Since this is one of my favorite episodes, and I've seen it a bunch of times, here's what I noticed is missing
Just before the first commercial break, they cut out Tommy's line "Just kidding, mother" (that he said to Mel)
After the commercial break, they removed an entire scene where Flo came over to the apartment, with an explanation of why Mel had a bad hangover.
Tommy asks Flo if Mom came to check on her, and she said she saw Mel with his date last night and wondered if he made it home. Tommy says he made it home alright, he tripped over him in his sleeping bag. Flo says something about the way Mel looked, he was all scotch and no sirloin (the restaurant he took his date to was called "The Scotch and Sirloin"). Mel wakes up, and Flo says "the beast who drank Phoenix". He gets up, still in his suit. Flo says she didn't know he went to bed formal. Mel sees Flo and says "Flo? I must have really got drunk to bring you home". Flo leaves, saying she's got a date for breakfast. Tommy tells Mel he can make him a peanut butter and bologna sandwich with mayonaisse, which makes Mel sick, and he runs in the bathroom. Tommy says "as long as you're up, do you mind if I practice?"...then he starts playing the cymbals, which is where ION picked it up.
And after the last commercial break, they also skipped a little at Mel's apartment. Tommy can only find one cymbal, and he asks Mel. Mel says "Do I look like the kind of guy who would hide a kids cymbal?", and Tommy says "yes!". He says he has some guys coming over for a poker game. Tommy asks if he can play, Mel says he's just a kid. Tommy then says "I've aged since I've come to live with you". Then he leaves to take a shower, and the guys show up, which is where ION started after the break.

I may have missed a few lines, as I was doing this from memory, but that's the gist of the missing footage.(E! and TNN cut out some scenes that ION showed, so if you combined them, you could probably make a complete episode :) When CBS aired it in the morning during the late 70's/early 80's, they skipped the part after the opening sequence, and instead started it with Tommy riding the bike into the diner.

You can also watch this episode online at AOL, and see the entire episode.

I have no problem with having to edit the episodes, I just wish they would a line here or there, not entire scenes.

You can also watch this episode online at AOL, and see the entire episode.

true, although I'm sure there are many (myself included) who don't have broadband :( I did try watching this one online, but it takes several minutes to load only a few seconds of video.

true, although I'm sure there are many (myself included) who don't have broadband :( I did try watching this one online, but it takes several minutes to load only a few seconds of video.


Plus I have no interest in watching sitcoms on a computer, only a TV

I wish I had Brieannas know how, she said you can download those episodes on DVD. I would do it in a heartbeat if I just knew how.


Also, was this episode the FIRST TIME we see the pay phone in its new (third and last) location on the wall by the booth?

Plus I have no interest in watching sitcoms on a computer, only a TV


Ditto

My VCR didn't tape the show! :mad: It taped, and it looked like it was ION, but it wasn't "Alice"...very odd.

Since I missed it, would someone mind giving me just a general overview of what happened? Thanks! :)

Also, was this episode the FIRST TIME we see the pay phone in its new (third and last) location on the wall by the booth?

yep. They redid a few things in the diner. You probably also noticed the new wallpaper, which looks alot different than the previous one. The phone also moved (as you pointed out) over to the wall next to the booth by the door. I don't think it moved again after that.

Quick overview:
Alice comes in, complaining about Tommy switching from the electric guitar to cymbals, and they're always arguing. He comes in, riding a motorbike, which he traded to his friend Roger for his electric guitar. Alice, Tommy and Mel get into a discussion about who'd make a better mother, Alice or Mel, and Alice takes up Mel on his boast that he can raise Tommy better. The next scene is at Mel's (some of which was cut out on ION). Flo comes over, says she's seeing if Mel made it home last night, Tommy said he was smashed. He wakes up, and says "Flo? I must have really got drunk to bring you home". Flo leaves, Mel gets sick and runs into the bathroom. Tommy begins practicing the cymbals, and Mel comes staggering out of the bathroom, cringing in pain every time Tommy hits the cymbals. Tommy talks Mel into going out in the desert to ride the dirt bike. Immediately afterwards, they show Mel carrying Tommy in with a bandage around his foot. Tommy goes back to practicing the cymbals again. Next scene is at the diner, Mel calls the doctor, saying his foot isn't broken, but Vera overhears this, and Mel tells her to keep her mouth shut, then he leaves. Alice comes storming in, saying Tommy missed school, and Vera says he's ok. When she tries to get Vera to talk, she explains Mel said she'd fire her if she told, so instead, they come up with the idea to do cherades. After Alice figures it out, she goes to Mel's poker game, dressed up like a man. Tommy figures out right away it's her, and says he'd like to come home. Alice puts the hat back on, and goes back to playing poker, which is how the episode ends.

That's it in a sort of nutshell :)

Edit: I removed a note about the scene where Mel carries Tommy in with a bandaged foot being cut by ION, that whole scene was intact (it was edited short on E! and TNN)

Ahh, okay...thanks FredScuttle! :)