Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released? - Page 10

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

I feel your guys' pain. While I wasn't a huge fan of the series (I enjoyed it when I was a kid, but haven't given up much bandwidth to it since), I might have picked this up for some nostalgia. I've certainly gotten less for more.

That said - all the people raging with fury at the studio, what were you expecting them to do? People have been nagging them for a release for a very long time now, the music issues is often out of their hands (sometimes music cant be licensed at ANY price), and if they did get through the legal nightmare and release the sets as uncut as possible, they would have cost 150 bucks each and moved three units at that price.

It's a damned if you do, damned if you don't in the worst possible way. I'm sorry the show got screwed, but what else could Fox realistically do?

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

I don't believe that. Not when everything, including a damn doorbellaoke version of a song, is cut. Not when Universal could clear everything for Miami Vice (and, for the normal price of a season set, no less). I can see not being able to clear Pink Floyd, but every single song by every single artist? Nah.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

20th Century F*cks could have made a real attempt to clear some of the songs that were critical to the story points, and I think most of us would have been pleased with that and purchased it given the fact that they at least met the fans halfway with a release that would be better than the current syndicated prints out there, which these are NOT.

Based on the way things turned out, I have no confidence in them anymore. If a genie appeared and offered the president of the TV-DVD division 3 wishes, unlimited music clearances would not even be one of them because they would figure they don't need music included anyway. In fact, I full expect Fox to figure out a way to re-release The Sound of Music on DVD with all of the songs replaced.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

They could take their pick:

1. Suck it up & take care of the music clearances like respectable studios. It happens all the time ("Miami Vice", "Saturday Night Live", "Freaks and Geeks", "Undeclared", "The Monkees", etc.)

2. Lease or sell the show to another distributor, one who has experience handling music clearances. Possibly a boutique or specialty label.

3. Sell "Volumes" instead of complete seasons I.E.: "Lost In Space" & others.

4. Sell 1 big box set, and sell it online only, "direct-to-consumer". I.E.: "Get Smart"

5. Price the set higher.

6. Attempt to clear 75% of the songs. Save 25%.

7. Release full length episodes, not syndicated cuts.

8. Offer a discount in set 1 for anyone who preorders and pays for upcoming sets.

9. Suggestions?

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

It's amazing the Fox had replaced the Patton theme in Young Master Carlson, when they clearly left it in the Simpsons Season 1 episode Bart the General. I know, the Simpsons are the bankable show, that's why all their music is intact.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

I debated long and hard about getting this show. I've decided not to purchase it. I just don't want to send a positive message to Fox that this haphazzard release is acceptable. I would have bought it, if it looked like there was some effort made to at least keep as much of the music as possible. However, it's clear that Fox decided not to even try. That's a shame. I guess I'll buy this used.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

1. Suck it up & take care of the music clearances like respectable studios. It happens all the time ("Miami Vice", "Saturday Night Live", "Freaks and Geeks", "Undeclared", "The Monkees", etc.)

That's of course assuming that they CAN get all the music. And something like Miami Vice may be a different beast altogether - different artists (just try and get a Beatles song), different era, lesser volume of songs to be cleared (didn't Vice have only 1 or 2 songs while WKRP have many bits per episode?).

2. Lease or sell the show to another distributor, one who has experience handling music clearances. Possibly a boutique or specialty label.

Who would then run into the same licensing problems as the big studio.

3. Sell "Volumes" instead of complete seasons I.E.: "Lost In Space" & others

And we know how receptive to that idea the fans have been in the past.

4. Sell 1 big box set, and sell it online only, "direct-to-consumer". I.E.: "Get Smart"

Ok, that one's viable. You'd have a much smaller number of units heading out the door (and probably a higher price to reflect that), but it would work.

5. Price the set higher.

How much higher would the set have to be to cover all those songs? 50? 100? I honestly don't know, but I suspect that it would put the price point into the Wii vs PS3 range, where only the truly hardcore would buy.

6. Attempt to clear 75% of the songs. Save 25%.

Who's to say they didn't try? I'm willing to believe that a Big Evil Business will take the path of minimal resistance as much as the next guy, but I don't think that's the case here (or at least MOST of the case here).

7. Release full length episodes, not syndicated cuts.

And have the music-centric jokes not work? Ok, they don't work right now, residing on the cutting room floor, but which is the lesser of two evils?

It may look like I'm defending Fox - I'm not. But really, there is no "good" solution here. Fox is stuck between a very big rock and a very hard place. If anything, all this bile and anger would be better directed to the RIAA (or whoever holds the licenses) for extorting the studios and the fans like this.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

And have the added bonus of having to pay Fox a substantial royalty on each unit sale, thus driving up the price even more to compensate.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

Can someone tell me why it's so damn difficult to clear songs for TV show sets when it's done for movies all the time? And these movies often sell for less than $6 apiece! What is the difference in the licensing? And why are artists so hellbent on their songs NOT appearing on these series? I just don't get it.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

It's mainly a question of volume. Even a movie with a lot of songs won't have as many as an entire season of a show that used music in every episode. Plus, movies have been going to home video for a long time now, so the filmmakers tend to get the rights to home use at the same time they clear them for use in the theaters. TV-on-DVD is much newer, so there was absolutely no effort to clear for home use when these shows aired. It's sometimes not even done now.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

No Way, No How am I buying this set. The thing that enrages me is that Fox actually had the nerve to put out a press release implying that they were making great efforts to keep as much music intact as possible, and that Hugh Wilson approved the changes.

Of all the major studios, Fox seems to be the most deceptive when it comes to informing (or not informing, as is usually the case) consumers about edits on their DVDs. After Fox massacred In Living Color Season 3, I knew to be wary.

