Fox TV and Malcolm in the Middle DVDs

[persren]

This is a compliment AND a big gripe about Fox TV and their amazingly original comedy show Malcolm in the Middle.

My husband and I both enjoy Malcolm tremendously. It is an absolutely insane, bust-a-gut-laughing show. My understanding is that it has high ratings.

So why in the world does Fox have NO plans to release more than Season One on DVD?!?!?!?!? We bought Season One, which ends in a cliffhanger -- a very sweet episode with the marvelous Bea Arthur.

I feel ripped off. Never would we have purchased Season One if we knew that Fox has no plans to continue issuing future seasons of the show. (If you don't believe me, ask Fox. I did and that was their reply.)

I suggest to all you folks out there to NOT buy any Fox DVDs of TV shows unless you make sure first that they will commit to issuing the entire series.

And to Fox TV executives, who apparently read these forums for feedback, a big, juicy raspberry to you. It really isn't nice to jerk the fans around like this. (My husband and I DIDN'T buy Millenium when you began to issue it on DVD. Nor will we until you issue the entire series because we no longer trust you.) You continue to advertise Malcolm Season One, which presupposes more seasons, and I feel this is fraudulent unless you put in the ads that you have no intention of releasing the rest.

Consider yourselves spanked!

[Dilmo]

Originally Posted by persren

And to Fox TV executives, who apparently read these forums for feedback

I don't think we are on Fox's priority list.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by persren

And to Fox TV executives, who apparently read these forums for feedback, a big, juicy raspberry to you.

Have you contacted Fox about this directly? Part of the problem (I think) with expressing disapproval of decisions being made on forums like this is the parties you're trying to reach will read your comments along with all of the other less than constructive criticism that gets posted more often than not which results in those parties turning a "deaf ear" to you and them.

I'm not saying don't post this kind of stuff on internet forums but only that this kind of commentary should be followed up with serious feedback to Fox directly. Obviously, they are making the decisions they are for business reasons and if they get the message that there is enough marketplace demand for their content, they will possibly reconsider their original decision.

Dilmo is right about Fox execs probably NOT reading DVD File specifically but I believe they do read Home Theater Forum.

Welcome to DVD File!

Peace...

[Dilmo]

persren, I've been lurking around, and you are not the only one peeved. There are others. Tom is right. If you all could somehow contact Fox directly, that would be best. Most of the comments I've read are all similar to this:

when are they going to come out with season 2

Fox needs to know this. Oh, also, welcome. I forgot.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by Dilmo

persren, I've been lurking around, and you are not the only one peeved. There are others. Tom is right. If you all could somehow contact Fox directly, that would be best. Most of the comments I've read are all similar to this: Fox needs to know this.

Yep, the more the better and flooding them with as much constructive comments as possible would go the longest way to get them to change their position, if that's even possible.

Peace...

[persren]

Thanks to those who replied. I want to answer some points.

Yes, I did contact Fox directly. Both by email and by phone. The answer was "we have no plans to release further seasons."

As to whether Fox execs would bother to read this forum, I got the idea to gripe here because of an article in the LA Times Calendar section, which is the culture and entertainment section of the paper. Perhaps I am wrong, but the LA Times does seem to have its finger on the pulse of Hollywood. In an article dated April 5, the paper states that entertainment execs do read these sites and consider the input valuable. Two sites were mentioned in the article, this one and one other --dvdtalk.com.

Altho it does not always pay to bitch, it often does help.

Entertainment execs need to be often reminded that the fans are a powerful force not always to be taken for granted. Corporate execs are like chickens that can have their beak pushed into a line in the dirt who will stand there for hours, hypnotized by that line. With executives, the line is the bottom line. They are tranced out by profits, oblivious to almost everything else. What future, what past? Money now good.

Keeping the fans happy and good public relations actually has monetary value in the long run.

I almost bought the first season of the Pretender yesterday but did not when I noticed the Fox logo. So I will wait until all of them are released before buying. Once burned, twice warned.

Now anyone who reads this will also be warned.

[Dilmo]

Originally Posted by persren

the LA Times does seem to have its finger on the pulse of Hollywood. In an article dated April 5, the paper states that entertainment execs do read these sites and consider the input valuable. Two sites were mentioned in the article, this one and one other --dvdtalk.com.

DAMN, we're famous! No more posting naked.

[tomdkat]

Originally Posted by persren

Yes, I did contact Fox directly. Both by email and by phone. The answer was "we have no plans to release further seasons."

Great. I would keep on them on this.

As to whether Fox execs would bother to read this forum, I got the idea to gripe here because of an article in the LA Times Calendar section, which is the culture and entertainment section of the paper. Perhaps I am wrong, but the LA Times does seem to have its finger on the pulse of Hollywood. In an article dated April 5, the paper states that entertainment execs do read these sites and consider the input valuable. Two sites were mentioned in the article, this one and one other --dvdtalk.com.

I'm also suprised DVD File was listed and not Home Theater Forum, which is where I do believe Fox and other studio reps actually participate on the forums from time to time.

Altho it does not always pay to bitch, it often does help.

