I've noticed NBC has been doing that for a couple of months at least. It's really annoying when I have to tape it and I set my VCR for 10 PM and the beginning gets cut off. What's the point of starting it earlier? Is it becuase of commercial time and they want to get more episode in?

im not sure why they do that, but i have always just set my VCR for 9:59pm just in case. ahh ER tonight- > going to be soo good!

Probably to get a headstart is my one and only guess!!

to make sure you don't turn to CBS on Thursday nights.

I'm in chicago (central time) and i set my vcr to record from 8:58 to 10:02