[quote name=\'Robert Hutchinson\' post=\'220982\' date=\'Jul 24 2009, 12:05 AM\'][quote name=\'clemon79\' post=\'220802\' date=\'Jul 22 2009, 12:25 AM\']Ultimately we know that this is a courtesy that GSN is extending to these people. They've bought the rights to the library, none of this "X wants this show off the market" is in the contract, and if they wanted to run the show, they are within their rights to do so.[/quote]Well, see, I didn't know that.[/quote]
That's because it's not true, or at least not nearly that simple.
GSN believes they are legally required to obtain permission from celebrities to use their appearances, at least in many (most?) circumstances. I don't pretend to understand the ins and outs of the legal issues, but it seems to boil down to the fact that the agreements the stars signed back in the day were for single airings, not for replays. Who knew back in the sixties and seventies that these shows would ever be replayed?
As I've said, it's complicated, and GSN might be being overly cautious, much as they've been with the cigarette-sponsored classics. My understanding is that the company that released the DVD sets did NOT pursue getting clearances from all the stars who were featured, and obviously home video rights were not part of any original contracts. Still, GSN doesn't believe they're going to all this trouble as a courtesy. They think it's something they have to do, and if a star doesn't agree, then they believe they have to abide by the star's wishes.