Friends: The Complete Series (1994-2004)

[The Apocalypse]

If they can bring out Friends, then they certainly can do the same with ER. They filmed at roughly the same time in 1994, ER started a few days earlier, I think. This is good news.

[Wyndam]

This is amazing news. Not just because its a great show, but because this is all around great for TV on Blu. Hopefully, if successful, we'll see more 90s TV on Blu, like Seinfeld, X-Files, Buffy, etc.

Plus it is great to see the studio showing faith and putting out the complete series. If only more studios thought the same.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by Wyndam

This is amazing news. Not just because its a great show, but because this is all around great for TV on Blu. Hopefully, if successful, we'll see more 90s TV on Blu, like Seinfeld, X-Files, Buffy, etc.

Plus it is great to see the studio showing faith and putting out the complete series. If only more studios thought the same.

[that70sguy92]

Great news! I already have the DVDs, but if I hear good things and they're reasonably priced I'll definitely upgrade.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by Wyndam

This is amazing news. Not just because its a great show, but because this is all around great for TV on Blu. Hopefully, if successful, we'll see more 90s TV on Blu, like Seinfeld, X-Files, Buffy, etc.

Plus it is great to see the studio showing faith and putting out the complete series. If only more studios thought the same.

Amen. TV on Blu is sorely lacking right now. It's sad.

[Clark Kent]

Rumors have been popping up for at least a year now about Friends coming to Blu-ray. The video encodes are likely already completed, waiting on final approval from marketing to be released.

[fitprod]

Originally Posted by Wyndam

This is amazing news. Not just because its a great show, but because this is all around great for TV on Blu. Hopefully, if successful, we'll see more 90s TV on Blu, like Seinfeld, X-Files, Buffy, etc.

Plus it is great to see the studio showing faith and putting out the complete series. If only more studios thought the same.

Seinfeld probably will, since the HD masters are already in the wild, being used for syndication.

X-Files and Buffy are more problematic. Buffy was never designed for widescreen, and and I believe most of the effects were done in SD, just like ST: TNG. X-File is similar, even though the later seasons were shot widescreen. Amazingly Paramount is more apt to milk, and improve their cash cow, but I doubt Fox has much interest.

fitprod

[that1guystudios]

This is one show where I would love to upgrade to Blu. Not only will it be an HD upgrade, but it will also be presented in widescreen, and remastered from the original camera negatives. Im just glad they will be doing a full complete series box set.

[Navster]

Looks like its time to sell my dvd collection.. Friends on blu-ray here we come

"WE WERE ON A BREAAAAAAAAAK"

[Nepse]

Originally Posted by Wyndam

This is amazing news. Not just because its a great show, but because this is all around great for TV on Blu. Hopefully, if successful, we'll see more 90s TV on Blu, like Seinfeld, X-Files, Buffy, etc.

Plus it is great to see the studio showing faith and putting out the complete series. If only more studios thought the same.

[The Mad Kiwi]

Friends is my all-time favorite series, but despite that fact, I was on the fence about upgrading the series to HD (even though the early seasons look horrible on DVD). I think maybe it's because it took me so long to buy each season on DVD to begin with. Now that I know they'e releasing an entire collection at once rather than making us buy one season at a time again, I've decided to take the plunge, especially with the new 16x9 masters and additional supplements. Bravo, WB for not milking this series any more than you need to on this format. You've earned my money.

[Clark Kent]

Knowing Warner's standard operating practices, individual seasons will likely be released after the complete set has been on the market for a year.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Knowing Warner's standard operating practices, individual seasons will likely be released after the complete set has been on the market for a year.

Yeah, I've never quite understood that. With some series they'll release Season One and the Complete Series, then later release subsequent individual seasons. While I'm thrilled to not have to wait for ten individuals to come out before they release the series, I don't understand the thinking behind that strategy.

[Josh5890]

The sales on this could have a huge inpact on future TV show coming to blu. I personally don't mind getting TV shows on DVD since weren't all TV shows shot on video back then?

Also, I never really got into Friends. Then again the final episode aired when I was 14 It would be a HUGE blind buy given that I have seen a total of 5 episodes.

[Tyger]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

Yeah, I've never quite understood that. With some series they'll release Season One and the Complete Series, then later release subsequent individual seasons. While I'm thrilled to not have to wait for ten individuals to come out before they release the series, I don't understand the thinking behind that strategy.

I think they know a lot of people will want the Complete Series, so instead of missing out on sales from people waiting for it, they get the sales from the Complete Series and the people who prefer individual seasons. I think it's a better practice than slowly releasing seasons to people waiting for a complete set, only to slow down further or stop because it's "not justifiable to release more."

With any series that's no longer being produced I think a Complete Series should be announced up front, I think it would benefit a lot of titles.

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by Tyger

I think they know a lot of people will want the Complete Series, so instead of missing out on sales from people waiting for it, they get the sales from the Complete Series and the people who prefer individual seasons. I think it's a better practice than slowly releasing seasons to people waiting for a complete set, only to slow down further or stop because it's "not justifiable to release more."

With any series that's no longer being produced I think a Complete Series should be announced up front, I think it would benefit a lot of titles.

But I'm just saying why not release ALL the individual seasons up front as well? They're obviously all completed, since theyre in the complete series set. And people who dont want the entire series can pick and choose which seasons they want.
But like you said, by waiting to release some they run the risk of people losing interest over time and making further releases unjustifiable.

....again, not that I care - I'll be picking up the complete set and I'm happy it'll apparently be coming up front.

[GMLSKIS]

Originally Posted by KingLeonidas300

I love the show but will not be double dipping for the blu ray version. I am good with my DVD sets. Thanks for the update though

My all-time favorite show possibly.

I'm thinking the same thing unless some day in the future the whole series goes for $50 or less.

[Tyger]

Originally Posted by cinemaphile

But I'm just saying why not release ALL the individual seasons up front as well?

That's a ton of shelf space at once for stores. It would be cool if you could at least get them online at the same time though. And I guess maybe they think people who get the seasons wouldn't need to buy them all at once anyway.

[Gardenofstone10]

I watch Friends religiously with my wife, this news comes as a great surprise to us. Can't wait to hear the release date. Day one buy for us

[MarcelS1]

I like friends, watched every episode multiple times but I will not buy it on Blu.