Question About the DVDs

[Dave_L]

I'd put off getting the DVDs as they came out, hoping for an eventual complete series set that included the Lifetime cast reunion special. But since it's been over a year since Season 7 came out and there's been not even a hint of a collected release, I'd like to go ahead and purchase the individual seasons.

HOWEVER...

Were there any (or many) edits due to music?

I read some of the reviews on this site, but the only definite thing I learned regarding music was that the Season 6 Ray Charles opening is intact. But how about within the shows? Julia (and others) sang occasionally each season, plus there were the Elvis songs from the Graceland episode, etc.

Watching the reruns on the TV Guide Channel is awful due to how much of the show is chopped up not due to music but to make room for even more commercials than there are in normal syndication. But I'd also hate to buy the DVDs if there's a lot that's missing due to music rights issues.

[tlc38tlc38]

I could be wrong but as far as I know there were no music edits.

[zypherix]

The only actual cut I can remember is in "101 Ways to Decorate a Gas Station" where a short clip that aired during the end credits is missing, the DVD uses a freezeframe of the final scene of the episode.
"The Beauty Contest" from season 1, "Come On and Marry Me, Bill" from season 3 and "Tornado Watch" from season 4 have music replaced. Its worth noticing that about 9-10 eps or so from season three does not have an alternate jazzier rendition of the theme song, but rather the finalized version used between seasons 3-5.

[Dave_L]

Thank you both for your responses. It sounds like even though there are a few music cuts/replacements, it's not as bad as it could have been. I feel comfortable in getting the DVDs.

Regarding "101 Ways...", I remember that syndication reruns had one version of the end credits and Lifetime used another. I can't remember which one used which, but I do recall one was a clip and one was a freeze frame. So I'm not surprised they went with the freeze frame.

The main music sequences I would hate to see removed are: the use of actual Elvis songs at various points during the Graceland episode, Julia's drunken rendition of "Sweet Georgia Brown" at her son's wedding reception, her drunken rendition of "The Wanderer" in the episode that introduces B.J., and the Charley Pride song ("So Good When You're Bad") that the couples all end up dancing to at the end of the "Reservations for 8" episode.

(I figure "How Great Thou Art" must be public domain, so that would also remain intact.)

[zypherix]

The pieces replaced are:
"Isnt She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder during the end credits of The Beauty Contest (replaced with the regular theme song), "International Lover" by Prince in the other 2 episodes (replaced with soundalike music).
All other music preformances are there I think, including all the ones you mention.

There are 2 episodes with color/quality flaws, "Second Time Around" (s2) appears too reddish in color, and "The Vision Thing" (s7) has major picture quality flaws past the 15 minute mark. Another ep in season 7 has a brief audio sync fail but nothing major in all.

[Dave_L]

Originally Posted by zypherix

The pieces replaced are:
"Isnt She Lovely" by Stevie Wonder during the end credits of The Beauty Contest (replaced with the regular theme song), "International Lover" by Prince in the other 2 episodes (replaced with soundalike music).
All other music preformances are there I think, including all the ones you mention.

There are 2 episodes with color/quality flaws, "Second Time Around" (s2) appears too reddish in color, and "The Vision Thing" (s7) has major picture quality flaws past the 15 minute mark. Another ep in season 7 has a brief audio sync fail but nothing major in all.

It's too bad when anything has to be replaced, but the changes you've listed are ones I can live with. Relatively minimal really when you consider how much music there was over the course of 7 seasons. These changes won't be enough to prevent me from purchasing the show. (In the past, I avoided the WKRP and My Three Sons sets due to the much greater amount of edits and replacements.)

Thanks also for the warning about the picture quality issues. Luckily it all sounds fairly minor.

I appreciate all the info! You've been a big help.

[tmac81s]

Originally Posted by zypherix

Its worth noticing that about 9-10 eps or so from season three does not have an alternate jazzier rendition of the theme song, but rather the finalized version used between seasons 3-5.

This really disappointed me. That was my favorite version! It is on the single disc best of DVD released many years ago on the Big Haas and Little Falsie episode. Wish there was a way to edit it into the appropriate season 3 episodes! Maybe if there is ever a rerelease they will correct this.