Having done a little research with various members of the Culp Clan, I can assure you definitively, that the commentaries on the "new" DVD collections are not new, but simply culled from the previous releases (a fact you might already have gleaned, so forgive my redundancy). Also, in case it hadn't already been clarified, you should not be misled by the term "re-mastered" - It simply means, at least in the case of these DVDs, they have been merely re-released, in this case in their correct order. The fact is, Bob didn't even know about the new re-issues. Of course, not being as diligent about checking into the forum as I should be, this information might already be moot.
So I suggest you save your money, because in short order, the Official Robert Culp Website will be hitting the internet!!! Bob has been working obsessively on the project with his son-in-law, web designer Danny O'Connor for quite some time and when it is finished, it will be the ultimate location to purchase all official things Culp - scripts, pictures, etc., all autographed by the man himself.
I have no doubt Tatia is keeping a watchful eye on the web, but the minute I get any new information, I shall happily pass it along.
Regarding "The Shark Affair" - I just had the pleasure of watching Mr. Culp's own personal VHS copy of the episode. Having not been a big "Man from U.N.C.L.E." fan, I was struck at how silly and cartoonish the tone of the show was (at least in that episode), as compared to the far more authentic tone "I Spy" strove to achieve (granted, they didn't always succeed) - Mr. Robert seemed to be acting in a different show altogether, trying his best to create a subtle, nuanced character in the face of typically vacuous 1960s episodic TV acting.
Having been graced, in my earlier years, with the privilege of watching many of Bob's guest appearances on different 50s and 60s TV shows from his personal collection, it is a shame that those performances can't be gathered up and put together on a DVD. More than most actors of his generation, he always brought to each of these performances a dedication to authenticity and a specificity. In other words, he wasn't just doing a job, he was actually playing a character.
Dear MBF, thank you again for your invaluable insight. Please convey to Mr. Culp our collective excitement over the launch of his new site!
Regarding your suggestion that Mr. Culp's many guest appearances be compiled on a DVD, is that something he could do himself - assuming he still has those videos in his private collection? Or are there still too many licensing and copyright hassles?
Indeed, it would be impossible...almost all this stuff is owned by someone or another (some early 50s stuff may have slipped into public domain)...the reason we can't get TRACKDOWN legally isn't because no one owns it, it's because someone does who just ain't bothering to release it...that's the main reason to be optimistic about all these online portals offering episodes...at least somewhere or another we are gaining access to the material...but to get the various parties to sign off on actor-based compilations would be unwieldy and financially impossible...
Gerard Christopher starred as "Superboy" in the syndicated series, beginning with the second season. The Salkinds and Warners couldn't come to terms concerning rights to release, so the series never was... officially! BUT, Mr. Christopher sold VHS tapes of episodes from his website and, I'm assuming, legally. Now that the 1st season of SBoy has made it to DVD (and VHS isn't the viable comodity it once was), I'm not at all sure if he still sells eps... but, he did!
I find it ironic
In the annuls of time
That Dr. Seuss' birthday
Is one day before mine!