Should the Pilot episode be removed from syndication and only on the DVD? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TVFactFan · 04-03-2007, 11:51 AM

I'm asking because I think I remember hearing that on top of there being a different tommy in the 2nd episode, the opening credits was a lot different too so since that is the case i see no point in the Pilot being in the syndication package. Anyone agree?

FredScuttle · 04-03-2007, 12:21 PM

I disagree...I hate it when syndicated packages skip episodes. They have the pilot to Roseanne, with a different DJ. Hawaii 5-0 has the pilot movie (split into 2 episodes), with a different Danny (although it's shown as the last 2 episodes in the 1st season, rather than the 1st 2 episodes).

ahafan02 · 04-03-2007, 01:07 PM

Actually I believe this is the first time the pilot has been shown in 20 years. Both TNN and E! never showed this episode when they aired the shows back in the 90's..they both started with the "Alice Gets A Pass" episode..I'm glad they showed this ep...haven't seen it in years and it doesn't seem likely a DVD package is coming out anytime soon.

TVFactFan · 04-03-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahafan02

Actually I believe this is the first time the pilot has been shown in 20 years. Both TNN and E! never showed this episode when they aired the shows back in the 90's..they both started with the "Alice Gets A Pass" episode..I'm glad they showed this ep...haven't seen it in years and it doesn't seem likely a DVD package is coming out anytime soon.

TNN and E did the right thing

Chuck89 · 04-03-2007, 05:46 PM

I remember back in the 80s when they aired Alice,WGN ch 9 in Chicago did air the pilot.
When I first saw it on In2TV a few months ago and then last night on ION,it had probably been over 20 years since the last time I had seen it on WGN.

Mr. Television · 04-03-2007, 06:34 PM

No I think the show should be shown in syndication. I don't like it when any episodes are skipped. A lot of times the pilots are just different from the regular episodes.

Mr. Television · 04-03-2007, 06:36 PM

When Alice was originally syndicated locally in the 1980's the pilot was shown too.

boechsner · 04-03-2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahafan02

Actually I believe this is the first time the pilot has been shown in 20 years. Both TNN and E! never showed this episode when they aired the shows back in the 90's..they both started with the "Alice Gets A Pass" episode..I'm glad they showed this ep...haven't seen it in years and it doesn't seem likely a DVD package is coming out anytime soon.

I disagree on two aspects. First the pilot should air because the only difference is the actor playing Tommy. Why is this a valid reason to discard it??? Second, this episode is anything but rare! It has always aired in syndication, I recall seeing it back in the early 90s on Channel 58 in Milwaukee. Furthermore, this episode did air at least once on TNN. I distinctly recall seeing this episode and going in to tv.com (then it was tvtome.com) to edit the info for the pilot and changed the info to reflect Alfred Lutter.

JAlanRuss72 · 04-03-2007, 08:48 PM

Interestingly, the PILOT episode aired August 31, 1976 and the next episode "Alice Gets a Pass" didn't air until almost a month later (September 29). I wonder why there was so much time between. Sorry this is O/T.

TVFactFan · 04-03-2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAlanRuss72

Interestingly, the PILOT episode aired August 31, 1976 and the next episode "Alice Gets a Pass" didn't air until almost a month later (September 29). I wonder why there was so much time between. Sorry this is O/T.

They probably were in the proces of REVAMPING the show before the Fall season kicked it

Frump · 04-13-2007, 10:47 AM

That's not true, E DID show the pilot b/c I have it on tape from there.

Frump · 04-13-2007, 10:48 AM

The pilot episode was VERY different from the res of the series, it resembled the moive Alice doesn't Live Here Anymore. Mel's Diner looked very different, and it was called Mel and Ruby's Cafe in the pliot just as it was in the movie.

TVFactFan · 04-13-2007, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frump

The pilot episode was VERY different from the res of the series, it resembled the moive Alice doesn't Live Here Anymore. Mel's Diner looked very different, and it was called Mel and Ruby's Cafe in the pliot just as it was in the movie.

