1992: EPI-LOG magazine Issue 14

From January 1992: An essential purchase for me at the time... New World Television's TOUR OF DUTY on the cover of EPI-LOG magazine's fourteenth issue.

ITV's regional schedulers, and the first Gulf War, played merry havoc with the scheduling and transmission of this series... running episodes out-of-order (so people died before they even arrived and end-of-season cliffhangers were rendered nonsensical, muddling episodes from different seasons and dropping the show, at the last minute, from the schedules (despite a billing in the TV Times) for weeks at a time.  And then the war made broadcasters skittish about anything with soldiers or combat, forcing ITV to drop the show for an extended period.

All that made making sense of the show, and the correct running order, something of a challenge.  Thank you Epi-Log (and your second military-themed issue) for coming to my rescue.  Kids today don't know how lucky they are. 

1988: THE 'NAM MAGAZINE Issue 1 (Marvel)

From July 1988: the first issue of Marvel New York's THE 'NAM MAGAZINE.

The black & white mag reprinted, at a larger page size, the regular comic book version launched in the last quarter of 1986 (the first issue boasted a December cover date).  Each issue of the magazine reprinted two issues of the colour monthly.

The magazine clocked-up ten issues, spanning the first twenty installments of the regular book.  The core title eventually notched-up 84 issues but, despite early critical plaudits and mainstream media buzz, didn't stay true to its original goals of portraying the war in an uncompromising style... and in real time.  Even the Punisher turned-up at one point to spike the sales.  

Doug Murray (writer) and Michael Golden (art), with Larry Hama (edits), were the initial creative team... although the traditional churn soon changed the mix.  

Appropriately enough, the strips were reprinted in the PUNISHER's UK weekly (after a brief run of the ROBOCOP movie adaptation to kick things off).  

Roughly a year after the first issue of the comic went on sale, CBS started to air TOUR OF DUTY, a weekly Vietnam War drama produced by New World... who also owned Marvel.  Some initial (fan) press coverage suggested that the show was an adaptation of the comic book.  That wasn't the case (and probably never was the plan) but the success of the comic... and assorted feature films... must have convinced studio and network that the series had potential.  It eventually notched up 57 episodes over three erratic (but always entertaining) seasons.  The first UK VHS release prominently featured "The 'Nam" on the box art... possibly a neat bit of intercontinental synergy... or possibly to help explain what local video shops... and punters... were getting.  It was dropped from subsequent volumes.  

1990: TOUR OF DUTY TV GUIDE ADVERT

I found this while meandering around the web over the weekend: the TV GUIDE magazine advert promoting the two-hour series finale of New World Television's really rather excellent TOUR OF DUTY.

Despite what the copy suggests, this actually closed-out the series and not just the season.  I was always under the impression that, by the time CBS aired this, they'd already decided to cancel the show but the wording suggests that the final decision still hadn't been made and renewal was still possible.

It was only a two-hour "special presentation" because CBS glued together the last two one-hour episodes (The Raid and Payback) and played them as a tele-movie.  They certainly weren't scripted or shot as a two-hour piece.

It's also interesting that CBS Marketing opted not to include any of the show's regular cast.  Lee Majors and Carl Weathers had been recurring guest stars in several third season shows.  Pictured is Kyle Chandler who appeared in the last two episodes as a soldier who's blinded in combat (The Raid) and shipped back home (Payback) to cope with his injuries.  Given the prominence of his storyline, it's safe to say that the producers were toying with making his character a regular had the shown been renewed.

The final episode marked a significant reboot in the format, again suggesting a very different Year Four had it happened.  Several of the regular characters ended their tours and shipped back to the United States to start a civilian life.  Had the show continued, story lines would have - presumably - been split between their attempts at readjusting to civilian life in a hostile world and the remainder of Bravo Company still serving in Vietnam.  

Unfortunately, it was not to be.

