MovieChat Forums > Fresno (1986) Discussion > Here's Why 'Fresno' will NEVER get a DVD...

Here's Why 'Fresno' will NEVER get a DVD Release...

posted 12 years ago by DeanNYC
16 replies | jump to latest

I just watched this miniseries for the first time since it aired in 1986, and I have to make a couple of pointed comments which will explain why you might as well stop asking for "Fresno" to be put on DVD (or even aired again, ever).

First, some praise. The concept was a brilliant one, in that there had never been a "comedy" miniseries to that point and that nighttime soaps were so prevalent at the time, they were perfect targets.

Additionally they had a worthy cast to do a exactly that. Carol Burnett, Dabney Coleman, Teri Garr, Charles Grodin, Jerry Van Dyke and the rest were top notch performers. The cast from top to bottom was absolutely excellent. For example, I particularly liked the elegance that Charles Keating brought to his role as the manservant for the Kensington household... it reminded me of Alan Napier's work as Alfred on the television version of "Batman."

But two unfortunate elements that were included in the storylines have basically insured that "Fresno" will never be seen again in any "official" way: the jokes at the expense of gays and Mexicans.

Grodin's character, the antagonistic Cane Kensington, frequently tosses in comments about his brother Kevin (played brilliantly by Anthony Heald) like "he's fruitier than this cocktail" and "maybe that's because you're a fairy queen." As bad as these comments were some twenty-five years ago, they really seem out of place, now.

Likewise the character of Juan, played by Luis Avalos, is often ridiculed, as the Kensingtons hire Torch (Gregory Harrison) to be a new ranch hand before giving Juan who had been working with the family for years without getting even a small raise. To phrase it the way Carol Burnett's Charlotte Kensington tells him: "The world is made up of the haves and the have nots. I have, you have not."

Admittedly, I didn't remember these elements from the original telecast, but viewing it again, they were painfully obvious and a clear and valid reason why "Fresno" will likely never be seen again.

[–] oscarunger 11 years ago

i dont think thats the readon, didnt hurt all in the family. if enough people were interested they do a dvd, im afraid its just a forgotten show

[–] DeanNYC 11 years ago

Your justification is nonsensical. "All in the Family" was a show ABOUT a bigot, so of course in that case there were ethnic slurs and insults. That was the point of that series.

In this case, the comments made came off as cruel and unnecessary attempts at humor and not very good ones, at that.

Maybe it's true that there isn't enough interest to generate a DVD release, but the gay and racist jokes really should not be seen and the fact that they're there I have to think are a big part of the choice to avoid it.

[–] oscarunger 11 years ago

true all in the family was about a bigot so that makes sense, but a lot of 70's shows had snarky ethnic/gay humor and they release those shows, if fresno was a long running show or there was a lot of interest (lets face it, 99.9 percent of the population dont remember it) theyd put it out regardless

[–] DeanNYC 11 years ago

I'm not sure what other series you are referring to when it comes to ethnic/gay humor, what specific examples you're talking about and what of those series got DVD releases. I would be curious to know about the series you have in mind.

But keep in mind, "Fresno" was from 1986, at a time when they should have known a little better than such obvious cheap shots at easy targets.

All I'm saying is that if you look at the fact that these jokes were in the script, nobody involved with that production would be proud of those comments today.

[–] MrBlondNYC 11 years ago

Wasn't Fresno a spoof of shows like Dallas and Falcon Crest? Where many of the characters were single-minded cold-hearted people? Where the servants were always minorities who were given the short shrift? Like the Latina maid on Dallas and the Chinese butler on Falcon Crest? Wouldn't the exaggeratedly awful behavior of the characters be a parody of this which was the whole point of this series? Like how Archie Bunker being a bigot was the point of that series?

Even a new viewer would catch on that the characters are exaggerated versions of privileged, sheltered white people. Just like a new viewer with fair intelligence could realize that Archie Bunker is to be laughed at.

George Carlin: It's all bullsh-t and it's bad for ya.

[–] DeanNYC 11 years ago

The concept of being "cold-hearted" is part and parcel to this sort of television. But while programs like "Dallas," "Dynasty" and the like were populated by privileged white people and the occasional token minority, there typically wasn't anything blatantly insulting, a la Archie Bunker bigotry, as a matter of course. If you can cite any examples of these programs with any characters making off-the-cuff racist, sexist, homophobic or similar comments, even those considered antagonists, please do.

