Hypothetical DVD scenarios

[TVFan]

Since it has been confirmed (by both Warner Bros. and InsideR) that we won't be getting a Season 1 or Season 2 DVD set any time soon due to the pricey music rights, I was wondering what you guys would be willing to sacrifice in order to have a DVD set (hypothetically of course since we know this isn't happening any time soon). For instance, would you be willing to have a set if it meant that all of the original songs were replaced with lesser known, cheaper (for the rights) songs? Or maybe you would be willing to have a set that keeps the original songs, but has lesser known artists singing them? What about cutting all of the music out, and replacing it with the underscore instead? Maybe a set that cuts all of the songs out, except for the ending montage song? Or maybe you would rather not have a set if it isn't going to contain the episodes in the original format in which they aired? There are other possible scenarios, so feel free to add your own. I was just curious to see what people thought about having the episodes on DVD, but not as we had hoped. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Also, what do you guys think about next season? If the music issues continue with the DVD sets, would you rather they modify the music format next season (so we get a DVD set of season 3) or keep it as it has been and (most likely) not get a DVD set? I was just interested to see where people fall on this topic.

[Naj]

I'm in a minority in that I wasn't drawn in to the show because of the sound track so I don't know if this is a generational thing but the times I have heard the underscore I have liked it. I don't know why there are fewer songs per ep this season but maybe it is because it is difficult to get the rights or just to expensive. But I like having less per episode only because I try to write them down to post some here.


I don't know how expensive it would be to find lesser artists to perform the songs but that would be good to do if that is possible. But it would be nice to have the original closing song although I wouldn't mind if it was a lesser artist.


~Naj

[V]

I fell in love with Cold Case for many reasons, but one of them was the music. So I would vote for no change to the original aired episodes at the risk of having to wait some time for the DVD sets to be released.

I figure with TNT starting the reruns next year (and catching a few reruns on CBS this year), I'll have enough episodes on tape to satisfy my CC needs.

I wouldn't mind so much keeping the songs with lesser known artists singing them, as long as it comes very close to the original song. But then again, I wouldn't want to be disappointed either with that change. Who else can sing or sound like Aerosmith or Journey or the Scorpions, for instance? So, I'm leaning toward a "no" on that one, too.

I would definitely vote "no" to leaving out the music or just having the underscore. IMHO, the songs are one of the things that makes CC the great show that it is.

[Tati]

I have most episodes on tape (I'm only missing 3 from season 1), so I'm not really desperate for the DVDs. But I'd buy them anyway if they came out.

My preferences go like this:

1) Pay more money for the episodes in the original format;
2) Have the episodes only with the underscore music. If they couldn't buy all the songs I'd rather have no song at all replacing it.
3) Have the episodes with other songs replacing the ones that couldn't have been bought - I'm not sure if I would buy the set if they put different songs there (considering I have the original episodes on tape).

I'm going to take good care of my tape... *mentally hugs tapes that are at home*

[Disasterfreak]

While I wasn't really pulled in by the music, either, it's become a really necessary thing to me. Like the flashbacks. Didn't like them that much at the beginning--can't live without them now.

I'd rather pay more for the original music--all of it. But if this isn't possible, I'd rather have just the underscore. They should keep the end sequence to all eps though. They're the ones that give the episode its essence; if they were taken away, it wouldn't be the same.

If they changed all the songs to "cheaper" ones I'd probably still buy the dvd's, but it would be a major let down.

[Ryebeach]

I would prefer to have no DVD release of CC than a DVD release with substitued or replaced music. While the writing and acting make the show, the music is a large component to it and without it I feel the show would just kind of blend into all the other procedurals out there. A lot of folks buy TV shows on DVD without ever seeing the series on TV and I would hate for some to watch altered episodes for the first time without ever seeing the masterpiece that is each episode, on TV. They would be missing so much. Warner Bros. is a great company and I have complete faith in them as a distributor. In the end, they will make the right decision, even if that decision is not favored by a majority of the fans.

[r2k]

I would prefer having all the music. However, if budget reasons make it impossible, they should at least keep the first and final song in the episode and as many others as they can keep in. The opening song is good to start it off and the final songs should not be changed. Seems like they should have thought of this before hand. Of course, I would be willing to pay the extra money. It's not like I collect every TV show out there.

[Falling]

I have a idea. What if they had a section in the DVD that had all the songs typed up, and we could take it upon ourselves and find the CDs or whatever? It's not a very good idea if you only want one song, but it's certainly a possibility.

[TVFan]

I just realized that I never answered my own question. For me, it would affect the artistic intergrity of the show if they released the DVDs with the episodes in any other form than the one they were in when they aired originally. So, as much as it pains me, I would have to vote for no DVDs if they were to alter the music in any way. I would, however, be willing to pay more $$$ for a set with the music still intact if it were possible. Replacing or removing the music would be the equivilent of replacing or removing actors (guest or other wise) for the DVDs because they had certain clauses in their contracts that allowed for a cut of sales (thus making it non-cost efficient to include them on the DVD). It just isn't the same.

As far as next season goes, I'd hate for the show to change the way it conducts itself just so it could be turned out on DVDs. As much as I want DVD sets of each of the seasons, I don't think it's worth sacrificing part of what makes Cold Case so unique and special. The show would go on and still be a strong show with "lesser known" (read less expensive) music, but I feel that it would lose something in the process. It's just too bad that they haven't been able to work out a solution that allows the show to maintain its artistic integrity on DVD without cleaning out the budget.