Rod Serling JB Show is an extra in Twilight Zone DVD

[TEADJones]

In the extras of Twilight Zone Definitive Edition Season 2 DVD

[LLeff]

In the extras of Twilight Zone Definitive Edition Season 2 DVD

And it's a really fun show. I recently saw it on one of the Special Collections in our video library.

[shimp scrampi]

I wonder if there is any way of reading the tea leaves on that - speculating what the implications of MCA licensing the JB show for the TZ box set are in terms of any potential for a Benny set. I would think if they had any even distant plans to release Jack Benny material they might be hesitant to put it out for the Twilight zone box.

I know that Twilight Zone fans are annoyed with the "double-dip", the show has seen three different DVD releases, each time with a little something else. These new ones are really souped up with cool extras and commentaries. I guess that is the up side of waiting for an official Benny release, that if and when it ever comes, maybe the powers that be will load it up at the outset with cool bells and whistles.

In the meantime we are fortunate to have the IJBFC video library - and can only hope that LL's betamax doesn't start making Mel Blanc noises!

[LLeff]

I wonder if there is any way of reading the tea leaves on that - speculating what the implications of MCA licensing the JB show for the TZ box set are in terms of any potential for a Benny set. I would think if they had any even distant plans to release Jack Benny material they might be hesitant to put it out for the Twilight zone box.

Hmmmmmm...all this is just me looking into my crystal ball, so don't put any of this in the bank...er...the vault. MCA did register the copyright on the Serling show. However, it was not part of the syndication package. At times based on what others talking with MCA have told me, MCA sometimes doesn't seem to know what they own of the Benny show. So, there are a few possibilities:

* MCA licensed the show for release on the TZ set
* MCA didn't know what they owned, inferred abandonment, and the DVD producers used someone else's copy as public domain
* MCA may not have renewed the registration on this show, making it fall into public domain
* They may not have talked with MCA at all and just pirated the show.

Who put out the set? I think if someone, let's say 12th Street Productions, came to MCA and wanted to license a show, I don't think it would make the powers that be at MCA sit up and say, "Hey, maybe we should release more of these!" I think I mentioned that even NBC came to me a few years ago wanting a review copy of a Benny show because they didn't want to pay MCA's prices for material that might not be broadcast. CBS also was looking for a lot of Benny material for their 50th anniversary of Television City, and was talking with both MCA and me (and others) about that. So if interest from CBS and NBC doesn't make MCA say "Hmmm", I don't know what will. Not to be cynical about it, just reflecting my own experience with trying to generate Benny interest inside the industry.

In the meantime we are fortunate to have the IJBFC video library - and can only hope that LL's betamax doesn't start making Mel Blanc noises!

I'll second THAT emotion....

[shimp scrampi]

Image puts out the new Twilight Zone sets. They're an interesting company that does a wide array of titles from very mainstream stuff to cult flicks (Something Weird video), but I think they are for the most part above board with copyright issues. I doubt they would put on anything legally dubious, especially for a sell-through, very well-known show like TZ.

I read a really good article on the economics of DVD production, essentially it is a MUCH cheaper format with higher profit margin than VHS - essentially you have to sell about 1/4 to 1/2 the number of units to reach the same profit. MCA was willing to do a suite of Benny VHS titles in the '90s, I guess I am the eternal optimist that they might see the light with a great DVD set, especially considering some of the truly execrable (did you know 'execrable' means 'lousy'?) TV shows with no known audience that come to the format *cough*Gregthebunny*cough

[Maxwell]

Image puts out the new Twilight Zone sets. They're an interesting company that does a wide array of titles from very mainstream stuff to cult flicks (Something Weird video), but I think they are for the most part above board with copyright issues. I doubt they would put on anything legally dubious, especially for a sell-through, very well-known show like TZ.

I read a really good article on the economics of DVD production, essentially it is a MUCH cheaper format with higher profit margin than VHS - essentially you have to sell about 1/4 to 1/2 the number of units to reach the same profit. MCA was willing to do a suite of Benny VHS titles in the '90s, I guess I am the eternal optimist that they might see the light with a great DVD set, especially considering some of the truly execrable (did you know 'execrable' means 'lousy'?) TV shows with no known audience that come to the format *cough*Gregthebunny*cough

I would love to see MCA do something like that and do it right with commentary tracks by someone who is knowledgeable about his entire career to perhaps discuss the origins of certain characterisitcs of the characters, and good stuff like that. I'd like to have comments by other comedians on Jack's role in comedy, too.

It's too bad nobody is asking us, isn't it?

[shimp scrampi]

Right, this is the interesting paradox with the DVD releases of TV shows - it is much more cost-effective to release season sets (or whatever the Benny equivalent would be) without the expensive-to-produce commentaries/documentaries, etc.

