MAVERICK and also spinoffs (1 Viewer)

[TomHU]

I was wondering if anyone out there had information of a few shows that I have waited for full season or full series releases for:

MAVERICK - Warner Bros western from the 50s/60s featuring James Garner and Jack Kelly. I know that VHS tapes were released years ago of various episodes (yes, I have those) but would like to have full seasons and a series set on DVD. I purchased the recently released telefilm NEW MAVERICK a couple of months ago and was hoping that the series would follow. I am enough of a fan that I would even purchase series released of the spinoff series YOUNG MAVERICK (which had a few episodes that could be included which CBS never aired) and BRET MAVERICK (cancelled by NBC after 1 season even though it was a top 25 show).

SANFORD - With the release of the entire SANFORD & SON series as a boxed set I am hoping that eventually we will get a series release of this spinoff which featured Redd Foxx. The story had Lamont moving to Alaska to work on the pipeline and Fred finding love (although only for one season) with a very wealthy woman. I mean, come on, haven't they released What's Happening NOW?????

BIG VALLEY - I seem to recall reading that this had been released by season but have never seen it available. Is that correct?

GET A LIFE - Extremely oddball comedy starring Chris Elliot as a thirtysomething paperboy. I know that a few episodes were released but would like a full season set. The first season was far better than the second. Too many changes in the second season. Plus Brian Doyle Murray's character was just far too annoying.

 

[Bob Hug]

Tom, season 1 was released in its entirety by Fox, which followed up with the first half of season 2 at the same MSRP as season 1 . . . in other words, you got half the episodes of season 2 for the same price as the entire season 1. While there may have been other contributing factors, that left a bad taste in many fans' mouths and may have killed chances for further releases. Still, you should be able to pick up both releases easily from most of the online retailers and, possibly, a few brick & mortar stores.

Edit: I also forgot to mention that a three episode "sampler" of "Maverick" was issued several years ago by Warner and, again, you should be able to find this easily at major online retailers. There's never been a follow-up to this release and there are no official season releases.

 

[TomHU]

Thanks for the BIG VALLEY info.

I did see the MAVERICK sampler a while back, but the problem with it was it was material that had been released prior on VHS via the Columbia House releases and the one episode (Shady Deal at Sunny Acres) had even been previously released as a single episode on VHS.

Thanks for the information.

 

[GlennH]

The Maverick 3-episode sampler is only $5.99 at Amazon.com right now.

I've been recording Maverick episodes daily from Encore Westerns on my DVR. Getting too much of a backlog though. I can't seem to watch them fast enough.

 

[ymike673]

The "Unforgiven" special edition DVD includes an episode of "Maverick" that co-starred Clint Eastwood.

 

[Richard Gallagher]

As noted, Encore Westerns is showing MAVERICK in chronological order. They are currently about a half-dozen episodes into Season Two. You can expect them to start over again when they reach the last episode.

Encore Westerns is also showing BRET MAVERICK, one episode per week on Saturdays.

 

[JamesSmith]

Is Encore Western showing the Young/New Maverick episodes? There are about five episodes that were only shown once on CBS before it was cancelled. I've been tracking them for years.

JamesSmith
[email protected]

 

[TomHU]

-Question about Encore: Are they showing this Maverick material uncut?

Locally I get a movieplex channel that shows some western tv programs and movies on Wednesdays (western Wednesdays) and they are commercial free and uncut.

If that is the case I guess I am gonna have to upgrade my cable package.

 

[Tom.W]

Tom -
Yes, the Encore Mavericks are uncut for story content. They are missing some of the Warner Bros. fanfare at the beginning of the episodes and the bumpers. The consensus among those who have timed them seems to be about 49:50 in running time. See this thread: Wish for Maverick Season Sets.

 

[Richard Gallagher]

Encore Westerns screwed up this week. On Monday they were supposed to show Episode #90 of Maverick, "Bolt from the Blue." Instead they showed episode #75, "A Flock of Trouble," which had already been aired in its correct order. On Tuesday they showed Episode #91. Hopefully they will air #90 in a few weeks in the 9:00 a.m. time slot.

 

[Stephen Bowie]

I noticed that, and "Bolt From the Blue" is the only episode written & directed by Robert Altman, so it'll be a real headache if it is omitted from Encore's package for some reason.

Meanwhile, now that they're into the fourth season, the run times are varying wildly, from a low of 48:50 to over 51 minutes. I have no explanation for this, but I'm less confident that none of the episodes are cut or compressed than I was in the original thread.

 

[Richard Gallagher]

Episode 90 was on their printed schedule, so I'm pretty sure that it was done inadvertently. I sent them a feedback note, but they don't respond to those. They claim that they read them, though.

Episode 90 should be on the 9:00 a.m. EST schedule for December 5. Let's hope they show the correct one.

I don't know if the running times are actually off. My recollection is that the shows sometimes included previews of the following week's show. I've also noted that the teaser openings don't always run the same length. But it's hard to say without having something to compare them with.

 

[Richard Gallagher]

Good news -- Encore Westerns aired "Bolt From the Blue" this morning. Season Five episodes begin next week, so it looks like we're getting the entire run of the series.

 

[Dan McW]

I think the theme song changes a bit for season five, going by my copy of "Three Queens Full," the Bonanza spoof. The most noticeable difference is a bell clanging three notes after you hear the chorus sing, "riverboat, ring your bell."

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

A long time Maverick and James Garner fan, I just ordered the Encore channels on my service just in time to see ... Robert Colbert. :frowning:

I hope they start the cycle over again after this run of the show.

 

[Richard Gallagher]

"Three Queens Full" is scheduled to air on Monday, 12/15 at 7:00 p.m. EST.

 

[Richard Gallagher]

You're in luck. According to the schedule, they are starting over with Episode #1 on 12/29 at 7:00 p.m. EST.

http://www.starz.com/guides/0812WST1.pdf

Note that they will be running a "Cheyenne" marathon on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, so episodes #4 and #5 of "Maverick" are going to be shown back-to-back on 1/2/09.

 

[Dan McW]

It'll be nice to get a better copy of Mr. Wheelwright, Moose, and Small Paul.

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

Thank you for the info! I got a new DVR box just in time. Robert Colbert was okay for The Time Tunnel, but he just doesn't have the charisma for a Maverick. I suspect he was the brother with the Vulcan mother.

 

[Richard Gallagher]

Glad to help. They've also been showing Maverick at 9:00 a.m. EST on a schedule that's a couple of weeks behind the evening schedule, so it gives you a second chance to catch an episode if you have a power failure or if your DVR fails you for some reason.

Colbert made a pretty nice career for himself doing TV work. He has 70 credits on IMDB.com. But as you say he was no James Garner.