MovieChat Forums > Ellery Queen (1975) Discussion > Why isn't this being aired?

Why isn't this being aired?

posted 16 years ago by professor_of_gamez
13 replies | jump to latest

With so many shows in syndication that didn't even warrant a full season, I wonder why this show isn't.

It was on A&E 10+ years ago ... haven't seen it since.

Any ideas?

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[–] ghostfan 16 years ago

It showed on the detective channel a few years ago, and there is still some guy selling all the eps when it ran there on EBAY -- for a hundred dollars a crack.

He sais he has the rights to it, but I don't think so. My friend found a torrent site that had them all -- and the only thing missing was the teaser at the opening: THIS PERSON IS ABOUT TO BE MURDERED -- WAS IT THE.....(FILL IN THE BLANKS) MATCH WITS WITH ELLERY QUEEN AND SEE IF YOU CAN GUESS WHODUNNIT.

Loved this show -- glad I was able to get the downloads.

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[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] dolenz5 16 years ago

I live in the Chicago area and am delighted to say that it is being aired as I type on the MeToo channel, broadcast channel 48, Sunday Mystery Movie @ 4:00pm. This is the first time that I've seen it since 1975....and I STILL LOVE IT! So glad I found it again! 'Hope this post helps someone else who is looking for "Ellery"!

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[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 11 years ago

Thankfully it's on DVD now!

I hope that it's still being shown on TV...

~~
JimHutton (1934-79) & ElleryQueen

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[–] ghostfan 11 years ago

I think the reason it doesn't run a lot in reruns is because there is only one season.

Most of the time when a show is bought for syndication, and run, like other 60's greats like Gilligan's Island, Bewitched, etc., there are a minimum of three seasons... Considering each season has at least 25 episodes (Gilligan had more) that means you could strip the show and run it every night, or afternoon, for 15 weeks before starting over again. Gilligan, had 98 episodes and could run 18 weeks.

Ellery only had 22 shows and the pilot -- that means if it was run every day, it would only go a month before starting again, unless the network ran it once a week, on say, Saturday mornings (which one network did a number of years ago. METV did that with Here Come The Brides a while back -- it only ran two seasons. And Star Trek really developed it's longevity and cult status when it hit the re-run stage, too.

How sad, that you were not born in my time, nor I, in yours.

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[–] MsELLERYqueen2 11 years ago

Oh yes, that's true. I remember that the eighties sitcoms which I loved weren't shown in reruns until they had been on the air for several years.

Oh well...at least this show is on DVD now, so it's more accessible to the general public!

~~
JimHutton (1934-79) & ElleryQueen

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[–] ghostfan 11 years ago

I am surprised it actually made it to DVD. I'm still waiting for one that ran two seasons. It is finally getting a legit release---in Australia!

I guess the powers that be figured since Murder She Wrote, the Avengers, and all that have done well, they could afford to give it a shot.

I wish all of Levinson and Link's mysteries and movies would get a legit release. The only one I know for sure that did was one with Robert Preston called Rehearsal for Murder. That one was super!

How sad, that you were not born in my time, nor I, in yours.

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[–] MsELLERYqueen2 11 years ago

Why not just release all old shows on DVD? All those shows would have had their fans, and nothing wrong with letting a new generation of viewers enjoy these programs, too.

~~
JimHutton (1934-79) & ElleryQueen

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[–] ghostfan 11 years ago

I think the answer is $$$... DVD' s are much easier to produce than tapes, but the ancient actor's contracts and the shows still have to reviewed and in some cases, the actors or their estates paid... and each contract is different.

Ellery, for instance. Jim and David are gone. Hillerman, Swofford and the guy who played Veelie are still with us. So are at least a third of the guest stars. Even if one assumes that Hutton's and Wayne's estates are paid something, maybe, that may not be the case for Hillerman, et al who appeared. The older the show, the stranger the rights and royalties get, because back even as early as the 70's, nobody dreamed of the advent of vhs or dvd sales.

I remember a few years ago, Sony released the first season of the 60's series, Here Come the Brides. Sales were ' disappointing' the show had a small but loyal fan base. The second season of the show wasn't released for five years, when the Shout Factory finally took a chance.

I have been waiting for literally 20 years for my favorite show to be released... heard only a month or so ago it is finally getting an official release... in AUSTRALIA!! It's enough to make me think about buying a multi regional dvd player.

How sad, that you were not born in my time, nor I, in yours.

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[–] MsELLERYqueen2 11 years ago

Yup, a multi-regional DVD player is probably the way to go, so that you can enjoy your fave TV show. Which show is it, may I ask? I think I know....

~~
JimHutton (1934-79) & ElleryQueen

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[–] ghostfan 11 years ago

You probably do---

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir-- ran from the fall of 1968 to the spring of 1970 -- two seasons.

Darn show still hasn't been released in the US but Australia loves it. Even ran it on their Nick at Nite about ten years ago with less edits than I have ever seen anywhere. And a couple of years ago, one of their pay stations even tried for a sorta kinda adaptation about a divorced dentist that falls in love with a 80's rock star. Couldn't get into that.

Also, I think a network in India tried an adaptation of the show, but forgot to get anyone's permission... it didn't last long!

How sad, that you were not born in my time, nor I, in yours.

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[–] MsELLERYqueen2 11 years ago

That's what I thought! The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.

In the meantime, you enjoy The Two-Faced Woman... Better than nothing, I guess! Two hotties in one episode...can't beat that!

~~
JimHutton (1934-79) & ElleryQueen

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