The Minearverse 4: Support Group for Clumsy People
[NAFDA] "There will be an occasional happy, so that it might be crushed under the boot of the writer." From Zorro to Angel (including Wonderfalls and The Inside), this is where Buffistas come to anoint themselves in the bloodbath.
I can't at all figure out why the suits choose the series they do to release on DVD, and not others. They haven't released Early Edition, for example, which ran for five seasons and was quite popular. But they did release Harsh Realm, which was cancelled quickly because, as far as I know, only three people watched it.
Maybe they'll decide to release them eventually, someday. Odyssey 5 and The Sentinel are getting DVDs this year, some years after they were cancelled. Maybe they're waiting for the viewing public to forget which show it was, so they'll think it's new and be intrigued and buy it on DVD. The viewing public are like goldfish, you know. Around and around the same bowl, "Ooo, that's new! Ooo, that's new!" when it's the same thing over and over. When they actually find something new, like The Inside, they're frightened and flee. Maybe if it's packaged like something familiar, they'll buy it.
Perhaps I need coffee.
If they've calculated that they can't move enough units with a wide distribution, why not make a limited run that they can sell exclusively on their website?
If you can spend $1,000,000 on promoting your new show that may be a runaway hit, or spend $1,000,000 on distributing a show you've given up on, you'll pick the first. The possible Return On Investment for the first case is much, much higher.
Making a DVD costs time and money. The executives at Fox have many projects that demand time and money; they're going to pick the projects that seem most likely to be successful. It is an economic decision.
Hey, I'm still pissed that "Frank's Place" is off the air.
I'm guessing based on no information, but I suspect that the PTB have decided that SF/fantasy watchers are crazier and more obsessive than other watchers. "Harsh Realm" will sell DVDs because that's the 2000's equivalent of the Midnight Movie. Science fiction media fans hang out together and propagate their obsessions. I'm not sure that mystery/detective media fans do in significant numbers.
I'm guessing based on no information, but I suspect that the PTB have decided that SF/fantasy watchers are crazier and more obsessive than other watchers. "Harsh Realm" will sell DVDs because that's the 2000's equivalent of the Midnight Movie. Science fiction media fans hang out together and propagate their obsessions. I'm not sure that mystery/detective media fans do in significant numbers.
Huh, I don't know why that never occurred to me, but I can totally see that. Are CSI or L&O even out on DVD? I think CSI is, but L&O I don't remember ever seeing.
24 probably sells well because of it's serial nature and people want to catch up at their leisure (bet Prison Break does similarly). Most of the cop shows that have come out have achieved classic status, I think (Homicide, Hill Street).
I recently saw an ad for L&O on DVD, but I can't imagine anyone who has cable buying it -- I mean, I'd like to see the older episodes more, but there's almost never a time that I think, "Gee, I'd love to watch some L&O" and it's not on.
I am pretty sure CSI is on DVD, as well-- but it does seem that only the big crime shows get DVD's.
And, by the way, where the heck are my Twin Peaks Season II and Max Headroom DVD's!?!?!
I recently saw an ad for L&O on DVD, but I can't imagine anyone who has cable buying it -- I mean, I'd like to see the older episodes more, but there's almost never a time that I think, "Gee, I'd love to watch some L&O" and it's not on.
Heh, that too. Isn't A&E one of the ones that's all L&O all the time?
It's interesting what comes out and what hasn't. Has LA Law, NYPD Blue or St. Elsewhere? I know Columbo has been coming out, but I don't think any of the other shows that aired in the Sunday Mystery Movie block have (or, say, The Rockford Files).
And, by the way, where the heck are my Twin Peaks Season II and Max Headroom DVD's!?!?!
Preach it! They can put out the real TP pilot again while they're at it.
eta Whoot! They're finally putting out the first round of Robot Chicken in March. Now if they'd only schedule the animated Tick like I heard was finally in the works.
L&O is out on DVD up to at least the 14th season (!). CI and SVU are also out, though I don't know how far along they are. CSI: Vegas is out up to at least the 5th year; the other two have at least the first year out.
And yeah. Why buy DVDs when they're always on some channel?
Making a DVD costs time and money. The executives at Fox have many projects that demand time and money; they're going to pick the projects that seem most likely to be successful. It is an economic decision.
DVDs are not expensive to produce once you have all the content lined up. The DVDs themselves cost the studios pennies. We already know Tim preserved deleted scenes and other goodies. The original pilot can be added to the mix. There's already existing interviews of the cast and crew they can cannibalize for the DVDs. With everyone and their brothers creating podcasts on their home computers nowadays, doing commentaries that way (like Ron Moore with Battlestar Galactica) is relatively inexpensive. Other than that they can just slap the episodes on some discs and it's good to go.
