I have a question regarding the airing of "All in the Family"
on both Nick at Nite and TV Land. The last few episodes I
viewed on TVLand appeared to be edited in a better fashion;
such as the tag ending when the family listens to the tape
recording Archie made while trapped in the cellar. On previous
airings on Nick at Nite this was not shown. Am I correct in that
the TV Land airings are not cut as much similar to when they
first aired on this channel?

Regarding Nick at Nite I almost quit watching the episodes on
their when I saw how much they were cutting out. Case in
point involves the episode where Gloria miscarries. I recalled
that when Archie came home with the teddy bear in his hand
and was told the news, he said numerous times, "Gloria lost
the baby?" But when I watched it on Nick at Nite alot of this
was not present. My other question is are the episodes being
presented better now on Nick or are they still butchered almost
beyond recognition? Any help would be greatly appreciated
because I am taping the TV Land ones until they cease and would
like to get the Nick at Nite ones if they are not cut much. Thanks

Hey Flash,

Thanks for posting about the editing of AITF episodes. While every sitcom on Nick at Nite/TV Land is edited down in some way today, N@N does cut more out than TVL does. Back in it's original run (1971-1979) each AITF episode ran 25-27 minutes (as with most sitcomes) with only 1 commercial break. We can conclude that any sitcome coming in at LESS than 25 minutes in length is edited. So if you plan on buying the VHS/DVD editions of AITF, check the running time on those tapes.

It seems that TVL does show more. Don't watch the Nick versions, because they are cut down to 20 minutes, Won't show "Edith's 50th Birthday", and are just butchered to hell. Stick with TVL or get the series on tape or DVD if you have a DVD player and hope for the best

What bothers me is sometimes even little seconds of lines are gone on ALL Current versions. For example, on Edith's 50th Birthday, I was told that there is a line where her attacker compliments her scent and Edith says, "Oh that's Lemon Pledge!" I have yet to hear that line. Also in "The Baby" when Archie goes to the hospital after performing that vaudville act (in custome) with Gloria still in delivery, he mistakenly goes into her roomates room and the curtain partitian is closed and the woman says, "Rape....Rape!" Archie says, "Relax I ain't gonna rape you lady!" So much stuff....gone!

Actually, Nick at Nite does show Edith's 50th Birthday.

I taped many AITF episodes from years ago...watching the same episode on N@N is sometimes like watching a completley different show...N@N cuts out so many good lines and special moments that it breaks the continuity and natural flow of comedy. They "fade to black" and edit in applause WAY before the episode is over, they often cut out the final punch lines, they remove lines they regard as unimportant and so on...who's making these decisions anyway...I understand they have to cut some stuff to allow for commercial time, but I criticize WHAT is being cut, not HOW MUCH. Let me sit in that edit booth and I'll show them how to edit AITF without sacrificing continuity. For one thing, why don't they re-key the closing titles over the show video(like Seinfeld)...I'd rather see a bit more "show" than the same closing titles each episode, this would allow for all the legal stuff and the "guest stars",writers and staff would still get their credit.
But it's not just All In The Family, but Happy Days and Three's Compnay(and I'm sure the other shows on N@N) are butchered to no end as well.
On the other hand, I do praise Nick @ Nite for reviving these old classic TV shows so that the old and new generations can enjoy them over and over again.
Thanks for Reading...