While Hollywood production remains at a virtual halt, more and more viewers are bingeing TV classics. But the library has some missing shelves.
For a variety of different reasons, most of which have to do with licensing rights, some of the greatest shows ever made can't be found in syndication or on any streaming services. In many cases, the best you can hope for is shelling out big bucks for DVD sets or searching for illegal copies on the internet.
Executives should take advantage of this downtime to slice through the red tape and free up these 10 must-see series:
'The Paper Chase' (1978; 1983-86)
The 1973 movie that won John Houseman a best-supporting-actor Oscar can easily be purchased on several streaming services. The equally strong TV version is much more elusive, despite the fact that Houseman reprised his role as a no-nonsense law professor.
'Late Night With David Letterman' (1982-93)
The most influential comedy show of its generation may have reveled in bits like Stupid Pet Tricks, but there was something supersmart about the way the host was able to both honor and skewer the late-night talkers that came before it.
'Police Squad!' (1982)
The jokes flew fast and furious in this short-lived gem that set the stage for the "Naked Gun" films. Minnesotan Pat Proft provided some of the sitcom's most memorable one-liners.
'Moonlighting' (1985-89)
Bruce Willis put his smirk to good use in this dramedy about private investigators engaged in a never-ending battle of witty lines. The series fell apart when the partners finally jumped into bed together; the foreplay remains irresistible.
'L.A. Law' (1986-94)
At its best, this was the lawyerly version of "Hill Street Blues." At its worst, it was a prime-time soap opera. Still, there's plenty of appeal here, both in and out of the courtroom.
