TV Shows split up for Syndication - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Regulus · 06-30-2011, 08:33 AM

Warning: This is a LONG Post!

Does anyone know of a SINGLE TV Series that lasted so long when the time came for the show to be sold to syndication it was "split up" to appear as multiple TV Series? (I'm not talking about "Franchise" Series such as the Star Trek ones, these were bona-fide separate TV Series).

I know of just one series, Lassie which ran from 1954 to 1973. I was six years old when I was first introduced to the Dawg, by this time the series was well into its "Ranger Years" while it ran on CBS each Sunday Evening. I soon became aware that there were two "Other" versions of this show which was being shown on other Stations in my area on Saturday and Sunday Afternoons, mainly Jeff's Collie and Timmy and Lassie. Believe it or not, it wasn't until the advent of the Internet did I find out that this was, in fact ONE ENTIRE SERIES. This raised the question, why did the dawg change owners? Each series ran to its "End", with no explanation on a change of Charactures. I then found out that Four of the Seasons were LEFT OUT of the Syndication Package, Seasons 4, 9, 10 and 11. Seasons 4 and 11 were the ones where Lassie would change Masters, in Season 4 we would first be introduced to "Timmy" (John Provost) who would become Lassies second Master after "Gramps" passed away and Jeff and his Mother sold the Farm after Ellen got a new job in the City. The Farms new owners, one Paul and Ruth Martin, adopted Timmy as their Son and the series moved on. Season 11 had Lassie change Masters again, this time Paul Martin gets a Business Oppurtunity in Australia, unfortunately that Country had a Quarentine Law that forced them to leave Lassie behind, and she ended up with the Forest Rangers. I would later read that in both cases of Changing Owners, the Actors who played Lassie's Master (Tommy Rettig and John Provost) wanted to move on to other things in their lives. The Final Episode of season Four was supposed to be the Episode where Lassie changed masters, but that got "Pushed Up" when the Actor who played "Gramps" (George Cleveland), died of a Heart Attack while the Series was filming. Five years later, produces anticipated the same thing happening again with Timmy (John Provost), so in Seasons 9 and 10 they had Lassie go through several Multi-Part "Interlude" Episodes where she spent some time away from Timmy and had adventures with Charactures who were, among other things Truck Drivers, Military Personel and yes, Forest Rangers. These Episodes were in fact "Experiments" to see which ones the Audience reacted to in order to determine who would become the dawg's new Master, which of course turned out to be the Rangers. (I sometimes wonder what the series would have been like if the others wound up as Lassies new Master.)

It wasn't until I saw these four "Lost" Seasons (Thank you y2k3Joker!)

, was I finally able to put the pieces together!

Anyhow does anyone know of any other TV Series that was "Split Up" in a simular manner? Or was Lassie a fluke. One way or another I think it would make for an interesting subject.

old grouch · 06-30-2011, 08:47 AM

'My Three Sons'. The color seasons (6-11) were syndicated in the 1970's, while the black and white episodes and season 12 weren't shown until they were rerun on Nick at Nite during the 80's.

comedyfreak · 06-30-2011, 08:49 AM

Gunsmoke ran for 20 seasons and started with Duputy Chester and after a few seasons was replaced by Festus. Blacksmith Newly was added as well. For the longest time the B&W episodes were not part of the syndication deal only the color episodes.

dangfish · 06-30-2011, 08:54 AM

I believe that Gunsmoke was split into three separate syndication packages. When originally going into syndication the half-hour episodes (first six seasons) were given the title 'Marshal Dillon' and sold separately. The black & white hour episodes (seasons 7-11) are offered as a separate package. Currently the encore western channel has the rights to these. Then there are the color episodes (seasons 12-20). TVLAND has had the rights to these for years but they are losing them soon and apparently Metv is picking them up.

dangfish · 06-30-2011, 10:21 AM

The Saint. For years only the color seasons were shown in the united states. RTV started showing the first three black & white seasons this week.

robyrob · 06-30-2011, 10:24 AM

the Beachcombers ran from 1972 to 1990 with 387 episodes produced, they have been syndicated in several differnet packages around the world; American Life Network currently has a deal which only gives them the 1985 to 1989 season episodes (I wish they'd show some of the earlier ones, they've run through those same episodes countless times now)

dangfish · 06-30-2011, 10:24 AM

The Avengers. Not 100% sure but I believe the Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman, and Linda Thorson epiosdes were all split into separate syndication packages. Although I believe in some cases the Rigg/Thorson episodes were offered together.

