Featured Article: The Mysterious Case of "Selena Mead"
  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

  • Archives

  • Main Content

    DVD Tuesday: Buck Rogers, Kojak, Mannix


    Every Tuesday I take a look at obscure and/or classic television programs, specials, miniseries or made-for-TV movies being released on DVD. For the record I consider anything broadcast prior to 1980 to be classic or else there wouldn’t be much to discuss. The releases referred to in these posts are encoded for Region 1 use in the United States and Canada.

    Out today from Universal Home Video is Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Season One, a 6-disc set containing all 21 episodes from the 1979-1980 season (including three two-hour episodes that were each split into two one-hour episodes for syndication). What makes this release a bit puzzling is the fact that Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: The Complete Epic Series — which also included the 11 episodes from the revamped second season of the show — was released on DVD back in 2004 and is still in print. In fact, it is currently available at Amazon.com for less than the new Season One set. Are there really fans of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century who loathed the second season enough to avoid buying the complete series, hoping that one day just the first season would be available? If so, I guess today is an exciting and wonderful day.

    Also out today, from Paramount Home Video is Mannix: The 6th Season, a 6-disc set containing all 24 episodes from the 1972-1973 season. Mannix ran for a total of eight seasons, so there are only two left to be released on DVD. Finally, from Shout! Factory comes Kojak: The Complete Movie Collection, a 4-disc set containing the original pilot telefilm (“The Marcus-Nelson Murders,” originally broadcast on March 8th, 1973) as well as the seven reunion movies broadcast between 1985 and 1990. Interestingly, this set is being released despite the fact that only two of Kojak‘s six seasons have been released on DVD so far (the third season will be out in March). Usually, the reunion movies are only released after the entire series makes it to DVD.

    DVD Tuesday: Adam-12


    Every Tuesday I take a look at obscure and/or classic television programs, specials, miniseries or made-for-TV movies being released on DVD. For the record I consider anything broadcast prior to 1980 to be classic or else there wouldn’t be much to discuss. The releases referred to in these posts are encoded for Region 1 use in the United States and Canada.

    The only release of note out today comes courtesy of Shout! Factory: Adam-12: Season 6, containing all 22 episodes from the 1973-1974 season.

    Work It Pulled After Two Episodes


    Another new obscurity has been born: The New York Times is reporting that ABC has pulled its critically panned and low-rated sitcom Work It after just two episodes. I believe The Paul Reiser Show (NBC, April 2011) was the last program to last just two episodes before being canned. It seems unlikely that ABC will burn off any remaining produced episodes.

    DVD Tuesday: Cheyenne, Dennis the Menace


    Every Tuesday I take a look at obscure and/or classic television programs, specials, miniseries or made-for-TV movies being released on DVD. For the record I consider anything broadcast prior to 1980 to be classic or else there wouldn’t be much to discuss. The releases referred to in these posts are encoded for Region 1 use in the United States and Canada.

    Out today from Warner Archive (meaning this is a manufacture-on-demand title) is Cheyenne – The Complete 3rd Season, with all 20 episodes from the 1957-1958 season. Also out today from Shout! Factory is Dennis the Menace – Season 4, with all 38 episodes from the 1962-1963 season, the show’s last. And from Paramount Home Video comes Hawaii Five-O – The 12th and Final Season, with all 20 episodes from the 1979-1980 season. Finally, BBC Video is releasing two more Doctor Who serials: “Invasion of the Dinosaurs” (Story #071, Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, 1974) and “The Android Invasion” (Story #083, Tom Baker as the Doctor, 1975).

    DVD Tuesday: Alfred Hitchcock Presents


    Every Tuesday I take a look at obscure and/or classic television programs, specials, miniseries or made-for-TV movies being released on DVD. For the record I consider anything broadcast prior to 1980 to be classic or else there wouldn’t be much to discuss. The releases referred to in these posts are encoded for Region 1 use in the United States and Canada.

    The return of DVD Tuesday is marked by a very slow week, due no doubt to the holiday shopping season having recently wrapped, and there is only one classic television release this week: Alfred Hitchcock Presents – Season Five from Universal Home Video. Included are all 38 episodes from the 1959-1960 season, featuring the likes of Dick Van Dyke, Robert Morse, Peter Lorre, Dick York and Cara Williams. No special features but it has been more than two years since Season Four was released in November of 2009, so fans of the series are no doubt happy just to see Season 5 actually make its way to DVD.

