TV LAND's Restored I Love Lucy Shows: A Mixed Blessing - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ilovelucyjg15 · 01-21-2002, 06:45 PM

TV Land announced that when I Love Lucy joined its schedule on October 15th, the network would be showing the programs in a way that had not been done in over 45 years: with the original animated opening titles and middle-act breaks restored! How great! Not since the original CBS Network run in the 1950s had this footage -- featuring "Lucy" and "Ricky" stick figures -- been included in any official presentation of the series.

Fans always loved seeing this rare footage, so when TV Land made its announcement, I was thrilled that the now-traditional "script heart" opening-- added in the mid-1950s when the show was first sold to Canada - would be replaced by the original animations.

I knew, of course, there would be potential problems: most of the animated openings featured "Lucy" and "Ricky" stick-figures popping out of one sponsor's product or another. (Early on it was a package of Philip Morris cigarettes, later such things as a can of Fluffo shortening.) I was told, however, that through the magic of computer graphics, the network would be able to replace the products with other things -- a 1950s style television set, for example, would go in for the original cigarette package…

Like Lucy fans everywhere, I anxiously awaited the series premiere on TV Land this past Monday night… I am sorry to report that what we got was not exactly what we had been promised!

Did TV Land replace the script-heart, as they said they would? Yes…

Did they restore the original animations? Well, yes… and no.

The animations TV Land has been showing this week are indeed taken from the original broadcasts, but they have been reconfigured in ways that seem calculated to meet the cable network's own needs. Some of the "restored" animated openings, for example, were not the openings at all -- but the original middle-break animations. Not only has the network added their own TV Land logo (i.e., "TV Land presents Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz," etc.), but they have jettisoned the original opening music in favor of the soundtrack from the script-heart version.

Furthermore, it seems that TV Land is using only about 6 or 7 different animations, when there were at least 13 different ones produced over the years. During the first three seasons, Desilu changed the animations every six weeks or so, and by the fifth year, it had started to use a generic opening cartoon of Lucy and Ricky carving the show title on a tree, or bringing a large cup of Sanka coffee center stage.

As mentioned above, I realize the references to the show's original sponsors had to be masked for TV Land's showings, but the editors should have stopped with that… the original openings should still open the shows, the act breaks should lead into a middle commercial, etc. Instead we have what I call new "fake main titles."

Yes, TV Land should be commended for attempting this project in the first place. But what they have produced, at least in this purist archivist's opinion, is neither fish nor fowl. They have "repurposed" the original animations in ways that promotes TV Land over the show, and in a sense, pats themselves on the back. They seem to be saying, "Hey, look at what we did," and doing it in a way that makes sure the network is the only one that can ever use the shows in this new format.

What is even more confusing to me is the fact that on most of the shows they left the traditional heart (over the satin background) at the very close of the show, leading into the end credits. On only one episode screened this week did they do what Desilu did in the last two seasons -- close the show on a still shot of the two stick-figures kissing (inside a heart carved on the aforementioned tree).

Also, must we be treated to "We'll Be Right Back" written at the start of every break? When the shows originally aired, the screen simply went to white or black when a billboard or sign ended an animated segment. Now it's as if we are watching a Saturday morning cartoon show, designed by some genius to let "us kids" know that a commercial is coming up, but the show itself will resume in a moment…

What is even more distressing is that TV Land is showing the same time-compressed, edited versions that Nick-at-Nite has been showing the past several years -- only now they will include these new fake titles and repurposed animations…

Looks like the only place one can go to appreciate I Love Lucy the way it was originally meant to be seen is Columbia House Home Video, which is issuing the shows on both VHS tape and DVD.

Hmm… Maybe the heart wasn't so bad after all!

Whats your opinion on this?

Barnabas1 · 01-21-2002, 07:06 PM

What is with them?

ilovelucyjg15 · 01-21-2002, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Babalu
What is with them?

I don't know!

Barnabas1 · 01-24-2002, 09:35 AM

I agree with you,they lied!!!!!!!!

Barnabas1 · 01-27-2002, 07:14 PM

doesn't anyone care??????????

davy's niece · 01-27-2002, 10:43 PM

I also agree! LOL die die die..er..um...go..lucy..lol Bye all!

LucieFam · 01-28-2002, 05:12 AM

Hey, John, did you write this yourself, or did you copy the work of Stuart Shostak? I've seen this article published by Stu, so maybe reference it next time, incase someone makes a big deal over it.

As for the TV Land openeings, never seen 'em and probably never will (no TV Land (or LUCY) Down Under!), so I can't comment. But, I'd be happy seeing any of the cartoons!

ilovelucyjg15 · 02-10-2002, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LucieFam
Hey, John, did you write this yourself, or did you copy the work of Stuart Shostak? I've seen this article published by Stu, so maybe reference it next time, incase someone makes a big deal over it.

As for the TV Land openeings, never seen 'em and probably never will (no TV Land (or LUCY) Down Under!), so I can't comment. But, I'd be happy seeing any of the cartoons!

