Mannix is coming! - Page 14

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Originally Posted by jompaul17 

 

Regarding series that start in the UK and are aired in the US, there aren't many -- typically we steal the concept and re-do it.  ;)  For example, there was that series a couple of years ago where the cop is hurt and winds up back in 1973 -- I can't think of the title right now!  I watched all of the short-lived US version of that, and some of the British version that was available from the BBC.

 ;)

Not certain when the idea of CSI (can't stand the CSI shows) was originally thought of, but the UK has had a forensics/detective series on BBC1 which started in the year 2000, called Waking the Dead. It recently finished after 11 years (a spin-off is in the works though).

The show you're thinking of is Life on Mars. The UK show starred Philip Glenister and John Simm. The later US remake starred Harvey Keitel.

Not a fan of reality shows myself. Hardly any that I watch.

Might be worth creating a Mannix guest stars list in this thread.

Anthony Zerbe, in most of the films and TV shows I've seen him in, has played a villain. I thought he was good in the film Licence to Kill (1989) and TV guest star appearances in The Equalizer and Mission: Impossible (he was one of the actors who guest starred as villains the most times in Mission: Impossible).

Quote:

Originally Posted by jompaul17 

 

If you think of the history of the show, it makes sense why it was unique.   It started out as a Levinson and Link pitch to Desilu, with the original Intertech premise and a sort of a James Bond superhuman feel to the character.  (Levinson and Link were the masters of one-dimensional characters -- like Colombo.)  Then, Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts (a team of playwrights -- people with other pedigrees who were looking for work in TV at that time), came in and retooled the show.  They gave it more dimension.  Then, you had what Mike Connors brought to the character -- which was a lot.  In the meantime, Bruce Geller gave it that almost Picasso-like dimensionality -- just what is depicted in the iconic opening credits, but this was also in the show, itself.  Consider a series with episodes like "End Game" and "Sunburst" sitting along  episodes like "The Sound of Darkness,"  "The World Between," "The Mouse That Died," and "Death is the Fifth Gear."  (The latter is an s5 show I just can't wait to see on DVD.)   And that same dimensionality appeared even in individual episodes.  How many episodes have you seen in which each segment is almost a separate story, in and of itself?  "A Penny for the Peep Show" is a good example.

I think it's been mentioned more than once recently in this thread, the fifth season finale "Death is the Fifth Gear". Before reading the episode synopsis on TV.com, I thought the plot was to do with motor racing. So it was a surprise when I read that it was something else entirely.

It's not that long away really, until the fifth season is released on Region 1 (just under two months). I'm quite looking forward to the possible DVD reviews and the discussion on here.

Richard,

Actually, there were a few other recurring characters in Mannix -- mostly other cops, such as Lt. Egan, Sgt. Ives, and a few others that appear in just 3-4 episodes. Interestingly, Frank Campanella, who is Joe Campanella's brother is one of those!  He appears as Lt. Angstrom, in what is probably the very first recurring cop buddy.  But he lasted only until the very beginning of the third season, if memory serves, ending with "Memory:Zero," which is a real transitional episode in Joe and Peggy's relationship and which sets up "The Sound of Darkness" which, of course, takes the show to the next level. Others are, of course, Toby (Mark Stewart) and I think Joe's father comes back in a later year. 

But those are not what I was referring to in my post about the DVD flaws. What I was referring to were recurring "guest appearances" by the same actors -- but playing different roles.  Several of these faces come immediately to mind -- there are a LOT of them.  But I can't think of their names!  And, if I made a list you'd recognize these people immediately has having played several -- sometimes 3-4 different characters -- over the course of the series.   One example is the guy who played the cop in s4's "What Happened to Sunday?" as well as the retired cop (but a different person) in s3's "A Sleep in the Deep."  And, for another example that comes to mind, the woman who plays one of the twins (Gina Lardelli) in s2's "A Pittance of Faith" also appears in s3's "The Nowhere Victim" and s5's "Cry Pigeon"  -- all different people.  That is one reason I was so interested that Anthony Zerbe was one of them -- I hadn't realized that before.  The vast majority of these people are unknown -- you see their names in the credits, but you can't think of them ever playing a regular role otherwise. Anthony Zerbe is an exception.  I read on another website that Mike Connors tended to support the people he liked. 

Richard,

Those CSI shows are not only awful, they are causing students to enroll in all sorts of crime investigation degree programs -- what in the world are all of those people going to do!

