tzikeh: (hulk smash!)
tzikeh ([personal profile] tzikeh) wrote2004-12-19 03:30 pm

Quantum Leap DVDs missing musical plot point

If you want to write to Universal, the email address is: USHE.ConsumerRelations@leemarketing.com

To Whom it May Concern:

I was going to purchase Quantum Leap Season 2 on DVD for several people on my holiday gift list this year, but I have recently discovered that the original music was removed and replaced with generic background music. Since much of the music in Quantum Leap was a more a part of the plot than background atmosphere, I think this is a mistake. One song in particular, Georgia on my Mind, is intrinsic to the plot in the Season 2 finale, and returns with resonance in the series finale. Without that song, one of the most dramatic and memorable episodes of the series is significantly diminished.

I understand that the rights to music can be prohibitively expensive, and I would have been disappointed, but forgiving, if you had made any effort to let the consumer know that the music they remembered from the episodes was missing from your recent DVD release, but there is no notice of this anywhere on your packaging; it took several frustrated and disappointed buyers posting to discussion boards for me to find out about this. I would have bought a falsely advertised product had I not frequented these forums.

You have lost my business on this and any future Quantum Leap DVD sets, and I will not be buying any other Universal products until I have verified that they contain what they promise.

[tzikeh]

[identity profile] soobunny.livejournal.com 2004-12-19 01:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, this is so disappointing. I've already bought the dvd's and was in fact planning on watching the season finale tonight.

[identity profile] nestra.livejournal.com 2004-12-19 01:51 pm (UTC)(link)
They took out "Georgia on My Mind"? Oh, that's so sad. That's such a wonderful scene.

[identity profile] sisabet.livejournal.com 2004-12-19 03:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Dude - are you really not going to buy the DVDs?? You are so strong.
lapillus: (Default)

[personal profile] lapillus 2004-12-19 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I really wish that the producers of dvds, if they can't afford the music would at least pay for the mechanical rights and have someone else do a cover of it. Mechanical rights are cheap and obviously they can afford to hire someone to do bad background music they could pay a few bucks more and get at least the right tune and lyrics. Hmph.

[identity profile] roo2.livejournal.com 2004-12-19 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I really hate it when they do that. I was a rabid fan of "Tour of Duty" back in the late 1980's and taped every episode on what is now really lousy VHS. When I heard it was being released on DVD I pre-ordered it immediately. But they'd gutted it, replacing all of the original music with generic crap. I literally couldn't watch it, since much of the background music was integral to the show. I ended up fighting with Amazon and getting them to take back the DVD set and not making me pay postage.

Like you, I realize that musical rights are expensive. I don't care. The series was something like $30 for a whole season - I pay over $100 for a season of Farscape, so I don't care if it would cost 5 times as much. It's worth it to me to see something that hasn't been gutted. They should at least let consumers know about this kind of thing and even offer us a choice. It's even more frustrating to know the show is available but it's mangled, which lessens my chances of ever getting the real thing, which is incredibly depressing to me.

I feel like such a TV geek.

[identity profile] dragovianknight.livejournal.com 2004-12-19 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
No, no, you're not a geek. If the music didn't MATTER it wouldn't have been there in the first place.

Stupid Powers that Be.

[identity profile] tzikeh.livejournal.com 2004-12-19 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Write to them and let them know. We can't change their minds or their business practices if we don't tell them they're losing money.

[identity profile] barbary-coast.livejournal.com 2004-12-19 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Crikey! They removed the original music? That's horrible. I won't be buying these.

[identity profile] tzikeh.livejournal.com 2004-12-19 08:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Write to them and let them know. We can't change their minds or their business practices if we don't tell them they're losing money.

[personal profile] cheshyre 2004-12-20 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the warning. I hope you don't mind, I'm blogging this over on [livejournal.com profile] riba_rambles. I'm quoting you mostly verbatim, because you word it so well I couldn't improve on it.

[identity profile] tzikeh.livejournal.com 2004-12-20 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Go right ahead.