Frank Soyke
Screenwriter
Ok, see we've seen some surprises lately (ODAAT, Laugh-In , Green Acres) so I'm wondering which other unreleased or stalled shows have a legitimate chance of release....
Let's look at a few genres/decades, etc.
The 50's - I think for the most part we will see very little stuff from the 50s that hasn't already been released, come out. While many of us would love to see things like Our Miss Brooks, Margie, Ann Sothern etc come out demographics and possible sales potential are not high for this stuff anymore so I'm thinking distributors probably will steer clear of this stuff. I think the only things from this era that may see the light of day would be a few more Warner items (Colt 45?) , Trackdown, and I do feel that eventually Gunsmoke will be complete. If not by CBS, maybe a licensee. And of course there is always the chance Sam Nelson comes through with the Ozzie and Harriet stuff but I see very little happening more with this era.
60's- ditto Bonanza as I stated with Gunsmoke and I gotta feel Hillbilies will be completed at some point. It's too iconic not to be. Not so certain on Petticoat Junction. The WA detective shows are always a possibility but who knows, and we can hope for Shout to continue Defenders... and let's not forget about the rumored Peyton Place set... other wise I don't think we will see much. us fans of one season 60s sitcoms and dramas have probably seen our best days so I wouldn't expect Many Happy Returns, THE Cat, He and She, etc. Also most of the Fox stuff (12 O Clock High, Julia, Rest of Burkes Law, Felony Squad, etc) probably never will come out. I think the Green Hornet is the only Fox property that stands a chance due to its cult status. And of course my #1 grail show Run For Your Life is most likely never coming out..
70s- with the recent announcement of One Day... Chico and the Man stands alone as the only long running unreleased sitcom from that decade. I used to think it was a slam dunk to come out but I'm now thinking it never will. Other wise the 70s have seen most big shows released.
The Universal fire stuff (Baretta, Switch, BJ/Lobo) being the only big vacuum. We can hope Columbia continues with Love Boat and somebody picks up the rest of Fantasy Island but I wouldnt count on it.... and whether CBS finishes Happy Days is anybody's guess but I think if anything more from the 70 were to come out it would be the above titles or Archie Bunkers Place.
I,don't think we'll see much else..... Maybe a Knots Landing superset if they get the music rights resolved
but don't hold your breath.
80s- Holding my hope out for some one season cult type shows yet (Enos, It's Your Move) but most of the big 80s stuff is already out there. This is still a decent demographic so maybe something like Trapper John, It's A Living, Silver Spoons, Fall Guy, Benson, or Too Close For Comfort still might be released or unstalled respectively and come out but I wouldn't bet money on any of those. Later 80s stuff ( Midnight Caller, Dear John, Different World, Head of the Class, etc would seem to have a decent market but nobody seems interested in giving this stuff a go..
Thoughts????
Let's look at a few genres/decades, etc.
The 50's - I think for the most part we will see very little stuff from the 50s that hasn't already been released, come out. While many of us would love to see things like Our Miss Brooks, Margie, Ann Sothern etc come out demographics and possible sales potential are not high for this stuff anymore so I'm thinking distributors probably will steer clear of this stuff. I think the only things from this era that may see the light of day would be a few more Warner items (Colt 45?) , Trackdown, and I do feel that eventually Gunsmoke will be complete. If not by CBS, maybe a licensee. And of course there is always the chance Sam Nelson comes through with the Ozzie and Harriet stuff but I see very little happening more with this era.
60's- ditto Bonanza as I stated with Gunsmoke and I gotta feel Hillbilies will be completed at some point. It's too iconic not to be. Not so certain on Petticoat Junction. The WA detective shows are always a possibility but who knows, and we can hope for Shout to continue Defenders... and let's not forget about the rumored Peyton Place set... other wise I don't think we will see much. us fans of one season 60s sitcoms and dramas have probably seen our best days so I wouldn't expect Many Happy Returns, THE Cat, He and She, etc. Also most of the Fox stuff (12 O Clock High, Julia, Rest of Burkes Law, Felony Squad, etc) probably never will come out. I think the Green Hornet is the only Fox property that stands a chance due to its cult status. And of course my #1 grail show Run For Your Life is most likely never coming out..
70s- with the recent announcement of One Day... Chico and the Man stands alone as the only long running unreleased sitcom from that decade. I used to think it was a slam dunk to come out but I'm now thinking it never will. Other wise the 70s have seen most big shows released.
The Universal fire stuff (Baretta, Switch, BJ/Lobo) being the only big vacuum. We can hope Columbia continues with Love Boat and somebody picks up the rest of Fantasy Island but I wouldnt count on it.... and whether CBS finishes Happy Days is anybody's guess but I think if anything more from the 70 were to come out it would be the above titles or Archie Bunkers Place.
I,don't think we'll see much else..... Maybe a Knots Landing superset if they get the music rights resolved
but don't hold your breath.
80s- Holding my hope out for some one season cult type shows yet (Enos, It's Your Move) but most of the big 80s stuff is already out there. This is still a decent demographic so maybe something like Trapper John, It's A Living, Silver Spoons, Fall Guy, Benson, or Too Close For Comfort still might be released or unstalled respectively and come out but I wouldn't bet money on any of those. Later 80s stuff ( Midnight Caller, Dear John, Different World, Head of the Class, etc would seem to have a decent market but nobody seems interested in giving this stuff a go..
Thoughts????
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So be patient, you'll have your day in the sun. 