"Life on Mars" -- that's right!  I enjoyed it, actually.  I was sorry it ended in the US.  I caught some of the second iteration of the UK show on the BBC in the US, where the same thing happened to a woman, but lost track of it when I moved. 

Quote:

The list is Mannix guest stars is impressive -- it would take some time to put it together, even with the IMDb available.  Aside from those recurring guest appearances from unknowns, lots of big names appear for single guest shows in that show.  Mannix was a show people wanted to do.  We've already seen Robert Conrad and Jacqueline Susann -- but Adam West and Lou Rawls are coming, along with Martin Sheen and John Ritter.  I know there are many others I am missing.  Some of these were already stars when they did the show.

Anthony Zerbe just looks like a villain.  He was also good in Centennial (the miniseries).   He was truly excellent in s2's "Death in a Minor Key" -- he had a difficult role to pull off in an important show.

Richard,

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"Death is the Fifth Gear" is way, WAY up there on my list of favorite Mannix episodes -- and it may be my favorite. (Having said that, there are a lot of episodes in s7 and s8 that I remember very, very fondly but have not seen in syndication -- I just can't wait to see them again.)   A lot goes on in there that you don't even notice the first time, unless you have been paying attention to the main characters closely all along, and, as usual, unless you think about what you just saw that happened so quickly on the screen.   The acting is superb.  I still remember looking forward to that episode all week long, from the time I saw the previews until the original airing in 1972.  It lived up to its promise.

The auto racing appeared in the "teaser" -- just enough to set up the show and so be in the title ;)

I can't wait to see it again -- unedited and beautifully digitally remastered. 

Because I was so busy and distracted for the previous releases, and didn't really re-engage with the series until after s4 arrived in January, I have never looked forward to the arrival of any DVD in the mail -- and perhaps anything in the mail -- as I am for s5 of Mannix.  7/5/11 !!!!!!!!

It will be great to discuss it in this forum.

Since things have been quiet here for a few days, I thought I'd include a link to the amazon review I did for season 5 -- just did it two days ago.  It includes lots of stuff already discussed on this forum, but put together in a single piece.

My apologies to Richard, just in case they are needed, for including so much discussion of the contrast between Mannix and James Bond in terms of the American spirit.   The last person I'd want to offend is Richard!!! 

But, organizing it the way I did clarified some things for me, in my own mind.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3R9383MHW1ZGX/ref=cm_cr_dp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B004X1M3IO&nodeID=130&tag=&linkCode=

Hey Mannix fans and those who may not have ever seen the show.  Buy SEASON 5 coming out on July 5th.  Amazon has it up for 31.99 i believe.  I think it is one of the best if not the best season of the series. I wish i could buy it local.  I cannot but Amazon has always been good to me about getting the goods to my door quickly.

Looks like Mike Connors is suing for video royalties. I wonder if this will halt any future releases.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blimpboy 

Looks like Mike Connors is suing for video royalties. I wonder if this will halt any future releases.

Can you post a link to where you read this? It seems a bit strange that someone comes out of nowhere and posts something like this without sharing the link to where it was read (a news article?).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Collins 

Hey Mannix fans and those who may not have ever seen the show.  Buy SEASON 5 coming out on July 5th.  Amazon has it up for 31.99 i believe.  I think it is one of the best if not the best season of the series. I wish i could buy it local.  I cannot but Amazon has always been good to me about getting the goods to my door quickly.

I can't be certain, but the $31.99 pre-order price for the Season 5 DVD (Region 1) set seems cheaper than it was for the Season 3 and 4 sets. The pre-order price does up up and down, but it seems cheaper compared to the pre-order prices for previous Mannix sets.

What do people think of the front cover artwork for the Season 5 set? I was hoping for it to have a purple colour scheme. Instead it looks like a paler version of the Season 1 front cover colour scheme.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jompaul17 

Since things have been quiet here for a few days, I thought I'd include a link to the amazon review I did for season 5 -- just did it two days ago.  It includes lots of stuff already discussed on this forum, but put together in a single piece.

 

My apologies to Richard, just in case they are needed, for including so much discussion of the contrast between Mannix and James Bond in terms of the American spirit.   The last person I'd want to offend is Richard!!! 

 

But, organizing it the way I did clarified some things for me, in my own mind.

 

 

No offence taken. (my favourite James Bond is a tie between Sir Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton).