NEW WORLD PICTURES AFTER CORMAN

The excellent book MIND WARP: THE FANTASTIC TRUE STORY OF NEW WORLD PICTURES (by Christopher T Koetting) is an excellent history of the low budget film producer and distributor set up by the legendary Roger Corman.  However, it pretty much signs off when Corman sells his company in 1983.  That's a shame as the now publicly-listed company issued over 100 films between 1985-89 (only CREEPSHOW 2, FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC, HELLRAISER HELLRAISER 2 and SOUL MAN showed much signs of life at the box office although New World Video fared considerably better), expanded into TV production (producing some of the finest shows of the decade) and purchased Marvel Comics.

This is an attempt to create a chronological history of the company from 1983 onwards.  For the most part, I've ignored film production and distribution (including New World Video in the USA and the UK) because it's such a vast and complicated area and requires a lot more research.

1983 - Roger Corman sells New World Pictures for $16.5 million.  He retains the film library he created although the new company remains the distributor.

1984 - NW acquires film production houses Learning Corporation of America and Highgate Pictures.

JULY 1984 - SANTA BARBARA begins on NBC.  NW becomes a production partner/ distributor from February 1985.  The daytime soap eventually clocks-up 2137 episodes, ending in January 1993.  It's seen on ITV in the UK.

FEBRUARY 1986 - GLADIATOR (a truck-driving vigilante roams the roads of California fighting vehicle-based crime) is a busted New World pilot ultimately aired as a TV movie.

MAY 1986 - NW acquires the Lions Gate sound post-production facility for $3.25 million.

SEPTEMBER 1986 - ABC airs SLEDGE HAMMER!, created by Alan Spencer.  Although low-rated, the half-hour Dirty Harry spoof is renewed for the 1987-88 season but NW demands budget cuts to reduce its per-episode deficit funding.

SEPTEMBER 1986 - NBC premieres Michael Mann's CRIME STORY.  Set in Chicago in the early 1960's, the show is a hit with critics but only attracts moderate viewer attention.  It's renewed for the 1987-88 season.  The show is released on rental video in the UK by New World Video and aired, in late night slots, on ITV.

1986 - NW purchases Marvel Entertainment Group (including Marvel Comics Group, Marvel Books, Marvel UK and Marvel Productions) for $46 million as part of its plans to become a major entertainment conglomerate.  Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter is included in the deal but doesn't last long under the new regime.  Stan Lee fares much better and continues as Marvel's West Coast creative force.  His Stan's Soapbox pages in MARVEL AGE MAGAZINE begins to promote New World's projects.

1987 - New World officially become the diversified NEW WORLD ENTERTAINMENT (NWE).

AUGUST 1987 - NWE launch a hostile takeover bid for Kenner Toys, citing potential synergy especially for Marvel Entertainment properties and the chance to develop Kenner products as film and TV shows.  Kenner resist and NWE eventually withdraw.

SEPTEMBER 1987 - CBS premiere the Vietnam war drama TOUR OF DUTY.  Despite low ratings, the network renews the series for both the 1988-89 and 1989-90 TV seasons. The show is released on rental video in the UK by New World Video and aired, in late night slots, on ITV.

SEPTEMBER 1987 - Superhero comedy/ drama ONCE A HERO is cancelled after only three episodes.

OCTOBER 1987 - The world-wide stock market crash has an adverse affect on debt-heavy NWE.

OCTOBER 1987 - Marvel publish a two-issue SLEDGE HAMMER! limited series to coincide with the show's second season.

OCTOBER 1987 (cover date) - Marvel publish a one-shot adaptation of the New World movie HOUSE II: THE SECOND STORY.

JANUARY 1988 - Delayed by the 1987 writers strike, the second season of TOUR OF DUTY launches on CBS.  To shave production costs, New World moves the show from Hawaii to California.

