Hallmark Butchers Episodes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MOWERDAN · 02-18-2010, 12:16 PM

I was watching some ILL episodes during their Valentines Day marathon. They really butchered the "Fred and Ethel Fight" one. Here are just a few of the punchlines they left out:

Ethel: "He's no dream, he's a nightmare!"
Fred: "You'll never shop for my poultry."
Ethel: "I'm sorry your mother looks like a weasel."

Why in the world would they cut out these lines? Meanwhile, they'll keep other filler lines intact. No wonder the show doesn't get the ratings it once had.

And to add more insult, they sped up all the episodes where everyone sounds like the Chipmunks.

Hughsgirl · 02-18-2010, 01:18 PM

I watched a few episodes just to see how much they edit compared to TV Land and I found Hallmark wasn't quite as bad, but they still took alot out as you mentioned. I only watched a few because I have the complete episode on DVD so there's no sense in putting up with the crappy network versions. However, I didn't have a sound problem that you mentioned you had.

Timoth26 · 02-18-2010, 02:33 PM

I noticed that to when I watched the marathon on Monday. For instance in the episode "Amature Hour" I notice almost half of a scene missing. It's towards the beginning when Lucy tells Ricky that she bought a new dress and Ricky said that he wasn't going to pay for it. Then Lucy said that she'll get a job and Ricky goes into the bedroom with Lucy fallowing you saying "I'll show you I'll get a job!". The cut the rest of the scene out before they went to a commercial break. I've watched the episode on the DVD many times and there is more to that.

On the DVD:

Lucy: I'll show you I'll get a Job!

Ricky: Job?! You? HA!

Lucy: I can make money if I wanted to.

Ricky: Where can you ever get a Job?

Lucy then names some sudjustions for him to use her down at his club like a corous girl or parking cars. Then Ricky comes out of the bedroom where his underwear and a white shirt with a top hat on.

Lucy: Ricky! Where are you going?!

Ricky: Going down to the club.

Lucy: Well put some cloths on!

Ricky: (Tipping his hat) I looked honey, but I haven't a thing to wear.

Lucy: Oooh! (Throws pillow at him)

This scene was cut out on the hallmark channel it only stops where Lucy sudjests getting a Job. I remember seeing this scene in reruns on Lifetime and a few tims before that to. So, I guess the DVDs are the uncut episodes.

Hughsgirl · 02-18-2010, 02:35 PM

Yes, the DVD's are the uncut versions.

Frank Gannucci · 02-20-2010, 12:18 AM

When did Lifetime show I Love Lucy? It must have been in the 80s.

I did notice the time-compressing. Sometimes, the heart-on-satin closes so quickly that no music is heard. I hated this during the end of "Lucy In The Swiss Alps." Originally, at the end of the episode after the Swiss band performs a really sad version of "La Cucuracha (sp?), the heart-on-satin closes quickly with the Desi Arnaz band performing their own version of the song. I loved that ending because it was so unique compared to the other episodes, however on Hallmark, the heart closes so quickly that you hear no other version of "La Cucuracha" other than the Swiss band version.

As far as Fred & Ether fight, didn't TV Land edit that line out too? I thought that they did.

On "The Moustahce" episode, Hallmark really edited that episode but I noticed that they might have restored a line that TV Land edited out. The line that TV Land edited out was Lucy: "Bulldog Cement can only be removed with Bulldog Cement Remover Number 3." So when Ricky calls the drugstore and asks for Bulldg Cement Remover Number 3, the casual fan may ask: "How does he know that Bulldog Cement Remover Number 3 will remove the cement?" Hallmark restored that line.

I am beginning to wonder who has done or did a worse edit job as far as showing I Love Lucy. Hallmark or WNYW-TV (Fox5 in NY)?

TV Knowledge Fan · 02-20-2010, 05:10 AM

....sounds to me as if Hallmark is using the current "syndicated" version of the series, with each episode having a running time of about 22 minutes [the better to add six or more minutes of commercials]. Originally, each episode, without commercials, lasted about 26 minutes. So, four minutes HAD to be "sliced out", somewhere. It all depends on who "electronically edited" each episode for the "package".

Look, even when daytime repeats began on CBS in 1959, a few minutes of each episode were "excised" for the network to sell additional advertising time (as well as the initial daytime "host" transitions, who was eventually phased out).

When I saw the show on WNEW-TV in New York between 1967 and '75, they used 16mm film prints, which they selectively edited to make room for more commercials. Then, when they began using "videotape" editions in the '80s, those were "pre-edited".

The only way you're going to see the episodes UNCUT, is by searching for the VHS editions, or the current DVD volumes....

MOWERDAN · 02-22-2010, 10:04 AM

I grew up watching Lucy on Channel 5 WNEW in the NYC area during the late '60s and '70s. They mainly would edit out full opening scenes that appeared to be redundant or just not that funny. This made sense, because watching my DVDs now and seeing those opening few minutes does seem like a drag. The scenes were slow and unnecessary many times.

I can understand what they did in the earlier days of syndication. But, selectively editing out PUNCH LINES of all things is just stupid. That's where I was going with that post regarding "Ethel and Fred Fight". I always remember those lines vividly from my childhood. Today, they'd be been better off just editing out the same scenes as they did in the '60s/'70s. Those versions made more sense as they properly kept the key scenes and punch lines intact. Today's editing just does not make sense.

The time-compressing thing is absurd. They tried doing that in the '80s with alot of Rankin/Bass holiday shows like Rudolph. It was pitiful.

