YCDTOTV vols 1 & 2 on Amazon

[Ric]

The same volumes as seen on iTunes are now available through amazon.com's instant video service.

[ssjup81]

I'd rather just own it on DVD. Are they unedited Canadian versions with maybe out takes and interviews? Man, I so want the 1979 and 1981 seasons unedited as well as Whatever Turns You On. That show was funny. Sucks it was in such a terrible timeslot. It would've been nice if they could've done the full 16 episodes. I wanted them to poke fun at Rodney for kissing Lisa. lol

[mcguinnfan]

Unedited? No, I'm afraid not. And the resolution is generally poor. For that matter, the documentation is haphazard and mostly inaccurate. Other than that, they're fantastic.

All kidding aside, they're a far sight better than the videotaped copies that have been circulating for thirty years, without question. Are they worth the money? I honestly don't know; alas, I'm too big a fan to resist and made all sorts of "upgrades" to my "rig" (and compromised my principles, which in part entail never giving a penny to Apple) just so I could buy them. (You might call me a "captive boy," in Nickelodeon/Amazon/Apple parlance.)

I totally agree with you about the DVD. Surely when I see that our "friends" at Nickelodeon/Viacom are willing to release "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" on DVD and not this show, it makes me more than a little resentful. But I can't help feeling that, even if they did release YCDTOTV on DVD, they would be the truncated versions as well (Viacom seems unaware that there even were longer versions), poorly documented, and similarly lacking in bonus material...not to mention, having successfully set the market price at $7.99 for seven "virtual" episodes (i.e., no physical copy), I cringe to think what they'd charge for a DVD set.

The best news of all is that (as Rob pointed out last week) Viacom has nothing whatever to do with the 1979s. That means that we'll actually have the chance to see them as aired, and as intended, when we do get to see them.

[ssjup81]

Geez. Maybe someday the Canadian versions'll be salvaged. I'm REALLY hoping for the 1979 eps.

[wrmSLIME]

I purchased volume one so far for $7.99 no option yet for volume two. I would imagine it is well within Viacom's rights to do the release. I bought it mainly to help show there is retail interest in this show. The quality is Ok but better than anything I have seen since SLIMECON 2004. Personally I am glad they are being released in any format.

[mcguinnfan]

Yeah, I've read that quite a few people are buying these on the theory that somehow we can convince Viacom to put them out on DVD and make us buy them again. That might work, I guess, if it's worth it to you. For the sake of people who don't have enough money to buy them twice (or who find the idea repulsive), I hope it happens soon, and I hope the quality and documentation are better and that there are bonus materials. It's within Viacom's rights to do whatever it wants with the episodes, even if it's inadequate, sure; they own the rights. I would have hoped for better, but you'd be naive to expect it from those guys. And I'm gladdest of all that the '79s can and will be done without any interference from them; it gives me hope that they'll be done correctly, since they'll be done by someone who actually gives the first hoot about YCDTOTV.

I guess my point was, when funds are limited, one hopes that he'll get his money's worth, and I'm not sure these releases live up to that standard. But I'm too crazy about the show not to buy them. It's just that I'm not going to buy them twice. We've been pleading with them to take our money for a DVD issue for years and they've refused.

[wrmSLIME]

If the 79s and or WTYO can legally get released but if there is a funding issue, perhaps a kickstarter project could be started. However, in this day and age streaming is so much easier because the show can be digitized and then uploaded to a server.

[mcguinnfan]

I mean when funds are limited for fans. For people who might want to buy them (speaking of the 81-90 episodes; the 79s and WTYO are a different discussion, since Viacom doesn't own them and thus can't hold them hostage as it has the others). For people who can't afford to buy them digitally first, to prove a point, and then on hard copy such as DVD when and if the point has been proven.

Viacom's funds are almost entirely unlimited. Mine are severely limited...as are those of some other fans. I can't afford to buy episodes twice, and I'm not going to pay Viacom twice for anything even if I could.

[ssjup81]

In my case, I just don't fully feel it's worth it from a collector's perspective. Well this collector anyway.

[mcguinnfan]

In that case, I'd certainly say, from a quality standpoint (and I know this goes against the "company line"), if you can wait, wait.

Either that, or buy them now and shoplift the DVDs when they finally do come out. (Kidding...kidding!)

[ssjup81]

If the 79s and or WTYO can legally get released but if there is a funding issue, perhaps a kickstarter project could be started. However, in this day and age streaming is so much easier because the show can be digitized and then uploaded to a server.

I'd go for this, only because they're more rare. I'd also hope that those outside of the US or Canada would be allowed to stream them. s

[mcguinnfan]

According to the WTYO site, there are no existing master tapes for this show. Back then, there was no idea of preserving the episodes for posterity, so they just got taped over and the tape reused. I don't take this as gospel, mind you, but as of right now that seems to be the semi-"official" status.