One of the big TV on DVD titles being released this year is the WKRP Season 1 set.
As a huge fan of the show, from back when it first aired in the 70's, to watching reruns every afternoon in the 80's, I loved it. And, I have been anxiously awaiting the set.
Despite the popularity of the show, one thing has kept it from being released sooner. Since it was set at a radio station, there was a lot of music used in the series. And, to get the rights for all those songs would be very expensive, let alone impossible in some cases.
So, when it was announced that the series would be released, everyone expected there to be music changes. And, as review copies are going out, we are beginning to read that there are A LOT of music changes.
Even though we expected this, the reaction is a bit much, I believe. In looking at various DVD forums, I have been reading this like:
"I can't believe the idiots at Fox! How could the do this to us?"
"My pre-order is cancelled!!"
"This is my favorite show of all time. Now I refuse to buy it!!"
I have to say, I don't quite understand it.
While some of the changes seem like they could be worked out (Foreigners "Hot Blooded" is cut, despite the fact the song was used in episodes of THE SIMPSONS and KING OF THE HILL, also from Fox, and are on the DVDs), we all knew changes were going to have to be made.
But, most of all, do you watch a show for the music, or for the characters?
When I think of WKRP I think of Les, and Herb, and Venus, and Johnny. I don't think of the music they played. Was there music playing when Les did the play by play of the turkey's falling from the sky? No. That scene is intact.
And also, what choice do fans have? I haven't seen the show in syndication in ten or fifteen years. It isn't like I can just tape the episodes off of TV. The DVD set will be the only way to see it.
While I am disappointed by the music changes, I'll still be buying it.
4 comments:
I agree that some music substitutions, while regrettable, are certainly forgiveable.
But on WKRP, some songs were integral to story and dialogue -- Mr. Carlon's conversation with Johnny about Pink Floyd, for exampe. Or a Russian defector's infatuation with Elton John. Or Johnny finally playing "a hit" (an Eagles song).
In the '90s syndicated versions, such dialogue was dealt with by (badly) overdubbing the lines. So, the aforementioned Russian who once jubilantly exclaimed: "Hold me closer, tiny dancer!", now shouted: "Hold my order, terrible dresser." Which, um, doesn't make any sense.
For the DVDs, as I understand it, rather than overdub, such scenes have simply been cut. Also, since WKRP didn't record separate dialogue tracks, Fox also cut scenes in which characters speak over music that had to be removed.
The creators of Undeclared and Freaks & Geeks (to name but two) worked hard to preserve the original music choices for the DVDs (and there was a LOT of high-profile music on F&G especially). The end result were box sets that were somewhat more expensive than TV shows usually are (but manageable). Still, fans still bought them in droves.
I think that WKRP fans are most upset that it seems like Fox didn't even try here. If they'd worked to preserve some of the essential songs (songs that established the late-'70s setting, for example), and still substituted some of the background or filler music, I don't think you would have heard as much grumbling. Instead, Fox made the decision to replace practically everything. They were admittedly in a difficult situation, but they punted.
It's so bizarre that music rights issues continue to corrupt the preservation of tv history. For lots of products, companies pay money to have them displayed in movies. Why shouldn't songs work the same way? There's even money to be made: You could package a CD -- the music from WKRP.
Ultimately, a boycott will only ensure that subsequent seasons never see release on DVD. Fox has made the decision here, and no amount of bitching is going to reverse it.
Very good points. I am worried about how the show is going to play, but think that it will be worth the risk.
There was a lot of talk a couple years ago from people trying to get Shout Factory (who did F&G and UNDECLARED, both of which I have and love) to work on the DVDs for WKRP. But, Fox wouldn't let them go. Shout probably would have done a better job.
"Ultimately, a boycott will only ensure that subsequent seasons never see release on DVD. Fox has made the decision here, and no amount of bitching is going to reverse it. "
And that is one of my big problems with some of the people complaining. Rather than write a letter to Fox, or send an email, or start a petition, they just say "I'm going to boycott it and that will let them know how upset I am about the cuts".
Well, not buying it only tells the studio that there isn't interest in the title. So, it doesn't do any good.
I don't know - what I remember of it was, when they used music, they did it on purpose - it's a show in a radio station after all. I remember the "Tiny Dancer" episode for instance - taking the music away would make hash of it. It seems to me this would be the show to make the fight over: changing the music probably will ruin the DVDs.
"Ultimately, a boycott will only ensure that subsequent seasons never see release on DVD. Fox has made the decision here, and no amount of bitching is going to reverse it. "
And that is one of my big problems with some of the people complaining. Rather than write a letter to Fox, or send an email, or start a petition, they just say "I'm going to boycott it and that will let them know how upset I am about the cuts".
It's not an either/or proposition. It's not as if Fox won't know why sales suck, if a boycott is successful. I'd think of any such shows, this would be the one to fight for.
"It's not an either/or proposition. It's not as if Fox won't know why sales suck, if a boycott is successful. I'd think of any such shows, this would be the one to fight for."
Well, you never know with Fox. They knew it was controversial before the release. They made a big deal out of working with the creator, Hugh Wilson, in the editing process, making sure whatever music could be salvaged was.
They'll probably just look at the sales figures (if the internet talk does cause sales to decline) and say "Hmm, guess 30 year old sitcoms shouldn't be released on DVD". That may be the only thing they take from it.
I mean, they have stopped releasing season sets of one of my favorite shows KING OF THE HILL. They only had a few more seasons to go, and they pulled the plug. So, often they just look at the bottom line, how many units are sold, and that is it.
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