Why would episodes be on a DVD with missing scenes? Isn't that called taking advantage of TV fans? Why would CT get people to spend their money for incomplete episodes? In the words of Steve Harvey-"THAT AIN'T RIGHT"-lol

I consider it fraud unless they tell you its edited.

I have a couple of edited scenes in my DVD collection; all I can think of..for the reasoning of editing is to make room for the DVD, (If that makes sense):confused:

Originally posted by mr roper
I consider it fraud unless they tell you its edited.


fraud would be a good word-lol

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
fraud would be a good word-lol technically it is. the say a complete season on the box and you pay for a complete season, not edited episodes you can record on TV.

Some reasons why episodes might appear edited on dvds:

1.A scene that features music that the studio couldn't get or didn't attempt getting the rights to include the music on the dvd, so the scene is shortened. (I read a case where that happened on a season 1 episode of "Soap")
2.A studio didn't make sure they were releasing the original broadcast episodes, they released shortened syndicated versions instead (by mistake??)
3.A particular scene or shot from the original source didn't hold up well visually and instead of putting in the effort to remaster the video, the studio left it off.

I tend to think that studios don't intentionally leave stuff off dvds. I figure there's just alot of hours upon hours of footage to go through and in a rush to get stuff out to the marketplace, they don't take the time to make sure every single scene on a dvd matches what was shown on the original broadcast. I don't believe a studio would have a complete episode of "What's Happening" for example, and before putting it on a dvd purposefully cut a shot where a character drops a suitcase on the floor. There'd be no sensible reason for them to do that. It's just mistakes on the part of the studios, we the audience are the ones who actually watch the shows, so we'd probably do a better job of alerting them when an episode is incomplete and that they need to search for the complete episode.

Originally posted by vashti1999
Some reasons why episodes might appear edited on dvds:

1.A scene that features music that the studio couldn't get or didn't attempt getting the rights to include the music on the dvd, so the scene is shortened. (I read a case where that happened on a season 1 episode of "Soap")
2.A studio didn't make sure they were releasing the original broadcast episodes, they released shortened syndicated versions instead (by mistake??)
3.A particular scene or shot from the original source didn't hold up well visually and instead of putting in the effort to remaster the video, the studio left it off.

I tend to think that studios don't intentionally leave stuff off dvds. I figure there's just alot of hours upon hours of footage to go through and in a rush to get stuff out to the marketplace, they don't take the time to make sure every single scene on a dvd matches what was shown on the original broadcast. I don't believe a studio would have a complete episode of "What's Happening" for example, and before putting it on a dvd purposefully cut a shot where a character drops a suitcase on the floor. There'd be no sensible reason for them to do that. It's just mistakes on the part of the studios, we the audience are the ones who actually watch the shows, so we'd probably do a better job of alerting them when an episode is incomplete and that they need to search for the complete episode.


:yeahthat but also don't the companies provide the tapes to the DVD companies? They're the ones who need to make sure they give the DVD companies original broadcast versions, not syndicated versions(ie. ALF) :)

Originally posted by King Forrester
technically it is. the say a complete season on the box and you pay for a complete season, not edited episodes you can record on TV.

:nod: Yep false advertising :(

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
:yeahthat but also don't the companies provide the tapes to the DVD companies? They're the ones who need to make sure they give the DVD companies original broadcast versions, not syndicated versions(ie. ALF) :)


That's what i thought. I guess they figured fans will be so blown away by the "DVD Picture Quality" that it would overshadow missing scenes-lol

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
That's what i thought. I guess they figured fans will be so blown away by the "DVD Picture Quality" that it would overshadow missing scenes-lol
Well I'm fine with the alf set, I would rather the episodes be clear and edited a little, than have poor quality for the original broadcast episodes.... But that is false advertising and they should have at least let us know beforehand that they were using syndicated eps....

Originally posted by Ant-Lox
Well I'm fine with the alf set, I would rather the episodes be clear and edited a little, than have poor quality for the original broadcast episodes.... But that is false advertising and they should have at least let us know beforehand that they were using syndicated eps....

that's cool, but alot of people would rather it be unedited than anything else, I know I would. I would give up clear picture to have the show unedited, otherwise IMO it's not worth the money they charge :)

Originally posted by Ant-Lox
Well I'm fine with the alf set, I would rather the episodes be clear and edited a little, than have poor quality for the original broadcast episodes.... But that is false advertising and they should have at least let us know beforehand that they were using syndicated eps....


Poor Quality on DVD? What do you mean?

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
that's cool, but alot of people would rather it be unedited than anything else, I know I would. I would give up clear picture to have the show unedited, otherwise IMO it's not worth the money they charge :)


THAT"S RIGHT!!!, Finally someone besides me who would push A+ Quality aside for C+ Quality and the Full length episode.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Poor Quality on DVD? What do you mean?

He probably means like with older shows the picture quality isn't as great compared to nowadays :)

Originally posted by barwars
Technically, the episodes dont HAVE to be completely unedited unless the box says "The Complete First Season" or second, or whatever.

