Goodbye Studio DVDs, Hello Live DVDs?

[FordPrefect]

http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2009/03/an_exclusive_sw_interview_with_1.php
"We're writing our ninth movie now since we started, and we're toying with whether we should be doing studio shows anymore: Should we be doing just live shows and recording [them]?"

I think live material should be included as a bonus feature or (if it's financially possible for them) they should create a secondary DVD line for live show releases. I don't think live performances should replace the studio episodes though. Studio shows allow them to include more jokes for one thing. In live performances they'll be jokes that make the audience laugh so much the crew will miss out on an opportunity to say something else because nobody will hear it. They might not continue the loose storyline from the intros if they just start recording the live shows. Plus they wouldn't get to do all the goofy visual gags on screen like the breast blimp.

Keep in mind, I don't think the DVD audience should miss out on some fun material from the live shows. The warm up act, the signing afterward, and some "best of" live material that's different from the studio show would be great to include as a bonus feature. A secondary line of live show releases to test the market would be good too. It would give fans something to watch while we wait for a new episode if we wish to do so. Heck, fans have already proved they'd buy a movie twice with the "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians" episode.

But if they abandon studio shows in favor of live performance DVDs because it's more economically feasible or if they sell better, I suppose I'll live. What do you guys think?

[bettertomorrowamy]

Both

[mrbasehart]

I don't want live DVDs to replace the studio ones.  I really doubt that they'd be able to have as much control over the presentation and the material if they went exclusively live.  And maybe it's just a personal preference, but I don't want to hear an audience's laughter. 

[doggans]

I do like the idea of live DVDs, but I don't know if they should be the exclusive version. Maybe have two audio tracks--a live and a studio track?

Then again, I haven't bought a CT DVD since "Wasp Woman". (Not out of protest, just because I don't have a lot of income. I swear I'll catch up on CT one of these days.)

[Bob]

Yeah, I dont think that the live DVDs should replace the studio DVDs for .... well, the same reasons why musical groups dont release all their albums live.   I can see this being a special feature or an entirely different download.

[bratpop]

My advice would be to ask a band who has tried releasing only live DVDs, but I imagine said band would be hard to get ahold of.

[MrTorso]

Bonus feature only.. or a separate audio track.   The already crappy looking films would look even crappier and when you aren't in the audience enjoying the performance the crowd noise would just be a laugh track. I realllllllyyyy hope they don't go live only.

[Artie]

I could see why they would want to do live only as they it would save on renting out a studio and all, but it just wouldn't be the same as really seeing them live.

They should only do a live dvd if it's for something special like for charity or if they have special guests.

[Edward J Grug III]

I would buy a live DVD, but if I had a choice I would much, much rather a studio DVD.

Much, much.

[bratpop]

How the hell would they be able to FILM a live recording when they wouldn't be able to use blue/green screen? It would look like a bad bootleg.

[David]

Wouldn't they have a lot more bloopers live? I would much rather have a studio dvd.
I sure hope they aren't so strapped for cash they have to stop making high-quality DVDs of their hard work for posterity.

[TheUnabeefer]

Wouldn't they have a lot more bloopers live? I would much rather have a studio dvd.
I sure hope they aren't so strapped for cash they have to stop making high-quality DVDs of their hard work for posterity.

They wouldn't be strapped for cash if they would release these suckers more often.  I am ready for the next release by the time I am finished with the first view of the prior one.

[bratpop]

If they just wanted to cheat people out of their money, they would improvise the whole thing like they used to. I mean, you have to figure they'd be better at it 70 years later.

[ManUnderMask]

The only good part of having the live show recorded is the delivery of the lines. The "I've got to get it out!" breathlessness is the best part, because they sound so bored in the studio recordings (or at least of the five I have).

If they could deliver the lines with that kind of energy in the studio recordings, the riffs would be a lot funnier.

That said, I think live riffing only works if you're there live. A studio audience isn't really necessary and would probably just wreck the experience for those at home. Just imagine MST3K with a laugh track. I shudder.

[Invisible NanoGhost]

I could imagine them filming a live show, and then putting out a DVD with two different audio tracks.  One the live show, and one being a studio version -- while still displaying the video from the live show.  It'd probably be a little tricky to get the studio audio track to work right with the live-show video, but it would give people both versions of the riffing.