TV series released on DVD with cut episodes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Lee G · 07-23-2007, 12:18 PM

I don't know what the rest of you think, but this is a big pet peeve of mine. In most cases, I don't think there is any good reason to give customers cut episodes. I'm not a big collector of many different shows, but of the ones I have, I DREAM OF JEANNIE, GOMER PYLE USMC, and ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN have some cut episodes on the DVD's. I'm sure a lot of other shows have this problem also. I think it is inexcusable. One show that they did a nice job with the episodes is THE BRADY BUNCH. Apparently, a lot of work was involved in getting the uncut episodes on the DVD. The same respect should be applied to all TV shows that get issued on DVD.

Another problem with TV series that get issued on DVD: Some shows get released and then they abandon the show after a few seasons. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER and GREEN ACRES are two examples of that. If the shows don't sell enough DVD's, the studios will abandon the show and fans who have bought the DVD's are given the shaft with unreleased seasons.

LittleMissGenius · 07-24-2007, 11:08 PM

I know some studios release cut episodes because that's all they have. Sometimes they can only get the right to syndicated episodes so, that's what they release. I'm sure they know diehard fans get irritated by that but, I guess they figure something is better than nothing.

I totally agree about the way they release a show and then simply stop. It's annoying. I'm a huge Mama's Family fan and they've only released season one and now keep saying they 'might' release further seasons. Their excuse is that fans are complaining about the syndicated episodes being released instead of the network versions. Personally, I think that's an excuse on their part and they just don't want to release them any more.

"Old" (or classic) isn't cool and doesn't always equal big bucks to studios. That's what they look at in the end. There are loads of classic shows that would sell very well if given the chance. Hollywood is just too obsessed with youth and being hip to notice.

bencasey · 07-25-2007, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleMissGenius

I know some studios release cut episodes because that's all they have. Sometimes they can only get the right to syndicated episodes so, that's what they release. I'm sure they know diehard fans get irritated by that but, I guess they figure something is better than nothing.

You don't have the slightest idea what you are talking about. Your statement is wrong on so many levels I don't have the time to detail them all. You are just parrotting the bull**** excuses that studios give out when they are too lazy, stupid or cheap to go to the original source elements.

Dr. Thong · 07-25-2007, 05:52 PM

If the episodes are edited in any way, then what's the point of buying them on DVD?? The reason I buy TV shows on DVD is to get back the stuff that TV stations have hacked out of syndicated reruns over the years.

If they can't release them uncut, in their original state, then the studios have no business releasing old shows on DVD.

bmasters9 · 07-25-2007, 06:37 PM

I had thought of following on with "Hawaii Five-O" S2, but now I hear that not only will a controversial episode--"Bored, She Hung Herself"--not be included, but also that some of the outings have been edited from their original presentations, which means, of course, syndicated. Even "MacGyver" would be better than that.

bmasters9 · 07-27-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

If the episodes are edited in any way, then what's the point of buying them on DVD?? The reason I buy TV shows on DVD is to get back the stuff that TV stations have hacked out of syndicated reruns over the years.

If they can't release them uncut, in their original state, then the studios have no business releasing old shows on DVD.

You just summed up what I was about to say about it. A lot of us buy television series on disc because we want to see what certain older series were like when they were originally on (or see the latest seasons of current series). Problem is, with edited episodes, music replacement, the whole kit n' kaboodle, it's getting harder and harder to revisit television's past without aggravation. It's like the DVD packagers want us to see older series their way (with all the edits and music replacement) instead of the way that we remember the series.

TVFactFan · 07-27-2007, 11:58 AM

That's my mama season 1 and 2

Jeffersons season 2 and 4

Cosby show season 1

Three's company season 4

Mikado · 07-27-2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

If the episodes are edited in any way, then what's the point of buying them on DVD?? The reason I buy TV shows on DVD is to get back the stuff that TV stations have hacked out of syndicated reruns over the years.
If they can't release them uncut, in their original state, then the studios have no business releasing old shows on DVD.

Yup, pretty much what I was going to say, also, they should use the best restored prints available. On the other hand, I can't blame a company for not releasing later seasons of a series on DVD that isnt selling....these companies are in business to make money, not friends, it would be rediculous to release DVDs that are only losing them money.

Lee G · 07-27-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

I can't blame a company for not releasing later seasons of a series on DVD that isnt selling....these companies are in business to make money, not friends, it would be rediculous to release DVDs that are only losing them money.

You might have a different opinion if a company gives up on one of your favorite shows before releasing all the seasons.

I would think that studios consider the popularity of a given show when releasing it on DVD, and produce a respective number of DVD sets in order to match the expected sales and minimize any profit loss. If the demand is higher than expected, they could always produce more sets. If a studio produces overly large quantities of DVD sets of a show that's in demand for just a certain segment of the population, then that is their own stupidity and fans of the show who made the purchase shouldn't be the ones to suffer with the remainder of the series unreleased.

