In the past two weeks I have accidently stumbled into strong evidence that episodes on the DVD of two of my favorite shows were edited. After being being told on the DVD cover that it's the COMPLETE SEASON now I find out it's nothing but a lie?

First example was Three's Company. I posted a thread about one episode I already knew was edited from the season 4 DVD. Then I found out another episode on the season 4 DVD is edited because a poster on another message board described a scene that was missing and after watching the episode it was definitely edited.


Second Example was The Jeffersons. I was researching today and came across a article talking about racial humor and how much was shown in the premiere episode of the Jefrersons on Jan 18, 1975. It was mentioned in the article that the word "n**ger was uttered 2 times and the word "honkey" was utttered 2 times. It also stated that the Louise character said the word "n**ger and on the DVD she is not seen saying that word at all which confirms the edit. Another thing that confirms the edit was the number of times you hear the word honkey in the first episode. In the article it states 2 times and on the DVD you hear it..........ZERO TIMES-lol


So I guess these production companies figured they would take advantage of the fans who didn't watch the show on CBS and lie and say it's complete?

This is called being SCAMMED. Now I wonder how many other episodes have been edited since it's now been leaked out that these eps were cut. It's sad that new fans of these shows only can go by if the episode is 24/25 mins long to tell if it's complete. Now that's no longer true.

In the case of The Jeffersons, George frequently used the word "honkey" though out the series, from what I remember. I don't remember the "N" word ever used though.

In the case of The Jeffersons, George frequently used the word "honkey" though out the series, from what I remember. I don't remember the "N" word ever used though.


but he didn't use the word HONKEY at all in the 1st ep which is why it's a ripoff by the fraudulent production companies

anything edited for political correctness is a bunch of BS.

anything edited for political correctness is a bunch of BS.


But for it to missing on a DVD is crazy. I thought Louise only said n**ger once in season 1 but now it's 2 times

I just watched the first episode of The Jeffersons. On the dvd set I have, all the dialog is intact. The word "ni**er WAS used twice, but Louise never said it. It went like this:

Louise: George, why DO we have to fight so much? If we have a problem, why can't we talk it out like Tom and Helen do? They never fight!

George: They don't fight 'cause they're scared to fight!

Helen: What's That Supposed to Mean?!

George: You know damn well what I means! If you decided to go at one another, inside of 5 minutes--he'd be calling you..........

Helen: DON'T SAY IT!

George .... ni**er!

Helen: HE SAID IT!:eek:

Tom: Now you listen to me, we've had lots of fights and it never happened!

George: Oh, tell me its never crossed your mind!

Helen: No more than than it ever crossed my mind to say the word honkey, to Tom!

George: HAAH! You said it just then!

The Willises leave in a huff!

In the hallway, Helen and Tom, say both words again, but in the context that they would never use the words against each other.

So, George said the N word once, Helen used it once, and Helen said honkey, twice. Louise never used either word.

I just watched the first episode of The Jeffersons. On the dvd set I have, all the dialog is intact. The word "ni**er WAS used twice, but Louise never said it. It went like this:

Louise: George, why DO we have to fight so much? If we have a problem, why can't we talk it out like Tom and Helen do? They never fight!

George: They don't fight 'cause they're scared to fight!

Helen: What's That Supposed to Mean?!

George: You know damn well what I means! If you decided to go at one another, inside of 5 minutes--he'd be calling you..........

Helen: DON'T SAY IT!

George .... ni**er!

Helen: HE SAID IT!:eek:

Tom: Now you listen to me, we've had lots of fights and it never happened!

George: Oh, tell me its never crossed your mind!

Helen: No more than than it ever crossed my mind to say the word honkey, to Tom!

George: HAAH! You said it just then!

The Willises leave in a huff!

In the hallway, Helen and Tom, say both words again, but in the context that they would never use the words against each other.

So, George said the N word once, Helen used it once, and Helen said honkey, twice. Louise never used either word.


I posted the article on the Jeffersons board. It was mentioned by the writer that Louise says the n-Word at 8:52pm on the night of January 18, 1975. So for some reason the scene with Louise saying the N-word never made it to DVD. And it's proof that she did say it in the first episode because the writer explains that when she says the N-word it sounds so different coming out of her mouth. So the first ep is edited

It is the complete season, as all episodes are included. Did the box say that the episodes were unedited?

I was taken aback when I read the Three's Company thread about an incomplete season 4 on DVD, and I was worried until I read it. I thought an entire episode(s) was missing!?

I would not really consider it a scam or fraudulent if it has been edited. I am with you though, it is disappointing. I do not like it either.