I think it's GOOD to "bitch" but the important point is how it's done. If the studios are always slammed as being "idiots" or "greedy morons" all the time, they will be less interested in forums where that kind of commentary is the norm. If the complaints are expressed in a constructive manner, the feedback will be heard and hopefully considered.

Corporate execs are like chickens that can have their beak pushed into a line in the dirt who will stand there for hours, hypnotized by that line. With executives, the line is the bottom line. They are tranced out by profits, oblivious to almost everything else. What future, what past? Money now good.

See, this is what I mean. I know if I were a studio exec and I read this, I wouldn't be interested in any of the commentary in this thread and probably would write this forum off as "another internet forum" instead of considering it a place to get solid fan feedback. Nothing personal toward you.

Keeping the fans happy and good public relations actually has monetary value in the long run.

Yep, I agree. However, the fans must not forget that the studio execs are there to run a business and there are TONS of things at work in any decision they make that we have absolutely no idea about. Pleasing the fans is only one aspect. What would happen if Fox decided to put the fans first all of the time and that resulted in their stock going down and they start to lose money, etc.? The fans wouldn't be impacted very much outside of not having as much entertainment content from that studio as we would like, but our lives would go on. On their side, layoffs, restructuring, etc.

It's important that the fans communicate what they want but the fans must also be realistic and reasonable.

Thanks for the info on the LA Times article.

By the way, did you check out DVD Talk? If so, did you post there too? If not, why did you post here and not there? I'm just curious.

Peace...

[tomdkat]

I think this is better suited for discussion in the "Software" forum. Moving there now.

Peace...

[Morticia]

Originally Posted by Dilmo

DAMN, we're famous! No more posting naked.

Speak for yourself, Dilmo!


*ahem* Seriously, there's nothing more that *I* can add that Tom hasn't already covered. Constructive criticism goes further than studio-bashing, and conveying wishes in a polite and consistent manner will help your cause, whatever that may be.

TVShowsonDVD.com is a site that I know many of our regulars use to keep up on issues like these, if only to read about new developments.

[raptors661]

Originally Posted by Dilmo

DAMN, we're famous! No more posting naked.

Damnit, too late for me.......

i dont get Fox all that much anymore. Malcolm is a popular show( i used to watch the first few seasons on tv, but never had time to watch anymore.)so i dont know why they dont just release the other seasons

[Wirehed]

It is a valid complaint. --although I'm not sure what the answer is.

Obviously (in most cases) the sales from the first season are going to determine the volume of future seasons released. If Malcolm S1 sold poorly it would not be in Fox's best interest to release additional sets. It's to bad, but Fox *is* a business.


Of course it works both ways, something the studios aren't really thinking of in long term concepts. That is, Fox complains when you don't buy their DVDs and instead record their shows via syndication on your PVR (Tivo, whatever).

It's all interesting and there's a lot to consider on both ends.


Ultimately it's simply a product. The box said Malcolm S1, that's not a promise that S2 is going to exist. You bought S1, and you got S1. I would think that, if you really love the show, the best way to support it is to purchase it and encourage other people to do the same.

[SilentBob]

Season 2 would of been out ages ago actually, but just like Married with Children Season 3 this series is supposibly in a legal battle over some stupid copyright problem.


I remember posting a story on the dvd on either this board or another board . . . never mind it was another board which i think i got fromt his earlier thread here. Fox Plans for 2004 Yeah that old but like i said above it all about the music and the money to go along with it.

[sdk]

It is the music that is the problem right? i don't see why they don't just remove or echange it. I mean that music is important, but not more important than never getting the show on dvd.

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by sdk

It is the music that is the problem right? i don't see why they don't just remove or echange it. I mean that music is important, but not more important than never getting the show on dvd.

heh, but you know as soon as Fox changes the music you'll have all the rabid fans in an uproar; "OMG THEY CHANGED THE MUSIC, WHY DO THE STUDIOS KEEP DOING THIS, THOSE BASTARDS!!!"

But I do sympathize with persren. That would be so annoying. If that would have happened with Millennium there would have been hell to pay. Oh by the way you mentioned you didn't buy Millennium...were you wanting to buy it but not buying it to protest Fox or something? Just curious.

[cherno]

As always I am sure it is a business decision (money). If they think they will earn profit from the release, they will probably do it. The show does very well for them and, while I don't doubt your word, I think that they would have to release them eventually.

Fox customer service sucks as far as my experience goes with them just recently.

[Mikado]

Originally Posted by cherno

Fox customer service sucks as far as my experience goes with them just recently.

Oh yeah, cherno makes a good point. Fox customer service doesn't know what the hell they're talking about. People called and contacted them about the release date for a Millennium set and they said "we have no plans to release this title" and the callers/emails were like "uh...no you have plans to release it, you've announced that already, we were looking for the date."(or something like that) There seems to be a lot of confusion in their departments and seems like theres several divisions that either don't communicate with each other very well or aren't told what the company is doing.

[odisn]

Last update posted on TVShowsonDVD.com from around a year and a half ago:

Malcolm in the Middle: Season Two