It can be quiet on here for a short period of time, and then it starts to get busier again.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/mannix-star-mike-connors-sues-190312

seems Mike has never seen a dime outside of his original paychecks. The DVDs will be tricky to duck since he's supposed to get "10% of “gross proceeds” from the use of Connors’ name and likeness (subject to a 50% fee)." They are sold using his likeness and name on the cover of the DVD boxes.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaveCrest 

Can you post a link to where you read this? It seems a bit strange that someone comes out of nowhere and posts something like this without sharing the link to where it was read (a news article?).

Richard,

Quote:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blimpboy

Looks like Mike Connors is suing for video royalties. I wonder if this will halt any future releases.

Can you post a link to where you read this? It seems a bit strange that someone comes out of nowhere and posts something like this without sharing the link to where it was read (a news article?).

 

Here is one (and with a good picture, too):

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=648478&affid=100055

So, I found out about this on Friday (May 20).  For awhile, I was very depressed about it -- too depressed to even post anything on this site.

But, after thinking about this some more, I have a different opinion.

I find it highly unlikely that Mike Connors would sue unless he knew something was going on.  For one thing, it is difficult to get good lawyers to represent you unless they think they have a case.  And, my guess is that some of this is related to DVD sales, which are more public than syndication deals, which go from studio to broadcast company -- and those are always in bed with each other.  So, this is why the lawsuit is coming now.

So, if you go under the assumption that there is something going on there -- which also seems likely because I've seen quite a few websites that report that shady accounting is a common, ugly practice from studios, then the case will go, at the very least, to mediation, resulting in a settlement.  In fact, this is a very likely scenario.   The agreements in settlements are secret -- that is one of the attractive things about them in contrast to highly open and public lawsuits.

Now, if MC's lawyers are worth anything, they will realize that the profits of future DVD sales are dead center, germane to the issue.  And future DVD sales of Mannix are highly affected by three things:  (1) release of the "lost episodes" of seasons 7 and 8, (2) completion of the series release, and (3) timely release.  All of these things greatly affect net profits. Also, I would think that MC would want to see this series entirely released on DVD -- after all, it is his great legacy.

Thus, while this may be tied up in court for awhile, it is possible that any interference with the timely release of the rest of the series might be interpreted as bad behavior on the part of CBS/Paramount, especially since they have already established a pattern by releasing the first five seasons within three years time.  And, MC's lawyers should, at the very least, flag this to the judge, if they are worth anything.  But, I also now believe that once the case is settled the remainder of the series will be released -- and the odds may have even actually improved for that, given this interpretation.  Because, the odds are good that MC and his lawyers will ask for that in the settlement.  And, I can't think of any reason CBS/Paramount would not agree to that, except for vindictiveness above and beyond the normal levels (because it is in their best interests to sell the remainder of the series in order to get money back from it as well).   And, I don't think that such highly vindictive behavior would help the reputation of any organization that needs at least some positive reputation with the public.

If there are any others out there that have had experience with the US legal system, please feel free to chime in.

And, the more I think about this, I also realize that this lawsuit is entirely consistent with the actor behind the character of Joe Mannix.  Lawsuits are never pleasant -- under any circumstances.  When you file a lawsuit, all sorts of people feel the right to make judgements about you, without anything like full knowledge of circumstances behind the scenes.  And I'm sure he knows that.  Also, when you file a lawsuit, you lose your right to privacy.  No one -- no one -- ever files a lawsuit for the money alone.  There is always some principle involved.  And, sometimes it is so much about principle that what you lose when you file a lawsuit exceeds what you gain -- and you actually know that going in.  But, in a way, you are doing it for the next guy. And this is a valid interpretation of what is going on here, given the apparent widespread track record of the accounting practices of the studios -- for which shows never make any money, thus those with a share in the gross profits never get anything.

BTW, James Garner sued the studios three times. The first, way back in the 50's, broke the studio system. The second was over the way he left the Rockford Files.  And the third was over what he received in syndication payments for the Rockford Files.  And he is considered one of the most beloved people in Hollywood.  (I also read once on a website that Mike Connors and James Garner -- along with Clint Eastwood -- are golfing buddies).

So, one interpretation is that the man behind the character just became more real -- and that it is possible that the likelihood of seeing the rest of the series on DVD went up instead of down.

Again, discussion on this interpretation is most welcome.

MIke Connors was very cooperative when the first season of Mannix came out. Not only did he sit down for fresh interviews and bonus features, but he was willing to conduct several interviews with writers (including myself). Perhaps the absence of any royalties arriving in the mailbox yet four additional releases made him rather curious why he wasn't getting a cut of the action?

Paramount legal seems to have its hands full with Connors and the cast members of Happy Days.