If this does indeed prove to be true, then this situation just goes to show the lengths Fox is willing to go to in order to deceive the public. Had they been honest about the situation from the beginning, I may have considered this purchase. After all, WKRP is probably in the Top 5 of my favorite sitcoms of all time.

As it stands now, however, I refuse to purchase another Fox television DVD until I am fully aware of any cuts made to the shows.

Not only do we need to change the laws with regards to music licensing of classic television shows, we need to change the laws to require studios to identify any cuts made to shows they release on DVD. It should be MANDATORY for all studios to reveal any edits/cuts they make, and the reasons why the cuts were made. I felt like I was robbed when I bought ILC Season 3 and realized about 1/3 of the season was cut. Retailers should have informational sheets in a nice neat binder listing cuts/edits near DVD sections, and the studios should be required to post these sheets on their websites as well.

I'm tired of getting ripped off. The studios need to be REQUIRED to let us know exactly what we are purchasing.

Also, here's another idea: Maybe if every WKRP fan sent Fox $1, they'd have the money needed to clear much of the original music. Whadya think?

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

I guess I'm not a ``hardcore'' fan of this show, then. Because I canceled my pre-order of this...would love to see it, but I'd like to send a message to Fox: I will buy your products as I have before, but not when it's clearly a poorly-done hatchet job. Give me good product, and I'll buy it. Not dreck. I understand licensing some of the music may have been prohibitive, but it clearly seems that almost no attempt was made to secure any rights.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

Call me crazy but I think there's alot more important things that should be taken care before the government worries about DVDs.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

Well put!

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

This set may inadvertantly become a hit, and the reason is simple. How many hardcore fans of the show are out there and don't read internet message boards letting them know how butchered the set is? How many will go to Walmart, not even bother to read the fine print, and simply grab the set, buy it, and pop it into their players, only to realize too late that it's not the show as they remembered it? And finally, how many of those who get suckered, will actually bother to return the sets after seeing it's not what they expected? Not to mention the fact that they may not be able to ask for their money back, I mean the DVDs worked right? So what exactly was the problem? You didn't like it? Well you should've thought about that before buying it, shouldn't you?

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

"If I go to a restaurant and they only burn half my dinner, but the other half is edible, I don't think I should feel fortunate to have half of it. It sucks and I won't pay for it."

Yes but what will you do when the manager calls the cops on you for ordering it, then not paying for it?

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

Oh gee, thanks. A stupid for my comment.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

They serve you a burnt steak, the manager better be comping your meal.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

Well, Fox is consistent.. this is to complete sets, what their "fair and balanced' is to news.... I really thought given the original announcement that it would have been better than this... very frustrating.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

You guys are missing the point. You think Fox really cares that they've put out a crappy product in this WKRP release? As long as they can keep the average buyer in the dark about all the edits and music substitution, once people purchase the set and Fox has their money, they won't be issuing any refunds...This is another case of caveat emptor (buyer beware)...except, unless the buyer reads these posts, he'll be stuck with a DVD lemon.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

After all this hubub, what are the chances we would even see seasons 2-4 in any form? and think of how long it would take? We're just now seeing seasons 2 of Happy Days, Laverne & Shriley and Mork & Mindy. Another reason to seek out "alternative" WKRP sets.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

I was holding off burning my VHS tapes of WKRP to DVD that feature the original music from the 80s syndicated version. Looks like I have a weekend project now.

Fox, thanks for giving my VHS player one last glorious workout before I throw it in a neighborhood rummage sale, where I'm sure I will see a few of your official WKRP sets being sold by pissed-off neighbors.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

Bet we'll be seeing a lot of these sets turning up on eBay.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

Would anyone like to vote this the worst box set of the year so far ?

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

Can the HTF invite anyone from Fox or Hugh Wilson to a chat or an interview held by a moderator with submitted questions so we can hear the reasons?

I'm sure it wasn't a deliberate plot to spoil the WKRP DVD set on any one entity. Seems that it just wasn't possible to have the perfect DVD with all the music intact with these particular set of circumstances.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

The reasons are that Fox was producing this set on a small budget, and you can't do a WKRP set on a small budget. Even if they kept the "essential" songs and cut the others, they'd still have to pay a fair amount of money.

And Fox doesn't seem to have any kind of budget for TV on DVD these days: even a current show, like My Name is Earl, had to have all kinds of music changes on DVD because Fox wouldn't pay for the music that was on the NBC broadcasts.

So what we've got here is what happens when a studio tries to release a music-heavy show without an adequate music budget.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

And don't forget, Fox has even cancelled some series DVD sets. They stopped releasing KING OF THE HILL halfway through the season sets.

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

20th Century Fox screwed up three times with this release.

1. Music Replacement: while not a major issue, still an issue
2. Syndicated cuts
3. Edited Syndicated Cuts

Isn't it bad enough that Fox is giving us syndicated episodes but that they are also giving us EDITED SYNDICATED CUTS. What the hell are they thinking?

Re: Enough already Fox. Are we EVER going to see WKRP released?

I think there should be stronger legislation ensuring the copyright holders cannot ask for just any rate they please. Who can honestly say it is fairer for The Beatles publishers to aks for more money than say, Freddy Fender?

I started a website about this whole music clearance issue, trying to come to the aid of SCTV. Unfortunately, SCTV fans showed little interested in trying to make a difference. This problem of music clearance will continue until we as the consumers decide to take matters into our own hands. It is our right to say something about the quality of the products that we pay for.

The idea for my website was based on the Moonlighting DVD Campaign:
http://www.moonlightingdvd.com/

Here is my SCTV DVD Campaign:
http://www.runstop.de/bennysplace/sctv/index.html