The original show has been continuously running in syndication for over forty years. When will the owners of the copyright of the reunion made-for-tv movie and 80's series recognize that there's money to be made from issuing these on DVD?
shareI'll second that! This is a show that is just waiting to be 're-discovered' by LITB fans who love the original still, but never got to see the 80s series.
Mark
I third it! My sister is one of those true LITB fans who somehow never got to see the '83 movie OR any of the new series! (Didn't it run on the "Disney Channel" or something? I think back then you had to pay a premium to get it, and Sis may not have had access.) So, is there any way those of us who lacked the foresight to tape "Still The Beaver" originally, can obtain a tape or DVD today? I'd pay a pretty penny!
shareIt was on TBS, I think, but I'm not absolutely sure. I know it was on a cable channel, because we moved & couldn't get cable for a while, so I didn't get to see the last year of the show.
share[deleted]
I wish they would be released on dvd also. I already got the first couple seasons of the original on dvd. It a great show that will never die. It's just sad I think that tv and cable have forgotten about the series. I remember every episode in the 80's, but haven't seen any in more than 10yrs i'm guessing. Bring it back on cable, so i can record them or release box sets so I can buy them......Pleasssseeeeeee....lol
shareisn't there a petition that people sign to release certain dvd's.
share[deleted]
If you don't mind "bootleg" DVDs, occasionally someone posts a 91 episode set (only 11 episodes are missing!) on the website ioffer.com (I know because I have them!). The quality is as one might expect for something taped more than two decades ago, but they are still very watchable and enjoyable...and definitely better than nothing, and certainly worth the $20-$30 asking price. All of the most important episodes are there, including the premiere episode as originally shown on the Disney Channel, and the two part series finale as shown on TBS, plus episodes like Wally's motorcycle accident, Aunt Martha's death, a trip to the Super Bowl, as well as the original airing of the original "Leave it to Beaver"'s pilot, "It's a Small World", which was unveiled during NLITB's third season (and the original series' 30th anniversary on October 3, 1987).
To answer a previous note about what network the series aired on: the show was cancelled by The Disney Channel after its first season (27 episodes, 1984-85) and moved to TBS for its final three seasons (75 more episodes, 1986-89) for a total of 102 produced episodes...plus the original two hour movie "Still the Beaver" (1983). The series' title was changed from "Still the Beaver" to "The New Leave it to Beaver" during the network transition, and the original two minute opening credit sequence shown during the Disney run was changed to the shorter, more familiar NLITB title sequence (Here's link to the Disney sequence...it has to hold the record for the longest TV series opening credits EVER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnAzjmYEiLQ , and just for the heck of it, here's what the end credits looked like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5mRZvW23aM )
I just checked and the DVDs aren't listed for sale currently (the seller usually produces five-six sets at a time and sells them all before making more, so I'm sure there'll be more...keep your eyes open!), but the original two hour movie from 1983 featuring Corey Feldman is available (you should still purchase this even if you hope to find the aforementioned set of episodes...the movie was broken into four parts during syndication...which is how it is presented on the 90+ episode set, and several scenes were cut or even changed, including a narration by June at the end which describes Wally's new baby as "Ward Jr." in the original CBS reunion broadcast, but was altered in subsequent airings to say "baby Kelly" when the series was picked up!).
Lastly, here are some clips from the "Thanksgiving" episode (the third produced episode) as well as a promo spot that I found on YouTube...the episode is not complete but you'll get the idea...
"Thanksgiving", Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFf-PuxvjkI&NR=1
"Thanksgiving", Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-arpIspnlmM
Promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0g5inylHUg
Also, I am currently the editor for "The New Leave it to Beaver" on tv.com...I have been able to develop a more detailed episode guide than is widely available, so be sure to check it out if you wish to jog your memory about what some of the episodes are about (of course, if you know something I don't know, you can contribute to the guide as well!)!
Sorry for writing so much but I hope this can help someone!
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