The show that gave Nickelodeon their green slime is coming to DVD, according to "confirmed-ish" (is that a word?) rumors making the rounds on various internet sites (such as YCDTOTV.com and ChristineMcGlade.com; thanks to all of our readers who wrote in to tell us about these).
You Can't Do That On Television started out as a live show on Canadian station CJOH in 1979. While little to none of that early material survives these days, what IS available is the 1981 (and beyond) version that Nickelodeon aired in their fledgling days as a cable channel. The show was so popular in the US via the cabler that Nick adopted it and its slimy ways as the centerpiece of the network's promotional style, which still survives to this day (although the youngsters who watch today, like my own 7-year-old son, have no idea that
You Can't Do That On Television was the source of all this slime-time goodness).
Nick's "Rewind Collection" DVD sets started this past May with
Clarissa Explains It All and
The Adventures of Pete and Pete. While an expected second season of
Clarissa never materialized,
Pete & Pete were so hot that a second season is now out, and a 3rd Season "Rewind Collection" for that show is
on the way.
You Can't Do That On Television will join the Rewind Collection, the rumors say, probably in the
Spring 2006 timeframe. What's the exact date?
We don't know.
SLIME!
If you're a fan of the show, you got the joke! Our sources at the studio indicate that exclusive new bonus material is being considered for inclusion. You can expect commentary tracks or interviews from original show host Christine McGlade and some others...well, that's what we infer from the comments
Christine posted at her site. Hey, the
Pete & Pete releases have commentary tracks more than that, so we figure
You Can't Do That On Television would get similar treatment. But all that's just speculation for now, so don't hold us to it! We'll have *official* information for you - including a specific street date and details on what extras get decided upon - once distributor Paramount Home Entertainment is ready to make their formal announcement. Stay tuned!
ADDITIONAL NOTE:
We've been getting e-mails - for almost a month! - from lots of readers about how the chain Hot Topic is selling t-shirts and other merchandise with the words "Rewind Collection" on the labels for stuff that is about other old Nick shows, like Salute Your Shorts, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
and Double Dare
for instance. We do NOT consider this "news" that DVDs of these shows may be in the works...we consider this news only that Nick is promoting these as part of a "collection" of clothing...a "rewind collection," just so that they can use the same hip merchandising name.
Please hold off on sending us e-mails about the Hot Topic stuff; we're already aware of it, but we won't be posting news about possible DVDs for shows that are promoted on clothing until and unless we actually hear that DVDs for those shows *really* are in the works. We hope this request does't come off as mean. It's just that a few excited fans are jumping to conclusions that may or may not be true. We may speculate on extras for YCDTOTV
(see above), but we try not to speculate on the DVDs themselves! Hang tight, and we'll let you know something about those other shows when it's more than guesswork, okay?
