I think TV Land is altering Three's Company episodes more than you know.. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Hers&Hers&His · 01-17-2008, 01:51 PM

I have recently noticed that whenever I watch episodes of Three's Company on TV Land, something about the sound, specifically the opening theme song, sounds strange.
I decided to investigate, so what I did was, I had recorded the Lucille Ball "best of" episode from TV Land a few days ago, which featured the classic "shelves" discussion between Jack and Mr. Roper. I also have that scene on DVD, so I could directly compare the original version to the TV Land Version. I took a stop watch, and timed the same exact part of the scene, from the DVD and from TV Land.
The TV Land version was 5 seconds shorter! I believe this means that TV Land has been speeding up episodes (not just cutting things out, but literally playing the show faster than normal speed) in order to, in all likelihood, add more commercials. Keep in mind this scene was only slightly longer than a minute, so when you factor in that the show runs about 20 to 22 minutes on TV Land, this gives them an about an extra 90 seconds due to the higher speed. A convenient amount of time for adding more commercials.
Take a close listen sometime and you'll notice that everyone talks just a slight bit faster on the TV Land version. It's not drastic enough to be obviously noticeable, but it's definitely there. And it takes away from the scene. That scene in particular was great because of Mr. Roper's hesitance in talking about "shelves", but on TV Land, since it's going quicker, he doesn't seem as hesitant. It's really a shame.
Of course, I will say theres the possibility that the DVD versions somehow got slowed down, and the TV Land versions are the correct speed, but I think that's a reach. Given TV Land's history of butchering episodes to add more commercials, I would say this was done intentionally.

Pavan · 01-17-2008, 02:11 PM

Speeding up episodes is common in syndication, like you said to add more commercial time.

Hers&Hers&His · 01-17-2008, 02:20 PM

Really? Wow I had never heard of that. Right before I posted this I tryed to find information on channels speeding up tv shows and didn't find anything. It seems like such a dirty tactic.

Pavan · 01-17-2008, 02:24 PM

Alice on TNN and Hogan Family on ABC Family in recent years were really sped up. Much more than Three's Company on TV Land.

catlover79 · 01-17-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hers&Hers&His

Really? Wow I had never heard of that. Right before I posted this I tryed to find information on channels speeding up tv shows and didn't find anything. It seems like such a dirty tactic.

I totally agree - and by the way, I love your screen name!!

brasspounder · 01-18-2008, 11:35 PM

They do that on the radio too. Many times I have noticed that when I play a song that I have on record, tape or CD that it is noticably a bit slower in tempo than when it is played over the radio.

01-17-2008, 01:51 PM	#1
Hers&Hers&His Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 48	I think TV Land is altering Three's Company episodes more than you know.. I have recently noticed that whenever I watch episodes of Three's Company on TV Land, something about the sound, specifically the opening theme song, sounds strange. I decided to investigate, so what I did was, I had recorded the Lucille Ball "best of" episode from TV Land a few days ago, which featured the classic "shelves" discussion between Jack and Mr. Roper. I also have that scene on DVD, so I could directly compare the original version to the TV Land Version. I took a stop watch, and timed the same exact part of the scene, from the DVD and from TV Land. The TV Land version was 5 seconds shorter! I believe this means that TV Land has been speeding up episodes (not just cutting things out, but literally playing the show faster than normal speed) in order to, in all likelihood, add more commercials. Keep in mind this scene was only slightly longer than a minute, so when you factor in that the show runs about 20 to 22 minutes on TV Land, this gives them an about an extra 90 seconds due to the higher speed. A convenient amount of time for adding more commercials. Take a close listen sometime and you'll notice that everyone talks just a slight bit faster on the TV Land version. It's not drastic enough to be obviously noticeable, but it's definitely there. And it takes away from the scene. That scene in particular was great because of Mr. Roper's hesitance in talking about "shelves", but on TV Land, since it's going quicker, he doesn't seem as hesitant. It's really a shame. Of course, I will say theres the possibility that the DVD versions somehow got slowed down, and the TV Land versions are the correct speed, but I think that's a reach. Given TV Land's history of butchering episodes to add more commercials, I would say this was done intentionally.
	Last edited by Hers&Hers&His; 01-17-2008 at 02:08 PM.

01-17-2008, 02:11 PM	#2
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	Speeding up episodes is common in syndication, like you said to add more commercial time.
	__________________ SitcomsOnline.com News Blog -- The best news out there! SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews -- We are #1 in reviews!

01-18-2008, 11:35 PM	#6
brasspounder San Jose State Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: near San Jose, CA Posts: 458	They do that on the radio too. Many times I have noticed that when I play a song that I have on record, tape or CD that it is noticably a bit slower in tempo than when it is played over the radio.
	__________________ Terri Rocks!

01-17-2008, 02:20 PM	#3
Hers&Hers&His Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 18, 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 48	Really? Wow I had never heard of that. Right before I posted this I tryed to find information on channels speeding up tv shows and didn't find anything. It seems like such a dirty tactic.

01-17-2008, 02:24 PM	#4
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	Alice on TNN and Hogan Family on ABC Family in recent years were really sped up. Much more than Three's Company on TV Land.