Video Tape Format? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

PrettyinPink55 · 07-05-2008, 01:55 AM

I was watching the marathon today, or yesterday now on Sci-Fi, and I noticed a couple of the episodes were in a different format, i.e. "Long Distance Call." At the end of one of them, Billy Mumy commented that it was one of six episodes filmed in video tape format. Why is that? Were they just experimenting? I personally prefer the movie-like format, much scarier. The other format kind of reminded me of a sitcom. What do you guys think?

Zoneboy · 07-05-2008, 02:21 AM

These 6 episodes were produced on video tape during the 2nd season as an experiment to try and cut costs but it was met with dismal results.

Long Distance Call
The Lateness of the Hour
Static
Twenty-Two
The Whole Truth
Night of the Meek

PrettyinPink55 · 07-05-2008, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

These 6 episodes were produced on video tape during the 2nd season as an experiment to try and cut costs but it was met with dismal results.

Long Distance Call
The Lateness of the Hour
Static
Twenty-Two
The Whole Truth
Night of the Meek

I figured it was some type of experiment. I don't think it was as effective as the original format.
Thanks!

jehobden · 05-21-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

These 6 episodes were produced on video tape during the 2nd season as an experiment to try and cut costs but it was met with dismal results.

Long Distance Call
The Lateness of the Hour
Static
Twenty-Two
The Whole Truth
Night of the Meek

Actually I like the videotaped shows for at least one reason: they give a feel for how taped and live shows would have looked back in the early 60s at the dawn of videotape. I remember seeing a couple of these eps in the 16 mm format on a local station back in the late 70s. It wasn't until the mid-80s that I saw them aired on videotape. They definitely have a different feel from the filmed eps.

biffbronson · 04-12-2010, 09:57 PM

Serling didn't like videotape, saying it's "neither fish nor fowl" if I'm quoting him correctly. I thought that the episode with Jonathan Harris was effective on tape because it gave the presentation a soap-opera feel that worked for that script.

Twilight Zone was always up against a tight budget (CBS' cheapness, it's probably fair to say) so ways to cut costs were always being considered -- like the buying of a foreign film to turn into the episode "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" (Season 5). And it seemed like every time a large prop was needed, it was simply borrowed -- having already appeared in films and the like.

James28 · 07-25-2010, 04:28 PM

Videotape would have been really advanced for 1960. A full decade before All in the Family premiered and half a decade before The Dean Martin Show premiered and Twilight Zone is the only drama to have episodes recorded in videotape.

TV Knowledge Fan · 09-13-2011, 02:43 PM

...were primarily a cost-cutting measure, but I'm sure Rod saw it as a way to produce his scripts along the lines of "PLAYHOUSE 90" (of which he contributed numerous scripts for). The visual look of the taped episodes is certainly reminiscent of that series, which featured several videotaped productions- in additon to the "live" and filmed episodes- in its later years. "Long Distance Call" [March 31, 1961], the last of the taped episodes, is probably the best of them, as it does resemble a "PLAYHOUSE 90" episode, with simple domestic sets and impressive camera angles....and a supernatural thread running through it.

Nighthawk76 · 09-13-2011, 04:10 PM

I don't like the look of the taped episodes. Though some of them like "Night of the Meek" and "Static" are still very good. I think taping the episode also sometimes limited the number of sets that could be used. "The Whole Truth" suffered from this. The characters never left the house and the result is a pretty boring episode.

jehobden · 10-14-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shine

"The Whole Truth" suffered from this. The characters never left the house and the result is a pretty boring episode.

Are you referring to "The Lateness of the Hour" here? That show stayed pretty much confined to just a few rooms. "The Whole Truth" was set at a used car lot.

Nighthawk76 · 11-07-2011, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jehobden

Are you referring to "The Lateness of the Hour" here? That show stayed pretty much confined to just a few rooms. "The Whole Truth" was set at a used car lot.

Yeah, that's what I meant, sorry.

I like "The Whole Truth".

07-05-2008, 01:55 AM	#1
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	Video Tape Format? I was watching the marathon today, or yesterday now on Sci-Fi, and I noticed a couple of the episodes were in a different format, i.e. "Long Distance Call." At the end of one of them, Billy Mumy commented that it was one of six episodes filmed in video tape format. Why is that? Were they just experimenting? I personally prefer the movie-like format, much scarier. The other format kind of reminded me of a sitcom. What do you guys think?
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07-05-2008, 02:21 AM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,386	These 6 episodes were produced on video tape during the 2nd season as an experiment to try and cut costs but it was met with dismal results. Long Distance Call The Lateness of the Hour Static Twenty-Two The Whole Truth Night of the Meek
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07-25-2010, 04:28 PM	#6
James28 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 14, 2007 Posts: 3,981	Videotape would have been really advanced for 1960. A full decade before All in the Family premiered and half a decade before The Dean Martin Show premiered and Twilight Zone is the only drama to have episodes recorded in videotape.
	__________________ "When the run of a network TV show has ended, some go out with a bang, some with a whimper, but all are...Future Endeavored." "Stay Safe"? More like "Stay Sad". #2020Hurts

09-13-2011, 02:43 PM	#7
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	The videotaped episodes... ...were primarily a cost-cutting measure, but I'm sure Rod saw it as a way to produce his scripts along the lines of "PLAYHOUSE 90" (of which he contributed numerous scripts for). The visual look of the taped episodes is certainly reminiscent of that series, which featured several videotaped productions- in additon to the "live" and filmed episodes- in its later years. "Long Distance Call" [March 31, 1961], the last of the taped episodes, is probably the best of them, as it does resemble a "PLAYHOUSE 90" episode, with simple domestic sets and impressive camera angles....and a supernatural thread running through it.

04-12-2010, 09:57 PM	#5
biffbronson Sentimental Fool Forum Star Join Date: Aug 22, 2009 Location: Near Notre Dame Posts: 10,502	Serling didn't like videotape, saying it's "neither fish nor fowl" if I'm quoting him correctly. I thought that the episode with Jonathan Harris was effective on tape because it gave the presentation a soap-opera feel that worked for that script. Twilight Zone was always up against a tight budget (CBS' cheapness, it's probably fair to say) so ways to cut costs were always being considered -- like the buying of a foreign film to turn into the episode "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" (Season 5). And it seemed like every time a large prop was needed, it was simply borrowed -- having already appeared in films and the like.

09-13-2011, 04:10 PM	#8
Nighthawk76 Rachel Berry Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 28, 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 23,254	I don't like the look of the taped episodes. Though some of them like "Night of the Meek" and "Static" are still very good. I think taping the episode also sometimes limited the number of sets that could be used. "The Whole Truth" suffered from this. The characters never left the house and the result is a pretty boring episode.