I know many sitcoms nowadays are still videotaped, a medium that started being heavily used in the 70s...however, I'm curious - are any shows still actually filmed? I'm very curious about this, and if anyone knows the technical stuff, I'd love to know exactly what type of cameras and what format of video tape is used!! Or, a source I might ask to get this info...thanks!

I want to add a question. What's the big difference between videotape and film? Does it stay around longer? Does it give a better picture? Was it cheaper to tape than to film?

Yes, they probably switched to video tape because it was cheaper. Not only that, but it was the new big technology back in the 80s...pretty soon I think all TV shows will probably be digitally recorded someway...

I'm a bit on cloud 9 too. Name a show that is videotape and name one that filmed. How do you tell the difference. My eye sights the same what ever I see. All in the family fit one format. Which one? Thank you.

Originally posted by Riff
dawsongirl, videotape is much cheaper... looks it, too. In the '90s when video was used more commonly for sitcoms, they came up with this technological "advancement" where they'd do them on tape, and then process them to look like film. Well, not only did it not look like film. But it didn't look like watchable either. They rarely use this anymore, but I'm pretty sure "That's So Raven" is one show that is. I'd recognize that muddy, ghost-imaged picture anywhere...

I see. Thanks.

Hmm...that's interesting, because I know 8 Simple Rules is taped, as well as "It's All Relative", and others. How do you know this info for sure, because I was told by Pav that most shows ARE still taped...??

The way I think is that if a show has Camera's & Lenses by: PANAVISION then it means they are filmed, and there aren't too many shows that are...I'd still like some more detailed info about this...

Hmmm...I'm sort of confused now. So, you're saying it really just depends on the show, and it varies? I would be very interested to see a complete list of current sitcoms, which ones are taped and which are filmed. Do you know where I could find that info?

Also, do you know specifially what type of videotape (VHS, 8MM, etc...Maxell, TDK, etc...) is used? Same for film?

Sorry for all the questions, but I've always been very curious about this kind of stuff...thanks!

"Cheers" was shot on film, and the difference shows. Check out these screen shots I made from the Season One DVD (won't work unless you're logged in to Sitcoms Online). This may take awhile to load, so I apologize to those of you on narrowband connections. I won't make posting multiple images a habit.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?s=&postid=734743

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?s=&postid=734775

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?s=&postid=734778

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?s=&postid=734780

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?s=&postid=734781

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?s=&postid=734782

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?s=&postid=734783

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?s=&postid=734784

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?s=&postid=734991

Film, while more expensive, was more worth it. This footage is over twenty years old, and it looks like it was shot yesterday.

If "Cheers" was shot on videotape, it wouldn't be the same show.

Look how beautiful these shots are. All the texture, all the vivid detail.

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?s=&postid=1303826

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/attachment.php?s=&postid=1303832

Originally posted by AKA
Look how beautiful these shots are. All the texture, all the vivid detail.
Off topic, but I love your new avatar. :)

Originally posted by Janice
Off topic, but I love your new avatar. :)

Thanks.:blush:

While it's true that those pics are nice quality, it is not as if you are watching the straight film. Those are DVD, and the enhancements they can make with those is beyond number. Digital remastering, etc...I think if Cheers had been taped, with the advancements they have today they could still make it look really nice...

Originally posted by bb25
While it's true that those pics are nice quality, it is not as if you are watching the straight film. Those are DVD, and the enhancements they can make with those is beyond number. Digital remastering, etc...I think if Cheers had been taped, with the advancements they have today they could still make it look really nice...

Yes, the series did receive a meticulous remastering, but the stunning image quality would not have been possible had it not been for the quality of the original source. Film does not deteriorate nearly as rapidly as videotape. Look at the first season DVD of "Soap" (shot just five years prior to "Cheers") as evidence.

Originally posted by Riff
Yes, those "Cheers" vidcaps look terrific, but Paramount and Charles/Burrows/Charles just spent a tidy fortune remastering the series (right down to refilming the end credits for the first four seasons). Anyone who kept season 1 original broadcasts on tape like I did can tell you they didn't look like that when they first aired!

Yes, I know that. But end credits aside, you definitely couldn't remaster video to look that good.

I have been zapping stations and I popped on to Dick Van Dyke
in Dianosis Murder and I find the picture really quite grainy. The show first premiered what 12 or years ago. I take it this show was video taped. Was it? ON the other hand I see Murder She wrote and it looks fine. Maybe because Dick is on Pax and Angela is on A&E the stations systems are different.

So, any video taped shows nowadays are done with the digital 24 stuff? Is that like an actual cassette or is it on reels or?

Also, 2 particular shows I'm curious about...Friends and Good Morning, Miami...filmed or taped?

For those who can't tell the difference:

SOME TAPED SHOWS
Three's Company
All in the Family
The Jeffersons
Family Ties
Facts of Life
Maude
Good Times
just about ALL of the Norman Lear shows
Alice
One Day at a Time
WKRP in Cincinatti

SOME FILMED SHOWS
Mary Tyler Moore
Bob Newhart
Laverne & Shirley
Cheers
Rhoda

I know that some episodes of ''Newhart'' were taped, but most of it was filmed.

You're right. The first year of Newhart was videotaped. The rest of the seasons (2-8) were filmed. The difference is very noticable.

Mama's Family was another show that was taped, and I think it had held up very well. Especially the syndicated years - the picture and sound are crystal clear!

Also thought I'd add...to the person who said that Raven was tape processed to look like film, was right. I recently watched an episode and stayed for the credits and at the end it says:

Image processed by: FilmLook...(speaks for itself)

Scrubs, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development are all filmed right?

After watching reruns of Action, I think it's taped but I could be wrong.

What about Lizzie McGuire? Sports Night?

I think every sitcom today is filmed.

Thanks for all your great info!

One more question...what type of film is normally used, Kodak or Fuji?

Have to contradict something that was said earlier. It was said that Friends is filmed. However, on the last few episodes I've watched, it says something like Image processed by: "Modern FilmVideo"...???

:confused:

The first season of Newhart was videotaped. They went to film after that. Boy, I can really see the difference! Videotape tends to look kind of "cold". I really can't explain what I mean. But I prefer film . Much softer to view and "warmer".:crazy: :lol:

Yeah...video-tape sort sort of makes you feel like your there, while film makes it more like a movie...in some ways...personally I don't mind either, although I sometimes find it easier to get into shows that are taped...

Sorry to bump this back up again...but something I was just pondering...

I noticed that on some Panavision shows, most notably hour-long drama's, some are made w/ "PanaFlex cameras by Panavision"...is there a difference? I assume PanaFlex is just a different type of camera used for location work or something?

Also, is the same basic type of equipment used for movies and higher-end sitcoms?

Isn't Curb Your Enthusiasm actually shot digitally?

Originally posted by dawsongirl
I want to add a question. What's the big difference between videotape and film? Does it stay around longer? Does it give a better picture? Was it cheaper to tape than to film?I always wondered this also!



But now that we are watching everything DIGITALLY,we cant see how beautiful analogue film/tape is!

All we see is a flat picture and its sad :(


Not how I wanna see my favourite shows from the analogue era!!!