Back in November we
reported information we had obtained from MPI Home Video, about the
February 26th release of
Family Affair - Season 5 (the final season of the original show). Based on the studio info, we told you to expect "
an additional new Interview with Johnny Whittaker ("Jody")" on this 5-DVD set. Recently, though, we received an e-mail from none other than Kathy Garver, who played "Cissy" on the show, saying that we ought to check with the studio because she had recorded some bonus material which she knew would be included in this package. We did check with MPI, of course, and this was the statement we received:
Family Affair - Season 5 DVD bonus feature material will consist of a Kathy Garver ("Cissy" in the show) visit to the CBS Studio City lot where the series was filmed. There will not be an additional Johnny Whitaker ("Jody") interview on the set as previously reported. (An interview with Johnny identified as "Part 1" was included in the bonus material for the Family Affair Season 4 DVD.)
So it looks like there was either some confusion with the info we originally received (more likely), or else the plans had changed since our original report (less likely). Hopefully, though, we'll see some sort of "complete series" release of this show on down the line, and MPI can get more supplements in there which feature Whitaker (who we've also been in touch with from time to time, and who has always been happy - even eager! - to participate on the extras for these DVDs).
We also asked MPI if they had any plans to bring out the 2002 edition of the show, which most people seem to remember mainly for Tim Curry (
The Rocky Horror Picture Show) and his role in this remake as "Mr. French." MPI told us, alas, that they do not have the rights for that edition of the series. We're not sure who does, then.
In the meantime, here's a look once more at the cover art to the upcoming 5th Season DVDs:
