Number of episodes in syndication - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

PhoenixAcres · 07-27-2016, 02:41 PM

"Father Knows Best" produced 203 episodes during its six-year run, but several later season episodes were actually remakes/flashbacks of earlier ones, with newly-filmed opening and closing scenes.
My question is, are these flashback episodes excluded from the syndication packages? I've noticed that, with Antenna TV in particular, they would inexplicably skip some episodes here and there, most notably the series finale.
I don't have the DVD releases but I would hope all still exist, and if they do, why purge them from the reruns?
Thanks

stevea · 10-09-2016, 10:55 PM

Most, but not all, of the recut episodes are in the syndication package. For instance, the Betty's Graduation episode, which was recut for the final episode, is probably shown in sequence, in season 3 (making the original episode not shown on TV)...makes no sense, but as chopped up as the syndication prints are, it's not surprising. I think most of the recut episodes are on the DVD sets, as are the original episodes, where they belong.

PhoenixAcres · 10-10-2016, 10:37 PM

Thanks stevea for the info. I realized there was some inconsistency with the airings at times, in that some obviously later flashback episodes were shown much earlier in the cycle to match when the flashback itself would have happened. So like you said I guess it's the original episodes that are still mostly at large for syndication. Which is a shame, and you'd think Antenna TV could at least work out a deal to make some prints out of the DVDs for those episodes since they're included on there.

I agree about the syndication prints being of poor quality. It's really sad that this great show isn't getting the treatment it deserves. But at the same time I am thankful that it's received a full DVD release and that at least it's actually being shown on broadcast TV in 2016.

stevea · 10-11-2016, 10:45 AM

I think Antenna TV just shows whatever the syndicator sends, and would never bother to use any other source. For instance, if they used the commercial DVDs, they would have to further edit them, since they are (mostly) the unedited versions. The syndication versions are already edited (badly, I might add!).

MeTV, on the other hand, DOES use commercial DVDs, at least sometimes.

mets82 · 10-11-2016, 03:41 PM

Why can't they just show the shows uncut? I hate that chopping and editing stuff.

PhoenixAcres · 10-11-2016, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mets82

Why can't they just show the shows uncut? I hate that chopping and editing stuff.

It's the money. Edited shows run shorter and allow more time for commercials. No matter how well-intentioned a channel starts out as, eventually the allure of increased profits becomes too much to resist, and we the viewers have to suffer. Antenna TV started credit-crunching about a year and a half ago, despite originally advertising their channel as "TV how it was meant to be". And the cuts I would imagine just keep getting worse over time.

On a related note, I almost wouldn't mind them adjusting their time slots a bit to fit in the whole show along with their precious commercials. I think TV Land did this at one point (and they probably still do) where each slot is 36 or so minutes instead of 30. That way, ideally, more of the show is preserved while keeping the network happy, profit-wise.

stevea · 10-11-2016, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenixAcres16

It's the money. Edited shows run shorter and allow more time for commercials. No matter how well-intentioned a channel starts out as, eventually the allure of increased profits becomes too much to resist, and we the viewers have to suffer. Antenna TV started credit-crunching about a year and a half ago, despite originally advertising their channel as "TV how it was meant to be". And the cuts I would imagine just keep getting worse over time.

On a related note, I almost wouldn't mind them adjusting their time slots a bit to fit in the whole show along with their precious commercials. I think TV Land did this at one point (and they probably still do) where each slot is 36 or so minutes instead of 30. That way, ideally, more of the show is preserved while keeping the network happy, profit-wise.

TVLand does go off clock, on an irregular basis, as do some of the other Viacom networks. You're right--approx. 36 minutes allotted to 5 episodes in 3 hours, with some occasional variations. They don't do it to show unedited episodes--they do it when they can sell more ad time. Copy a program sometime--you'll see there is still only 20 minutes of episode time (go back 5 or 10 years, before off the clock, they showed 22 + minutes of program--right now, MeTV shows 22 to 23, but Cozi and Antenna are right around 20--IMHO they have really screwed up Antenna TV.). Years ago GSN (in the middle of the night) played 3 old game shows, unedited, in a two hours stretch--40 minutes allotted per show. To me, this would be the way to go--it allows more ads for them, and the whole program for us!

