This week I saw episode 2.3, "The Crush" when Jena Engstrom (Mike's girlfriend of the week) falls for Steve the minute she sees him. OK, a couple of points. First I watched the TV version recorded from Nick At Nite back in the late '80's, it of course included all the original background music BUT contrary to what some may have thought it DID have edits in it, small edits here and there but nevertheless it was edited. I know this because immediately after watching my Nick version I watched the commercial DVD version (yes, the phony background music is back, seems only the very first episode in the commercial set had original music in it.:crazy:), watching the commercial disc in comparison is when the edits were apparent.

Several small, sometimes less than a minute edits were scattered about here and there thru the Nick version. For one, the very opening scene where Mike drives into the driveway in his heap and the beginning dialog of everyone getting excited that Mike's returned (even though in the first 2 episodes Mike hasn't even left) but now suddenly he's been away in college and he's come back for Bub to do the laundry and to have everyone meet his new girlfriend. (Jeanie has now disappeared without any mention of why or whatever happened, aside from reality being she got her own sitcom "Margie" this year). Also edited was a scene where Jena talks with her mother about Steve but the mother in this 1st conversation thinks she's talking about Mike. Later there's another scene with the girl and her mother this is what Nick @ Nite showed in this later scene Jena tells the mother it's Steve she's ga ga over. Then there were a few more small edits to go until the end of the episode.

So all this is to say that the Nick episodes were not unedited versions of the show. But since TV Land skipped so many episodes (for whatever reason, they consistently skipped the same episodes) I'm glad I originally recorded the Nick @ Nite versions because they showed most of them. But the picture quality was much better on the TV Land versions but Nick & Family channel versions helped fill in the gaps that TV Land kept skipping.

I still haven't quite decided which is worse edited episodes or fake music episodes, when it comes to the season 1 & 2 commercial DVDs it's a Hobson's Choice.:(

Probably the best sitcom release CBS/Sony did, was S1 of Hazel. A+ picture quality, original music, original episode length. They really put it all together for that release. Then they handed it over to Shout, and while the subsequent seasons are OK, there are enough color variations and occasional syndication episodes, to let you know the color seasons weren't remastered as S1 was, they just used the existing videotapes.

With M3S it's becoming evident they're never going to put it all together. But the S3 release, even with its few syndication versions and song cuts, has the original episode music and acceptable quality. I'll hope S4 is as good.

Yes, TV Land was notorious for skipping episodes for no apparent reason. They did it a lot with Beaver.

Probably the best sitcom release CBS/Sony did, was S1 of Hazel. A+ picture quality, original music, original episode length. They really put it all together for that release. Then they handed it over to Shout, and while the subsequent seasons are OK, there are enough color variations and occasional syndication episodes, to let you know the color seasons weren't remastered as S1 was, they just used the existing videotapes.

On the Hazel DVD's, there's only one syndicated episode, "Campaign Manager" from season 3 is a syndication edit. Either Shout Factory couldn't locate the complete episode or maybe it's in rough shape so Shout used the syndication edit.

One other episode is edited, "It's A Dog's Life" from season 4 has a music edit.

As far as I know, all the other episodes are complete. 154 episodes, 152 complete, 2 edited.

On the color seasons of Hazel there are lot of of minor variations on times which would indicate small edits here and there, a few of which are obvious when watching.

Also there are color variations from episode to episode, some look great, others, not so great. I don't have season 5 to judge that. The color variations in syndication are absolutely horrible.

I didn't know about the music edit. What was taken out? (Quel surprise! A music edit from CBS/Sony!)

With M3S it's becoming evident they're never going to put it all together. But the S3 release, even with its few syndication versions and song cuts, has the original episode music and acceptable quality. I'll hope S4 is as good.

I've been enjoying the season 1 and 2 DVD's of My Three Sons, the absence of the original music score doesn't bother me, but I think I'll stop there because season 3 has too many syndicated/edited episodes for me to justify making the purchase. Since I'm not ordering season 3, I'll probably also pass on season 4 if/whenever it comes out.

On the color seasons of Hazel there are lot of of minor variations on times which would indicate small edits here and there, a few of which are obvious when watching.

The only other thing I've noticed is a very minor edit in the season 4 episode "Welcome Back, Kevin". There's some print/film damage about mid way thru the episode causing a few seconds to be missing. The episode run times on the color episodes are pretty consistent, not much variation aside from the syndication edit of "Campaign Manager" and the music edit in "It's A Dog's Life".

I didn't know about the music edit. What was taken out? (Quel surprise! A music edit from CBS/Sony!)

I don't remember the name of the song but there's a scene in the episode where Hazel sings a song, I think she's singing to the dog, that's the scene that is cut on the DVD.

^That may be the noticeable edit I'm thinking of.

I just looked up that dog episode. I think it's that one with the snooty lady and the dog named Rodney. I hate that episode (neither here nor there).

I wasn't aware that there were any edits in the Hazel commercial releases. I'll have to check out my WOR '80's version of that episode to see what song Hazel warbles that's cut.

But the color in almost all of the commercial Hazel's is LOUSY. A few good ones, yes, are the exception, but most are faded, green or purple tinged and even constant adjustment to the color dial are not effective in creating accurate skin tones on those Hazels. The season 1 release was perfect except that the shows weren't colorized. That would have been perfection.:)

As for My 3 Sons Season 3, the music intact is a BIG BIG + for a reason to buy this new release even if it is overpriced. I would rather have bought an overpriced Season 1 & 2 that included original music rather than a cheap 1 & 2 with the phony crap. That's how important it is to include music. BUT I still strongly object to the commercial versions cutting out all the Bub musical numbers, esp. when they charge thru the nose, the Bub musicales should be left intact.

I actually just bought Season 2 Vol. 2 off Amazon, so in another 6 months I'll be getting Season 3 after I'm thru watching my weekly episodes of Season 2. I really should go back to 3 times a week for My 3 Sons, it's such an enjoyable show to watch, but for now Mondays is My 3 Sons day for little me.;)