Joe,

First, all of these years, Mike Connors has been known as one of the good guys of Hollywood.  It's real crappy to find out he didn't get anything out of the syndication or DVD sales of Mannix.  I doubt that very many people knew that before last Thursday.  He embodied the character of Joe Mannix so completely that it was difficult to even see him in another role -- which I'm sure affected the roles he was able to get ever since.  Why wouldn't Hollywood want to reward people who do that?

As for Paramount's legal -- all I can say is that one view of corporate lawyers is that they are the personification of the kind of evil portrayed artfully in classic series such as Mannix.  (I have some experience with this -- of the kind I never wanted or ever thought would happen to the likes of me.)   They fight dirty, and act as if the tables would never, ever be turned on either themselves or those they loved -- and yet all of us are one fine line away from being on the other side of any organization, and so completely alone, trying to fight for our rights, or for what is right, or both.  Often all you have is the thought that you are fighting for the next guy, so that the same thing does not happen to them.  Ultimately, when individuals -- any individual -- fights a powerful organization they know they are going to be dragged through the mud.  No one wants this.  This kind of battle is literally, and almost always, might vs. right.   When people belong to powerful, glamorous organization, they can lose the ability to think like individuals, and they seem to lose all sense that they are really quite alone on this Earth, after all.

And this is why I loved the character of Joe Mannix so much.  He personified, even stylized, the feeling of being an individual who was always willing to fight the good fight with an internal moral compass - and even taking a beating in order to try to do the right thing.  Believe me, that kind of portrayal, done artfully, can get into your bones -- more than I ever realized before this past January when I started to re-connect with the series again.

BTW, another thing that people never think will happen to them or those they love is illness.  They think that when everyone they care about is basically healthy, they are somehow blessed or something.  But, when illness happens to those you love, the tables are turned -- same thing when you are up against the wall and you either sue someone in order to try to hold them accountable, or you have to try to live with yourself for being the one in a position to do it, and yet you don't do it.  I have had both of these situations happen to me -- extreme and lengthy family illness and a real nasty professional situation that I found myself in what was representative of what can happen to a class of people. 

I'm very, very thankful that Mannix was around when I grew up as a model of individuality, toughness and guts.  I do hope to see the whole series again, soon.  It has certainly been fantastic, actually healing in a way, to see the first four years again. 

And I wish Mike Connors nothing but the best.

JoAnn,

A long overdue "welcome" to the forum.  I've enjoyed reading your posts about this series.  I've been a Mannix and MC fan for many years.  I watched the series with Dad when it originally aired and when the series releases began on dvd, I was .  

I'm probably in the minoriy though about preferring the "post-S1" seasons better than S1 although I liked S1 as well.  That said, it was great to re-watch S1 after many years as that season wasn't syndicated much if I recall.

I guess I liked the series better after S1 due to Mannix being independent, apart from Intertect.   That notwithstanding, Joe Campenella is another one of my favorite TV actors as well as MR so that made S1 well worth the revisiting on the dvd set.

Jeff,

Thanks very much!  I do appreciate it. 

I sometimes wonder because there are only a few people who post on this thread, but, if you think about it, that makes sense for avid Mannix fans.  Unlike fans of ensemble shows, Mannix fans are probably much more likely to be loners :)

I'm not sure why you say you are in the minority for enjoying s2-s8 more than s1.  Lots and lots of people enjoyed the show during those years during the original run, and the ratings were obviously much better, since the show was nearly canceled after s1.   I think s1 had two things going for it:  (1) It revealed a very interesting backstory for fans that caught the show only from s2 on - and that backstory turned out to really help understand the character better, and (2) the sort of James Bond feel to the show along with Mike Connors doing his own stunts gave s1 incredible energy. 

But, even as Mike Connors is quoted as saying, that format could not last -- and you can see why.  Where were they going to go with the character after awhile?  He quit so many times during s1, how many times was he going to quit in s2?  Joe Mannix needed to be independent.  But, its funny.  I have this feeling that if they started the show with the format of s2, it might not have worked.  By giving the character a super-agent kind of background, Mike Connors was able to hit the ground running in s2 but with a fresh start.  Without that, the show might not have found its way.   But, as I've said before, I think that Mannix was the product of so many things, it would be extremely tough, if not impossible, to recreate.

Anyway, the dynamic between Joe and Peggy worked out superbly. It gave Joe a much more human feel and also allowed a witness that allowed you to see Joe through the eyes of someone else -- which helped you see him better as well.

