Do the I Love Lucy DVDs contain the original uncut episodes? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Timoth26 · 09-08-2009, 02:42 PM

Hey, I've been wondering. Do you think the "I Love Lucy" DVDs actually contain the original uncut broadcasts of the episodes?

I've got the complete series boxset and I've wondered this from time to time. I've noticed some episodes actually run shorter then others expecually in the first season. Some episodes run about 23 to 24 minutes while others run about 25 to 26 minutes. I compaired the first episode on Season 1 "The Girls Want To Go To A Nightclub" on Disk 1 to the syndicated version on TV and appears that the one on TV is missing some of the lines or scenes that the DVD version has but, on the DVD the episode runs 23:48.

Here is a comparison between the syndicated version and the DVD version. During the scene at the beginning when Fred and Ricky are in the living room talking about his and Ethel's anniversury. The girls come walking in from the kitchen and lucy says "How can four people use so many dishes" and Ethel replies "I don't know.". Then Fred and Ricky stand up.

DVD Version:

Lucy: Why are you standing up for?

Ricky: Because two gorgious ladies entered the room.

Lucy: (looking behind her expecting to find someone standing there) Where?

Ethel: (Tapping her on the shoulder) They mean us.

Lucy looks at Ethel and then Ricky.

Lucy: Oh, you great big latin lover you.

Syndicated Version:

Lucy: Why are you standing up for?

Ricky: Because two gorgious ladies entered the room.

Lucy looks at Ethel and then walks over to Ricky but, this scene skips around since part of it was edited out and you can tell that there is an extra line there in the DVD version but, this episode as well as some of the other earlier episodes seem to run shorter some of the later ones.

So, do the DVDs contain the original uncut episodes that where originally broadcasted and is this episode still the original full lenth version?

Benno123 · 09-08-2009, 08:04 PM

All first season episodes that I have in my collection from the original broadcasts match those that are on the official DVD releases. Remember, on the initital broadcast there was a long commercial for Phillip Morris by John Stevenson (I believe) asking "Do you inhale?"

gidgetgrape · 09-08-2009, 09:08 PM

Hmmm...The only real cut (a small one) I can think of is on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour DVDs from the episode, "The Celebrity Next Door." The part in which Tallulah said she was allergic to strawberries is missing. You can read about that here:
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/foru...9th-season/150

There was some footage that was too grainy to include in 4 episodes from season 4, but Paramount included them as "bonus material" on disc 5 of the dvd set. You can read about that here:
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Love-Lucy/4164

The producers really did an excellent job putting together the "I Love Lucy" DVDs and I think they are as complete as possible.

09-08-2009, 02:42 PM	#1
Timoth26 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2009 Posts: 185	Do the I Love Lucy DVDs contain the original uncut episodes? Hey, I've been wondering. Do you think the "I Love Lucy" DVDs actually contain the original uncut broadcasts of the episodes? I've got the complete series boxset and I've wondered this from time to time. I've noticed some episodes actually run shorter then others expecually in the first season. Some episodes run about 23 to 24 minutes while others run about 25 to 26 minutes. I compaired the first episode on Season 1 "The Girls Want To Go To A Nightclub" on Disk 1 to the syndicated version on TV and appears that the one on TV is missing some of the lines or scenes that the DVD version has but, on the DVD the episode runs 23:48. Here is a comparison between the syndicated version and the DVD version. During the scene at the beginning when Fred and Ricky are in the living room talking about his and Ethel's anniversury. The girls come walking in from the kitchen and lucy says "How can four people use so many dishes" and Ethel replies "I don't know.". Then Fred and Ricky stand up. DVD Version: Lucy: Why are you standing up for? Ricky: Because two gorgious ladies entered the room. Lucy: (looking behind her expecting to find someone standing there) Where? Ethel: (Tapping her on the shoulder) They mean us. Lucy looks at Ethel and then Ricky. Lucy: Oh, you great big latin lover you. Syndicated Version: Lucy: Why are you standing up for? Ricky: Because two gorgious ladies entered the room. Lucy looks at Ethel and then walks over to Ricky but, this scene skips around since part of it was edited out and you can tell that there is an extra line there in the DVD version but, this episode as well as some of the other earlier episodes seem to run shorter some of the later ones. So, do the DVDs contain the original uncut episodes that where originally broadcasted and is this episode still the original full lenth version?

09-08-2009, 08:04 PM	#2
Benno123 Jenna Fischer Rocks My World!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 01, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,036	All first season episodes that I have in my collection from the original broadcasts match those that are on the official DVD releases. Remember, on the initital broadcast there was a long commercial for Phillip Morris by John Stevenson (I believe) asking "Do you inhale?"

09-08-2009, 09:08 PM	#3
gidgetgrape Forever Gidget Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 20, 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 3,502	Hmmm...The only real cut (a small one) I can think of is on The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour DVDs from the episode, "The Celebrity Next Door." The part in which Tallulah said she was allergic to strawberries is missing. You can read about that here: http://www.hometheaterforum.com/foru...9th-season/150 There was some footage that was too grainy to include in 4 episodes from season 4, but Paramount included them as "bonus material" on disc 5 of the dvd set. You can read about that here: http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Love-Lucy/4164 The producers really did an excellent job putting together the "I Love Lucy" DVDs and I think they are as complete as possible.