ThomasE · 07-05-2011, 11:41 AM

Well the more current television show "Girlfriends" (2000-2008) was split up. The first five seasons were sold into syndication and BET while the last three seasons weren't airing until 2009 (I think?) on WE TV.

Saved by the bell (1988-2000)
This one's a doozy.

In 1988, it was Good Morning Miss Bliss and then in 1989 was changed and revamped to Saved By The Bell. This went into syndication in 1991 and the 'Miss Bliss' eps were sold as part of the syndiction package. When the students graduated in 1993, some moved to a college spinoff show which lasted a year while the daytime show continued with a new cast and one original (later Dustin Diamond returned to the daytime version as well) and the show aired on NBC untill 2000. The Miss Bliss shows, original class episodes and college years (1988-1994) air as a package while 'The New Class' episodes (1993-2000) haved aired separately in part because it is a different set of actors and not the popular and familiar face we know from the earlier seasons.

All in the family/Archie Bunker's Place (1971-1983)

It's obvious this is one show with the identity of two. In 1979 when Jean Stapleton wanted out of her contract. When she agreeed to do a few eps for the next season, the show was revamped so more of the action would shift to Archie's Bar. So in syndication, we have All in the Family airing separate from Archie Bunker's Place.

Bewitched (1964-1972)

Since the 80's until the late 90's/early 2000's, Bewitched was aired in syndication with the color episodes from 1966-1972. Nick at Nite aquired the rights to the black and white eps from 1964-1966 and aired the B and W eps for two years and then canceled the show. In 1994, NAN aquired the rights to the black and white eps again (I believe). NAN eventually got the color eps as well and stopped airing the B and W eps for a while and then eventually aired them all as one package. Hallmark Channel has also aired them as one package with the B and W eps "colorized".

megamanj2004 · 07-08-2011, 03:28 AM

Bonanza - Only the 1959-70 epsidoes have aired in local syndication and on TV Land, while the 1970-Jan. 73 aired as "The Lost Episodes." However on Hallmark reruns, these "Lost Episodes" aired w/ the 1959-70 episodes.

Hawaii Five-O - Only the bulk of the 1st 11 seasons and only the 1st and last episode of S12 ("Woe to Wo Fat" was the series finale) aired in local syndication. But in the mid-to-late '80s, the S12 eps. aired under the title as "MacGarett" on CBS.

Mannix - for a good while, the only seasons that would not air in syndication were S1 and S8.

biffbronson · 07-09-2011, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old grouch

'My Three Sons'. The color seasons (6-11) were syndicated in the 1970's, while the black and white episodes and season 12 weren't shown until they were rerun on Nick at Nite during the 80's.

Minor correction: Seasons 6-10 formed the package; season 11 went with 12.

broadmoor · 07-10-2011, 07:17 PM

The long-running "Death Valley Days" was split up into several different packages for syndication, each re-titled with names like "Call of the West," "Trails West," "Western Star Theater," and such. Used to confuse me endlessly when I was younger, assuming them to all be different series.

Vahan · 07-21-2011, 08:55 PM

Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983-1990): Only the first 5 seasons that were produced in association with Ruby-Spears, and the first half of season 6, which was produced in association with Murakami-Wolf-Swenson, were syndicated by Lorimar-Telepictures in 1988.

They also reedited those MWS episodes so that the opening credits from the first half of season 6 (the placeholder one with clips from the 1987 movie The Chipmunk Adventure), would be replaced by the original 1983-1987 opening credits (even though the 1988 theme song stayed on the MWS episodes), and included the Valentine's Day and Reunion specials, both of which originally aired as primetime specials, because in U.S. syndication, Saturday morning cartoons are generally required to have a minimum of 65 episodes. Seasons 6-7 were from when the show was simply retitled The Chipmunks, and season 8 was when the show was retitled The Chipmunks Go to the Movies. The rest of seasons 6-8, which were produced in association with DiC were never syndicated.

Regulus · 07-21-2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadmoor

The long-running "Death Valley Days" was split up into several different packages for syndication, each re-titled with names like "Call of the West," "Trails West," "Western Star Theater," and such. Used to confuse me endlessly when I was younger, assuming them to all be different series.

