Six Million Dollar Man Blu-ray Shout Factory

Lee Majors in "The Six Million Dollar Man"

May 25, 2022

Shout! Factory will release the complete series of “The Six Million Dollar Man” on Blu-ray Disc July 12. The 33-disc boxed set will include the original broadcast episodes of the entire series and come packed with a wealth of bonus features including the three pilot films, new audio commentary with author Herbie J. Pilato and more.

Running for five seasons in the 1970s, “The Six Million Dollar Man” made a star out of actor Lee Majors and a memorable pop culture figure in fictional character Steve Austin. The success of the series led to a flurry of action figures, comic books, lunchboxes, coloring books, records, board games and eventually “The Bionic Woman,” a spin-off series featuring lead character Jaime Sommers.

The three pilot films and all 99 episodes were transferred in 2015 from new interpositive film elements struck in 2011 from the original negative. The complete series set can be ordered now on ShoutFactory.com.

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In the series, Col. Steve Austin is badly injured in an aircraft crash. He is rebuilt with cutting-edge bionic technology. Atomic-powered limbs propel him at speeds of 60 mph, giving him the ability to overturn massive objects and take on the world’s most nefarious villains and their evil plans.

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Wow. They’ve done a very nice job of restoring this. Watching the pilot as we speak (which I’ve always preferred-the Darren McGavin character is marvelously dark).
Universal has done a nice restoration so far. I didn’t care as much for the series when we got to the Big Foot episode but it’s still a fun early 70’s series. My only issue is the generic direction of the pilot/TV movie-in really talented Director’s hands, the TV movie Iwhoch still works really well) could have had even more impact.
I’ve heard the audio quality is particularly bad on the Bionic Woman crossover episodes included in this set - when you get to them I’d be very interested in your thoughts.
The extras (which I’ve only had time to dip my toe I’m) are nice as well; some from the DVD but some news ones as well. Colors look really good and detail, depth and delineation are top notch.there is occasional softness but that probably has to do with the source. The encoding is also pretty good (which had been an issue with some Shout TV releases). There’s some occasional light speckling but, on the whole, Universal has done the series well for reissue.
The second TV pilot reboots it in a sense with Richard Anderson replacing McGavin. The theme music by Glen Larson (is horrible) and, as usual with Larson’s work, pilfers other sources (he was notorious for stealing ideas for his own work. In fact, James Garner once threatened him after he pilfered plots for his series from The Rockford Files). Larson was a hack—a good hack but a hack nevertheless. Larson does keep the relationship somewhat like the first pilot.
the shift to a James Bond styled feel was interesting and the direction/writing of the second “pilot” was less interesting, more conventional but still fun as a Bond knock-off.
I haven’t gotten to those yet but will report what I hear/ see. That would be odd considering they are also releasing that on Blu as well. If so, here’s hoping they do a corrected disc and/or correct it for “The Bionic Woman” Blu set forthcoming. I held off buying this bd abuse of concerns but, so far, so good.
If so, Shout should have gone back and had the that Re authored with better source.
Yeah, the Bionic Woman audio has apparently been problematic on many home releases whether on that show's own DVD/Blu-ray releases or when used as cross-over episodes. This is being discussed at a few video forums right now as well as in some of the comments on Shout's own web site. Regardless I'm glad to hear the encoding and picture quality seem good - I hope to pick this set up in the near term.
Yeah I read that at BD Forum as well. I suspect it has to do with the masters provided since it also plagues some other releases.
That's why he was known as Glen Larceny in Hollywood.
Shout issued the following statement:
"We're using the masters provided to us by Universal"
....and then....
"The 3 pilot films and all 99 episodes were transferred in 2015
from new interpositive film elements struck in 2011 from the original
negative"
At NO point has there been any statement of Shout themselves remastering/fixing/tinkering/correcting ANYTHING... to me, it would appear they have released just what was given to them. It's only been 2 months since the set was announced... and sets are already in viewers hands. It hardly seems remotely enough time to have checked , corrected and fixed 5 seasons worth of our show AND then pressed and packaged everything. I am not having a dig at SHOUT... just stating the possibility that they received the masters and starting production right away.. at least, that's what the time-frame says to me.
Indeed. It’s also why Lucas had every right to sue him (even though Lucas borrowed significantly from Dune and other science fiction novels) for Battlestar Galatica.
They did, before release, claim they were checking the masters. They could have been unaware of the issue with the previous releases nevertheless, they should do their due diligence. My guess is that they just spot checked episodes. I’m neither defending nor attacking Shout over this but it does help doing research on previous release issues.
SHOUT has a very long history of poor Quality Control...
Indeed. I’d say less QC issues and more along the lines of trusting what they are given. They should still check what they are given though. The “Space:1999” example is one issue of many.
As soon as the set was posted on their web site there was a comment pleading with them to check the audio on those specific episodes. There was a handful of comments - including that one - for weeks so it’s not like there were hundreds of comments to wade through. A shame.
Edit: Here’s that post. It will be interesting to see what happens with their Bionic Woman set:
The soundtrack to the Bionic Woman Season 2 premiere episode, "The Return of Bigfoot Part II" — a crossover episode that you're going to include in your Six Million Dollar Man Blu-ray Collector's Edition — was always bright and rich, even when it went into syndication. But when the episode appeared as a bonus on the 2010 Time-Life Six Million Dollar Man DVD set and then on the subsequent 2011 Universal Bionic Woman Season 2 DVD set, the entire soundtrack was suddenly muffled. Sound effects, dialogue, and Joe Harnell's brilliant underscore had lost their crisp clarity. Here is a video comparing the DVD version to a syndicated version. The difference is striking. We can only assume that something went wrong during the authoring of the disc(s). Please, Shout! Factory, restore/replace this episode's soundtrack on your collection! Indeed, this "muffled" audio can be found on many episodes of the Bionic Woman DVD set, including "Road to Nashville," "The Night Demon," "Sanctuary Earth," and "Doomsday is Tomorrow."

