"WKRP in Cincinnati" Fans: List of DVD music changes (the news isn't good)

[Penndems]

From tvshowsondvd.com:

We all knew there would be some music changes on WKRP in Cincinnati, but we didn't know the extent of them, until now. Jamie Weinman, a huge fan of WKRP (he's been lobbying for the release for a long time), has put together a list of the music edits on his blog. Be warned, they are extensive, and almost every song has been replaced.

Fox was in a no-win situation here; they could either hold back the show from ever being released (which was the plan for a long time), or release it with music substitutions. People who don't care about the music (but it's hard not to with this show) will pick it up, while the purists won't, and to them WKRP isn't truly out on DVD.

And before someone asks why they call this "The Complete First Season" - that's a marketing term for all the episodes are included.

WKRP in Cincinnati, Season 1 DVD
List of Music Replacements and Cuts

Pilot
“Queen of the Forest" by Ted Nugent replaced with generic music.

Pilot Part 2
“That Old Time Rock n’ Roll” by Bob Seger replaced with generic music.

Les on a Ledge
Song at the beginning replaced.

Hoodlum Rock
The songs (by the band Detective) are intact, but the episode is a cut 22-minute syndication version. The original full-length version is available at the Museum of Television and Radio.

Hold-Up
All songs replaced.

Bailey’s Show
Two songs replaced. Some footage cut from one scene.

Turkeys Away
“Dogs” by Pink Floyd replaced. Much of the scene has been cut out entirely.

Love Returns
Rock songs replaced. Part of a scene has been cut.

Mama’s Review
Clip show.

A Date With Jennifer
“Hot Blooded” by Foreigner replaced. 22-minute cut syndication version.

The Contest Nobody Could Win
All songs replaced.

Tornado
Elvis Costello song replaced.

Goodbye, Johnny
“Surfin’ U.S.A.” by the Beach Boys replaced.

Johnny Comes Back
All songs replaced with generic music.

Never Leave Me, Lucille
“Everybody Rock n’ Roll the Place” by Eddie Money replaced. The episode originally started with Les singing “Heartbreak Hotel”; that footage has been cut.

I Want to Keep My Baby
All songs replaced except one Bob Marley song.

A Commercial Break
All rock songs replaced.

Who is Gordon Sims?
One song replaced.

I Do… I Do… For Now
Jennifer’s doorbell, which played “Fly Me to the Moon,” is replaced with a public-domain song.

Young Master Carlson
All songs replaced, even the theme from Patton, a Fox film.

Fish Story
All songs replaced.

Preacher
All songs replaced.
********************************************************************
Links:

tvshowsondvd.com "WKRP" page:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7103

Jamie Weinman's blog:
http://zvbxrpl.blogspot.com/2007/03/wkrp-dvd-not-ok.html

[electricmonk]

1. Guess I won't be buying it

I was expecting a few changes but not that many. Especially this one:
Turkeys Away
“Dogs” by Pink Floyd replaced. Much of the scene has been cut out entirely.

That was one of my favorite scenes ever. I wonder how hard they even tried to get the rights for the songs. You would think that bands like Foreigner would be thrilled for a little bit of new exposure.

[Penndems]

2. I cancelled my order on amazon.com

What a tremendous disappointment. I was looking forward to having this in our collection.

Unless they've been pulled, we've still got "WKRP" episodes on youtube.

[electricmonk]

18. Yep there's still some up.

I'm sure once the dvd's are released they will force Youtube to pull them. Going to download as many as I can before they do. Getting the punk concert episode now.

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. That one strikes me as particularly weird

since it was one of the few songs left in when the series was repeated on Nick at Nite a few years ago. :shrug:

I wonder if they're gonna leave in Carlson's line, "Do I hear dogs barking on that record?" (To which Johnny replied, "I do.") Carlson also asked him the name of the "orchestra" a minute before that. Johnny said it was Pink Floyd, and Carlson replied, "Oh, is that Pink Floyd?"

Continuity, dammit! Continuity! :grr:

[idgiehkt]

3. man the record companies in this country are worse than the mafia

I'm not into stealing music, but they need to be taken down.

