Does WGN Not Show the First Two Seasons? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Adamantium · 05-16-2009, 05:32 AM

I noticed over at Imdb that the schedule for "Bewitched" goes from the final episode of season eight back to the first episode of season three. Why are channels so against showing the black and white episodes? Apparently for years, they only showed the color episodes. Thank goodness Nick at Nite had the sense and good judgment to air the original black and white episodes. And since the other channels aired just the color ones, it was nice that they aired only the black and white ones. It kept it even.

Airing just the color episodes means:
No Alice Pearce as Gladys Kravitz
No Irene Vernon as Louise Tate
Dick York and Dick Sargent have the same amount of seasons, with York appearing in less episodes since he was absent for some of five.
None of the early classics. It seems like most of my favorites come from seasons one and two.

I believe TV Land is the only channel to air all eight seasons. I know Nick at Nite had the dueling Darrins marathon where they finally included the color episodes. But I think (and I could be wrong) that once they started airing the color ones, they only aired the color ones.

clj2 · 05-16-2009, 08:09 AM

Hallmark/Odyssey showed the first 2 seasons, colorized.

MickeyMac · 05-16-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60s70s80stvfan

Hallmark/Odyssey showed the first 2 seasons, colorized.

yuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

MickeyMac · 05-16-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adamantium

I noticed over at Imdb that the schedule for "Bewitched" goes from the final episode of season eight back to the first episode of season three. Why are channels so against showing the black and white episodes? Apparently for years, they only showed the color episodes. Thank goodness Nick at Nite had the sense and good judgment to air the original black and white episodes. And since the other channels aired just the color ones, it was nice that they aired only the black and white ones. It kept it even.

Airing just the color episodes means:
No Alice Pearce as Gladys Kravitz
No Irene Vernon as Louise Tate
Dick York and Dick Sargent have the same amount of seasons, with York appearing in less episodes since he was absent for some of five.
None of the early classics. It seems like most of my favorites come from seasons one and two.

I believe TV Land is the only channel to air all eight seasons. I know Nick at Nite had the dueling Darrins marathon where they finally included the color episodes. But I think (and I could be wrong) that once they started airing the color ones, they only aired the color ones.

If WGN isnt willing to show the black and white episodes I say screw them.

Also back in the early 90's when Nick at Nite first showed the first two seasons in black and white was the first time I ever saw those. Prior to that I always thought Bewitched was in color. That was also the time I noticed Elizabeth Montgomery as a woman, but thats a topic for another thread.

clj2 · 05-16-2009, 04:55 PM

Well, colorized or not, Odyssey/Hallmark did show the whole series. I don't remember if they colorized the first season of Jeannie.

Is WGN airing the first season of Jeannie? This is odd, as they show the B&W Hillbillies episodes.

TV_on_the_Porch · 05-17-2009, 07:50 AM

I must say that until Nick @ Nite began airing only the black & white shows, making a big deal about the fact they were "back", I had no clue that they had ever been dropped from Bewitched's syndicated package. Be assured that they most certainly were *dropped* at some point as I can remember watching black & white episodes of Bewitched on WGN wayyyyyyy back in the 70s. I had read about "the late Alice Pearce" in a TV reference book and it was on channel 9 that I first saw Bewitched episodes featuring her as Gladys. For a while one of our local stations also carried Bewitched complete with black & white eps. These recollections are all prior to 1980 so unfortunately I can't begin to pin down exactly when the decision was made to only distribute the color eps.

But what a stupid move!

Again, my Bewitched rerun experience--from a time within a decade after it ceased production--was that all episodes were in rotation. Hey--maybe they were deleted so that season 8 wouldn't look as stale!

McGillicuddy · 05-17-2009, 11:01 AM

It was the same with My Three Sons. I never saw the William Frawley episodes until Nick-at-Nite showed them.

clj2 · 05-17-2009, 12:31 PM

On the subject of My Three Sons, the Frawley episodes were shown on TV Land in the late 90s or early 2000s...Odyssey/Hallmark, however (who showed BW/IDOJ) only aired the color ones.

Mr. Television · 05-17-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60s70s80stvfan

Well, colorized or not, Odyssey/Hallmark did show the whole series. I don't remember if they colorized the first season of Jeannie.

Is WGN airing the first season of Jeannie? This is odd, as they show the B&W Hillbillies episodes.

Yea the first season of Jeannie was colorized too.

Adamantium · 05-17-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60s70s80stvfan

On the subject of My Three Sons, the Frawley episodes were shown on TV Land in the late 90s or early 2000s...Odyssey/Hallmark, however (who showed BW/IDOJ) only aired the color ones.