It is the complete season, as all episodes are included. Did the box say that the episodes were unedited?

I was taken aback when I read the Three's Company thread about an incomplete season 4 on DVD, and I was worried until I read it. I thought an entire episode(s) was missing!?

I would not really consider it a scam or fraudulent if it has been edited. I am with you though, it is disappointing. I do not like it either.

That's part of the scam which is "creative advertising" Complete season meaning all the eps but not mentioning the editing of the episodes:lol:

That's part of the scam which is "creative advertising" Complete season meaning all the eps but not mentioning the editing of the episodes:lol:

"Creative advertising" is everywhere these days! :crazy: :lol: Even on DVD covers.

"Creative advertising" is everywhere these days! :crazy: :lol: Even on DVD covers.


I never understood why a DVD Photo on the cover is always wrong and never matches the season being advertised. All the Jeffersons releases were like that but not Three's company

Cheers DVD sets were called "The Complete __ Season," until CBS took the reigns from Paramount and the sets began to be heavily butchered. From that point on, the releases were titled "The __ Season."

Cheers DVD sets were called "The Complete __ Season," until CBS took the reigns from Paramount and the sets began to be heavily butchered. From that point on, the releases were titled "The __ Season."


I wouldn't be buying no DVD without the word "complete" LOL

It is the complete season, as all episodes are included. Did the box say that the episodes were unedited?

I would not really consider it a scam or fraudulent if it has been edited. I am with you though, it is disappointing. I do not like it either.

It may not be an intentional scam but it is false advertising. When a dvd cover says the complete season, I expect to get just that and not a watered-down version. I can make an exception for the music in some cases but when actual scenes are ginsued out of it that I remember being in the episode then we have a problem. If the cover says something different such as contains all 26 episodes from the first season then I wouldn't complain if the episodes were not in their entirety because the term complete was not used to describe the set. If a studio is going to release a dvd set with edits then they need to clearly state on the package that episodes are edited.

When I hear of episode edits, and using syndicated episodes for DVD sets, I don't start collecting the series. I refuse to buy them.

I already own all of Three's Company, as I didn't know of edits with this series.

I'm a big time collector of TV on dvd (especially sit-coms), but I've never purchased shows, such as,

Happy Days
Laverne & Shirley
Cheers
The Odd Couple
Gomer Pyle
Little House on the Prairie

Initially, I didn't buy The Cosby Show and Roseanne. Both these series used syndicated episodes for their first seasons; but TCS fixed their error with the Complete Series Boxed set (which I bought on sale); and Roseanne is now being re-released by Millcreek, with un-cut seasons, which I'm collecting.

I probably own other series that are flawed that I'm not aware of.

When I hear of episode edits, and using syndicated episodes for DVD sets, I don't start collecting the series. I refuse to buy them.

I already own all of Three's Company, as I didn't know of edits with this series.

I'm a big time collector of TV on dvd (especially sit-coms), but I've never purchased shows, such as,

Happy Days
Laverne & Shirley
Cheers
The Odd Couple
Gomer Pyle
Little House on the Prairie

Initially, I didn't buy The Cosby Show and Roseanne. Both these series used syndicated episodes for their first seasons; but TCS fixed their error with the Complete Series Boxed set (which I bought on sale); and Roseanne is now being re-released by Millcreek, with un-cut seasons, which I'm collecting.

I probably own other series that are flawed that I'm not aware of.


Well the Jeffersons and Three's Company were "surprise edits" and I would have known about them if no one never said anything. If I buy a sitcom on DVD from the 70's, all the eps must be 24/25 mins before I make a purchase.

To be honest.. even though Cheers season 8 says "complete eighth season", Cliff's explanation of the movie "Failsafe" is edited.

To be honest.. even though Cheers season 8 says "complete eighth season", Cliff's explanation of the movie "Failsafe" is edited.


More lies lol

Still... its better than nothing, and definatly better than butchered syndicated prints. Only DVD sets i completly boycotted were the initial region 1 ALF releases and the season 1 Rhoda set, I mean with ALF.. not only did they use 99% syndicated prints, but removed every piece of music as well (they actually put "we used syndicated prints" on the back of seasons 2-4 i think). Just glad they did it near-perfect in Germany, though it took some waiting. With Rhoda.. well.. just glad they aired it uncut on Comedy Gold in Canada. The season 1 dvd is a mess with poor quality 1980s syndication rips.

I looked at the features on the boxes of each season dvd set of 3's Company.

Here's the breakdown of the description of the episodes for each season.