Dr. Thong · 07-27-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmasters9

You just summed up what I was about to say about it. A lot of us buy television series on disc because we want to see what certain older series were like when they were originally on (or see the latest seasons of current series). Problem is, with edited episodes, music replacement, the whole kit n' kaboodle, it's getting harder and harder to revisit television's past without aggravation. It's like the DVD packagers want us to see older series their way (with all the edits and music replacement) instead of the way that we remember the series.

It's almost as though they're George Lucas-izing them. Yeah, I want these shows in their original state. Part of the fun is seeing scenes you remember from the original telecasts that have been cut out over the years.

If they're going to release them on DVD edited, I might as well just tape the episodes off TV or trade with someone who already has.

bmasters9 · 07-27-2007, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

It's almost as though they're George Lucas-izing them. Yeah, I want these shows in their original state. Part of the fun is seeing scenes you remember from the original telecasts that have been cut out over the years.

If they're going to release them on DVD edited, I might as well just tape the episodes off TV or trade with someone who already has.

I'd like to know what you mean by "George Lucas-izing." Sounds like an apt description of some of the shameful television discs that have come out recently (at least, I think they're shameful).

Mikado · 07-27-2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee G

You might have a different opinion if a company gives up on one of your favorite shows before releasing all the seasons..

Well, i'm not saying id be thrilled about it but, If they were losing money on the series, I wouldnt expect them to continue.

noveel · 07-28-2007, 08:59 AM

Many studios only maintain the cut syndicated eps because that's where the $ came from before DVD sales. The studios never thought DVD sales would bring in money. They only maintained the cut eps and probably let a lot of the original episodes deteriorate. Some don't want to have spend extra $ to restore the uncut episodes.

noveel · 07-28-2007, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

If the episodes are edited in any way, then what's the point of buying them on DVD?? .

They probably expect that the average buyer won't notice.

noveel · 07-28-2007, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

Yup, pretty much what I was going to say, also, they should use the best restored prints available. On the other hand, I can't blame a company for not releasing later seasons of a series on DVD that isnt selling....these companies are in business to make money, not friends, it would be rediculous to release DVDs that are only losing them money.

Would you pay more for these DVDs that don't sell much? That's the only way they would be profitable to the studios.

07-23-2007, 12:18 PM	#1
Lee G Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 24, 2004 Posts: 850	TV series released on DVD with cut episodes I don't know what the rest of you think, but this is a big pet peeve of mine. In most cases, I don't think there is any good reason to give customers cut episodes. I'm not a big collector of many different shows, but of the ones I have, I DREAM OF JEANNIE, GOMER PYLE USMC, and ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN have some cut episodes on the DVD's. I'm sure a lot of other shows have this problem also. I think it is inexcusable. One show that they did a nice job with the episodes is THE BRADY BUNCH. Apparently, a lot of work was involved in getting the uncut episodes on the DVD. The same respect should be applied to all TV shows that get issued on DVD. Another problem with TV series that get issued on DVD: Some shows get released and then they abandon the show after a few seasons. LEAVE IT TO BEAVER and GREEN ACRES are two examples of that. If the shows don't sell enough DVD's, the studios will abandon the show and fans who have bought the DVD's are given the shaft with unreleased seasons.
	Last edited by Lee G; 07-23-2007 at 05:11 PM.

07-25-2007, 05:52 PM	#4
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	If the episodes are edited in any way, then what's the point of buying them on DVD?? The reason I buy TV shows on DVD is to get back the stuff that TV stations have hacked out of syndicated reruns over the years. If they can't release them uncut, in their original state, then the studios have no business releasing old shows on DVD.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

07-24-2007, 11:08 PM	#2
LittleMissGenius Classic TV Purist Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 17, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 30	I know some studios release cut episodes because that's all they have. Sometimes they can only get the right to syndicated episodes so, that's what they release. I'm sure they know diehard fans get irritated by that but, I guess they figure something is better than nothing. I totally agree about the way they release a show and then simply stop. It's annoying. I'm a huge Mama's Family fan and they've only released season one and now keep saying they 'might' release further seasons. Their excuse is that fans are complaining about the syndicated episodes being released instead of the network versions. Personally, I think that's an excuse on their part and they just don't want to release them any more. "Old" (or classic) isn't cool and doesn't always equal big bucks to studios. That's what they look at in the end. There are loads of classic shows that would sell very well if given the chance. Hollywood is just too obsessed with youth and being hip to notice.

07-25-2007, 06:37 PM	#5
bmasters9 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 2,550	I had thought of following on with "Hawaii Five-O" S2, but now I hear that not only will a controversial episode--"Bored, She Hung Herself"--not be included, but also that some of the outings have been edited from their original presentations, which means, of course, syndicated. Even "MacGyver" would be better than that.

07-27-2007, 11:58 AM	#7
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,124	That's my mama season 1 and 2 Jeffersons season 2 and 4 Cosby show season 1 Three's company season 4

07-28-2007, 08:59 AM	#13
noveel Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 13, 2005 Posts: 534	Many studios only maintain the cut syndicated eps because that's where the $ came from before DVD sales. The studios never thought DVD sales would bring in money. They only maintained the cut eps and probably let a lot of the original episodes deteriorate. Some don't want to have spend extra $ to restore the uncut episodes.