Blu-ray Series: Why not start from the beginning ?

[KenO]

Smallville
I watched the early seasons of Smallville when they first aired and have watched many episodes multiple times in reruns. I have lost track of what has been happening in the recent couple seasons and there haven't been too many reruns for me to catch up on. When I watched season 6 on Blu-ray, about 1/2 of the episodes were new to me so i didn't feel too bad shelling out the big bucks for the latest season. (If the Warner execs are reading this, I would buy season 5 too.)

Rescue Me
I bought the first 2 seasons of Rescue Me on DVD when they were dirt cheap and it was the first time I saw the show since I don't have cable or satellite. When season 3 came out on Blu-ray, I was happy to buy it but I wouldn't go back and replace the first 2 seasons. The expense isn't worth it since I don't really expect to rewatch the series very often at all.

Everybody Loves Raymond
I have all but season 8 of Everybody Loves Raymond on DVD (I have been holding out for Blu-ray). I have watched them 3 or 4 times since purchasing them earlier this year and would replace all with Blu-ray because I expect to continue watching them over and over.

[WickyWoo]

Alias has a different case for every season

Season 1- 3 double keepcases in a box
Season 2- 3 double keepcases in a box w/slip
Season 3- "page trays" in a much thinner box
Season 4- "Stack 'em and scratch 'em" trays instead of pages
Season 5- only 4 discs, so much thinner than previous 2

Prison Break is proving why right now. It's like 3600-something on the amazon charts. Getting people to buy what they already have at a $40 higher SRP is extremely difficult. If I had to guess, Fox has had these discs done for a LONG time now, and probably were going to time the release with the "second half" of the broadcast season last year, and so they're going for ROI. 24 S6 was not that well liked by a lot of people, and therefore was not a good one to start out on Blu with. Frankly if I were Fox I'd wait until I could sell 24 at a first-week price of $50 and a much larger installed base.

The guy with the King Crimson avatar on the other page, virtually all your choices will never be in HD because they were shot on video, especially Jeffersons and the Kroft stuff

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

The above reminded me to mention that Warner Bros. is planning on releasing the First Season of "Smallville" on HDM next year.

Good. I think what people hope is that a studio is committed to a schedule to catch up. But, it may be only one older season per year.

[king_patrick_7]

I agree... would be nice if they started at season #1.
Hopefully they will go back once blu ray becomes more established

[EricJ]

So, WERE "Smallville" and "Lost" widescreen/HDTV in the first place, in their first seasons?

(Thought "Sopranos" wasn't, but it took longer for network to make wide-HD standard than HBO/Showtime series.)

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by EricJ

So, WERE "Smallville" and "Lost" widescreen/HDTV in the first place, in their first seasons?

"Lost" was presented in HD from the beginning.

The WB however did not offer HD until "Smallville" was in it's third season... though HDNet currently airs earlier seasons in HD. One advantage of the earlier seasons of "Smallville" in HD is the fact that the US releases don't have 5.1 surround, though it was available.

Also note that "Lost" S3 will have PCM tracks, and if Disney puts them on the eventual S1 and S2 discs, that will give a nice upgrade to some people.

~Alan

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Good. I think what people hope is that a studio is committed to a schedule to catch up. But, it may be only one older season per year.

While there are some series I'd jump all over like:

"Firefly: The Complete Series"
"Veronica Mars" (any season)
"The O.C." (any season)
"Everwood" (any season)
"Kyle XY" (any season)
"Supernatural" (any season)
"Battlestar Galactica" (any season, but on Blu-ray)
"Stargate: Atlantis" (any season... I wasn't planning on this one, but dang if it doesn't look great on Sci-Fi HD)

Not to mention a couple of others...

That being said, I'm not complaining that they are taking their time... because while I'd like to have all seasons of "Lost" on Blu-ray, "Lost" is not really one I'd repeat view much... with maybe the exception of S1... and while I'd really like to have the first two seasons of "Prison Break", I'm just not sure I'm going to get any of these day & date... but rather may wait until some time down the road when I have some extra money, and the extra time to watch them.

I may get "Smallville: Season One" when it comes out, but it will really depend on what else is coming out around that time.

~Alan

[mystiksuicide]

They could have released Lost season 1 & 2 before Dec 11 the release date for season 3. Same goes for Nip/Tuck but as long as they release them eventually I am ok with that.

I have a friend who wants LOST so i'll be giving her both of my LOST seasons for Christmas so they better put them out on Blu damn it!!! lol

Id Also would love to see the following in Blu:

Alias
Heroes Damn you Universal
Pushing Daises New series
Supernatural
M*A*S*H
X-Files
Rome
L-Word

[WickyWoo]

They could have released Lost season 1 & 2 before Dec 11 the release date for season 3. Same goes for Nip/Tuck but as long as they release them eventually I am ok with that.

Listen, LOST S3 will likely not even break even this year for the cost of production

The resources and time required to do a blu version is easily 3x, even with shared assets. Multiply by 6 discs per, and then schedule pressing on the lines (same space as 6 titles)

No, they couldn't have easily gotten them out. There just isn't the production capacity yet

[haushausman]

Drives me crazy. So many series I'd love to get into from the beginning after hearing so much hype. Lost for example.. I'd have season 1 on preorder right now!

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by king_patrick_7

I agree... would be nice if they started at season #1.
Hopefully they will go back once blu ray becomes more established

That's the key. Blu-ray needs to become more established as a format in order for many studios to invest in releasing older seasons of television shows on it. Especially if they have to remaster the audio and video.

[darkpoet25]

Originally Posted by wsciv123

I would like the following tv series on blu-ray:

The Jeffersons
All In The Family
Sanford & Son
The Equalizer (Universal owns this one so I will pray!)
Crank Yankers
South Park
Seinfeld
The Tick (live action show)
Sid & Marty Croft's work including:

H. R. Pufnstuf
Land Of The Lost
Sigmund and the Seamonsters
The Lost Saucer
Far Out Space Nuts
Wonderbug
Electrawoman and Dynagirl
Dr. Shrinker
Bigfoot and Wildboy
Magic Mongo
Horror Hotel
Lost Island
Lidsville

All Tom & Jerry cartoons

I guess thats all of them.

South Park is on Comedy Central who is owned by Viacom, so that would make it a Paramount release and for right now be on hd dvd only, if it ever came out. Man I haven't seen the Land Of The Lost since I was about 7 years old.