JANUARY 1988 - The first episode of THE WONDER YEARS airs in the coveted post-superbowl slot, winning healthy ratings, critical plaudits and an Emmy Award for best comedy series.  A further five episodes make up the truncated first season, returning with more episodes from November 1988.  The show runs six seasons (and 115 episodes), ending in May 1993.

MARCH 1988 - NWE announces full-year losses of $18.5 million for 1987.  The financial problems were caused by poor box office receipts, shrinking demand for the company's productions on home video and deficit funding expensive (but only marginally successful) television shows.  Marvel's publishing activities are, however, profitable and bring in $2.3 million in income.

APRIL 1988 - NWE sells the Lions Gate facility for $5 million.

APRIL 1988 - NWE does a deal with Michael Landon Productions to bow out of distributing the star's HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN series.

MAY 1988 - THE INCREDIBLE HULK RETURNS is the first NWE production to directly result from the acquisition of Marvel.  It reunites the principal cast of the 1977-82 Universal series as well as serving as an (unsuccessful) back-door pilot for a spin-off Thor series.

JULY 1988 - Announcing expected pre-tax losses of $25 million for the second quarter, the embattled NWE puts its Marvel Entertainment subsidiary up for sale.

AUGUST 1988 - CBS airs the failed pilot SNIFF about a reporter and his dog.

OCTOBER 1988 (cover date) - Marvel publish their adaptation of the New World film ELVIRA: MISTRESS OF THE DARK.

NOVEMBER 1988 - ABC airs the comedy/ drama MURPHY'S LAW.  The series airs sporadically through March 1989.  A total of twelve episodes are produced and aired.  The show's later episodes perform badly in the ratings, one ranking 70th out of 73 programmes.  The series is shown in the UK on ITV as part of their overnight schedules.

1988 - A glut of syndicated animated series, and Marvel's lack of ownership of shows based on Hasbro characters (Transformers, G.I. Joe etc.), as well as their inability to sell shows based on their own characters, hurts income for Marvel Productions.

MAY 1989 - THE TRAIL OF THE INCREDIBLE HULK is the second of the New World-produced Hulk reunion movies.  This time, it's Daredevil who's intended to receive a spin-off.

AUGUST 1989 - Announced US premiere for the Australian filmed THE PUNISHER, based on the Marvel Comics character.  New World's financial problems means its seen in overseas markets first and eventually goes straight-to-video in the United States in 1991.  Marvel issue their movie adaptation in 1990.

AUGUST 1989 - CBS airs the vampire-cop pilot NICK KNIGHT.  It doesn't sell immediately but eventually spawns the series FOREVER KNIGHT, produced without New World's participation.

1989 - Ronald Perelman's Andrews Group purchases the publishing divisions of Marvel Entertainment Group from New World for $82.5 million.  New World retain the Marvel Productions operation.

1990 - Andrews Group acquires New World Entertainment for $300 million.  Perelman ends film production, leaving several completed pictures (including BRENDA STARR, FELIX THE CAT and WARLOCK) in temporary limbo.

FEBRUARY 1990 - THE DEATH OF THE INCREDIBLE HULK is the third (and final) tele-flick.  Despite the title, more movies are planned but the project is abandoned when star (and sometimes director) Bill Bixby is diagnosed with cancer.

MARCH 1990 - The sitcom BAGDAD CAFE, based on the 1988 feature film, staring Whoopie Goldberg, premieres on CBS.  The show returned for a second season that September but production ended suddenly in November when Goldberg walked off the show.

1990 - New World announces Brigitte Neilsen will play the SHE-HULK in a movie.  The actress is even photographed in (a fairly crude) costume and these images are used in adverts in the trade magazine Variety. The film is never made.

1991 - New World shoot a pilot for a live-action POWER PACK series, based on the Marvel comic.  Initially intended for NBC's Saturday morning schedule, NW unsuccessfully attempt to launch it as a syndicated series when the network passes.

1993 - Perelman begins to acquire a number of local television stations which he assembles under the NEW WORLD COMMUNICATIONS banner.

