How "realistic" is finding your "Holy Grail?" - Page 4

I have almost all of what's been on my collector's lists.

2012 is shaping up to be a great year. Since I posted back in October, four of my "grail" shows have had releases announced (Mannix, Simon and Simon, Father Dowling Mysteries, Diagnosis Murder), when I didn't realistically expect to see any of them again. Now if CBS would only continue Cannon and Barnaby Jones my year would be perfect.

I might want to add since I have most of what I want I'll be spending most of 2012 obtaining DVDs of what I consider the Forerunner of today's TV Shows, namely Movie Serials. Two of these are already sitting under my tree, and two more are on the way. When I open my "Cash Cards" the money from them will purchase another "Wave" of Movie Serials, and possibly Star Trek -The Original Series (I already have the other four!)

The beauty of the hobby is always finding new things to seek out. I've been in it for over 30 years and I'm still discovering shows that I like which I either never gave a thought to at the time or that just kind of fell through the cracks. How boring it would be if you could get everything you wanted. Reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode about the guy who dies and when he wakes up, he wins every gamble, scores every lady, has nothing not go his way. Finally at the end, he says, "if this is heaven, please send me to the other place." At which point he is told, this is the other place. To have been collecting this long and to still be able to discover new old shows to search out copies of, that's the good part and if I did get everything I wanted, that would ruin it for me.

I kinda feel badly for people who just got into the hobby with the DVD era, which only has been around for a short while. Puts you at the mercy of the studios and the opportunistic bootleggers, none of whom are the real collectors who actually have good quality recordings.

I've been lucky with most of my holy grails. Lots of cartoons for from childhood have gotten out and most of the classic TV I used to watch on Nick at Night is out too.

 

If we're talking longest of long shots, of course, Batman and Muppet Babies would be near the top, but the rights hell those two dwell in make most mortals weep.

 

Realistically, Shout! is doing an amazing job of getting episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 out, which I just adore.

 

The only other "I really really REALLY want this on DVD" out there is one I am surprised has not come up yet: the Disney anthology series, from Disneyland to The Wonderful World of Disney. A FEW episodes have slipped out over the years and in some cases, the original episode bumpers and previews have been included with respective movies. But between stuff like Texas John Slaughter, a complete Swamp Fox and so forth are still lacking. What I wouldn't give for Disney to open their vaults and let those things out, to say nothing of the myriad of Progress Reports on the construction of Disneyland and a complete (commercials included) release of Opening Day of the park.

I Second you on this one! I have managed to find a handfull of these on "Alternate" DVDs but that's just the tip of the Iceberg! C'mon Disney, release them or let someone like Shout!, Timeless or Time-Life take a shot at these classics.

I agree with Neil. I might have intially found this forum and started on this adventure because I was in search of a handful of shows that are extra special to me. But along the way I discovered so many more shows that it has changed my whole perspective. Yes, there are still a few I wouldn't mind seeing released, but for each one I had hopes to find in the beginning, there have been dozens of new shows discovered. Definitely a win-win scenario.

As for starting late, that's okay with me. While I might have missed out on the evolution of the TV show collection process and some of the community perspective, I'm happy with the technological advances. Having collected multiple seasons across 200+ released TV shows, captured various others myself, and enjoyed the community of this forum in just a few years has been a gold mine for me.

Just the other day I was thinking of a syndicated kids' show I watched back in the late 70s called Hot Fudge, and another called Whacko. I wonder if the tapes still exist- does anyone else remember these shows?

HOT FUDGE was syndicated by LBS I beleive.

What Whacko series are you referring to? I one I know was a BBC Telerecording with Jimmy Edwards. The film version was Bottoms Up(not on DVD) and considering the actor was gay it was an apt title. Leslie Howard's brother was also in that series. There was a 1934 & a 2009 film called Bottoms also. Whacko refers to the British school headmaster/principal making a naughty boy bend over for six of the best from a came across his butt. This series was shown on Australian government TV.

Like many UK series, Whack-o is junked saved for four episodes.

Wacko- the American kids' show (oops, no 'h') was syndicated in 1977:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wacko_(TV_series)



On the other hand, Hot Fudge had a longer run:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Fudge

Another vote for Filthy Rich to be released on DVD. Don't like many sitcoms, but this one I like the sound of (a send-up of the prime-time 80's soaps). And Jerry Hardin was the cast (Deep Throat on The X Files).

 

After the first three episodes were shown in August 1983, when Filthy Rich returned in October of the same year, it's competition (in the Wednesday 9.30 pm - 10 pm timeslot) was....