If it justs says "Season 1", they can't be stuck in any legal problems.

true, that is the case with Charlie's Angels

"Charlie's Angels : The Complete First Season", the first season is completely entact.

but next to it lies..."Charlie's Angels : Season 2", the first 2 episodes of the season, which were 2 hour movie events, were presented in their syndicated form and chopped up to two episodes, but the rest of the hour-long episodes of the season were in their full 48-50 minute glory.

I've read before about shows, such as Golden Girls, Highway to Heaven and Perfect Strangers being released on DVD and the episodes being cut. I thought the idea of DVDs was to have the episodes in their entirity. What's the point of getting them on DVD if they're cut just like when they're on TV, and why do the releasers of the DVD do it this way?

A couple of things. Firstly, complete season refers to all of the episodes of a season, not the shows themselves being complete. Unless it says UNCUT, then it does not refer to the shows being complete but rather the set being complete.

Secondly, all of this BS that gets written about originals being worse quality is utter nonsense. Take a master, doesn't matter what format, and then dub it down a few times. Then tell me your 4th generation dub is better quality? Please. Shows were done originally on 35mm or 2-inch videotape (or for 80s shows, 1-inch videotape). When syndication copies were made to Beta SP for sending out to stations, many shows were pre-cut. Those copies are then being used for DVD release, not because of a quality loss on the originals, but because these folks are too cheap and or too lazy to go back to the original source to do the transfers. It's a lot easier to take what they have on hand in the current modern day format than to go back and spend money on re-transferring the masters.

A couple of things. Firstly, complete season refers to all of the episodes of a season, not the shows themselves being complete. Unless it says UNCUT, then it does not refer to the shows being complete but rather the set being complete.

Secondly, all of this BS that gets written about originals being worse quality is utter nonsense. Take a master, doesn't matter what format, and then dub it down a few times. Then tell me your 4th generation dub is better quality? Please. Shows were done originally on 35mm or 2-inch videotape (or for 80s shows, 1-inch videotape). When syndication copies were made to Beta SP for sending out to stations, many shows were pre-cut. Those copies are then being used for DVD release, not because of a quality loss on the originals, but because these folks are too cheap and or too lazy to go back to the original source to do the transfers. It's a lot easier to take what they have on hand in the current modern day format than to go back and spend money on re-transferring the masters.



I always thought COMPLETE SEASON meant that the Eps are Full Length not that all the ep are there on the DVD.

A couple of things. Firstly, complete season refers to all of the episodes of a season, not the shows themselves being complete. Unless it says UNCUT, then it does not refer to the shows being complete but rather the set being complete.

Secondly, all of this BS that gets written about originals being worse quality is utter nonsense. Take a master, doesn't matter what format, and then dub it down a few times. Then tell me your 4th generation dub is better quality? Please. Shows were done originally on 35mm or 2-inch videotape (or for 80s shows, 1-inch videotape). When syndication copies were made to Beta SP for sending out to stations, many shows were pre-cut. Those copies are then being used for DVD release, not because of a quality loss on the originals, but because these folks are too cheap and or too lazy to go back to the original source to do the transfers. It's a lot easier to take what they have on hand in the current modern day format than to go back and spend money on re-transferring the masters.yes, that's what I read somwhere. (maybe it was on this board)

I've read before about shows, such as Golden Girls, Highway to Heaven and Perfect Strangers being released on DVD and the episodes being cut. I thought the idea of DVDs was to have the episodes in their entirity. What's the point of getting them on DVD if they're cut just like when they're on TV, and why do the releasers of the DVD do it this way?

Shadowhawk,

I have seasons 1-3 of The Golden Girls and have watched the entire sets of those seasons and every episode is in it's original 24-25 minute NBC glory, and the 2-part episodes that originally ran as one hour-long episode are presented in the hour long form.

I guess some production companies think that viewers are more concerned with the QUALITY on the DVD instead of the FULL LENGTH Episode-lol

Yeah some people don't care if they're edited or not :eek:

I know in some cases if the masters are in bad shape sometimes the companies will go with syndicated versions of a show. That's the only time I'd ever accept cut episodes is if the originals were in such poor shape that they couldn't be salvaged.

Because everyone knows that a fifth generation dub looks much better than a master.

Because everyone knows that a fifth generation dub looks much better than a master.


I don't give a damm about CRYSTAL CLEAR QUALITY, i want the full length eps, period.

i know what you mean i was really ticked when i bought the cosby show dvd set before i read here that they were the synde eps and not the complete nbc masters 35 dollars down the drain

i know what you mean i was really ticked when i bought the cosby show dvd set before i read here that they were the synde eps and not the complete nbc masters 35 dollars down the drain


Remember the $35.00 was for the The Excellent Quality-lol

technically it is. the say a complete season on the box and you pay for a complete season, not edited episodes you can record on TV.

I agree. There's pretty much no way in crap I'm gonna pay for a season of a show if it's only syndicated copies. I can tape those off television for free.

I agree. There's pretty much no way in crap I'm gonna pay for a season of a show if it's only syndicated copies. I can tape those off television for free.


Well that's only true in some cases. Now a show like the Cosby show don't need to be purchased on DVD because the same versions are on N@N. But if it's a show that you haven't seen in syndication or never seen in syndication then it wouldn't be such a bad idea to buy the DVD