Okay, Since we know that there were some editied episodes on the 5th season DVD release, let's try to keep a log of what is missing. Does anyone know? I know Like the Beep Beep Beep of the Tom Tom is edited. What are the exact lines that are missing?

I don't know since I don't have the 5th Season DVD Set yet :(. It's sad though that some episodes are edited.

Well, the episodes should run around 24 minutes. I'm willing to bet the following episodes are edited:

"Like the Beep Beep Beep of the Tom-Tom" (22:49)
"72 Hours" (23:10) (?)
"The Mangiacavallo Curse Makes a Lousy Wedding Present" (22:50)
"The President's Coming! The President's Coming! (Parts 1 & 2)" (46:43)

Can anyone confirm or dispute these?

I wish I could help. I'd love to find this out too.

Well, the episodes should run around 24 minutes.

Not necessarily. Most modern sitcom episodes only run to 21-22 minutes. It's quite possible that NBC ordered shorter episodes for those days. Just because an episode is a bit shorter than usual doesn't mean it is edited. It may have specifically been written shorter for the original broadcast. If you notice, the Season 1 episodes run to nearly 25 minutes. Compare that to the average for Season 6 - around 23 minutes. The most likely answer is that NBC wanted shorter episodes.

Not necessarily. Most modern sitcom episodes only run to 21-22 minutes. It's quite possible that NBC ordered shorter episodes for those days. Just because an episode is a bit shorter than usual doesn't mean it is edited. It may have specifically been written shorter for the original broadcast. If you notice, the Season 1 episodes run to nearly 25 minutes. Compare that to the average for Season 6 - around 23 minutes. The most likely answer is that NBC wanted shorter episodes.

I'm well aware of episode length patterns that have occurred over the years. The fact remains, as we move along through the series, the episode lengths do get shorter. However, during the 5th season, most episodes clock around 24:00 there is no disputing that. I've also confirmed that Like the Beep Beep has been edited. So the question becomes, what other episodes have been edited?

According to online sources "After Sophia says "I stole the money and jewelry from her dresser," there is a scene where Dorothy tells Sophia they have to give away the microwave because of Blanche's pacemaker. The DVD version picks up where Blanche storms into the room saying "Where's my money, old woman?" Then after Blanche walks out, Sophia says "for this I'm giving up Cheez Whiz nachos?" That part is also cut from the DVD." This comparison was made against an original network airing of that episode.

I'm pretty sure "The President's Coming" had been edited - the scene where the secret service guy is talking to the girls - he says the president wants to visit the house as there are 4 senior citizens living under one roof - the camera cuts to Blanche as though she has delivered a reply to the line and you hear the laughter just dying out - I dont know what it was she said but it was cut I think ???

I'm pretty sure "The President's Coming" had been edited - the scene where the secret service guy is talking to the girls - he says the president wants to visit the house as there are 4 senior citizens living under one roof - the camera cuts to Blanche as though she has delivered a reply to the line and you hear the laughter just dying out - I dont know what it was she said but it was cut I think ???

That could, of course, have been an edit made for the original broadcast. If you watch closely when watching sitcoms, you see that sort of thing all the time. In fact, I noticed it during the Seinfeld Season 2 episode "The Busboy" last night. Jerry delivered a line and it then cut away but Jerry had a different look on his face. That edit may have been made before the original broadcast because the episode over-ran.

I don't think we'll ever be able to conclude whether the episodes on the DVDs are exactly identical to those shown on NBC between 1985 and 1992 without going back in time.