I verified this last night. I was watching an episode of this show from a set I bought from sell.com. The Opening Title said "Trails West".

browneyes106 · 07-22-2011, 02:32 AM

A similar thing is happend on TV Guide Network. They only bought syndication rights to the Charlie Sheen seasons and it seems they don't plan to air the Michael J. Fox seasons.

snowpeck · 07-22-2011, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbronson

Minor correction: Seasons 6-10 formed the package; season 11 went with 12.

Actually half of season 11 was in the "color shows" package with seasons 6-10. Was a very odd way to split it.

06-30-2011, 08:33 AM	#1
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	TV Shows split up for Syndication Warning: This is a LONG Post! Does anyone know of a SINGLE TV Series that lasted so long when the time came for the show to be sold to syndication it was "split up" to appear as multiple TV Series? (I'm not talking about "Franchise" Series such as the Star Trek ones, these were bona-fide separate TV Series). I know of just one series, Lassie which ran from 1954 to 1973. I was six years old when I was first introduced to the Dawg, by this time the series was well into its "Ranger Years" while it ran on CBS each Sunday Evening. I soon became aware that there were two "Other" versions of this show which was being shown on other Stations in my area on Saturday and Sunday Afternoons, mainly Jeff's Collie and Timmy and Lassie. Believe it or not, it wasn't until the advent of the Internet did I find out that this was, in fact ONE ENTIRE SERIES. This raised the question, why did the dawg change owners? Each series ran to its "End", with no explanation on a change of Charactures. I then found out that Four of the Seasons were LEFT OUT of the Syndication Package, Seasons 4, 9, 10 and 11. Seasons 4 and 11 were the ones where Lassie would change Masters, in Season 4 we would first be introduced to "Timmy" (John Provost) who would become Lassies second Master after "Gramps" passed away and Jeff and his Mother sold the Farm after Ellen got a new job in the City. The Farms new owners, one Paul and Ruth Martin, adopted Timmy as their Son and the series moved on. Season 11 had Lassie change Masters again, this time Paul Martin gets a Business Oppurtunity in Australia, unfortunately that Country had a Quarentine Law that forced them to leave Lassie behind, and she ended up with the Forest Rangers. I would later read that in both cases of Changing Owners, the Actors who played Lassie's Master (Tommy Rettig and John Provost) wanted to move on to other things in their lives. The Final Episode of season Four was supposed to be the Episode where Lassie changed masters, but that got "Pushed Up" when the Actor who played "Gramps" (George Cleveland), died of a Heart Attack while the Series was filming. Five years later, produces anticipated the same thing happening again with Timmy (John Provost), so in Seasons 9 and 10 they had Lassie go through several Multi-Part "Interlude" Episodes where she spent some time away from Timmy and had adventures with Charactures who were, among other things Truck Drivers, Military Personel and yes, Forest Rangers. These Episodes were in fact "Experiments" to see which ones the Audience reacted to in order to determine who would become the dawg's new Master, which of course turned out to be the Rangers. (I sometimes wonder what the series would have been like if the others wound up as Lassies new Master.) It wasn't until I saw these four "Lost" Seasons (Thank you y2k3Joker!), was I finally able to put the pieces together! Anyhow does anyone know of any other TV Series that was "Split Up" in a simular manner? Or was Lassie a fluke. One way or another I think it would make for an interesting subject.
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06-30-2011, 08:49 AM	#3
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	Gunsmoke ran for 20 seasons and started with Duputy Chester and after a few seasons was replaced by Festus. Blacksmith Newly was added as well. For the longest time the B&W episodes were not part of the syndication deal only the color episodes.
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06-30-2011, 10:24 AM	#6
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,175	the Beachcombers ran from 1972 to 1990 with 387 episodes produced, they have been syndicated in several differnet packages around the world; American Life Network currently has a deal which only gives them the 1985 to 1989 season episodes (I wish they'd show some of the earlier ones, they've run through those same episodes countless times now)
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07-05-2011, 11:41 AM	#8
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Well the more current television show "Girlfriends" (2000-2008) was split up. The first five seasons were sold into syndication and BET while the last three seasons weren't airing until 2009 (I think?) on WE TV. Saved by the bell (1988-2000) This one's a doozy. In 1988, it was Good Morning Miss Bliss and then in 1989 was changed and revamped to Saved By The Bell. This went into syndication in 1991 and the 'Miss Bliss' eps were sold as part of the syndiction package. When the students graduated in 1993, some moved to a college spinoff show which lasted a year while the daytime show continued with a new cast and one original (later Dustin Diamond returned to the daytime version as well) and the show aired on NBC untill 2000. The Miss Bliss shows, original class episodes and college years (1988-1994) air as a package while 'The New Class' episodes (1993-2000) haved aired separately in part because it is a different set of actors and not the popular and familiar face we know from the earlier seasons. All in the family/Archie Bunker's Place (1971-1983) It's obvious this is one show with the identity of two. In 1979 when Jean Stapleton wanted out of her contract. When she agreeed to do a few eps for the next season, the show was revamped so more of the action would shift to Archie's Bar. So in syndication, we have All in the Family airing separate from Archie Bunker's Place. Bewitched (1964-1972) Since the 80's until the late 90's/early 2000's, Bewitched was aired in syndication with the color episodes from 1966-1972. Nick at Nite aquired the rights to the black and white eps from 1964-1966 and aired the B and W eps for two years and then canceled the show. In 1994, NAN aquired the rights to the black and white eps again (I believe). NAN eventually got the color eps as well and stopped airing the B and W eps for a while and then eventually aired them all as one package. Hallmark Channel has also aired them as one package with the B and W eps "colorized".
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07-08-2011, 03:28 AM	#9
megamanj2004 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 2,357	Bonanza - Only the 1959-70 epsidoes have aired in local syndication and on TV Land, while the 1970-Jan. 73 aired as "The Lost Episodes." However on Hallmark reruns, these "Lost Episodes" aired w/ the 1959-70 episodes. Hawaii Five-O - Only the bulk of the 1st 11 seasons and only the 1st and last episode of S12 ("Woe to Wo Fat" was the series finale) aired in local syndication. But in the mid-to-late '80s, the S12 eps. aired under the title as "MacGarett" on CBS. Mannix - for a good while, the only seasons that would not air in syndication were S1 and S8.
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06-30-2011, 08:47 AM	#2
old grouch Member Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2010 Location: montana Posts: 1,877	'My Three Sons'. The color seasons (6-11) were syndicated in the 1970's, while the black and white episodes and season 12 weren't shown until they were rerun on Nick at Nite during the 80's.

