Season 4 - Changes!!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Billy K. · 08-23-2007, 04:53 PM

Anyone else notice the "changes" starting with (actually) the last episode of Season 3?

All the different freeze-frames/puzzle figures during the (what's the word i'm looking for -- transitions??)??

Then also the sudden openings at the start of the shows -- or teasers?

It seemed like the producers were getting more "daring" in their filming techniques, etc.

Of course, we all know that Max and 99 first get engaged, and then married during this season - though I felt it a little contrived...like all of a sudden Max shows his feelings toward 99 during an entrapment by KAOS?? Like he couldn't get out of that one???

I don't know...I think it should've built up some more.

Now mind you...I'm a new fan of this show so it's all new to me.

Billy K. · 08-23-2007, 04:55 PM

BTW, do you like Get Smart pre-Season 4 or post?

I kinda liked it better when Max was 'oblivious' to 99's flirtations pre-season 4.

Carrie · 08-24-2007, 09:29 AM

I liked when Max pretty much only thought of 99 as "another pretty spy." You could tell he liked her, but he didn't really show much romantic interest until that scene in "The Impossible Mission." I think it would have been fun to see them have some dates together and see their romantic relationship develop as they worked on solving more cases together. I guess they would have needed to keep the show going for a few more seasons though if they still planned on them getting married and having the twins.

Lee G · 08-25-2007, 11:20 AM

One other change that started with the 4th season is that the episodes were getting shorter in length. For the first three seasons, the episodes generally time in at around 25:20. With season four, the episodes average about 24:40. Season five episodes are even shorter, at 24:15. That is short and almost unheard of for a 1960's show. The last two seasons didn't have an ending tag scene prior to the ending credits, that probably accounts for some of the shortness in the episodes. The use of the "puzzle pieces" to start and end the segments of the episodes likely had something to do with it.

I think it was inevitable that Max & 99 would eventually marry. They put it into the show at the right time with the 4th season, because the show was getting a little stale in season three and was in need of something new and fresh. Seasons four and five are both good seasons.

Get Smart ended at the right time after season five, the show was pretty well played out. The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Brady Bunch are two shows I think could have and should have gone on for a few more seasons.

Billy K. · 08-27-2007, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee G

One other change that started with the 4th season is that the episodes were getting shorter in length. For the first three seasons, the episodes generally time in at around 25:20. With season four, the episodes average about 24:40. Season five episodes are even shorter, at 24:15. That is short and almost unheard of for a 1960's show. The last two seasons didn't have an ending tag scene prior to the ending credits, that probably accounts for some of the shortness in the episodes. The use of the "puzzle pieces" to start and end the segments of the episodes likely had something to do with it.

I think it was inevitable that Max & 99 would eventually marry. They put it into the show at the right time with the 4th season, because the show was getting a little stale in season three and was in need of something new and fresh. Seasons four and five are both good seasons.

Get Smart ended at the right time after season five, the show was pretty well played out. The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Brady Bunch are two shows I think could have and should have gone on for a few more seasons.

I actually sort of thought that without the tag scene -- the shows in Season 4 sort of left you "hanging" on a few episodes --- like there wasn't (to me) a suitable closer/or a satisfying ending to the episode.

Like I said before - other than a few episodes here and there during the TV land run, I've never seen these episodes before -- bought the DVD Set --

AND LOVING IT!!!

Billy K. · 08-27-2007, 09:58 AM

I'm currently up to "The Not-So-Great Escape - Part 1"

Carrie · 08-27-2007, 01:56 PM

I'm glad you're enjoying your dvd set. It's definitely worth the money in my opinion.

Mikado · 08-27-2007, 02:16 PM

There were also cosmetic changes , such as 99s long hair and the new decor in the apartment.....which went from sophisticated to slightly garish after 99 moves in ( Apparently Max had better taste than 99 [and "Mr Bob"] had!

)
Another stranger change was that the Chief suddenly went from being married , to a life-long bachelor ( in order to bring in the Chief-99s Mother relationship thing )........The least they could have done was have the Chief's wife "die offstage" during the off-season, or, say that his "wife" was a cover story and that hed never ACTUALLY been married. ( Did they really think long-time fans of the show wouldnt catch on to this turn of events? )

Lee G · 08-27-2007, 03:32 PM

The DVD's are definitely a good investment. They gave Get Smart the proper treatment with uncut episodes. Another good thing is they made the whole series available in one shot. Usually these studios release the TV show seasons one at a time at a snail's pace.

