think we will hear something by the end of October for an around Thansgiving to planned Christmas release!

Jack

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

Jack, if past history is any indicator, a studio will almost always give a 2 or 3 month advance notice on release dates. At this point, I seriously doubt we will see any LITB before Christmas, and if another week or two goes by without an announcement you can kiss any release goodbye until 2007.

Ok, here's my latest question. Has Universal announced their tv slate for the remainder of the year, or not?

Gary "it's hard to believe that Universal would abandon one of their all-time classics after only 2 releases" O.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

Sorry....I have no news yet on Season 3 (but it'll come; my confidence hasn't fizzled out on that feeling)....

But I thought some LITB fans might be interested in listening to this recent audio interview with Tony Dow ("Wally Cleaver" himself). It's a fun piece, although Tony sounds like he might be a tad under the weather (or very sleepy, I don't know which), because there's not an abundance of enthusiasm exhibited here by Mr. Dow (who is 61 years old now, btw).

But perhaps he's tired of talking about his role as Wally on the show. Beats me. But it's fun to listen to anyway. .....

http://www.justmyshow.com/shownine.html

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

David, I'm glad hour confidence hasn't waned. I wish I could say the same about mine, but at this point I must confess that I'm worried about the series. I could see Universal giving Season three a thumbs up just to give the show once last chance to "produce" for them (whatever their expectations may be) in the spring of next year but then abandoning it after that.

I'll state this for the record - if Season 3 is released before the end of the year it will be good news that Universal is going to plow on through and finish the run, BUT, if Christmas passes and we haven't seen a release it's a very, very bad sign.

Gary "I'm still in shock that I'm even writing this - I would have never thought Universal would even hesitate on this series, but now I don't know what to think" O.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

What can Al Bundy and Ward Cleaver possibly have in common? (Let's see Dave VP try to answer that one!!)

Well...to try and put Gary at peace and show there's still hope...

Gord Lacey today posted news of a December 19th release of Season 6 of Married With Children. This just shows that there can be an announcement this late in the year for a pre-holiday release.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

Just one thing to keep in mind (and keep the hope up), Universal is only releasing one Alfred Hitchcock Presents set per year so maybe they've just slowed down the LITB releases as opposed to stopping. Personally, I wouldn't worry until it's been over a year since S2 was released (May '07).

No one wants them to slow down but it beats dropping them.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

I want this series completely released as I seem to like the last 2 years of this one better for some reason. One thing's certain: There's no predicting this TV/DVD business. All we can do is wait.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

And we'll see the 10th season of Alfred Hitchcock in . . . 2014?

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

Mike, thanks for the pick-me-up. I realize that anything is possible, and that studios can make "late" announcements, but it's not all that common so I'm still in great doubt of a LITB Season 3 release before Christmas. Hope I'm wrong because I'll be the first to rejoice, but I don't think it's gonna happen at this point. And if we get to the end of this month without any news, it's certainly a no show until '07.

I'm certainly in the same camp as Jeff when it comes to my favorite seasons of the show. The last couple of years were easily the most entertaining for me, although I love the whole run. I think it's the interaction between Eddie, Lumpy and Wally that I enjoy the most in those last two years. By that time, Eddie had really established his "smart aleck" attitude, and I loved every second of it.

Gary "and I agree with marco that a once a year release is way too slow" O.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

Hey gang, while we're all waiting for Season 3 to come out, I want you all to check out these videos I ran across on Youtube...It stars The Beav, Wally, Whitey, Larry Mondello and even Miss Landers! It's for Purina Dog Chow...Now why couldn't they include these little classics as extras on the DVD sets? How many more of these little gems exist I wonder:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOBNmxz5V-A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG2qynFGZ6U

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

Thanks for the commercial links, Carlos.

Here are some more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFhBuJmD8C4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwDOCL5tw2o


The first one above would fit in very nicely alongside my new LITB storylines, outlined here:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...17&postcount=3

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...17&postcount=6

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...9&postcount=10

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

Well, we've now hit November and there's been no announcement from Universal about a third season release. I'm 100% convinced at this point that we should not expect another LITB set until at least 2007. No way is it on the schedule for this year. What a shame. Sigh...

