Worst DVD treatment of a TV show evar?

[gmoney]

I'm watching season 1 of WKRP in Cincinnati... a lot of people bitch about how the original show had "real" music in it, which has been replaced by generic music. Also, the episodes seem to be the shorter syndication versions rather than as originally aired.

My gripe is that they don't "chapter" the opening credits... one of the tackiest ever with bad music and even worse title graphics. I guess it is 30 years old, but the video technology HAD to be better than this, even back then. So, either you get to listen to the theme song, or FF through them instead of just skipping the chapter.

With all that's wrong with the world today, this is what I find to gripe about on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I should get a life, really...

[Deja Q]

1. How much money did you pay for the DVD set?

You have a right to complain.

[gmoney]

5. LOL... well, more like my tax dollars at work.

Got it from the library. I'd heard enough about the music problems that I knew I didn't want to buy it, but I was a bit nostalgic to see the show again, so the library is just the ticket.

At least the discs weren't all chewed up like when I tried to watch "Desperate Housewives" a couple weeks ago.

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. I'm one of the bigger 'KRP' freaks on the planet

Yet I've refused to buy the DVD set because of the generic music. Beyond the issue of the original music itself, which was often subtly interwoven into scenes, a lot of dialogue and even a few entire scenes had to be cut because they made no sense with the replacement soundtrack.

Example: When Johnny was playing "Dogs" from Pink Floyd's "Animals," Mr. Carlson asked him, "What's the name of that orchestra?" and Johnny responded, "Pink Floyd." Carlson then said, "Do I hear dogs barking on that record?" and Johnny responded, "I do."

From a purely thematic standpoint, Les getting ready for his date with Jennifer to the tune of anything other than Foreigner's "Hot Blooded" is just wrong.

BTW — I don't understand what you mean by "chapter" the opening credits. :shrug:

[gmoney]

4. by "Chapter" I mean make one of the bookmarks thingies...

On most DVDs, there are scene selection "chapters" throughout the film, and for TV shows, it's common to isolate the opening credits as a "chapter" that can be skipped with a press of the >> button, so you don't go insane listening to the theme song over and over, but can just skip ahead to the raucous comedy hijinks.

Usually, the commercial breaks are also "chapters" because it's a logical place to mark them.

[liberalpragmatist]

3. The Wonder Years

Nothing but one "best-of" DVD that's out of print.

[gmoney]

6. That is pretty shabby...

wonder if that's a music rights problem, too? I didn't really watch much of the show, but I seem to recall it having a lot of good music from the era woven into it.

Really wish they'd put thirtysomething out on DVD... seems like a natural. I need the wisdom of Miles Drentell about now...

[Orrex]

7. Beavis and Butthead

The DVD compilation, like VHS version long before it, likewise suffers from the stripping out of the music. Amusing though the actual episodes can be, the true beauty of B&B was in their critique and commentary on contemporary videos.

Really sucks the life out of them.


Not that they were ever Wilde-caliber satire, but come on! Viacom owns 95% of the entertainment industry; you'd think they could include the videos.

But no.

[CreekDog]

8. One early release of the "Muppet Show" was unwatchable

because before each episode, Jim Henson's son came on screen and talked about and shows clips from the show you were trying to watch it. there was no way to skip past this frame. it was really annoying to see clips that nearly spoiled some of the jokes and furthermore to have something that was supposed to be funny narrated beforehand.

:rant:

[XemaSab]

9. American Gothic

It was shown out of order on TV, and apparently the DVD has the "shown" order and not the intended order.

When it was originally aired, it SUPER sucked because two episodes were censored (one for implied pedophilia and showing a priest shooting morphine, and one for no clear reason at all), so it was 20 episodes in random order, with characters popping in and out, getting together and breaking up, making babies and acting like they don't know each other, and so forth. x(

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. St. Elsewhere

It ran for 6 years, and about two years ago they released Season 1. Nothing since.

One of the best shows of the past thirty years, and they can't release the other seasons, but the entire Punky Brewster series has been released. :wtf:

Oh, and two of the finest programs of the early 1960s, The Defenders and East Side/West Side, have not been released AT ALL.

[Orrex]

11. The first boxed edition of Twin Peaks

It didn't include the pilot and it only had the first six post-pilot episodes from season one.