BVHE TV: Why do they fail to put sitcoms on DVD well?

[Finch]

Why do they fail to put out Sitcoms on DVD well?

Boy Meets World: Seasons 1 & 2 were released with a good array of commentaries, not a bad selection of extra's. Season 3 released with a cheap quiz - then Season 4 was pulled, I am guessing bad sales after a terrible release.

Home Improvement: Season 1 had three commentaries and a clip reel, not bad, Season 2 & 3 had 'recut' clips - pfft. Season 4 has some bloopers, I imagine bloopers that are played through the end credits of the show.

The Golden Girls: Season 1-4 had terrible extra's. A fashion extra or a quiz - take your pick. Season 5 is a turn around - 6 commentaries with Bea Arthur, Betty White & Rue McClanahan - great except it seems to have caused a ripple effect with Scrubs.

Scrubs: BVHE tried very hard, 6 commentaries and featurettes on Season 1 & 2. Season 3 was released in Europe with 6 short featurettes, in the US 2 commentaries and a few more featurettes - why do they ruin everything? Its selling well! Well, crappy extra's are not gonna make it sell better.

[Lucylover1986]

But then look at Desperate Housewives & Lost they had great extras and were two of 2005's best TV DVD releases with Lost being at #1 on many lists. It's harder to make extras for older shows, footage & other things get lost and if the actors are doing other things they don't have the time or motivation to work on extras for these sets.

[Finch]

Yeah, they did well with the drama's.

Scrubs is still going and they messed that up with 2 audio commentaries, 4 less than usual.

Boy Meets World cast were more than willing to do something for the DVD, they did for the first 2 so I doubt they suddenly stopped caring - and blooper reels must be out there, if the cast are doing commentaries why not film an interview then?

Home Improvement producers helped on the first set so I doubt they suddenly stopped caring, and Tim Allen has done footage for DVD's before I think - you could get him.

The Golden Girls gals seem more than willing to help, too bad they have not been asked until now.

Bloopers almost always exist, and while doing commentaries why not film interviews?

They don't try hard.

[Jake Lipson]

This is not nessesarily a defense of BVHE because I too believe that the sitcoms should be treated well on disc. However, we have to recognize that -- from a business standpoint -- Grey's Anatomy, Lost and Desperate Housewives are going to be a bigger priority for them.

Those are the current hot shows; they're ongoing and they are sure to sell huge numbers. Golden Girls, Boy Meets World, etc.will sell strongly too, I'm sure, but I have no doubt that a current hit show will outsell the catalog stuff by as significant number.

Not to mention that while I do love Golden Girls to death and want it on DVD, I am considerably less compelled to buy it than I am to buy Lost because Golden Girls is rerun in syndication every single day multiple times a day. And the sort of overreaching, arc-heavy shows like Desperate and Lost which rely a lot on being seen in order because of clues and advancing storylines are going to be harder to do in syndication (even though Lifetime did just buy Desperate's rerun rights.) It's those kind of shows -- the overreaching things -- that seem to play the best on disc. So they think, rightly, that it is wiser to do extensive suppliments for them rather than the sitcoms.

Although I do agree that the sitcoms are being treated badly; it is a real shame that it took them this long to do ask for commentaries on Golden Girls.

[Finch]

The serialized shows do better on DVD, but I think The Golden Girls is doing very well they are pushing releases forward.

I think another reason they do features on DH & Lost is because there is no excuse not to, they are still in production - GG they can hind behind excuses, not so easy with a show still in production.

[The Lizard King]

Yeah, they did well with the drama's.

They did well with the drama's what?

Home Improvement producers helped on the first set so I doubt they suddenly stopped caring, and Tim Allen has done footage for DVD's before I think - you could get him.

Tim Allen has done footage for DVD's what?

Your grammar confuses to me.

TLK

[Finch]

Yeah, they did well with the drama's.

They did well with the drama's what?

Desperate Housewives, Lost.

Home Improvement producers helped on the first set so I doubt they suddenly stopped caring, and Tim Allen has done footage for DVD's before I think - you could get him.

Tim Allen has done footage for DVD's what?

I am not sure but I think he has done footage for Disney DVD's, I can't be sure.

[Finchx0rz]

Nice username, Finch.


(edited to emphasize sarcasm)

[The Lizard King]

They did well with the drama's what?

Desperate Housewives, Lost.

Tim Allen has done footage for DVD's what?

I am not sure but I think he has done footage for Disney DVD's, I can't be sure.

WHOOOOSH! Right over your head.

TLK

P.S. A little hint, Finch: The plural of "drama" is "dramas" (notice that there is no possessive apostrophe) and the plural of "DVD" is "DVDs" (again, no possessive apostrophe). HTH.

[MK Sharp]

Scrubs is still going and they messed that up with 2 audio commentaries, 4 less than usual.

I may well be imagining this, but wasn't there some contretemps over commentaries because the cast were being pulled aside during their normal working day to do them without being paid extra (as would usually occur if you recorded a yak track for a defunct show and had to book the artistes specially for it).

[2099net]

Scrubs is still going and they messed that up with 2 audio commentaries, 4 less than usual.

I may well be imagining this, but wasn't there some contretemps over commentaries because the cast were being pulled aside during their normal working day to do them without being paid extra (as would usually occur if you recorded a yak track for a defunct show and had to book the artistes specially for it).

Well, that was reported in a UK DVD magazine when the set was released over here. Obviously in the months between the UK and US release they managed to negotiate some commentary recording time for the US release.

Odd that, becuase when WE have to wait for releases - like almost every single US originated series - WE never get additional content. Bitter, me? Yes I am.

[Finch]

I would believe that it was problems with the cast and money, but they did 2 - that pretty much says they were happy to do them.

I really don't think thats the case.

Maybe they will mention why in the commentaries.

[2099net]

Well This is direct from the creator and producer. Either he was lying (unlikely) or something was arranged in the meantime.

[Finch]

But then why 2 commentaries and not 6? The press release said

Audio commentaries with cast members, show creators and writer

can you imagine having that many people in a commentary, thats atleast 3 and most likely more.

[Robin Hood]

I think BVHE is one of the best companies for putting out DVD releases. In my mind I think that Boy Meets World sells well, but does it? Maybe thats the reason they are so slow getting further releases out. That was what happened with Sweet Valley High.

[Finch]

BVHE are great with the dramas but with sitcoms they aren't.

They are reliable, mostly, but they don't really try with most sitcoms and are not consistent with others (Boy Meets World).