Gary "unless I see some huge announcements for 'Classic' releases [shows from the 50's & 60's] in the next couple of days, I'm going to officially declare the state of Classic TVonDVD to be on the downside and quickly losing its heartbeat - someone better know CPR" O.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

Gary:

Check out the "HSB Abandoned" thread.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

While we're all waiting for season 3, I'd like to bring up a subject that's always caught my attention. Leave It To Beaver was always such a wholesome family show that very rarely would it stray from its formula. It was a show, not about the way great American life was at the time, but rather a show about what great American life SHOULD've been at the time. The formula was usually there...You all know it by now...Beaver would be given bad advice by either Larry, Whitey, Gilbert, Richard and even Eddie or Lumpy, and in later seasons it would be Wally who was given bad advice by either Eddie or Lumpy. We usually learned our lessons the same way the boys did, never lie to your parents, and definitely NEVER listen to the advice of people who have consistently proven themselves to be untrustworthy! As I said, rarely would the show stray from its concept. However, there were several episodes that I consider a bit out of place for LITB. Specifically I can name 3 of them. One was an early episode where Ward hires a friend to help as a gardener ( I believe...I haven't seen the episode in quite awhile). Anyway, it turns out the man had a drinking problem. Another episode dealt with Beaver letting a hobo into his home, and he winds up taking a bath, and "borrowing" one of Ward's suits. The other episode that comes to mind is probably the one episode that I believe slightly crossed the LITB border where we see life beyond the show's green pastures. It was a last season episode where Wally goes out with a girl who drinks, smokes, and hangs out with a shady crowd. I consider this episode as the one where Wally (and the audience) loses his innocence and begins to understand life in the real world. The world wasn't as rosy as LITB portrayed it to be, and that episode opened Wally's (and our) eyes. Does anyone remember any other episodes from the show that felt "different" than the usual formula?

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

The episode where Beaver finds out that Uncle Billy is a phoney and a blowhard (by overhearing him in the barber shop) was another time Beaver lost his innocence.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

Well, there's always these that I talked about earlier in this thread....

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...48&postcount=9

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

A couple of others come to mind focusing on Wally's loss of innocence - with apologies to David VP if I'm duplicating your contributions - the one where he finds out teenage marriage is not necessarily a cakewalk after a dinner with Ryan O'Neal and his wife. Also the episode with Cindy Robbins who uses Wally to revenge and win back her boyfriend. These episodes are all 5th or 6th seasons, my favorites.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

No duplications of mine there, Tom. The things I linked to are made-up storylines (with a racy twist), just for fun.

It would seem that more "true-to-life" situations did seep into Mr. Mosher's and Mr. Connelly's scripts during the last two seasons of LITB.

I enjoy all of the seasons of the show myself (virtually equally), but in a very real sense, the series does almost feel like two different series altogether -- with Seasons 1, 2, and 3 having a different "flavor" to them vs. Seasons 4, 5, and 6.

And for some reason they've made Ward a lot stiffer and straight-laced in those latter years. You rarely see him when he's not clad in a suit coat and tie -- even at dinner or in a casual at-home setting.

But in the early years, Ward is often seen in his shirt-sleeves. In fact, I'd have to check -- but I don't think he's EVER in a tie and coat at the dinner table in the first couple of seasons....which makes sense. Who on Earth dresses up to the nines for a dinner at home with the wife & kids? As The Beav might say -- "That's just kinda goofy".

Another episode that takes a more serious tone is "Beaver's House Guest", the ep. with Barry Gordon guest-starring as "Chopper", who has multiple sets of step-parents.

The episode that just preceded the Chopper show is one of my faves -- "Beaver Won't Eat" -- which has Beaver being punished for not eating his brussels sprouts. That one has a semi-serious tone to it, with June pitching a minor fit or two re. The Beav's persnickety eating habits.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

Im new to this site, but I've been reading the post's since mid august, and I am also extremely concerned about this season 3 issue, does universal even read these threads?, also to David VP Sorry your crystal ball failed on this one!!, I was also hoping to see the anouncement regarding a 6 "single sided disc set" and the fact that universal dosen't even want to say anything about why there hasn't been any word until now. I guess they think we are all "not intelligent" or something as to why they won't come out and just say yes or no. Maybe that website that was posted earlier "that tells us to indicate if we want an e-mail upon release announcement" is a sign that they plan to eventually release the season. Lets just hope so.

Re: Leave it to beaver season 3?

I'll say it did. (I'd better check the batteries in that damn thing.)

I'm still not the slightest bit worried though. (Just as I wasn't worried about an MTM-2 release after years of disappointments.)

The Beaver is TOO GOOD a show to be totally abandoned. Plain and simple.

Sure, it's all about "sales". Obviously it is. But, one day LITB 3 thru 6 will be sitting next to my first two sets.

Blind faith?

Perhaps.

But IMO that's a better outlook than "Total Beav Abandonment".

(Anybody got any batteries on them...the teeny-weeny skinny jobs? This thing's really on the blink.)