02-18-2010, 12:16 PM	#1
MOWERDAN Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 04, 2002 Location: NEW JERSEY Posts: 64	Hallmark Butchers Episodes I was watching some ILL episodes during their Valentines Day marathon. They really butchered the "Fred and Ethel Fight" one. Here are just a few of the punchlines they left out: Ethel: "He's no dream, he's a nightmare!" Fred: "You'll never shop for my poultry." Ethel: "I'm sorry your mother looks like a weasel." Why in the world would they cut out these lines? Meanwhile, they'll keep other filler lines intact. No wonder the show doesn't get the ratings it once had. And to add more insult, they sped up all the episodes where everyone sounds like the Chipmunks.

02-20-2010, 05:10 AM	#6
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Hmmmm.... ....sounds to me as if Hallmark is using the current "syndicated" version of the series, with each episode having a running time of about 22 minutes [the better to add six or more minutes of commercials]. Originally, each episode, without commercials, lasted about 26 minutes. So, four minutes HAD to be "sliced out", somewhere. It all depends on who "electronically edited" each episode for the "package". Look, even when daytime repeats began on CBS in 1959, a few minutes of each episode were "excised" for the network to sell additional advertising time (as well as the initial daytime "host" transitions, who was eventually phased out). When I saw the show on WNEW-TV in New York between 1967 and '75, they used 16mm film prints, which they selectively edited to make room for more commercials. Then, when they began using "videotape" editions in the '80s, those were "pre-edited". The only way you're going to see the episodes UNCUT, is by searching for the VHS editions, or the current DVD volumes....

02-18-2010, 01:18 PM	#2
Hughsgirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 22, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 804	I watched a few episodes just to see how much they edit compared to TV Land and I found Hallmark wasn't quite as bad, but they still took alot out as you mentioned. I only watched a few because I have the complete episode on DVD so there's no sense in putting up with the crappy network versions. However, I didn't have a sound problem that you mentioned you had.

02-18-2010, 02:33 PM	#3
Timoth26 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 08, 2009 Posts: 185	I noticed that to when I watched the marathon on Monday. For instance in the episode "Amature Hour" I notice almost half of a scene missing. It's towards the beginning when Lucy tells Ricky that she bought a new dress and Ricky said that he wasn't going to pay for it. Then Lucy said that she'll get a job and Ricky goes into the bedroom with Lucy fallowing you saying "I'll show you I'll get a job!". The cut the rest of the scene out before they went to a commercial break. I've watched the episode on the DVD many times and there is more to that. On the DVD: Lucy: I'll show you I'll get a Job! Ricky: Job?! You? HA! Lucy: I can make money if I wanted to. Ricky: Where can you ever get a Job? Lucy then names some sudjustions for him to use her down at his club like a corous girl or parking cars. Then Ricky comes out of the bedroom where his underwear and a white shirt with a top hat on. Lucy: Ricky! Where are you going?! Ricky: Going down to the club. Lucy: Well put some cloths on! Ricky: (Tipping his hat) I looked honey, but I haven't a thing to wear. Lucy: Oooh! (Throws pillow at him) This scene was cut out on the hallmark channel it only stops where Lucy sudjests getting a Job. I remember seeing this scene in reruns on Lifetime and a few tims before that to. So, I guess the DVDs are the uncut episodes.

02-18-2010, 02:35 PM	#4
Hughsgirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 22, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 804	Yes, the DVD's are the uncut versions.

02-20-2010, 12:18 AM	#5
Frank Gannucci Member Forum Star Join Date: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 16,064	When did Lifetime show I Love Lucy? It must have been in the 80s. I did notice the time-compressing. Sometimes, the heart-on-satin closes so quickly that no music is heard. I hated this during the end of "Lucy In The Swiss Alps." Originally, at the end of the episode after the Swiss band performs a really sad version of "La Cucuracha (sp?), the heart-on-satin closes quickly with the Desi Arnaz band performing their own version of the song. I loved that ending because it was so unique compared to the other episodes, however on Hallmark, the heart closes so quickly that you hear no other version of "La Cucuracha" other than the Swiss band version. As far as Fred & Ether fight, didn't TV Land edit that line out too? I thought that they did. On "The Moustahce" episode, Hallmark really edited that episode but I noticed that they might have restored a line that TV Land edited out. The line that TV Land edited out was Lucy: "Bulldog Cement can only be removed with Bulldog Cement Remover Number 3." So when Ricky calls the drugstore and asks for Bulldg Cement Remover Number 3, the casual fan may ask: "How does he know that Bulldog Cement Remover Number 3 will remove the cement?" Hallmark restored that line. I am beginning to wonder who has done or did a worse edit job as far as showing I Love Lucy. Hallmark or WNYW-TV (Fox5 in NY)?

02-22-2010, 10:04 AM	#7
MOWERDAN Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 04, 2002 Location: NEW JERSEY Posts: 64	I grew up watching Lucy on Channel 5 WNEW in the NYC area during the late '60s and '70s. They mainly would edit out full opening scenes that appeared to be redundant or just not that funny. This made sense, because watching my DVDs now and seeing those opening few minutes does seem like a drag. The scenes were slow and unnecessary many times. I can understand what they did in the earlier days of syndication. But, selectively editing out PUNCH LINES of all things is just stupid. That's where I was going with that post regarding "Ethel and Fred Fight". I always remember those lines vividly from my childhood. Today, they'd be been better off just editing out the same scenes as they did in the '60s/'70s. Those versions made more sense as they properly kept the key scenes and punch lines intact. Today's editing just does not make sense. The time-compressing thing is absurd. They tried doing that in the '80s with alot of Rankin/Bass holiday shows like Rudolph. It was pitiful.