06-30-2011, 08:54 AM	#4
dangfish Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 19, 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 97	I believe that Gunsmoke was split into three separate syndication packages. When originally going into syndication the half-hour episodes (first six seasons) were given the title 'Marshal Dillon' and sold separately. The black & white hour episodes (seasons 7-11) are offered as a separate package. Currently the encore western channel has the rights to these. Then there are the color episodes (seasons 12-20). TVLAND has had the rights to these for years but they are losing them soon and apparently Metv is picking them up.

06-30-2011, 10:21 AM	#5
dangfish Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 19, 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 97	The Saint. For years only the color seasons were shown in the united states. RTV started showing the first three black & white seasons this week.

07-10-2011, 07:17 PM	#11
broadmoor Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 10, 2010 Location: texas Posts: 489	The long-running "Death Valley Days" was split up into several different packages for syndication, each re-titled with names like "Call of the West," "Trails West," "Western Star Theater," and such. Used to confuse me endlessly when I was younger, assuming them to all be different series.

07-21-2011, 08:55 PM	#12
Vahan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2008 Posts: 2,712	Alvin and the Chipmunks (1983-1990): Only the first 5 seasons that were produced in association with Ruby-Spears, and the first half of season 6, which was produced in association with Murakami-Wolf-Swenson, were syndicated by Lorimar-Telepictures in 1988. They also reedited those MWS episodes so that the opening credits from the first half of season 6 (the placeholder one with clips from the 1987 movie The Chipmunk Adventure), would be replaced by the original 1983-1987 opening credits (even though the 1988 theme song stayed on the MWS episodes), and included the Valentine's Day and Reunion specials, both of which originally aired as primetime specials, because in U.S. syndication, Saturday morning cartoons are generally required to have a minimum of 65 episodes. Seasons 6-7 were from when the show was simply retitled The Chipmunks, and season 8 was when the show was retitled The Chipmunks Go to the Movies. The rest of seasons 6-8, which were produced in association with DiC were never syndicated.
	Last edited by Vahan; 07-21-2011 at 09:28 PM.

07-22-2011, 02:32 AM	#14
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,097	A similar thing is happend on TV Guide Network. They only bought syndication rights to the Charlie Sheen seasons and it seems they don't plan to air the Michael J. Fox seasons.