SHOULD THE CRITERION COLLECTION INCLUDE TELEVISION SHOWS?
I think that Criterion should just release shows on dvd that aren’t available in the USA and Canada. Also if they were to release an american show it should be something very under the radar. Very much like shows Image would release.
I think it’s a good expansion for the company. Would love to see the John Le Carre Tinker Tailor stuff..and Smiley’s People.
I can imagine miniseries to become a big part of Criterion and who knows they may even spin off a line just dedicated to television.
Hell no. “I don’t watch tv.”- Vincent Vega, Pulp Fiction
I think Criterion should do it under an imprint solely for TV. I think if it were to be under Criterion, it might ruin their name. Also, I think adding television would be great, because a lot of us do not have good exposure to good foreign television shows.
yes. every season and every movie of futurama in one set. now.
Well,I think it’s useless because almost every serie has a worthy transfer on DVD from their companies.The only ones who need good Criterion includin’ should be Carnival,Twin Peaks,The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.Oh, and Tell Me You Love Me.
interesting question, but after a brief but hard thinking time to myself, I concluded that besides a few mini-series television shows should not be included in it
Personally, I wouldn’t want Criterion putting out TV shows. Most TV shows have great releases already and don’t need a Criterion release.
Plus, I’d rather have Criterion work on getting new releases of films like VOYAGE TO ITALY or BIGGER THAN LIFE out. Using their resources for TV shows and the like just seems like a waste.
TV Shows on DVD are way to profitable for studios to sign over the rights to a specialty house like Criterion. Plus could you imagine how much money you would end up spending to get the entire Sopranos: Criterion Collection or The Complete Seinfeld. It would have to be about 699 bucks. Eventually the seasons would be released separately but the packaging wouldn’t be as nice.
I think it would be wonderful to see some older shows remastered and on DVD, but maybe not by Criterion per se.
I mean, I would love to own a DVD of The Prisoner. Or Homicide: Life on the Street. I think the idea of a Criterion subsidiary that deals with important television series’ (Like Amman suggests, above) is wonderful.
“Moral Orel” started out as a clever (if uneven) satire, but eventually evolved into one of the most dramatically engaging shows I’ve seen. The entire third season feels rather cinematic. The series is extremely ambitious with what it sets out to do. It sets up a cartoon world and then gradually deconstructs it. The production values, writing, voice acting, etc. are all used to great dramatic effect.
As of yet, only a third of the episodes have been released. The show never got the recognition it deserved and I would love to see it finally see a proper DVD release. Considering the fact that The Criterion Collection doesn’t do many TV shows and hasn’t put out ANY animated entertainment as of yet, I know it’s a long shot.
But hey that would be the best thing ever.
I wouldn’t mind it. If they wouldn’t have had Fishing With John I would have probably never seen it, so for that I’m thankful.
they should release ‘Wings’ and an ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ collection. j/k. but those shows ruled.
E Street.
yea. it would be cool to see some foreign tv shows maybe?
I agree. In America we can get pretty much any TV show we want, so long as it’s in the english language.
Although, TV didn’t start having really high production value until The Sopranos, and what high quality serials actually made it to air tended to have short runs.
It’d be nice to see Criterion cover some of those obscure shows that people have forgotten about.
I second whoever said Freaks and Geeks.
It would also be nice to be able to get quality TV shows from other countries more easily… Criterion or otherwise.
This thread rules…I think they’ve done Alexanderplatz and Tanner ‘88 very well and Fishing With John, which is one of my overall favorites in the whole collection, is fantastic. Despite this I’d sure like to see some more “accessible” TV shows brought to life again as long as they could provide the usual essays, press hype, extras, ect. Unless you’re German, get HBO, or were a total cult nerd/insomniac, Criterion probably introduced you to those aforementioned three, although there are other ways.
My top votes go to Northern Exposure, TV films Barbarians at the Gate and The Day After, and, from across the pond, the insanely Irish Troubled “Elephant” (by Alan Clarke), the insanely British “GBH”, and the insanely funny “Nuts in May”…of course Mike Leigh should just have a Play for Today box set or something.
Yeah, and I’m only sort of kidding. It’s easily the greatest children’s show ever made and Nickelodeon hasn’t released complete season sets, only compilations of certain episodes.
Get it done, CC.
It’s too easy to already get these TV shows. I don’t know what could be gained by Criterion re-releasing shows like The Wire.
Not to mention that most of the shows listed here are too long. Tanner ‘88 was 11 episodes, Fishing with John was 6 episodes, and Berlin Alexanderplatz is 14, but it’s pretty much one film in 14 parts.
The Wire has 5 seasons. I don’t really see Criterion releasing something that long. Freaks and Geeks maybe, but then there’s nothing wrong with the set that’s already out.
Angry Beavers does make me think though. How come Criterion have never released any animated works? Even just an eclipse set of Ralph Bakshi’s films would be great. Coonskin has had a really shady release history.
No. No. No. No. No.
Exploitating the market much?
The only exception I’ll respect is “The Decalogue”.
The Criterion Collection’s dearth of animated works is a beef I’ve had with them for some time. I like the idea that if they do ever put out something animated, that it be an especially bold entry to the collection like Angry Beavers. Seriously. They love to confound their fanbase, so why not? I would be so disheartened if the first animated thing they put out was Fantastic Mr. Fox or something like that. I like that movie, but it would be so ordinary for them.
I said it before and I’ll say it again: The Criterion Collection is the only distributor that would do justice to the entirety of Moral Orel.
THE JIMMY STEWART SHOW
holy crap do i ever want to see that
Has anyone got the GOLDEN AGE OF TELEVISION? I’ve been thinking of getting it for some time. Some outstanding productions in the set I think, plus great actors/directors/writers.
I wouldn’t mind some movies that were made for TV assuming they were of sufficient quality. I loved a PBS movie LATHE OF HEAVEN that would be pretty interesting. Surely there were many made for TV movies made in lots of countries that would be worth seeing again. The Rosellini Eclipse set of historical films were all made for TV.
I think for TV, Criterion should stick with international series of special merit, such as “Berlin Alexanderplatz.”
I really don’t like the idea of the ‘diluting’ of the brand by including mainstream series that already have been released.
One series that could be a possible candidate is the British “A Family at War” from 1970-1972.
It is out on DVD in England, but has never, to my knowledge, had a full release in the US.
And in “complete wishful thinking land” if C could get Kevin Brownlow’s “Hollywood” TV series, I know of at least one grown man who would weep with joy….but given the complete swamp of rights issues surrounding that work, the odds are very long indeed.
Gurp
Definitely The Wire and The Shield on blu-ray criterion
As for animated/anime shows, definitely Batman: The Animated Series, and Samurai 7 because of The Seven Samurai for criterion blu-ray.
And I guess Charlie Chaplin is coming to CC for sure, so thats taken care of.