The Six Million Dollar Man: The Complete Series [Collector's Edition] - Blu-ray :: Shout! Factory
Shout! Also posted this (emphasis mine):
Hi all! We're using the masters provided to us by Universal. Currently, we're double-checking everything we've received, which will take a few more weeks. At that point, we'll announce all of the details and extras.
Either they checked and didn’t care or they didn’t double-check ‘everything’.
I know. I read the post. I honestly don’t think the folks that checked the files read those posts or that it was communicated to them (and if it was, they were told ‘Thar’s what you get’ and they chose to release it anyway). It’s quite a bit of video and audio to check and I seriously don’t believe they check everything today. I’m sure @Vidiot could chine in on this. I could be wrong.
I doubt they double checked everything. Most labels usually spot check these things now which is why so many mistakes leak through. The QC for most today are pretty bad. Heck, even Warner has made their fair share of mistakes like with the “Mad Max/Road Warrior” reissue”. Not excusing it mind you but it just seems to be the way it is. Lousy QC. U fortunately, when I read comments today from labels, I rarely believe them.
The good news of course is that the video quality is very good.
Agreed. It varies from exceptional to very good with no weak looking transfers (so far). Usually it’s the opposite problem with older shows/movies-good audio and so-so video (especially if it is being released as a licensed title). Even with their screw ups, Shout is miles better than labels like Mill Creek although not as consistent or good as Kino.
Thanks for the information regarding the transfer quality. This boxset is at the top of my list for July purchases.
Shawn and wayneklein like this.
So watched the TV movies tonight. Some cringe worthy dialog and pedestrian direction aside, they look pretty good and entertaining enough. The 80’s synthesizer scores are pretty awful as well.They are entertaining but reminded me how even with good TV directors that staging and composition are everything. A pity they didn’t select directors with a bit of flair and style.
Simon A and Shawn like this.
Watched this when I was about 11 or 12, wasn't every episode basically the same?
I've always felt that the network never cared much for these to begin with, which is why they feel so cheap compared to the original series. I wanted to like the TV movies, but they made me feel sorry for the actors who had to deliver those lines and work on these shoestring budgets.
Oh that's right. McGavin was on the pilot. Was he like the original Oscar Goldman?
I like him more at "The Night Stalker" But they pulled the plug too soon.

I got the DVD version and I burned it on MP4. I love watching it when I get the chance. I got the double up with the "Invisible Man."
Unless Bigfoot was in every episode, nope