Season 1 features the original six episodes - including the classic pilot


Season 2 features all 25 episodes of this sitcom's second season

Season 3 features all 22 original episodes of this sitcom's classic third season

Season 4 features all 25 episodes of this sitcom's classic fourth season

Season 5 features all 22 episodes of this sitcom's classic fifth season

Season 6 28 unforgetable episodes

Season 7 22 classic episodes

Season 8 21 episodes, including the double-length concluding episode

So actually, the 3rd season is the only season that states ALL ORIGINAL EPISODES.

To be honest.. even though Cheers season 8 says "complete eighth season", Cliff's explanation of the movie "Failsafe" is edited.

I know the classic 1.5 hour finale of Cheers was heavily butchered! They didn't even show it as the complete finale, but as 3 syndicated half-hour episodes. :mad: Now what explanation could there be for that??

With Married With Children they didn't even bother to get the rights to using the opening theme, Love & Marriage! I don't know that I care about this show, but I would be furious if I did!

I looked at the features on the boxes of each season dvd set of 3's Company.

Here's the breakdown of the description of the episodes for each season.

Season 1 features the original six episodes - including the classic pilot


Season 2 features all 25 episodes of this sitcom's second season

Season 3 features all 22 original episodes of this sitcom's classic third season

Season 4 features all 25 episodes of this sitcom's classic fourth season

Season 5 features all 22 episodes of this sitcom's classic fifth season

Season 6 28 unforgetable episodes

Season 7 22 classic episodes

Season 8 21 episodes, including the double-length concluding episode

So actually, the 3rd season is the only season that states ALL ORIGINAL EPISODES.


So now I have to look for "Original Episodes" on the DVD cover?

Still... its better than nothing, and definatly better than butchered syndicated prints. Only DVD sets i completly boycotted were the initial region 1 ALF releases and the season 1 Rhoda set, I mean with ALF.. not only did they use 99% syndicated prints, but removed every piece of music as well (they actually put "we used syndicated prints" on the back of seasons 2-4 i think). Just glad they did it near-perfect in Germany, though it took some waiting. With Rhoda.. well.. just glad they aired it uncut on Comedy Gold in Canada. The season 1 dvd is a mess with poor quality 1980s syndication rips.


I just ordered season 3 and 4 of Rhoda but not season 1 because I heard it was edited. I didn't buy season 2 because the entire season is on Youtube. If seasons 3 and 4 was on youtube I would not have purchased the DVD

With Married With Children they didn't even bother to get the rights to using the opening theme, Love & Marriage! I don't know that I care about this show, but I would be furious if I did!


That's why I stopped buying the DVD's after season 4

I know the classic 1.5 hour finale of Cheers was heavily butchered! They didn't even show it as the complete finale, but as 3 syndicated half-hour episodes. :mad: Now what explanation could there be for that??

To be honest the Cheers finale was not as butchered as you make it out to be, there were many scenes that were only seen in its original airing, SOME made it into the dvd version, including the transition between part 2 and 3 where Diane and Carla talk about Diane's book, but most were unfortunatly left out. You can notice a drop in quality during this scene.
There are however no syndication cuts, meaning the three parts are all the 23+ minute (maybe 21½ without intro/end credits) versions, and not the butchered down 21-22 minute versions seen in american syndication.

That's why I stopped buying the DVD's after season 4

Married with Children had some issues on dvd, the american season 4 dvd had 7 syndicated prints (that were full length on the german sets), and many episodes suffered from scenes that ran during the end credits being replaced by freezeframes. They did however clear the rights to two songs by Queen that aired during original airing, but never in syndication.

To be honest the Cheers finale was not as butchered as you make it out to be, there were many scenes that were only seen in its original airing, SOME made it into the dvd version, including the transition between part 2 and 3 where Diane and Carla talk about Diane's book, but most were unfortunatly left out. You can notice a drop in quality during this scene.
There are however no syndication cuts, meaning the three parts are all the 23+ minute (maybe 21½ without intro/end credits) versions, and not the butchered down 21-22 minute versions seen in american syndication.
Well, that's good to know, still I wish they just released it in original form.

So now I have to look for "Original Episodes" on the DVD cover?
:lol: I guess! ...if your buying anything produced by Anchor Bay!

Married with Children had some issues on dvd, the american season 4 dvd had 7 syndicated prints (that were full length on the german sets), and many episodes suffered from scenes that ran during the end credits being replaced by freezeframes. They did however clear the rights to two songs by Queen that aired during original airing, but never in syndication.