The only thing I really don't have an interest for on these DVD sets is all the bonus features. The interviews are OK, but to me much of the other stuff is basically overkill and not necessary. Sometimes these bonus features can also be a letdown. When you look at the bonus feature on Get Smart where Don Adams hosts the 1965-66 NBC fall preview, they cut everything out except the parts that Don Adams actually does. So what they did was cut out all the parts that advertised the shows for 65-66. Perhaps for legal reasons they had to edit that stuff from the DVD, but I for one would have liked to see the entire broadcast without cuts or edits. This bonus feature is a disappointment, and with all the cuts they did to it it's basically unwatchable.

Mikado · 08-27-2007, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy K.

BTW, do you like Get Smart pre-Season 4 or post?

I kinda liked it better when Max was 'oblivious' to 99's flirtations pre-season 4.

Same here, one of the best running gags of GS was 99's jealousies toward every female agent that came along and that was pretty much lost after the wedding.....and it felt very strange when Max and 99 were kissing like a couple of honeymooners, Id have prefered the marriage happen in the final season. ( Which ive never seen! )

Billy K. · 08-29-2007, 10:16 AM

RE: Commentaries....

I thought the commentaries for the episodes weren't that good.

James Caan's commentary was pointless - nothing about the making of the episode he was in. Just old stories about him and Don Adams. BTW, he seems to be mumbling throughout the whole thing!!!

I'm up to "Ironhand".

Yes, this is how a DVD set should be. Get it all in one shot.

BTW, notice how a lot of studios are now releasing DVD TV shows season by season and at the end sell the last season and/or the whole series in one shot after all the seasons were released......not only that they add all these extra bonuses to the big set rather than the season sets. Sheesh.

I guess that's what happens...

They did it with MASH and Friends, they're doing it with The King Of Queens, Seinfeld, and there's rumours they're going to release The Sopranos in one big box later on this year.

starfishgirl · 04-21-2013, 12:30 AM

actually, i think they started building up the max/99 romance ever since the episode in season 3, 99 Loses Control

if you watch them in order, you can see that after that episode, in the very next one they seem to be on a date at the amusement park, and they're paired very closely together in all the rest of the season 3 episodes after that. so whoever the producer was at the time seemed to want to get that romance back on track

i liked when they were married actually. the whole will they/won't they stuff was a little too schizophrenic at times. i watched the whole series in order and in the first season there are episodes where max definitely seems into her- there's even episodes that imply they're dating, like Double Agent. and then suddenly he's oblivious again and the romance thing is dropped for a while, then randomly picked up again, then forgotten.

you wouldn't get away with that kind of thing now, audiences have to know whether two people are together or not.

08-23-2007, 04:53 PM	#1
Billy K. Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2006 Posts: 342	Season 4 - Changes!!! Anyone else notice the "changes" starting with (actually) the last episode of Season 3? All the different freeze-frames/puzzle figures during the (what's the word i'm looking for -- transitions??)?? Then also the sudden openings at the start of the shows -- or teasers? It seemed like the producers were getting more "daring" in their filming techniques, etc. Of course, we all know that Max and 99 first get engaged, and then married during this season - though I felt it a little contrived...like all of a sudden Max shows his feelings toward 99 during an entrapment by KAOS?? Like he couldn't get out of that one??? I don't know...I think it should've built up some more. Now mind you...I'm a new fan of this show so it's all new to me.

08-24-2007, 09:29 AM	#3
Carrie Dreamin' of Jeannie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Cocoa Beach Posts: 1,768	I liked when Max pretty much only thought of 99 as "another pretty spy." You could tell he liked her, but he didn't really show much romantic interest until that scene in "The Impossible Mission." I think it would have been fun to see them have some dates together and see their romantic relationship develop as they worked on solving more cases together. I guess they would have needed to keep the show going for a few more seasons though if they still planned on them getting married and having the twins.
	__________________ psychedelicSiM Designs

08-23-2007, 04:55 PM	#2
Billy K. Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2006 Posts: 342	BTW, do you like Get Smart pre-Season 4 or post? I kinda liked it better when Max was 'oblivious' to 99's flirtations pre-season 4.

