I Love Lucy: Possible Paramount DVD release soon? (1 Viewer)

[Eric Huffstutler]

KurtJS

You can't "assume" anything because some have stated they are not interested in every episode while others are. When Paramount did the poll last year, it was to get the most wanted episodes to put in a box set.

If Paramount changed their mind "after" they stated the original source was in too poor of shape to deal with, then I have not heard anything about it.

If they do put out the complete series, I hope it comes with original intros and intermissions (commercials) and extras like what CH has added to their series.

 

[Michael Gage]

I agree with you Steven. I have the Columbia House series (5 DVD's to date) and while they are more expensive, I like the extra's. Also, they did remaster the first DVD which had poor image quality. The remastered DVD and all others have looked fine. I'm not about to cancel based on what I've read unless I see exactly what Paramount has to offer and judge it for myself.

 

[Kajs]

The news we've been waiting for....
From The Digital Bits Rumor Mill
I Love Lucy - Season One, Volume One (7/2)
I Love Lucy - Season One, Volume 2 (7/16)
All I have to say is Woo-Hoo!
And my assumption was right. Thank you very much.

 

[Lee Bombard]

This sure sounds like great news! I think a season back then had around 32 episodes...anyone know for sure?

Regards,

Lee

 

[Julian Lalor]

Is this going to be like the Star Trek original series DVD deal? That is, 2-4 episodes a DVD, requiring us to buy 60 DVDs to get the whole series or will it be more like ST:TNG?

 

[Eric Huffstutler]

There was 35 episodes for season one 1951-1952, not counting the pilot (which is on the CH video sets). I wonder if Paramount have cleared the rights for original openings, closings, and commercials since the "original" film has all of this? It wasn't until reruns when the familiar heart on satin logo came about.

I always wondered why CH was able to keep the radio commercials on the radio extras but not on the episodes? I am sure some of the companies are no longer around but do know they were mainly sponsored by Philip Morris and Ford.

Lets hope that Paramount will give us some extras instead of bare-bones like the M*A*S*H television episodes from Fox.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Now that Bill Hunt has it out in the open....

Understand guys, I can't give out

Paramount release dates and information.

The best I can do is tease you and try to

steer you in the right direction.

I was trying to alert you that Paramount

has "I Love Lucy" on tap for season set releases.

I have no idea how these will compare to

the Columbia House product, but I can only

imagine that with Paramount's initial concerns,

they probably put a lot of care into cleaning

and restoring these episodes.

I also realize CH has extras on their discs.

I am unsure if Paramount will offer the same

extras, but it is my hope that the licensing for

the CH extras came through Paramount. Still

unclear.

In any event, I'd rather buy these episodes

via season boxed sets and I am anticipating that

Paramount will have done a great job at restoring

these episodes to original glory since this was

their initial concern for not releasing them.

Kudos to Paramount for really doing a great

getting some terrific television product out.

 

[Kurt N]

This is truly the best news I've heard in a while. Lucy is one of my all-time faves and I cannot wait.

Hmm---my birthday is in July. Think I know what will be my #1 want.

 

[Kyle McKnight]

I wonder how many volumes per season they're gonna do? Anyways, this is what I was waiting for.

 

[MatthewA]

Well, goodbye bank account! Simpsons and Lucy in July...

 

[Jeff Koch]

Something tells me that if Paramount is involved with "I Love Lucy", we're in for major improvements over the current CH discs and we'll also get fair pricing. Looking forward to hearing reviews on these discs as soon as possible. (RON?)
Jeff
P.S. The Dick Van Dyke Show (also shot at Desilu) team stated they have gone back to the original 35mm camera negatives because they are obsessed with quality. Now that's the way to go!

 

[Andrew Budgell]

I received this from Gregg Oppenheimer, who worked on the CH DVDs, and is the son of one of the shows creators.

--

It IS a Columbia House disc (the one with the pilot episode and episodes

2, 3, and 4 on it) -- repackaged under the Paramount Home Entertainment

label for retail outlets. I hadn't heard about the July release date -- I

thought it wasn't coming out until October.

I understand that Volume Two, Volume Three, and Volume Four will be

released later this fall, but they're not going to release the Columbia

House introductory DVD until next year (because they're doing them

strictly in broadcast order).

- Gregg Oppenheimer

 

[Brandon Gantt]

I still don't understand. Season boxed sets or not? Because if they intend to release individual volumes at 4 episodes each I won't be buying. I love Lucy but not that much.

 

[Eric Huffstutler]

I don't get it???? Why would Columbia House let loose of their series for a Paramount repackaging unless they are loosing their asses over there?

I would think the series would come out like the M*A*S*H series, 8 episodes per disc but no extras :-(

 

[rutger_s]

I think the reason Paramount Home Entertainment would want to do this is to make more money for themselves.

Think about it.

They let Columbia House do most of the major gruntwork for the television series. Remastering the video and audio and creating supplement. All PHE has to do is sit back, wait for the disc content to be finished and then create new cover and disc art.

They only have to be pay Columbia House a licensing fee. Thereby maximizing their profits for this show.

And Columbia House makes money on the licensing since they don't have to keep memberships to make money on this show.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

What is this Columbia House introductory DVD?

Also, with all the complaints I have heard

about the quality of the CH "I Love Lucy"

DVDs, why is Paramount interested in releasing

this product under their own label without doing

a better restoration?

Of couerse, all these questions are based on

pure speculation at this point.

 

[Kyle McKnight]

Damnit...if it's just a repackage, there will be no purchase from me.

 

[Greg_S_H]

I'll remain skeptical of the Oppenheimer information until it is confirmed. If there's one thing Paramount doesn't have a reputation for, it's slipshod work on their DVD releases. Also, breaking up the first season makes sense, but I don't think they're going to go back to what would basically be the TOS model. I could be wrong, of course.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Greg,
Well said.
It seemed Paramount initially did not want
to venture into I Love Lucy on DVD
because the original elements were not in
good shape.
This has been made evident by the Columbia
House releases, that what I hear, are not
exceptional quality.
I can't see Paramount taking those same
transfers and repacking it under their label.
Who knows.

 

[Skoobooz]

You might, Ron.