WHERE is The Golden Palace??? (1 Viewer)

[jacktripper1]

I am a big fan of The Golden Girls and I would LOVE to see this series on DVD! What's the problem? Who owns the rights? Why won't they release them if there is no controversy? And if they saw the success of TGG DVD's, they should WANT to release it!

 

[MattHR]

I just finished watching my GG: S7 last night, and was wondering the same thing. I'm hoping they'll release GP on its own, but I'm afraid they might package it as a "bonus" with a GG: Complete Series. I REALLY hate it when they do stuff like that.

 

[jacktripper1]

I wouldn't mind if they did that as long as they also made a seperate release with only TGP on it. Studios really tick me off these days....

 

[Ethan Riley]

It'll probably come out around the same time as "After M*A*S*H."

 

[nikkif99uk]

Am hoping that its one of the shows that Lionsgate have acquired

 

[David Rain]

Perhaps it's going to be included as part of a GG Complete Series box set. That would certainly be a selling point.

 

[Ethan Riley]

I don't think the show is as execrable as most do. I believe it's funny on its own, and deserves a release. However, I think a lot of people look at it like an unwanted offspring. It does have the look of desperation about it--just like they're saying, 'we're gonna stay on the air as long as possible whether we suck or not.' Actually, ALL shows get like that around season 7 or 8... But I think it's worse when a show totally switches concepts and drops a main character or two--tries to re-invent itself. "Sequel" shows almost never work.

 

[MatthewA]

Lifetime added this to the mix of wall-to-wall Golden Girls reruns a few years ago, unlike AfterMASH which hasn't been rerun, and has less demand even from die-hard M*A*S*H fans. I would take this any way I could get it (assuming it is done right); for the pedigree of guest stars alone (including Bea Arthur) and the chance to finally see Shady Pines it's worth it. But as for a complete set of The Golden Girls proper? Only if:

A: Seasons 1 and 2 were redone in stereo.
B: Edited episodes were redone unedited.
C: Substantial extras were included, such as:
—Network and syndication promos, and the end of act 1 bumpers which I still miss.
—The 1984 "Miami Nice" sketch at the NBC all-star show that led to the series)
—Any promotional material from when the show was on the air
—The cast's 1988 performance for the Queen Mother
—Character crossovers onto other shows (Empty Nest, Blossom, etc.)
—Outtakes/bloopers (like the ones in the Lifetime "reunion" show)

 

[jacktripper1]

Edited epsiodes?????? They better not have took out a punch line or I'll be very ticked.

 

[Jay_B!]

a couple of season 5 episodes have edits if I recall

 

[David Rain]

I don't expect any extras but I do think a complete series box set is in order and should be dedicated to Estelle.

However, I seriously doubt that any previously edited eps would suddenly appear unedited.

 

[MatthewA]

Unfortunately, it already happened on season 5. This is the only time such an edit has been confirmed:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/2858462-post13.html

Disney claimed the master was damaged. But we're expected to believe they don't have a backup? And damaged tapes can be fixed. There was an episode of "The Jeffersons," a Sony property inherited from the Norman Lear/Embassy acquisition, called "Lionel Cries Uncle," whose Columbia House VHS presentation was riddled with dropouts, undoubtedly due to age (and these tapes were released about 10 years ago). The episode as presented on DVD has no dropouts and both versions are uncut.

I read on the Steve Hoffman board from someone who claimed to work on the show that it was shot on Betacam, one of the first sitcoms to do so (1" Type C tape was dominant at the time). And the 3/4" copyright deposit tape is presumably uncut. So if backups exist it shouldn't be hard to do it. Disney has a first-class restoration and preservation system, and videotape restoration companies like Vidipax also exist if they can't handle it in-house.

Remember the runaround they gave us on why seasons 1 and 2 were in mono when they should have been in stereo? It was only after season 3 that they started putting it in stereo.

I have a feeling that the tapes used for the DVD were not anywhere near first generation. They have "Buena Vista International" logos on them after Touchstone Television.

 

[Malcolm R]

While pissing off the majority of fans who have already purchased all 7 seasons individually. I'll gladly buy a season set of TGP, but won't double dip on a huge box set just to get it.

I've never understood why the producers felt the need to "re-imagine" the show as TGP? Why not just continue with "The Golden Girls" Season 8, either with just the remaining trio or introduce a new fourth cast member? The few eps in the latter seasons when Bea Arthur was either not present or just cameo-ed were still hilarious with just the three regulars. I think the alterations are what ruined the show. I could've see it continuing for another five seasons if they'd kept the original premise intact. But it really wasn't as good a show after they expanded the cast and changed the setting.

 

[MatthewA]

Maybe they thought that if it failed, it would tarnish the original series more.

And I wonder if the idea for "re-imagining" may not have come from the producers, but executives at the studio.

 

[Haden]

Aside from the requests for The Golden Palace to be released on DVD, why hasn't Empty Nest been released yet? It was a fairly successful spinoff of Golden Girls and I'm surprised it's not out yet.

 

[MatthewA]

I'm surprised Empty Nest has vanished from the TV landscape, although towards the end of its run it was one of the lowest-rated shows on TV (NBC's overall Saturday night numbers went way up with The Golden Girls' premiere, and way down with its end). Maybe Lionsgate acquired it.

 

[Elena S]

Empty Nest is the one I'm waiting for, too.