The invaluable Home Theater Forum had another of their chats with Warner Brothers, this time with reps from their TV DVD department. Here’s a condensed run-down of what was discussed:
Knot’s Landing Season 1 didn’t sell that well last year, so there are no current plans to release the remaining 12 (! ) seasons.
There will be another 60 cartoon Looney Tunes set, the 5th, released during the holiday season this year.
Perfect Strangers S1 may come out next year.
No plans for a season set of Static Shock, which did not sell well on ‘episodic’ releases. Personally, I think consumers just feel ripped off when Warners released episode discs and then puts out partially redundant season sets. They may be misinterpreting the data of poor episodic disc sales, and should just skip right to the season sets.
The Zeta Project cartoon is under evaluation for a future release.
The Super Friends: Galactic Guardians and Filmation Aquaman cartoons are due in 2008. The Super Friends: Legendary Powers Super Powers series is due out this year.
Tiny Toons might get a 2008 release.
Disappointment was offered for the release of the shorter syndicated cuts of the show Mama’s Family. (!!) Reps indicate they don’t own the rights to the original master cuts, only the syndicated ones. So no adjusted re-release of M’sF season 1 is planned.
Alice is being evaluated.
A third Tom & Jerry Spotlight collection is due this fall, the complete set of theatrical Droopy cartoons is due out next week.
Everwood releases (past season one, which is out) are being stymied by prohibitively high music rights issues. If it does get released, it may be that they’ll have to substitute the original songs. It’s amazing to me that they haven’t figured out a way to deal with these sorts of issues yet. I know Chris Isaak’s Showtime series is being held up because of music rights issues, and 80% of the music on the show was his.
No plans for Falcon’s Crest.
Dallas season 7 out in July.
No current plans for Night Court, Growing Pains or Life Goes On.
A question was asked about what the evaluation process entailed, and why some shows only get the first season released: “We always release series with the full intention and hope of releasing the entire series on DVD. Unfortunately, sales don’t always warrant this. A lot goes into the evaluation of potential series – looking at sales of prior similar series…consumer research…costs to master and clear music – both of which can be substantial and prohibitive for release. we also try to get a sense of how avid and passionate the fan base is. All that said – if a series is profitable for release, we will release it and continue to release it. it is not an easy evaluation or decision. We ponder it carefully. Unfortunately, there is often a drop off in sales from season 1 to subsequent seasons on classic titles. This is also a major issue for classic TV series. Not necessarily the same issue with shows currently airing.”
No plans for Step by Step, Hogan Family, Mr. Cooper. Family Matters being considered, but there are music rights issues. Music clearance costs for Homefront are also “very, very high,” and the outlook is not very encouraging.
Second season of Robot Chicken to be announced soon.
No plans for a second season of Huckleberry Hound. An announcement will be made shortly on “one” of the following shows: The Smurfs, Pac Man, and The Plastic Man Comedy Adventure Hour. I assume Smurfs, but who knows.
No plans for Brimstone, Opposite Sex, Run of the House, Bucky O’Hare or Fish Police. (Seriously? Fish Police?) Nor for animated TV movie “Flight of the Dragons.”
No plans for British show Spaced by Shaun of the Dead / Hot Fuzz guys.
Shows not justifying physical release might be made available for paid download, but music clearances would still be an issue.
Don’t own the rights for the Twin Peaks pilot movie.
No plans for Freddy’s Nightmares.
Third Watch maybe for 2008.
Second and final season of F-Troop out soon. Many older shows, ’50s and ’60s, are largely on hold, though, because of limited sales.
Scarecrow and Mrs. King on “consideration list.”
First season of old cartoon Wait Til Your Father Gets Home (I remember that! Paul Lynde voiced the nutzo right-wing neighbor) out in June.
First seasons of CHIPS and Welcome Back, Kotter also out in June. Also in June, further Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain sets.
No plans for old Lace mini-series, or its sequel.
Alvin and the Chipmonks being looked at.
Shazam and Quick Draw McGraw have music clearance issues.
No further seasons of Murphy Brown, since first season sales sucked.
No plans for Superboy.
No plans for The Goodies, dammit.
No plans for Maximum Bob.
No current plans for Courtship of Eddie’s Father, Please Don’t Eat the Daisies or Chico and the Man.
Plans moving ahead for Man From UNCLE.
Thundarr the Barbarian will be “looked at.”
Roots: The Next Generation may be announced soon.
’70s TV movies like Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark are being evaluated, but only that. Possibility of TV movies ‘camp’ sets coming out if Warners’ upcoming theatrical Camp sets do well. (The tail end of that is my interpretation.)
The ’80s versions of The Jetsons and Jonny Quest being evaluated, as are Pebbles and Bam Bam. Meanwhile, the Filmation ’80s Batman (the one with Bat Mite) and Superman cartoons are being released soon.
On original DTV animated movies, the Superman Doomsday movie will be animated in the now standard Bruce Timm style, but the New Frontiers movie will resembled the comic book art. The Teen Titans Judas Contract movie wasn’t mentioned, but surely it won’t resemble the anime style of the TV cartoon series.
No plans for Head of the Class or Our House.
Eight is Enough being considered.
Further permutations of Scooby Doo likely to hit DVD.
One guy asked for more Cult Camp Collections. Remember, the first four sets are out soon! Buy them or at least rent them all if you want more. Do it for Jabootu!
Powerpuff Girls first season out in July.
“Looking at” Herculoids (PLEASE!!) and Sealab 2020.
News on Josie and the Pussycats coming soon.
No plans for Maverick season sets (dammit), nor that quasi-animated Huck Finn series.
Captain Planet “is a zero” when it comes to DVD sets. This is as it should be, but sucks for me!
Silverhawk (?) is being “strongly considered.”
China Beach release being stymied by music clearance issues.
OC Season 4 out this year, and complete series set being planned.
News on further Veronica Mars sets coming soon.
