# Automatic search for TV listings for an obscure movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457 "2009-10-03T16:13:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/1 "2009-10-03T16:13:34Z")
Back in 1983, my wife and I were very lucky to catch [“The Pirates of Penzance”](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086112/) in the theater. It played for one week in one theater, then disappeared. It fell victim to the movie studio’s plan to release films to theaters and to pay-per-view at the same time, and the theater owners boycotted the film by not advertising the film and showing it the contractually minimum number of times. Since then, it was released on VHS and Beta and then later on LaserDisc. But it’s never come out on DVD. The film had an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, and all the home video versions are pan’n’scan. So I would love to catch this one on a TV showing in widescreen. So the question is this: Where is a web site where I set an alert that will let me know when the film will show on a movie channel? I have a ReplayTV, and have “Penzance” as a search term, but have had no luck. The problem is that it won’t look at listings for channels I don’t currently receive. I’d happily subscribe to a movie package to get this film…for that month. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/2 "2009-10-03T16:32:26Z")
Thank you Twixter. Board farted. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/3 "2009-10-03T17:05:15Z")
It sure did. Frustrating for all of us. Hopefully now someone will come along with an answer to your question. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/4 "2009-10-03T18:13:13Z")
You can watch it here for free: [http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi1481703961/](http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi1481703961/) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/5 "2009-10-04T01:20:11Z")
> [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](#): > > You can watch it here for free: [http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi1481703961/](http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi1481703961/) Thank you for the link. I’m still curious if there is anything like Google Alerts to let me know when a show will appear on TV? ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/6 "2009-10-04T02:27:54Z")
I would definitely like to know something like this as well. There are a handful of movies that I am dying to see, but I wouldn’t know if they ever came on, chief among them being the Tony Curtis movie “The Great Impostor” (which came on two times about 12 years ago in the middle of the night on TMC or something, but my taping efforts were thwarted both times, and I still have never seen it), “The Pigeon Egg Strategy” (which I’m not even sure has ever had a release, but I heard about it once and it sounded right up my alley), the Robert Altman curiosity “HealtH” (which I saw on Encore or something 10 years ago, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the only public showing the movie has ever seen), and “Brain Smasher…A Love Story”. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/7 "2009-10-04T03:53:03Z")
Get Tivo. Key in the name of the movie, and it’ll be recorded whenever it airs. I’ve done this many times. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/8 "2009-10-04T04:25:48Z")
I’d give my left nut to find a copy of [_John Goldfarb, Please Come Home_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059336/), and [_Arrivederci Baby_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060128/). ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/9 "2009-10-04T05:09:23Z")
You can check [TV Guide](http://movies.tvguide.com/pirates-penzance/tv-listings/109271) for the next 14 days. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/10 "2009-10-04T05:24:04Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > I’d give my left nut to find a copy of [_John Goldfarb, Please Come Home_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059336/), and [_Arrivederci Baby_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060128/). I’m not sure how much left nuts go for but you can use it to bid on eBay: [Arrivederci Baby](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370258705014) or buy it from [Amazon for $44.92](http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/6302658896/ref=sr_1_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=video&qid=1254633521&sr=8-1) I’ll let you check on the other one. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/11 "2009-10-04T05:25:48Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You can check [TV Guide](http://movies.tvguide.com/pirates-penzance/tv-listings/109271) for the next 14 days. That’s the problem. You have to check it every 14 days. And I have a ReplayTV, Tivo’s less reputable cousin, but it only provides listings for the channels to which I subscribe. I want to know if it’s going to appear on Starz or some other channel, so I can have that channel added to my subscription and catch it. I wish Google would have their own TV listings. Maybe someone will make a Waves application for this? ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/12 "2009-10-04T06:27:09Z")
This might help: [http://www.locatetv.com/movie/pirates-of-penzance](http://www.locatetv.com/movie/pirates-of-penzance) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/13 "2009-10-04T16:28:10Z")
> [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](#): > > This might help: [http://www.locatetv.com/movie/pirates-of-penzance](http://www.locatetv.com/movie/pirates-of-penzance) That looks like exactly what I need! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/14 "2009-10-04T17:06:21Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’m not sure how much left nuts go for but you can use it to bid on eBay: > [Arrivederci Baby](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370258705014) or buy it from [Amazon for $44.92](http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/6302658896/ref=sr_1_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=video&qid=1254633521&sr=8-1) > > I’ll let you check on the other one. Ardy checked. VHS and too spensive. When I say I’d give my left nut, that’s because I’m broke and I can’t afford actual money. I’d give my left nut to find them available on DVD at not-collectors’ prices. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/15 "2009-10-04T19:11:31Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > That looks like exactly what I need! Thanks! My pleasure, I hope this goes to erasing my asshiolishness,. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/16 "2009-10-04T23:19:44Z")
> [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](#): > > My pleasure, I hope this goes to erasing my asshiolishness,. Eh? Not at all. You’ve been very helpful with both your links. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/automatic-search-for-tv-listings-for-an-obscure-movie/512457/17 "2009-10-05T00:44:22Z")
You can set up a Google alert for any search, including one for a specific site, such as a TV listings site. So you could set an alert for _“Pirates of Penzance” site:zap2it.com_.