Pilot episode on DVD edited?

[Charlie Chan]

On the Home Theater Forum there are a couple of posts suggesting that the pilot episode on the new DVD set is edited? I am not an expert on this show. Can anyone here confirm or refute that?

[Colonel Hogan]

The pilot episode-'The Informer'-is missing four minutes compared to the pilot on the Columbia House DVDs and VHS.

On another board, there was mention of a Paramount telephone number to call in order to get the reversed discs 1 and 2 in the set replaced. Apparently, some sets made it to stores with episodes 8-14 on disc #1 and episodes 1-7 on disc #2. Paramount has set up a phone line to handle exchanges for corrected discs. It would be a great idea to complain about the edited pilot to the people at that phone number, if even to have them forward the information.

1-866-627-8201

[Lolac]

Four minutes? That is an outrage! We definitely need to complain!

Lolac

[Colonel Hogan]

Now things may not be so clear. This isn't definite, but it appears that the pilot included on the Paramount set may be exactly how it aired in September of '65. The long version that comes on the Columbia House Season 1-Volume 1(7 episode) DVD(along with the 2 episode CBS Video VHS from '98)contains a pilot that runs 00:30:34. Some have said that the long version was only shown to executives to sell the show and CBS Video and Columbia House put it on as a bonus.

So, if you want the long version, get yourself a copy of the CH Season 1-Volume 1 set(7 episode disc) or the CBS Video VHS with the purple cover. Apparently, the Columbia House VHS has the same shorter version from the Paramount set.

[sarastiles]

thats unusual lol! but i think the shorter one was the one shown in '65 cuz the longer one ran for u said 30 minutes a change and sitcoms are only like what 25 or less minutes altogether when they're shown on tv?

[Bonsai]

There's no way the 30-minute version could have been broadcast----it would have had to be commercial-free and we know the network would never have done that......

[TV Knowledge Fan]

...of the original black & white pilot, "The Informer":

The first, running almost 31 minutes, was INDEED the "unaired" version (with extra footage) that CBS used to "sell" the show to potential advertisers [as was the concurrent 31 minute unaired "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" pilot, "The Lady In the Bottle", which is available in certain collector's circles but NOT on DVD], and apparently, it's only available on those "Columbia House" DVD issues.

The one that's "broadcast length", about 26 minutes, is the version that finally aired on the network (minus the original commercials and sponsor i.d.'s), and that's what's now available in the Paramount DVD box sets.

[Wiseguy2]

Originally Posted by TV Knowledge Fan

...of the original black & white pilot, "The Informer":

The first, running almost 31 minutes, was INDEED the "unaired" version (with extra footage) that CBS used to "sell" the show to potential advertisers [as was the concurrent 31 minute unaired "I DREAM OF JEANNIE" pilot, "The Lady In the Bottle", which is available in certain collector's circles but NOT on DVD], and apparently, it's only available on those "Columbia House" DVD issues.

The one that's "broadcast length", about 26 minutes, is the version that finally aired on the network (minus the original commercials and sponsor i.d.'s), and that's what's now available in the Paramount DVD box sets.

There are two versions of the pilot with more differences than just the lengths.

One is the version originally syndicated with the series, apparently this was the one CBS broadcast: the theme song is the same as that heard in the first season though edited differently with only the second part of the theme heard. The writer/director credit music was the same as the first season. There is a fast segue with music between the scenes with Hogan and Newkirk discussing the spy and the between Hogan and Carter. After Hogan says "over and out" (with the camera on Hogan) to the sub, the act ends with a brief piece of music.

The second version, which showed up in syndication in the 1980s, has a different recording of the theme with different drums at the beginning and has the complete theme which sounds more like the second season theme and continues past the start of the dialogue (Schultz counting the prisoners). The music that ends the teaser (when Carter is captured) is different in this version. The writer/director music is the same as the second season. After Hogan talks with Newkirk, the camera stays on Newkirk as he chats with another prisoner and opens the door to leave with a slow fade out-fade in segue with no music to the next scene. After Hogan speaks to the sub (when he says "over and out" the camera is on the British radio operator), the scene continues with Olsen and a girl.

[McGillicuddy]

Is there any difference with the complete series set?

[Colonel Hogan]

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

Is there any difference with the complete series set?

It's packaged terribly. A nice-looking outer box with these awful cardboard cases for each season. They actually made a cardboard folder for each season and stuck the DVD's in disc-scratching slots. Many of the reviews on Amazon, and here, mentioned receiving the set with the discs just falling out of the slots as they opened it. Most of those reviews mentioned scratched discs as well. The individual season sets have nice, cardboard slipcases and then the discs are housed in plastic thin-cases with each disc having its own hub.

The complete series set does have one major, redeeming factor, if you're a huge fan of the show, that is. The exclusive bonus disc. It's got the extended version of the pilot episode that was shown to the network, and it's around 31 minutes long and includes an intro by the Skipper and Gilligan, as well as Fred McMurray. There is a three-part interview with Richard Dawson, some TV show appearances by the actors, Werner Klemperer at the Emmy's, promos, a Jello commercial with the cast, etc. Read the review here on Sitcoms Online. He goes into detail.

I had bought each season as it was released. CBS, as usual, screwed over buyers of the individual seasons and included the exclusive bonus disc in the complete set, which came out after each season had been released. The people who made the series' release on DVD possible were left out in the cold on the bonus disc. CBS wouldn't even sell them the bonus disc with proofs of purchase from the original seasons.

I'm a huge fan of the series and when Amazon had a sale of $35 on the complete set, I picked it up for the bonus disc. Every disc was scratched. I watched the entire series and the bonus disc. Surprisingly, only two episodes on the entire series had playback issues due to severe scratches. Since I already own the individual seasons, I just look at it as paying $35 for a bonus disc and backup copies of the episodes.