But, discussing all of this just makes me yearn to see s6-s8 again!  I'm still quite hopeful, actually.  Gotta have faith (another common theme in Mannix, especially in the early years).

QUESTION ABOUT EXTRAS ON A SET OF MANNIX:

I have just recently purchased season one of MANNIX and plan to continue on but a question did cross my mind recently.

Mike Connors appeared on an episode of "Diagnosis Murder" as Joe Mannix.   As I recall the episode fell back on an old episode of MANNIX, and revealed that the wrong person had been arrested for a crime on the MANNIX episode.

Does anyone recall which season of MANNIX that episode is in??  And does anyone know if the "DM" episode featuring Mannix was or will be included as an extra on that season of MANNIX?

BTW - not a huge fan of "DM" enough to purchase an entire season of that series for just the MANNIX episode.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bretmaverick2 

QUESTION ABOUT EXTRAS ON A SET OF MANNIX:

 

I have just recently purchased season one of MANNIX and plan to continue on but a question did cross my mind recently.

 

Mike Connors appeared on an episode of "Diagnosis Murder" as Joe Mannix.   As I recall the episode fell back on an old episode of MANNIX, and revealed that the wrong person had been arrested for a crime on the MANNIX episode.

 

Does anyone recall which season of MANNIX that episode is in??  And does anyone know if the "DM" episode featuring Mannix was or will be included as an extra on that season of MANNIX?

Thomas, the episodes you're asking about have been discussed on the last couple of pages. But answering your question, the Mannix episode you're asking about is "Little Girl Lost", from the seventh season (1973-74). The Diagnosis Murder episode, "Hard-Boiled Murder", I'm hoping does get included as a bonus/special feature in the hopefully released Season 7 DVD set.

My gut instinct is that the Connors lawsuit has killed the chance of ever seeing S6 - S8 on DVD.  It's a shame that the suit couldn't have waited another year to allow the release of those seasons as it appears Mannix could have gone the full run.  Additionally, the chances of this ever going back into widespread syndication probably vanished as well.  

Entertainment lawyers are probably contacting every living elderly star of any classic series now that the Happy Days cast, Donna Douglas, and now Mike Connors have filed very public lawsuits seeking money from merchandising. 

The best case scenario is that the parties come to a very quick settlement that covers future earnings as well as prior ones.  Probably not going to happen though.  As Leroy Jethro Gibbs wisely said, "Never, ever involve a lawyer." 

Major bummer as I really enjoyed watching this series on these DVDs.

     Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve...O 

My gut instinct is that the Connors lawsuit has killed the chance of ever seeing S6 - S8 on DVD.  It's a shame that the suit couldn't have waited another year to allow the release of those seasons as it appears Mannix could have gone the full run.  Additionally, the chances of this ever going back into widespread syndication probably vanished as well.  

 

Entertainment lawyers are probably contacting every living elderly star of any classic series now that the Happy Days cast, Donna Douglas, and now Mike Connors have filed very public lawsuits seeking money from merchandising. 

 

The best case scenario is that the parties come to a very quick settlement that covers future earnings as well as prior ones.  Probably not going to happen though.  As Leroy Jethro Gibbs wisely said, "Never, ever involve a lawyer." 

 

Major bummer as I really enjoyed watching this series on these DVDs.

 

Steve,

I agree, and it's a shame.  We all know what usually happens when similar TV/DVD issues get elevated to the litigation stage.  Maybe this series will be the exeption.  I was sort of counting eggs before they hatched with this series seeing a complete series release.
 

Quote:

 Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve...O

My gut instinct is that the Connors lawsuit has killed the chance of ever seeing S6 - S8 on DVD. It's a shame that the suit couldn't have waited another year to allow the release of those seasons as it appears Mannix could have gone the full run. Additionally, the chances of this ever going back into widespread syndication probably vanished as well.

 

Entertainment lawyers are probably contacting every living elderly star of any classic series now that the Happy Days cast, Donna Douglas, and now Mike Connors have filed very public lawsuits seeking money from merchandising.

 

The best case scenario is that the parties come to a very quick settlement that covers future earnings as well as prior ones. Probably not going to happen though. As Leroy Jethro Gibbs wisely said, "Never, ever involve a lawyer."

 

Major bummer as I really enjoyed watching this series on these DVDs.

 

Steve,

 

I agree, and it's a shame. We all know what usually happens when similar TV/DVD issues get elevated to the litigation stage. Maybe this series will be the exeption. I was sort of counting eggs before they hatched with this series seeing a complete series release.