[Penndems]

5. They're charging a king's ransom for music licensing fees

It's absolutely absurd.

[AngryOldDem]

6. Damn. Then what's the point of buying it?

Thanks for the heads-up. Either release them as they first appeared, or don't. Call me a purist about this sort of thing, but I think it's a little disingenuous to change material from the original and not be upfront about it. I understand why this is done, but it also compromises the product.

[Penndems]

7. From one purist to another . . .

If the original music isn't included, then the series hasn't been released in its entirity. It's as much a part of that show as the actors and dialogue are.

Fox really did this one on the cheap. :(

[Deja Q]

12. If the shows were made with a 'perpetual use' license, this would be a non-issue...

FOX has pulled the same stunt on 'In Living Color' for either actual music used or even music PARODIES, which is really surprising because they're not the same thing as the original song. (though season 1's disc set looks fully intact and it was expensive compared to later seasons' costs...)

[Penndems]

14. Fox's attitude towards their DVD releases is the same as their network programming

With the possible exception of "The Simpsons" and their sports broadcasting, it's cheap, shoddy and produced with a cavalier attitude.

[Cannikin]

8. I know this sounds stupid, but this is the same reason I wont buy the Beavis and Butthead DVDs

They've cut out the majority of videos and their commentaries. That was the best part.

[HuffleClaw]

9. the same issue is why MTV has yet to release daria! on dvd n/t

[KitchenWitch]

10. Without the original music, it ain't WKRP in Cincinnati.

x(

[Deja Q]

11. They had another option:

Pay the licensing/royalty fees and charge more for the set.

The fans, who are the only ones who'd buy it anyway, would be happy.

[Penndems]

13. I would gladly cough up the extra dough to have the episodes intact

What is the point in having them chopped up and devoid of the music? If that was Fox's intention from the get-go, the needn't have bothered releasing the set to begin with.

[dysfunctional press]

15. same deal with northern exposure...

some of the "new" episodes are almost painful to watch.

[Penndems]

16. You're kidding! How could anybody hack up "Northern Exposure" like that?

"NE" was a truly intellectual, warm, human interest series. Rob Morrow and the entire cast were outstanding.

For it to be edited down to nothing is a crime.

[dysfunctional press]

17. it's the liscensing for the original music.

it's not that the episodes are chopped up- just that the music is often very different that what it was.

[Penndems]

20. That is a real shame

Such a great show - I never missed an episode when it was on in prime time.

A DVD release isn't the same without Chris spinning those familiar tunes and hearing his patter on KBHR. :cry:

[pokerfan]

19. I wonder if this is going to be an issue with My Name is Earl

Another show with great music...
http://tviv.org/My_Name_Is_Earl/Music

This means I will not be buying the DVD's.

[dysfunctional press]

26. the newer shows will probably be fine-

i would think that the liscensing type issues are settled in the original contracts now.

[pokerfan]

27. It's just all so stupid

It's not like anyone is going to buy videos of WKRP in lieu of actual albums. If anything, the DVD set could be viewed as free advertising for the label.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

21. Four simple words

"Bittorrent Is Your Friend."

:evilgrin:

Before you ask, Google is ALSO your friend. :rofl:

[Penndems]

22. Thanks - I've bookmarked this service

They don't have "WKRP" yet, but there are some great movies to download.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

23. Check your PM

:thumbsup:

[Penndems]

24. Done and answered

Thanks! :hi: :)

[deutsey]

25. This is so stupid

Just like the opening chords being taken out of the "Wayne's World" video I have.

It's no wonder our culture is dying on the vine...

[gmoney]

28. At least they DID cut "That Old Time Rock n Roll"

If I never hear that song again, I'll be grateful... same for "Turn the Page".

[ikojo]

29. The lawyers with the RIAA just do not get it

There is a whole generation of people who must might get interested in the music being replaced. Somewhere there is a kid who has not heard of Pink Floyd but after hearing a clip of a song on a DVD from an old TV show, that kid might go to iTunes and PURCHASE some of that music.

Oy vey!!!

I won't be buying this piece of crap.