    Most Popular December 2011


    Here are the most popular articles, videos and posts from December of 2011:

    10 Most Popular Articles of December 2011

    1. Unsold Pilots on Television, 1956-1966
    2. Otherworld
    3. The Syndicated Season: 1987-1988
    4. Batgirl and the Batman Phenomenon
    5. The New People
    6. Outtakes, Bloopers & Goofs
    7. 10 Of The Most Outlandish TV Concepts Ever
    8. A Look At Star Trek
    9. W*A*L*T*E*R
    10. Ferris Bueller

    10 Most Popular Individual Video Files of December 2011

    1. Opening to “W*A*L*T*E*R” (from W*A*L*T*E*R)
    2. Scene from “W*A*L*T*E*R” (from W*A*L*T*E*R)
    3. Pair of V Bloopers from One of Dick Clark’s Specials (from Outtakes, Bloopers & Goofs)
    4. Commercial for TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes (first commercial; from Outtakes, Bloopers & Goofs)
    5. Selection of Star Trek Bloopers (from Outtakes, Bloopers & Goofs)
    6. Commercial for TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes (second commercial; from Outtakes, Bloopers & Goofs)
    7. Selection of M*A*S*H Bloopers (from Outtakes, Bloopers & Goofs)
    8. Opening Credits to Mr. Lucky (from Mr. Lucky)
    9. Batgirl Presentation Film (from Batgirl and the Batman Phenomenon)
    10. Selection of McHale’s Navy Bloopers (from Outtakes, Bloopers & Goofs)

    10 Most Popular Posts of December 2011

    1. Marvel Comics Promotes Its Television Adaptations (originally posted May 20th, 2010)
    2. Johnny Carson Website Launches Searchable Database (originally posted August 11th, 2010)
    3. New Article: “Miss Susan” (originally posted December 4th, 2011)
    4. 2011-2012 Fall Preview Specials (originally posted August 22nd, 2011)
    5. Legends of the Superheroes (originally posted January 16th, 2009)
    6. New Version of “V” for ABC (originally posted January 26th, 2009)
    7. Television Broadcasts on December 7th, 1941 (originally posted December 7th, 2011)
    8. MBC Archives Back Online (originally posted November 28th, 2011)
    9. Most Popular November 2011 (originally posted December 3rd, 2011)
    10. Local New York City Pulse Ratings, January 1954 (originally posted November 22nd, 2009)

    New Year’s Day on CBS (1969) Promo


    Here’s a promotional spot for special New Year’s Day programming airing Wednesday, January 1st, 1969 on CBS, which included the following:

    10:00AM Tournament of Roses Parade Preview
    10:30AM 12th Annual Cotton Bowl Festival Parade
    11:30AM Tournament of Roses Parade
    1:45PM Cotton Bowl (Texas vs. Tennessee)

    Loading the player…

    2011: TV’s New Obscurities


    Another year, another list of “new” obscurities: television programs that premiered in 2011 but aired 13 episodes or less (with a few exceptions). A number of new shows that premiered in the fall — including Unforgettable (CBS), A Gifted Man (CBS) and Whitney (NBC) — have been picked up for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season but appear unlikely to return for the 2012-2013 season, making them one-season wonders. Allen Gregory (FOX) and Terra Nova (FOX) have completed airing their first seasons and although no decisions have been made about renewal, Allen Gregory is all but cancelled while Terra Nova remains something of a toss-up. Prime Suspect (NBC), I Hate My Teenage Daughter (FOX) and Pan Am (ABC) still have episodes left to air in 2012 but no additional episodes have been ordered and cancellation is all but certain.

    Some programs on the list, like The Cape (NBC), Friends with Benefits (NBC) and Perfect Couples (NBC), saw unaired episodes made available online. At least one, Mr. Sunshine (ABC), has been released on DVD.

    Mid-Season 2011

    The Cape (NBC) – 9 episodes, 1 unaired
    Premiered January 9th, 2011

    Off the Map (ABC) – 13 episodes
    Premiered January 12th, 2011

    Perfect Couples (NBC) – 13 episodes, 2 unaired
    Premiered January 20th, 2011 (sneak preview broadcast December 20th, 2010)

    The Chicago Code (FOX) – 13 episodes
    Premiered February 7th, 2011

    Traffic Light (FOX) – 13 episodes
    Premiered February 8th, 2011

    Mr. Sunshine (ABC) – 13 episodes, 4 unaired
    Premiered February 9th, 2011

    Mad Love (ABC) – 13 episodes
    Premiered February 14th, 2011

    CHAOS (CBS) – 13 episodes
    Premiered April 1st, 2011

    The Paul Reiser Show (NBC) – 7 episodes, 5 unaired
    Premiered April 14th, 2011

    Summer 2011

    Love Bites (NBC) – 8 episodes
    Premiered June 2nd, 2011

    Combat Hospital (ABC) – 13 episodes, 1 unaired
    Premiered June 21st, 2011

    Friends with Benefits (NBC) – 13 episodes, 1 unaired
    Premiered August 5th, 2011

    Fall 2011

    Free Agents (NBC) – 13 episodes, 9 unaired
    Premiered September 14th, 2011

    The Playboy Club (NBC) – 5 episodes, 2 unaired *first cancellation of the 2011-2012 season*
    Premiered September 19th, 2011

    Charlie’s Angels (ABC) – 8 episodes, 1 unaired
    Premiered September 22nd, 2011

    How to Be a Gentleman (CBS) – 9 episodes, 6 unaired
    Premiered September 29th, 2011

    Man Up (CBS) – 13 episodes, 5 unaired
    Premiered October 19th, 2011

    Content Copyright (©) 2012 TVObscurities.com. Copying from this site is strictly prohibited. No ownership of television shows intended or implied.
    About | Site Map | FAQ | Press | Disclaimers