View Full Version : Is it better to just purchase Old Variety Shows on DVD instead of watching them on


TVFactFan
08-07-2004, 03:54 PM
Cable? I ask because since the are no longer in one hour format viewers are missing a HUGE CHUNK of Footage since the show was reduced to 30 min. That's why i find it pointless to watch Carol Burnett and Dip Wilson because we are missing so much. So do anyone agree that you should just buy the show on DVD?

barwars
08-07-2004, 08:09 PM
Yup.
If they come in season sets of course....

storrs19
08-08-2004, 05:28 PM
The Carol Burnett Show is the only one on DVD as far as I know.
The Flip Wilson Show on DVD is the same 22 minute shows on TVLand right now. I wish they would release some of The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, The Johnny Cash Show and The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. That would be nice.

TVFactFan
08-08-2004, 06:14 PM
Originally posted by storrs19
The Carol Burnett Show is the only one on DVD as far as I know.
The Flip Wilson Show on DVD is the same 22 minute shows on TVLand right now. I wish they would release some of The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, The Johnny Cash Show and The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. That would be nice.


Wait a minute? Are you telling me that the TV LAND versions of the Flip Wilson Show are the same versions on the DVD?

storrs19
08-09-2004, 02:11 PM
Yup. Sadly they are. I'm glad I received one as a gift and did not pay for it. I was thinking they would be the original hour long (50 minutes without commercials) ones, but they only run 22 minutes for each episode. Rhino usually gives good entertainment, but on this set they lapsed. I certainly won't buy season 2 or for that matter Season 1 of ALF, since they are chopped too. (22 minutes) each. I can't see paying money for edited episodes.
Rumor has it that Flip himself put together 1/2 hour segments of his shows for synidaction when he bought the rights from NBC back in 1992 or so and these are those prints.

storrs19
08-09-2004, 02:14 PM
Actually, in correcting one of my earlier posts, The Dean Martin Show is available on DVD in a "Best of" collectors series from Gunthy-Renker. I bought the first one last night online for $14 (including shipping) to see how it is. I haven't seen that show in a million years it seems and Dean always had great guests on.

TVFactFan
08-09-2004, 05:29 PM
Originally posted by storrs19
Yup. Sadly they are. I'm glad I received one as a gift and did not pay for it. I was thinking they would be the original hour long (50 minutes without commercials) ones, but they only run 22 minutes for each episode. Rhino usually gives good entertainment, but on this set they lapsed. I certainly won't buy season 2 or for that matter Season 1 of ALF, since they are chopped too. (22 minutes) each. I can't see paying money for edited episodes.
Rumor has it that Flip himself put together 1/2 hour segments of his shows for synidaction when he bought the rights from NBC back in 1992 or so and these are those prints.



Alf was really edited? Do you know for sure?

Brian
08-09-2004, 06:54 PM
Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Alf was really edited? Do you know for sure?

I think they are from what I've read. However, I think it might seem like it because they were probably time-compressed. Also, this show was produced in the late 1980s and by that time, shows had more ads than say the 50s to the 70s, when around that time episodes ran for like 26 or 27 minutes.

I myself have no way to compare the DVDs to the original episodes. Until I know for sure whether the episodes really were edited, I'm not going to waste a lot of money on edited episodes regardless of what show it is.

TVFactFan
08-09-2004, 06:57 PM
Originally posted by Brian
I think they are from what I've read. However, I think it might seem like it because they were probably time-compressed. Also, this show was produced in the late 1980s and by that time, shows had more ads than say the 50s to the 70s, when around that time episodes ran for like 26 or 27 minutes.

I myself have no way to compare the DVDs to the original episodes. Until I know for sure whether the episodes really were edited, I'm not going to waste a lot of money on edited episodes regardless of what show it is.


That's ridiculous

Skywalker
08-09-2004, 09:41 PM
I've heard nothing about Alf being edited. The only people who can confirm this are the ones with the dvd. I would say any episodes less than 23:30 would be edited episodes.

storrs19
08-10-2004, 01:53 AM
I am just going by what Pav said and he's usually very accurate.
I have 3 episodes of ALF taped back in the 1980's from NBC and they run 24:00 without commercials. The quality is only fair, but I obtained them in a trade. Pav mentioned in the review that they are running between 20 and 22 minutes each and I know he includes the credits. Other shows from that era (Amen, 227, Golden Girls) also seem to run around 24:00.

spunkygirl
08-10-2004, 11:31 AM
Originally posted by jpnoyes
I've heard nothing about Alf being edited. The only people who can confirm this are the ones with the dvd. I would say any episodes less than 23:30 would be edited episodes.

