Shows we want to see on DVD
Posted: Thursday, August 13, 2009 6:00 AM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
Filed Under:
TV
They were obnoxious, yet they were fascinating. The handsome yuppies of "thirtysomething" are finally coming to DVD. The show went off the air in 1991, yet was hardly ever rerun, and wasn't available for home viewing until now. The first season box set comes out Aug. 25.
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I wasn't even close to "thirtysomething" in age when the show was on, and I remember it made adulthood look kind of frightening. How did these people have the money to own these giant Philadelphia homes, to stay home with their kids, to take risks and start their own companies? Not to mention that everyone seemed to have secrets even from their dearest friends, cheating was rampant, and don't forget all the cancer and death. (Nancy! GARY!)
But the show was still fascinating, and I look forward to watching it now that I've actually passed "thirtysomething" by and have a house and child of my own. It's weird and interesting to watch a show again decades later and relate to it from a completely different place.
This release started me thinking about other shows that haven't been released on DVD, yet should be. Some have rights issues, due to music or other reasons. I'd love the entire 10-year run of "Mystery Science Theater 3000," but know that the movie rights have to be negotiated individually.
Sometimes it's a show that had only a season or two, or not even one whole season, but earned a cult following nonetheless. ("Reunion" and "Close to Home" are on my list here.)
Others have had a couple of seasons issued but then seem to have been dropped -- "Facts of Life" has three seasons out, but that 1980s cheeseball classic really didn't get good until after those three preachy seasons ended. (George Clooney, with a mullet!) And I also have some guilty-pleasure shows I'd like to see again for my own reasons (who else remembers MTV's voyeuristic "Sorority Life" and "Fraternity Life"?)
In the comments on this post about the joys of watching TV on DVD, readers suggested quite a few shows they'd like to get on DVD. Here are some of the shows mentioned.
"'All in the Family' was released by Sony, but they stopped after season 6. FOX released 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' and stopped after season 4. The shows I want are hung up by ownership and other legal matters, will probably never make it to DVD or Blu-ray because by the time those legal matters are resolved, most of the fans of those TV shows will have passed away. Too bad, Hollywood, its producers, etc. are so greedy that because of these legal matters, those TV shows will make no income for any of them because they are not on the market." --Fred
"Sadly, the one TV show I have waited for for nearly a decade just can't seem to get released. NBC's 'Ed.' I yearn to visit Stuckeyville without my old fuzzy VCR tapes." --Ellie
"I am waiting -- in vain, I fear -- for the Adam West 'Batman' series from the '60s to hit DVD. That show is one of my greatest childhood TV memories, and I will spare no expense in acquiring it." --Doug
"How come 'China Beach' has never been released? One of my all-time favorites and it can't be found. I heard there were issues with the rights to all the incredible music that was played, but come on. Someone get on the ball and put that wonderful show on DVD." --Trace
"Now if they would just release the final season of the unfortunately cancelled 'Life' starring Damian Lewis and included a final episode that I would entitle WHO DONE IT? to solve the conspiracy I would be the very first in line to buy." --Liz
Throw out some more in the comments, and maybe the studios will pay attention.
