mdbcoll

Collecting Michael Des Barres' work

Michael's single "Money Don't Come Easy," 1986

For MacGyver episode collecting suggestions, scroll down.

As with collecting anything that you really want, 90% of it is super-easy to find, while 10% of it is like hitting a brick wall. There are still some items I haven't found, so please take a look at my want list below & email me - maybe we can work out a trade. The best way to build your collection is to find another Michael fan who has collected a lot of different things and do a huge free swap. To hunt down specific items, you can find other fans of a specific show on the Internet and see what you can arrange. Here's another hint: find fans of one of his co-stars - sometimes they have collections of THAT star that will have what you want.

After reading the following, the best way to get started is to join the Michael Des Barres fan community at Yahoo. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/desbarres and sign in.

How to get the MacGyver episodes: MacGyver is currently broadcast on TV Land and Spike TV. The episodes are usually shown in order. Michael's episodes are Partners, Widowmaker, Cleo Rocks, Halloween Knights, Serenity, Strictly Business and Obsessed. He is also featured in Hindsight and Unfinished Business but these contain flashbacks from his other seven episodes and no new footage. Since you are just looking for certain ones, here is how to find them:

1. Go to the MacGyver Episode Guide and print off a list of all the episodes - that way you will be able to estimate when to check back.

2. Check the News Page to find out upcoming broadcast info - we have links to Spike TV and TV Land's schedule pages.

3. Halloween Knights is sometimes shown out of order in order to show it on Halloween.

Television (items currently running): It's very easy to get started with your collection because many of Michael's shows are in syndication. It's easy to get clean, fresh copies this way.

Some hints:

1. There is a link to TV Now's Michael Des Barres schedule at the top of the News Page. See my Michael Des Barres Television Page for details of his roles & episodes.

2. Keep in mind that sometimes the originals will have footage that has been since been cut out of the repeats to add more time for commercials.

3. There are many TV listings on the Internet that provide searchable schedules complete with those all-important episode titles. My favorite is TV Now.

4. Also try the cable network's schedule and see if they are there. Sometimes the cable network's website will be more informative than a TV listings site (like WGN), and sometimes less (like TNN).

5. If you can't find something using Michael's name, try a different actor in the TV show (example, Roseanne Barr for Roseanne, Jerry Seinfeld for Seinfeld, Sharon Gless for Cagney & Lacey etc) and then look for his episode title in the list that comes up..

6. Check Michael's TV page for episode titles and look on the Internet for episode guides if you want to make sure you catch the episode the next time it runs. Once you have an episode guide for a show, you can watch any episode and figure out what episode it is, and then if the network shows them in order, you can estimate when the episode you want will be shown. Networks often play with this, so if you want to be absolutely sure, don't rely on a timer. If you really want the episode, confirm with a TV site or the network itself (calling is best) to make sure the episode will run (I once persuaded A&E to replace and air Michael's episode of "Northern Exposure" after they skipped it because it was defective).

Television (items no longer on the air): The only way to get clips from shows that are no longer on the air is to find other fans and ask them to copy them for you. Most hardcore fans of a show know the episode titles and dates and might need these to locate them for you. I have found people to be incredibly generous with this stuff.

Try to get ORIGINAL broadcasts if possible, as syndicated versions are often heavily edited: two examples are Rockford Files "Lions, Tigers, Monkeys & Dogs, in which Michael was reduced to an extra (the full version, with his lines restored, is available through Amazon and some fans will have it), and Miami Vice "Whatever Works," in which the Power Station appearance is much shorter (get it from a Duran Duran fan - most of them taped it off NBC in 1985).

It's up to you if you want entire shows or just his clips. If he is in most of the show, it's best to get the entire episode, not just his scenes, so you will know what's going on. But if he's just in a scene or two, that's often not necessary. Suggesting "just his clips, not the whole show" will make someone more willing to copy things for you in this instance, as it takes much less time. Also up to you are tape speeds (EP gets more on a tape, SP looks nicer and is recommended) and tape quality (most traders want you to be very specific and send enough money, or send your own tape).

I do not recommend selling or buying tapes, though paying for shipping and a blank tape (or supplying one) is standard and most people will not agree to help you for any less).

According to the TVShowsOnDVD website, Season 1 of Sledgehammer (which includes Michael's episode, "Sledge Poo") will be released on DVD July 27, 2004 by Anchor Bay. Stephen Cannell has also informed me that there's a deal in the works to release the entire series of 21 Jump Street on DVD.

Movies: Pay cable stations are your best choice for getting Michael's movies. I have seen Poison Ivy, Sugar Town, and To Sir With Love (search "Sidney Poitier") listed often, and Pink Cadillac is always playing somewhere. Movies on regular television channels are cut and not worth your time - tape them off cable and get them uncut. You can also rent most of Michael's movies easily, but some are very hard to locate. Most of them can be purchased at Videoflicks, Reel, or other online movie dealers. There are also many horror web pages that have movies for sale. See my Michael Des Barres Movie Page for complete details of his roles and episodes. If you don't have the time or money to collect a lot right away, you will probably want to start with his largest roles: Diary of A Sex Addict, Midnight Cabaret, Poison Ivy: The New Seduction, Waxwork II, Silk Degrees, Sugar Town, and Pink Cadillac. I have had lots of success buying used movies from video stores, or other places that buy and sell used movies.

His roles in Under Siege, Simple Twist of Fate, Widow's Kiss and some others, are not large enough to justify buying the movie, unless you find it used. Try to tape it off cable.

Music: Michael's second solo album and Power Station material are the easiest to find, as just about every Duran Duran fan has it all. Most of the other albums he appeared on are out of print; however, the Silverhead albums are now available on CD. There are many people selling or auctioning vinyl albums on the Internet - all I can do is warn you to proceed with caution. Most of them have the albums, as well as some of the more rare items, such as the "Obsession" demo on vinyl. Once you find other fans, you can usually make trades too, or they can keep an eye out in their local stores, etc. Be imaginative and contact fans of other members of his groups, such as fans of Steve Jones, Yes, Blondie, Duran Duran, etc. You might even find some live shows! Michael has also added backup vocals to several 70's and 80's albums - see my Michael Des Barres Discography & Videos Page for all the info you'll need.

Want List

TV:
Alf - 3.6 (58), "Promises, Promises" (Fall/Win 1988) (I have it in German, need English)
Freakazoid! Episode 3, Sept. 23, 1995 (cartoon 2 "The Sewer Rescue")
Hat Squad - "92 Seconds To Midnight"
Hitz "What's Your Name, Who's Your Daddy" (unaired)
Life on the Flipside (Pilot) (NBC/Universal) - stars Don Johnson (unaired)
She Spies - "Poster Girl"
Super Force "As God Is My Witness"
Too Something/New York Daze #22 "The Meter Feeders" (unaired)

MOVIES:
Arizonaslim
Good Advice
Hungry Bachelor's Club
I, Monster
Joanna
Jungle Book
Limp Fangs
Mayor of The Sunset Strip
Mulholland Drive
Ocean Park
What They Wanted, What They Got

Michael Des Barres Web Site *