Is this just a CBS thing or do the eps on the other network channels total up - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 03-28-2006, 12:48 AM

to 20 min? I was watching "The New adventures of Old Christine" tonight at 9:30pm on CBS and I swear there was a commercial every 5 min. The total length for the episode was 20 min, kind of like a cable episode-lol. So I'm wondering have Sitcoms been reduced from 25 min to 20 min or is this just something CBS does?

BTW: N@N eps are 1 minute longer-lol

Brent88 · 03-28-2006, 12:58 AM

I've timed several sitcom episodes this season and come up to around 21 minutes... hour-long shows are 42-43 minutes, so it's not just CBS.

TVFactFan · 03-28-2006, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent88

I've timed several sitcom episodes this season and come up to around 21 minutes... hour-long shows are 42-43 minutes, so it's not just CBS.

Damm, Times are really changing. 30 Years ago during the first commercial break. the show came back on after 2 commercials now in 2006 it's back on after 7 commercials-lol

db108108 · 03-28-2006, 01:07 AM

The nets are trying to make it shorter and shorter every year. It's gone from 23-24 mins in the late 80s to 21 now. Some are even edging that down in the 20-21 minute range.

But then again, given the quality of most of the sitcoms on the air on the networks right now, the less, the better, IMO.

TVFactFan · 03-28-2006, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by db108108

The nets are trying to make it shorter and shorter every year. It's gone from 23-24 mins in the late 80s to 21 now. Some are even edging that down in the 20-21 minute range.

But then again, given the quality of most of the sitcoms on the air on the networks right now, the less, the better, IMO.

So that means in the future these shows will be 15 min in syndication-lol

Brent88 · 03-28-2006, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by db108108

But then again, given the quality of most of the sitcoms on the air on the networks right now, the less, the better, IMO.

It begs the question though, how short will they go?

treky · 03-28-2006, 03:17 AM

in the 60s and 70s, a 30 minute show was on for 25 to 26 minutes.

When TV LAND showed that special from 1963 about 3 years ago "A TOUR OF THE WHITE HOUSE WITH MRS. JACKULINNE (or however you spell that

KENNEDY" they broke for commercials every 5 MINUTES!!!!!

treky · 03-28-2006, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

to 20 min? I was watching "The New adventures of Old Christine" tonight at 9:30pm on CBS and I swear there was a commercial every 5 min. The total length for the episode was 20 min, kind of like a cable episode-lol. So I'm wondering have Sitcoms been reduced from 25 min to 20 min or is this just something CBS does?

BTW: N@N eps are 1 minute longer-lol

unfortunately, Solomon, no it's not just a CBS thing. Since commercials help pay for the shows, the networks will be showing more and more of them in the future. Sadly, that's TV in the 21st century. That's also why they split the screen during the closing credits.

I've always said, one day you'll turn on the TV and they'll just be showing one commercial after another.

TVFactFan · 03-28-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

unfortunately, Solomon, no it's not just a CBS thing. Since commercials help pay for the shows, the networks will be showing more and more of them in the future. Sadly, that's TV in the 21st century. That's also why they split the screen during the closing credits.

I've always said, one day you'll turn on the TV and they'll just be showing one commercial after another.

It was funny because after the first commercial break, there was another in 4 minutes and let's just say the tag scene was 4 min-lol

Ant-Lox · 03-28-2006, 12:43 PM

CBS does hack it's shows down, Every once and a while they cut the King Of Queen's theme song short, I dont like that...

db108108 · 03-28-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant-Lox

CBS does hack it's shows down, Every once and a while they cut the King Of Queen's theme song short, I dont like that...

I also always remember CBS having a different way of airing it's commercials compared to the standard sitcoms. They would air after the opening tag, at 10 or 11 minutes, 20 or 21, then at the end as well. ABC's sitcoms (Roseanne in particular, because I remember this one), were at right after the opening tag, 15 minutes, then at the close. They were longer breaks, of course.

