MovieChat Forums > Otherworld (1985) Discussion > Complete Season 1 exists

Complete Season 1 exists

posted 19 years ago by bdickinson
56 replies | jump to latest

I've been a fan of this since watching the original episodes as they aired. I have the eight aired episodes on VHS somewhere. Now comes the interesting tidbit. In 1987, my husband called to find out about the show for me and confirmed that THERE WERE THIRTEEN EPISODES FILMED, but that only eight were released. The rest were in the CBS studio vault.

Remember the opening credit sequence where we see a mntage of scenes from the episodes? Remember the scene from an episode you NEVER SAW? I remember looking for that and waiting for it, and it never aired. This is what prompted my husband to call the studio.

Now the question begs to be asked: Who owns the rights to Otherworld now and how many of the episodes do they have in their control? Does the original studio still have the last five episodes? Does the SciFi channel?

I'm really curious to find out. Time to start doing some research. Anyone know someone at either CBS or SciFi Channel? Write e-mails. Stir the pot. Let's see what we can find out. It would be awesome if we could get the SciFi channel to show all thirteen episodes.

Yay Otherworld fans!

UPDATE: I wrote to Lew Hunter, the producer and he confirmed that there were thirteen episodes. He said: "I thought all 13 were aired. CBS was the network. I am sure that Universal Studios, now NBC Universal owns the negatives and the rights."

Wow! There's a treasure trove of unaired episodes out there, and I for one am determined to see the missing five! I'm going to continue this campaign, and will keep you all informed of my progress.

[–] scooby200245601 18 years ago

I liked this show too. Do you know who to ask or email? Where is Season 1 Available? I work at Walmart and haven't seen. Please send reply to [email protected]

[–] mongrove_mantichora 18 years ago

Season 1 is only available as bootleg copies. A few years ago (8? 9?) the entire season was aired on the Sci-Fi network. A few enterprising individuals recorded the entire run, and are now/still selling copies on eBay.

The network will probably never release the series on DVD -- or at least, not without substantial revision. One of the episodes, "Rock and Roll Suicide", featured covers of classic pop and rock and roll hits (Beatles, David Bowie, Cheap Trick, etc.)

Check out my post on this board titled, "Probably not on DVD, thanks to music licensing!" The root issue is that the network would have to buy the rights to each song at a heavy license cost. The expected return from such an obscure, one-season show -- which was cancelled after just 8 episodes! -- would probably not even pay for one license for just one song... and as we all know, Beatles songs are not available for licensing!

So, once again, ill-wrought, draconian copyright laws hinder and punish the curious public.

[–] bveditz 18 years ago

Definately true... Thats what happened with 'greatest american hero'. Due to licensing issues, they edited out 'eve of destruction' from all the episodes and replaced it with some makeshift song. With 'greatest american hero' having a larger audience, and 'eve of destruction' being a relatively small song (compared to the beatles, etc), if they couldn't even do it for those DVD's, I wouldn't expect it to happen for this show.

However, some older shows are starting to show up on internet based television (ie. television.aol.com) or pay-to-view internet sites (ie. fox has something for the show 24). That way, they won't have the large distribution costs. For the pay-to-view sites you just pay for each episode and download it using the media players licensing feature and for the free sites (like aol's) you sit through commercials. :) In any case, those might be options for a show such as this.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] NYRman1975 17 years ago

Any update to this situation yet? How about any rogue CBS agents that are willing to smuggle out copies to this world? LOL

[–] HyperPup 17 years ago

For all we know the episodes (if they were indeed filmed) could be in the hands of Roderick and/or Bruce Taylor. I know Roderick Taylor was especially close to this show so maybe he cut a deal with the studio or something. I know it sounds improbable but he would at least have some kind of answer.

[–] joevideo1 17 years ago

I am probably one of the rare people who has all 8 episodes videotaped from the original 1985 airings. i'm sitting here watching them now. i would love to see those last 5 eps someday. i will be transferring my vhs copies to dvd...

