Even though all episode guides list "The Reporter" episode from season 2, it had a different opening (first time shown on ION), the entire episode was practically a drama....talk of mob hits and a rape trial were the main theme, Flo and Vera talked seriously, this one was quite different, very odd!

Alice became angry when she told that reporter that the name of the trial (The Steckles Trial) was named after the victim...as if it was her fault, as if she was the one on trial.

I know for a fact that rape victims' names are not to be published in newspapers/magazines, etc. to protect their identity. I recall back in that era names of rape victims were not printed, so it couldn't be that it was something that was only recently done to protect victims.


Regarding the fact that THE REPORTER is listed as a season 2 episode, is it possible that the episode was filmed for season 2 and it wasn't shown until season 3? Or is this an error on ION's part?

Even though all episode guides list "The Reporter" episode from season 2, it had a different opening (first time shown on ION), the entire episode was practically a drama....talk of mob hits and a rape trial were the main theme, Flo and Vera talked seriously, this one was quite different, very odd!


All I know the ep was BORING and I was like YAWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!-lol

The Reporter (and The Bus) on both E! and TNN had the 4th season opening. Not sure why, as they're clearly 2nd season episodes (based on the decor of the diner. Only the 2nd season had that wall paper). The production codes for these 2 are (and Earthquake, and The Pharmacist) are the 1st 4 for season 2, and all 4 episodes had a different feel to them. Much more dramatic, with less comedy moments in it, and a more serious subject matter. Also, all 4 were produced by Noam Pitlik. Another difference, Vera has her hair differently, and Mel isn't wearing his trademark white T-shirt.

Edit: Another difference, on just The Reporter, it had the "outro" music at the end (where they tell the guest stars) that was used on the 3rd/4th season.

I really didn't like this episode and I don't think the studio audience did either, because they were hardly laughing in it.

I really didn't like this episode and I don't think the studio audience did either, because they were hardly laughing in it.
There was nothing to laugh at. :rofl: Your post is funnier than that damn episode last night. ;) :lol:


This episode had the year 1978 at the closing credits. What is up with this episode? Could it be they filmed it for season 2, but used it later? I am so confused!:crazy: :confused:

There was nothing to laugh at. :rofl: Your post is funnier than that damn episode last night. ;) :lol:


This episode had the year 1978 at the closing credits. What is up with this episode? Could it be they filmed it for season 2, but used it later? I am so confused!:crazy: :confused:


I turned it off before the Closing credits-lol

I turned it off before the Closing credits-lol
I barely glanced at the episode. I was waiting for the credits just to see what year it was made. :lol:

It was definitely a season 2 episode according to the guides.

It was definitely a season 2 episode according to the guides.
What is weird is according to those guides, the episode before THE REPORTER is production code 166678, THE REPORTER's production code is 166663, then the one after that episode is #166680. It is out of sequence.

What is weird is according to those guides, the episode before THE REPORTER is production code 166678, THE REPORTER's production code is 166663, then the one after that episode is #166680. It is out of sequence.

ION appears to be airing them in original airdate order (or pretty close to it). Those oddball episodes (as I've mentioned before, The Pharmacist, Earthquake, The Reporter and The Bus) are production codes 166661, 166662, 166663 and 166664. E! showed them in production code order, so those episodes aired immediately after the last one of the 1st season. 166679, incidently, is Mel's Big Five-0. Many times, episodes aren't aired originally by production code order, so if they're shown in production code order, it sometimes messes up ongoing story lines (for example, on The Brady Bunch, which is shown in production code order in syndication, they show Two Petes in a Pod (the one that has a guy who looks just like Peter), and Oliver is already staying with the family, then the next episode they show is Welcome Aboard, where Oliver comes to stay with the family.