Now that I didn't Know

Chuck89 · 04-13-2007, 06:49 PM

The pilot did seem to be like the movie a bit. Mel was meaner and Vera more childlike.
I think in the movie,Vera was supposedly mentally handicapped.
Alfred Lutter's Tommy was a few years older and more sarcastic,just like in the movie. Maybe the producers wanted to change the direction of the character,so they replaced him with Philip McKeon who was about 3 years younger than Alfred.

TVFactFan · 04-13-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck89

The pilot did seem to be like the movie a bit. Mel was meaner and Vera more childlike.
I think in the movie,Vera was supposedly mentally handicapped.
Alfred Lutter's Tommy was a few years older and more sarcastic,just like in the movie. Maybe the producers wanted to change the direction of the character,so they replaced him with Philip McKeon who was about 3 years younger than Alfred.

Vera was mentally handicapped on the Sitcom too

04-03-2007, 11:51 AM	#1
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,065	Should the Pilot episode be removed from syndication and only on the DVD? I'm asking because I think I remember hearing that on top of there being a different tommy in the 2nd episode, the opening credits was a lot different too so since that is the case i see no point in the Pilot being in the syndication package. Anyone agree?

04-03-2007, 06:34 PM	#6
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	No I think the show should be shown in syndication. I don't like it when any episodes are skipped. A lot of times the pilots are just different from the regular episodes.
	__________________ Sonny

04-03-2007, 08:48 PM	#9
JAlanRuss72 Eternal Member Eternal Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 22, 2006 Location: Cookeville, TN Posts: 488	Interestingly, the PILOT episode aired August 31, 1976 and the next episode "Alice Gets a Pass" didn't air until almost a month later (September 29). I wonder why there was so much time between. Sorry this is O/T.
	__________________ Jeff Russell Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/Jrussell1972

04-13-2007, 10:47 AM	#11
Frump Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 06, 2003 Location: McMinnville Posts: 1,206	That's not true, E DID show the pilot b/c I have it on tape from there.
	__________________ Frump

04-03-2007, 12:21 PM	#2
FredScuttle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 31, 2005 Posts: 477	I disagree...I hate it when syndicated packages skip episodes. They have the pilot to Roseanne, with a different DJ. Hawaii 5-0 has the pilot movie (split into 2 episodes), with a different Danny (although it's shown as the last 2 episodes in the 1st season, rather than the 1st 2 episodes).

04-03-2007, 01:07 PM	#3
ahafan02 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 18, 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 108	Actually I believe this is the first time the pilot has been shown in 20 years. Both TNN and E! never showed this episode when they aired the shows back in the 90's..they both started with the "Alice Gets A Pass" episode..I'm glad they showed this ep...haven't seen it in years and it doesn't seem likely a DVD package is coming out anytime soon.

04-03-2007, 05:46 PM	#5
Chuck89 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 07, 2003 Location: Hobart,Indiana Posts: 175	I remember back in the 80s when they aired Alice,WGN ch 9 in Chicago did air the pilot. When I first saw it on In2TV a few months ago and then last night on ION,it had probably been over 20 years since the last time I had seen it on WGN.

04-03-2007, 06:36 PM	#7
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	When Alice was originally syndicated locally in the 1980's the pilot was shown too.

04-13-2007, 10:48 AM	#12
Frump Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 06, 2003 Location: McMinnville Posts: 1,206	The pilot episode was VERY different from the res of the series, it resembled the moive Alice doesn't Live Here Anymore. Mel's Diner looked very different, and it was called Mel and Ruby's Cafe in the pliot just as it was in the movie.

04-13-2007, 06:49 PM	#14
Chuck89 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 07, 2003 Location: Hobart,Indiana Posts: 175	The pilot did seem to be like the movie a bit. Mel was meaner and Vera more childlike. I think in the movie,Vera was supposedly mentally handicapped. Alfred Lutter's Tommy was a few years older and more sarcastic,just like in the movie. Maybe the producers wanted to change the direction of the character,so they replaced him with Philip McKeon who was about 3 years younger than Alfred.