 

I used to casually browse the HTF site, mostly for Mannix news, but for other things as well, before I became active in posting.  A lot of what you see is here people discussing the death of series releases.  Mannix was one of them, between the release of s3 and s4.  It became depressing to look.  Some of the series do not come back, but the ones that sell tend to.  They sometimes do take awhile though.

Mike Connors is far from the only star to sue over gross percentage points.  And most of the stars are not "elderly."   Take a look at this website, which gives some interesting back-story on all of this:http://www.filmaudit.com/history.html    In, I believe, all of these cases, the series in question did not die.  And add James Garner's series to that list as well.

The gross percentage points were a big deal in Mike Connors' contract, back in the day.  I remember them being discussed.  My guess is that the DVD sales made all of this more transparent. 

The lawyers, if they are worth anything at all, will surely realize the value of releasing the remainder of the series on DVD.  If they do not, then they are simply terrible lawyers.  But I have to believe that they know the entertainment industry enough to be able to place a value on the release of a popular series for which the last two years have not been seen in almost 40 years.  The release of the remainder of the series will be on the table for this suit. 

Now, if the lawyers are worth anything they may also ask for the series to be released in a timely manner, since that will matter to profits as well. But, that will remain to be seen.

BTW, it strikes me that the Happy Days suit is different.  They are suing over the use of their images in places like Las Vegas -- that is not tied to DVD sales.  Presuming that the Mannix DVDs are selling and making money (a reasonable assumption because I don't think there would be a lawsuit otherwise) why would they stop selling them?  Both sides would want to make as much money as they could, once an agreement is reached. 

I was not happy to see the lawsuit either -- believe me.  But there is plenty of precedent that this is not likely to be the end of this series.  The question is when.

If anything, this lawsuit could eventually clean up what I believe was the intentional delay of releasing Mannix on DVD in the first place -- precisely because the studio was manipulating profits and they knew those gross percentage points were there.  They were waiting.  It took a Washington Post article (in 2007) to embarass them.  Then they delayed 15 months between the release of s3 and s4.  Again, they were waiting.  They knew those points were potentially problematic.  Once this is cleaned up, they won't have to play that game anymore and they can just release the series.

The most positive thing about this is that this lawsuit will now have to result in an agreement.  That is a positive thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve...O 

My gut instinct is that the Connors lawsuit has killed the chance of ever seeing S6 - S8 on DVD.  It's a shame that the suit couldn't have waited another year to allow the release of those seasons as it appears Mannix could have gone the full run.  Additionally, the chances of this ever going back into widespread syndication probably vanished as well.  

 

Entertainment lawyers are probably contacting every living elderly star of any classic series now that the Happy Days cast, Donna Douglas, and now Mike Connors have filed very public lawsuits seeking money from merchandising. 

 

The best case scenario is that the parties come to a very quick settlement that covers future earnings as well as prior ones.  Probably not going to happen though.  As Leroy Jethro Gibbs wisely said, "Never, ever involve a lawyer." 

 

Major bummer as I really enjoyed watching this series on these DVDs.

 

Thank you for your un-enthusiasm for seeing the remainder of Mannix on Region 1. I prefer to stay positive.

JoAnn, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this Mike Connors lawsuit situation. If you stayed negative on this you'd think Mannix will never be completed on DVD. I just find it funny though (and yes the recent Mike Connors lawsuit news dosen't help) that after all the positive discussion about Mannix these past few weeks, the more negative stuff starts to seep in.

Which are your favourite Season 5 episodes?

     Quote:

Originally Posted by WaveCrest 

Thank you for your un-enthusiasm for seeing the remainder of Mannix on Region 1. I prefer to stay positive.

What?!!!  You've got this one all wrong, Wave.  Steve O. is a Mannix fan and he'd love to see the series continue.  Just because he's looking at the situation factually and honestly, and not through some Pollyanna-colored glasses, it doesn't make him worthy of a sarcastic rebuke.

Gary "Steve's point is valid and it should be a concern for any and all Mannix fans" O.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary OS 

    

What?!!!  You've got this one all wrong, Wave.  Steve O. is a Mannix fan and he'd love to see the series continue.  Just because he's looking at the situation factually and honestly, and not through some Pollyanna-colored glasses, it doesn't make him worthy of a sarcastic rebuke.

 

 

Gary "Steve's point is valid and it should be a concern for any and all Mannix fans" O.