Yeah that's right JP my Who's the Boss? episodes were uncut on the DVD and they ran about 23:30, so with ALF being an 80's show, it should run about 23-24 minutes.

:)

vashti1999
08-10-2004, 11:44 AM
Concerning the ALF dvd being edited, I never watched the show nor own the dvds, so I don't know this for myself, but here is a comment from someone on another dvd message board I'm a part of:

I received ALF Season 1 today and just by checking 2 random episodes (Pilot and "It's not easy being green") I noticed charring cuts. My guess is that once again syndicated episodes have made its way onto DVD. At this point I don't know if all episodes are affected, but the pilot alone is missing its first 2 minutes for crying out loud! As cheap as the set was, Lions Gate can shove further seasons for all I care.

EDIT: Noticed further cuts in "Mother and Child Reunion", and since it seems that all episodes have the same running time (or shorter) than this one (21:27) it's pretty much guaranteed that every episode is affected. And they have the nerve to call this "the complete first season" in the overview!

spunkygirl
08-10-2004, 11:56 AM
Originally posted by vashti1999
Concerning the ALF dvd being edited, I never watched the show nor own the dvds, so I don't know this for myself, but here is a comment from someone on another dvd message board I'm a part of:

I received ALF Season 1 today and just by checking 2 random episodes (Pilot and "It's not easy being green") I noticed charring cuts. My guess is that once again syndicated episodes have made its way onto DVD. At this point I don't know if all episodes are affected, but the pilot alone is missing its first 2 minutes for crying out loud! As cheap as the set was, Lions Gate can shove further seasons for all I care.

EDIT: Noticed further cuts in "Mother and Child Reunion", and since it seems that all episodes have the same running time (or shorter) than this one (21:27) it's pretty much guaranteed that every episode is affected. And they have the nerve to call this "the complete first season" in the overview!


ohno: They must think viewers are stupid, don't they realize that viewers are gonna notice there are cuts? :rolleyes:

I mean people want these uncut, if they wanted them cut, they'd tape it off of tv :rolleyes: the dummies! :mad:

Glad I didn't waste my money buying that.

barwars
08-10-2004, 03:18 PM
Damn.
I just did.... but seeing that it doesnt air in syndication, I can make the sacrifice. I dont want to -- but it's all I'll get.

Lady T
08-10-2004, 03:36 PM
Originally posted by storrs19
The Carol Burnett Show is the only one on DVD as far as I know.
The Flip Wilson Show on DVD is the same 22 minute shows on TVLand right now. I wish they would release some of The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, The Johnny Cash Show and The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. That would be nice.

Sonny and Cher..is out on DVD...In a The Best Of... format.

Skywalker
08-10-2004, 04:41 PM
Originally posted by barwars
Damn.
I just did.... but seeing that it doesnt air in syndication, I can make the sacrifice. I dont want to -- but it's all I'll get.


Thats exactly how I feel. I know it will never air on N@N or any other channel for that matter, but Alf was my favorite show when I was a kid so I'm buying season 1. At least the unaired pilot is unedited :lol: I don't think I will buy season 2 though unless all of the eps are unedited. Season 1 was my favorite.

barwars
08-10-2004, 04:58 PM
Originally posted by jpnoyes
Thats exactly how I feel. I know it will never air on N@N or any other channel for that matter, but Alf was my favorite show when I was a kid so I'm buying season 1. At least the unaired pilot is unedited :lol: I don't think I will buy season 2 though unless all of the eps are unedited. Season 1 was my favorite.

Good to hear Im not alone.
I'll most likely buy Season 2, edited or not.... although I hope they wise up and make them uncut!!

And you're right -- Season 1 was the best.
Actually, the show just went downhill (although never got bad) from the beginning.

TVFactFan
08-10-2004, 07:04 PM
Originally posted by Undercover Angel
Sonny and Cher..is out on DVD...In a The Best Of... format.


Tara what message board are you the moderator of?

vashti1999
08-10-2004, 07:24 PM
Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Tara what message board are you the moderator of?

Good Times