MAY 1994 - New World agrees to switch affiliation of much of its station group to FOX.  As part of the deal, FOX invests $500 million into New World in exchange for a 20% stake.

JUNE 1994 - New World Communications hire ex-NBC head Brandon Tartikoff to head its revitalised production division.

FEBRUARY 1996 - FOX airs the New World-produced GENERATION X TV Movie, based on the Marvel Comics mutants.  Critics and fans are largely unimpressed but ratings are healthy and a stream of post-broadcast news stories suggest plans for either another movie, a FOX TV series or a retooled syndicated series.  Presumably these plans are ultimately scuppered when New World ceases to be a producer.

APRIL 1996 - New World teams with veteran producer Stephen J. Cannell Productions for the critically acclaimed (but swiftly cancelled) PROFIT.  It would be amongst the last original series made by either production company.

JANUARY 1997 - News Corporation purchases the remainder of New World Communications.  NW's station group is placed under control of Fox Television Stations and all original production ceases.

TOUR OF DUTY SIGNED CAST PHOTO

Here's a TOUR OF DUTY season three publicity still from the late eighties.

Around 1990 (or thereabouts) I signed-up, and paid my membership fee, for the about-to-launch unofficial TOUR OF DUTY UK FAN CLUB (in those pre-internet days, fanzines, newsletters and fan clubs were the best way of keeping-up-to-date with obscure US TV series).  This photo (obviously not really individually signed by the cast) was sent out to new members along with a letter promising more from the club shortly.  Members are - ahem - still waiting.

1987: TOUR OF DUTY VHS COVER

Vietnam war drama TOUR OF DUTY is generally regarded as one of the best US drama series of the era.  And, not unsurprisingly, it was released on (rental) VHS in the UK.

TOUR OF DUTY

VHS

TAPE 1

NEW WORLD VIDEO (UK), 1987

This is the VHS sleeve for the first rental VHS tape derived from episodes of the US Vietnam war drama (58 episodes, 1987-90).  It contained episodes one (pilot) and two (Notes From The Underground) re-edited (removing the end titles from episode one and the credits and on-screen credits from episode two) into a movie-length presentation (albeit still with two distinctive stories and an obvious break mid-way).

The NAM branding only appears here and not on the series itself.  Presumably coincidentally, New World-owned Marvel Comics were publishing the 'NAM comic book (reprinted in the UK in PUNISHER) at the same time.

Several further volumes followed (always rental-only) combining several first season episodes and, on the final release, Saigon (the two-part second season opener).  No further second or third season episodes were released.

The soundtracks on the VHS versions were as-per the CBS broadcast versions, including Paint It Black by The Rolling Stones.

The VHS' did not feature any additional material not seen in the TV versions.

The first season was shot on location in Hawaii with production (rather obviously) moved to California for the following two years.

The series was initially shown in the UK on a station-by-station basis, normally as part of the recently launched overnight services.

Some regions, notably Anglia Television, ran episodes out-of-order which occasionally led to continuity issues, especially during season two (where the final two episodes were reversed in the running order so that the final episode, with cliffhanger, became the penultimate episode).  Anglia also took an unscheduled break in transmission just after the beginning of season two, despite still including it in the schedules published in TV TIMES magazine.

A further break in UK transmission happened during the first Gulf War (1991).  As the series had originally aired region-by-region, some ITV companies (including Anglia) had completed season two before the break whilst others were further behind.

When transmission was resumed, the series was now networked across most of the country (albeit still in a late night slot) as part of the LWT-led ITV Nighttime sustaining service.  To accommodate slower regions, the entire second season was repeated (in order) followed by the third and final year.

Other New World-produced series aired on ITV during this period included daytime soap opera SANTA BARBARA, CRIME STORY, SLEDGE HAMMER! and MURPHY'S LAW (which, like Tour of Duty, was a Zev Braun production).

This is the third season title sequence with original theme: Paint it Black by The Rolling Stones.