How long will they go? They keep trying to shave seconds off... but there's only so far you can go with that until it turns into minutes. It's like when you boil the frog alive in the pot by slowly heating the water... will there be a threshold past which people will say "Okay, enough," or will they just not notice?

Quote:

It begs the question though, how short will they go?

I'm sure if they could get According To Jim down to 45 seconds, it might actually be funny. Let's aim for that.

gidgetgrape · 03-28-2006, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant-Lox

CBS does hack it's shows down, Every once and a while they cut the King Of Queen's theme song short, I dont like that...

I hate when they do that!

It's one of my favorite openings.

Ireneparalegal · 03-28-2006, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

in the 60s and 70s, a 30 minute show was on for 25 to 26 minutes.

When TV LAND showed that special from 1963 about 3 years ago "A TOUR OF THE WHITE HOUSE WITH MRS. JACKULINNE (or however you spell that

KENNEDY" they broke for commercials every 5 MINUTES!!!!!

Exactly. Which is why it infuriates me to see shows from that era that I would watch, be cut so drastically. I still don't get how a show was able to play that long THEN, can't be shown like that NOW. I mean, if there was time THEN to show commercials, there is still time NOW to show them. I remember watching Happy Days and there were little breaks for commercials. Ahhhh, those were the days. I wish you guys could have known what that was like.

treky · 03-28-2006, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Exactly. Which is why it infuriates me to see shows from that era that I would watch, be cut so drastically. I still don't get how a show was able to play that long THEN, can't be shown like that NOW. I mean, if there was time THEN to show commercials, there is still time NOW to show them. I remember watching Happy Days and there were little breaks for commercials. Ahhhh, those were the days. I wish you guys could have known what that was like.

oh, I can remember well what that was like! like you said, those were the days!

I can remember when shows had just one commercial break, 15 minutes into the show, withonly 2 commercials!

I heard once that the show "CEASERS HOUR", in the 5os, only had 1 30-second commercial break for the entire show. AND THE SHOW WAS 90 MINUTES!!!!

TVFactFan · 03-28-2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

oh, I can remember well what that was like! like you said, those were the days!

I can remember when shows had just one commercial break, 15 minutes into the show, withonly 2 commercials!

I heard once that the show "CEASERS HOUR", in the 5os, only had 1 30-second commercial break for the entire show. AND THE SHOW WAS 90 MINUTES!!!!

From the Original Airings I received from the mid 70's, there were only 2 commercials after the closing credits. After the first commercial break it was only 2 commercials

03-28-2006, 12:48 AM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 98,950	Is this just a CBS thing or do the eps on the other network channels total up to 20 min? I was watching "The New adventures of Old Christine" tonight at 9:30pm on CBS and I swear there was a commercial every 5 min. The total length for the episode was 20 min, kind of like a cable episode-lol. So I'm wondering have Sitcoms been reduced from 25 min to 20 min or is this just something CBS does? BTW: N@N eps are 1 minute longer-lol

03-28-2006, 12:58 AM	#2
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,180	I've timed several sitcom episodes this season and come up to around 21 minutes... hour-long shows are 42-43 minutes, so it's not just CBS.
	__________________ Brent

03-28-2006, 03:17 AM	#7
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	in the 60s and 70s, a 30 minute show was on for 25 to 26 minutes. When TV LAND showed that special from 1963 about 3 years ago "A TOUR OF THE WHITE HOUSE WITH MRS. JACKULINNE (or however you spell that KENNEDY" they broke for commercials every 5 MINUTES!!!!!
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

03-28-2006, 12:43 PM	#10
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	CBS does hack it's shows down, Every once and a while they cut the King Of Queen's theme song short, I dont like that...
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03-28-2006, 01:07 AM	#4
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	The nets are trying to make it shorter and shorter every year. It's gone from 23-24 mins in the late 80s to 21 now. Some are even edging that down in the 20-21 minute range. But then again, given the quality of most of the sitcoms on the air on the networks right now, the less, the better, IMO.