 

 

ABC - The Fall Guy (second half hour)

NBC - Family Ties.

 

After I reviewed season 5 of Designing Women and discussing its fate after two stars left, as well as Women of the House, I'm surprised no one brought this up. I'd certainly like to see it.

Well anything is possible.

I never thought I would see one of my holy grails-Logan's Run, but WB made my dreams come true on that. Pre-ordered and ready to rock.
I have a few more though:

-Grizzly Adams-Sure this will be released at some point.

-St. Elsewhere complete series-this was rumored a long time ago, and never happened. Still crossing my fingers, and hoping it will be the next Time/Life release.


-Batman-(1966) What the hell studios, grow up and act like adults. You will both profit. Probably won't happen though.

-Happy Days, Lavern and Shirley remaining seasons-Given more time I think we will see these.

Pretty funny show. I wouldn't mind seeing a release so I could pick up the one or two episodes I'm missing.

Correction to my previous post: And Jerry Hardin was in the cast (Deep Throat on The X Files).

 

Haven't got many comedy shows (including sitcoms) on DVD. Then Car 54, Where Are You?'s first season was released last year. Considering getting at least the first season of Mr. Ed, and definitely getting My Living Doll: Volume 1 when it's released in a couple of months.

 

Didn't think Simon & Simon was going to continue on Region 1 from Shout, so the sixth season being released next month is very welcome.

My "holy grail" is Roots in its original 8-part configuration with the original ABC title card and original credits. I've been trying to get WB to look into this sincd 1993! Someone had the original show on 16mm on ebay, but I didn't win it.

It would be great to see the original mini-series as aired!
Maybe someday a bluray or updated set would put all the promos
and bumpers in, and show it the same way it first aired.

Many of my "holy grail" shows have been released, i'm pleased to say. However, I wish that some studio would release all the series that have been hanging in limbo with only Season one or Season Two released. Complete what you start, I say. Why they can't release even obscure things via some sort of download or Warner Archive method is beyond me.

Just entice more FILTHY RICH converts here is the 2nd season opening!

 

 

Bear in mind we just had our first "Surprise Release" of the year, mainly the Third Season of Night Gallery. I'm pretty certain there will be other releases later this year of Shows we thought had little, if any chance of getting released. There are times it pays to be patient!

Wasn't expecting Simon & Simon to continue at all on Region 1. It looked dead in the water, until the very surprising announcement recently. Am not going to get over-excited about the prospect of the seventh season being released before the end of this year, what with the 19 month gap between the fifth and sixth seasons being released via the Shout! Select program.

While I don't exactly consider it a "holy grail" show, our friends at TVShowsonDVD.com announced today that Bob, the '92 sitcom with Bob Newhart as creator of the comic book "Mad Dog" is coming to DVD! The entire series! Maybe Fox will take notice and finally release the rest of The Bob Newhart Show and more of Newhart. I'm pretty pumped as this is one I *never* thought would receive a DVD release!

That is very good news.

Marvel published a few issues of a comic based on the one on the show. I have them.

Wa this show o ly one season?

It wasn't syndicated, it aired on CBS as part of their Saturday morning line up. The cast and sets were also used for CBS's prime time Saturday morning preview special that year, Wacko Saturday Preview.

I actually talked to someone who worked on the show about 10 years ago and they offered to loan me some episodes they had in their personal collection. Unfortunately, the tapes got lost in the mail.

Those Saturday morning previews are some of my holy grails. I know a few of the 70s ones have surfaced recently, but I really doubt they will ever get any sort of official release because of rights issues.

Almost everything left on my "Holy Grail" list would be 50's and 60's shows, and with the exception of Timeless and a smattering of releases from smaller labels, right now I feel like I'm seeing a slow but steady transition in the Classic TV on DVD release department that is moving away from the B&W era and more into the 70's and beyond era.  Most of the news coming out of Shout now is 70's and up stuff, and that seems to be the case with the little I am seeing from CBS and Warners.  There are still a few things coming that interest me, but I do feel like I'm seeing the the slow demise of releases from the era I'm most interested in.  Oh well, it was a good run while it lasted.   

 

 

Gary "I've got plenty on my shelves - enough to last me a lifetime for sure" O.

I have the comics as well although it took some doing to get the last issue (#6) as it wasn't widely distributed.

The series lasted 1 1/2 seasons with 25 episodes in S1 and 8 in S2. Season 2 was a full re-tooling of the series. Bob no longer wrote Mad-Dog as the company had been sold and the new owner hated comics and everyone was fired. In Season 2 he was a greeting card writer at a company run by the wife (Betty White) of his former boss.