08-25-2007, 11:20 AM	#4
Lee G Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 24, 2004 Posts: 850	One other change that started with the 4th season is that the episodes were getting shorter in length. For the first three seasons, the episodes generally time in at around 25:20. With season four, the episodes average about 24:40. Season five episodes are even shorter, at 24:15. That is short and almost unheard of for a 1960's show. The last two seasons didn't have an ending tag scene prior to the ending credits, that probably accounts for some of the shortness in the episodes. The use of the "puzzle pieces" to start and end the segments of the episodes likely had something to do with it. I think it was inevitable that Max & 99 would eventually marry. They put it into the show at the right time with the 4th season, because the show was getting a little stale in season three and was in need of something new and fresh. Seasons four and five are both good seasons. Get Smart ended at the right time after season five, the show was pretty well played out. The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Brady Bunch are two shows I think could have and should have gone on for a few more seasons.

08-27-2007, 09:58 AM	#6
Billy K. Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2006 Posts: 342	I'm currently up to "The Not-So-Great Escape - Part 1"

08-27-2007, 01:56 PM	#7
Carrie Dreamin' of Jeannie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Cocoa Beach Posts: 1,768	I'm glad you're enjoying your dvd set. It's definitely worth the money in my opinion.

08-27-2007, 02:16 PM	#8
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	There were also cosmetic changes , such as 99s long hair and the new decor in the apartment.....which went from sophisticated to slightly garish after 99 moves in ( Apparently Max had better taste than 99 [and "Mr Bob"] had! ) Another stranger change was that the Chief suddenly went from being married , to a life-long bachelor ( in order to bring in the Chief-99s Mother relationship thing )........The least they could have done was have the Chief's wife "die offstage" during the off-season, or, say that his "wife" was a cover story and that hed never ACTUALLY been married. ( Did they really think long-time fans of the show wouldnt catch on to this turn of events? )

08-27-2007, 03:32 PM	#9
Lee G Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 24, 2004 Posts: 850	The DVD's are definitely a good investment. They gave Get Smart the proper treatment with uncut episodes. Another good thing is they made the whole series available in one shot. Usually these studios release the TV show seasons one at a time at a snail's pace. The only thing I really don't have an interest for on these DVD sets is all the bonus features. The interviews are OK, but to me much of the other stuff is basically overkill and not necessary. Sometimes these bonus features can also be a letdown. When you look at the bonus feature on Get Smart where Don Adams hosts the 1965-66 NBC fall preview, they cut everything out except the parts that Don Adams actually does. So what they did was cut out all the parts that advertised the shows for 65-66. Perhaps for legal reasons they had to edit that stuff from the DVD, but I for one would have liked to see the entire broadcast without cuts or edits. This bonus feature is a disappointment, and with all the cuts they did to it it's basically unwatchable.

08-29-2007, 10:16 AM	#11
Billy K. Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2006 Posts: 342	RE: Commentaries.... I thought the commentaries for the episodes weren't that good. James Caan's commentary was pointless - nothing about the making of the episode he was in. Just old stories about him and Don Adams. BTW, he seems to be mumbling throughout the whole thing!!! I'm up to "Ironhand". Yes, this is how a DVD set should be. Get it all in one shot. BTW, notice how a lot of studios are now releasing DVD TV shows season by season and at the end sell the last season and/or the whole series in one shot after all the seasons were released......not only that they add all these extra bonuses to the big set rather than the season sets. Sheesh. I guess that's what happens... They did it with MASH and Friends, they're doing it with The King Of Queens, Seinfeld, and there's rumours they're going to release The Sopranos in one big box later on this year.

04-21-2013, 12:30 AM	#12
starfishgirl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 26, 2013 Location: Seattle Posts: 7	actually, i think they started building up the max/99 romance ever since the episode in season 3, 99 Loses Control if you watch them in order, you can see that after that episode, in the very next one they seem to be on a date at the amusement park, and they're paired very closely together in all the rest of the season 3 episodes after that. so whoever the producer was at the time seemed to want to get that romance back on track i liked when they were married actually. the whole will they/won't they stuff was a little too schizophrenic at times. i watched the whole series in order and in the first season there are episodes where max definitely seems into her- there's even episodes that imply they're dating, like Double Agent. and then suddenly he's oblivious again and the romance thing is dropped for a while, then randomly picked up again, then forgotten. you wouldn't get away with that kind of thing now, audiences have to know whether two people are together or not.