Frank Soyke
Screenwriter
I thought since I've been posting on the slowdowns of the majors with regard to releasing classic material, today, I would try to analyze the reasons behind it. One of the most important factors, as I see it, is one of the most simple. Basically, I feel that "most" of the major series that are really going to appeal to a large buying public (and maximize profits) aren't available because :
1) They have already been tried and stalled due to poor sales or problems licensing additional seasons.
2) Have music clearance issues or other legal problems (disputes with family rightsholders, etc)
3) Non availability of usable prints
So where does that leave us exactly? What I decided to is take a good look at what other MAJOR series left untried that don't fit into the above three categories, would garner enough interest to make a realistic profit for a distributor. As before, I am not including one season shows (save a small few) because as I said before, I feel there isn't enough interest outside the niche market to make a decent profit for a distributor. Be aware of several things going in:
1) These are unreleased shows, not stalled shows, game shows, soaps, variety, or anthologies
2) I have abolutely no idea whether some of the shows listed have unsable prints
3) I am stretching on some of these shows, Interest may be substantially less than what I estimate.
50's - Our Miss Brooks, Bachelor Father, Ozzie and Harriet, Richard Diamond, The Big 4 Wanrer detective shows (although I'm not so certain Surfside, and Bourban Street would sell well), leaving out Rifleman since apparantly it's coming out, Hennessey (maybe).
60's - Batman/Hornet (of course), Name Of The Game, Run For Your Life, NYPD, Defenders, Ben Casey (I think a couple volumes of a PD release is out there now), Mr. Novak and I'll throw in 3 one and done shows (East Side/West Side, Cain's Hundred, and For The People) since according to what I read on here, there is substantial interest in them.
70's - Temperature's Rising, Movin On, Chico, BJ/Lobo, Hec Ramsey. Maybe stretching it if I include Longstreet and Dan August
80's - The biggie - WONDER YEARS, Dear John
That's really all I came up with IMO. I know there will be differing opinions. I really believe I even probably stretched greatly on a couple here. Temperature's Rising (?).
So here's the point of my rambling. This is probably the largest reason for the slowdown. There are nor many (IMO) major shows left out for the MASS audience that's profitable for the distributors to release. Truthfully, most of the best remembered series have been at been least tried at one time or another. I think the best we can hope for is for a handful of these (and maybe a select few other ones) to come out and that the biggies with find a way (either through licensing, resolving some rights issues, or resuming stalled titles) to finish most of the already stalled shows.
1) They have already been tried and stalled due to poor sales or problems licensing additional seasons.
2) Have music clearance issues or other legal problems (disputes with family rightsholders, etc)
3) Non availability of usable prints
So where does that leave us exactly? What I decided to is take a good look at what other MAJOR series left untried that don't fit into the above three categories, would garner enough interest to make a realistic profit for a distributor. As before, I am not including one season shows (save a small few) because as I said before, I feel there isn't enough interest outside the niche market to make a decent profit for a distributor. Be aware of several things going in:
1) These are unreleased shows, not stalled shows, game shows, soaps, variety, or anthologies
2) I have abolutely no idea whether some of the shows listed have unsable prints
3) I am stretching on some of these shows, Interest may be substantially less than what I estimate.
50's - Our Miss Brooks, Bachelor Father, Ozzie and Harriet, Richard Diamond, The Big 4 Wanrer detective shows (although I'm not so certain Surfside, and Bourban Street would sell well), leaving out Rifleman since apparantly it's coming out, Hennessey (maybe).
60's - Batman/Hornet (of course), Name Of The Game, Run For Your Life, NYPD, Defenders, Ben Casey (I think a couple volumes of a PD release is out there now), Mr. Novak and I'll throw in 3 one and done shows (East Side/West Side, Cain's Hundred, and For The People) since according to what I read on here, there is substantial interest in them.
70's - Temperature's Rising, Movin On, Chico, BJ/Lobo, Hec Ramsey. Maybe stretching it if I include Longstreet and Dan August
80's - The biggie - WONDER YEARS, Dear John
That's really all I came up with IMO. I know there will be differing opinions. I really believe I even probably stretched greatly on a couple here. Temperature's Rising (?).
So here's the point of my rambling. This is probably the largest reason for the slowdown. There are nor many (IMO) major shows left out for the MASS audience that's profitable for the distributors to release. Truthfully, most of the best remembered series have been at been least tried at one time or another. I think the best we can hope for is for a handful of these (and maybe a select few other ones) to come out and that the biggies with find a way (either through licensing, resolving some rights issues, or resuming stalled titles) to finish most of the already stalled shows.