Then, if those sell well, they either put out the next set with the "goodies" added, or reissue the original season with commentaries and extras. This is what happened with the Twilight Zone release, there was a "best of" DVD set to test the waters, then they issued "complete season" box set with basically no extras, and now this third release with nicely restored episodes, commentaries, and the other supplements. So, the real fans who supported the show with their wallets from the beginning understandably get irritated because they want it right the first time, without having to buy their favorite show 3 times! But the companies can test the waters without a big loss by releasing barebones first.

I understand that the Mary Tyler Moore show first season set took a loss, because it didn't sell as well as expected, and was loaded with costly goodies.

On the plus side, the season-set TV DVDs overall has been a market that was totally unexpected for the companies, and has been a real windfall for them. So maybe, just maybe.

[LLeff]

Right, this is the interesting paradox with the DVD releases of TV shows - it is much more cost-effective to release season sets (or whatever the Benny equivalent would be) without the expensive-to-produce commentaries/documentaries, etc.

And you know, they could just put us all in a miked room, show the shows, and record whatever we say as the commentary. When we did the 39 Forever convention and had the final hurrah of screening shows at the Museum of Television and Radio, I noticed that there were two groups in the room. The first was up at the front, watching the shows. When I came in, I sat in the back row. And eventually there developed this clump of people around me who were initially asking me questions about the shows, and then doing general commentary and analysis among the group. Normally I'm a real stickler about people not talking during movies, but hopefully we all kept our voices low enough to not disturb any of the entranced people up front.

Mystery Science Theatre 3000 does "Horn Blows at Midnight"...hmmm...

[shimp scrampi]

Oh, shoot, I have all kinds of ideas for a dream Jack Benny set. I think an excellent audio option would be to have radio programs as an audio selection for episodes that are essentially the same script/plot as the TV show.

And this rather distressing proposition:

Mystery Science Theatre 3000 does "Horn Blows at Midnight"...hmmm...

reminds me of a really strange movie from the '80s, I think it was a direct to video thing - called "the Jet Benny Show" - a parody of Jack and Star Wars! Anyone recall this? I remember a pretty lame Jack and an awful (android?) Rochester... might be fun to see again though. Or maybe not!

[Maxwell]

Right, this is the interesting paradox with the DVD releases of TV shows - it is much more cost-effective to release season sets (or whatever the Benny equivalent would be) without the expensive-to-produce commentaries/documentaries, etc.

And you know, they could just put us all in a miked room, show the shows, and record whatever we say as the commentary. When we did the 39 Forever convention and had the final hurrah of screening shows at the Museum of Television and Radio, I noticed that there were two groups in the room. The first was up at the front, watching the shows. When I came in, I sat in the back row. And eventually there developed this clump of people around me who were initially asking me questions about the shows, and then doing general commentary and analysis among the group. Normally I'm a real stickler about people not talking during movies, but hopefully we all kept our voices low enough to not disturb any of the entranced people up front.

Mystery Science Theatre 3000 does "Horn Blows at Midnight"...hmmm...

As a fan of both MST3K and the Jack Benny Program, I find this idea intriguing. I wonder what Mike Nelson and the bots are doing these days....

[shimp scrampi]

Max, if you like MST3K (a little too 'shooting fish in a barrel' for my tastes), you should check out that Jet Benny movie and give us a review/heckle, I looked it up, there are used VHS copies on Amazon for 75 cents, LOL!

[Maxwell]

Max, if you like MST3K (a little too 'shooting fish in a barrel' for my tastes), you should check out that Jet Benny movie and give us a review/heckle, I looked it up, there are used VHS copies on Amazon for 75 cents, LOL!

Yeah, but the shipping and handling charges are probably murder!

The way this thread has strayed has me wondering if we've wandered into the Twilight Zone. [Cue scene-ending music: Buh-baaah...yut-duh-duh-dah.]

[LLeff]

Max, if you like MST3K (a little too 'shooting fish in a barrel' for my tastes), you should check out that Jet Benny movie and give us a review/heckle, I looked it up, there are used VHS copies on Amazon for 75 cents, LOL!

Hey now, I think asking ANYONE to watch "The Jet Benny Show" DEFINITELY crosses the line in personal threats and harassment. (Just kidding.)

I have a copy of Jet Benny. I have no intention of transferring it to DVD in the near or distant future. It took a LOT of scotch and a strong sense of duty to get me to sit through it the first time, and I just don't think I could survive a repeat performance (because of the movie, not the scotch).

I even took it to another member's home, and he screamed with laughter at the video jacket. Then we put it on and they stopped laughing. After about 10 minutes we stopped the tape. Nuff said.

[shimp scrampi]

OK, so I guess my bad memories of it are pretty accurate. In the tradition of the "four word film review":

"Spaceballs made with molasses!"

And that's probably being kind.

[LLeff]

OK, so I guess my bad memories of it are pretty accurate. In the tradition of the "four word film review":

"Spaceballs made with molasses!"

And that's probably being kind.

Here's my own four-word review:

So bad....it's rotten.