View Full Version : TVLand Editing MFM's Comedy


Grant
09-20-2000, 12:56 PM
I think I've seen every MFM in the cycle now but I've never seen a scene I remember when Tim got locked out in his shirt and tie and no pants and Uncle Martin couldn't hear him because he was having whatever Martian problem he was having that episode. Would TVLand cut a big scene like that, or have I just missed it?

jharison
09-20-2000, 05:16 PM
There are two scenes in the course of the series which fit your description somewhat, but in either case, Tim is not locked out of the house. You might be thinking of one that took place at the very beginning of “No Cure for the Common Martian”, (1st season)where Tim is in the middle of getting ready to go to work while he serves breakfast to Martin who is suffering with a cold. TV LAND showed most of that opening scene. The other scene is in the middle of “Miss Jekell and Hyde” (also 1st season) where, as Tim is getting ready to go to work, he and Martin are discussing Mrs. Brown’s brilliant niece, Paula. I am unsure if TV LAND showed that “Miss Jekell” scene when it aired the episode. Hope this helps.

Grant
09-21-2000, 12:43 PM
Wow! That was a fast and knowledgeable reply. So in these two scenes where Tim is in his underwear nothing funny happens? I mean it's not part of a build up to a bigger joke? I remember Tim being mad at Uncle Martin (in the first year especially it seems Tim acted mad a lot)and as a result he wound up stuck outside in his boxer shorts or at least embarrassed, like maybe suddenly a lot of people were around. Maybe I'm mixing it up with something that Uncle Martin did to Officer Brennan, maybe when Brennan was in that oversized suit in the department store? As long as shows keep being aired cut, you're always going to feel like your missing something.

jharison
09-21-2000, 04:16 PM
Nope, there was no build up to anything. And Martin never did anything to deliberately embarrass Tim, although sometimes Tim would be talking to the invisible Martian and someone would happen by---then Tim had to make up an explanation. And in the department store episode, Brennan simply wandered around in the oversized suit with the price tag still on, as he looked for Mrs.Brown. It is true that TV Land could avoid confusion for viewers if they would just air shows uncut. And MFM can be shown in syndication uncut, because in 1983 Telepictures digitially speeded up the episodes, allowing them to be shown within the 22 minute shorted time slot used by stations in syndication. Sadly, instead of airing these uncut prints, TV LAND and Warner Bros are syndicating these newly chopped MFM episodes instead.