I am not looking at the situation through some rose-tinted glasses thank you very much. If people want to be sarcastic towards me they should expect it back in return. That wasn't being sarcastic. I just find it funny how all of a sudden a few more people join in, and think it's the end of Mannix on DVD. I want to see it completed.

First, this is probably not surprising but I totally agree with Richard.  After a month of writing all kinds of stuff with a clear, deep love for this series, only to wonder if anyone is actually reading this thread, all of a sudden a few people emerge with negative posts.   Why is it so much easier to be negative than positive?

Gary, I've read many of your posts over the years.  Most of them are quite negative.  You speak of inside information, and then go on and on about how series are dead -- then they re-emerge, sometimes only a few weeks later.   I read some of these well after the fact and remembered thinking that if someone followed these closely that they would walk around depressed most of the time -- and for no good reason.  The sky is always falling for you.  But decisions and events can change on a dime.  Even with "inside information" it can be difficult to tell what is going on behind the scenes.

Everyone, please keep this in mind. 

There was never any guarantee that we would see seasons 6-8 of Mannix.  There could be conjecture, based upon the timely release of s5, following s4. But please remember that there was a 15 month gap between the release of season 3 and season 4.  There are other series with good sales that seem to die for no good reason.   Many come back.  Some do not.  I still think that Paramount was trying to keep profits on Mannix down, waiting things out. I think this had to do with the length of time it took to release Mannix in the first place -- and that it took publicity, public embarrassment, really  -- the 2007 Washington Post article -- in order to do it, as well as the time between the release of s3 and s4.  

All of those years, Mike Connors had no say in the matter of if and when Mannix would be released.  Another Mannix group reported that Mike Connors was never told when season 2 was coming out -- he found out from the guy who was interviewing him.  Now, with this lawsuit, he might actually have a say.  The release of the remainder of the series could actually be on the table now.  It can, and really should be, a settlement point.  Why would Mike Connors not want to see all of Mannix released on DVD now?

And, can we, please, stop these posts about lawyers exploiting "elderly" people.  You have no idea what is really going on -- so stop making such ugly conjectures.  Honestly, this is one of the things that shows the guts it takes to file a lawsuit in the first place -- all kinds of people make public, negative conclusions about just about anything about you without having the first clue of what is really going on.

The day I found out about the lawsuit I happened to see Dick Van Dyke on Piers Morgan Tonight.  He was on for only a few minutes -- but that guy was not only sharp, he was incredibly interesting -- very expressive and insightful.  He is also 85.  So please stop this ugly stuff, and just take this thing on face value.  There was a wrong done -- all kinds of information out there confirms this.  The wrong is being fought.   There could be a positive outcome -- for all concerned -- as a result of this.  This includes the fans.  In the meantime, it might be nice if we were a bunch of people that publicly expressed how much we care about the show.  That could actually help, much more than a lot of complaining.  Maybe others read this site as well -- people who can make decisions? 

There are longstanding -- very longstanding -- issues with the treatment of Mannix by both Paramount and CBS, going back to its cancellation.  Another discussion group reported that after Mannix was canceled in the spring of 1975 (after it ended the year at #20) the reruns came in at #3!    Honestly, I never understood the treatment of this show. But the lawsuit is consistent with some of it -- going back a long time now.

Once again, there are reasons that Mike Connor's lawyers should want to fight to see that the rest of the series is released in a timely manner.  The release goes directly to the profits, which is the issue at hand.  And there are three ways (as I see it) that they can make the case for timely release:

(1) Paramount has established a pattern of releasing the first 5 seasons within 3 years -- breaking this now could show bad faith on their part -- an attempt to keep profits down (that may, in fact, be why the lawsuit came now, and not earlier)

(2) The release of seasons 7 and 8 could result in substantially higher sales, due to the lack of syndication of 3/4 of these seasons

(3) Complete series tend to sell more, over time.

It occurred to me that it could even help to write to Mike Connor's lawyers to remind them of this, and also to remind everyone involved of the fans out there, at the same time.  The names of his representation were included in the articles.  They could also be reading sites like this -- if not, then maybe they should be reminded to.  They speak to the shows enduring popularity, and the negative publicity CBS/Paramount could be in for if such a classic star and show is treated in a vindictive manner.

If you don't understand fighting for yourself and what is right, then you do not understand the main character of this series. 

I'm grateful to have seasons 1-4 right now, and very grateful the entire series has been digitally re-mastered.  I'm grateful to have season 5 coming in the mail soon.  That is a lot more than I had in 2007, when I never thought I'd see this show again.  I still think this is the best series ever made on TV -- and the best character portrayal ever on TV.   I have hope I will see the rest of the series -- and plan to do what I can to help see that happens.