No I did not write this my self. I got it from Lucyfan.com. But I agreed with Stuart Shostak and I thought mybe all of you would have liked to see what he wrote because I thought he did a very good job.

Sorry I didn't say that I didn't write this. I will in the future if i copy something!

Barnabas1 · 02-12-2002, 03:09 PM

hmmmm.. I thought that there were more replies to this topic! I've never seen posts disappear before!

dawsongirl · 02-12-2002, 04:20 PM

I believe they are all there.

davy's niece · 02-12-2002, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Babalu
hmmmm.. I thought that there were more replies to this topic! I've never seen posts disappear before!

OH MY! Yea they're all there. hey dg

Jack1000 · 02-17-2002, 10:57 PM

What is even more distressing is that TV Land is showing the same time-compressed, edited versions that Nick-at-Nite has been showing the past several years -- only now they will include these new fake titles and repurposed animations…

Looks like the only place one can go to appreciate I Love Lucy the way it was originally meant to be seen is Columbia House Home Video, which is issuing the shows on both VHS tape and DVD.

Hmm… Maybe the heart wasn't so bad after all!

Reply from Jack 1000:

Interesting post, but I must comment that TV Land has been showing more I Love Lucy Footage, compared to Nick at Nite. The cuts are minor (if at all) compared to Nick at Nite.

(My apoligies if the font for this post is messed up...I had a little problem with the "quote" command--Jack1000)

ilovelucyjg15 · 02-17-2002, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack1000
What is even more distressing is that TV Land is showing the same time-compressed, edited versions that Nick-at-Nite has been showing the past several years -- only now they will include these new fake titles and repurposed animations…

Looks like the only place one can go to appreciate I Love Lucy the way it was originally meant to be seen is Columbia House Home Video, which is issuing the shows on both VHS tape and DVD.

Hmm… Maybe the heart wasn't so bad after all!

Whats your opinion on this?

Interesting post, but I must comment that TV Land has been showing more I Love Lucy Footage, compared to Nick at Nite. The cuts are minor (if at all) compared to Nick at Nite.

True. I have been seeing parts on some of the episodes that I have never seen before.

LucyFan · 02-18-2002, 01:52 AM

After watching the tapes of the introductory marathon TV Land had of I Love Lucy in October, I too noticed a large amount of scenes that Nick at Nite didn't even air.

ilovelucyjg15 · 02-19-2002, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LucyFan
After watching the tapes of the introductory marathon TV Land had of I Love Lucy in October, I too noticed a large amount of scenes that Nick at Nite didn't even air.

yea... I am very happy with Tv Land because of that! Thats ONE good thing about having I Love Lucy on TV Land

01-21-2002, 06:45 PM	#1
ilovelucyjg15 Banned Banned!! Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 06, 2001 Location: MA Posts: 209	TV LAND's Restored I Love Lucy Shows: A Mixed Blessing TV Land announced that when I Love Lucy joined its schedule on October 15th, the network would be showing the programs in a way that had not been done in over 45 years: with the original animated opening titles and middle-act breaks restored! How great! Not since the original CBS Network run in the 1950s had this footage -- featuring "Lucy" and "Ricky" stick figures -- been included in any official presentation of the series. Fans always loved seeing this rare footage, so when TV Land made its announcement, I was thrilled that the now-traditional "script heart" opening-- added in the mid-1950s when the show was first sold to Canada - would be replaced by the original animations. I knew, of course, there would be potential problems: most of the animated openings featured "Lucy" and "Ricky" stick-figures popping out of one sponsor's product or another. (Early on it was a package of Philip Morris cigarettes, later such things as a can of Fluffo shortening.) I was told, however, that through the magic of computer graphics, the network would be able to replace the products with other things -- a 1950s style television set, for example, would go in for the original cigarette package… Like Lucy fans everywhere, I anxiously awaited the series premiere on TV Land this past Monday night… I am sorry to report that what we got was not exactly what we had been promised! Did TV Land replace the script-heart, as they said they would? Yes… Did they restore the original animations? Well, yes… and no. The animations TV Land has been showing this week are indeed taken from the original broadcasts, but they have been reconfigured in ways that seem calculated to meet the cable network's own needs. Some of the "restored" animated openings, for example, were not the openings at all -- but the original middle-break animations. Not only has the network added their own TV Land logo (i.e., "TV Land presents Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz," etc.), but they have jettisoned the original opening music in favor of the soundtrack from the script-heart version. Furthermore, it seems that TV Land is using only about 6 or 7 different animations, when there were at least 13 different ones produced over the years. During the first three seasons, Desilu changed the animations every six weeks or so, and by the fifth year, it had started to use a generic opening cartoon of Lucy and Ricky carving the show title on a tree, or bringing a large cup of Sanka coffee center stage. As mentioned above, I realize the references to the show's original sponsors had to be masked for TV Land's showings, but the editors should have stopped with that… the original openings should still open the shows, the act breaks should lead into a middle commercial, etc. Instead we have what I call new "fake main titles." Yes, TV Land should be commended for attempting this project in the first place. But what they have produced, at least in this purist archivist's opinion, is neither fish nor fowl. They have "repurposed" the original animations in ways that promotes TV Land over the show, and in a sense, pats themselves on the back. They seem to be saying, "Hey, look at what we did," and doing it in a way that makes sure the network is the only one that can ever use the shows in this new format. What is even more confusing to me is the fact that on most of the shows they left the traditional heart (over the satin background) at the very close of the show, leading into the end credits. On only one episode screened this week did they do what Desilu did in the last two seasons -- close the show on a still shot of the two stick-figures kissing (inside a heart carved on the aforementioned tree). Also, must we be treated to "We'll Be Right Back" written at the start of every break? When the shows originally aired, the screen simply went to white or black when a billboard or sign ended an animated segment. Now it's as if we are watching a Saturday morning cartoon show, designed by some genius to let "us kids" know that a commercial is coming up, but the show itself will resume in a moment… What is even more distressing is that TV Land is showing the same time-compressed, edited versions that Nick-at-Nite has been showing the past several years -- only now they will include these new fake titles and repurposed animations… Looks like the only place one can go to appreciate I Love Lucy the way it was originally meant to be seen is Columbia House Home Video, which is issuing the shows on both VHS tape and DVD. Hmm… Maybe the heart wasn't so bad after all! Whats your opinion on this?
	Last edited by ilovelucyjg15; 01-23-2002 at 05:04 PM.