[–] Chockys 17 years ago

Hello people, I'm a great fan about this fantastic TV series called 'Otherworld', and I'm crazy to see the missing five episodes of this series. Could this be posible?, exists a way for reach it? I hope so be it. I love 'Otherworld' since the first time I saw when I was 9 years old. One thing: these episodes was dubbed? I'm spanish and I would like see it in spanish (dubbed or subtitled). My heard english is a little limited, I fear (my written english is better). Anyway, I want to see the complete 1st season! I want it!! And as me, I know much people wish it too. I hope that in a nearby future everybody can see it in a DVD remasterization. Hooray for 'Otherworld'!!

PD: One last thing. Would like to you an 'Otherworld' remake (like Galactica)?

[–] Martin Grant 17 years ago

This all sounds fantastic!

I already love the Main Theme by "Airwolf" regular Sylvester Levay. He knew how to compose an addictive, memorable, and unforgettable signature tune.

bdickinson: does your husband still have the contact details for the CBS studio vault, as I too would like to get in-touch with them, regarding both "Otherworld" and "Airwolf".

[–] superdolly69 17 years ago

I am desparate to get my hands on a copy of Otherworld can anyone help?

[–] nebka23 17 years ago

Go to Forgottenstuff.com

[–] ciscookie 17 years ago

Dont let this thread die. WE ALL WANT TO SEE THSES 5 EPISODES!

[–] bd445 17 years ago

Not that I know anything about television show production, but the footage shot for those 5 episodes probably hasn't been put together into distinctive storylines. They were probably dropped into storage unedited, after the rather quick cancellation of the series.

But yes, they should be pulled out of the vault and edited and released, whether on the Sci-fi channel or direct to DVD.

Maybe even a brand new series with the same name and concept could be made, like what was done with the Bionic Woman and Battlestar Galactica...

[–] FCA1975 16 years ago

I remember this show....vaguely. I know that I too liked this show. It's funny how IMDB does not list it if you search with Other World, rather than Otherworld. That's very annoying. Anyways, this is not the first good series to get canned by a network. Remember Automan amd Street Hawk anyone? They always seem to cancel a good show for no reason. Im not surprised it's CBS, I never watch that channel and their ratings are usually last with the local networks.

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You disloyal, fool-a$$, b1tch-made punk!

[–] elsol5776 16 years ago

I watched way too much T.V. as a child, and I distinctly remember being a huge fan of this show!!! I would love to see it released with the 5 unaired episodes.. It should be considered to be remade, at least into a mini series with a conclusion...

[–] jennifer_gilbert1971 16 years ago

I have been looking everywhere across the internet for any information on this show. ImDb had by far the most information I've come across. I would love to be able to watch these shows online but have been unable to find a site that has them. Would buy them on DVD from e-bay but I want all 13 episodes!

I just don't undersatnd why this show didn't do so well in 1985. Afterall that's the same year "Back to the Future" came out!

I loved reading all of these posts. It brought back so many fond memories!

[–] byington-873-552681 14 years ago

I love this show. It was my favorite when I was 13 and I watched it religiously. I saw the first 7, but my family was on a trip when the 8th aired. I always regretted it. I would love to see all 13!

Does the Sci Fi channel show the first 8?

[–] thecosmichobo 13 years ago

Well, just to "keep the thread alive"...

Here in Australia the show aired late at night... I have no idea if we had more than the known 8 episodes aired...

I hate to hear of people having to pay for this... when all they'd be getting is off-air copies anyway... There is now "other" sources, if you look around...

Sounds like rights issues will halt the airing and release of this show on DVD/tv... very sad to hear!

As a wannabe tv writer and scifi fan, I'd love to remake this series... probably more as I remember, than the reality :} (As I think we'd all agree - some eps are top notch... some aren't)

Cheers

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] bradroenfeldt 13 years ago

The eight episodes aired on CBS can be viewed on YouTube @ http://youtu.be/RfWxaGVwgMQ

[–] ntr-121-646989 11 years ago

But what about the rest :(

[–] suzinelson72 11 years ago

I know this posting was from a VERY long time ago but I was hoping to stir this up and see if anything else has been found regarding the rights and/or a way to purchase the series.

Loved this show as a kid!

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] eam4375 11 years ago

Another viable option would be print on demand dvd system like Amazon does with some programing. Also, I know that up until season two and three of Superboy were officially released this past year the main actor sold them legally via his website. Basically, if one of the writers/creators/producers having copies could be inundated with a mob of fan letters...