I suspect there may have been some homophobic undercurrents in at least one storyline: on "Dynasty," where Steven was closeted and eventually came out. I don't know if there was some specific homophobic insults stated. But, whatever comments were made during that process were related to a character learning, and adjusting their attitude.

The point I'm making is that the characters from "Fresno" were not supposed to be bigots. And just as the characters on the program this is spoofing did not typically, if ever, make those sorts of comments, it reflects badly on the miniseries as a whole.

Nobody wants to see a show with that sort of commentary as "comedy." It was borderline when it was produced. It's completely wrong, now. I don't know specifically why the producers of the show haven't released it, but I'm stating that this is a very obvious reason why they might not.

[–] DeepFriedJello 11 years ago

Evidently you don't watch Saturday Night Live, The New Normal, and Jay Leno, among other shows.
Gays have generally come to terms with being fruity. Gays use their fruitiness as a positive attribute to secure employment in entertainment. Or maybe the correct terminology should be "excessive attempt to mock femininity".
Mexican's and black's also, are often stereotyped in todays entertainment. Good or bad, it's part of life. I doubt that the subtle comments in Fresno would prevent its release on DVD.

[–] 8tangerines 10 years ago

Yes they are supposed to be bigots! Everyone disparages Juan; that's why the twist at the end re: Juan is so great. It's a comeuppance for their bigotry.

[–] qatmom 11 years ago

Juan does just fine at the end...

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] rycki1138 8 years ago

Gay jokes and ethnic and racial slurs used for comedy effect didn't keep Soap, another comedy satire, from being released on DVD.

There were numerous gay jokes every episode aimed at Billy Crystal's Jody Dallas character, Benson was the butt of many racial jokes especially from the Major and then there were the ethnic stereotypes and jokes about Jessica's kidnappers El Puerco (Gregory Sierra) and Juan One (Joe Mantegna). Yes, there were so many Juans in this small band of people they had to number them, Juan One, Juan Two, Juan Three, that in itself is an ethnic stereotype that most Hispanic people are named Juan.

If anything keeps this from being put on DVD it will be because it is only remembered by those who saw it originally 30 years ago or one of its (only) two repeated airings in 1987 and 1989 and that won't be a big enough incentive for a company to put the money into releasing it on DVD if they don't think they can recoup their money.

Most people 35 or younger will not have even heard of this mini-series so will have no interest in buying it on DVD.

(knock,knock,knock) Penny (knock,knock,knock) Penny (knock,knock,knock) Penny

[–] gcarras (2728) 6 years ago

I agree, but the last comment rvcki made, before his/her signature, and I'll make a variation of the comment, maybe they'll at it out of curiosity. Of course a lot of obscure stuff is archives (many 1960s TV shows..) Lots of things surprisingly show up on You and on Hulu, but I seriously doubt that this show would be one of them. (Wonder if rvcki is still on here, as I was on the same former board, IMDB.com boards.)

[–] Progger1953 8 years ago

I saved it on a 4 hour vhs tape without commercials. Also I was contacted in 2002 by the creators of "arrested developement" to send them a copy. They said that I was the only person with a copy of "Fresno". Check out the similarities.

[–] tika313 8 years ago

I had never heard of it and only came across it on YouTube by accident. Whatever the reason it's not available on DVD it's really a shame it isn't. I thought it may come into the light after one of the star's passes on which is usually when there's renewed interest in people's work. M. Jackson and D. Bowie's record sales went through the roof for example. I certainly don't wish that to befall any of the cast but we are all getting older. The more obscure works will be the most desirable. Making money will be the impetus for its release on DVD.

[–] gcarras (2728) 6 years ago

Plus, it's definitely funny..and no Laugh track, one of the 1980s's few TV sows I liked. (Sadly a Laugh track notoriously WAS addeds)

"All you CARE about is..RAISIN!" I still recall that line. I wish it had been a hit long runner...:(

[–] LydiasPurple (1) 3 years ago

Well, I read through this thread. As much as it would be nice to believe that the remarks about gays and hispanics was the reason for no release, I tend to think it has more to do with $$. If they thought it would make money somebody in the US would produce it. By the way, it was released in Great Britain, and is still available.