I grew up with the black and white episodes of MTS from Nick at Nite. I can understand why they split this show in half because it's 12 seasons, 380 episodes. And since there is a definite point which they can divide it in two, it makes it easier to accept. Even though I would prefer having the whole show in syndication. But with Bewitched I find it ridiculous and outrageous that they don't show the first two seasons (as often).

catlover79 · 05-17-2009, 02:29 PM

I don't know why the first two seasons are so hard to find on TV. I do know that the last time one of the local stations here in Cleveland showed it (in 2004), they ran Seasons 1-4, then jumped to Season 7.

MickeyMac · 05-17-2009, 02:34 PM

If I ever become a multi millionaire I am buying the rights to all of these 50's and 60's show. Start my own TV station and show all the shows from season to season in proper order. Then I'll put them all out on DVD.

catlover79 · 05-17-2009, 02:37 PM

^ Hey, I'd watch it.

MickeyMac · 05-17-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ Hey, I'd watch it.

Whenever I get around to it I will make my own network over on the Create your own Network over on the General Sitcoms thread.

TV_on_the_Porch · 05-17-2009, 06:09 PM

Stalest of the stale:

MCMLXVI

...although not all that rarely there would be original black and white openings shown, at least one ran all he way to the point of Sam and Darren on the broomstick together before it cut out. Only saw what that was about many years later.

05-16-2009, 05:32 AM	#1
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,836	Does WGN Not Show the First Two Seasons? I noticed over at Imdb that the schedule for "Bewitched" goes from the final episode of season eight back to the first episode of season three. Why are channels so against showing the black and white episodes? Apparently for years, they only showed the color episodes. Thank goodness Nick at Nite had the sense and good judgment to air the original black and white episodes. And since the other channels aired just the color ones, it was nice that they aired only the black and white ones. It kept it even. Airing just the color episodes means: No Alice Pearce as Gladys Kravitz No Irene Vernon as Louise Tate Dick York and Dick Sargent have the same amount of seasons, with York appearing in less episodes since he was absent for some of five. None of the early classics. It seems like most of my favorites come from seasons one and two. I believe TV Land is the only channel to air all eight seasons. I know Nick at Nite had the dueling Darrins marathon where they finally included the color episodes. But I think (and I could be wrong) that once they started airing the color ones, they only aired the color ones.

05-17-2009, 07:50 AM	#6
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	I must say that until Nick @ Nite began airing only the black & white shows, making a big deal about the fact they were "back", I had no clue that they had ever been dropped from Bewitched's syndicated package. Be assured that they most certainly were dropped at some point as I can remember watching black & white episodes of Bewitched on WGN wayyyyyyy back in the 70s. I had read about "the late Alice Pearce" in a TV reference book and it was on channel 9 that I first saw Bewitched episodes featuring her as Gladys. For a while one of our local stations also carried Bewitched complete with black & white eps. These recollections are all prior to 1980 so unfortunately I can't begin to pin down exactly when the decision was made to only distribute the color eps. But what a stupid move! Again, my Bewitched rerun experience--from a time within a decade after it ceased production--was that all episodes were in rotation. Hey--maybe they were deleted so that season 8 wouldn't look as stale!
	__________________ Turn up the good times!

05-17-2009, 02:29 PM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I don't know why the first two seasons are so hard to find on TV. I do know that the last time one of the local stations here in Cleveland showed it (in 2004), they ran Seasons 1-4, then jumped to Season 7.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

05-16-2009, 08:09 AM	#2
clj2 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2005 Location: SC Posts: 3,501	Hallmark/Odyssey showed the first 2 seasons, colorized.

05-16-2009, 04:55 PM	#5
clj2 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2005 Location: SC Posts: 3,501	Well, colorized or not, Odyssey/Hallmark did show the whole series. I don't remember if they colorized the first season of Jeannie. Is WGN airing the first season of Jeannie? This is odd, as they show the B&W Hillbillies episodes.

05-17-2009, 11:01 AM	#7
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	It was the same with My Three Sons. I never saw the William Frawley episodes until Nick-at-Nite showed them.

05-17-2009, 12:31 PM	#8
clj2 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2005 Location: SC Posts: 3,501	On the subject of My Three Sons, the Frawley episodes were shown on TV Land in the late 90s or early 2000s...Odyssey/Hallmark, however (who showed BW/IDOJ) only aired the color ones.

05-17-2009, 02:34 PM	#12
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	If I ever become a multi millionaire I am buying the rights to all of these 50's and 60's show. Start my own TV station and show all the shows from season to season in proper order. Then I'll put them all out on DVD.

05-17-2009, 02:37 PM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ Hey, I'd watch it.

05-17-2009, 06:09 PM	#15
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	Stalest of the stale: MCMLXVI ...although not all that rarely there would be original black and white openings shown, at least one ran all he way to the point of Sam and Darren on the broomstick together before it cut out. Only saw what that was about many years later.