PhoenixAcres · 10-12-2016, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevea

TVLand does go off clock, on an irregular basis, as do some of the other Viacom networks. You're right--approx. 36 minutes allotted to 5 episodes in 3 hours, with some occasional variations. They don't do it to show unedited episodes--they do it when they can sell more ad time. Copy a program sometime--you'll see there is still only 20 minutes of episode time (go back 5 or 10 years, before off the clock, they showed 22 + minutes of program--right now, MeTV shows 22 to 23, but Cozi and Antenna are right around 20--IMHO they have really screwed up Antenna TV.). Years ago GSN (in the middle of the night) played 3 old game shows, unedited, in a two hours stretch--40 minutes allotted per show. To me, this would be the way to go--it allows more ads for them, and the whole program for us!

I guess I should have known about TVLand; of course they would use the extra time for more commercials rather than more show.

The game show channel BUZZR is currently doing that 40-minute system for a few of its shows, where it shows an episode each of To Tell the Truth, What's My Line, and I've Got a Secret in the space of 2 hours. It's a really nice way of getting the full episodes shown. They also show most of the original commercials in these instances. Although I enjoy the old commercials, I wouldn't consider myself an "ultra-purist" and honestly if they had to remove the commercial segments for time, it wouldn't bother me much.

07-27-2016, 02:41 PM	#1
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	Number of episodes in syndication "Father Knows Best" produced 203 episodes during its six-year run, but several later season episodes were actually remakes/flashbacks of earlier ones, with newly-filmed opening and closing scenes. My question is, are these flashback episodes excluded from the syndication packages? I've noticed that, with Antenna TV in particular, they would inexplicably skip some episodes here and there, most notably the series finale. I don't have the DVD releases but I would hope all still exist, and if they do, why purge them from the reruns? Thanks

10-10-2016, 10:37 PM	#3
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	Thanks stevea for the info. I realized there was some inconsistency with the airings at times, in that some obviously later flashback episodes were shown much earlier in the cycle to match when the flashback itself would have happened. So like you said I guess it's the original episodes that are still mostly at large for syndication. Which is a shame, and you'd think Antenna TV could at least work out a deal to make some prints out of the DVDs for those episodes since they're included on there. I agree about the syndication prints being of poor quality. It's really sad that this great show isn't getting the treatment it deserves. But at the same time I am thankful that it's received a full DVD release and that at least it's actually being shown on broadcast TV in 2016.
	Last edited by PhoenixAcres; 02-23-2017 at 09:48 PM.

10-11-2016, 03:41 PM	#5
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	Why can't they just show the shows uncut? I hate that chopping and editing stuff.
	__________________ http://www.superbowlgreatness.blogspot.com/ Please check out my blog. I vent on all things. TV, sports etc. you name it. Its also a work in progress. Check out and see what you think.

10-09-2016, 10:55 PM	#2
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,481	Most, but not all, of the recut episodes are in the syndication package. For instance, the Betty's Graduation episode, which was recut for the final episode, is probably shown in sequence, in season 3 (making the original episode not shown on TV)...makes no sense, but as chopped up as the syndication prints are, it's not surprising. I think most of the recut episodes are on the DVD sets, as are the original episodes, where they belong.

10-11-2016, 10:45 AM	#4
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,481	I think Antenna TV just shows whatever the syndicator sends, and would never bother to use any other source. For instance, if they used the commercial DVDs, they would have to further edit them, since they are (mostly) the unedited versions. The syndication versions are already edited (badly, I might add!). MeTV, on the other hand, DOES use commercial DVDs, at least sometimes.