I recorded MWC every sunday on FOX with commercials and never knew it the future there would be something called DVD because if I didn't I would still have those eps. I think the only eps I have from FOX are from the last two seasons

I can't get on board with "boycotting" certain DVD releases. While it can be disappointing to realize the DVDs aren't the full versions, outright refusing to buy them only hurts the chance of future releases. Many times it's out of the hands of those who produce the DVDs. For instance Shout! acquires their masters from the rights holders. So when S1 of Rhoda was found out to terrible quality syndication prints, it is Fox's fault for supplying them those crummy masters. And I certainly don't blame anybody for refusing to pay the absurd fees in music licensing when it isn't essential to the show.

The cuts present on the later Cheers DVDs are very minimal (like most DVD edits). I think maybe one or 2 jokes were ruined with the replaced music and a couple inconsequential lines of dialogue missing for some odd reason. In essence they are selling 99% of the material and to squabble over a very small amount of missing/altered material is counter-productive. I'd rather have most of a season instead of none at all.

Sadly some DVD releases like WKRP in Cincinnati have been ruined with editing and simply aren't worth owning. And yes it can be a drag when the PC Police are foisting their moral opinions on others by removing sensitive material decades after the fact. But I think it's unfair to boycott some of these companies & their products when many times it's out of their control.

I can't get on board with "boycotting" certain DVD releases. While it can be disappointing to realize the DVDs aren't the full versions, outright refusing to buy them only hurts the chance of future releases. Many times it's out of the hands of those who produce the DVDs. For instance Shout! acquires their masters from the rights holders. So when S1 of Rhoda was found out to terrible quality syndication prints, it is Fox's fault for supplying them those crummy masters. And I certainly don't blame anybody for refusing to pay the absurd fees in music licensing when it isn't essential to the show.

The cuts present on the later Cheers DVDs are very minimal (like most DVD edits). I think maybe one or 2 jokes were ruined with the replaced music and a couple inconsequential lines of dialogue missing for some odd reason. In essence they are selling 99% of the material and to squabble over a very small amount of missing/altered material is counter-productive. I'd rather have most of a season instead of none at all.

Sadly some DVD releases like WKRP in Cincinnati have been ruined with editing and simply aren't worth owning. And yes it can be a drag when the PC Police are foisting their moral opinions on others by removing sensitive material decades after the fact. But I think it's unfair to boycott some of these companies & their products when many times it's out of their control.
I never boycott Shout! Factory. I was disappointed about the couple episodes of Rhoda that were missing from season 1, but I just had to have the RHODA series. Besides, Shout has a very good track record with classic tv on dvd. The minimal times they have "messed up" with bad prints or missing scenes is because of the parent company. I understand there were issues with a season of Mr. Ed, but again, they depend on what they're suppied by the parent company.

The people at Shout!, are interested in "classic television", and take great care in putting out the best product they can. They also have a website with a community board, where people can offer opinions & suggestions.

With me it just depends on the situation, as why a tv dvd set is flawed, as to why I wouldn't start collecting the series. Sometimes its a minor oversight, and sometimes its total carelessness and total lack of interest in what the consumer wants!

There seems to be many examples of the US getting a "shotty" dvd release, with cut episodes of certain American TV series' yet in Europe, the series is released complete and un-cut, on a different region code and sometimes different language. I've never heard any explanation for this, and I think its down right un-fair!! :mad:

I never boycott Shout! Factory. I was disappointed about the couple episodes of Rhoda that were missing from season 1, but I just had to have the RHODA series. Besides, Shout has a very good track record with classic tv on dvd. The minimal times they have "messed up" with bad prints or missing scenes is because of the parent company. I understand there were issues with a season of Mr. Ed, but again, they depend on what they're suppied by the parent company.

The people at Shout!, are interested in "classic television", and take great care in putting out the best product they can. They also have a website with a community board, where people can offer opinions & suggestions.

With me it just depends on the situation, as why a tv dvd set is flawed, as to why I wouldn't start collecting the series.

Shout! is definitely aces in my book. When an issue with a Shout! release rarely comes up, there is typically an employee directly communicating with the fans giving honest facts and even apologizing on behalf of other people. They are consistently up front and very clear about the details of their releases instead of ignoring inquiries and misleading everyone. So when something like S1 of Rhoda gets botched, I just can't bring myself to blame Shout! Meanwhile 20th Cent. Fox, the current rightsholder of Rhoda who supplies the masters, has an abysmal history with their own DVD releases and television distribution.

When all of a sudden a year or 2 ago Shout! Factory, a company noted for finishing TV series, ceased releasing Fox shows it quickly became clear that relations between the 2 have gone south. So who is to blame for this? A crowd-pleasing grass roots-oriented company with dedication to their customers and products? Or a huge multifaceted corporation who have repeatedly dropped the ball and left fans without a paddle?