Richard,

Thanks very much for being positive.  After reconnecting with the series this past January, I hope that I stay that way -- and keep the good fight in me. 

I also hope we stay positive on this site and simply express ourselves as avid fans.   Honestly, the more you think about this show the better it is -- this has been a crazy experience of mine.  And, enthusiasm for any topic can be contagious -- and can affect outcomes -- like the release of the rest of the series.

Season 5 is an intriguing year for me, because there were a few episodes I think I didn't see quite so completely as others.  I was only 10 years old then and it was on at 10PM on a school night.  Those were different times!   While I negotiated with my parents to stay up later on "occasional" nights -- just in order to watch Mannix from my perspective -- my memory of some of those episodes is not quite as good as other years.  Thus, I am really looking forward to seeing s5 again!

Having said that, one of my favorite episodes of the entire series is "Death Is the Fifth Gear," which is the closing episode of season 5.   I simply cannot wait to see that episode again, digitally remastered.  Lots of stuff goes on in that episode, including what I believe are some of the best Joe-Peggy scenes of the entire series.  That will most likely be the first episode  I watch, out of the box.  There are other fragments I have from year #5, but I can't place them in episodes.  I will search for those fragments as well, but perhaps slowly, as I want to savor the experience. 

     Quote:

Originally Posted by jompaul17 

Gary, I've read many of your posts over the years.  Most of them are quite negative.  You speak of inside information, and then go on and on about how series are dead -- then they re-emerge, sometimes only a few weeks later.   I read some of these well after the fact and remembered thinking that if someone followed these closely that they would walk around depressed most of the time -- and for no good reason.  The sky is always falling for you.  But decisions and events can change on a dime.  Even with "inside information" it can be difficult to tell what is going on behind the scenes.

 

Sorry, I'll have to disagree with this part. I've known Gary for several years, on & off this board and there are plenty of examples where he has posted 'positives' with information that has helped members on this board.

I understand your input and concern for negative opinions in this thread.  This may be only my take on what's been posted since the lawsuit news, but I doubt anyone's wishing for a stoppage of Mannix DVD releases.  Just imo here and I'm a longtime Mannix/Connors fan.

I think that, as older series TV/DVD collectors, wnen we hear about possible lawsuits and legal/clearance issues relating to these older series', some  tend to look at the negatives due to the history of related issues that have presented or delayed, for years, DVD releases of affected shows.

Let's hope that this series' release schedule will not be affected by any potential legal issues.

     Quote:

Originally Posted by jompaul17 

Gary, I've read many of your posts over the years.  Most of them are quite negative.  You speak of inside information, and then go on and on about how series are dead -- then they re-emerge, sometimes only a few weeks later.   I read some of these well after the fact and remembered thinking that if someone followed these closely that they would walk around depressed most of the time -- and for no good reason.  The sky is always falling for you. 

JoAnn, if you want to cast aspersions or doubt on anything I ever say here about inside info feel free, but the facts are not going to back you up.  There are several people here who can attest to my honesty when it comes to distinguishing between my own conjecture and actual inside info.  I always do my dead level best to separate the two.  And while I may have said a series is dead in the water, or stalled out indefinitely, I don't think I've ever said a series was dead completely.  That's silly because a studio can always resurrect a series.  Rawhide is a perfect example of that.  Barney Miller would be another.  But that doesn't negate the fact that those series were dead in the water, or stalled out indefinitely, at a certain time.  You've apparently failed to distinguish between the two issues. 

The sky is not falling for me.  But like Steve O. and other people, I'm also not going to say things are fine and classic dvds are coming out at the same rate they were a year ago.  Or the year before that, or the one before that.  Why?  Because that's just not true.  It's just a cold, hard fact that the economy going into the tank has affected what studios will and won't do with classic titles.  And we are on the downside of the classic TV on DVD mountain.  Anyone disputing that is just being willfully blind.  Are there good things still coming?  Sure.  But are there a bunch of stalled out titles that mostly likely won't ever see the light of day on pressed dvd?  Without a doubt.

Steve wasn't trying to play Nostradamus.  He was just sharing his concern.  That's not being negative.  There's a big difference.  He doesn't know, and neither do I, whether or not Mannix will continue to be released.  I hope it does.  But I still maintain his point is valid. 

Gary "ergo inimicus vobis factus sum verum dicens vobis?" O.