01-21-2002, 07:06 PM	#2
Barnabas1 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 4,598	What is with them?
	__________________ My favorite shows :: I Love Lucy, Dark Shadows, Leave it to Beaver, The Munsters, Chico and the Man, and Get Smart. Formerly Babalu and agsfan

01-27-2002, 10:43 PM	#6
davy's niece That'd be me Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 24, 2001 Location: Los Angeles BABY! lol California usa Posts: 256	i Do! I also agree! LOL die die die..er..um...go..lucy..lol Bye all!
	__________________ ~~Ashley~~ 'The Sparkling Diamond' * --------------------------------- English Part of Me: The one and only Davy's niece! Waait so what if he has more niece's, I'm the coolest one lol. ---------------------------------------- Spanish Part of Me: Sea Feliz. Este Libre. Sea Orignal. Translation: Be Happy. Be Free. Be Orignal. ---------------------------------------- Humourous Part of Me: DIE REPLACEMENT FRIEND!-From Saving Silverman. Wayne:" Dude! What are you doing?" J.D.:"If you get all the nacho's stuck together it's one big nacho" From Saving Silverman I love that movie! ---------------------------------------- "I believe that one day everyone will live in harmony and all will be celestial" Me "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return." Ewan (Christian) <marquee><font size=1><font color=pink><font face="Verdana"> "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return" From Moulin Rouge possibly the best movie ever! :sigh: Ewan so sexy! lol </font></marquee> http://www.believe-me.com/images1/mo...wan%20tall.jpg

01-28-2002, 05:12 AM	#7
LucieFam Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 28, 2001 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 77	Re: TV LAND's Restored I Love Lucy Shows: A Mixed Blessing Hey, John, did you write this yourself, or did you copy the work of Stuart Shostak? I've seen this article published by Stu, so maybe reference it next time, incase someone makes a big deal over it. As for the TV Land openeings, never seen 'em and probably never will (no TV Land (or LUCY) Down Under!), so I can't comment. But, I'd be happy seeing any of the cartoons!

02-17-2002, 10:57 PM	#12
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	Re: TV LAND's Restored I Love Lucy Shows: A Mixed Blessing What is even more distressing is that TV Land is showing the same time-compressed, edited versions that Nick-at-Nite has been showing the past several years -- only now they will include these new fake titles and repurposed animations… Looks like the only place one can go to appreciate I Love Lucy the way it was originally meant to be seen is Columbia House Home Video, which is issuing the shows on both VHS tape and DVD. Hmm… Maybe the heart wasn't so bad after all! Reply from Jack 1000: Interesting post, but I must comment that TV Land has been showing more I Love Lucy Footage, compared to Nick at Nite. The cuts are minor (if at all) compared to Nick at Nite. (My apoligies if the font for this post is messed up...I had a little problem with the "quote" command--Jack1000)
	Last edited by Jack1000; 02-17-2002 at 11:14 PM.

01-24-2002, 09:35 AM	#4
Barnabas1 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 4,598	I agree with you,they lied!!!!!!!!

01-27-2002, 07:14 PM	#5
Barnabas1 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 4,598	doesn't anyone care??????????

02-12-2002, 03:09 PM	#9
Barnabas1 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2001 Posts: 4,598	hmmmm.. I thought that there were more replies to this topic! I've never seen posts disappear before!

02-12-2002, 04:20 PM	#10
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,128	I believe they are all there.

02-18-2002, 01:52 AM	#14
LucyFan Still Loving Lucy! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 23, 2001 Location: In the Wonderful World of Lucy! Posts: 8,198	After watching the tapes of the introductory marathon TV Land had of I Love Lucy in October, I too noticed a large amount of scenes that Nick at Nite didn't even air.